The Kuthun Read online

  An overwhelming sense of having met him before courses through me. The stick is suddenly silenced and the old man stops chanting. He slowly turns his face towards me and in the light of the fire I notice that his eyes have no pupils. In their place are circles of misty, grey opaqueness. I figure that he either has cataracts or he is blind, and there is no way he could be seeing me right now.

  My magic intensifies.

  His moon-like eyes find mine. I search behind me, thinking that he must be looking at someone else, but there is no one else here with us. The smoke from the fire emits a ghostly veil within the room, giving off the illusion of spirits floating around. He watches me calmly.

  ‘Welcome, you who are chosen.’ He holds up his hand in a sign of peace and acknowledges my presence with a nod of his head.

  I am lost for words. How can he see me? He watches me calmly, waiting for a response.

  Chosen? What does that mean? ‘Ah, thank you,’ I answer, slightly confused.

  ‘Sit,’ he says, moving his hand towards the woven mat across from him.

  I look around me, not sure of what is happening but sensing that this moment is important somehow.

  I carefully place myself closer to the woman and take my seat gently. As her face comes into view my hand covers my mouth in alarm. Instinctively I know that the face I am looking upon belongs to that of Isabella Cole—the woman who would unknowingly spawn a centuries-long curse upon our family.

  She seems to be sleeping. Her clothes are worn and her skin has a blue lustre to it, indicating that she has been subjected to the cold elements outside. They must have only just found her?

  While placing his hand to his chest he says, ‘My name, Taqôq Wiyon.’

  I am still a little startled so it takes me a moment to respond. ‘Um, my name is, Elena Cole.’ I mimic his movement by putting my hand on my chest also.

  He stares at me thoughtfully, the lines around his eyes crinkling slightly, and then he smiles and nods. ‘Yes. Ray of Sun. Yes.’ He keeps nodding as if it makes complete sense to him.

  I, on the other hand, am having a hard time trying to understand any of it. Ray of Sun? I feel like this should make sense to me but I find it hard to understand his meaning. I revisit the conversation in my mind.

  Eventually I get it. ‘Oh, I see. My name means Ray of Sun?’ I ask him, tapping my chest lightly.

  He nods calmly. ‘Yes, yes. Ray of Sun.’

  I start to feel light-headed. My eyes must convey my confusion because Taqôq Wiyon looks at me warmly and raises his hand. ‘Come soon,’ he says.

  I feel myself drifting.

  I’m sitting back on the table near the oval, feeling dizzy and disoriented. Lifting my head I see movement off in the distance and through the sun’s haze I see Uncle Jo and Magi walking towards me, neither of them looking particularly happy.

  On slightly shaky legs I run to them. ‘I’m so glad you’re okay,’ I say hugging Uncle Jo hard.

  ‘We’re alright, Ellie. It’s all fine.’

  I bend down to hug Magi. She licks my face and is panting like a steam train.

  ‘I saw you from upstairs. What happened?’ I ask, not mentioning that I cast a spell as I thought that wouldn’t go down too well under the circumstances.

  ‘Magi caught the Venator’s scent and took off after him. I followed as quickly as I could. We chased him for about three miles and then lost him in the woods.’ His words are laced with hatred as he looks back towards the tree line.

  ‘We’ll find him, Uncle Jo. It’s only a matter of time.’

  ‘That’s what worries me,’ he says giving me a concerned glance.

  We walk back to the school in silence. What is there to say to one another that will make it alright? As we near the car park I glance up at the Sequoia tree that I was sitting under earlier. The owl has taken flight but no doubt he’ll be back.

  When we reach Uncle Jo’s truck he pauses with his hand on the door. ‘Ellie,’ he mutters, not looking at me. ‘Please be careful.’

  I place my hand on his shoulder. ‘I will, it’ll be alright.’ I’m not sure if it actually will be but I can’t let him know that, I’m the only family he has left.

  He nods his head and gets into the car but Magi doesn’t leave my side. ‘Go on, Mags. Get in.’ She doesn’t budge. She just sits there watching me in defiance.

  Uncle Jo manages a weak smile. ‘Good luck getting her to move. Looks like she’s staying.’

  ‘She can’t stay. I have school!’ I exclaim.

  Magi turns back in the direction of the oval, heading towards the tree line again. She doesn’t look back. I watch after her, surprised at such a defiant display of hound attitude!

  ‘Like I said, good luck with that.’ He starts The Beast up. ‘I’ll pick you up here at three, okay?’

  I nod.

  ‘Oh and Ellie, just so you know, when you teleport you completely disappear. I saw you pop back onto that table before, right out of nowhere.’ He shrugs. ‘Thought it might help you to know.’

  He drives out of the car park and I see his hand reach out the window and give me a wave.

  I stand there for a minute, surprised at my uncle’s nonchalant way of telling me I disappear when I time travel. I am completely gone? Well at least I know my body isn’t sitting back here in some comatose state for someone to find.

  The sound of the lunch bell ringing startles me back to the present. I glance back to the oval to see Magi’s tail disappear into the long grass on the other side.

  A hive of activity begins to surround me, with students heading to the oval for sports, and others heading to the trees to hide their smoking habits. I slowly make my way to the front of the building where Phoebe and I usually sit.

  My mind is a swirling vortex of thoughts and images—the mystery surrounding the kuthun and my involvement with it seems to be more complex than I initially thought. As my mind wanders again I see Phoebe waving at me enthusiastically from our habitual grassy mound.

  As I get closer she says, ‘Hey, where did you get to?’ She is busy unpacking her lunch. You don’t ever come between Phoebe and her food. As she always says, ‘Eating completes me.’

  ‘Oh, uh…nowhere. Just felt like going for a walk that’s all.’ I sit beside her, content to be in my normal environment once again.

  She takes a large bite out of her infamous chicken and mayo sandwich and says, ‘Sure you did. Meeting some cute guy behind the shed hey?’ She raises her eyebrows suggestively.

  I shake my head. ‘As if, Phoebs.’ I realise I didn’t bring my bag with me when I fled the room earlier and my eyes fall to her full-to-the-brim lunch box. ‘Any chance you want to part with any of that? I forgot my bag.’

  As she takes another bite she says, ‘E, you are my best friend, but if you touch my food I will have to kick your ass.’

  I laugh. ‘Was worth a try.’

  The day passes without another incident. I try to catch glimpses of Magi from my classrooms that have a view of the oval, but I don’t see her again.

  School finishes and we make our way to the car park. Uncle Jo is there already and Magi is seated in the back. A shudder of relief runs through me.

  As we head for home my mind wanders continuously despite the upbeat chatter that is going on between Uncle Jo and Phoebe. I smile at their banter and turn my head to look at Magi. Her large, black head is resting against the window and she seems to be lost in thought.

  We drop Phoebe off and now that we are alone together the mood in the car suddenly shifts. I turn back to face Magi. ‘Mags, what’s wrong?’ I give her a pat through the sliding rear window. She doesn’t even move her head to look at me, as if she’s saying, ‘I don’t have the energy to respond right now, thanks anyway, Ellie.’ She continues to look out into space.

  Sensing my concern Uncle Jo changes the subject by asking, ‘So, where did you go today?’

  ‘Huh? Oh you mean when I disappeared?’ He nods. ‘Um, well you probably won’t believe th
is, but I was actually in Isabella Cole’s tent watching her being healed by a medicine man.’

  It takes him a few moments to respond. I can hear the turning of the clogs going inside his head as he tries to remember this event occurring. His eyes widen in surprise. ‘Do you mean the Isabella Cole who fled Salem?’ His eyes are flitting back and forth between me and the road.

  ‘Yep, that’s the one.’

  His mouth hangs open slightly. I smile and look out the window, knowing the questions are coming.

  He gathers his thoughts. ‘Wow! So you were actually there? Did you see her? Did she speak to you?’ he asks enthusiastically.

  ‘Yes and no. I saw her but she was unconscious. The medicine man, Taqôq Wiyon, appeared to be healing her when I interrupted.’

  He shakes his head. ‘Uh, wait a minute. Taqôq Wiyon? You spoke to him?’ His question is filled with surprise.

  ‘Yep,’ I answer calmly.

  ‘Well…how did he see you?’

  ‘I don’t know, but he is a shaman so I suppose it makes sense that he could interact with me,’ I say it like it is obvious, although at the time I remember being just as shocked by it as he is right now.

  He lets out a whistle. ‘That is astounding. So tell me what he said?’

  I then go into detail about what I saw and my conversation with Taqôq Wiyon. When I am finished he can’t believe it. He shakes his head in astonishment.

  ‘So he expects you back then.’ It wasn’t really a question, more of a statement.

  ‘Yeah, I suppose you’re right. I hadn’t thought about that but now I can see that’s what he was meaning.’ How strange. He knew I would return.

  I am lost in thought as we pull into the driveway. We park the truck by the shed and I see Aunt Lily walking towards us. Something is wrong.

  We get out hurriedly and Uncle Jo strides over to her quickly. ‘What is it?’ he asks.

  Her face is creased with anxiety and she is wringing the dish towel in her hands. ‘I…I’m not sure, but I just got a phone call that was strange.’

  He frowns and his aura expands with a protective surge. He puts his arms around her and looks at me for a moment, relaying his worry. ‘Who was it?’ he asks her gently.

  ‘I don’t know but he asked for Ellie. When I said she wasn’t home he went silent. And when I asked him who was calling, he said…’ She looks at me with tears forming in her eyes.

  ‘What did he say?’ Uncle Jo’s voice has dropped to a new low.

  Aunt Lily looks between us. ‘He said to tell her that her time is coming.’

  He’s found me.

  Chapter 7

  Uncle Jo’s energy is going into overdrive. The anger pulsating off him is palpable. Magi whimpers and moves closer towards me. He starts to lead Aunt Lily back to the house, talking to her gently, trying to reassure her that everything is going to be fine. He looks at me and jerks his head, telling me to get my butt inside. Now!

  I obediently walk behind them, not wanting to have my uncle’s wrath upon me. After all, it is my fault this is happening. And now my aunt is caught in the middle. I just want this to be over.

  As we walk inside the house Uncle Jo leads Aunt Lily straight into the kitchen and I drop my bag quickly and bound upstairs with Magi hot on my heels. I close my bedroom door and lock it, turning around in search of an answer, in search of something that will help us.

  I think of the kuthun, Mum, Uncle Jo and Magi. I think about the Venator, the dreams, and the strange visitor with power. It all has to mean something. I just have to figure it out.

  The image of the kuthun pops into my head. I’ve seen it before, I’m sure of it. I quickly grab the silver key out of my jewellery box and stride over to the enchanted chest that sits at the foot of my bed. My hand shakes lightly as I push the key into the lock and turn it counterclockwise. A sound, like a train pulling into the station, tumbles out of it and I move a few blankets and keepsakes aside to find what I am searching for.

  My hands wrap around the Book of Cole and I gently pull it out. The faded leather bound book, worn with age, has been in our family for generations. It contains spells and skills that have been passed down through the ages. I love this book. It feels old and intricate and I imagine feeling the presence of all my ancestors coming through the pages, speaking to me when I read it. I lightly trace my fingers over the symbolic markings that have been magically carved around it to ensure its protection and preservation.

  On the front cover sits a side view of a woman’s profile. She has strong features—high forehead, wide eyes, a strong nose that is slightly turned down at the end, and her lips are full and pressed together. She appears to be wearing make-up, which is evident by the faded bold lines painted around her eye. Her hair is straight and sits close to her neck, and a symbolic headdress of some sort sits on top of her head—two horn-like prongs forming a “U” shape with a large sphere positioned in the middle.

  I’ve always wondered if anyone in our family has actually tried to find out who this woman is. If she is sitting on the cover of the Book of Cole then she obviously symbolises something important.

  I take the book over to the bed and sit down. Magi jumps up and makes herself comfortable within the blankets next to me. She always gets cosy when I bring the book out. It does seem to have a calming effect.

  Only a Cole witch can open the book so I recite the only spell that will unlock the seal. ‘Sole delara mae nafita.’ I run my hand over its face.

  A clicking sound lets me know it has accepted my request and I gently open the cover, searching for the source of my interest…the kuthun. As I turn each page it emits its own scent—lavender, rose, strawberry and lemon. My nose soon becomes an assortment of fragrant bouquets.

  I turn the pages slowly, taking in the words and pictures, searching for the symbol that seems so familiar to me. Then all of a sudden the pages start to turn on their own. Faster and faster they flick until I feel like I am watching an old black and white movie. When I begin to think it’s never going to end, they stop.

  My eyes take a minute to refocus and I look down onto the page that is being revealed to me.

  It has a different colour and texture to the rest. Where the other pages are paper, this one feels like material. It appears to be made of old parchment cloth. How strange. Where did this come from? On it I see faint writing and I squint my eyes trying to read it. I can just make out the words.

  “You possess your blood, Isis, you possess your power, Isis, you possess your magic, Isis. The amulet is a protection for this Great One, which will drive off anyone who would perform a harmful act against him.”

  The symbol of the kuthun is staring back at me from the parchment. I can’t believe it! I tighten my grip on The Book of Cole, not quite believing what I am seeing. I chew away at my bottom lip nervously and read the words again and again, until they are embedded in my mind clearly. Isis, amulet, Great One. I can’t seem to make any sense of anything, my mind a swirling pit of information and images that are assaulting my senses.

  The kuthun begins to throb against my chest, a slow and steady beat that puts me into a trance-like state. Before I know what is happening I’ve risen from the bed and am standing at the window, facing the garden. Magi has jumped off the bed and is watching me warily.

  I raise my arms out in front of me and my hands start to burn with an electrifying heat. It radiates up my arms and my veins pulsate with new life.

  In my right palm a small orb of white light appears. I am shocked at the sight of it and I try to move my hand but some sort of power seems to have taken control. My other hand moves to mimic the first, the orb now floating in the air between my palms. It begins to enlarge and glow brighter. Magi takes a step back.

  All of a sudden it changes colour. It shifts from white to yellow, then orange. Pain sears through my flesh and I grit my teeth, stifling a cry, and before I think I am about to incinerate completely a beam of light streams out from the kuthun at my neck and into the
orb. From there it exits the other side and heads through the glass window into the direction of the garden.

  I watch it streak out across the yard and disappear into the trees, unsure of its destination. The beam of light holds its form for a brief moment and as quick as the orb appeared it suddenly vanishes out of existence.

  Sharp, ragged breaths escape my lips. What the hell is going on? I lower my trembling hands, the colour of my skin turning from a burning red back to a soft pink. Unease swirls around me like a dark cloud and I rub my hands together nervously.

  ‘Did you see that, Mags?’ I ask her. She barks softly in response. ‘I’ll take that as a yes.’

  My head is reeling. Being a witch has taught me some things but that…that was something else altogether.

  I feel someone’s gaze upon me and cast my eyes back to the last place I saw the beam. And there in broad daylight, right behind the fence, stands the powerful being from my dream.

  My legs threaten to give way beneath me.

  As in the dream he is wearing a gold and violet cloak, which glimmers in the sunshine. He appears tall and powerful, yet there is a gentleness about him that I hadn’t felt before. The shade of his skin is like warm sand and his aura is throwing off intense colours that reach out from his body in every direction. My pulse picks up speed as the golden staff he holds in his hands begins to throb in synchronicity with my heartbeat.

  Out of the corner of my eye I see Magi jump up to the window and put her paws against the glass. She is barking but I cannot hear any sound. This entity has me mesmerised and I can’t look away, yet I am not afraid. I feel frozen in time, my body unmoving. How long I stay like this I cannot know. Then a shadow falls across my vision and my body feels like it is being shaken. I think I can hear my name being called but it’s too faint to tell.

  ‘Ellie! Ellie, can you hear me?’

  Someone is calling me. It sounds far away.

  ‘Ellie, snap out of it!’ The voice sounds familiar now.

  Uncle Jo? I hear Magi’s bark getting louder.

  ‘Ellie!’ Uncle Jo yells.