The Hodag's Secret

Annie Verdant fidgeted, tugging and trying to readjust her blouse.

Will tried to pay no attention to her obvious discomfort. He told her to wear something comfy, like his jeans and flannel shirt, not formal witch regalia of a long green dress and boots. At least he talked her out of the pointy hat.

He pointed across the dark night, towards the moss-covered woods. "Mr. Witten, the farmer who owns this land, says it was last seen in there."

Annie said, "Since it was sighted in 1893, we'll be the first to get a picture of a real Hodag."

She was still fidgeting. "What's your problem?"

"It's this new bra," she explained. "I just can't get comfortable."

Will's look spoke volumes. "Just please stop messing around and focus. We'll need your magic."

"But it keeps pinching me."

"Like I'd want to know that! Why did I have to bring the only witch in the world with boob problems?!"

She glared at him. "Because I'm your sister, and also the only witch who'd believe you. Catching that dragon didn't work, so this might be our only chance to prove to the world magic and lost creatures do exist."

Will snorted. "Only if people would notice anything beyond their noses. We fought a demon in the library, and the folks around here thought it was just thunder."

Annie shrugged. "Maybe this time. Let's start looking."

"Better try a summoning," her brother said.

Annie nodded.

Will put his hands on his hips. "What are you doing?”

"Putting down salt for the protective circle. You don’t really think I’m going to cast an ancient summoning spell without a protective ward, do you?"

"Salt instead of chalk?" He snorted.

She beckoned him toward her until his head was close. Bending back a finger, she 'twapped' his nose.

"Ow!” he protested.

She explained, "It was in the New England Journal of Magic five years ago. A spell of protection can use road salt on wet surfaces and be sixty percent as effective overall. This ground is too wet for chalk to work properly.”

Anticipation smothered the night air with a tainted haze as Annie deposited the last handful around their protective circle. Will stationed himself in the bushes to the left of where Annie knelt in the damp leaves.

Annie took a deep, cleansing breath. Closing her eyes, she tried to force everything out of her mind except how to pull in the energy of the world around her. She raised her arms over her head and pointed her palms forward.

She commanded, "Adnabyddiaeth galwadau! Dadlennu Hodag!"

The sounds of the world around Annie faded, becoming distorted as if she was hearing them through the side of an inner tube. Warmth drained from her toes and fingertips, making them feel like blocks of ice. Her body shuddered, chilled to the bone.

Leaves rustled nearby.

Will swung his camera up.

The bushes across the small glade began to part.

There it is! Just like they said it would look! A green, seven foot-long lizard with spikes on it's back, horns, and hair all over! We're going to be soo famous!

The silver button moved under his finger and his camera clicked as fast as it could go, flashing the woods like a strobe.

"Hello," said Annie, waving at it.

It looked right at them, then burning brilliance split the night. Electricity sprang from the creature's horns toward Annie. Striking the salt ward, some of the power exploded in every direction, sending bolts through the wet ground into both the siblings. The noise was ear-splitting.

Will fell to his rear, shaking his head to clear it. Looking up, he saw his sister's body spasm uncontrollably as the electricity arced between her and the creature.

"Annie!" He grabbed a big branch off the ground and ran around to the side of the creature. He swung the wood club, knocking the creature off its feet. The current cut off instantly. Another blow to the head stopped the Hodag's flailing.

Will looked again. There was a zipper down it's front.

The rest of the world stopped, dead silent.

No! It can't be! This was our chance at fame and fortune! He unzipped it. Inside was Mr. Witten, the farmer who told him the legend.

Will kicked him. "What the hell were you doing?!"

Groaning, Witten's eyes opened. "Wha--?"

Will grabbed him by the collar. "Why did you do this?"

Witten fought for breath. "No--No! Just wanted to scare you. Keep secret safe. Only spell I know... Should've been blocked... by the ward."

"Why?!"

"Protect chamber of commerce. Tourism. The Hodag Festival. School mascot. All would be ruined."

Will felt empty. "Was it ever real?"

Witten shook his head. "Just a story to get rich folks up here."

Will took a deep breath, and punched Witten in the jaw hard enough to knock him out. "Dick."

His mind screamed, Annie!

Will dove back to his fallen sister and checked for a pulse. Annie's whole chest was black, like it was burned, but she was breathing.

She sat bolt upright, smacking her head into her brother's. "OW!"

"Are you ok?"

"I've got a headache like you wouldn't believe." She looked down and rubbed her hand across her chest, revealing torn cloth and bright metal. Her hand was covered in soot.

Will boggled at her. "What's that?"

"What?" Annie looked confused. "Oh, my Witch's Barrier. Trust me it's not easy to get into it, especially with how cold it gets in winter, but now you understand why witches wear brass bras."

She looked around. "Where is the Hodag?"

"It's a fake," he said. "Witten's on the ground over there, unconscious, in a suit. My camera's fried, so we don't even have pictures of a fake one."

In the distance, a small, furry set of horns drew back into the bushes as they dragged Witten away.

Quiet, breathy laughter echoed on the faint breeze. Missed me again!

THE END

Bio: N.J. Kailhofer was Aphelion's founding Flash Fiction Editor and is currently Short Stories Editor. He's been published "a fair amount," in his own words, but "probably should have known better."

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