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slammed the door shut,
locking it and replacing the scattered herbs and salts. I took some
of the items out of her arms and placed them on a side table.
    “I do not know what really happened but I
had to use a protection spell to get the thing to leave.”
    My mother walked to where the book lay open
on the floor, she picked it up and examined the spell, her eyes
grew wide and her skin turned pale. “How did you come about this
spell?” she whispered.
    “The book fell open to it… I was panicked
and thought it would help. You always said that the book reveals
things when you are ready or in need,” I said.
    “Aye, that I did,” she placed the book down
again and seated herself in the closest chair. She rested her head
in her hands and looked down. “Aislin, did you read the title of
that spell before you cast it?”
    “No… well, I… I saw that it said protection
and I knew the book opened to it, so I trusted it.”
    “Look at the title Aislin.”
    I walked over to the book and stared down at
the ancient page. I read its deep green lettering written in an
elegant script. The words swept away any peace I
might have felt.
     
    To Banish a Puca
     
    I flipped through some pages until I came
across the description of the Puca and read on.
     
    The creature is a shape shifter, a demon,
faithful only to the human of its choosing. It is deadly to those
it is sent after. All of its forms are unknown, but it is said to
commonly take the shape of a horse with red eyes, a black goat, or
sometimes appear invisible. It is believed that its actual form
includes standing on two legs, having talons like an eagle, eyes as
red as searing coals and skin the color of palest grey.
     
    My mind raced as I closed the book. I turned
to find my mother deep in thought. She was biting at her thumbnail
and rocking back and forth.
    “Did I destroy it with the spell?” I asked
frantically.
    “No, these things cannot be destroyed… you
merely repelled it.”
    She never looked up at me. I wondered if
casting this spell had been a mistake— maybe it would have gone
away on its own .
    “Did I make things worse?”
    Her blue eyes pierced into mine, somehow
calming me, “No, you did exactly the right thing. We will have to
do more though.”
    “It is not common for the Puca to attack in
the day,” she said. “When did you first hear it?”
    I thought back to where I was sitting and
what I was thinking about—then I remembered. “I was sitting outside
embroidering the holly and ivy for my dress. I pricked my finger
and was bleeding when Sneachta started growling.”
    My mother looked over at the white cat who
stared back at her, “Thank you,” she said to the cat, which meowed
in reply. “The Puca must have been driven by the smell of your
blood and so it attacked. My guess is that its master wanted it to
watch you until it could carry you off to him. Pucas often kidnap
their victims and ride them off into the faerie realm.”
    “What are we to do?”
    My mother shook her head, “I have never
dealt with things such as this. We need help.”
    “Is there anyone who can help us?”
    “Perhaps.”

CHAPTER SEVEN
October 30th 1734
    Day Break
     
    I washed my face with cool water that sat in
a basin on my nightstand. Downstairs I could hear the sound of my
mother talking to someone, although I did not know who it was.
    I had been trapped in the house ever since
the ordeal with the unknown creature. That was five days ago now. I
rushed quickly to meet whomever my mother was talking to, simply
for the experience of seeing another face and hearing a new voice.
As I entered the kitchen, my mother waved me over. She was sitting
at the table next to Martha, my mother’s very dear friend and the
closest person to a Grandmother I ever had. I walked into the room
and sat down across from them.
    “Good morning,” I said, as I waved at
Martha. I would have smiled but I was too tired. I had not slept in
days. The fear that the creature would