2

The Deal

The floors of the old Victorian manor creaked at his every step. Moonlight streaks penetrate the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the dark room that he’s in.

He stopped at its center where a round wooden table is set and took one of the seats.

He turned his head toward the huge window and stared right outside, waiting for the full moon to appear behind the thick clouds. And when it finally shows itself, Ernest slowly places both his hands on the table and took a very long, deep breath.

Ernest then shut his red, bloodied eyes, and in his mind, he fearlessly summons one of the powerful creatures—The Spirits.

He understands how great danger he’s getting himself into by summoning the presence of The Spirits but he also knows that this is the only way to keep his remaining relative alive.

No matter what, he must make a deal even if it means putting his own life on the line.

A strong wind, almost like a hurricane stirs the room. Ernest can hear the violent flapping of the curtains, objects being thrown, and a candle almost hitting him in the head but missing. The wooden table begins to rotate and float, including the chair he’s been sitting on.

Amidst the commotion happening around him, Ernest kept his eyes closed, continuing the ritual that summons an entity.

They’re almost here… they’re coming. He can feel it.

A cold voice of a woman came from someone sitting opposite him, “We’re here.”

His eyes automatically opened as if they had a mind of their own, and what he saw was far from what he expected.

Five witches occupied the empty seats, four of them were men, and only one woman and they looked… almost like a typical humans except for their eyes and skin.

The Spirits’ eyes are all black, and their skin is translucent so that you can see the veins forming in their neck and face. Their veins were black, and so are the rest of their clothes and hair.

Ernest couldn’t utter a single word. He couldn’t believe he actually summoned the entire members. He was only aiming for one of them but now he’s surrounded.

For someone who identifies himself as decisive, Ernest questioned his decision for the first time but only for a brief moment.

Then the man sitting on his right spoke, breaking the deafening silence, “You’re the fifth witch who has summoned us, what a brave soul.” The man snickered with a creepy smile.

“I wonder what he’s after… oh, never mind, we already know.” The other man sitting on his left said in a knowing, deep voice.

“Ah. Right. You are ‘that’ child’s guardian.” The man on his right said in a mocking tone.

Ernest’s courage came back when he was reminded of his purpose. It seemed as though the man on his left already knows him and the reason why he gathered them all.

“I have summoned your presence here for there is a deal I want to make, and it is about my niece, Elinor.” Ernest threads carefully but with confidence.

The Spirits fell silent. Their mouths briefly open and then shut. They are still rotating high up from the floor. Books, candles, chaises, and paintings are a few objects flying around them.

“Spare my niece… she… I will do anything to keep her from discovering the truth about her birth. She will never practice witchcraft. I will make certain that she will live her life as a normal werewolf.” Ernest declared with clear desperation in his voice.

“Ernest, why is it that there’s only less than a thousand witches exist?” The woman in front of him asks the question known to every single creature.

Instead of saying the obvious answer to that question, Ernest instead says “Elinor will not become Judas. What happened before will not take place ever again, I assure you that.”

“You cannot just make a promise and pretend that everything you said will go as planned! Your niece is a threat to us all!” Said the woman who is now far from her once calm demeanor. The veins in her neck grew thicker as she yelled at him.

“I know, trust me, I have thought of that. But I have been watching her for months, she is very different from Judas.” Ernest further insists beads of sweat are forming on his forehead, afraid that he might blow his chance at convincing The Spirits.

He knows that Elinor and Judas are different. Judas was hurt and alone, and Elinor was loved. Ernest thinks that with the right guidance, Elinor and her power might be of great help to all.

“We see that, too.” One of them spoke.

“Ernest, it is not about how similar or different she is from Judas. It is about the power your clan possesses that your niece inherited! Do you understand now?” The woman countered, but the point she is trying to communicate was something Ernest had been thinking about for months and he had thought of a solution.

“My niece will never experience the pain of losing someone she loved. Like what you have said, our clan had the power to raise the dead and to grant immortality, I–”

“What if it was Judas whom your niece will raise from the dead? Food for thought.” The man from his left interjected.

That never crossed his mind, and so he was rendered speechless.

“I see. You’ve never given much thought to the possibility of your niece bringing Judas back to life and claiming every single one of our heads.” The woman added in a controlled voice.

“We may as well be digging our own grave if we let that niece of yours live.” Said one of them.

Ernest was thinking hard and then came up with a brilliant solution.

“How can Elinor bring Judas back from the grave if she will not be hearing a single word about him ever?” Ernest stated and they fell silent.

He couldn’t figure out the expression in The Spirits’ eyes because they are the blackest of black he has ever seen. He cannot really say whether or not they are exchanging glances with each other, or are they glaring and focused on him.

“Why do you want her to live? You are not the one taking care of her, Glinda was taking care of the child. Why do you risk your life making a deal with us when you can just forget your dead sister’s hybrid child?”

“I believe her powers will be of great help to us all. We are only aware of how dangerous and powerful Were-witch can be through Judas who was avenging the death of his parents and was filled with rage and resentment. Do you not wish to know the good it will bring to us?” Ernest stated.

Once again, he was met with the expressionless faces of The Spirits. However, one of them starts to frown, and Ernest prepared himself for whatever their decision will be. They can either accept the deal or reject it and kill him at the same time. Ernest hopes for the latter to never happen.

“So you’re saying that Judas was misunderstood and ignored individual… might I remind you that he’s the reason why you only had Ruby left as your relative.” The woman said to him.

“And yet she’s gone. Elinor’s all I got.” Ernest replied, controlling the rising anger in his chest at the mention of his sister.

“Your sister broke the most important rule, Ernest. The same as the parents of Judas. We’re all about rules here. Werewolves are for werewolves, and us witches are for witches only.” One of the men strongly replied, not a single pity was evident.

“Please, I’m begging you all to leave Elinor out of her parents’ sins. Spare my poor niece.” He looked at each of them in their blacked-out eyes.

They’re rotating even faster now, Ernest noticed. This might be the end of him. But he thinks this is a good way to go. At least he would die knowing he tried his best to save his sisters’ child.

“You promise us she will never use her powers.” The woman uttered, much to Ernest’s relief. He can finally see where this is going and it is exactly what he wanted.

“I can guarantee that,” Ernest replied.

The five members of The Spirits clasp their hands except his.

“And if you fail to do so?” The woman asked.

Ernest took a deep breath for what he is about to say is something he can never take back.

“You shall have my soul and have Elinor suffer the same fate as Judas.” He firmly stated.

“Fair enough.” The woman commented.

The men sitting on both of his sides clasp his hand with theirs.

“A deal has been made. We shall leave Elinor, the Were-witch alone. For now.”

~·~·~·~

“Oh for god’s sake Ernest! Let them kill your niece before she kills us all!” Janet, his wife screamed, voice filled with so much terror. Her begging eyes were so much to handle; he knows where this conversation is going.

Ernest shifts from the table. He suddenly lost his appetite for dinner. He stared at the stew he barely ate and cleared his throat. He slammed his fists on the dinner table and stood up. He could feel his wife’s eyes following his every movement, but he refused to meet them.

A decision has been made. He just made a treaty with The Spirits. He cannot simply turn around and take his words back. His wife knew how much he disliked it when someone questioned his decision.

He had been thinking and contemplating what to do with his niece. So many times he laid his head to rest, he’s been thinking of solutions to prolong her existence.

Since he knew of the existence of Elinor, his niece from his only sibling, his sister Ruby, Ernest couldn’t have a peaceful night’s sleep.

He couldn’t do anything about the fate of his sister who eloped with a wolf. He couldn’t do anything when he was watching The Spirits behead them in front of his eyes, and the look that Ruby gave him that night, filled with anguish and hurt.

He couldn’t fail his sister. He just simply cannot.

The screech of a chair being pushed back echoes their large but empty dining hall. “Ernest, do not act as if you were not alive at the time Judas’ reigned! I’m begging you to consider it!” His wife strongly said this time.

“Why do you have to ruin what could be our peaceful dinner together after so many nights I’m gone?” Ernest uttered. Keeping his voice and mind calm.

“My dear, just.. why? Why would you make such a decision that can put every single, living creature to damnation? You know better–”

“Enough, Janet. An agreement has been made between me and The Spirit.” He interjected.

He glared at his wife from across the room standing still from her seat, who is also glaring at him.

“Your soul! You offered your damn soul if the agreement won’t go as it has been said! Clearly, Ernest, you are not thinking straight!”

That was it. Ernest could no longer keep his calm. He stormed out to where his wife was standing and halted just an inch between them.

“You do not question my decision, Janet. Of all witches, you should be the first one to understand why I made such an offer in the first place.” He said in a controlled voice.

His wife shared his glaring eyes.

“No, I don’t understand you at all, Ernest. I don’t want to!” Janet screamed in his face, pushed him back, and stormed out of the dinner hall.

Ernest could only let out a heavy sigh. His head is throbbing, and his stomach grumbling. It took him three days to arrive at their manor, and just an hour passed, and he’s already made his wife fretful.

Alone now, he sat back in his seat and ate the dinner left untouched because of the fight that ensued between him and his not so understanding wife.

I’ve made the right decision… I’m sure that’s what my sister wants me to do. Ernest thought to himself.

The very next day, he went to see Glinda in secret to tell her how the deal between him and The Spirits went.

Glinda almost looked like having a heart attack when he mentioned The Spirits but Ernest quickly appeased the troubled Glinda.

“She’ll be safe for now,” Ernest stated and they both breathed a sigh of relief.