BANISHING EVIL

A Fictional Short Story I Once Wrote

The clock in the hall chimed 3am; the witching hour was upon us. We lit the candles one by one while calling each element to our circle. Each flame flickered brighter and higher letting us know when each was with us. As I lit the last candle, purple representing spirit, a loud smashing sound of glass breaking came from downstairs. There was no time to lose. I had to finish casting the circle before they reached us.

As I finished casting the circle a silver stream of light could be seen connecting us all together, and forming a protective barrier. The creatures had finally reached our position but they were too late; no negative or evil energy was going to be able to enter our circle now. My friends and I were safe and protected enough to begin casting the spell that would send them back to their realm.

We began to chant in unison; smooth and steady came the words. "Oh great Goddess who gives us life, nurtures our souls and cradles us in her bosom of earth hear our call. Please gives us strength to return these creatures of evil to whence they came. May our combined love give forth to protection for all in this realm as this plaque is removed. Only good is welcomed here...only good." As we said those last words there was a blinding flash of white light in the room. A portal had opened with a violent force that pushed the air hard all around. Our circle keep us safe from the strong gust that began to suck the creatures up into it one by one.

The portal swished and spun with a fury so powerful that it made the creatures squeal and shriek as it sucked them in. I wasn't sure if this was a normal thing because it was our first dealing with a creature sucking portal. However, it did make my skin crawl to hear those horrible painful sounds each time one was pulled into it. The creatures may have been evil but I don't think they deserved to be tortured on their journey back to where they came from; at least that is what it sounded like.

As the room filled with their loud bellows there was an unexpected large flash of green light that came from a far corner of the room. It was another portal that had opened but this one wasn't filled with good energy. The green glowing light emanating from it was the indicator that this particular portal was one of evil. It gave off an energy of anger, hate and darkness. The portal let out black smoke that smelled of sulfur and rotting flesh. It seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, and we had no idea what was going on or what was about to happen next.

We all looked over at the smokey portal while keeping our intentions tight on the circle. In the green glow behind the black smoke a silhouette began to form as something was emerging from it. The form resembled that of a very large female; tall and stocky with long hair that moved like waves behind her. The face of this thing coming towards us finally cleared the smoke. We all gasped from shock as the demon goddess, also known as the goddess of walking death, Empusa stood before us. She was known for feasting on blood and flesh mostly from men but she didn't discriminate. Seeing her before us gave me a chill up my spine and I knew my circle and I were in big trouble.

Our portal had sucked up all of the creatures leaving the room with just us and Empusa. I screamed to my circle to enhance their intentions on the protection we were still holding hoping it would be enough to help us get out of there in one piece. Empusa began to move closer as she let out a jarring screech. She floated off the ground and had a rage in her eyes that glowed red. Elias was standing to my right and Zelda to my left. Zia was to her sister's left and Selene on her other side. I looked at each of them and said, "When I count to three pull one other in the direction I go and run but don't let go of each other or your intentions. Zelda I will let go of your hand in order to lead us out but don't let go of your sister." Empusa was almost on us when I counted out three and the silver circle turned into a rope like connection that held on to us as I led my circle out and we all ran together.

Down the stairs we went as fast as we could without letting go. I headed for the front door but before opening it looked back to see that Zelda had tripped and fallen at the bottom of the stairs. Somehow our connection did not break but it stretched from her to us like a fishing line that had to be reeled in. Zia yelled at her sister to get up and screamed when she saw Empusa at the top of the staircase floating surrounded by a bright green glow. The goddess of walking death began to swoop down towards Zelda but before she was able to reach her, the twin girl had regained her footing and was holding on to her sister again. I pulled opened the door and we headed out into the cold night air running into the woods behind my house. The trees and brush were dense enough that they helped us to lose Empusa for a little while. This gave us some time to do what was needed to get ready for the next step.

I could hear Elias behind me asking where was I taking them. As we began to approach the giant oak where I did my most powerful solitary rituals his question had been answered. He knew exactly what I was up to once he saw the tree. The power that was grounded there was nothing like what we had been using from the everyday energy of the universe around us. He knew that I only went to that place when the need was great, and this was definitely one of those times. I told Elias to grab onto Zelda's hand and form the circle around the tree so I could stay in the center. Everyone did as they were told and continued to hold their intentions; the protection spell was strong but it wouldn't be enough to keep us safe from Empusa. At the base of the tree I always kept an "emergency" bundle tucked into a small empty burrow that once belonged to a squirrel family. Hastily I poured out the contents of the bundle onto the ground, looked for the items I needed, grabbed them and placed my right hand on the oak's trunk asking for his help and blessing.

My emphatic abilities made it possible for me to communicate with all things in the universe, so this was a totally normal thing for me to do. This oak was more than a tree but a good friend. We had a connection since I was a child and his energy was one I could always count on. In my left hand I held a tourmaline stone, clear quartz crystal, one white candle and a mixture of black and white salt. As my right hand laid on the tree I could feel its energy vibrating into me; he was giving me some of his strength to help with me with the spell I was about to perform.

I removed my hand and began to put the items in place. There wasn't much time and things had to be done quickly. I took the salt mixture and sprinkled it all around us in the circle we held while chanting "Great goddess of all life please hear my call. We are in great need of your help tonight." I then placed the tourmaline facing north and quartz facing south at the base of the tree while continuing to the chant. "Evil has entered our realm and must be banished before all is lost. Please great goddess, come join us in our circle and assist us with our fight." Once I said those last words I lit the white candle and waited for the white flash of light that always came when I called for her but nothing happened.

Off in the distance between the tall tree tops I could see a green glow that was getting closer to our location; it was was Empusa she would find us soon. I looked at my circle and felt helpless not understanding why the spell had not worked. Than Selene yelled out to me "You forgot to burn the sage." Damnit, how could I forget the most important part? I guess with the panic and hurry of everything taking place it had slipped my mind completely. The contents of the bundle were scattered around my feet. I looked and looked but didn't see the sage bundle anywhere. My heart was starting to pound hard as panic entered me. I took a deep breath and focused my mind on finding the sage bundle. Then I saw it, the bundle, it was outside the circle not far from Elias. The only way to get it would be to leave the protection barrier, so that's what I did. I let everyone know what I was about to do and stepped out. I looked up towards the tree tops and noticed that the green glow coming from the woods had gotten a lot brighter; Empusa was close.

I Quickly grabbed the sage from the ground and fumbled for my lighter. I knew it was better to light it with the white candle but I had left it inside the circle at the base of the tree. Smoke started to spew from the dried bunched up leaves in my hand, and I blew it all around the space we were in. I figured it would be a good idea to sage the outside of our circle before going back in, so I blessed and cleansed it as fast as I could. Just as I had gotten to the last area and was about to reenter a loud screech could be heard from behind me. I jumped back into the protection circle and grabbed the white candle while still wafting the sage smoke all around. Once again I chanted the words of the spell from my first try and this time there was a slight flicker of while light but not the dramatic flash I was used to. Something was wrong and time had run out. Empusa had found us and she was coming straight for me.

The goddess of walking death was upon us and floated towards the protection circle trying to cross through it but she couldn't get in. I was shocked because without my spell having worked I was sure Empusa would have broken through. Each time she tried the sliver thread holding us all together would vibrate and send her a shock throwing her backwards. I could only assume that the spell had in fact worked but wasn't sure what exactly had happened. The goddess had not appeared and there was only a light flicker of white light after my chant. How could this be happening? Empusa kept trying to penetrate the circle and each time it knocked her backwards she would screech loudly. For a goddess she didn't seem to be very smart. It was a though she had no brain or intelligence. This was disturbing because it meant she was more of a shell with only violent killing tendencies; there would be no reasoning with her verbally.

I kept trying to keep the panic out of me and was still trying to figure out in my mind what had gone wrong, or right, with the spell. Time seemed to stand still but an hour had passed since the witching hour. I knew my circle was tired just like I was and they would begin to waver soon. If that happened than the protection we had up would also begin to dissipate. Of the five of us Elias was the weakest when it came to witchy powers and I could see the strain in his face. He was using every ounce of his life force to keep the circle of protection together. I think Empusa sensed this in him because he became her next target. She threw herself hard at him from behind. She was trying to knock him down; to make him lose the connection. I couldn't let that happened. Something had to be done. I needed to figure things out and fast.

The first thing that came to mind was a repelling spell my aunt had taught me many years before. It was simple and not very powerful but I figured giving it a try on Empusa couldn't hurt. The worse that would happen is it wouldn't work or just make her angrier. I placed my right palm in an upward position facing out and said "Repel, retreat, recede. Repel, retreat, recede. I repel thee." My hand glowed with a blue flame and I flung it through the circle, passed Elias and right at Empusa's face. I struck her dead on in the chest instead but it made her fly through the air beyond the trees. Everyone had a look of total shock on their faces when it happened, even me. I just stood there looking at my hand not understanding what had just happened. The blast of energy that came out of me was more powerful than it should have been for that spell. There was no way the spell could have done what it did without some other energy force behind it.

Then all of a sudden I heard a voice calling my name. It was faint and sounded far so it was hard to pinpoint where it was coming from. I asked my friends if they had heard it too but no one else had. Apparently I was the only one who had heard the voice. Again, the voice echoed with my name but this time it sounded like it came from within me. I concentrated on the sound as it continued until I was able to hear clearly. With my eyes closed and my focus on the voice I saw a figure appear in my mind; it was the great goddess and she was in me. "Trinity Moon, do not be afraid. I heard your call and have come to help. You are my vessel and through you, together, we shall use our combined powers to banish Empusa back to her realm." I couldn't believe what I was hearing but it had made me feel relieved knowing my circle and I were not alone anymore.

I called out to everyone and let them know that the spell had worked just in a different way but by the looks on their faces I could tell they didn't fully understand. Then I told them to prepare for a fight of spells and wit. Elias looked at me totally confused and asked "What are you talking about? We can't fight Empusa on our own. You may have stunned her but she will be back and just as powerful." As much as I loved Elias sometimes his pessimism came out at the most inopportune times and annoyed me to no end. I reassured him that we weren't alone and that the spell I cast did in fact work. "Elias my dear how do you think I was able to stun her? It was the great goddess helping me. Her energy combined with my own is what caused the repelling spell to become so powerful." I looked around and everyone was looking at me with surprise but I could also feel the sense of relief within them.

Now that we were all more at ease I explained to them what exactly was going on. We didn't have much time for Empusa to wake from the stun I gave her, so we were going to have to work fast. I came up with the idea of using the oak tree as part of our circle by having Elias place his hand on it while everyone else continued to hold hands but in a line instead of a closed circle. Since the tree had so much energy Elias would be able to channel it from him to the others. This idea was also in part due to how tired everyone was becoming and their energy dwindling. I directed them to the positions in which each should be without letting go of hands. The sliver thread still held tight and had become one long cord going across all of our bodies. The cord stretched and held on to me where ever I moved, so it made it possible for me to not have to be holding on to the others when the time came. Elias found a low thick branch on the oak that could reach and held on to it. When he did the sliver cord wrapped itself around the trunk letting us know that the tree had joined in as part of our circle.

I walked over to where I had dumped out all the contents of my emergency bundle and picked them up. Something told me to turn around and I could see a faint green glow in the distance beyond the trees; Empusa was regaining consciousness from the stun. I hurried over to Selene who I had made sure was on the other end of the line. Next to me she was the most powerful witch in the group, so I thought it best to have her on an open end. I asked her to give me her empty hand and placed the sage bundle in it. With my white candle I lit the bundle again and told her she needed to keep it burning. Selene was able to use a quick spell for fire that would help to keep the bundle burning during the fight. It was important to keep the area cleansed and free from negative energy. There were always crystals and gemstones in my bundle that could be used in any type of ritual or spell. I had put in six tourmaline stones the last time I replenished it and placed one in the palms of everyone's cupped holding hands. The white candle stood with me and I placed a stone in my pocket; we were ready.

We were ready just in time with our preparedness because the green glow had gotten brighter and was now moving towards us again. Empusa was awake and, from the looks of the speed of the glow, very angry. I stood firm out in front of the line my group held keeping myself in the center aligned with Zelda who stood behind me. The sliver cord now formed a pyramid shape connecting from my right to the oak and my left to Selene. My heart pounded hard but my hands and feet were steady. I was ready to take on whatever Empusa was about to throw at us. I kept my eyes focused directly ahead watching the green glowing light rushing towards us. I looked hard in front of me furrowing my brow trying not to be blinded by it. All of a sudden a bolt of green light came straight at me hitting my chest. I felt the impact but it didn't hurt or make me fall.

Empusa screeched and floated around us with such rage it made the air hot and stale. Once again she shot at me with green blots of light but they were of no use. The power of the goddess, my circle, the oak and I combined were just too powerful for her attacks to have any affect. She tried going above us and swooping down like a bird of prey on the hunt but it didn't help. Every time Empusa tried something to attack us with it would not work and only made her angrier each time. It was a wonderful advantage to have until she decided to try and open a portal. I looked over at Selene and gave her a nod; it was the sign to begin the ritual we had decided to do. Empusa was attempting to bring back the creatures we had removed from our realm and sent back to hers. The energy we were giving off was causing her portal to form much slower than it normally would have, so this gave us some time to perform the ritual we needed to send her back.

One good thing about the portal she was opening was that we were able to use it in our favor. We would reverse the entrance and have it suck Empusa in. Selene began with the words "Evil of old and of other worlds you are not welcomed here." Then Zia continued with "Evil of old and of other worlds you cannot rule here." Next was Zelda with the words "Evil of old and of other worlds you have no power here." Elias was next but something was wrong. His knees were beginning to buckle and his body was shaking hard. The tiredness had kicked in and he was having trouble holding on. I turned my head to face him and shouted "Elias, clear your mind and focus only on the energy of the oak. I know you're tired but you can do it." Empusa's portal was beginning to form an opening, slowly still, but it was getting bigger. Elias had to pull through and fast; we couldn't waste any more time.

Then I heard his voice from behind me strong and loud say the words "Evil of old and of other worlds you cannot stay here." That was my cue to finish off the ritual chant. I placed the white candle on the ground in front of me, spread my arms out wide like a bird ready to take off and began. "Evil of old and of other worlds return from where you once came. Leave this realm. Be gone, be gone, be gone...we banish you." Just as I had finished my last word the portal opening had become just large enough for a hand and leg to come through; the creatures had entered it on the other end and were almost through. I shot out a white beam of light from my hands straight into the portal. There was a loud thud sound that came out of it; I had successfully hit whatever was coming through. My next task was to reverse the pull of it and, hopefully, Empusa would be sucked in.

The reversal spell needed to be cast on the portal and I was the only one who could do it. This meant I would need to separate myself from the group and position myself behind the portal itself. Since I had the great goddess within me guiding and helping through the fight, I was not scared to be alone. Under my breath I softly said "I remove myself from this circle but shall return." Then I began to walk forward and the silver cord that held and connected me to the others was severed. It still held on to everyone else and the oak tree. Empusa saw when I was released and immediately she hurled her body at me. I ducked out of the way and ran to where the portal stood just hovering there in midair. I needed to get behind it but the goddess of walking death was fast and came at me again. This time I miscalculated and didn't move out of the way in time. She hit me hard in the chest and knocked the wind out of me. I tumbled to the ground and landed at the base of a nearby tree hitting my arm on its trunk.

The pain shot up and down my entire body like a million tiny pins poking me at once. It was a hot stinging pain and I screamed from it. I could hear Elias call out my name and gasp came from the girls but their worries were all for nothing because the pain subsided quickly. The goddess's power had quickly healed me and I was back on my feet in minutes. I could see the look of shock in Empusa's eyes. It was the first real sign of any other emotion or feeling besides rage and anger that came from her that entire night. The goddess called to me in my head and told me what I needed to do. I ran back over to the portal and positioned myself behind it but before performing the spell my body started to emanate with a bright blue glow. My chest heaved hard in and out than my feet rose up off the ground. I was floating and glowing just like Empusa but with a different color; the great goddess was coming out to fight.

I had no control over my own body at this point. It floated and swayed from side to side readying itself to confront Empusa. The goddess of walking death was in front of me preparing to attack. Then, without warning, she flew up towards the night sky, made a sharp U turn and headed down straight for me. The great goddess was fast as she pulled my body out of the way, turned towards Empusa and shot out rays of blue light. One after the other they hit her hard everywhere thrashing her all over the place. Empusa tried to float up to the top of a tree but another ray of blue light hit her dead on the center of her back making her fall to the ground; she was no match for the combined magick and strength of the great goddess and I. My group was holding on tight with the protection ritual, and we were just about ready to send Empusa back.

Once again I was behind the portal, which by now had opened fully. I raised and placed my hands with palms facing out towards it and recited the necessary spell. "Reverse one turn, reverse two turns, reverse three turns and take back what you have released." My circle began to chant the spell over and over until the portal began to swirl in the opposite direction. It had worked and now we needed to get Empusa in front of it. She had been stunned by the last hit and was squirming around on the ground trying to get her footing. Once she was back up the rage in her eyes had doubled; she was mad and that made it perfect to lure her in. The great goddess once again took over my body and it floated upward. The next step was to get in front of Empusa like a steak in front of a dog in order to reel her in. She wasn't happy to see me and screeched in my face; the sound was almost deafening so close up. Then I saw one large hand reach out for me but my body skirted to one side out of reach.

Empusa had taken the bait and now all she had to do was follow me. The goddess shot out a few lighter rays of blue light at her in hopes that she would chase us; it worked. She was super close behind me as we both flew towards where the portal stood. I felt a grab for my right foot but her fingers slipped as my body flew faster. Her speed also accelerated behind us trying to catch up. We kept going until the portal was in view and my body began to slow down a bit. Empusa was still coming at a super-fast speed, which gave us the advantage needed. We were getting close to the portal opening so I began to calculate how fast we would need to duck out of the way before approaching the opening. I let the goddess know, since she was the one controlling my body, that we would have only a few seconds to get out of the way and let the portal suck Empusa in. So I took a deep breath as my flying body passed the portal opening almost getting pulled in. The pull of force from the portal began to get harder once it sensed her body was close and it began to suck Empusa in. She screeched and thrashed trying to fight it but it was of no use; the portal had its grip on her and wasn't letting go.

I ran over to my circle, recited the words to reenter and got back into my place; the sliver cord was around me again connecting me to the others. My body was back under my control and I could see a bright white light hovering over us; it was the goddess. The portal began to violently swirl and shake as it continued to pull on Empusa. She was putting up a good fight but it wasn't one she could win. Then, all of a sudden, there was a loud bang and flash of green light. The portal had closed and disappeared along with Empusa; it was over and we had won. We were able to banish the evil and save the night. I thanked the great goddess for her presence and closed our circle of protection. Once we were all released from the silver cord and back to our normal state of being each one of us collapsed to the ground in exhaustion. That morning we found ourselves waking up under my faithful friend the giant oak tree. I placed my hand on his aging trunk and thanked him for all he had done for us. His energy reply was that of "anytime my dear friend."