Ironic Justice – Part 1

I don’t understand why everyone is screaming. I’m alive! When they bound my hands and feet and tossed me in the water, I thought I was a goner. Two girls I knew had already drowned this way. But almost as soon as I sank into the water, my body shot upward and out of the river. It was uncanny really. I didn’t just float slowly to the top, or bob along the surface. I propelled into the air a bit and seemed to bounce along like a skipped stone.

It’s almost like I actually am a witch. Oh, that’s hysterical.

That must be why everyone is panicking. They really believe I’m a witch. I blink the water out of my eyes as I watch my neighbors trample each other just to get away from me. It would be laughable if it didn’t look so bad. Now they’ll think I’m some evil girl that’s been cursing them all. Perfect, I survived their test, but I’m going to die anyway. How is this fair?

I watch as the guards who tossed me into the water bolt away. They seem to realize they should be arresting me, and turn back. I almost chuckle. They look toward the witch hunter, who arranged this whole farce. He points a shaking finger at me and commands them to take me to the goall.

“Make sure she is secured and well-guarded,” he tells them. “I’ve never seen the water repel a witch so strongly. She must be extremely dangerous”.

Me, dangerous? He can’t be serious. I’ve never hurt anyone. I’ve never even attempted any kind of witchcraft. I’ll admit, it was strange what happened, but I know I’m not a witch.

At least, I’m fairly certain. I would know if I was a witch, right? There would be some kind of sign before now, like cats following me around or broomsticks flying towards me. This is mad.

The guards lead me into the dark filthy cells. They throw me in and quickly lock the doors, backing out of the stone cavern. One of them trips as he bumps into the bottom stair. I giggle as they all scramble up into the light of day. Now, I’m left alone to contemplate what happened.

There has to be a reasonable explanation. Plenty of people float to the top of the water. They just float much more slowly. And they don’t shoot out of the water as I did. This is a calamity. What am I to do? How do I convince people I’m not a witch?

My breathing quickens and my face starts to heat up. No one will believe that I’m not a witch; I’m beginning to doubt it myself. I need something to focus on, so I don’t panic. For argument’s sake, let’s say I could be a witch. How would I find out for certain? I could try doing magic. But how does one cast spells?

I look at the lock on my cell and snap my fingers. Nothing happens.

“Open,” I say as I wave my hand at the bars. Still, nothing happens.

I hear a giggle behind me, light as a wind-chime. “If it were that easy, anyone could do it.”

I turn to see a tiny, shimmering humanoid with a pair of translucent wings. I rub my eyes. Clearly, I’m imagining a fairy in my desperation. I must’ve heard too many stories about witch familiars. The creature flits toward me and I back away, hitting my head on the bars.

The fairy doubles over, giggling again. “She’s scared of me,” she says, “little adorable me, come to help her.”

I furrow my brows and examine this supposed helper of mine. She’s about half a foot tall with pale green skin and wings. She has lavender colored hair and a dress to match. In fact, the cell now smells of lavender too. She floats above the ground, wings moving almost faster than I can see.

“Look at her face; she clearly needs help,” the fairy says with that high-pitched giggle.

She’s really starting to bother me. “I can hear you, you know”.

“Oh, I know,” she says with a wink.

“I don’t want your help.”

“I don’t think you have a choice.”

We stare each other down for a moment. Finally, I sigh. “How do I get out of here, then?”

“I don’t think that’s a very good idea. If you break out of this cell, they’ll condemn you as a witch for sure.”

“What else am I supposed to do?” I ask.

“Win the trial, of course.” She giggles again, and I wonder what would happen if I tried to squish her.

“But I actually am a witch!” I cry out in exasperation.

“Just get the jury to like you. People like you right?”

I gulp. I’m doomed.

“Right, dumb question,” she continues. “I don’t even like her, and I’m a nice fairy.” She giggles especially hard at that.

I grit my teeth and turn my back to her, gripping the bars tightly. Go away, I think. I turn around slowly. She’s still flying around my cell. I throw my hands up in the air.

“I better teach you how to escape, just in case,” she tells me with a mischievous grin. “It’s simple really; you just recite an incantation or perform a ritual that is pleasing to your familiar. That’s me.” She puts her hand to her heart and blinks innocently. “Then, they will help you.”

I groan.

“Some familiars like Latin; others enjoy a good dance…”

“And what pleases you, great fairy?” I ask as I roll my eyes.

“I’m rather amused by rhymes.” She claps excitedly.

“Of course you are,” I mumble.

My fairy familiar floats down to the ground and taps her little foot impatiently. I always thought fairies would be sweeter. I purse my lips as I try to think of a good rhyme. I can’t believe I’m doing this.

“How about this?” I ask. “This lock you will pick, or I’ll give you a kick.” I grin at my cleverness.

The fairy frowns and crosses her arm. Her foot taps faster now.

“Open my cell, or you’ll go straight to…”

“Hey!” She exclaims as she flies right toward my face. She takes a finger that’s as thin as a toothpick and pokes me on the nose. “I’m trying to help you learn magic. The least you could do is take it seriously.”

I present my most solemn face and stand up very straight. She lets out another chiming giggle. This time I smile.

“Do fairies have names?” I ask.

“Of course they do. Mine’s Luna Willowvale. What’s yours?”

Now, it’s my turn to double over laughing. Of course, she would have such a ridiculous name. Luna frowns at me.

“What’s so funny about Luna Willowvale?” she wonders aloud.

I sputter some more. Finally, I straighten up and extend my hand. “Nice to meet you, Luna…Willowvale,” I say as I scrunch up my face, trying not to laugh again. “My name is Jane Lilly.”

Luna reaches out with her little hand and grasps my pinky finger. Her touch is light as a feather, as she shakes my finger.

“Now, Jane, are you ready to create some magic?”

…

As much as she gives me trouble, Luna stays with me until they come for me. She even takes pity on me and allows me to stop coming up with ridiculous rhymes to get her to do my bidding. I am marched from the goall, as my pulse pounds in my ears. The only thing that keeps me standing is seeing Luna flitting in the corner of my vision. As they open the doors to the court, my mouth goes dry.

A group of local ladies stands in the courtroom. At the sight of me, they start flailing their limbs about and shaking grotesquely. I almost start laughing, until I realize what they are doing. These little fakes are trying to make it look like I cursed them. Unbelievable. I look around the room, expecting to see people treating this like the joke it is, but everyone feigns looks of concern for the women. I let out an exasperated breath. I forget my fear as I am filled with indignation.

The goallers bring me forward and command me to lay a hand on each of the women. The second I touch each of them, they stop their twitching. This is quite a scene. I glare at them as I am brought forward. They cower dramatically and lean into each other. I’d like to give them a real reason to be afraid of me. Luna circles around the group of them and sticks out her tongue. The corners of my mouth pull up slightly.

The attorney steps forward and asks the ladies who struck them down. They all give my name.

“Jane Lilly, you are accused of afflicting Mrs. Mary Marshall by witchcraft, and now you have hurt many others here today. Now you have the opportunity to tell the truth in this matter,” the attorney proclaims.

“The truth is, I know nothing of it. Nor would I be sensible of it, if I was in the Devil’s snare.”

The attorney’s mouth twitches at my snide comment. He peppers me with absurd allegations, but I deny them all. The man’s mouth scrunches up and his eyebrows furrow as he tries to convince me to confess.

“I bid you speak the truth,” he exclaims.

“I will, for God is a god of truth,” I reply. His face turns bright red and he clenches his fists.

At that moment, I watch as Luna flies up and loosens the belt around the attorney’s breeches. They promptly drop to the floor. The courtroom erupts in laughter.

“Congratulations Mr. Hawthorn, it appears you’ve lost some weight,” I tell the attorney before I turn to the jury with a smile.

Mr. Hawthorn, presumably giving up on making me confess, parades a line of witnesses forward to speak against me. I become bored of it all, and I look at my fairy familiar. I glance between her and the group of liars making accusations against me. She gets my hint right away. She flies between the women and starts tickling them with her tiny fingers. They scream and begin jerking around. I fight to keep an innocent expression on my face.

Once again, I am brought forward to lay hands on the women. They pull themselves together at my touch. I try not to roll my eyes. The last witness finishes speaking, and I’m permitted to give my final statement.

“I have never had any inclination to harm another. If I confessed anything of this, I should deny the truth and wrong my own soul,” I proclaim as I look the jurors in the eye, one by one.

After this, I am led from the musty courtroom. As I pass by my accusers once more, Luna carefully shoves a large legal tome onto one of their feet. The girl jumps up and glares right at me.

“She made this book fall on me,” she accuses, as she jabs her finger at me.

“Now they plan to blame me for every accident that occurs?” I ask, hands held open before me as I shrug.

The jurors chuckle behind me, as I exit the courtroom.

…

Do you want to find out what happens to Jane? You can read the conclusion to Ironic Justice here. What do you think so far? If you enjoyed this short story, we would love for you to leave a comment, or even buy us a cup of coffee! We promise to share!

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Clever & WTF