Ivy by Budgie Bigelow
“ Everyone can start again Not through love , but through revenge Through the fire , we ’ re born again Peace by vengeance Brings the end ” -Lana del Rey , High by the Beach
Prologue
Fairfield , CT
Emily Wooden walked through the small home on Short Hill Road . Everything was polished to a shine , and there wasn ’ t a speck of dust to be seen . She was led by the woman whom she had met earlier in a plaza parking lot down on Black Rock Turnpike . Her friend Sandra ’ s mother claimed to know her well ; the witch who called herself Lillia .
“ Is this your house ?” Emily asked . She imagined a witch living somewhere in the woods , picking mushrooms to cook various concoctions in a cauldron over a small fire . This house seemed way too nice for Lillia , her appearance being that of a middle-aged homeless woman .
“ It is my home for the time being ,” Lillia said , opening the door to a small room . It was the only one that was disheveled . There was a table in the center , and a large , wooden block took up the whole top . Two chairs , set directly across from each other , were placed on either side .
Lillia sat in one of the hard , wooden chairs , motioning for Emily to use the other . Emily sat down , nervous to ask what she wanted the most . She was 19 years old , and she had been scorned . Her boyfriend of seven months , Tom , had been seduced by Sally Aster , a girl with whom Emily had graduated high school .
“ Why are you here , girl ?” Lillia asked ,
smiling like a grandmother offering cookies and milk .
Emily looked down . “ I heard you can hex people ,” she said in a mousy voice . “ I want you to hex two people for me : my boyfriend and the girl who stole him from me .”
“ I , personally , cannot hex anyone ,” Lillia said . “ All I can do is request service from one who can : one of the demons who hides among us , just outside our earthly perceptions . But there is a price . One ’ s soul is tainted when this is requested . You may never know the peace of Heaven . Do you still wish to proceed ?”
“ I do ,” Emily said , willing to sell her soul in order to exact the karmic retribution Tom and Sally so righteously deserved .
“ There is also the matter of a more earthly payment ,” Lillia said .
Emily was confused at first , but she remembered she had yet to pay the witch for her service . She reached in her pocket and handed the rolled up bills over the table . It was nearly everything in her checking account , earned from waitressing part time at the country club , but she ’ d pay double for her revenge .
“ Then I shall request the audience of a demon ,” Lillia said . “ Be silent .” She lit three candles in front of her and sat back . Her eyes fluttered and opened , showing only white . She stayed like that for two whole minutes , her lips whispering words Emily didn ’ t understand .
“ Your request has been heard by a demon named Lannus ,” Lillia said , looking into Emily ’ s face once more . “ He has an additional price you must pay , and he wants your acceptance of his warning before he grants your wish . Will you hear it ?” “ Is he here ?” Emily asked . He is ,” Lillia replied , “ but you cannot see or communicate with him , as he is without a host body . I shall act as mediator per his request .”
“ OK ,” Emily said .