Whispers…

Can you keep a secret?

What about two or three?

Apparently the term ‘don’t keep it bottled up’ will have some meaning in this story. A secret can eat one person up they will soon divulge it all out. Usually the consequences could be devastating upon the one who trusted the one to keep it hush words can do a lot more to people’s feelings, what if they were enough to slowly kill you literally. Not make you want to kill yourself, yet to hear the whisper which is a small beast of words that will nest in your inner ears…from there they will close up and shut down your brain leaving you dead…


Year 1692
Salem, New England, Massachusetts

A town which pilgrims populated an area which was divided due to people superstitions upon Witches, Witchcraft and religious reasons. Being strong and strict society they were gullible, blunt and emotionless. To show any signs of happiness, sadness and anger was consider witch craft. It probably had been hard to keep your feelings down to one form mostly a vile straight expressionless face. Though the adults seem to fuel the existence of the Devil and witches walk among the pure holy community whom were far from it. The children didn’t have a lot of toys most of them were hand made from wood and the girls and boys were kept separate. Both had their activities they could do plus the hard house work and tending church along learning the way of the bible.

While people who lived along Ipswich road were considered witches. While people who farmed miles from Salem town were innocent yet could they be wrong to undermine the farmers. In one of those farms a family harbors deep secrets, in a small wooden house next to open pastures of farm animals and crops. The sun was setting over the horizon as night was approaching. A time for witches to thrive and cast spells about without anyone knowing. In an underground grotto two women were standing around a bubbling caldron as magic spells along with stirring a giant wooden spoon.

“We call upon the dark spirits, the ones that come in the night to capture our secrets so we may never divulge. Come to us now Sterces and cleanse our minds clear of all doubts and lies”

The caldron started to bubbling violently as it was lime green glow in the small grotto. Surrounding the witches various voodoo, witch crafting items used to make potions and cast spells. “I hope this brings the Sterces to us?” Marian said as she looked at the older woman waving her arms about “Shhh…Shhhhh….it will come to us directly that way it can go away with our” Helen said. Helen was Marian’s husbands mother and been practicing witch craft moderately in secret. When ever one other human was around they don’t let any suspicions brittle their secrets out. The legend of Sterces, one that is an invisible being that will go about at night with a giant jar carried upon their backs designed to suck the secrets out of the victim’s ear without them knowing it. Then no one can divulge a secret especially in a society where people rather not keep a secret to themselves. Though the Sterces have a problem of their own, the Sterces that was come to the witch’s aid was struck down and replaced by a red demonic being. As the hooded Sterces appeared to the witches none were to suspect who it truly was. The witches moved to one side as the hooded being stood there waiting “Well you could upon me. Present your whispering secrets to me” the Sterces said coldly. Marian and Helen looked at the being though they feeling a strange aura about it. Marian stepped forward towards the Sterces as it opened its Gourd “Present your dark secrets” it said.

Marian placed her mouth close to feel the sucking of the winds of the jar. Helen watched as the small linger lights and words escape her mouth into the jar as she spoke her dark secrets. “That I am a witch I don’t want my family or anyone else to know” Marian said yet the jar took the words inside. Helen rolled her eyes they always had to repeat their dark secrets “I wish you Sterces asked for different secrets” she huffs. Marian shot a look at the old woman and stepped away from the Gourd “What is your problem Helen? You always under line my work” Marian said as she stormed over to the old woman. The old woman eyed the younger woman “Its just the same old secret you must announce to the jar. The Sterces must be getting tired of hearing of them” she said. “Helen it’s the deepest terrible secret I must not keep. Besides it’s your turn I’m done” Marian said as she walked away and up the stairs. Inside the house Phillip was playing with his toys until his father came to his bedroom door “Come on Phillip bath time” he said.

Phillip stood up his blue eyes looked into his fathers very much like a robot he left his room in silence and obedience towards the waiting bath tub in the next room. “Father is mother coming back inside, she seem to take walks at odd hours” Phillip said taking his clothes off and stepped into the warm water yelping. “Father this is too hot” he squeals yet his father looked at him as he could see he didn’t care much for his well being. If one person fallen sick, a drought and crops died off pilgrims believe it’s an act of a god and will not help nor care. Even if someone of their own kind is suffering or dying. Yet the emotions flew freely in short bursts within the Blanc’s household. Yet Phillip’s father Thomas was tightly bound and lipped with the morals of their religious community. “I hope that our family isn’t rutted out for being so colourful with our expressions. Son you will bathe in that warm water and not utter a word. God made that water be grateful for it you can wash” he said then went back to his reading. Phillip frowns as he washes himself it was then his mother emerge to see her darling son in the steaming water sweltering then gasped. “Thomas! Why you planning to boil our son?” she cried as plucked Phillip from the waters and wrapped a towel around him.

“Mother…”Phillip yelps as she dried him off Thomas stood up from his chair “I wasn’t I was having him bathed. Lucky we boil the water for him not has stone cold water” he said and left the room. Marian looked at her flushed red son “Oh dear I’m so sorry. Go to your room put your night gown and go to sleep” she said kissing him on the forehead. “Ok mother” he whimpers as he turns and walks away. Marian sighs as she shifted the tub out of the way yet her mind still harbor secrets ones still the fact that Phillip isn’t Thomas son. The factor Marian had fallen in love outside her poor status, it was a heretic punishment yet Marian lusts a rich man named Henry Blanc whom she met from time to time. Henry is Thomas elder brother yet he chosen to live far from his family and their corrupted lives. He didn’t know that Marian had eyes for his older brother before she fell in love with him the fact that Henry and Marian kept it quiet. Marian in trusted the Sterces to keep her secrets safe never release them to someone who knows them. “Dear are you going to empty that water out or just stand there like a statue?” Thomas grunts. Marian shutters at Thomas cold tone “I’ll empty it out go back to bed” she hisses as she moved the tub out of the room towards the door and empty the water out into the back yard. Of course then Helen was there she dodge the rush of water “Marian watch it!” she said and shoved her way inside. Marian sighs and brings the empty tub back inside and places it against the wall.

“So you pillage your secrets away to the Sterces?” Marian said as she closed the door locking up. Helen hobbled over to her chair and sat down by the fireplace. Marian looked the old hag, yes without a doubt she was fitting for a witch. Sometimes Marian doesn’t understand why she wanted to practice this being bored and lack of imagination use the art of magic and fantasy. Helen did open up her mind and tainted it with her evilness. Marian knew she wasn’t going to get an answer from her nasty mother in law. More and more she dwelled upon her existence she wonders if she is planning to destroy her life. “Marian you coming to bed dear?” Thomas said from the bedroom. Marian left the room in silence as she entered her bedroom who she shares with the biggest mistake. Thomas already in his night gown as she closed the door it was from there the candle light lit the room yet the side that she only see in bed. Thomas seemed to change once night had fallen “Come on dear come to bed” he purrs.

Marian didn’t know what to feel disgusted and or pure lust “Thomas why can’t you be like this all the time?” she said as she went behind dressing frame. Thomas watched her slung her clothes over the top and changed into her night gown. “Because I prefer to keep it within these walls, I don’t want everyone to know” he said. Marian walked over and climbed into bed next to him. Thomas looked at her she had her beauty and youth. Lush dark brown hair and her greenish blue eyes against his blonde hair and blue eyes he believes that Phillip got his looks from him. Thomas coiled his arms around his wife and kisses her “Mmmm you haven’t changed a bit” he purrs kissing her neck she moans it felt so good though she preferred his brother than him. Across the hall Phillip was sitting up in his bed reading a book though he put it down. Shhhhhhhhhh……Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhh the noise of a Sterces make and Phillip smiled “Shhhhhhhhhhhhhh shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Hushu” he said soon enough Hushu appeared.

“You called Phillip” Hushu emerge and quickly stepped over to the bedside the look of worried upon his face. Phillip looked into Hushu’s ruby eyes “What’s wrong?” Phillip said moving towards Hushu. “Something terrible has happened. I need your help” Hushu said. Phillip was all ears now, the fact that Phillip was only one that could see Sterces for real. Hushu was Phillip’s personal Sterces friend comes to cleanse his mind of secrets yet he hardly has much to with hold. That made him special and potential Sterces in waiting once he dies Hushu promises to make him a Sterces. “The Sterces circle been broken by evil, the devil himself believed to killed off a Sterces that was summon to deal with your mother and grandmothers secrets. The devil only spread the secrets and that will kill people” Hushu said, Phillip mouth fell open and eyes widen with fear. “The devil…is here” he whimpers. Phillips eyes filled with terror as he hid under his blankets Hushu sighs, Phillip was too timid and innocent to be involved in such a mess. “Phillip I need your help you must, please we got to find the Devil and stop him from destroying your families lives and many others” Hushu said pulling the blankets off Phillip.