Chastening of the Witch, Part 3
Date: 3/28/98
From: AngeliqueBouchard

Miranda walked back to Collinwood with her brother Barnabas. She told him of meeting the strange man, but left out the part about him giving her the wooden doll.

"Perhaps he is a magician of some sort," Barnabas commented. As Miranda was the image of her mother so Barnabas inherited his father's looks. He was a handsome 19 year old young man, already becoming involved in the family business. "When Mother and Father return from their travels we will have to ask them if they indeed know this Judah Zachary."

Upon entering Collinwood, Miranda headed for the drawing room while Barnabas went upstairs. Miranda opened the doors to find Melanie inside weeping softly. "Aunt Melanie, what's wrong?" Miranda asked as she sat down beside her.

"Ohh nothing. Nothing at all," Melanie said as she wiped away her tears.

"Is it Uncle Jeremiah again?" Miranda asked. Since Miranda could remember her Uncle and Aunt were unhappy. It was no secret to the family that the marriage was prearranged by her late grandfather, Joshua, and not something Jeremiah initiated himself. When Melanie could not bear him any children, Jeremiah could not hide his disappointment. Melanie still thought she and Jeremiah could have a happy life together, but Jeremiah did not share this belief and frequently distanced himself from his wife.

Melanie picked up one of Miranda's long golden curls from her back and said, "I remember being young once. So filled with hope and dreams for the future. How different things turned out." Melanie rose and left the room.

Miranda pulled the wooden doll from her pocket and thought for a moment. "I know just who to test this doll on. I can't think of anyone more deserving than Uncle Jeremiah."

************************************

Far away from the Collinwood estate, Angelique stared out the window of her rented room. Her still blond hair was piled up on her head and she wore a green dress embellished with lace and ribbons.

"What's wrong Angelique?" Barnabas asked as he came up behind her and put his hand on her shoulder.

"I'm worried about Miranda," she said.

"Why? Do you have some sort of premonition?" Barnabas asked with sudden concern.

Angelique knew why Barnabas looked so alarmed. She smiled reassuringly, "No it's nothing like that. What else can a mother do when she's away from her children but worry how they are getting along without her."

Angelique went back to looking out the window still smiling at Barnabas' reaction. Years ago she had been forced to tell Barnabas of her involvement with witchcraft when he kept insisting they travel to visit her family in Martinique. Angelique knew if they went there with Miranda, only a few months old, her family would expect her to allow them to baptize her into the dark arts. Angelique did not want her daughter to be owned by anyone, alive or undead, which would be the case should she offer up Miranda in this ancient ritual. Angelique knew her own soul was not her own possession. Despite her lack of using her powers, in the end her deal with the devil was sealed and final. Angelique did not want this to be so for Miranda. Her children had the power of wealth and prestige, and that would be more than enough to grant them their every desire.

Everything in Angelique's life had turned out better than she could have ever possibly imagined. Still, she couldn't shake the feeling that she should go home and protect her children.

**************************************

"Tomorrow morning," Miranda thought to herself as she lay in bed drifting off to sleep. "Tomorrow morning I will try out the doll."

In the shadows Judah watched the rhythm of Miranda's chest rising and falling as she lay on her bed. "Soon Miranda. Soon you will be completely mine." He laughed softly.

TO BE CONTINUED