Page 70 of The Book of Unwritten Stories

‘He spent a lot of time at my place. Do you think he’s gone there looking for me?’ Morana said.

‘Maybe.’

‘We should go take a look after we tell your aunts what that old fire-breathing dragon Clara had to say.’

Dora laughed. ‘I’d rather take a chance with a fire-breathing dragon. I’d trust one of them more than Clara. There is something way off about her.’

Inside, they saw Sephy and Lenny both working away in the kitchen.

Sephy looked up. ‘You’re back, did you get the spell book?’

They both shook their heads.

‘No, she said I couldn’t have it. I have to be invited to a council meeting to put in a formal request.’

‘That old witch, she wants it for herself. I knew she did. She won’t hand it over. I should have gone myself.’ Lenny was furious.

‘It’s okay, dear, calm down. We can sort this out.’

‘Can we, Sephy? Because I don’t know if we can without resorting to some big showdown or using force to get it back.’

Dora shook her head. ‘Must we always have to fight with magic to get what we want?’

‘At times, yes. Pointless but pivotal to getting our own way.’ Sephy sighed. ‘Morana, dear, we have come up with something to help you contain that fire inside your soul for the time being. I’ve made the tea and Lenny a protection pouch. If I brew the tea, can you read the spell out loud three times before you drink it?’

Morana looked at Sephy, her kind face so sweet even if she wanted to say no she couldn’t.

‘I’ll try, but I’m not really a tea drinker.’

‘Oh, this won’t taste like any tea you’ve ever had,’ Lenny sniped.

‘Shut up, Lenny, you’re not helping,’ Sephy hissed at her.

Sephy set about pouring the cast-iron pan of boiling water into a small, one-cup tea pot. Morana winced as she watched the liquid turn a black colour. Once it had steeped, Sephy strained it into a mug, then stirred in honey, lemon and a huge spoonful of sugar. It made Morana’s teeth ache just watching her. Sephy guided her to a chair and handed her the piece of parchment with the protection spell written on it.

‘You can say those words out loud or inside your head, whatever you prefer, but you must chant them three times for it to have full effect. Oh, I almost forgot, here.’ Sephy passed her a small linen bag, beautifully embroidered with a crescent moon and some tiny blue forget-me-knots. ‘Keep this bag on you at all times, it is of the utmost importance.’

Morana nodded and Sephy passed her the steaming cup of tea that was making her stomach churn just looking at it. All three women were staring intently at her and she frowned.

‘Can you like not watch me that way? You’re putting me off and I don’t want to sound rude, Sephy, but it smells like some awful medicine you give to kids.’

‘I know, dear, and I am sorry for that but, trust me, a cup of that every morning before you leave the house and you’ll be stronger and more protected than…’ She didn’t finish her sentence.

‘More protected than what?’ asked Morana.

‘Than any other witch in Salem,’ piped up Lenny.

Sephy gave her a grateful smile, and Morana realised that the pair of them were making this up as they went along. She decided then that if they could go to so much trouble to help her then she would do everything they asked; it was the least she could do. She nodded.

‘Thank you, I appreciate it.’

Then she blew the steam from the mug and took a sip, trying not to grimace.

‘The spell, you have to read the spell first.’ Sephy was panicking.

Lenny gently clasped her sister’s arm. ‘It’s okay, Sephy, it will work no matter what order Morana chooses to do it in. This is her magic, not ours.’

‘Yes, I suppose you are right, dear.’