Morina And The Switching Spell Ch 21

Note to readers: This chapter introduces characters from "Mollified Magic:" Morina's daughter Tish (short for Morticia), her granddaughter Molly and Molly's boyfriend Tom. For more details about them, please read "Mollified Magic."

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Chapter 21: Epilog: Ghosts and echoes of the past.

Early June in present day Salem, Massachusetts.

No longer able to hold it back, I yawned in mid-sentence.

"Excuse me," I apologized, and then looked at the clock. "Oh my, Look at the time! I had no idea I've been talking for so long. The two of you must be bored to tears, listening to me go on and on about my World War 2 experiences."

"No, not at all. Tell us more!" Molly asked. She was sitting on the sofa next to Tom. She leaned forward when she spoke, clearly interested in my story. Up until now, he had had his arm around her shoulder, and she had been nestled snuggly against him.

"I agree with Molly. I want to hear what happened after the D-Day landings," Tom added. He clasped Molly's hand as he leaned forward, joining her.

I was always fond of Molly, not just because she was my granddaughter, but maybe because she reminded me of myself. Even her body type is the same size and shape I was when I was her age. Her boyfriend Tom is a gifted warlock, and it was only last fall that we discovered he was Agatha's grandson through her second daughter Amanda.

They had both just completed their sophomore years at college and were home on their summer breaks. Earlier this evening, during supper, Molly asked me to tell her the story about my World War 2 experiences. Her curiosity was piqued by an unopened box of my war memorabilia she found tucked away in a corner of the attic. I had gotten so involved with my account of the events that we hadn't gotten around to opening the box. I was surprised to see them awake and still hanging onto my every word.

"I've been talking all evening. Are you two sure you want me to go on?"

"Yes! What happened? Did you ever rejoin the WASPs?" Molly asked.

I shook my head slowly.

"No, at that point, the WASPs were only flying planes domestically from the factories to US air bases. I couldn't bear the thought of spending hours alone in a cockpit with painful memories of Ayresdon's betrayal, or of Amanda and Lee's deaths. I stayed on with the 4-0-6 Fighter Group for the duration of the European Theater instead. It was my way of keeping busy. I needed the distractions of being a communications officer in the French countryside.

I still had a lot of regrets back then, I guess I still do. In the back of my mind, I was wondering if I should have been more aware of John Ayresdon's duplicity or if I could have done more to save Amanda and Lee. Traveling to France and staying on as communications officer with the 4-0-6 was just the diversion I needed. Luckily for me, that's when I met your grandfather, Argus."

"You met grandfather while you were in France?" Molly asked.

"He and Chandler Burns joined the war effort in late May after hearing about Lee's successes at Ashford. Through my mother's connections, they contacted the Albion Warlock Council once they got to England in late June. They were recruited into a task force formed by the Council to defeat the Nazi witches and warlords and remove them from power. In addition to grandfather and Chandler Burns, the task force included Nigel Porter, Lord Byron Burnham, and Lord Robert Rockingham," I explained.

"Wait, did you say Chandler Burns? Wasn't he my paternal grandfather?" Tom asked.

"He was. Back then, he was a war hero, but that was long before your father was born. It was Chandler's heroics in the war that helped promote him and eventually your father, Blaze, into prominent positions in the Warlock Council here in Salem," I explained.

"Were you part of that task force?" Molly asked.

"I had a small role to play since I had some information about Ayresdon Manor and was the only magical to hear John Ayresdon's confession before he escaped," I explained.

"Did you fall in love with grandfather while you worked together on the task force? Was it love at first sight?" Molly asked, excitedly before she and Tom settled back into the sofa.

I laughed.

"No, not at all. We were introduced, but we were both so busy at our respective jobs that we didn't get a chance to get to know each other that well. He and Chandler were good friends, both coming from America to England together, and we shared a few drinks a couple of times. But that was it, really.

"When did things get serious between you and grandfather?" Molly squeezed Tom's hand when she asked the question.

"That was around the time of Agatha and Nigel's wedding. It was while we were preparing for the ceremony that I realized what a kind and generous warlock Argus was, especially in his friendship with Nigel. He reminded me a lot of Lee with his willingness to stand up to bullies and injustices. We dated a bit after the wedding and decided to stay in touch when we returned to the states," I explained.

"When did my grandparents Agatha and Nigel get married?" Tom asked. He put his arm back around Molly's shoulder and she snuggled in next to him with a contented smile on her face.

"It was shortly after VE Day. I was still in France helping the French witches reorganize their coven when I received the wedding invitation. Agatha wanted me to be her maid of honor. Now that was a happy day. I can still picture it as if it was yesterday. The wedding was held in the woods just outside the London Coven clearing. It was a small, private ceremony. Only a few of the witches from the Coven attended. Sarah Caldwell presided, and Argus was the best man," I explained.

"Wait, you and Molly's grandfather were the maid of honor and best man at my grandparent's wedding?" Tom asked, suddenly taking his eyes off of Molly.

"We were. Agatha told me that she and Amanda talked about getting married and decided they would each be the maid of honor at each other's wedding. But with Amanda gone, Agatha asked me," I explained.

"What made Grandfather Nigel pick Argus to be his best man? He must have had plenty of warlock friends in England," Tom asked.

"You'll have to ask your grandfather about that, Tom, but I suspect it was because of the work they did together on that task force. Argus never met Lord Ayresdon and always treated Nigel with the respect and kindness that Nigel deserved. He was one of the few warlocks to stand by Nigel during the later stages of the war and afterwards," I replied.

"Are there any pictures of the wedding that I can look at?" Tom asked. Molly turned and kissed him on the cheek after he asked the question.

"I'm afraid not, Tom. Witches have never allowed photography near a Coven clearing, even today," I replied.

"When did Agatha and Nigel to move to America?" Tom asked.

Molly gave him a sly smile and put her hand on his thigh.

"After the wedding we discussed the possibility of your grandparents coming back with me to America. They said they wanted to try and work things out in England, but after Nigel got passed over from joining the Albion Warlock Council for the third time, they decided they would come to the United States and start over. Because Agatha and I were such good friends, my mother agreed to sponsor them and helped set them up in business and a place to live here in Salem. Agatha was pregnant with your Aunt Agnes at the time, and I think that had a lot to do with their decision," I replied.

"Why wasn't my grandfather allowed to join the Albion Council? He was a pilot and a war hero," Tom asked.

Molly had been slowly moving her hand up Tom's leg and he grabbed in and held it tight before she reached his crotch. He gave her a stern look and she giggled quietly at being caught.

"I'm afraid the warlocks in London didn't see it that way. The old warlocks on the council never fully trusted him after he was falsely accused of being a spy and a traitor, even after Olga Romanescu's confession. They never granted me an audience so I couldn't tell them about Lord Ayresdon's confession. Nigel joined the task force to hunt down and destroy the Nazi warlocks to prove his loyalty, but they still weren't moved," I explained.

"Wow, that was harsh - and sad," Molly exclaimed.

I stifled a yawn.

"It seemed like a tragedy at the time. But coming to America was the best thing to happen to them. They were welcomed into the Salem community and treated as war heroes they were. They opened up the first health foods pharmacy in Salem, and Tom's Aunt Agnes was born that same year. A few years later Agatha's second daughter, Amanda was born, the same year I gave birth to Morticia," I recalled.

"So, Tom's mother and my mother were born in the same year?" Molly asked.

"Yes, and those two were inseparable . . . and unsufferable at times, too. Now if you don't mind, it's getting late, we can talk about this some other time," I said, stifling another yawn.

"But we haven't even opened that box of memorabilia I found in the attic. Can we see what's inside it before you go?" Molly asked, moving out from under Tom's arm and leaning forward.

I sighed.

"To be honest, I've been afraid to open it. My mother, your great grandmother, put that box together from items she saved from the war. I have no idea what's inside or what memories it contains. When you get to be my age, you'll find yourself thinking about all those missed opportunities and regrets from your past. With all the horrors I experienced in that war, I've been afraid of finding mementos and ghosts of those grisly events inside this box."

"Molly, if your grandmother doesn't want to open the box, we should respect her wishes," Tom suggested.

"It's alright, Tom. I've always counseled the coven witches to confront their fears, maybe I need to listen to my own advice. It's time I open that box and faced some of those ghosts and memories I've been avoiding all these years," I said with an uncertain smile.

Tom and Molly stayed on the sofa - barely. They both leaned forward to get a better look inside the box.

I bent down and opened the lid. The first thing I saw was a sheet of gold.

"Oh my! I forgot about this." I said, lifting the silky fabric. It was even softer and more luxurious than I remembered.

I stood and held up the beautiful gold lame gown.

"Is that the gown Lord Ayresdon gave you to wear for dinner at his Manor?" Molly asked.

"The very one," I exclaimed.

"It's beautiful!" Tom marveled.

"May I try it on?" Molly asked, standing.

"Molly! You shouldn't—" Tom began.

"You may have it, Molly. You're about the same size and shape I was at your age, and I suspect it will fit you perfectly," Morina said.

"Are you sure, Grandmother? It looks expensive," Molly said. Her eyes were wide and glued to the gown.

"I'm sure it is, child. But a gown like this doesn't belong in a box. It should be worn by a beautiful woman. Please take it, Molly, I insist," I said, carefully handing it to her.

"Oh Tom, feel how soft it is!" Molly said, holding up the gown to him.

"It feels like silk!" he exclaimed, running his hand along the fabric.

Molly stood and held the dress up to her neck and shoulders. It seemed to be the right length.

"Let me try it on," she said, excitedly. She ran to the bedroom with the gown in her arms.

Ten minutes later, she emerged.

She was stunning! The gown was loose around her upper body and her right boob peeked over the top of it. The entire gown was held up by the wide band of material over the left shoulder. The long slits up the sides of the gown showed plenty of bare leg when she walked.

"Tom, could you zip up the back for me?" she asked, turning her back to us. She held up her hair in the back so it wouldn't get caught in the zipper.

Tom just sat there, mesmerized by Molly's beauty and the gorgeous gown that accentuated it.

"Allow me," I said, getting up, laughing slightly at Tom's reaction.

"Oh! Sorry, I can do it!" Tom said, seeming to break out of his trance.

"Relax Tom, I have it. Let's see what you think after I zip her up," I said.

I zipped up the back and had Molly turn back around.

"How do I look?" she asked Tom in a sultry voice.

The looseness of the top of the gown was now gone. Molly's breasts were pushed up, showing plenty of cleavage. Her right areola was now barely covered, teasingly situated just below the top of the right side of the gown.

"Magnificent," Tom gasped, his voice was scarcely above a whisper.

"There were a pair of matching heels that went with it," I said, looking at Molly's bare feet. Maybe they're still in the box,"

Tom got to his feet and embraced Molly, giving her an affectionate kiss on the lips while I picked up the box and sat back down in the easy chair.

Tom helped Molly sit back down on the couch before sitting beside her.

Next in the box was a green dress. The color of the dress matched Molly's eyes perfectly just as it had matched mine in my younger days. I held up the dress.

"This is the tea dress I wore at Ayresdon Manor. Molly, I think you should have this, too," I offered.

"Thank you, Grandmother. Now that I have the dress, the three of us should have a proper English Tea," she said, happily.

"That's an excellent idea! And since that dress has never been to a tea party, we'll have to correct that situation sometime this week. I'll host a formal English Tea. Molly should wear that tea dress and Tom should come in jacket and tie. I'll invite Tom's Aunt Agnes and make it a foursome," I decided.

Underneath the tea dress were several Army uniforms, two women's uniforms and two men's uniforms.

"These were mine," I declared, holding up the top two gaberdine uniforms, "And these others must have belonged to Lee."

There was a hole in one of the shirts on Lee's uniform. It was where Lee was shot during his last flight. I shuddered a bit before putting the uniform in a separate pile. Molly and Tom must have seen me.

"Are you alright, Grandmother?" Molly asked.

"It was one of those ghosts, that's all. I'll be fine," I replied.

Beneath the uniforms were two long, black, hinged cases with metal clasps in the front. I removed one of the cases and lifted the latch and raised the lid. Inside the velvet lined box were several medals and pendants.

"These are my medals from the war. Look, here's my pendant with the Order of the Golden Caldron," I exclaimed, holding up the sparkling, jeweled pendant.

There were other pendants as well, including one from Romania resembling a bat with ruby red eyes.

"That belonged to Olga Romanescu. Her family gave it to me after the war for sparing Olga's life. They said it was a small compensation for Olga's crime of killing Amanda," I said sadly.

"When were you in Romania, Grandmother?" Molly asked.

"It was just after Agatha and Nigel's wedding. Olga's folks were very sweet. They taught Olga how to cook. They're long gone now, but I've still kept in touch with the family. You might remember that Morgana visited their home after she graduated high school," I explained.

"I remember she visited Romania, but I had no idea it was related to your war experience," Molly recalled.

"Have you ever worn the pendant?" Tom asked.

"No. I'm a little afraid to. Olga was wearing it when she killed Amanda and I believe the curse behind it may have been responsible for your great uncle Lee's death," I replied.

The other box contained Lee's war medals. He had accumulated 4 Air Medals with Oak Leaf Clusters and a posthumous distinguished service medal.

I put the black cases aside and looked to see what was left inside the box. There were a bunch of papers and commendations underneath along with a few envelopes. One of the envelopes had a couple locks of brown hair.

"Lee's hair," I said, fondly, fingering the strands in her hands. I brushed back a small tear that ran down my cheek.

I sniffled back a second tear and put the hair back in the envelope.

A second envelope had a few strands of curly, copper hair. I felt a chill up my spine as I held the long strands in my hand.

"Oh my!" I said, trembling. Another tear ran down the side of my face. "I thought they burned it all at Lee's funeral. My mother must have saved some of it."

"Was that Amanda's?" Molly asked.

"I'm sorry for being emotional, but these remind me of that terrible day when . . . and the look on her face . . ." I couldn't finish the sentence.

Molly and Tom came over and put their arms around me.

"It's okay Grandmother, we're here for you" Molly said, tenderly.

"Is there anything we can do?" Tom asked.

"I'll be fine," I said, magically producing a handkerchief and wiping my face.

I needed to move on. Thinking about Amanda and her death was getting to me. I went back to the box. The bottom contained newspaper clippings, important documents, and pictures. There was me with my WASP group and Lee in front of his plane, and another with his squadron.

"I don't see the heels that go with that gown," I said, still sniffling a bit.

I rummaged through the papers at the bottom of the box, but there was nothing of any personal significance to speak of.

"That's okay, Grandmother. I can always shop around for a pair," Molly said.

"Let me check in the attic. Maybe there's another box up there somewhere. Besides, it's getting late. I'll come back tomorrow night and take back anything you two don't want to keep," I said as I got up to leave.

Molly leaned into Tom and whispered something in his ear. I couldn't hear what she said, but I heard a little of what Tom whispered back. It sounded like "Molly, I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"What are you two up to?" I asked, suspiciously.

"Oh, nothing," Molly said, putting on her most innocent look.

"I know that look, Molly Amanda Spellman. You're planning some sort of mischief, you better come clean right now," I demanded.

"She wants to—Ow!" Tom said as Molly elbowed him hard in the ribs.

"We'll tell you tomorrow, Grandmother. It will be a surprise," Molly replied, smiling mischievously.

***

I found the box with two pairs of shoes in the attic. The strapless gold shoes that went with the gold lame dress were there along with the green heels with straps that matched the tea dress. I brought the box with me to Tish's house where Tom and Molly were staying for the holidays. Tish was in the kitchen when I walked in with the box of shoes under my arm.

"Where are the children?" I asked.

Molly called down from upstairs.

"We're up here! But don't come up yet. Give us another ten minutes!"

"What's going on? What are they up to?" I asked Tish.

"I have no idea. They've been working on something all day and they won't tell me what it is either," Tish said.

For the next ten minutes, Trish and I talked about Morgana finishing her first year of Law School.

"Has it been ten minutes yet?" I finally asked Tish.

"Yes. Let me go with you. You know what mischief Molly can get into," Tish reminded me.

I led the way as we both climbed the back stairs. The door at the top of the stairs was closed and when I opened it, I felt a chill run up my spine.

There, in the middle of the room were Lee and Amanda! They were bare-footed and locked in an embrace. Amanda's curly, copper hair cascaded below her shoulders and Lee was holding her close with his arms around her.

Amanda's eyes were closed, and her lips were locked against Lee's. She was standing on her tiptoes, combing her fingers through his brown hair with one hand while caressing his butt with her other hand.

"Oh my!" I exclaimed, tears welling in my eyes.

Lee broke the kiss and looked at me.

"Reena! Forgive us. It's been so long since we've been in flesh and blood form, that . . . well, we just couldn't resist—" Lee began. He was wearing his old uniform.