Chapter 28 — Mazie Moon

Mazie Moon, a sorceress, had never doubted her power or that she could protect herself—until today when she came face to face with evil at Thomas Shrock’s farm in Brier Hill County. She spied the black book in the middle of a pentagram and sensed the energy coming from it when she approached. It was a pentagram that she’d drawn weeks ago.

There was an eerie feeling in the air. The Sorceress and the Seven Witches entered the pentagram with and surrounded the black book. Torches blazed above their heads as they danced and chanted around the black book as if they were in a trance. Sprigs of mistletoe were tucked behind their ears, and they wore necklaces made from wood from a sacred tree. They believed plants, nature, and ancient chants would protect them.

Finally, the chanting stopped, and the sorceress stood in front of the black book. “I command you to come out of the black book, demon. I have power over you. Come out, or I will set the book on fire and destroy you.”

Suddenly, a violent gust of wind came out of nowhere, and the sky turned from dusk to black. The black book’s pages turned rapidly, like a blur. The Sorceress crept close to the black book and held the torch near the pages, waiting for them to ignite.

“Burn, demon,” Mazie Moon said in a mocking tone. But the pages didn’t burn. She jabbed the book over and over. But the book was invincible and did not burn.

In a burst of dazzling light, Damien appeared out of the black book. He was larger than life. He threw back his head and laughed wickedly.

“You have power over nothing,” Damien snarled. “A Sorceress and Seven Witches meddling with the Prince of Darkness is not a threat. You amuse me.”

Mazie Moon was trembling, but she did not back down. Dressed in a long black robe, she jutted her chin and stepped forward with a flaming torch. “I am Mazie Moon, a direct descendant of a Druid. My ancestors were Celtic, and my father is a priest. My magic is powerful. It is not my wish to hurt you. I only ask that you leave and take the book with you.”

Damien shrugged. “I piss on Druids,” his dark eyes hypnotic as he approached her.

“Stay back,” she warned, her eyes scanning his burgundy velvet coat, his white ruffled shirt, and breeches with long stockings. There was no question he was royalty. Though he was dressed elegantly, his mouth was pure filth. He was dangerous. She drew back her torch and hurled it at him.

Damien laughed wickedly as he grabbed the flaming torch in mid and waved it at Mazie. When she lifted her chin in defiance, Damien gripped her shoulder and ripped her dress with a hard yank, leaving her naked and exposed. Her face turned crimson. The Seven Witches surrounded Mazie protectively and began to chant and dance around her.

Damien’s dark eyes glittered. He reached out and grabbed Amy by her waist-long pale blonde hair, holding the torch in one hand and her in the other.

Amy’s blue eyes registered terror.

“Release her,” Mazie Moon commanded.

“She’s a witch. At Ludwig Castle, we burn them at the stake,” Damien barked, as he threw Amy to the ground.

Amy screamed and lay whimpering, deathly pale, her body trembling.

Damien waved the torch, sparks flying, his long dark hair was blowing in the wind. He pointed to the black book, the pages till turning, and commanded, “Flog the witches.” The book loosed from her hands and took on a life of its own.

The black book rose into the air and flew at Mazie Moon, slamming her to the ground. It pounded her over and over with brute force. She tried to cover her head with her hands, and begged for mercy, but the book was relentless, and beat her senseless. The Seven Witches stationed at points of the pentagram looked on in horror, powerless to save her.

When the witches turned to run, Damien used his magic and froze them on the spot. The black book beat the Seven Witches, striking them with hard blows until they were too weak to stand. They had fallen one by one. They lay groaning, afraid to move for fear it would agitate him.

Then the black book fell at Damien’s feet with a thud.

“I came in peace,” Damien yelled. “You’re a murderous bunch of thieving heathens. A deacon stole the black book from a desk. He pointed his finger at Mazie. “You tried to burn the book. My beloved’s soul is in the book, and if you dare try to destroy the black book, I will destroy you.”

“I’m sorry,” Mazie said in a choked voice, her black hair spilling across the pentagram. Her black dress, torn. He was dangerous. She now knew that what had come from the black book was more than a demon. He was the devil himself.

Damien stood holding a flaming torch, towering over the eight women laying at his feet, battered and bloody. A smoky grey haze like burnt fog drifted above them. 

Mazie Moon gazed up at Damien, her dark eyes mere slits, as she breathed in the smoke. It settled in her chest, but she dared not cough, or make the slightest sound, lest Damien’s wrath come down upon her. Damien’s face was anguished as he called out Stephanie’s name over and over, the haunting sound echoing throughout the valleys and hills. 

Mazie watched as Damien’s face changed from tormented to triumph. His eyes, dark and piercing stared at the crowd. Though she could not see Stephanie approaching, she could hear the humming of the crowd. Mazie seized the opportunity to escape, and began to crawl slowly away through the damp green glass like a caterpillar. The seven witches slithered after her. They sought cover in the barn, cowering in fear, peeping out through the barn door. 

“She’s courageous,” Mazie said as Stephanie’s voice rang out into the dark night, shouting to the mob to ‘get out of her way.’ “The crowd is parting; they are heeding her commands.” 

“Is she a witch?” Amy asked, her voice quivering, as she watched through the crack, Stephanie walking with shoulders straight towards the evilest man alive. 

“I don’t know,” Mazie answered, " but I sense she has powers, much greater than ours.” 

There was complete silence as Stephanie tore down the hill and went straight to the pentagram, and stood bravely before Damien. 

“I’m here,” she shouted, her voice strong. “I’m the one you want. Leave them alone.” 

“She’s sacrificing herself,” Mazie said in a hushed voice, “to the devil.” 

They watched in disbelief as the black book grew tall. Damien pulled Stephanie into the book. And it slammed shut. The book began to rise and spin, then there was a blinding flash of light. The book vanished—swallowed up by the darkness of the night.