The American Witch Chronicles: Book 1 - Ritual Magick
Chapter 1: The Visitors at Trinity College
1683, Trinity College, Cambridge, England
James Pendragon lounged on his straw-filled bed inside his chambers at Trinity College reading one of John Dee's books on alchemy and angels. At just 30 years old, he was the second youngest scientist to ever receive an assistant professorship at the college. The youngest ever was his boss Isaac Newton. James enjoyed working with Newton, he was brilliant, but a little crazy. Where James only believed in science. Newton seemed to be more open minded. Newton believed in magic and mysticism. James felt that although the alchemy sometimes worked, it was probably as a result of an unknown scientific principle. James thought that there probably was a god, but that he worked through science. James spent most of his time in three places, his room reading, the local tavern just outside of the college gates, or teaching in his class room. He enjoyed teaching math and science to the young men at the college, and he enjoyed the scientific and spiritual books he had access to as a professor, but what he really longed for was adventure. He wanted to do research in the real world, not just in a lab or on paper.
There was a knock on his door. He opened the heavy door slowly. It was Ash, Newton's assistant. Ash was a young man with an almost pretty feminine face and thin figure, probably around 19 years old with messy red hair just a few inches long and a face covered in freckles. He wore brown britches and a loose linen shirt.
"Yes?" asked James.
"Professor Newton would like to see you?"
Ash looked James up and down. Looking at his long brown hair loose around his face and wearing light leather pants and no shirt. If James didn't know better, he would think Ash was checking him out. He heard rumors about Newton enjoying the company of other men, but thought them to be jealous lies, based on the conversations he and Newton had about the importance of Newton's virginity. He wasn't sure that Newton had sexual urges at all, but maybe this young man leaned that way. James brushed the thought out of his head.
"Did he say why?"
"No, just that you must come quickly," stated Ash in his high-pitched voice.
James tied his hair back and slipped on a linen shirt and his professors robes. He then walked with Ash towards Newton's offices.
Ash opened the door and led James inside. Newtons office was large, the walls were lined with mahogany bookcases filled with priceless books of all kinds. The air smelled of books. There was a large table in the middle of the room with more books, most of them open sitting on the table. There were tall windows covered with long velvet drapes that went from floor to ceiling. In the rare areas without bookshelves, large paintings and tapestries hung on the wall. All of them had occult and alchemist themes, though most of them with a Christian bend. One depicted the archangels Michael, Raphael, and Gabriel nude circled around a glowing figure of Christ's cross.
Newton sat on his throne-like chair at the back of the room. He was wearing a red cloak and a large triangular amulet around his neck. He had a leather-bound book in his hand.
"Sir, you called for me," James started.
"Yes James, we have something of great importance to discuss," said Newton.
"Thank you for bringing the professor Ash. Please leave us and close the door," Newton added.
Ash left and closed the door behind himself.
"First," Newton started, "we have some introductions to make."
Two men steeped out from the cover of the velvet drapes of one of the windows. Both of them were wearing ornate maroon cloaks with symbols embroidered on them. The cloaks were similar to the one Newton had on. One man was ancient. He had a long white beard and a small skull cap on his head. Around his neck he wore an amulet with a 5-pointed star. James did not recognize this man. The other man had long dark brown hair and thin mustache. He also wore an amulet. It was a six-sided star of David. He looked to be about fifty years old. James had never met him in person, but recognized him from paintings he had seen around the college.
He bowed and knelt on one knee.
"Your Majesty," he said.
"Please stand Professor Pendragon; we have much to cover," declared Charles the II, King of England.
"This other man is on like us," Newton said gesturing to the old man, "A thinker, a scientist, and an alchemist. You likely know him better than you think. This is John Dee."
"John Dee? He has been dead for decades," stated James.
"Just rumors young man," said John Dee with an old raspy voice.
"But you would be one hundred and fifty-five years old?"
"One hundred and fifty-six actually," Laughed John Dee.
"You see James," explained Isaac Newton, "The King, Dr. Dee, and I are part of a cabal. We exist for one purpose. To research the occult powers and secure them for God and country. We need your help."
"How Isaac? I don't even believe in these things. I believe what you call a miracle is just yet to be explained science," complained James.
"This is why you are perfect. We need you to research something for us. We need you to discover the plot of the witches in the colonies. Specifically, the American Colonies.
"The New World?"
"Yes James," the king jumped in, "We would like you to apply your scientific methods to the problem. Tell us how the witches are accomplishing their spells, their science if you will. So, we can then stop them."
James nodded respectively.
"Young man I have lived more than one hundred and fifty years and will likely live more than twice that. I think you will find that there is more in this world than can be explained by your science, but your skepticism makes you perfect for this mission," inserted John Dee.
