Blood & Root (Short Story)

Sixteen-year-old Tiana, with her braids bouncing like shiny black springs, wasn’t thrilled about being uprooted from Brooklyn to Savannah. The historic city, draped in Spanish moss and secrets, felt more like a sleepy Southern belle than the vibrant metropolis she craved. But living with her aunts was a court order she couldn’t defy.

Aunt Beatrice and Aunt Cordelia, identical twins with eyes like bottomless wells of wisdom, weren’t your typical aunties. Their house, nestled under a canopy of ancient live oaks, buzzed with a peculiar energy. Tiana soon discovered shelves overflowing with curious jars containing pickled animal parts and vials of shimmering liquids. Whispers of “root doctoring” and “conjuring” swirled in the humid air.

One evening, while exploring the attic, Tiana stumbled upon a dusty trunk. Inside, nestled amongst faded photographs, was a worn leather-bound book filled with cryptic symbols and indecipherable scrawls. Curiosity gnawed at her. That night, she dreamt of a captivating boy with eyes the color of storm clouds. He beckoned her to follow him through a hidden path veiled by Spanish moss.

The next day, exploring the sprawling Bonaventure Cemetery, Tiana encountered the boy from her dreams. He introduced himself as Elias, his smile as easy as the way his emerald eyes seemed to see right into her soul. As they walked, a stray cat brushed against Tiana’s leg. Elias chuckled, a low rumble that sent shivers down her spine. “Seems you’ve got a furry admirer,” he said.

Suddenly, the cat’s fur shimmered and elongated, revealing Elias, no longer human but a sleek black panther. Tiana gasped, her heart hammering against her ribs. Elias, in his animal form, purred, nuzzling her hand. Fear gave way to a strange sense of wonder. Elias, a shapeshifter – it explained the dreams, the connection she felt with him.

Their bond deepened, their secret meetings filled with stolen kisses and whispered stories. Elias revealed a chilling truth – a powerful grand witch named Malachi had sought refuge in Savannah, fleeing a monstrous hellhound. Her dark magic threatened to shroud the city in an eternal twilight.

Tiana, with Elias by her side, confided in her aunts. To her surprise, they weren’t shocked. They explained their lineage – generations of root workers protecting Savannah from the shadows. They trained Tiana, teaching her the language of herbs and the power of intention. Together, the three women, the powerful twins and their newfound niece, concocted a potent potion – a beacon to lure the hellhound away from Malachi and back to the fiery depths from whence it came.

The ritual, held under the watchful gaze of a full moon dripping with Spanish moss, was intense. Tiana, channeling her newfound power, felt a surge of energy course through her. A bloodcurdling howl tore through the night – the hellhound had arrived. A monstrous black dog with eyes like embers lunged, but the potion, shimmering with otherworldly light, drew it away. The hellhound, with a final earsplitting yelp, vanished into the night, taking Malachi’s dark magic with it.

Savannah was saved, bathed once more in the soft glow of dawn. Tiana, her heart brimming with a newfound sense of belonging, looked at Elias, his human form solidifying beside her. Their love, born from a world of secrets and magic, had not only saved the city but had also unlocked a future filled with wonder, where shapeshifters and root workers coexisted, and a teenage girl from Brooklyn discovered a family legacy far more extraordinary than she ever imagined.