Chapter III
The Skeleton Key
Receiving a letter in the mail is always exciting. After all Jinx gets so few letters. Pretty much only birthday cards from family. She walks while reading the envelope. On the front it is addressed in fancy calligraphy writing.
To:
Miss Jinx Hill
87 S. Hill Drive
Hill Lake, Indiana, USA, Earthly World
From:
Light Council
1313 Council Way
Salem, Massachusetts USA, Earthly World
There is an ink stamp of a lit candle in place of a regular postage stamp. The back the envelope has been sealed with a blob of red wax “Very cool” Jinx thinks. Imprinted into the wax is a circle with a crescent moon and the Roman numerals for thirteen.
Once Jinx reaches Grandma’s car, the two take off down the road. As they turn onto the main highway, Jinx sees her mail man pass them, heading back toward her house. “That’s weird” Jinx says. “What is my dear” Grandma asks while concentrating on the slippery road.
Baffled Jinx continues “We just passed our mail man. Why is he going back to my house I already got the mail?” Grandma smiles “You really haven’t learned much. Our Magical Mail doesn’t go through the post office. It gets to where it needs to go with spells or seals. Seals are safer. No one can open them, let alone read them, except the person they’re intended for.” Jinx exclaims “That is so amazing! I love magic!” Grandma says grinning “Just wait, you ain't seen nothing yet!”
For the rest of the ride to Grandma’s house Jinx studies the envelope. “It’s kind of heavy” Jinx tells her Grandma “there must be more than just a letter in here. I’m going to open it.” Grandma screeches “NO! Wait until we get home! You never know what is inside of a Magical Letter. It’s best we are not in a moving vehicle when we find out.”
At last they arrive at Grandma’s house. Jinx loves coming here, it is peaceful and fun. She always gets to stay up late and do things she cannot at home. At her house Jinx is just one of three kids pining for her parent’s time. Here, in sharp contrast she gets all of her Grandma’s attention. They get to do so many things together, bake cookies, go on long walks, play games, get an actual seat on the couch instead of the floor and talk to one another all the time. Grandma’s house is partially built into a hill. Her garage is downstairs, most of the rooms are upstairs on the main level and there is a third floor Jinx and her siblings are never allowed in. Obviously this just makes it all the more intriguing.
Grandma pulls the car into the garage, closing the door behind them before whispering “Ok Jinx, it’s time for you to finally go into the third floor, my secret room.” Jinx’s eyes widen, her excitement is completely transparent “Are you kidding? No one’s ever allowed up there! I must be dreaming! Today’s getting better and better.” Smiling at Jinx’s youthful enthusiasm Grandma takes her coat off and motions for Jinx to do the same. They hang them on the metal hooks by the door with their snow boots placed in pairs beneath. It is always so neat and tidy here. “A place for everything and everything in its place” Grandma always says.
She ushers Jinx upstairs, then into the narrow hall way. Without looking Grandma reaches up above the door frame and pulls down an intricately carved wooden wand. Jinx has obviously seen this before. Her Mom and Grandma use wands a lot. Although Grandma can do a great many things without one too. Grandma taps the tip of her wand at the top of the wall. A small stair case magically lowers.
Grandma asks “Are you ready to begin your first lesson Jinx?” “Am I ever, let's go!” Jinx’s thrill shines upon her young face, while she begins leaning forward to rush up the stairs. Grandma jokes “Hold up there, where’s the fire?” Then her demeanor changes and she says sternly “You have to know, there are a lot of rules, studding, discipline and hard work. If you truly want to be able to go back to the Great Hall, you must understand the dangers and the risks. I am not trying to scare you. The magical worlds have both good and bad, beautiful and ugly. However you will be learning only White Witchcraft from me.”
Grandma informs her “Jinxy, now that you have made it this far I can let you in on a few secrets.” Lowering her voice Grandma’s eyes intensifying “You need to know that somewhere there are others studying diligently to learn Dark Magic. You must be able and willing to protect yourself. Many witches have been scarred for life or far worse, lost their lives due to battling Dark Magic. There are far too many to recall.” Her eyes moist from sorrow, she glances at the wall, covered in photos. Grandma focuses in on her late husband, Jinx’s Granddad’s smiling face. Without looking at Jinx, Grandma asks point blank “Are you ready to accept the responsibility?”
She looks at her Grandma. To Jinx, it does not matter in the slightest what Grandma is saying. It could be, you will have to eat cockroach’s boogers and die. Jinx is thirteen, the idea of mortality and danger are far off thoughts to her. Right now she only wants one thing, to finally be allowed to seriously study magic. Confident, Jinx replies “I’m ready!” “Alright-y then” Grandma says as her jovial personality returns. She spins around to face the magical staircase. The pair ascends up into the attic. Jinx’s heart begins racing. The thrill of the unknown consuming her, as an uncontrollable smile engulfs her face. Jinx watches her Grandma’s stocking feet disappear at the top of the staircase.
Jinx considers “What if I’m not ready to learn magic? What if Dad’s right?” Her heart drops but there is no time to dwell on the negative thoughts. Jinx’s head pops up over the rectangular opening in the floor boards, just in time to see her Grandma wave her wand.
The Skeleton Key
Receiving a letter in the mail is always exciting. After all Jinx gets so few letters. Pretty much only birthday cards from family. She walks while reading the envelope. On the front it is addressed in fancy calligraphy writing.
To:
Miss Jinx Hill
87 S. Hill Drive
Hill Lake, Indiana, USA, Earthly World
From:
Light Council
1313 Council Way
Salem, Massachusetts USA, Earthly World
There is an ink stamp of a lit candle in place of a regular postage stamp. The back the envelope has been sealed with a blob of red wax “Very cool” Jinx thinks. Imprinted into the wax is a circle with a crescent moon and the Roman numerals for thirteen.
Once Jinx reaches Grandma’s car, the two take off down the road. As they turn onto the main highway, Jinx sees her mail man pass them, heading back toward her house. “That’s weird” Jinx says. “What is my dear” Grandma asks while concentrating on the slippery road.
Baffled Jinx continues “We just passed our mail man. Why is he going back to my house I already got the mail?” Grandma smiles “You really haven’t learned much. Our Magical Mail doesn’t go through the post office. It gets to where it needs to go with spells or seals. Seals are safer. No one can open them, let alone read them, except the person they’re intended for.” Jinx exclaims “That is so amazing! I love magic!” Grandma says grinning “Just wait, you ain't seen nothing yet!”
For the rest of the ride to Grandma’s house Jinx studies the envelope. “It’s kind of heavy” Jinx tells her Grandma “there must be more than just a letter in here. I’m going to open it.” Grandma screeches “NO! Wait until we get home! You never know what is inside of a Magical Letter. It’s best we are not in a moving vehicle when we find out.”
At last they arrive at Grandma’s house. Jinx loves coming here, it is peaceful and fun. She always gets to stay up late and do things she cannot at home. At her house Jinx is just one of three kids pining for her parent’s time. Here, in sharp contrast she gets all of her Grandma’s attention. They get to do so many things together, bake cookies, go on long walks, play games, get an actual seat on the couch instead of the floor and talk to one another all the time. Grandma’s house is partially built into a hill. Her garage is downstairs, most of the rooms are upstairs on the main level and there is a third floor Jinx and her siblings are never allowed in. Obviously this just makes it all the more intriguing.
Grandma pulls the car into the garage, closing the door behind them before whispering “Ok Jinx, it’s time for you to finally go into the third floor, my secret room.” Jinx’s eyes widen, her excitement is completely transparent “Are you kidding? No one’s ever allowed up there! I must be dreaming! Today’s getting better and better.” Smiling at Jinx’s youthful enthusiasm Grandma takes her coat off and motions for Jinx to do the same. They hang them on the metal hooks by the door with their snow boots placed in pairs beneath. It is always so neat and tidy here. “A place for everything and everything in its place” Grandma always says.
She ushers Jinx upstairs, then into the narrow hall way. Without looking Grandma reaches up above the door frame and pulls down an intricately carved wooden wand. Jinx has obviously seen this before. Her Mom and Grandma use wands a lot. Although Grandma can do a great many things without one too. Grandma taps the tip of her wand at the top of the wall. A small stair case magically lowers.
Grandma asks “Are you ready to begin your first lesson Jinx?” “Am I ever, let's go!” Jinx’s thrill shines upon her young face, while she begins leaning forward to rush up the stairs. Grandma jokes “Hold up there, where’s the fire?” Then her demeanor changes and she says sternly “You have to know, there are a lot of rules, studding, discipline and hard work. If you truly want to be able to go back to the Great Hall, you must understand the dangers and the risks. I am not trying to scare you. The magical worlds have both good and bad, beautiful and ugly. However you will be learning only White Witchcraft from me.”
Grandma informs her “Jinxy, now that you have made it this far I can let you in on a few secrets.” Lowering her voice Grandma’s eyes intensifying “You need to know that somewhere there are others studying diligently to learn Dark Magic. You must be able and willing to protect yourself. Many witches have been scarred for life or far worse, lost their lives due to battling Dark Magic. There are far too many to recall.” Her eyes moist from sorrow, she glances at the wall, covered in photos. Grandma focuses in on her late husband, Jinx’s Granddad’s smiling face. Without looking at Jinx, Grandma asks point blank “Are you ready to accept the responsibility?”
She looks at her Grandma. To Jinx, it does not matter in the slightest what Grandma is saying. It could be, you will have to eat cockroach’s boogers and die. Jinx is thirteen, the idea of mortality and danger are far off thoughts to her. Right now she only wants one thing, to finally be allowed to seriously study magic. Confident, Jinx replies “I’m ready!” “Alright-y then” Grandma says as her jovial personality returns. She spins around to face the magical staircase. The pair ascends up into the attic. Jinx’s heart begins racing. The thrill of the unknown consuming her, as an uncontrollable smile engulfs her face. Jinx watches her Grandma’s stocking feet disappear at the top of the staircase.
Jinx considers “What if I’m not ready to learn magic? What if Dad’s right?” Her heart drops but there is no time to dwell on the negative thoughts. Jinx’s head pops up over the rectangular opening in the floor boards, just in time to see her Grandma wave her wand.
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