Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Thank You, Noni

My dear Noni,

On Friday last, I received the Strega's Hand by your courier (poor lad, I fear he'll be of no further use to you) and look forward with certain anticipation to ultimately harnessing its undoubted powers.   You think to test me with this gift, to goad me to failure-- you see, I know the machinations of your twisted mind -- but this time, dearest sister,  my superior knowledge of The Craft will prevail.


Yes, of course I set the wards at once. The Hand is safely contained within the Pentangle. I am not the fool you think me, dear Noni -- I remember the story of poor Grisel's untimely fate. You were jealous of her as well -- oh, all the Sisterhood knows the truth of that debacle, though they have been strangely reluctant to act.

Yet I confess, the tapping of the wooden fingers against the table where the Hand lies confined grates on my nerves.  And in the flicker of the candles it seems -- no, surely I mistake -- surely it has not moved.

I laugh at your pathetic attempts to -- hark! what's that? A tapping . . . a sliding  of wood over wood, the scuttling of ragged claws-




Sisters of the Circle, our late lamented Froniga's letter breaks off at this point. The investigation into the whereabouts of our former colleague Nonissa of Nairn continues. The Hand Of the Strega has also vanished. A word to the wise . . .

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

And this, of course, is another Magpie Tale, a response to the weekly prompt. Go HERE to know more about the tales, to join in, or to see what others have written.


Posted by Picasa



36 comments:

Ronda Laveen said...

Wonderfully creepy. Wonderfully done! I'll be looking over my shoulder all night for Strega.

R. Burnett Baker said...

Ok, Vicki...now you MUST write the continuation of this tale!! I want the story to go on!!

Catalyst said...

Vicki, you never leave us wanting...but you leave us wanting more! Spectacular!

Martin said...

Spooky stuff Vicki. Raven Grimassi would be proud!

Rinkly Rimes said...

Oh yes! I was with you all the way! Strega has a lot to answer for.

Peter Goulding said...

Edgar Allan Poe at his finest. As usual, you manage to find the oddball twist!

spacedlaw said...

Excellent! You played well with the visuals here.

Jan of Thousand Acres said...

Mysterious, compelling, more, more!!

Tess Kincaid said...

I'm hearing Angela Lansbury's voice here, a la Bedknobs and Broomsticks! So charming!

Harnett-Hargrove said...

Such a great take..... I do hope the rest is 'found'. -J

Anonymous said...

Oh Vicky so Vickish. You are so good. I love this whole project, leading from all you experienced writers. Your visuals are a new experience for me within this writing exercise. Great Job.
QMM

Tipper said...

Another good one. You are so creative!

Jessie said...

oh this is good! so, very, very good!

Vicki Lane said...

Thanks, folks!

R. Burnett and Catalyst -- that's what I like about these things -- I don't HAVE to finish (unlike my current novel...)

I didn't know about Raven Grimass, Martin, but now I do. A little! Thanks!

The oddball twist -- a dance or a cocktail?

tori said...

that REALLY creeps me out! very nice!

Brian Miller said...

haha. that was deliciously creepy...i hope nothing goes bump in the night tonight...lol.

Margie’s daughter Leiny said...

I loved reading that tale Vicki, it was very compelling and dark. I hope you have a wonderful St. Patrick's Day. Hugs, Margie.

amy said...

Ah! a captivating tale! love your use of the photo, too.

Miss_Yves said...

Excellent link between the picture and your text!

I remember ...in Little Women, there was a literary game of this kind : a text to be continuated ; and of course, Jo was the best , as youare the best !("so vickish is well choosen )

I laughed when I saw difference of tranlation-and of point of view -about"filer à l'Anglaise"

Anonymous said...

The 'tapping . . . a sliding of wood over wood' is REALLY scary!

Miss_Yves said...

I rember the mname of this game"Rigmarole"!

Merisi said...

What a spooky tale!
I hope the sequel comes soon. ;-)

Vicki Lane said...

And this one is a real rigmarole (great word, thanks for reminding me, Miss Yves!)

Thanks to all for stopping by -- I think I've visited all the others on the list...

Unknown said...

Strega and sisters of the circle! LOVED IT!! Made me shiver the way you twisted the hand around....! I think we will see this again in one of your books??I hope!

martha said...

EUW... creepy. Poor Froniga.
WELL Played!!!!

Reader Wil said...

Wonderful magpie tale Vicki. I am afraid I have had writer's block! LOL.But who knows I can get the urge back to write more again .Your photos are great!

Jennifer said...

Marvellously creepy! The descriptions of sound: "A tapping ... a sliding of wood over wood, the scuttling..." sent shivers. And you're a truly creative soul - positioning the picture prompt differently!

steviewren said...

This line sent goosebumps down my spine, " the scuttling of ragged claws-" .... I can hear that sound....closer and closer...

Great story!

C.M. Jackson said...

looking forward to more--me holding a teddy bear and cross;-0 great take on the hand!

Uma Gowrishankar said...

Wow, you have very intelligently used the photo, like the way you have merged photos. Very imaginative and creative Vicki.

Stella Jones said...

Please pop across to my Blog today. I have left a little something for you :)
Blessings, Star

Vicki Lane said...

Many thanks, folks -- I had fun with this one -- actually, I've had fun with all of them!

Thank you so much, Star, but I quit accepting awards a while back. The passing them on part was just becoming too time consuming. I do appreciate your thinking of me!

chiccoreal said...

The sisterhood gets a hand up and away not a hand-out. Love the array of hand visuals in odd trigonomy. The hand in so many unique positions, each one slightly creepier than the next! Wonders what conjures in that double double toil and trouble boiler! Unique cult classic Vicki! Question: Where did Noni go, really? Love it! "Whoooo"...

Vicki Lane said...

Noni has put a Tangle Tongue Spell on me and all I can say is that she )@*RHF&8m vt3%@(*%@#0(7

The Muse said...

hello! delighted at last to wander here...so happy you visited my magpie...and your words are held dear. i have been traveling and my son just got married...PLUS..your blog was giving me an error 404 message...
so glad that was resolved :)
and glad i brought my flashlight and my teddy9and heart meds)....oooo...eeriness reigns supreme!

Vicki Lane said...

My you Have been busy, Muse! Thanks for stopping by!