The Walls Have Secrets (Part 2)

[sidhe_faerie]

Part 2
I looked at the pewter bowl again. I grabbed a paper towel and emptied out the ashes from the herbs. There were also chicken feathers and a stone of some kind in the mess.

I removed the stone and washed it off. Bloodstone! I knew what the spell was and it was cruel. I rinsed the iron bowl and saw the symbol scratched into it. It confirmed the binding spell.

I knew the counter spell. It was in my granny's spellbook. That was one problem solved.

Now I just had to find out who she was and bury her properly. Unfortunately, that meant I had to contact the police. I wasn't going to be able to take the trunk to a funeral home and have her skeleton transferred to a coffin without raising an eyebrow or two.

I wasn't ready to do anything this afternoon. I needed to get supplies for the counter spell. I didn't exactly keep pigs blood in the fridge.

Tonight, I will read her a story and perform the counter spell so Polly's spirit can move on. I was really hoping that she would move on and not choose to stay.

The foreman stood in the doorway and cleared his throat. I jumped.

"Yes?" I asked when my heart stopped racing.

"The wall is down. We're just about finished taking down the wallpaper and cleaning up the mess now. Do you want me to look at the basement today…..?

"No. Not yet. I'll have a decision by Monday. Have a good weekend."

"Thanks." He glanced at the mess on the table then frowned as he turned to walk away.

I looked at the table and rolled my eyes. The man thought I was crazy. I was sure of it. Well, maybe I was a little.

I went to the window and watched as the men left in their trucks. As soon as they were gone, I headed back to the basement.

Polly was still sitting in the same place she was before. "You're back!"

"I said I was coming back." I walked over to the trunk. I'm just going to take a peek. You should stay there. I don't think you want to see what's in there.

"I know what's in there. It's me." Polly played with the hem of her skirt. "There's blood and everything."

"You don't seem bothered." I opened the trunk and looked inside. "Wow! Who did this to you?"

"Mama's gentleman caller did it. He hurt me then when I said I would tell Mama he killed me. His name was Henry. He smelled like whisky."

"He's long dead by now. Hopefully, he suffered." I shut the trunk. "I will have to call the police and tell them I found a body. Can you stay hidden while they're here?"

"Uh huh." Polly nodded. "I wasn't sure you could see me when you came down here. Maybe, they won't see me."

"Hide just the same." I told her. "Before I call them I will unbind you from your body. That's all I can do. You have to make the choice to pass through the veil on your own." I thought for a moment. "Polly, was your mama a witch?"

"No. Auntie Hattie was. She's the one that burned the smelly leaves and made it so I couldn't leave. Mama left and told Auntie Hattie to take care of things. I don't think she did what Mama wanted."

"I'd say not. I'll be back later and I'll fix this. I need a few things for the counter spell." I rubbed the dust off my hands. "There are things I need that aren't usually found in a normal pantry."

"Will you read to me then?" Polly asked. She pointed to the book again.

"Yes. Polly, I need you to remember your whole name. The police will want to know what it is for their records." I picked up the book and opened it. On the inside of the cover a name was written in an elaborate handwriting. I read it out loud. "Pollianna Grace Michaels. I should have looked at your book sooner."

Polly looked up at the ceiling. "Someone is here. She knows about me. You should let her in."

I put the book down and rushed up the stairs. I heard a loud knocking on the front door and went to open it.

A young woman in her early twenties smiled at me. "Hilde Palmer? Are you Hilde Palmer?"

"Yes and you are?" I asked.

"My name is Alice Michaels and I'm researching my family history. This was my family home at one time. May I have a look around?"

I stared at the woman. There was something vaguely familiar about her. Suddenly, I realized she looked alot like Polly.

"This isn't a good time. I was just about to go shopping." Despite what Polly said I wasn't in the mood for visitors.

Alice looked down at my kitty slippers. "So you usually wear those to the grocery store?"

I looked at my feet and sighed.

"I have some information on the house you may want to hear. I wont take up much of your time." Alice smiled.

"I think I have an idea what it might be." I let her in.

Alice headed for the basement door. "I see you're having work done. The last time I was here there was a wall there."

"When was that?" I asked. "The realtor never said that anyone else looked at the house."

"Just before it was put up for auction. It was held in trust by my family for years before the trustees decided to unload it." Alice told me. "Is she still in the basement?"

"Who?" I tried to look surprised but I knew it wasn't working.

"Her name is Polly. One of my ancestors was a witch. She bound Polly's spirit here to this house. Is she still here?"

"Your ancestor bound her to her body not the house. I just found her and the remnants of the spell today. Forgive me if I think your timing is suspicious. I need to get some things to do a counter spell. I need to go before the shops close."

"Wait! her body is here? in this house?" Alice was genuinely surprised. "I thought they had buried her in the apple orchard. That's what I have always heard."

"Come with me." I unlocked the basement door and led her down the creaking steps straight to the trunk. I opened it and waited for Alice to look inside.

Alice looked then turned her back on the body in the trunk. "Oh!"