A Collection of Stories

The first thing that caught Mary’s eye when she entered the room was the blue ceiling. It arched over the ballroom as if teasing those below with the thought of touching the sky. Mary chuckled at the thought. These people had no need of dreams whilst living one. They could buy the sky if they wanted. The true measure of this room was the golden walls, pillar upon pillar of blinding yellow, each coming together to form a cage that held this room together.

And, Mary thought, trap them in their mundane existence.

Mary weaved her way through the dancers towards the back of the room. She had no need for the women who had already picked a partner. Instead she sought one of the women standing alone in the back. These women could be persuaded to go along with Mary’s plan.

She climbed a few steps that led to an inner balcony. The elevated floor gave her full view of the ballroom, as well as a proper view of the stairs at the front. Mary could see every woman entering, lounging in, or leaving the room.

“Hurry up and pick someone,” the woman firmly fixed to her right scolded.

“Patience Margaret,” Mary hushed. “I will know when I see her.”

Mary fiddled with the lavender-coloured pendant fastened around her neck as she studied the crowd. She was in search of a woman that would fit her taste.

Then she saw her. A woman wearing an ivory-coloured dress sat on a bench at the back of the room. A white mask covered her eyes. Mary grinned and traversed back down the stairs, signalling with a wave of her hand that Margaret ought to stay on the balcony. Mary adjusted the black, lacy mask on her own face before she weaved her way through the crowd towards the woman.

“Good evening, my lady. What’s a woman beautiful as yourself doing at a party with no date?”

Mary smirked at the blush that appeared on the other woman’s face. With a voice smooth as silk, the woman replied, “Oh, I’m not here on my own. My friend is meeting me.”

A lie, Mary thought with a grin. She tilted her chin to the right, paused, then turned her head towards the far wall on the left. When finished, Mary locked her pale hazel eyes onto the woman’s unsure brown. “I don’t see anyone. Shall you allow me to be your company? My name is Mary.”

The woman smiled. “That would be nice, thank you. My name is Ann.”

“Ann,” Mary repeated, feeling it roll off her tongue. “Such a pretty name. Tell me, Ann, would you care for a dance?”

Ann felt her stomach twist. She leaned closer to Mary and lowered her voice. “I’ve… never danced with another woman before. Is that even allowed?”

“If it isn’t, then I’d like to invite you back to my house where we can dance together in peace.”

Upon seeing Ann’s cheeks turn scarlet, Mary knew she had won Ann over.

“So what shall it be?” Mary asked. “Here, or my house?”

“If it’s all the same to you then I think your house would be much more comfortable.”

Mary grinned and nodded as if there was never another answer Ann could have given. She grasped Ann’s hand like a child that had just won a prize at a fair. She pulled Ann through the crowd and let her go up the stairs first. Mary then turned around and waved for Margaret to follow. She was certain that Margaret had noticed her but she didn’t wait for confirmation.

Mary caught up with Ann outside and waited for a carriage to meet them. She noticed Ann fidgeting with her dress.

“Don’t be nervous, dear.” Mary placed her hand on top of Ann’s.

Ann tried to smile. The corners of her lips twitched. “I don’t mean to be. You seem like a nice person, but we’ve only just met and I don’t know what in God’s name possessed me to come outside this far.”

Mary chuckled and wiggled her fingers between Ann’s. She squeezed her hand reassuringly. “There is nothing for you to fear. I swear it, Ann.”

Upon hearing her name, Ann found herself nodding. She turned her attention to the sound of hooves clacking.

“Ah, our ride,” Mary gestured to the carriage. A man stepped up to the door and opened it. Mary nodded at Ann, “You settled yourself in first while I give the driver my address.”

“Alright.” With a final sigh, Ann climbed inside.

Mary locked her eyes with the coachman. She noticed his slump before his eyes became blank. With a chuckle, she touched his cheek and his eyes flashed blue. She forced the knowledge of how to get to her house into the driver’s mind then joined Ann inside the carriage. Mary closed the door just as the carriage began to move.

“Oh dear,” Mary murmured, peeking through the carriage window. “It seems my friend shall have to find another way home.” She didn’t sound nearly as distressed as Ann thought she should.

“Your friend?” Ann asked.

Mary slid the blinds across the window open. “Indeed. She came with me to amuse herself.”

Ann nodded and the ride fell into silence. It grew dark as they left the town behind. Mary stared out the window and Ann stared at Mary. She wasn’t sure when, but Mary had removed her mask. Ann could study all of Mary’s facial features when the moonlight or a passing lantern shone through the window. Her nose was short and her eyes were big. Mary had one mole just under the corner of her left eye. She also had multiple faint freckles. Her lips were small but sharp and in a constant pout. Ann looked at Mary’s fingers, smooth as if someone had painstakingly carved them from stone.

Mary turned to look at her and Ann blushed, thinking she had been caught staring.

“Ann,” Mary smiled. “We’re almost at my home. I want to propose something to you before we get there. If you say yes, then you may enter my home and I will protect you forever. If you say no, then simply tell the man where your address is and we’ll forget this ever happened. Sound good?”

Ann blinked, her eyebrows scrunching together. “What are you going on about?”

From a pocket in her dress, Mary drew a necklace similar to her own but with a green gemstone instead of violet. “I wish to give this to you. I can feel it calling out to you. Go ahead and take hold of it.”

Ann moved a tentative arm towards the necklace. She touched it then recoiled with a gasp when it shocked her fingertips. Her vision clouded momentarily, and Ann shook her head to dispel the whispers in her mind. “What in heaven’s name was that?”

“Magic,” Mary replied, her voice undisturbed by the word, unlike Ann.

“No, that isn’t possible,” Ann murmured.

“And yet, here I am, a witch through and through.”

Ann felt her chest tighten and her stomach tie in a knot. She shrunk away from Mary. “I thought witches were a myth.”

“And we like to keep it that way,” Mary chuckled with a wink. The carriage came to a stop.

Ann peeked through the curtains. “Are we already here?”

“It would seem so. What’s it going to be?”

Ann returned her vision to the necklace and gulped. “Is that going to make me a witch?”

Mary shook her head. “No, dear. It merely marks you as one. Other witches shall see this necklace and accept you as one of their own. They’ll allow you to purchase ingredients from them, and they’ll share spells with you. The colour displays your rank in the coven, but to those without magic, it is simply a pendant. You will begin with green, then move to yellow as you learn more. This is followed by orange, then red, purple and then blue.”

“So, you’re purple then?”

“I am,” Mary answered, lifting her own necklace for Ann to see. “Recently promoted. I’ve proven myself to a high witch, those with a blue gem, and now I’m supposed to find an assistant, which is where you come in.”

The longer Ann stared at the green necklace, the more it seemed to draw her in.

“I will teach you spells and potions. You’ll have to learn magic on your own,” Mary continued. “It’s not as difficult as it seems. It’s a very personal craft, so you must be prepared to face yourself, but otherwise, you’ll enjoy it. We’re each very different but we work as a family. You’ll find witchcraft is handy when others try to take advantage of you.”

Ann slowly took the necklace from Mary’s hold, the chain slipping through her fingers. It pulsed in Ann’s hand. “I have to put it on?”

“That’s what one does with necklaces.”

Ann lifted the chain over her head. The pendant stung her chest at first. It wasn’t hot nor was it pain, more like a cramp in her heart. Ann saw only green for a few seconds, a glow she hadn’t realized was coming from her until she looked down at her necklace. She felt exhausted for a moment and heard whispers in her mind. She touched the necklace, watching the last of the light swirl around in the gem. Mary’s voice sounded as the last of the light faded.

“How do you feel?” Mary asked.

“Did I do it?” Ann questioned in return, her voice shaky.

Mary nodded and stood up. She stepped out of the carriage and out onto a stone walkway.

Ann tested her legs. She didn’t think she could stand on them quite yet. “How?” she asked instead.

“The necklace tests you for the strength of your spirit. Not as in your soul, but as in your willingness to learn and devote your life to magic. You passed the test. You have an open mind, Ann, which is something you need to be a witch.”

Ann crept out of the carriage and was hit with a cold dew. Light from the moon got caught by a thin fog. Ann stumbled and Mary caught her.

“Easy,” Mary hummed as she pulled Ann tightly into her arms. “It is also quite a draining process.”

There was a loud snapping sound and Ann shrieked, turning her head around to see that their driver had been knocked off his seat. He had landed on the ground and was petrified. Ann saw two other women, one with a green necklace and another with a yellow, bend over and pick up the frozen man. They placed him within the carriage.

“Oh, Abigail!” Mary cried. The woman with the yellow necklace turned towards her. “Margaret is still on her way, so if you could wait for her to get here to assist her with her driver, that would be lovely, thanks.”

Abigail bowed her head and stepped back from the carriage. The other woman took up the reins. Ann watched the carriage vanish down the road.

“H-Have you killed him?” Ann stuttered, a hand over her heart.

“No,” Mary answered. “He’ll wake back at the dance without memory of coming here or overhearing our conversation.” She wrapped one arm around Ann’s waist and the other tugged Ann’s arm around Mary’s neck.

Ann leaned on her, welcoming the support. “So many precautions,” she mumbled. Her gaze turned from where the carriage had been and back to Mary.

“We’ve learned not to stick our necks out too far, else a noose catches them.” Mary tapped a gate with her foot. It was leaning against a tree, waiting to be installed. “You’ll get accustomed to taking precautions too.”

Ann sensed a tender subject and fell silent.

Mary turned down the stone pathway which cut cleanly through the trees. No grass grew over the stones, unlike the hedges that reached towards the pathway with all their might. Mary was careful to avoid them as she walked with Ann down the path. The hedges opened to reveal a small house. It had two floors, a pointed roof, and a small porch which extended beyond the walls of the house.

Ann couldn’t help but smile at how cute it was. “This is lovely,” she said, attempting to dispel any previous tension.

“It’s a perfect home. You and I will live here, or you may choose to continue living in your current home if you like. I will help you find your way here.”

Ann felt a weight on her shoulders. “You’ll let me live here with you?”

“Yes, so I can train you.”

“Oh.” Ann felt the weight move to her stomach. Mary’s warmth left her as she was placed down on a bench on the porch. She glanced across the yard, lit by the moonlight. Ann felt the necklace pulse against her chest and a new boldness possessed her. “Mary, why did you choose me? Were you only looking for an apprentice or did you mean what you said when you called me beautiful?”

Mary paused, her hand frozen on the door handle. “Why did I choose you?” She repeated, softly. Mary smiled at Ann. “It was because of the look in your eyes. You looked lost, and yet full of hope, searching for something more than what you saw before you. You have a great imagination, and you made me feel hope as well. Hope to get out of this boring world.”

“Thank you,” Ann whispered.

“You’re welcome.” Mary opened the door then helped Ann inside. Stairs greeted them at the entrance, as well as a door to the left and a sitting room to the right. Mary moved Ann towards the sitting room. Ann noticed shelves full of books beneath Mary’s stairs. She smiled and traced her fingers across them. Some felt new and others left dust on her fingers. Mary placed Ann down on a chair. Mary then removed her shoes and discarded most of her clothing, save for woollen pants and an undershirt. Ann stared curiously at the pile of Mary’s clothes on the floor before kicking off her own shoes into the pile. Mary chuckled, “I much prefer pants and a shirt to a dress. Feel free to dress down as well if you like.”

Ann gulped and slowly shrugged.

“Tea?” Mary offered.

“Ah, yes, thank you.” Ann watched Mary disappear around the corner and into the kitchen.

There was a knock at the door. The handle slowly turned and the door burst open. “Right!” Margaret snapped, marching inside. She stepped up to Ann who inched back in fear. Margaret glared at her, “Where is she?”

“In here!” Mary called. Margaret stormed into the kitchen, the front door slamming itself shut behind her. The action earned another yelp from Ann.

Ann sat still as she listened to them argue.

“Do you think it’s funny leaving me behind?” Margaret snapped.

“I thought we discussed this earlier,” Mary sighed. “You would take another carriage home to ensure we weren’t followed.”

“Ha! We had no such conversation. Must be your age catching up with you! That, or you were simply too distracted by her to bother remembering your oldest friend. What’s her name, anyway!?”

“Calm down Margaret. Her name is Ann. She’s mine. I already claimed her.”

“You claimed her? So soon?”

Ann shifted nervously at the surprise in Margaret’s voice. Was that a bad thing? To be claimed?

Margaret continued, “You’ve never claimed an apprentice before. What makes this one different?”

Mary laughed just as the kettle began to whistle. “She has a great energy about her. Give her time and she’ll make a great witch. Now, are you going to stay for tea?”

“You know I hate the stuff. If you and your apprentice can keep it down, I’m going to steal your bed. You can sleep on the floor.” Margaret marched back into the hallway and stopped to glare at Ann.

Ann gulped under the other’s gaze. Margaret raised her hand and snapped her fingers. A light appeared at the top of the stairway. Margaret looked away from Ann and raced upstairs. Ann leaned forward to see that a candle had been lit at the top of the stairs and went out as Margaret walked past it.

Mary appeared and set two cups of tea down on a table. She took a seat opposite of Ann then said, “You don’t have to stay all dressed up, you know. You could at least remove your mask.”

Ann blinked and her hand immediately moved to her face. “I forgot I was wearing one, honestly.” She discarded her mask to the floor.

Mary kept her gaze on Ann, making Ann shift in her seat. She felt as though Mary was waiting for her to do more, and so she reached for the buttons that held her dress so tightly in place. As they popped open, she felt more relaxed, but also more exposed. Ann reminded herself she was in the presence of another woman and that it had never bothered her before, but Mary was different. Her gaze expressed admiration, something an acquaintance never displayed to Ann before.

“You’re wearing corset, right?” Mary questioned.

Ann blinked to dispel her thoughts before taking a moment to grasp Mary’s words. “I, umm. . . I am.”

“Would you like some assistance removing it?”

“Certainly,” Ann replied.

Mary set down her cup and moved behind Ann.

“Is this normal?” Ann inquired as Mary removed the fabric hugging Ann just a little too tightly. “Parading around the house dressed like men, I mean.”

“Ah, I find it more comfortable, don’t you?” Mary asked, stepping back. “All done. If you’re uncomfortable, I can fetch you a jacket.”

“Please,” Ann replied, grasping her tea cup. Mary nodded and vanished towards the kitchen once again. Ann heard a door crying on its hinges and the delicate thuds of Mary marching down the stairs. For the next minute, only the sound of china clinking broke the silence. The warmth from the tea eased Ann’s frantic heartbeat. She still wasn’t entirely certain what she was doing here, and it wasn’t until Mary returned and carefully held the jacket over Ann so she didn’t feel comprised that Ann realized she wanted to be here. Mary was right, Ann was drawn to the unknown.

Ann shrugged her dress off from beneath the jacket, wiggling and shifting around until she was out of her dress sleeves and could slide her arms into the jacket. Throughout this time, Ann noticed that Mary kept her gaze across the room. Ann smiled and let the corset and dress peel off her frame as she did up the buttons on the jacket. Ann undid the belt on her bustle and let that fall too.

Ann sighed and sat down, using the back of the chair for support.

“Still queasy?” Mary questioned, peering over her cup.

“Better now, thanks to the tea.”

Mary nodded and took her final sip. “It has healing herbs in it. You should feel much better.”

Mary placed the cup down and drifted back to Ann’s side. “Do you feel well enough for that dance I promise you?” She asked, extending her hand.

“Yes.” Ann smiled and took it.

With a flick of Mary’s free hand, the candles around the room were lit. Mary then placed her hand on Ann’s hip and started swaying with the sound of the wind outside.

Ann followed Mary’s movements. She found the silence of the house more comforting than music. Ann drifted closer to Mary with each passing minute. It wasn’t long before Ann’s exhaustion caught up with her and Mary helped her to bed.

Ann’s consciousness faded with Mary’s warmth to lull her to sleep.