The Skylark Bell

In today’s episode we read Chapter 11 – The Skye Lark Belle - in which Magpie returns to the Lark Festival with Manon and has a bizarre and terrifying experience

Brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Instagram: @the.mop.pod

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 11 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  

In our previous episode, Magpie overheard a strange, imaginary conversation coming from her empty dining room while she and Lucas enjoyed a dinner with Manon and Alfred Sarcelle.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 11 – The Skye Lark Belle - in which Magpie returns to the Lark Festival with Manon and has a bizarre and terrifying experience

Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.

“Good morning!” says Manon, setting a plate of fresh strawberry crepes in front of Magpie.

“Wow, these look amazing!” says Magpie, “Thank you so much!”

“My pleasure! I told Alfred I was making crepes, it made him quite sorry that he and Lucas had to leave early to catch the ferry!” says Manon, winking at Magpie.

“I don’t envy them, that’s a lot of travel time to go pick up a rocking chair!” says Magpie.

“Indeed! But those chairs are handmade, you can’t find them anywhere else, and Alfred has always wanted one. I told him I would buy him one for his birthday, but he would have to go pick it up. I am glad Lucas went with him, it would have been a long and lonely trip otherwise!” says Manon.

Magpie and Manon have decided they will spend the day at the Lark Festival. There are different activities each day and today is the crowning of the Skye Lark Belle. “There will be music and dancing, and the ceremony, it will be wonderful!” Manon says, her deep brown eyes twinkling with excitement. 

Magpie pops the last strawberry into her in her mouth and walks her plate to the sink. “I’m ready when you are!” she says, feeling her excitement building. 

“Wonderful! I will get my shoes,” replies Manon.

The sun and the sea breeze come together to create the perfect temperature for a long walk outside. Magpie and Manon chat about their lives, their families, travels. 

“If you don’t mind my asking, what is your relationship with Lucas?” asks Manon as they are approaching the festival.

“We’ve been very close friends for years, but recently it has turned into something more,” replies Magpie, blushing slightly. She isn’t sure why she feels so shy when it comes to her relationship with Lucas. If she’s honest with herself, she has loved him from the very first day she moved to Pocket when he walked her through town. Magpie has a faraway look in her eye as she thinks back to all that has transpired between them since that day.

“I am very happy for you; it is clear to anyone who is paying attention that the two of you are very much in love,” says Manon, smiling.

Magpie smiles back. They have reached the gate to Goldcrest Gardens and the sights, smells, and sounds of the Lark Festival. “Here we are!” says Manon, her voice taking on a childlike quality. They enter the gardens and start making the rounds. Magpie is mesmerized once again by the kaleidoscope of music and colours. She and Manon are walking off their lunch, which consisted of a multitude of fair foods, when they come upon a carnival game booth.

“Step right up, win a prize!” shouts the man behind the counter.

“Come on, let’s do it!” says Manon, grabbing Magpie by the hand and pulling her toward the booth. She hands the man a series of tickets. “We each get 3 tries, just stand behind this line and throw the ball into the basket over there,” she says, pointing to a small woven basket.

“Got it!” says Magpie, her competitive spirit rising to the occasion. Magpie misses her first shot, but every ball thereafter lands directly on target.

“We have a winner!” says the carnival barker, his voice booming. He reaches behind the counter and hands Magpie a small handmade doll. “There you go, your very own Skye Lark Belle!” he says. 

Magpie bristles at the words. “Belle with an E,” she reminds herself, but the words trigger a memory, something from a long time ago. Magpie isn’t sure if it was a dream or a vision, but she remembers seeing a woman sitting by a fireplace reading a leather-bound book with “The Skye Lark Belle” written in gold-leaf on the cover. Magpie shakes out of her reverie and thanks the man. She looks down at the little doll clutched in her hand.  The doll’s head is made of wood and features a hand-painted face with lush pink lips and large blue eyes. Its body is made of straw covered in a little white lace dress. The doll’s hair is made of bright red yarn and is adorned with a silver crown made of painted twigs.

“I’ve always thought those dolls were a little creepy,” whispers Manon with a wink. “Come, let’s go ride on the carousel!” she says, once again grabbing Magpie by the hand.

Magpie isn’t sure if it’s the all the food they’ve been snacking on or the feeling brought on by hearing the words Skylark Bell, but she feels her stomach churn at the thought of going ‘round and ‘round on the carousel. “You know, I’m going to sit this one out, I think I ate a little too much,” says Magpie. 

“Okay, I will meet you back here!” says Manon over her shoulder, skipping toward the carousel. She chooses a unicorn, its face turned upward, a crown of flowers tumbling down its mane, and hops on just as the carrousel starts spinning. Magpie watches, enraptured once again by the craftsmanship and rainbow of colours on each of the different creatures whizzing by.

Suddenly, she notices a creature that makes her feel uneasy. It is a Mermaid, her turquoise and green tail twisted behind her, her arms at her sides like they are pushing her upper body out of the water. She has long, red hair cascading over her shoulders, and a silver crown made of twigs circling the top of her head. Her large blue unseeing eyes stare straight ahead while her mouth hangs open, as if in song… or is it a scream?...

“That’s the Skye Lark Belle,” says a voice behind Magpie, making her jump. Magpie spins around to see an old man in a vintage tweed suit and cap. “She was the belle of the ball at the very first Lark Festival here on the Isle of Skye. They found her on the beach one day. It is said she had a voice that wasn’t from this world, that she could communicate with the birds… a beautiful woman with long red hair and eyes blue like the sea.” He pauses, rubbing his short gray beard with one hand as if deep in thought before continuing, “over time some people in the village got the idea in their head that she was actually a siren. People don’t take kindly to sirens ‘round here.” He pauses again, heaving a long sigh. “I’m afraid things didn’t end well for the original Skye Lark Belle…” he says, his voice trailing off.

“What did they do to her?” asks Magpie, enthralled. Just then she hears Manon calling her name. Magpie turns to see Manon waving for her to come over. Magpie turns back to the old man, but he is already several paces away, heading toward the gate to leave. Magpie makes a mental note to inquire about the first Belle of the Skye Lark Festival when she has a chance, then walks quickly over to Manon.

“They are going to crown this year’s Belle! This way!” she says, leading Magpie toward a stage that has been set up at the back of the gardens where a crowd has started to form.

Magpie suddenly feels very uncomfortable, something in the air just feels off. She stops in her tracks and looks around. She has been so focused on the stage that she hasn’t taken a moment to look at the crowd. Now she gazes on in horror. All around her, every person is wearing a long white lace dress, a wig of red curly hair, and a silver crown made of painted twigs. As if on cue, they all start singing “Fallalala la la la la la laaaa”. Magpie starts to feel dizzy. The crowd closes in around her, swaying, singing the haunting tune… She looks around desperately trying to find Manon, and feels relief when she spots the back of Manon’s head just a few paces away. Magpie clutches people’s shoulders to keep herself upright as she makes her way forward. Breathless, she is about to reach Manon when she feels someone grab her arm, pulling her to the front of the crowd.

“Here she is, this year’s Skye Lark Belle!” shouts a woman, holding up Magpie’s arm. Magpie spins around, mustering every ounce of strength to not let her legs buckle underneath her. Somehow in the past few seconds she has been brought up onto the stage. She looks out at the crowd, a sea of women with long red hair… women who look like Farfalla… women who look like her… 

Magpie feels something being placed on her head. “Ladies and Gentlemen, The Skye Lark Belle!” says a man’s voice behind her. The crowd starts swaying in unison and singing a haunting tune, “Fallalala la la la la laaaa…”. Magpie starts seeing stars and is resigned to the fact that she is going to lose consciousness, when suddenly she feels someone take a firm hold of her hand. She turns and feels relief wash over her.

“Lucas!” she whispers.

“You looked like you could use a hand,” he says, winking.

“I don’t know what happened, I was just trying to get to Manon and all of a sudden I was up here, and everyone looks like Farfalla, and they’re putting something on my head, calling me the Skye Lark Belle…” she rambles.

“It’s almost over.” He says, smiling at her reassuringly.

“Yes, almost over…” she says, the words echoing strangely in her head.

“Magpie?! Magpie, are you okay?!” Manon is leaning over her, her eyes filled with worry. Magpie sits up. She is on the ground and Manon is kneeling next to her. Around them a crowd has formed, concern on everyone’s face. “Are you alright?” Manon asks again. Magpie nods, rubbing her eyes. “She’s okay everyone! Everything’s okay,” she says to the crowd, which immediately begins to disperse.

“What happened?” asks Magpie.

“We were walking to the stage and all of a sudden you just collapsed!” she says. “Are you sure you’re feeling alright?”

Magpie carefully stands up and takes a moment to get her bearings. “Yes, I feel fine,” she says, “but… where are all the women, the ones with the red wigs and white gowns?” she asks.

Manon gets a confused look on her face, “I have seen no such women my dear, perhaps you were dreaming?” She doesn’t wait for an answer before suggesting they start making their way home before the sun sets. 

They walk home in silence, Magpie’s thoughts swirling. Manon helps Magpie settle into a chair by the fireplace and brings her some tea before heading back to the caretaker’s cottage. A short while later Lucas rushes in the front door.

“Magpie?” he shouts, kicking off his shoes.

“I’m in here,” she says, smiling at him as he walks into the room.

“Manon told me you fainted at the festival today, is everything okay?” he asks, his face washed with concern.

“Yes, I’m fine, I think I just overheated a bit,” she replies, standing up and folding the blanket that Manon had wrapped around her shoulders. 

“I’m sorry I wasn’t there,” says Lucas, taking both her hands in his.

“That’s the funny thing,” she says, “you were there!” Lucas looks at her quizzically. “I can’t explain it,” she continues, “But even when you’re far away, you’re still with me somehow.”

At this he smiles. “Well, it’s been a day. What do you say we head up?” he asks. Magpie nods and they head upstairs. “I’m right here if you need anything at all,” says Lucas, standing in the hallway between their bedroom doors. He strokes her cheek with his forefinger before stepping into the darkness of his bedroom. 

Magpie sits on the edge of her bed and looks at the moon outside her window, unable to shake the feeling that something is very, very wrong…

Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Wingspan chapter 12, A Special Guest, in which Magpie and Lucas entertain a very special visitor. 

Before I go, I’d like to thank Phaeton Starling Publishing for this fantastically eerie story, as well as Cannelle for composing eerie, mood-setting music for this podcast. 

If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they’re both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work through a donation via your podcast provider or by subscribing to my Patreon where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, writing, recipes, and more! Checks the show notes for links.

Thank you.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 10 – Night Magic - in which Magpie, Lucas, Manon and Alfred enjoy dinner on the patio, a perfect evening with the exception of Magpie’s unsettling vision, and some eerie stories about the druids who once were settled on what became Carnifex land.

Brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Instagram: @the.mop.pod

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 10 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.

In our previous episode, Magpie and Lucas explored the local Lark Festival, where Magpie draws a parallel between the carrousel and the ouroboros.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 10 – Night Magic - in which Magpie, Lucas, Manon and Alfred enjoy dinner on the patio, a perfect evening with the exception of Magpie’s unsettling vision.

Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.

“Oh Lucas, everything looks absolutely perfect!” breathes Magpie, stepping back to admire their handywork. They’ve spent most of the day turning the very ordinary patio at Carnifex House into a small outdoor haven. Lucas worked all week building flower boxes that are now overflowing with pink and yellow blooms, then he and Magpie installed rows of string lights above the patio. Magpie found an outdoor lounge set on sale at Crake’s Odds n’ Ends and re-covered the cushions with yellow fabric to match the flowers. Manon and Alfred gifted them a pair of rocking chairs which Lucas re-painted a cool, dusky shade of green. 

“One last thing!” says Lucas, bringing over a small fire pit and bundle of firewood. “The nights are getting cooler now, I thought this would make a nice addition,” he explains.

“Genius! Nice work!” says Magpie.

“Bonjour!” they hear Manon’s voice drifting on the wind as she and Alfred come walking through the field from the Caretakers Cottage.

“Alfred! Is that a guitar?” asks Magpie, greeting them both warmly with a hug and traditional kiss on each cheek.

“I made him bring it! He’ll never admit it, but Alfred is a wonderful musician!” says Manon.

“Lucas, this is phenomenal craftsmanship!” says Alfred, taking the attention off himself by focusing closely on Lucas’ flower boxes.

“Thank you! I’ve never really built anything like this before, they turned out better than I thought they would!” says Lucas.

“You’re being modest, you are a natural! I have seen men with far more experience build things of far lesser quality.” Says Alfred, giving Lucas a friendly pat on the back.

“I’ve got desserts and drinks ready to go! Please make yourselves comfortable,” says Magpie, gesturing toward the couch. Alfred and Manon sit next to one another, taking in the beauty of the small outdoor oasis.

“Do you need a hand bringing things out?” asks Lucas.

“Nope! I’ve got it all on a tray ready to go, I’ll be right back,” says Magpie, walking toward the back door. She lets herself into the kitchen and grabs a few napkins printed with pink and yellow flowers, tucking one under each plate before grabbing both handles on the rustic wooden tray.

Out of nowhere, the sound of chatter rises from behind the closed door leading to the dining room. Carefully putting the tray back on the counter, Magpie tiptoes to the door, but stops short of opening it, her shaking hand hovering above the doorknob. She can hear animated voices on the other side coming in bursts: “I told her not to go into the woods,” says a woman. “…spells and faeries and magic, it’s all hogwash!” a man’s voice cuts in. “People don’t just vanish!” says another man, his voiced raised. 

Who are these people? How did they get in? And what are they talking about? Magpie swallows the lump in her throat and slowly turns the knob. She pushes the door open, carefully swinging it as wide as it will go, only to find herself staring into an empty room. Blinking, she takes a tentative step into the dining room. She can smell the acrid scent of a candle, as if someone has just blown it out before leaving the room, but there is no candle in sight.

“You sure you don’t need help?” comes Lucas’ voice from the back door. Magpie comes scurrying back into the kitchen and grabs the tray. 

“Sorry, I got distracted!” says Magpie, walking through the door which Lucas is holding open for her. Manon and Alfred ooh and ahh as she hands them each a plate adorned with small cakes and pastries. 

They sit for a couple of hours as the sun goes down, chatting about the Sarcelles’ time at Carnifex House, their son Julien, and about Magpie and Lucas’ years in Pocket. 

“Perhaps I should get the fire started, it’s getting a little chilly,” suggest Lucas. Everyone nods in agreement. Magpie gets blankets from a storage box near the back door and hands them out as Lucas gets the fire going. Before long they are sitting by the cozy orange glow of the flames as the string lights offer a comforting light from above.

“Alfred, would you play us a few songs? We’d love to hear some music,” asks Magpie. Alfred reluctantly agrees and takes his guitar out of the case. He proceeds to entertain them with a string of classic French songs by Charles Aznavour, Jacques Brel, Serge Gainsbourg and others that Magpie and Lucas aren’t familiar with, his sweet voice echoing across the fields, Manon joining him for her favourite parts. Magpie and Lucas clap as the final notes disappear into the night sky.

“Do you know anything about the history of Carnifex House, or the family?” asks Lucas, settling back into his rocking chair after bringing the empty plates and glasses back into the house.

Manon and Alfred look at one another. Magpie watches, unable to read what is going on between them.

“This is a land full of legends and stories…” begins Alfred.

“What he means is, there are so many rumours and the like, it is very hard to know what is truly a historical fact, and what is just an old wives’ tale,” interjects Manon.

“What are some of the stories people tell?” asks Magpie, leaning forward, her curiosity piqued.

Alfred and Manon exchange another look and Manon heaves a sigh. “Centuries ago, these lands are said to have been inhabited by Druids. They were philosophers, teachers – some even say they were magicians - whose existence was very intricately woven with nature. They revered trees, especially oak, which they said contained supernatural properties. They valued education and worshipped the sun, the earth, the air, the sea… they were very in-tune with their surroundings, and truly loved this land.”

“Some say they could control certain forces; light, distance, time, water, wind... Others suggest they were shape-shifters, able to turn themselves into animals, or even trees and rocks.” Interjects Alfred, “and there are tales of a very powerful Bandraoi (BAHN-dree), or female druid, named Dealan-dè (dyALanjay). To this day people claim to see her, sometimes racing through the fields, peeking out from the woods, or standing by the cliffside.”

“Fascinating!” says Lucas, his eyes fixed on the couple as the flickering light from the fire dances across their faces.

“Of course, these stories have been told and retold through centuries, there haven’t been druids on this land since the Romans came, so it is very likely that their lives have been misrepresented, their powers embellished and romanticized,” concludes Manon, smiling.

“I love that idea though, of being completely in tune with the natural world that surrounds us,” says Magpie dreamily.

“I wish I had magical powers and could control the wind and sea or turn myself into a wild animal!” says Lucas, childlike excitement in his voice.

Once again, Manon and Alfred exchange a glance. “Sometimes, powers like those are not all they’re cut out to be,” she says quietly.

“Well, it’s getting late, we should get going,” says Alfred, clapping his hands on his knees. He stands and reaches for Manon’s hands to pull her up from the couch. 

“Thank you so much for the beautiful evening, we are so thankful that you are both here,” adds Manon, a genuine look of gratitude on her face.

“The feeling is mutual,” says Lucas. Magpie stands next to him, nodding in agreement.

They wish one another good night, and the Sarcelles start walking back through the field into the night, headed toward the Caretakers Cottage.

Magpie and Lucas stand on the little patio, watching the glowing embers in the firepit as they fade and give way to darkness.

Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Wingspan chapter 11, The Skye Lark Bell, where Magpie returns to the Lark Festival with Manon and has a bizarre and terrifying experience.

Before I go, I’d like to thank Phaeton Starling Publishing for this fantastically eerie story, as well as Cannelle for composing eerie, mood-setting music for this podcast. 

If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they’re both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work through a donation via your podcast provider or by subscribing to my Patreon where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, writing, recipes, and more! Checks the show notes for links.

Thank you

In today’s episode we read Chapter 9 – The Lark Festival - in which Magpie and Lucas explore the Lark festival of Skye, where Magpie is reminded of the mysterious Ouroboros.

Brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Instagram: @the.mop.pod

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 9 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  

In our previous episode, Magpie and Lucas met Manon Sarcelle, who, with her husband, is the caretaker of Carnifex House. They are shocked to discover a horse in the pasture who appears identical to Marius Corbeau’s horse, Cormorant, even down to its name. 

In today’s episode we read Chapter 9 – The Lark Festival - in which Magpie and Lucas explore the Lark festival of Skye

Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.

Magpie and Lucas have been settling into Carnifex House over the past few weeks, rearranging furniture and giving the kitchen a fresh coat of paint. They’ve learned how to grow vegetables and care for Cormorant thanks to Manon and Alfred’s guidance. They have also made a few trips into Pòcaid for supplies, noting that the villagers seem to grow less suspicious of them with each visit.

Lucas has been working with Cormorant almost daily while Magpie has been focused on learning about the vegetable garden, but today Lucas and Magpie are going on their first horseback ride together. They are in the paddock with Manon, who is reviewing basic riding etiquette and giving them directions to various riding paths nearby. Since Cormorant is the only horse at Carnifex House, Alfred has gone to the neighbouring farm to borrow a horse for Magpie to ride. Magpie is watching and listening to Manon’s instructions, her feet on the bottom rail of the fence and her head and arms draped over the top rail.

Finally, Alfred comes trotting up the path on the back of a dark bay mare. He pulls up to the paddock and hops off. “This is Rose,” he says, his deep brown eyes twinkling, “she is a very gentle lady, I think you will get along very well,” he adds, handing the reins to Magpie. 

Magpie looks into the mare’s large brown eyes and runs her hand along the soft fur on its neck. “Hi Rose, I’m Magpie,” she whispers softly. The horse’s ears flicker back and forth, and she snickers softly in reply. “I think we’re going to be fast friends,” she says to Alfred with a wink.

“Okay, I think you are both ready to go!” says Manon excitedly. Alfred gives Magpie a leg up and she lands in the saddle somewhat awkwardly, but Rose doesn’t even flinch. Magpie looks on as Lucas puts one foot in the stirrup and hops gently on the other foot before hoisting himself up and landing gracefully on top of Cormorant’s back. Magpie’s breath catches in her throat as she experiences a flashback of her vision of Marius Corbeau falling off his horse at Mirror Pond back in Pocket… his horse that looked just like this horse… his horse which was also named Cormorant… She recalls how Marius’ black curls blew in the wind, much like Lucas’ black curls are doing now. 

“Here goes nothing!” says Lucas, grinning from ear to ear, “Let’s go!” 

With that, Alfred opens the paddock gate for Lucas and Cormorant to walk through. “Today is the first day of the Lark Festival, you should go check it out!” says Manon, “it is located in the gardens behind Goldcrest Manor, I think you would enjoy it!”

“That sounds like a great idea, thank you!” says Lucas. He smiles at Magpie as he takes the lead, and she follows him, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in her stomach brought up by the similarities between Lucas and the Marius from her vision.

They walk down the long lane away from Carnifex House, then turn onto the main road and break into a trot as they head toward Goldcrest Manor. A few minutes later the smell of mini doughnuts wafts through the air, and they can hear the organ music from a carousel.

“We must be getting close!” says Magpie, pulling up next to Lucas.

“I suddenly just got really hungry!” says Lucas, making them both giggle, and causing the horses’ ears to flicker back and forth.

They finally reach Goldcrest Gardens, rendered unrecognizable by a myriad of multicoloured tents featuring carnival games and various food and drink options. The centerpiece of the carnival appears to be a large, antique carousel surrounded by a whirling collection of unicorns, griffins, and other mystical creatures, each permanently frozen in a different position. 

Lucas laughs and points to a wooden sign nailed to a post “You don’t see that every day!” he says.

Magpie looks over his shoulder and laughs out loud. The sign reads “Horse Parking Lot, This Way!” with an arrow pointing toward the back of the gardens. “Let’s do it!” she says, as they lead Cormorant and Rose down the path.

The horses safely tucked away, Magpie and Lucas start ambling through the festival. They are immediately surrounded by the sound of carnival barkers shouting “Step right up! Try your luck!”, and the music from the carousel waving in and out as the speaker spins around in circles. The smell from all the different food vendors makes their mouths water. 

“What shall we eat first?!” ask Lucas. Though Magpie has learned Lucas isn’t much one for parties, he definitely enjoys party food!

“Cotton candy, candied apples, cranachan” shouts a man at a nearby booth, causing them to turn his direction.

“Pasties! Popcorn! Lemonade!” shouts another across the way, causing Magpie to pivot and bump into Lucas. They laugh and take a step back.

“I’ll get the cotton candy,” says Lucas

“And I’ll get the lemonade,” says Magpie 

“Meet you back here in 5,” they say in unison before going different directions.

Magpie walks to the booth and orders two large cups of lemonade. She turns and sees that Lucas is still waiting in line at the other booth, so she decides to take a small detour past the carousel before going back to their meeting spot. Taking a large sip out of her cup, she walks up to the fence surrounding the carousel. The joyful music fades away as the carousel comes to a stop. Magpie takes a closer look at the creatures lining its perimeter. She sees a two-person chair shaped like a swan, a father and son seated next to one another, smiling. Next in line is a pair of unicorns with flowers woven into their manes and tails, a boy and girl on their backs giggling as they pretend to race. Behind them, a griffin rears up on its hind legs, its mouth hanging open to show a pink tongue and pointy teeth. The music picks up again and the carousel slowly starts turning. Magpie watches as new creatures come into view, admiring the artistry of each and every one. 

“What happened to ‘meet you back here in 5’?” comes Lucas’ voice from behind her. 

Magpie spins around, coming directly face to face with him. She lays an apologetic hand on his shoulder. “Oh my gosh Lucas, I’m so sorry, I saw you were waiting in line, so I thought I’d come check out the carousel and totally lost track of time. Isn’t it beautiful?!” she exclaims. 

“Yes, it’s very beautiful” he answers softly, never taking his eyes off her face. 

Magpie smiles at him, her cheeks flushed. She holds out one of the lemonade cups “I believe this is yours Mr. Starling!” she says.

“And I believe this is yours, Mrs. Starling!” he says, holding out a large puff of blue cotton candy. “Uh… I mean, Miss Phaeton…” he says, turning a shade of pink she’s never seen on him before.

“Thanks,” she says, hesitating only a moment before coyly adding, “and, for the record, I kind of like the sound of Mrs. Starling.”

Lucas turns toward the carousel, smiling. They stand side by side, silent, watching as the mystical creatures, frozen in time, spin round and round.

“No beginning, and no end…” The thought echoes through Magpie’s mind, pushing all feelings of warmth and comfort from her body, and replacing them with a chill that runs all the way down her spine.

Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Wingspan chapter 10, Night Magic, where Magpie, Lucas, Manon and Alfred enjoy dinner on the patio, a perfect evening with the exception of Magpie’s unsettling vision.

Before I go, I’d like to thank Phaeton Starling Publishing for this fantastically eerie story, as well as Cannelle for composing eerie, mood-setting music for this podcast. 

If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they’re both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work through a donation via your podcast provider or by subscribing to my Patreon where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, writing, recipes, and more! Checks the show notes for links.

Thank you.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 8 – Carnifex House - in which Magpie and Lucas finally reach their destination, and lay eyes on Carnifex House for the first time.

Brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Instagram: @the.mop.pod

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

FULL TRANSCRIPT

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 8 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  

In our previous episode, Magpie and Lucas encountered several of the residents of Pocaid who had strange reactions upon finding out the pair are planning to occupy Carnifex House.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 8 – Carnifex House - in which Magpie and Lucas finally reach their destination, and lay eyes on Carnifex House for the first time.

Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.

The driver carefully navigates the steep climb up the cliff behind the village of Pòcaid. Magpie watches in wonder as they pass the massive exterior stone walls of Goldcrest Manor, which is perched on the cliffside overlooking the ocean. Radiating from the South side of the manor is a vast, perfectly manicured garden stretching out as far as the eye can see. 

They continue down a winding road, only lightly dotted with the odd house, for quite some time before turning onto a long, narrow dirt lane. Up ahead, Magpie can see the two-story house at the end of the path. Its exterior walls are made of stone, weathered by decades, maybe even centuries, of wind and cold sea air. Magpie feels a bit of unease and wonders if Lucas is also noting the similarities to Meadow Lane – which also had a long dusty path leading from the road to a weathered two-story house. She turns to look at him and he meets her glance with a smile and a wink. 

As they work their way up the lane, Magpie swallows a lump in her throat. Coming into view behind the house she can see the ocean, stretching for miles, just like in the vision she had as she and her mom were packing. Rubbing her arms to tame the goosebumps that have risen, she tries to brush off the eerie sensation and put herself into a positive mindset. “This is a fresh start, a brand-new adventure. Be positive!” She tells herself.

“Hmm? Did you say something?” asks Lucas.

“I’m excited to start this new adventure!” she answers, smiling. “With you,” she adds, shyly. Lucas blushes slightly but holds onto her gaze. Magpie takes a deep breath, “Okay, let’s do this!” she says, opening the car door.

As Magpie and Lucas are stepping out of the car a tall slim woman in jeans and a light sweater makes her way toward them, her short dark hair blowing in the blustery Scottish wind. She gives them a warm smile before introducing herself. “Hello! I am Manon, Manon Sarcelle, my husband, Alfred, and I are the caretakers of Carnifex House. Welcome!” she says.

“It’s so nice to meet you! I am Margaret Phaeton, but everyone calls me Magpie, and this is my friend Lucas!” replies Magpie. “If you don’t mind my asking, your accent doesn’t sound Scottish, where are you from?” she asks.

The woman laughs warmly, “After all these years I thought my accent was gone, but no…” She chuckles again before continuing, “My husband and I are from France. Nearly 25 years ago we saw an advertisement in our local paper looking for caretakers for a remote property in Scotland. We were young and ready for adventure, very much like you!” she says, smiling at them both in a way that makes Magpie’s cheeks flush.  “We packed our bags and never looked back; it was fate!” She heaves a nostalgic sigh before continuing, “Time feels different here, it goes by fast and slow all at once. It seems like yesterday our son, Julien, was only a little boy running along the beach, now he is in Paris to study… but he plans to return in a few years so we can retire and return to a place with warmer weather and more sun.” she says.

“That’s wonderful!” Says Magpie “It sounds like you’ve had many wonderful years here.”

A shadow passes briefly across the woman’s face, but she quickly regroups and claps her hands. “You are probably excited to take a look at the house, yes?!” she says, walking with purpose toward the front door, Magpie and Lucas following closely behind. “My husband and I live in the small cottage in the field over there,” she says, pointing behind the home with one hand as she is opening the door with the other. “Bienvenue…” she says to them as the door swings open. 

Magpie and Lucas step into Carnifex House. Magpie isn’t sure what she was expecting, but it wasn’t this. The interior walls of the house are composed of the same stone as the exterior. Large, ancient wooden beams stretch across the ceiling, hovering over the stone floor which has been covered with a variety of area rugs. Straight ahead of them is a staircase which presumably leads to the second story bedrooms. To their right is a large living room that stretches from the front to the back of the house and features a large stone fireplace with a heavy mantle on which several family photos are perched. There is a couch and two rocking chairs in the front part of the room, and an antique writing desk at the back of the room under the window which overlooks the back fields and, in the distance, the ocean.

“Come this way, I will show you the kitchen, you are probably hungry after all that travel!” says Manon, leading them through a doorway on the left. They step into the dining room, which also has a large stone fireplace, a round dining table, and an antique hutch showcasing a set of dishes decorated with a delicate floral pattern. They cross the room and step through another door into the kitchen. To their left is an antique stove, much like the one at Magpie’s house in Pocket. Across from the doorway is a large porcelain farmhouse sink placed under a window that looks out at the rolling hills behind the house, and the ocean beyond. To their right is a small refrigerator, and tiny two-person breakfast table. Tucked away in the corner under the stairs is a tiny bathroom. “Shall I make you some sandwiches, and perhaps heat up some soup? My husband Alfred went to town this morning to get some provisions, we thought you might want to rest once you arrived,” she says kindly.

“How very thoughtful of him, and yes that sounds wonderful,” says Lucas as he pulls out a chair for Magpie at the tiny table.

“So, when is the last time anyone actually lived here?” asks Magpie, gently lowering herself into the small wooden chair.

“Ah it has been decades, I think it was in the 1960s or 1970s, long before we came here,” replies Manon, pouring soup into a pot and grabbing a cutting board on which to slice the bread. “Sometimes we have family come to visit, or the house gets rented out to tourists, but mostly it’s just us,” she says, speaking a little more loudly above the sound of the knife slicing through the thick crust. “I picked these tomatoes from our greenhouse this morning, this will be a very good lunch for you.” she says, focused on her task.

“If you don’t mind my asking, who has been paying your salary all these years?” asks Magpie, a little confused. 

“The house was left in a trust, and everything is handled by the lawyers here in Pòcaid,” she says. “The Carnifex family were very successful businesspeople on the mainland, this was a vacation home,” she adds, ladling hot soup into two bowls. “My understanding is they planned for the care for this house until it came back into the possession of a descendent of theirs. I believe they thought it would happen much sooner… but no matter, you are here, now,” she turns, smiling, two plates in hand, each boasting a large sandwich of freshly baked bread and juicy red tomatoes.

Magpie and Lucas eat voraciously. “I didn’t realise how hungry I was!” exclaims Magpie. 

Lucas leans back in his chair; his plate and bowl empty save for a few breadcrumbs. “That is hands-down the most delicious sandwich I’ve ever had. Thank you so much!” he says.

“You are most welcome! Now that you have eaten, perhaps a short walk outside before I leave you?” asks Manon as she is gathering their plates. 

“That sounds lovely,” says Magpie, excited to take in the view from the back of the house. They step through the back door of the kitchen onto a small stone patio. Magpie closes her eyes and breathes in the cool, fragrant sea air, then opens them again to take in the view. Behind the house are rolling fields. In the distance, off to her left, she can see the caretaker’s cottage, a small white building with a thatched roof that looks like it is from a different century. Beyond that she can see the ocean bay below, and across from it the mountains in the distance. The scene is lush, and vast, and new, and Magpie can’t believe she is actually standing here. 

“I was speechless the first time too,” says Manon, staring off into the distance with a look on her face that tells Magpie she’s reminiscing about her arrival at Carnifex House a quarter century ago.

A loud horse whinny makes Magpie and Lucas jump. “Are there horses around here?” asks Magpie.

“There is one horse,” replies Manon. “Years ago, there were many, but now he is the last one.” She turns to them with a sad smile. “Would you like to meet him?”

Lucas and Magpie nod and they set off away from the house. They are getting closer to the paddock when they hear a man’s voice echo across the field calling Manon’s name. “Oh, that is my husband Alfred, he will need help unloading the supplies. You can go ahead to the paddock and the horse will come to you,” she says, as she is walking away toward the caretaker’s cottage. She turns to look over her shoulder and adds, “his name is Cormorant!” 

Magpie and Lucas, almost at the paddock gate, stop in their tracks and look at each other, wide eyed. 

“Cormorant… that was the name of Marius Corbeau’s horse! What are the odds?!” Says Lucas in a stunned voice. 

Just then a gigantic beast comes up to the gate where it stops abruptly, letting the cloud dust it kicked up billow away on the breeze. Magpie and Lucas stare at the huge animal, their mouths hanging open in shock. Cormorant stands behind the gate, staring back at them, the wind ruffling his white mane and tail as his black coat shimmers in the sunlight.

Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Wingspan chapter 9, The Lark Festival, in which Magpie and Lucas explore the local Lark festival of Skye.

Before I go, I’d like to thank Phaeton Starling Publishing for this fantastically eerie story, as well as Cannelle for composing eerie, mood-setting music for this podcast. 

If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they’re both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work through a donation via your podcast provider or by subscribing to my Patreon where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, writing, recipes, and more! Checks the show notes for links.

Thank you

In today’s episode we read Chapter 7 – Pocaid - in which Magpie and Lucas arrive in the quaint little Scottish town of Pocaid, but the welcome isn't as warm as they hoped.

Brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Instagram: @the.mop.pod

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 7 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  

In our previous episode, Magpie had yet another strange, very realistic unexplained experience as she and Lucas were on the ferry taking them from to the island.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 7 – Pocaid – in which Magpie and Lucas finally arrive in the quaint town of Pocaid on the Isle of Skye, and encounter a strange reaction from the residents at the mention of Carnifex House.

Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.

It feels like their driver has been expertly navigating the long, winding, narrow roads forever when suddenly Magpie and Lucas find themselves driving along the coast, the salty smell of the sea drifting into the open car windows.

As they come around the bend Magpie lets out a gasp, just ahead is a quaint seaside village, each row house painted a different colour, the gray of the steep cliff rising behind them creating a stark contrast despite being marred by the bright green of the odd tree. A large stone manor stands perched atop the cliff, overlooking the town and the ocean beyond.

“Welcome to Pòcaid! Sure is somethin’, ain’t it?” says the driver, a knowing smile on his face. Clearly this isn’t the first time he’s seen the reaction of newcomers as they first drive into town. “That up there is Goldcrest Manor and Goldcrest Gardens, been there for centuries…” he says, nodding toward the top of the cliff. “Would you like to stop in town for a moment, get your bearings before I take you up to the house?” he asks

“Getting out of the car for a moment sounds great.” Says Lucas, making eye contact with Magpie to confirm she’s on board. Magpie promptly nods in agreement.

The driver parks along the seaside, across from the rainbow of row houses and steps out.  Magpie and Lucas join him, the wind blowing their hair and carrying the driver’s voice as the starts telling them about the town. “Along the main street you’ll find the post office, Crake’s general store, the gift shop… then there’s The Capercaillie Art Gallery, lots of amazing artists ‘round these parts!” he says proudly. “Then if you’re hungry there’s the Red Kite Café, they have a great seasonal menu. Next to them are some offices – lawyers, accountants and the like – then the Whimbrel Inn, and last, but certainly not least, is the Skye Blue Bakery, it’s the oldest bakery on all the island! You won’t find better bread and morning buns on the mainland, that I can assure you!” The love of his land can be heard in the driver’s voice, which makes Magpie and Lucas even more excited to go check everything out. They thank him and head off.

“Where shall we start?!” asks Magpie

“How about we go in order from left to right?” suggests Lucas

“Works for me!” she says, as they start walking.

A sign above the door reads “Mr. Crake’s Odds n’ Ends” in large bright blue letters with “General Store” printed in white underneath. A small bell signals their arrival as they step through the door. The store looks larger on the inside than they would have guessed. It clearly serves as a grocery store and pharmacy as well as providing basic household needs like towels and cleaning supplies. Then there are the “odds n’ ends” mentioned on the sign – everything from horse riding boots to cat toys, tools and office supplies… this is definitely a one-stop shop! 

“How are you doing this fine day?” says a pleasant voice as a large man with a thick silver beard makes his way around the counter.

“Hello! We’re great, thank you for asking!” replies Magpie. 

“Anything I can help you find?” he asks. The man’s demeanor and personality are so inviting they instantly make Magpie and Lucas feel comfortable. “I know the store can look a bit messy to newcomers, but I know exactly where everything is! Just last week Joe Dotterel was in here looking for a fairy castle for his daughter’s birthday and guess what, I knew exactly where to find one! Poor Joe had to pick his jaw up off the floor, he was so sure he had me with that one!” The man lets out a belly laugh that echoes off the walls of the store, making some of the knick-knacks on the pegs behind him flitter back and forth.

“We’re actually just looking around for today,” says Lucas. “We’re new here, though I’m sure you noticed,” he adds shyly.

“Aye, had an inkling maybe you weren’t from these parts,” says the man, his smile warm and inviting. “Well, I’m Mr. Crake, got that sign outside the door to remind me in case I forget.” He says, chuckling at his own joke, his huge hands splayed across his protruding midsection.

“I’m Magpie, and this is Lucas,” says Magpie, smiling back at him.

“Lovely to meet you both, and welcome to Pòcaid, I’m sure you’ll find it to your liking. Will you be staying at the Whimbrel Inn?” he inquires.

“No, actually, we’re moving into Carnifex House,” answers Magpie “It used to belong to some ancestors of mine.”

At this, the man’s smile vanishes from his face and his brow furrows. “Well, it’s been nice meeting you both, I’d better get on with my work,” he says, rather shortly, before heading back behind the counter to reorganize some pegs with varying office supplies.

“Okay, nice to meet you…” says Magpie awkwardly as she and Lucas exchange a look of confusion and head back toward the door.

“Did you see how he reacted when you mentioned Carnifex House?” asks Lucas as they step back out onto the sidewalk.

“Yes, it was very strange. Maybe there’s some ancient rivalry between his family and mine or something,” shrugs Magpie. “I don’t want to read too much into it, I’m sure it’s nothing,” she adds, mostly to convince herself.

They walk past the gift shop, peering in the window to see a myriad of trinkets; local woolen goods, tartans, stuffed animals shaped like highland cows and sheep, blankets, jewelry. “Let’s come back here to buy some gifts to send back home when we have more time,” says Magpie. Lucas nods in agreement. They amble past the art gallery, which is closed, its limited hours posted on a small tidy sign in the door. The Gallery’s oversized display window features a large painting of a white and gray bird with black wings and red eyes. Magpie shivers slightly at the sight of it, beautiful but intimidating. 

Next door to the gallery is the Red Kite Café, an easel on the sidewalk boasting about the daily specials in perfect cursive handwriting. 

Cullen Skink

Pies n’ a pint – (with vegetarian options!) exclamation point, written in parentheses

fresh fish n’ chips with mushy peas

Carissa’s famous cauliflower curry

and for dessert:

Cranachan with local berries & honey

“I don’t even know what some of those are!” says Lucas, laughing. Magpie giggles in agreement.

“But I’m excited to find out!” she adds.

Just then, a waitress walks up to them. “Hullo!” she says pleasantly, “will you be dining with us today?” 

“Not today, but we are curious, what is Cullen Skink?” asks Magpie.

“And Cranachan?!” pipes up Lucas.

The waitress laughs wholeheartedly “Ah! Well, Cullen Skink is a bit like chowder, but heartier and smokier… and better!” she adds with a wink, whispering to them from behind her hand,    “and Cranachan is a dessert made with berries, honey, whiskey, oats and whipped cream… it’s like eating a sweet little cloud” she ends.

“That all sounds wonderful!” exclaims Magpie. “If we had more time, I would take one of each of everything right now, I’m starving! But we need to get to Carnifex House before dark,” she adds.

The woman immediately takes a step back, recoiling from Magpie. “Well, we’ll see you some other time then,” she stutters with a forced smile before turning and walking swiftly back into the café.

“What on earth…?!” says Lucas “Magpie, that’s twice now… something is going on.”

Magpie grabs his hand as they keep walking. They are almost at the end of the street, having raced past the office building and the inn, with only The Skye Blue Bakery left to check out. As they are approaching the door a hand appears from behind the glass and quickly flips the “open” sign to “closed”. Without skipping a beat, the shades in the windows on either side of the door drop violently. 

Dismayed, Lucas and Magpie glance at each other before turning back. They can no longer deny there is something about Carnifex House that the people of Pòcaid aren’t telling them. Perhaps, the best thing to do at this point is head up there to find out what it is for themselves. Magpie and Lucas cross the street and walk back to the car, the driver leaning on the hood looking out at the beach. “Did you have a nice visit?” he asks.

Magpie nods quietly as they get into the car. The driver revs up the engine and the car turns onto the steep, winding road that will take them up the cliff to Carnifex House.

Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Wingspan chapter 8, Carnifex House, in which Magpie and Lucas finally reach their destination, and lay eyes on Carnifex House for the first time.

Before I go, I’d like to thank Phaeton Starling Publishing for this fantastically eerie story, as well as Cannelle for composing eerie, mood-setting music for this podcast. 

If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they’re both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work through a donation via your podcast provider or by subscribing to my Patreon where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, writing, recipes, and more! Checks the show notes for links.

Thank you

In today’s episode we read Chapter 6 – Skylarks over Scotland - in which Magpie has a deeply unsettling vision as she and Lucas travel on to Scotland.

Brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Instagram: @the.mop.pod

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 6 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  

In our previous episode, Magpie continued to feel the mysterious woman nearby as she and Lucas celebrated the opening of Mrs. Phaeton’s art exhibit at the Clawfoot Gallery.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 6 – Skylarks over Scotland - in which Magpie has a deeply unsettling vision as she and Lucas travel on to Scotland.

Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.

Magpie inhales the cool, salty sea air from the deck of the ferry taking them from Mainland Scotland to the Isle of Skye. She and Lucas said their good-byes to Mrs. Phaeton when they left London yesterday morning. It was a bittersweet moment for Magpie, she and her mother have been on their own her entire life, her dad having left when she was just a baby, and though starting a new adventure at Carnifex House is exciting, she can’t help but feel a little nervous and sad. Having Lucas by her side helps ease her anxiety though, and her mom has promised to visit at the end of the summer before returning to Pocket.

Magpie hears Lucas say something, but his voice gets carried away on the wind. She leans in closer to him. “What was that?” she asks, shouting despite being only a short distance from him.

“I said, I think I can see land up ahead!” shouts Lucas.

Magpie leans forward against the railing and squints into the distance. It is foggy up ahead, but she can make out dark shapes through the fog, perhaps cliffs or even mountains.

“I think you’re right!” she shouts back to Lucas, and they grin at each other with anticipation. 

It has been a long two days. After leaving Magpie’s mom at the hotel in London, they took a cab to the airport. A short flight took them to Glasgow where they hopped on a train which would take them Northwest to the coast over a period of six hours. The scenery outside the train window was absolutely stunning. Mountains, valleys, wildlife, castles, villages… Magpie had lost count of how many times she wished she could hop off the train to go exploring! Finally, the train had pulled into the very last station, and they disembarked, Lucas laughing as Magpie hauled her massive suitcase while he flung his duffle bag over his shoulder. Due to the ferry’s schedule, Magpie and Lucas had booked a night at a quaint little Inn in the village of Smeòrach (SHMUR-arch), which they had spent a considerable portion of their train ride learning how to pronounce. 

Now, Magpie closes her eyes and lifts her face to the sky where the sun is trying its best to pierce through the clouds. Slowly the fog ahead of them lifts and the Island comes into view. “Oh Lucas, this is even more beautiful that I imagined!” says Magpie, all sadness and anxiety vanishing from her mind.

“Unbelievable,” says Lucas, breathless. 

They are still quite far from the land, a long stretch of deep blue water separating the ferry from the shore. In the distance they can see choppy stone cliffs reaching up to the sky, and rolling mountains beyond, their tops kissing the low-lying clouds.

Lucas, looks out at the water, the glistening sun making it sparkle like the sequins on Magpie’s blue dress. He thinks back to the moment he saw her in that dress, how it took his breath away. Feeling his cheeks flush, he keeps his gaze straight ahead and asks, “Can you believe we’re here?!”

“No, none of this seems real!” replies Magpie, unable to wipe the smile off her face. 

It seems like only yesterday she was reading the letter Charlotte Carnifex had sent to Farfalla’s sister, Paloma, detailing a property on a remote Scottish island that had belonged to the Carnifex family for centuries. At the time, two years seemed like an impossibly long time to wait before travelling to settle the estate, but time had flown by. Once Mrs. Phaeton found out she wouldn’t be travelling with Magpie to Scotland she had sorted out their affairs over the phone and through the mail, claiming ownership of the property and getting in touch with the caretakers to plan for Magpie and Lucas’ arrival. 

Magpie’s mind starts to wander… Paloma had raised Farfalla’s daughter Elizabeth after it was thought Farfalla had perished when the boat that was taking her and James to this very island was found in pieces on the shore. Was this the view that lay before her when the boat sank? Was there a storm? Or perhaps they crashed into a rock, or another boat? What was her last thought as the water rushed over her head? 

Magpie shakes the thoughts from her mind. This is no time to dwell on such things, she and Lucas are about to start a new adventure today! And besides, Farfalla hadn’t perished at sea that day, she had lived out her days in Pocket. Or had she…? With a shudder Magpie recalls the letters scrawled on the back of the mysterious sketch that inexplicably appeared at Farfalla’s house as she and Lucas were gathering her things after her death. The black pencil smudged around the words “I AM NOT FARFALLA”. 

Magpie focuses on the land stretching out before her. The ferry is closing in on the shore and Magpie can almost feel Lucas trembling with anticipation.  Suddenly, a flash of movement at the top of the cliff to her left catches Magpie’s eye. She looks up, squinting against the sun, which has claimed victory over the retreating clouds. Atop the cliff she sees a woman, her long white dress reflecting the sunlight, a crown of fiery red hair flowing behind her in the wind. She is racing toward the edge of the cliff at full speed, causing Magpie’s stomach to clench with anxiety. Just when Magpie is about to shout “Stop!”, the woman stops abruptly, reaches her arm back and throws something over the cliff’s edge with all her might. Magpie follows the object’s trajectory as it arcs toward the ocean below, the sunlight glinting off its metallic surface. The scene unfolds very quickly, and as the object lands in the water Magpie feels the entire earth heave under her feet, like a tremendous wave has passed under the boat, as if the tectonic plates themselves just shifted. Terrified, Magpie lets out a scream and grabs onto the railing with both hands. 

“Magpie! Are you alright?!” says Lucas, his face washed with concern.

“Didn’t you feel that?!” she asks him, her iron grip on the railing turning her knuckles white.

“Feel what?” he asks, now looking confused as well as worried.

“Did you see the woman? The woman on the cliff? She threw something into the ocean, and when it landed in the water there was a… a… a shift!” says Magpie, unsure of how to explain what she just experienced.

“What do you mean a ‘shift’?” he asks, genuinely trying to decipher what Magpie is trying to convey.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” begins Magpie, “it’s like the earth shifted, like the ground, the water, the air… like they all heaved at the same time, at the exact moment that object landed in the ocean.”

“Do you think it was another vision?” asks Lucas gently. Magpie shrugs and nods slowly, it is the only explanation that makes any sense. She shudders when she thinks of how real her last two visions have felt, first the one on the cobblestone street in London, and now this. The line between reality and her visions has become blurred, and she finds it worrisome.

A loud horn above their heads brings Magpie and Lucas’ attention back to the scene before them. The ferry is pulling into the harbour, they’ve arrived on the Isle of Skye.

“Okay, our new adventure starts NOW!” says Lucas, draping a comforting arm over her shoulders. Magpie leans into him and looks out to shore. She can see a small village a little farther down the beach, and vast green fields dotted with farmhouses, a winding road connecting the dots. Lucas is right, their new adventure starts now, it’s time to let go of Meadow Lane, the silence, the visions… she needs to put it all behind her. The only thing she has to think of from this point on, is the future.

Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Wingspan chapter 7, Pocaid, where Magpie and Lucas finally arrive in the quaint town of Pocaid on the Isle of Skye, but their welcome is not as warm as they’d hoped!

Before I go, I’d like to thank Phaeton Starling Publishing for this fantastically eerie story, as well as Cannelle for composing eerie, mood-setting music for this podcast. 

If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they’re both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work through a donation via your podcast provider or by subscribing to my Patreon where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, writing, recipes, and more! Checks the show notes for links.

Thank you.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 5 – The Clawfoot Gallery – where mysterious occurrences continue as we join Magpie and Lucas for the grand opening of Mrs. Phaeton’s art gallery exhibit

Brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Instagram: @the.mop.pod

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 5 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  

In our previous episode, Magpie had a strange, and rather frightening encounter with a mysterious woman who seemed to provide her with a bit of a warning.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 5 – The Clawfoot Gallery – where mysterious occurrences continue as we join Magpie and Lucas for the grand opening of Mrs. Phaeton’s art gallery exhibit.

Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.

Magpie and her mom are applying the finishing touches to their makeup in the brightly lit mirror of their hotel room. Magpie rarely wears makeup, and is usually clad in jeans, a sweater, and sneakers, so it takes her some time to get ready for the fancy gallery event. Her mom looks stunning in a simple burgundy halter dress and black satin heels. “Mom, you look amazing!” she says. 

Mrs. Phaeton smiles warmly at her and takes a deep breath, “I could say the same about you!” she says. “I still can’t believe you found that dress for such a great price, and that it fits perfectly!” She blots her lipstick onto a tissue and checks her face in the mirror one last time before turning to Magpie. “Alright, are you ready?” she asks.

Magpie nods and walks cautiously toward the door in her high heeled shoes. She pulls the door open and finds Lucas standing there with his hand up like he is about to knock. “Oh, hi Lucas! Wow, you look great!” she says, noting his black dress pants, black dress shirt, and gray tie to match his eyes. Lucas stands in the doorway, transfixed. “Hello, earth to Lucas!” giggles Magpie, waving a hand in front of his face.

“You look beautiful,” he manages to choke out, looking at Magpie wide-eyed. Magpie blushes slightly and thanks him, then grabs his arm as they walk down the hallway toward the elevators. 

The Clawfoot Gallery is located on the corner of a busy intersection. The black taxicab that Magpie, Lucas, and Mrs. Phaeton are riding in pulls over to let them out. Lucas and Magpie wait on the sidewalk while Mrs. Phaeton settles up and thanks the driver. “This is it!” she says, turning to them, visibly nervous.

“You’re going to be great, mom. This is what you’ve been working for your whole life. You deserve all the praise and recognition,” says Magpie. Mrs. Phaeton smiles at her as they walk into the gallery. 

Inside, the gallery has an industrial feel, with concrete walls and an unfinished ceiling that shows all the duct work, pipes, and support beams throughout the space, which is entirely covered in a coat of matte black paint. The dark background is perfect for showcasing Mrs. Phaeton’s brightly coloured landscapes. 

“Ah! The guest of honour!” says a tall, slim man in a vintage suit. He has a French accent and gesticulates widely as he speaks. “Welcome! Welcome!” he adds jovially, “I am Monsieur Ernest, owner of the gallery. I hope the hotel is to your liking, oui?” he asks.

“Everything is absolutely wonderful, thank you so much Monsieur Ernest,” says Mrs. Phaeton. “This is my daughter, Magpie, and her friend Lucas,” she says, waving a hand toward them.

“Enchanté!” says Monsieur Ernest with a slight bow. “I must go tend to our guests, but please make yourself at home. We have some canapés, petits fours, champagne… please, please, whatever you desire!” He says before dramatically walking away to charm the other people in the room.

“This is amazing mom!” says Magpie as the three of them circle the room looking at Mrs. Phaeton’s art. They make their way to the food and drink table and help themselves to some of the delicate little cakes. 

“I have to go prepare for my speech,” says Mrs. Phaeton, wiping the sticky icing off her fingers with a napkin “You two enjoy the party and I’ll see you in a little while!”

Lucas and Magpie stand in a corner of the room, observing. There is quite a crowd already, the event is a huge success. Magpie’s gaze is travelling across the vast space when she sees a woman at the other end of the room, partially hidden from view behind one of the pillars, her eyes fixated on Lucas. It is the same woman from her vision on the cobblestone street earlier in the day. “Lucas, look over there!” she whispers, squeezing Lucas’ arm and nodding in the woman’s general direction. Lucas turns to look, but the woman is gone.

“What? I don’t see anything.” He says, confused.

“I… I thought… Never mind. I was wrong,” says Magpie. But deep down, she knows what she saw, the woman was staring at Lucas like she knew him. 

Magpie shudders. “Why don’t we walk around and have a look at the paintings, maybe each pick out our favourite!” she says, shaking off the sense of unease that is threatening to take hold. Lucas nods and they start making their way around the room.

“I think my favourite is this one” says Lucas. They are stopped in front of a painting that was clearly inspired by Mirror Pond. A large grey rock sits in the center of a blue circle, strange plant-like streaks growing out of it, mimicking the cattails that grow out of the little pond in Pocket.

“That is a great one” she says, nodding. “I think my favourite is the one that has a house like the one on Meadow Lane… help me find it,” she says, as they keep strolling through the gallery.

They find the painting Magpie is referring to at the very back of the room. It features a small two-storey house in the center of a large field. The entire painting is done in shades of orange, like a blazing sunset has taken over. Magpie and Lucas stand before it, admiring the artistry. Suddenly Magpie leans forward, looking more closely at the house. “I never noticed this before, there’s someone in the window!” she says, surprised. She’s looked at these paintings countless times while her mother was creating them over the past two years, and never noticed this detail. Just then, loud feedback from a microphone causes everyone in the room to jump. 

“My apologies, ladies and gentlemen!” Monsieur Ernest’s voice cuts in through the speaker. “Thank you so much for being here! It is my great honour to present to you our guest artist, all the way from “across the pond” as you say – Mrs. Daniella Phaeton!” the crowd claps as Mrs. Phaeton steps onto the stage and begins her speech. 

Magpie turns back to the painting, scanning the windows of the painted house looking for the woman, but there’s nothing there. “I feel like I’m losing my mind,” she whispers to herself.

“What’s that?” asks Lucas, turning toward her. 

“I think the jetlag is catching up with me, do you mind if we head out after my mom’s speech?” she asks.

“Of course!” he answers, his warm smile instantly making her feel better. 

Magpie glows with pride as she watches her mother on the stage talking about how the town of Pocket inspired the paintings that are hanging around the room tonight. She recalls the events of the past two years and feels grateful that the frightening episode of Meadow Lane and the Skylark Bell is over. 

Slowly, a shiver starts making its way down Magpie’s spine, and she shudders as she recalls the words of the woman in her vision, the whisper that echoed off the walls of the row houses lining the cobblestone street: “It has ended, yet it has not even begun…”

Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Wingspan chapter 6, Skylarks over Scotland, where a stunning vision while travelling to Scotland throws Magpie for a loop.

Before I go, I’d like to thank Phaeton Starling Publishing for this fantastically eerie story, as well as Cannelle for composing eerie, mood-setting music for this podcast. 

If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they’re both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work through a donation via your podcast provider or by subscribing to my Patreon where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, writing, recipes, and more! Checks the show notes for links.

Thank you

In today’s episode we read Chapter 4 – The End is the Beginning is the End - in which Magpie has a strange, and rather frightening experience on the cobblestone street outside the vintage shop.

Brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Instagram: @the.mop.pod

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 4 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  

In our previous episode, Magpie and Lucas explored the streets of London and ended up in a curious vintage shop where the owner made Magpie an offer she couldn’t refuse.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 4 – The End is the Beginning is the End - in which Magpie has a strange, and rather frightening experience on the cobblestone street outside the vintage shop.

Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.

Magpie and Lucas have only taken a few steps down the street from the small vintage shop when Magpie hears the sound of hooves echoing down the cobblestone street. She turns just as a horse-drawn carriage whizzes by. “I didn’t realize they still had horse-drawn carriages these days!” she says to Lucas.  “Lucas?” she says again when he doesn’t reply. Magpie turns around, but Lucas is nowhere to be seen. “Lucas?” she says again, a little more loudly. Where could he have gone? Wasn’t he just behind her a moment ago?

Magpie looks down either side of the street, but no one is there. She glances back at the small vintage clothing shop they just visited, but can’t remember which building it was exactly, and for some reason she doesn’t see the sign above the door. “What is going on?!” says Magpie out loud, a sense of panic starting to rise from deep inside. She looks up and down the street again, and this time sees the silhouette of a woman at one end of the street where a dense fog appears to be rising rapidly. Magpie blinks and the woman is gone, leaving only a swirl of fog spinning around itself like a small tornado.

“The silence is coming,” says a soft voice from behind her right shoulder. Magpie pivots and comes face to face with the woman who was at the other end of the street just a fraction of a second ago.

“N- n- no,” stammers Magpie, “The silence is gone. It ended. I ended it myself!”

Magpie feels dizzy and disoriented, like the swirling fog has somehow made its way inside her head. “I must be dreaming,” she tells herself. “That’s it! It’s the jetlag. I’m in bed in the hotel room, and I’m dreaming, just like how I was dreaming on the plane. In a little while I’ll wake up and Lucas will knock on the door and we’ll go down to the café across the street from the hotel and we’ll order French pastries and the waiter will ask if we know the lady who drew on a paper napkin because he thinks we look alike and then we’ll go for a walk and find a little vintage shop tucked away down a cobblestone street and I’m going to buy a fancy blue dress and the owner will give me the matching shoes and we’ll come out of the shop and… and….”

“The silence hasn’t even begun,” says the woman. 

Magpie is reeling. She has been so preoccupied trying to figure out what is happening that she hasn’t taken a moment to truly look at the woman. But she is looking at her now, and a wave of shock washes through her. The woman is a bit older than she is, but she looks just like her! Magpie swallows hard. “What do you mean it hasn’t even begun?” she asks. “I rang the bell! I saved the town! The silence went away! It’s over, the silence is gone! I did exactly what Farfalla told me to do!” I AM NOT FARFALLA – the words echo, unspoken, in Magpie’s mind, making her shudder. Whose instructions had she followed, then, the day she rang the bell to end the silence?  Who was the old woman with the wild white hair who claimed to be her Great-Great-Grandmother?

At this point Magpie is terrified and swings her head from side to side, searching desperately for help, but she is alone with the strange woman on this foggy cobblestone street.

The woman continues, her soft voice keeping the same even tone, “The silence is like an Ourboros, clamped down on its own tail in an endless loop… It has ended, still, it has not yet begun,” says the woman, her icy blue eyes unwavering.

“Who are you?” asks Magpie, her fear giving way to anger. “Who are you and why are you here? Why are you saying this to me? What does it even mean?!” at this point Magpie is on the verge of shouting. The woman remains silent, but her lips curve into a twisted, terrifying smile. Magpie, horrified takes a step back from the woman and trips on the curb. She can feel herself falling into the street. 

Magpie hears a car horn blaring and feels a strong squeeze on her arm that sends pain shooting up into her neck and shoulder.

“Magpie! What are you doing?!”

It’s Lucas, his eyes wide, his hand still clamped on her arm to keep her from stumbling into the street. Magpie shakes her head and looks around. They are just a few steps away from the small vintage shop, it’s sign prominent above the door. She looks up and down the street wildly. “Where’s the woman? The woman who looks like me?” she asks, panicked.

Lucas stares at her, his face filled with concern. “Magpie, what woman? What are you talking about?”

“The woman who… she… where were you? I looked everywhere for you! I called out to you! You just… you just left me there! You left me there all alone with her!” Magpie is on the verge of tears.

Lucas takes her in his arms and holds her until her breathing slows, then he pulls back and looks into her face for a long moment before speaking. “Magpie, I think you had another vision. We stepped out of the shop and we were walking down the street when you just stopped. Your eyes glazed over; it was like you weren’t there. It only lasted a few minutes, but next thing I know you’re flying backwards off the curb into an oncoming car!” He pauses a moment before adding, “I would never leave you. I’m right here.”

Magpie shakes her head in disbelief. “Lucas, it felt so real!” she says quietly. 

“Do you want to talk about it?” he asks.

“I don’t know. I don’t think so. Not right now. I…. I thought this was over,” she says, looking down at the ground.

Lucas can clearly hear the heartbreak in her voice. He places a finger under her chin and gently lifts her face to make eye contact. “It is over, Magpie. It’s over. You rang the bell; the silence went away. Tonight, we’re going to your mom’s exhibit opening, in London of all places, then you and I will head to Scotland for a brand-new adventure! We’ve got some amazing things to look forward to. Meadow Lane, The Skylark Bell… it’s all over. It’s in the past,” he says, his tone gentle yet confident. They stand still for a moment, a long meaningful look passing between them. They have experienced so much together; Magpie can’t imagine not having Lucas to lean on in moments like this.  She heaves a sigh and nods. “We should start heading back, you’ll need time to pivot in case that dress doesn’t fit!” he says, winking slyly at her. Magpie forces a smile, and they start making their way back toward the hotel hand in hand.

Magpie wants so very badly to believe Lucas. Though he did manage to make her feel a little more at ease… in the back of her mind the strange doppelgänger woman’s twisted, taunting smile still haunts her.

Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Wingspan chapter 5, The Clawfoot Gallery, where unexplained events continue to occur as we join Magpie, Lucas, and Mrs. Phaeton for the grand opening of her art exhibit.

Before I go, I’d like to thank Phaeton Starling Publishing for this fantastically eerie story, as well as Cannelle for composing eerie, mood-setting music for this podcast. 

If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they’re both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work through a donation via your podcast provider or by subscribing to my Patreon where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, writing, recipes, and more! Checks the show notes for links.

Thank you

The Skylark Bell Season 2 - Wingspan

In today’s episode we read Chapter 3 – The Blue Dress - in which Magpie and Lucas discover an odd vintage shop on a sides treet, and its mysterious owner seems very much invested in Magpie purchasing her blue dress.

Brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Instagram: @the.mop.pod

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 3 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  

In our previous episode, Magpie had an eerie premonition as she, her mom, and Lucas were flying across the ocean toward their destination.

In today’s episode we read Chapter 3 – The Blue Dress - in which Magpie and Lucas discover an odd vintage shop on a sides treet, and its mysterious owner seems very much invested in Magpie purchasing her blue dress.

Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.

Magpie yawns loudly and stretches her arms up above her head. “That’s the jetlag talking” laughs her mother. Magpie smiles and rubs her eyes before tossing the blankets aside and hopping out of bed. 

“No time for jetlag, today’s your big day!” says Magpie excitedly. She scurries to the bathroom to splash some cold water on her face and brush her teeth, then heads over to her suitcase to dig out her jeans, a tee shirt and cardigan. “Mom, have you seen my shoes?” she asks, scanning the messy, dimly lit room. 

“How about we open these curtains and get some light in here, maybe that’ll help,” says Mrs. Phaeton in her usual practical tone of voice as she pulls the curtain cords, instantly washing the room in bright sunlight.

Magpie spots her shoes under the couch at the other end of the room. She is just bending down to grab them when a knock on the door startles her. She looks through the peephole and sees Lucas’ black curls on the other side of the door. She slides the security chain off and greets him with a smile.

“Good morning!” she says cheerfully. 

“Hey,” he groans, walking slowly over to the couch before letting himself drop on it like a potato sack.

“Oh my, someone needs some breakfast and a nice cup of coffee!” says Mrs. Phaeton. “Magpie, why don’t you and Lucas head down to the café across from the hotel, and I’ll catch up with you later on, there are a few phone calls I need to make.”

“Sounds great, see you in a bit!” says Magpie, walking over to the couch and grabbing Lucas’ hand to help pull him to his feet. “Come on sleepy-head!” she says, giggling, “let’s get you fed and caffeinated!” 

Two doormen in suits and top hats hold the front doors open for Magpie and Lucas to step through as they head outside. “I feel like royalty!” whispers Magpie, giddy. 

“I feel like a nap…” yawns Lucas, earning himself an elbow to the ribs from Magpie. 

They wait for a cab to drive by then cross the street to the small café, choosing a table outside in the sun. 

A waiter in a crisp white shirt and black dress pants approaches their table almost immediately. He does a double take when he sees Magpie but catches himself and almost immediately regains a neutral facial expression. “Welcome to the Sparrow Café, what may I get you this morning?”  he asks politely. Magpie and Lucas order some French pastries and a pot of coffee. They chat until the food comes, then they sit quietly and take in the scenery as they savour sweet, flakey almond croissants and hot coffee. They are just wrapping things up when the waiter walks over with their bill. 

“May I ask, miss, are you related to the woman with the white dress? She was here earlier, a very charming lady. If I may say so, you look very similar.” he says, pointing to something behind Magpie. Magpie turns and sees a woman in a long white dress walking away, her bright red hair piled up on her head in a messy bun. “She left this behind on the table…” he adds, placing a small square beverage napkin in front of her. There is a rough sketch on the napkin, it looks like an archway or rainbow going over a path lined with trees on either side.

Magpie knits her brow “No, the only other person with us is my mom, and she hasn’t left the hotel since last night,” she answers. 

“Ah, I apologize, I must be mistaken. Well, I hope you enjoy your time in London, we at Sparrow Café look forward to seeing you again soon,” says the waiter, bowing slightly before walking away.

Magpie pushes the strange encounter to the back of her mind as she and Lucas stand up. “I’m feeling a lot better,” he says, “let’s go exploring!” Magpie has an instant flashback to the weeks when she and Lucas first met, when they would go exploring the area surrounding Pocket every day. She feels a warmth wash over her that spreads to her cheeks and hopes he doesn’t notice her blushing. 

“Sure! But this isn’t Pocket, we’ll have to actually keep track of time, and of where we’re going!” she says as they start walking toward the busy street ahead. Suddenly, something makes Magpie turn and run back to their table at the café. “Hold on a sec, I’ll be right back,” she shouts over her shoulder, trotting back to their table. She grabs the napkin with the strange sketch and tucks it in her bag before jogging back to Lucas.

~~~~~~

Magpie and Lucas have been wandering the streets of London for some time when they come upon a small shop tucked away on a side street made of cobblestone. Magpie feels inexplicably drawn to the shop. “Let’s go in here!” she says, grabbing Lucas’ hand and pulling him in. A bell above the door rings as they enter. The shop is quite small and filled with vintage clothing and accessories. They giggle at some of the old styles, especially the dresses and shirts from the 1960s and ‘70s. At the very back of the shop, hanging high on the wall, is a gorgeous blue sequin dress. Magpie stops to stare at it.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” the voice is coming from behind them. Magpie and Lucas spin in unison, and find themselves facing a petite older woman in a long black dress, a string of pearls around her neck creating a stark contrast against the dark background of her clothes. “You should try it on, I believe it is your size” she says, her eyes fixed on Magpie.

“Uh... ok. It is very pretty,” concedes Magpie. She did pack a dress for tonight’s event but, if she’s being honest, she doesn’t care much for it. This dress would be perfect.

“Magpie, it’s getting late, we should probably get going,” says Lucas, suddenly feeling uncomfortable in the small shop.

“I will make you an offer you can’t refuse,” says the woman, “you can have the dress for 10 pounds, and I will include these shoes.” Her eyes are still fixated on Magpie as she grabs a pair of dainty cobalt-coloured high-heeled shoes.

“Oh my, I suppose at that price I don’t have much to lose even if it doesn’t fit!” replies Magpie.

“It will fit.” Says the woman, smiling, as she walks to the back of the store and uses a long pole with a hook to lift the dress off its hanger. She carefully folds the dress and wraps it in tissue paper, then slips the shoes into a box. She packs everything into a large, unmarked bag and hands it to Magpie. Magpie settles up, and she and Lucas head out the door.

“Something in there didn’t feel right,” says Lucas quietly as they start heading back toward the hotel.

“Oh, I think it was just a little cluttered and stuffy,” says Magpie, cradling the tissue-paper wrapped dress against her chest.

“If you say so...” says Lucas, the tone of his voice indicating that he’s not convinced there wasn’t something very wrong in the little store on the cobblestone street.

As they walk away, the old woman stands in the shop window, her unwavering gaze fixed on them. The lights in the shop behind her go dark, making her almost entirely disappear save for the string of pearls around her neck, and she flips the small sign in the window to “closed”.

Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Wingspan chapter 4, The End is the Beginning is the End, where Magpie has an inexplicable, and dangerous, experience on the cobblestone street outside the vintage shop.

Before I go, I’d like to thank Phaeton Starling Publishing for this fantastically eerie story, as well as Cannelle for composing equally fantastic and eerie music for this podcast. 

If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they’re both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work through a donation via my podcast provider or my subscribing to my Patreon where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, writing, recipes, and more!

Thank you

The Skylark Bell - Wingspan, by Melissa Oliveri

In today’s episode we read chapter 2 – Birds of a feather fly together – where Magpie has an eerie premonition as she, her mom, and Lucas fly across the ocean toward their destination.

Brought to you by: Phaeton Starling Publishing and Things with Wings Productions.

The Skylark Bell official website - http://www.theskylarkbell.com

The Skylark Bell on Instagram: @theskylarkbell

Author/Producer: Melissa Oliveri - http://www.melissaoliveri.com

Join Melissa's Patreon for early access to podcast episodes, music downloads, and more: http://www.patreon.com/melissaoliveri

Melissa on Instagram: @the.mop.pod

Melissa on Twitter: @melissaoliveri

All music by Cannelle - http://www.cannellemusic.com

Cannelle on Instagram: @cannelle.music

FULL TRANSCRIPT:

Things with Wings Productions presents: Episode 2 of The Skylark Bell, Wingspan. I am your host, Melissa Oliveri.  

In our previous episode, Magpie had a strange vision as she was packing for her trip to Scotland, and an eerie figure appeared to be watching them from the windows of the house at Meadow Lane as they were packing up for their trip.

In today’s episode we read chapter 2 – Birds of a feather fly together – where Magpie has an eerie premonition as she, her mom, and Lucas fly across the ocean toward their destination.

Now, it’s time to settle in… grab a blanket, and a warm drink… and let’s get started.

Magpie buckles her seatbelt and tightens it per the instructions given by the flight attendant. She smiles nervously at Lucas, who gives her a reassuring wink. Magpie has never been on an airplane before and is feeling a bit jittery. As if she has read Magpie’s mind, Mrs. Phaeton takes a hold of her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. Magpie feels a bit of a thrill as the airplane speeds up and lifts into the sky.

Glancing outside the small oval airplane window at the world below she sees the city where she and her mom used to live. It seems like a lifetime ago, almost like it happened to someone else. Over the past two years in Pocket she has come to feel entirely at home. Her apprehension about fitting in with the other kids at Pocket High School turned out to be for naught, Lucas introduced her to everyone and, though they didn’t necessarily include her in all their activities, they were always kind. Perhaps because of the whisperings around town that she had stopped the silence at Meadow Lane. No one really spoke of it anymore, but the residents of Pocket always looked at her with a knowing gaze. 

After the events at Meadow Lane, and the ensuing discovery of her family’s connection to Farfalla and the Carnifex Family, Magpie and her mom had long discussions about how to proceed. They had decided that it would be best to wait for Magpie to finish high school before travelling to Scotland, figuring it would probably take quite a bit of time to sort out ownership of Carnifex House anyway. Last Christmas Mrs. Phaeton surprised Magpie with their airline tickets to Scotland for the summer. But in the spring, Mrs. Phaeton got the amazing news that her work was going to be featured in a gallery in London over the summer, filling up her calendar with interviews and tours, which made it impossible for her to join Magpie in Scotland, so it was decided that they would travel together to London with Lucas, who would then accompany Magpie to Scotland.

It seems surreal that high school is now over. The graduation ceremony on the vast lawn of the library was simple and beautiful, the weather was perfect, everyone in town brought a dish to share, the Bunting brothers brought their guitars and played some live music, MUSIC Sydney Finch hopped on the makeshift stage and sang a few songs, which caused everyone to start dancing. Magpie can almost hear the echoing laughter and music in her mind. Her eyes glaze over as she sinks deeper into her memories. She thinks back to the moment she and Lucas walked home from school for the last time, their sneakers grinding into the gravel road in unison. She remembers how he had held her hand as they ambled down the road basking in a warm, comfortable silence. There had always been a certain line in their friendship that neither of them dared to cross, but that day he had reached across it and grabbed her hand.

The flight attendant makes his rounds, bringing the passengers their food and drinks. Magpie isn’t particularly hungry, but she forces herself to eat a little, being unsure when she’ll get a chance to eat again in the next few hours.

“What do you suppose this is?” whispers Lucas, poking at some of the food with his fork. 

Magpie giggles and shrugs her shoulders. “I’m sticking to the bread and butter!” She whispers back, “and the cookie, of course!”. 

“You’ve always had a sweet tooth!” says Lucas, smiling at her.

The flight attendant works his way back down the aisle to gather dishes and trash. Once he has passed their row Magpie clips her tray back up onto the back of the seat in front of her. She heaves a sigh and looks out the window, it is sunset now and the view of the sun’s orange glow on the top side of the clouds is absolutely stunning. Magpie thinks back to her last day at Meadow Lane before leaving for the trip. She and Lucas had spent the better part of the day scraping off the peeling wallpaper and prepping the walls to be painted, they were both pretty exhausted and were sitting out on the front porch with some ice-cold lemonade enjoying the cool breeze. Lucas suggested they take a walk and they ambled down to the apple orchard, where the skinny trunks of the young trees they had planted stood in rows.

“According to your vision, this is where Marius asked Farfalla to marry him, right?” Lucas had asked. Magpie had nodded silently, looking down at the ground somberly, remembering the heartbreaking end to Marius and Farfalla’s love story.  When she had looked back up at Lucas he was staring at her with a look in his eyes that she’d never seen before. “You’re glowing,” he had said quietly, the light of the setting sun landing on them both as they stood staring at one another. She smiled at him and grabbed his hand, leading him back down the lane toward the road, where they parted ways. “See you tomorrow,” she had said, kicking herself for not finding something more meaningful to say, but the moment was gone.

She looks over at Lucas now, eyes closed with his head leaning back. She can’t tell if he’s asleep or just listening to the music coming through his headphones. His hair is shorter now, he had it cut after graduation. “Gotta step boldly into adulthood!” He had quipped. He’d grown taller over the last couple of years too, now nearly a full head taller than Magpie. So much has changed since she first came to Pocket. Magpie takes a deep breath and closes her eyes, letting the buzzing of the airplane motors lull her to sleep. Dreams come to her in a kaleidoscope of images; a beach, walls made of stone, blackberry waffles from The Early Bird diner, silver spoons and bells and gemstones tied to strings blowing in the wind, Farfalla with her white hair blowing wildly in the wind, the sketch with the words “I AM NOT FARFALLA” scrawled on the back, and finally, a snake curled upon itself in the shape of a circle, it’s mouth firmly clasped to its own tail… 

Magpie is jolted awake by the thud of the airplane’s wheels touching the ground. Her mom pats Magpie’s leg gently with her palm and smiles at her. “We’re here!” she says. Then, noting the look on Magpie’s face, “Honey, are you okay?”. 

Magpie nods slightly. “I had some strange dreams,” she says. “I don’t remember everything, but there was this snake in a circle, biting its own tail… it was so weird!”

“An Ouroboros!” says Mrs. Phaeton.

“A what?!” asks Magpie.

“An Ouroboros,” pipes up Lucas. “It’s an ancient symbol that represents an endless loop that doesn’t really have a beginning or an end. What a strange thing to dream about!” he adds.

“Ouroboros,” whispers Magpie, letting the unfamiliar word roll around in her mouth. 

It is finally their turn to get off the plane. They make their way through the airport to baggage claim and head to the row of taxi cabs outside. Magpie leans on the cool glass of the car window looking out at the city lights. She tries to read the signs above the various shops as they whiz by, and before she knows it, they have arrived at the hotel.  Mrs. Phaeton gets them checked in and they take the elevator to the 11th floor.

“Magpie, we’re in room 1111, and Lucas you are next door in room 1113,” says Mrs. Phaeton, handing the key card to Lucas. “The new time zone might be a bit hard to adapt to, I suggest we try to get to bed right away so we wake up in the morning along with the rest of the city,” she says.

“Sounds good,” says Lucas, taking a few steps down the hall to his doorway. “Have a good night!” he adds, stepping into his room.

“Goodnight Lucas!” says Magpie, following her mom into their room. She kicks off her shoes and rummages through her suitcase to find a nightgown. She changes quickly, leaving her clothes piled on the floor before wishing her mom a good night and flopping onto one of the beds. Though she slept on the plane, she doesn’t feel very well-rested. Probably because of those strange dreams.  “Ouroboros,” she whispers, her eyes getting heavy as her mind drifts into another realm.

Thank you so much for listening.  Join me next week for Wingspan chapter 3, The Blue Dress in which Magpie and Lucas discover an odd vintage shop on a sides treet, and its mysterious owner seems very much invested in Magpie purchasing her blue dress.

Before I go, I’d like to thank Phaeton Starling Publishing for this fantastically eerie story, as well as Cannelle for composing equally fantastic and eerie music for this podcast. 

If you are enjoying this story, please consider leaving a rating or a review, they’re both greatly appreciated. You can also support my work through a donation via my podcast provider or my subscribing to my Patreon where you get early access to episodes as well as MP3 downloads of the music, artwork, writing, recipes, and more!

Thank you