The Witches of Barrow Wood (7 page)

Grotchin made sure that Eldrin could not move, as Lisbeth uttered a spell, causing all four nails to meet their targets. Two shot through Eldrin’s wrists and two shot though her feet – hard, impaling her to the tree. Eldrin screamed with an intensity that could have brought down buildings – and then her head fell forwards, and she begged for mercy.

“You will not be shown mercy! You will never die! And I will tear you to shreds each and every day for an eternity,” screamed Lisbeth.

Eldrin’s wound healed fast, which delighted Grotchin, as she wanted nothing more than to follow her twin’s lead, and make Eldrin’s life a living hell. Grotchin lifted Eldrin’s head, and then with her razor-sharp claws she started to tear shreds of skin from Eldrin’s face. She got a little carried away and tore so furiously, that the skin tore all down her face and her neck also – blood spattered and saturated all three of them and Grotchin screamed with pleasure, as the wound healed and she got to tear at her more and more. Eldrin’s screams became so loud that the sisters had to stop before their ear drums burst.

“I have an idea, sister,” said Grotchin, “I could go on forever tearing her apart, but I think I know of something more fitting for a witch. Let us find the book, and see it we can turn our little sister evil – after all, it’s in her blood – somewhere.”

“What a wonderful idea, my love. I would very much enjoy watching her kill against her putrid nature. Maybe in time we could hunt as three, and our magic will be far more powerful combined.”

The twins entered Eldrin’s home, hunting for the book. Sam was still unconscious, and the two sisters ignored him as they went about their business. It didn’t take long before Grotchin found the book hidden behind the bed. The sisters looked through the age-old pages, and then they found the spell that they were looking for. They made their way outside and stood in front of Eldrin, and both at the same time, started to utter the dark words within the book.

Black clouds started to form in the sky, and the twins began to chant increasingly louder. The heavens opened up, and the rain came down hard, saturating the sisters and quickly turning the woodland floor into a muddy mess. Forked lightning lit the sky, and Eldrin started to tremble – the spell was working its darkness into her soul, turning it gradually black.

The sisters finished the incantation, and the rain stopped. All was still. Lisbeth looked at Grotchin inquisitively, and then they both turned to look at their sister. Eldrin looked up and grinned – her eyes were as black as night. She cackled out loud, and then tore her hands and feet free of the nails that crucified her to the tree.

“Hello sisters! I believe you have a meal waiting – let’s not let it spoil,” said Eldrin, no trace of humanity left inside of her.

“After you, my love,” said Lisbeth, grinning wildly at Grotchin.

They all went inside Eldrin’s home, and Sam was just starting to stir. He looked up at the witches, and was terrified, as he could see that Eldrin wasn’t quite the same as he had remembered. It all became too overwhelming for him, and he slipped out of consciousness again.

When Sam awoke, he noticed a very large cauldron with four sturdy legs in the centre of the room. A fire was lit beneath it, and a liquid inside of it was bubbling away, boiling hot. He screamed at the top of his voice when he realised what they were planning to do to him.

Lisbeth quickly grabbed Sam’s right arm, and Grotchin grabbed his left, whilst Eldrin approached from the front. Her dark eyes stared into Sam’s, and she was so close that her crooked nose was almost touching him. She looked utterly vile.

“Please, Eldrin, please don’t hurt me,” pleaded Sam.

“Quiet down,” snapped Eldrin, as she ripped out his tongue with her razor-sharp fingernails.

Sam choked up blood, and cried uncontrollably, trying to plead for his life. Eldrin, sickened by his plea, slashed at the top of his arms with both hands, and simultaneously, Lisbeth and Grotchin tore at his arms, ripping them from his body. The pain was overwhelming and Sam became unconscious.

“Again, again,” said Grotchin, dancing around hysterically.

Eldrin slashed the top of his legs, drenching the floor with his warm blood, as the twins pulled at his legs with all of their strength, tearing them from his body. Eldrin could not control her bloodlust, and she buried her teeth deep into his neck, eating away at his flesh until his head fell to the floor. Lisbeth was ecstatic – they were a real family now, and they were going to go on a killing spree of the likes the world has never seen. Grotchin collected up all of the body parts, and threw them into the bubbling cauldron. Sam was dead, and no one would ever find his body, and no one would ever know the circumstances, and no one heard his cries.

The three sisters stood around the cauldron, cackling amongst each other. Eldrin stirred it with a large wooden stick, and licked her bloodstained mouth in anticipation of the meal to come. Lisbeth smiled to herself, with visions of mass slaughter. Grotchin decided that from now on, children were on the menu, and she dribbled down her pale green grotty chin, imagining the sweet taste of the young flesh, when she tore it from their bodies with her yellow, tombstone-like teeth.

The End

All rights reserved

Copyright © Kenneth Balfour, 2012

Kenneth Balfour is hereby identified as author of this work in accordance with Section 77 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988

The book cover picture is copyright to David Evison

ISBN: 978-1-78148-096-0 in epub Format

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