saintoflight

The Witch’s Bell


She held the object in her hand, the worn metal cold against her skin. She’d spent most the afternoon bent down in the garden.
It was whilst peeling snails off the snow peas that she had come across the wooden handle sticking out of the garden bed. Pulling she managed to free the strange object revealing the dirty metal head that was the bell at the end of the handle.
Putting it in her front pocket, she kept gardening.

Sitting on her front porch with the sky darkening she rubbed the bell head with her dirt-stained dress. Norra held the bell up to the moonlight; on the metal surface, she could see engravings.
‘Ieta ish Nagam coolun baree’ Nora read aloud.
The hairs on her unshaven legs stood up as Norra shivered in the dark. Turning to go inside she caught a glimpse of something.
A cat? A bloody cat, racing through my freshly planted gardenias.
Norra scolded.
The bell still in her hand rang as she threw her hands in the air to scare the creature away.
The dark shape moved.
Slowly bringing her arms back to her side, Norra’s face distorted as the strange presence overtook her.

Pages 51-2 from ‘A history of objects prominent in witchcraft.’
A collective research by historian and renowned author Dr Carl Ringold.

The bell in witchcraft has been used for centuries. It is most commonly known as a device for summoning or banishing spirits and is primarily rung at the beginning and end of ceremonies although it is sometimes used throughout.

Exert form ‘The Morning Herald’ 15/11
An elderly woman known for her love of gardening was reported missing from her home by a neighbour yesterday morning. The police were left with no clues except for a disturbed flowerbed…

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nacreous

wow, I gotta tell you, I really liked this. I love anything about witches, and the level of specificity in this is really impressive. I could certainly see this work turning into a novel or at least an excellent short story. Please keep going with this, and stay with this level of specific details. i want more about what the bell does, and how it was used.
By the way, I dont like the use of "Whilst." Whilst its true that I have actually used the word, and moreover, whilst its true that old English lends a certain spookiness to any writing, and whilst of all, a witch would certainly have spoken with terms like whilst, you, as the narrator, should not do so. just one man's opinion, now.
overall, great job, and I don't say that very often.
cheers

nacreous

Oh yeah, forgot to mention... I think you should break the second block into paragraphs, each presenting a single theme or idea. It cant hurt.

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nacreous - a type of high-flying cloud which often reflects the setting sun back to the earth long after darkness has fallen on the land.