A Grimwire Christmas

London 1817

Madam Rustwood stood in the living room with a giant Christmas tree near the fireplace, the ornaments and packed gifts all around her feet.

The Grimwire Academy was empty—all gone for a nature walk to enhance their energies.

With her High Priestess powers, she lifted multiple ornaments from the floor and placed them at different places around the tree: some near the top, at the sides, and towards the bottom, before placing the biggest star at the very top. The gifts were neatly stacked at its foot.

The Christmas tree of the magical world was the Kalpa Tree, brought in as a seedling by teacher. Now, it was about the only inheritance that Madam Rustwood cherished more than anything else.

When she finished decorating the room with red and green paper models and crafts, she sat on a comfortable chair and waited for the clock to strike twelve—the time of Christmas Day.

She waited and waited, but alas, no one arrived.

~*~

Somewhere behind the building of the Grimwire Academy, Arabella marched into the forest with her classmates.

“Remind me again why we’re entering this forest?” asked Henry, looking around like a deer waiting to be pounced upon by a tiger.

Aarti grinned wickedly. “To prove that the dangers of this forest is just a myth!”

Henry sighed as he reluctantly moved forward—he both didn’t want to proceed and didn’t want to be left behind. “We don’t have to risk our lives for that,” he muttered.

Eleanor, who was closest to him, nodded timidly. “I agree. Though I am curious about the rumours myself. I vote to go on.”

Arabella scoffed. “Like we were ever stopping to vote! Those who want to come along, do; those who don’t want to, stay behind. I want to watch!”

Aarti was about to agree haughtily, but a prick on her shoulder stopped her. Her pace only slowed down, but her legs continued walking.

It was Abel who stopped walking, his eyes glistening excitedly.

And when Abel was excited, it was time to make a run for it – and both Arabella and Aarti knew this. But the shivers of excitement that through their spines only served to make them more curious.

They marched on.

Suddenly, they stopped short, their breaths caught in their throats.

In front of them was a cottage. One would expect there to be clotheslines around or at least smoke in the chimney, but there was none.

For the first time since entering the forest, the friends looked at each other.

For the first time, Arabella and Aarti exchanged scared glances. Eleanor saw this and gulped

“So… what do we do?” she asked.

“We go back to the Academy!” said Henry quickly.

“It’d be surprising of me,” mused Arabella, “but I agree.”

Aarti nodded.

Abel shook his head, too excited. “No, no, no! I’m very, very curious! Let’s go in!”

And, to everybody’s astonishment, he rushed towards the cottage! Opened the door and instantly, white light flashed on him – and he disappeared!

The others screamed involuntarily, before rushing to where he had been.

“Did he really disappear?” asked Eleanor.

“L-looks like it,” whispered Aarti. “How did that happen?”

“A-a flash of-of white light,” stuttered Henry, beginning to panic. “I-I knew w-w-we shouldn’t have come here!”

“Stay calm,” declared Arabella, trying to be fearless. After all, it was her idea. She approached the door slowly.

“No!” Henry whisper-screamed, but she went on, slow, a little unsteady.

She reached the cottage door. Stared at it for a few seconds; then walked around to the side of the building and poked at the closed window. “That’s strange.”

“What?” enquired Aarti.

“This window. It’s not a window.”

The others were taken aback; it was Eleanor who voiced it: “What do you mean?”

Arabella turned to them. “It’s just – painted on the wall of the cottage.”

Aarti was now encouraged to move and stand beside her best friend. “Do you think this is even a cottage wall and not a brick wall?”

“It could be a brick cottage wall.”

Henry and Eleanor braved their feelings and approached the cottage, too.

“What do you think is inside this door?” asked the curious girl.

“A flash of white light?” suggested the nervous boy.

“Let me check –”

“No!” shouted Arabella, her real feelings finally spilling out. She composed herself and said more softly, “No, don’t. I’ll open it. It was my idea.”

She shut out her ears and focussed on the door as she moved towards it. Her friends looked guiltily at one-another; Henry even began wondering what to tell Miss Rustwood when they returned to the academy without two students. On the night of Christmas Eve.

Arabella put her hand splayed on the door. She only hesitated for a second, before she pushed it in…

The bright light filled her vision, but Arabella did not close her eyes to protect against it.

She couldn’t. She realised that unlike sunlight, this wasn’t burning.

When the light faded away, she saw…

A garden. Full with grass, flowers, everything that you might expect.

“But certainly not in a cottage,” muttered Arabella. She turned around to the rest of her friends. “It’s quite all right. Nothing to indicate any sort of death. I think.” She turned back and saw Abel at the far left, sitting in between a couple of trees and waving at her. She giggled. “There he is!” She ran forward and hugged him. The others followed her and were very glad to be reunited with the friend they lost they lost.

~*~

At last, Madam Rustwood stood up in exasperation.

“Where are these kids?” she wondered aloud, a frown etched on her face. But an image flashed instantly in her mind and she smiled. “Ah, so you discovered my hiding place. Have fun.” She walked slowly towards the front door and opened it to the same garden that her students had gathered in. She walked forward and shut the door behind her.

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This post is a part of Jingle Bell Blog Hop hosted by Sukaina Majeed and Manali Desai.