The Book of Spells

Chapter 1 - Before - It was a summer evening in 1898, 14-year-old Dexter Finn lived in a mansion with his rich father, his mother had passed away when he was a baby. There were rumors that she haunted the house itself. She had left an ancient book behind that Dexter’s father had locked away. “It’s for safekeeping son” but Dexter wanted to know what the book was about and why his father had locked it away. Was it haunted, did it unveil an evil curse? His father changed the pass-code every day, so there was no way of knowing what it was. Unless they all had something in common.

It was 1902, Dexter was now 18 years of age and he wanted to have his own space. Make some friends, get a job, and maybe even get a girlfriend. His dad gave him 100,000 dollars to buy a house. The house he bought was only small but he hated living in a large house, he always got lost in his father’s house. “Hey son, l gave you enough money to buy your own mansion and you buy a standard house.” Dexter walked off into the kitchen to make dinner, he loved to cook. “But dad, l always got lost in that big house.” he paused, a thought had occurred to him ' THE BOOK ' “Um dad, can you tell me what that book was that mom left behind?” There was an eerie silence. They both felt uneasy, “Son, there is a lot you don’t know about this family. But l don’t know whether you are ready to find out yet. All l can tell you at the moment is that the book is dangerous, that is why I have locked it away. That book is the reason for your mother’s death. She used it too much, she didn’t know how to use it safely either, now look where it got her. Don’t you ever try to use that book unless you have my permission, do you understand?” Dexter nodded. “But dad, why did mom have the book in the first place?” His father looked confused but then released what he was talking about, “She found the book in a book store, the store manager told her the book was a waste of time because it was a fake, but of course, your mother didn’t listen. She always loved ancient books but this book was not fake. Right, I’ve told you enough. You’re not ready to know the rest of it.” Dexter had more questions to ask, but he knew that it wasn’t the right time to ask them. “Dinners ready” announced Dexter, they ate in silence as the atmosphere grew tense.

There was a knock at the door. “I’ll get it, " Dexter stood up, “Hello, who is it?” he asked nobody answered. He opened the door. There was nobody there. “There’s nobody there.” he went to go sit down again. There it was again. Dexter looked out the window. There was a tall woman with blonde hair and a suitcase. Dexter watched her stare at the door waiting for an answer. Dexter was mesmerized by her beauty. The beautiful woman saw Dexter, “Well are you going to let me in?” Dexter returned to earth. He ran to the door. “Sorry, come in” she walked in. “I don’t mean to be rude or anything but what are you doing here?” She looked up. “Oh yes sorry, my name is Wendy you invited me to be your logger,” Dexter looked confused, “The ‘To Let’ sign outside” Dexter had now released why she was here. “Oh yes, sorry. I will show you to your room.” Dexter had given her the second-largest bedroom. The room was empty except for a double bed in the middle of the room. “I thought you would have your own things that you wanted to fill the room with.” “Thank you, the moving wan is on its way but won’t be here ‘till Thursday, four days” Dexter walked towards the door, “Oh we have lasagne downstairs if you would like some.” she put her bags on the floor and followed him downstairs. “That would be lovely” Dexter dished up some more lasagne for her, they all sat back down at the table.

Chapter 2 - Wendy - “Bye dad, see you next Sunday” Dexter went to go wash the dishes. Wendy followed. “Let me do that.” Dexter stepped away from the sink. He grabbed the flour, eggs, butter, and sugar. “What you making?” asked Wendy. Dexter grabbed a bowl and a whisk out the cupboard. “Cake, want some?” Wendy looked at the ingredients. Then looked back at Dexter. “Sure,” There was a knock at the door, “I’ll get it” Wendy dried her hands then opened the door. “Dexter I might need a hand, it’s the moving company.” Dexter looked confused. he walked over to the door. “You said they were coming on Thursday.” Dexter went to help. There was a small sofa, a wardrobe, a desk, and several boxes named fragile. They put all the stuff in the lounge. “Thank you, bye” Dexter closed the door. “Do you want me to help you unpack?” they took the desk up first, then the mini sofa and wardrobe, then all the fragile boxes. “Um… I’ll leave you to unpack, cake should be ready in 20 minutes.” He closed the door. The cake was finished in 20 minutes. Wendy slowly walked down the stairs. There was a slice of cake on the kitchen table for her. “Hey, this cake looks good” She ate the cake as if it would be the last thing she would eat. “Wow, you ate that fast.” Wendy smiled. She looked embarrassed. “Well I’m going to bed, it’s getting late,” Dexter exclaimed. It had turned 11 o’clock. “Goodnight” Dexter walked up the stairs. “Goodnight,” Wendy answered. She washed the rest of the dishes then went to bed. Wendy liked the place, it was small but cozy.

The next morning, Wendy woke up first. She went downstairs to make breakfast. Pancakes. Dexter woke up to the tasty smell of a sweet breakfast. Dexter walked down the stairs. “Morning” Dexter rubbed his eyes. He ran his hands through his messy hair. “Morning Dexter, pancakes for breakfast” Wendy plaited him two pancakes with maple syrup on them. “Ooo, thanks” Dexter ate his pancakes slowly, taking in all the flavor. Wendy sat down opposite Dexter, “How are they?” Dexter swallowed the mouthful of pancake. “They are amazing” Wendy blushed. Dexter stopped chewing. He swallowed then asked, “Do you want to go to the cinema with me this afternoon?” Wendy stopped chewing. “Yeah, sure,” she said quietly. She finished her pancakes and stood up. Dexter stood up too.

They both stepped outside. Dexter opened the passenger door for Wendy. He got in the car. When they got to the cinema Dexter helped Wendy out of the car. As they walked in Dexter asked, “Would you like some popcorn?” Wendy nodded.

The movie had finished. Dexter drove them home. “You didn’t speak much today” Dexter finally spoke. “No. I don’t really speak while in public. I don’t know why” They walked back into the house. Wendy spent the rest of the day in her bedroom.

Chapter 3 - Sunday - “Wendy I would like you to officially meet my father. Wendy” Dexter shouted up the stairs. His father was sitting at the dining room table. Dexter ran up the stairs and knocked on Wendy’s bedroom door. There was no answer. Dexter opened the door, Wendy was not in the room. He knocked on the bathroom door, no answer either. “Wendy,” Dexter worried. He ran down the stairs again. “Dad, have you seen Wendy?” he looked up from his newspaper. “No son, sorry.” Dexter started to worry. He checked every room in the house. “Wendy,” He shouted. “Wendy where are you?” Dexter sat down at the table. The front door opened. Dexter looked up. “Wendy, there you are,” He breathed a sigh of relief. Dexter hugged her. She hugged him back. “Cough, cough” they broke apart, they both blushed. Dexter turned away. “Wendy, this is my father,” Wendy waved, “Why don’t you take a seat and I’ll cook dinner.” Dexter disappeared behind the kitchen worktop.

“Hello, my name is Wendy. I believe we met last Sunday.” Dexter’s father put his newspaper down on the table. “Yes. Last Sunday,” They shook hands, “So are you two, together or?” He asked. Wendy looked into her lap. She didn’t feel like answering that question. Dexter’s father shrugged then walked over to the kitchen. “Hey so are you two dating or what?” Dexter stood up quickly and bashed his head on the cupboard door. “Dad!” He said under his breath. Dexter rubbed his head. “Oh, sorry son”

Chapter 3 - Embarrassed - “Dinner is ready,” Dexter passed out the plates and dished up dinner, “Fajitas” they all sat and ate in silence. “Dad, I want to know!” Dexter shouted. Wendy looked up wondering what all the commotion was about. “I told you last week. You’re not ready for this.” He went back to his food. “Can someone please tell me what is going on?” Wendy looked annoyed. “Well, my mother died when I was a baby and she had left behind an old book that my father has locked away ‘for safekeeping’ and I want to know what it is all about. Last week before you come in, he had told me where my mother had got the book from and that it was ‘dangerous’. That’s all I know. He keeps saying ‘I’m not ready to know yet’” he scoffed. “You will know one day son,” he stood up and walked to the door “Goodbye son. see you next week,” he winked.

“What was all that about?” Wendy asked. Dexter frowned. Wendy looked worried. “Well do you want the whole story?” Wendy nodded. “Well… It’s said that my mother was a witch and she had this book ‘The book of spells’ it was called. But, once my Mom died my Dad locked it away. But I want to know what it’s all about.” Dexter stood up to clear the table. “Why don’t you get the book?” Dexter’s face lit up, “But it’s locked in a safe” Wendy stood up and started jumping. “I can pick locks!” Dexter ran over to Wendy and hugged her. He stepped away embarrassed. “Um… My Dad will be at work all day tomorrow so we can get the safe then.”

Chapter 5 - The Safe - They drove to the mansion. “Right we are going to have to open it here so let’s be quick. Okay, let’s go!” They walked in and searched and searched, but they couldn’t find the safe. “Did you check the basement?” Wendy asked. “We don’t have a basement.” Dexter was very confused. Wendy gestured to follow her. They walked into the lounge and Wendy opened a door. “Wait, I never knew we had a basement I was told this was just an old storage cupboard.” explained a shocked Dexter.

They walked down the stairs to a dark, dusty room. A small black box glimmered in the distance. “There it is!” shouted Wendy. She ran towards the black box, and attempted to pick it up, “It’s too heavy,” exclaimed Wendy. Dexter ran toward her when stumbled over something on the floor. “A suitcase?” questioned Dexter. “Mabe it’s a dead body,” exclaimed Wendy. Dexter opened the suitcase. There was a long, golden stick in the bottom. “Wow, is that a magic wand?” Wendy asked shocked. Dexter nodded. “Did you know you had this?” Wendy questioned. Dexter shook his head, ice started to climb his legs. Wendy bent down to pick up the now glowing wand. “I can’t move. Wait, Wendy don’t” he shouted, trying to wriggle free. Her finger touched the tip of the wand, and Wendy was smashed back into the wall. Dexter watched in horror. Wendy fell to the floor, the ice melted from Dexter’s legs - he could move again. He ran over to Wendy. “Wendy. Wendy” he screamed, shaking her. Dexter closed the suitcase and carried both Wendy and the suitcase back to the car. Dexter drove to the hospitals. “Help please, someone”

Once the doctors had assessed Wendy a tall lady with brown eyes and black hair walked up to Dexter, "She will be fine, but she will be wheelchair bound for 6 months. We will leave you be" the tall lady walked away. Dexter shuffled closer to Wendy's bed. Wendy opened her eyes. "Are you alright?" Dexter asked. Wendy nodded. Dexter took a deep breath, leaned towards Wendy, and kissed her.