Okay, here I have the next (and final) chapter of Black Magic! I hope you guys like it, and I'm sorry that it took me a while to update! I've tried, and I hope that this was worth the wait.

Now, reading back on a few lines...well.... I'm not as proud of this as I used to be... I think I've just grown so much so as a writer that, when I first wrote this, it was the best I'd ever written. But now that I've written like....three or four short stories after this AND a novel, it's no longer my best writing. Most certainly not my worst, but again, not my best.

So, if you'll ignore my bragging in the beginning, I'll be forever grateful. Thanks again for reading this, and theres a cookie in it for you if you review!

Almost without thinking I turned around and bent down, leaving my behind exposed, preparing myself for my mothers wrath.

I waited, and waited and waited. What was taking her so long? I turned around to glance at her, wondering why she wasn’t slapping me for using Black Magic, something that when I was first caught doing, was brought to the immediate attention of the Wise Women. Since that day, whenever I was caught doing Black Magic (and equally bad things) I was slapped. My mother’s favorite place? My face. She loved slapping me in the face, seeing the tears stream down my face, the imprint of her hand there. It is, after all, where she hits the hardest. However, ever since a mark was left from her wedding ring, it was brought to the attention to the Wise Women, and she hasn’t so much as touched my face since. Now, all she hits is my butt, but she hits it as hard as she possibly can, for as long as she can. Let me tell you, it hurts like hell.

So, when I turned around, I was surprised that she had gone back into the hut.

Quickly I ran to the back entrance. I went inside and walked over to her mat, only to see her bringing it outside. No. Oh no. She wasn’t going to make me sleep outside? No, she couldn’t!

"Mother, what were you waiting for?" I asked, unprepared for her answer.

"Go to the back of the hut. Wait for me like before. I never told you to leave. Get out there and receive double punishments."

Before I could even blink I was back outside, waiting, my butt in the air for her to slap, but it never came. I heard Mother leave, walking over to another tent. To the Wise Women tent. Crap crap crap crap.

She came out empty handed, but instead of walking back to our tent, she walked over the Alex’s. Walking out came Alex himself with my mother. Alex was the incredibly nice guy from my co-ed classes. He was my age, and our parents had set up something close to an arranged marriage for us after a tribe meeting for the parents of kids my age. Of course, the Wise Women were there, and the Wise Women suggested that Alex and I get married at the appropriate age. Our parents took it incredibly seriously (If a Wise Woman suggests a marriage, everyone takes it seriously) and together made a truce of not allowing us to marry any one else. So either we get married or never at all. That was one awkward conversation with our parents…

So, apon seeing him I stood up immediately and brought my nightdress down so it completely covered me. What was going on?

I could see my mother talking to him, most likely explaining something to him. I could see his eyes go wide with horror and shock, as his eyes locked with mine, most likely looking as helpless, embarrassed and scared as I felt.

Soon they arrived to where I was standing.

"Leah," my mother said in a cold voice. "Bend down. Now."

I only hesitated for a second, but it was a second too long, for I soon felt her hand slap across my face cold and hard.

I could feel the tears in my eyes, the blood rush to my face, but could I do anything about it? No.

"Bend down," she said again, and before she could finish I had my butt in the air, night skirt flapping in the wind.

"This is what happens to those who practice Black Magic after they turn 16. Remember it well next time you decide to kill someone using it," she said.

I could feel a hand come down on my butt, but it felt different, much harder, much stronger, and it didn’t fit the contours of my mother’s hand. I realized, to my horror, that it was Alex who was slapping my butt, my completely bare butt.

"Beat out the Black Magic in her," my mother said quietly. All you could hear throughout the entire village, was the sound of flesh on flesh, for what felt like eternity.

After only a few hard slaps I simply couldn’t take it anymore and I collapsed. But, even with my head in the dirt, my knees on the ground, I could feel him slap me again.

"She will be your wife soon! Don’t tell me you honestly want your wife to be practicing Black Magic! Beat it out of her! And if she can’t stand this, do you really want her? Make her get up again," my mother shouted, probably waking everyone.

Openly sobbing, I got up and bent down, all the while Alex slapped my butt.

After what felt like another eternity, but was probably only five minutes later, I felt it stop. Just completely stop.

Instead of standing up straight, I collapsed to the ground, shaking almost convulsively.

"Get up," I heard Alex say.

For fear of another beating, I stood up, for only a second, before collapsing into his open arms. My mother must have already told him I wouldn’t be able to stand after he slapped me so hard and so many times.

To my ear, he said in a very kind voice that also had an edge of threat to it, "If I ever catch you practicing Black Magic again, this will only be a small sample of what is to come of you, especially when you are become my wife."

It was nothing but trouble, ruining my family and myself. It was hell put in spells and potions that you could make like you did a cake, only if you get anything wrong, like say the night you make it on, it comes back to you, nearly killing you. Black Magic. No wonder it’s forbidden.

Okay, so my favorite part of this peice was the beginning, and it was when it switched from point of view very quickly. I liked that, getting nothing but a glimpse into their lives. I then sort of got addicted to the girls pov and hers ended up being so much longer than Micheal's. Ooh I don't really like that third to last sentence.... I like the last two, but most certainly not the third last one....

Okay, well, thanks so much for reading this and finishing it! I hope that you enjoyed it and that you review! I grately appreciate input!

If you're looking for anything new to read now that this is finished, check out my other stories, including a new one I've just finished writing. I'll also be posting the novel I meantioned earlier once I finish editing it.

Thank you again for reading! Hopefully you'll take a second to review! I really appreciate all your input!

This is Lizza signing off of Black Magic.