by Jodi Vaughn
They all frowned when they saw me.
I immediately knew they wouldn’t welcome me to the party. My best bet was to ask for help and head back to the car.
“I’m sorry to interrupt but my friend and I had a flat tire. We tried to call Triple A but…“
“You’re not going to get any service out here.” The tall brunette who was standing spoke up. Her gaze drifted down my body and it gave me a shiver. I knew she was already sizing me up.
“We found that out.” I stuck my hands in my pockets to make myself look less like a threat, and gave them an innocent smile.
“I was hoping we could use your phone.”
“Where is your friend?” Another woman spoke up from her seated position and didn’t bother even glancing my way.
“He’s behind me.”
“He?” The dark brunette arched her brow.
“Yes. He didn’t want to scare you ladies so I told him I would talk to you first.”
The women looked at each other and started laughing.
“Scare us?” The brunette smiled and amusement filtered into her dark brown eyes. “Oh honey, does he look like Frankenstein?”
“No,” I laughed letting the tension slide off my shoulders. “He’s actually quite handsome.
“Oh really?” One of the blondes that was seated stood and stepped closer. “Well tell him to come on in. We won’t bite. Hard”
The group broke out into another round of laughter and something about the whole thing made my stomach churn.
Surely I wasn’t jealous of these women and Roger. I didn’t own him and we were not in a relationship. He could do whatever, or whomever, he wanted.
I turned to call out to Roger but he was already stepping out of the darkness and into the firelight.
He grinned and gave a little goofy wave. “Hi ladies.”
“Well, hello yourself.” The blonde stepped closer and her lips curled up into a sexy grin. “My name’s Lisa.”
I shivered and narrowed my eyes at the pretty blonde.
“Sorry to interrupt your bonfire,” Roger smiled, his dimples looking really sexy right now, “Ella is freezing, do you mind if we get closer to the fire?” He put his arm around me and smiled.
“Of course.” The brunette waved us closer.
We walked closer to the fire’s warmth and I took the chance to look around.
“I’m Roger and this is Ella.” He smiled as he addressed the group of women.
“I’m Stella.” The brunette spoke up. She pointed to the brunette on her right and then her left as she said, “This is Doris and this is Delilah”
“You’ve already met our flirt, Lisa. “ Stella said and then pointed to the other two blondes, still seated. “And that’s Meg and Carol.”
“Nice to meet you all,” I said and turned my attention back to the fire.
“Here mama.” The young girl I’d seen earlier serving the S’mores ingredients, hurried down the steps of the backdoor and handed a cordless phone to her mother.
“Thanks, Anna.” Stella’s expression softened as she stared at her daughter. I relaxed at the interaction between daughter and mother.
“You’re best bet is to call the local tire shop. They have someone on call twenty-four seven. It would take Triple A well after midnight to find this road.” Stella shook her head. “I’ll call Ralph from the tire shop and have him come on out. He’ll get you fixed up in a jiffy.”
“Thank you so much.” Roger said. “We really appreciate it.”
“You both are welcome to wait here,” Stella turned and motioned for her daughter. “Anna, go get a couple more chairs for our guests. Lisa, get them something to drink.”
Lisa hurried over to the white table sitting off to the side. There were different bottles of alcohol, snacks and red plastic cups spread across the table. A small cooler filled with ice sat on the ground nearby.
Stella punched in some numbers on the cordless phone and held it up to her ear. She mumbled a few words and then headed up the stairs back inside, probably to get better reception.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“You have beautiful hair.” The young girl named Anna said quietly at my side after she brought me and Roger some chairs.
I turned and gave the girl a smile. “Thank you. Although if I had a voice in the matter I would much rather be a raven-haired beauty like you.” I lightly touched the girls’ silky black locks.
Anna smiled and studied the ground. “Mama says that I shouldn’t put so much emphasis on looks. Says I should be grateful for what I have been given.” She turned her head and I noticed a small scar running along the side of her temple.
She looked up and her smile faded. Self-consciously she brushed her hair forward to conceal the scar.
“Don’t be ashamed of your scar.” I leaned down and whispered. “It’s what makes you unique. It would be a very boring world if we all looked prefect.”
Her eyes, etched with sharp pain that only a teenager could feel, narrowed on me with an intensity hotter than the bon fire. “That’s easy for you to say. You’re beautiful.”
“Not really.” I saw the surprise in her eyes. “I carry scars too. Mine are far worse than yours. You just can’t see mine.”
“Anna, come help me get some more food out.” The one called Carol, I think, stood and waved the girl over.
Anna stood and glanced back at me before following the woman into the house.
“Please sit.” Doris smiled and patted the chair beside her.
“Thank you.” I eased into the chair and continued to stare into the fire, the orange and yellow flames dancing towards the sky.
“Nothing better than gazing into a fire.” Doris’s melodic voice reached out to me.
“I suppose. It’s been a long time since I’ve sat around a fire.” More than a few years but she didn’t need to know that information.
“My daddy always had a bonfire when the weather got cold. He’d gather us kids up and give us marshmallows to roast. My mom made hot chocolate and we’d sit out until the fire died out.” Doris smiled gazing into the fire as she recalled her memories.
“Must have been nice.” I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable with the way the conversation was headed. I’d never in my life had a father. I barely had a mother. I learned at an early age that my mother was too busy chasing men to realize she had a daughter to take care of. I had to learn to survive on my own and take care of myself.
“Are you two from West Virginia?” Lisa slid closer to Roger and drug her gaze from him back to me.
“No. Just passing through.” Roger answered. He took a drink from his cup and smiled.
“Where are you from?” Doris leaned forward and stuck a marshmallow on her stick and held it over the fire. She took her eyes off the marshmallow long enough to give me a glance.
“Ella’s from one of the Southern states. She won’t tell me which one. But she’s traveling to Missouri.” Roger smiled and took the plastic cup that was offered to him, and took a big drink.
“Roger.” My gut twisted so tight it almost made me cry out. I shot him a glare.
“Oh, I love the South. I had an aunt who used to live in Natchez, Mississippi.” Doris smiled fondly and pulled her marshmallow off the stick. “Used to go down there to visit in the summer. Have you ever been to Natchez?”
“Yes. It’s lovely. A lot of history.” I accepted the red plastic cup that Lisa held out to me and took a big sip. I expected it to be strong and hard like moonshine but when the sugar sweet liquid hit my tongue I almost sighed with pleasure.
I frowned and looked into the cup. “It’s wine.”
“Of course it’s wine? What did you expect, dear?” Doris smiled at me with melted marshmallow stuck to her lips.
“She thought it was moonshine.” Roger said matter-of-factly, and took another big drink.
“Roger.” I shot him a glare and wished I had the power to smite his ass right there on the spot.
“What?” He ga
ve me an innocent look and blinked before pushing his glasses up on his nose.
“I’m sorry. You’ll have to forgive Roger. I’m not sure what’s gotten into him.” I gave the group of ladies my most apologetic smile and looked around the group. They were all watching me intently, probably insulted at what Roger had blurted out.
“Oh, no worries, dear.” Doris held out her plastic cup for Lisa to refill. Lisa hurried to the table and came back with a bottle of red wine, and poured a liberal amount into the woman’s cup.
“Are you ladies, gypsies?” Roger asked and then took a sip and pointed their brightly colored skirts. “You’re wearing clothes that suggest you’re gypsies.”
I coughed and spit out my wine on the ground. What the fuck had gotten into him?
“Are you alright, dear?” Doris frowned and reached over and patted me on the back.
“I’m fine.” I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and glared at Roger.
“Roger, what’s gotten into you? You’re being rude.” I shot him a hot glare and spat out the words through gritted teeth.
“What do you mean?” He took another sip of the wine and blinked. Maybe he’d lost all his social skills on the walk up to the house.
“It’s fine.” Stella walked out of the house apparently catching the end of our conversation. “It would be weird if he didn’t ask.”
“Do you have a crystal ball? What about stealing? I’ve always heard that gypsies are notorious for stealing.” Roger blinked, giving the group of women his full attention.
I don’t get embarrassed at much. In fact, I’ve never really gotten embarrassed in my whole life. But right now, with Roger apparently losing all decorum, I was more than embarrassed.
“Again, I have to apologize for Roger. I’m sorry if he offended you.” I wanted to leave, I wanted to be anywhere but there.
Stella grinned. “Actually what Roger said is correct. We are gypsies and throughout history we’ve gotten a bad rap for stealing. But, we are more than just gypsies. We are witches as well.”
My stomach knotted and then fell to the ground in a rush.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
My eyes widened and my lungs constricted. How had I missed the fact that they were witches?
“Did you know they were witches, Ella?” Roger looked over at me.
I opened my mouth to speak but the words didn’t come out.
“Don’t feel bad, dear,” Doris patted my hand. “We cloaked our magic so no one could sense what we are. Not even other witches.”
“She’s right.” Stella took a step towards me. “You can’t trust anyone these days. No matter what they say.” She reached out and picked up a lock of my red hair. She rubbed the tresses between her fingers and then met my gaze. “I must say I’ve never met a witch like you, Ella. You are different. You don’t even have a familiar. What kind of witch doesn’t have a cat?”
By this time I noticed all the women had gotten up and began to move toward the old shed in the backyard. Their movements were odd and rhythmic, like a school of fish moving as one.
“You’re right, I’m different.” I held her gaze. My anger fended off my fear. My mamma always said I was born into the world without a healthy dose of fear. “I didn’t come here for any trouble. Whatever you and your coven do, is your business.”
I looked over at Roger. “We need to leave. We can wait for the tow truck service at the car.”
“Oh. That.” Stella’s flat voice had me jerking my head in her direction.
I fisted my hands at her tone and the implications of her unspoken words.
“You didn’t call the tow truck, did you?” I stated.
“Nope.”
“So since you didn’t call the tow truck, why bother pretending to use the phone? Why didn’t you just tell us to fuck off and let us go on our way?” My anger was now in high gear. Anger at these witches for deceiving me. And anger at myself for being deceived. I had allowed myself to get comfortable and look where it had gotten me.
“Oh I called someone. You see, Ella when you stepped out of the woods I knew there was something special about you. I could sense you were a witch but I didn’t see a cat with you.”
“About that. I don’t see any cats around here either.” I arched my brow. “Where is your familiar?”
Stella snapped her fingers and looked toward the right.
A twig snapped and then I saw movement near the tree line. Two bright yellow eyes appeared and then a sleek black cat stepped out of the darkness and into the light of the bonfire.
“This is Emery. My familiar.” Stella smirked and then looked back toward the tree line.
Six other cats all ranging in colors from calico, to gray and black stepped out of the darkness and into the light. They each narrowed their beady yellow eyes at me as they passed me to go stand by their witches near the shed. Even Anna had a cat.
“How sad. A witch without a coven and a familiar.” Stella cocked her head and gave me a faux look of sympathy. “You must have really pissed someone off.”
“We’ve overstayed our welcome. We’ll be leaving now.” I turned and grabbed Roger’s hand and gave it a hard squeeze to emphasize the real danger we were in.
“Oh I’m afraid you can’t leave.” Her tone changed and shifted into something final. Something bad. Something lethal.
“Why is that?”
“You see I did actually make a call when you showed up. I didn’t call the tow truck.” Stella cocked her head. “You, my dear, are an opportunity that I just can’t pass up.” Stella nodded and the other witches made a circle around me and Roger. My heart thud in my chest as a chill marched up my spine.
“How am I an opportunity?” My gaze scanned the witches and the area behind them, looking for a way out. Any way out.
Stella crossed her arms and stared at me. “I’ve run into some money problems. I’ve got some back taxes that need to be paid. There are many people who would pay big money to have a night with a witch. If you get my drift.”
“So this is about money.” I snorted. “You’re no different than humans.”
Her eyes narrowed and hardened at my accusation. “That’s where you’re wrong. I’m a survivor. I have to look after my coven. What is that saying? The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Her lips curved up and her eyes glinted with rage.
“Wow. I can see there is no loyalty among your own.” I lifted my chin and glared.
“Ha. You’re not one of us, Ella. You’ve never been, and never will belong to a coven of witches that supports each other. Don’t speak to me about loyalty.”
“Let me guess, you two are a little more than friends aren’t you.” Stella’s taunting voice made me want to rip her tongue out of her mouth and toss it into the fire.
“Don’t answer that Roger.” I warned.
“We’ve had sex.” Roger’s monotone voice had me jerking my head in his direction.
“Roger, stop talking. Now,” I commanded.
“What kind of woman shares her bed while keeping her lover in the dark about where she’s from?” Stella crossed her arms.
“A woman with Borderline Personality Disorder and sociopathic tendencies.” He said matter of fact.
“Roger?” I glared.
“Yes?” He looked at me.
“Now would be a really good time to shut the fuck up.”
I looked at Stella. “Just for the record I’m not a sociopath. Borderline, maybe, but fuck no on the sociopath.” Anger filled my chest until I thought I would explode with it. “And since we are all about labels now, Roger here is OCD and has an addiction to porn.”
Stella blinked and cut her eyes at Roger. He blinked and nodded. “It’s true.”
“Judging from his lack of emotion, I would also like to diagnosis him as a psychopath.” I crossed my arms feeling a little bit better at my dig.
“Oh, his reaction isn’t because he’s a psychopath.” Stella shook her head and chuckled. “The wine he’s been drinking has a tr
uth potion in it. It renders the victim unable to tell a lie.” She shrugged. “Don’t go too hard on him for spilling all your secrets. He couldn’t help it.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
“Fuck.” I murmured and looked back at my plastic cup siting in the cup holder in the arm of the chair.
Stella followed my gaze. “It doesn’t work on witches. Only on other paranormal creatures.”
“So you expect me to sit here and wait for someone to show up so they can turn me into a prostitute? Cause that’s not going to happen.” I held my hands out by my side ready to fight.
“That’s exactly what I expect you to do.” Stella smiled and nodded as the rest of her coven bowed their heads and began murmuring.
I knew they were performing some kind of spell but I wasn’t sure what kind. Stella was right when she said I had never belonged to a coven. I hadn’t, so I didn’t know what they were capable of.
I did know they could do a lot of damage.
I had to get out of there now.
I grabbed Roger’s hand and tried to run between two of the witches. They weren’t holding hands, just standing there, heads bowed and whispering words. It should have been simple enough.
The second my body hit the space between their bodies I was knocked back off my feet by an invisible wall and thrown into the middle of the circle. I landed with a thud on my back.
My chest tightened and I tried to suck in a breath. Panic rose as I looked over at Roger who was standing there like a fucking knot on a log, looking down at me, face blank, eyes empty.
Just as quickly as the witches had started whispering, they stopped.
The wood on the fire crackled as embers rose into the sky, and the occasional hoot of a barn owl sounded loud between my ears.
The witches lifted their heads and opened their eyes. They all glanced at me before turning and going into the house. Their familiars hissed as they walked past me to follow behind their witches.
I stood on shaky legs, my back aching and I looked at Roger.
“Don’t bother trying to leave. You will find that you can’t.” Stella took an unburned stick out of the bonfire and began drawing a circle around me and Roger. “That spell my coven just cast will keep you within this circle. Try to step out and…well you saw what will happen.” Stella connected the circle and tossed the stick back onto the fire.