The Crescent Moon

Andi didn’t hear from anyone for the rest of the day, which seemed a bit strange, but she was thankful. It gave her time to reflect on her morning. She had been torn between recharging the spell involving Daivik or just letting it go. This was something she was going to have to figure out on her own, since she still refused to divulge her secrets to anyone. She refused to chance it. Not because she really cared what people thought but because it would more than likely cause drama.

Andi was a drama-free zone. She liked hearing about it, but she wouldn’t allow it in her life. Drama was for people who didn’t think they could function without it. It was almost like they were fed from drama. She had paid attention her whole life to knowing who would try to involve her in their drama and who would just watch things play out on the sidelines. She avoided the former. Most of all, she knew it was just easier not to confide in people too much.

Andi grew up with stories of how her great-grandmother had the gift but didn’t like to practice it because she thought it was the devil's work. Andi didn’t think today was much different than back then. There has always been a stigma placed on people with certain gifts. She really wished her great-grandmother hadn’t let people convince her to view her gifts like that.

There was so much knowledge that died with that type of thinking. It left her with trial-and-error spells and having to build her own spell book. As the sun dipped down behind the horizon, Andi knew exactly what she was going to do. It was the waxing moon which meant growth. She would take the ashes from the spell and bury them in the backyard underneath the big pecan tree. Return everything back to the earth and it will bring the 4 elements of the craft together on the next rainfall. She would give the spell back to the elements and let them decide.

With her mind made up, Andi waited until the moon was hanging high in the sky. Looking up, she held the satchel to her chest and stared at the crescent sliver of the moon. She imagined it cupping her hopes and dreams that would spill out onto the earth as it grew. She knelt at the little hole she had prepared minutes ago and began to chant as she placed the satchel at the bottom and began covering it up with fresh earth.

By the power of the four Earth, Air, Water, Fire.

May your will be restored.

As it is my will, so shall it be.

Andi sat down on the grass and closed her eyes while repeating the chant in a whisper. She could feel the cold earth beneath her as she relaxed. She could hear the night sounds as they invaded her mind, replacing the sounds of her own whisper. She felt the wetness upon her face before she felt the vibration move through the ground, causing her to open her eyes.

Andi watched as a bolt of white light traveled down the old pecan tree before it made its way to her, illuminating the ground around her. She ran her hand over the grass blades in astonishment. The light weaved its way around each blade before it engulfed it whole. She lifted her hand up and stared at it.

The wetness of the grass transferred not only water to her hand but the same light that engulfed the grass blades. She rubbed the water between her fingers. The light dissipated as fast as the moister evaporated. The rain drops reflected the white light, making them appear to have stopped in midair.

Andi glazed around her in wonder. She wondered if this was what outer space looked like, black with a million stars. It was absolutely beautiful. She raised her hands in the air as if to gather all the stars floating around. Just when she thought she was going to capture the first of many stars, they exploded into a mist of colors and fell to the ground as the light faded. Her head exploded with the sound of thunder as water began pouring out of the night sky.

Andi slung open the front door, standing there dripping in her doorway as lightning lit up the sky behind her. Frustrated at the turn in the weather, she slammed the door behind her. She made her way to the bathroom, dripping all the way and grumbling to herself. “Great,” Andi said out loud. “That’s it! I give up. No more dabbling. No more spells.” She threw her wet clothes in the bathtub. She grabbed a towel, almost rubbing her skin off in her frustration, thinking how she could have been killed just now. A glowing on her hand caught her eye as she swatted at the space on the side of her hand between her thumb and forefinger.

"Just great. I would mark myself. I'm done!" She screamed at the crescent-shaped mark and stomped off to bed.