Witchcraft Story
Matthew Ryan Fischer
In
a fit of rage Calliope had made her younger brother disappear. Calliope
had just turned fourteen and was still learning to use magic. Her mother had
been teaching her, but her mother wasn’t there that afternoon. Her mother never
suspected the natural powers Calliope possessed. If she had suspected, she
might have kept a closer eye on Calliope’s development. She also might not have
been so eager to pass on magic to her daughter and taught her nothing at all.
Not that Calliope’s mother was responsible for what happened – this was no
learned or taught spell that Calliope used, it was just a pure and accidental occurrence.
Hermes was eleven and he knew how to get under his sister’s skin. He
liked being annoying. He took a great deal of pride in it. If he had known his
sister was going to erase him from existence that day, he might have focused
less on being annoying and more on how to be a good younger brother.
Calliope instantly regretted doing what she had done. She didn’t
understand what had happened or the growing and dangerous powers inside her,
but she did know enough to realize she had caused his disappearance. She was overcome
with shame and guilt. Alone, in an emotionally fragile and early pubescent
state, she almost erased herself from existence as well. The only think that
kept her going was the small hope that she could set things right.
In
a fit of despair she brought him back. She didn’t know her powers or what
exactly she had done, but Hermes was back. But coming back from non-existence isn’t
exactly like a return to normalcy or anything like that. Hermes was now an unnatural.
Hermes
stared at her. He looked angry, very angry.
“You…
killed me.”
“Are
– are you a zombie?”
“Don’t
be stupid.”
“What
was it like?”
“Like?
What was it like? That’s what you have to say to me? How about, “Sorry Hermes. Sorry
for erasing you from existence.”
“I
didn’t mean to.”
“I’m
telling mom.”
“You
can’t.”
“I’m
definitely telling mom.”
Calliope knew she was going to be in trouble for this. Calliope couldn’t
help but wonder if she had had a little sister if none of this would have
happened. For a brief moment she considered trying to erase him again.
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