A Wishing Moon

by Sable Hunter

  * * * *

  When Nanette and Elizabeth arrived at Wildflower Way, they found the house empty. “Angelique, Evangeline!” Nanette called loudly. Elizabeth searched through all the rooms before checking the outside. She found Angelique at the back of the yard putting on a pair of boots.

  “She’s gone,” Angelique stated flatly.

  “Evangeline?” Elizabeth suddenly felt nauseous. “How long has she been out there?”

  “Just a few minutes, she followed one of the black cats that ran out of the house.”

  “There comes the cat, but she has other company, the bad kind.” Elizabeth saw things in her mind’s eye that caused her blood to run cold. “I’ve got to get out of these damn heels, some psychic I am. Wait here, I’ll be right back.” As she opened the door, the fat, black cat ran through in to the house.

  * * * *

  Evangeline tried to keep her wits about her. She knew she only had mere seconds. The very air vibrated with electricity. The woods were so thick here she knew he could be very close to her and she wouldn’t be aware of him. If she turned her back on the creep and tried to run, he would most likely overtake her. She needed a diversion and knew it would have to be one she created herself.

  She held her hands up to the skies.

  “Element of Air hear my cry.

  Send a storm, let lightning fly

  Winds will blow and rain will fall

  Air, Fire, Wind, Water, hear my call.”

  She had nothing with her to fuel her spell. Normally, she would have poured out rice and water as an offering to the gods. Instead, she began quoting a verse of Psalms over and over, one she had used many times when calling rain.

  “He shall come down, like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. He shall come down, like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. He shall come down, like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth. Chango! Chango! Chango! Hear the voice of a daughter of the silver crescent! Send a storm! Send your fire!”

  Evil stepped out from behind a tree, some one-hundred feet in front of her and all she could see was a broad brimmed hat and a long coat. No features were visible. He began to walk slowly toward her. She stood her ground. Intent and power flowed upward from her fingertips and moments later, the rain began to fall. The man looked upward as if in amazement. Evangeline kept her hands in the air and willed the elements to come to her aid. The man kept coming, slowly, with measured steps.

  In answer to her prayers, a white-hot, bolt of lightning struck the ground right between them. Electricity peppered the air and the bolt caused dust to fly and limbs to break. Then the bottom fell out and rain began to pour down in thick sheets. Knowing this might be her only chance, Evangeline turned and ran back toward the house as fast as she could. If he kept coming, if the lightning did not deter him—a hand could halt her escape at any moment. Seeing the property line, she bounded over the invisible barrier and headed to safety.

  Elizabeth and Angelique were just about to start out, when Evangeline ran up to them in the pouring rain. “He’s out there.”

  “I know he is, baby.” Elizabeth gathered her niece close to her and they returned to the house.

  “Did you call up this storm?” Angelique asked.

  “Yes, I did.”

  “Good girl.” Elizabeth opened the back door for the other two.

  “How about Pickins?” Evangeline asked.

  “Oh, he beat you back,” her aunt assured her. “If we hadn’t had the door open when that lightning bolt hit, we would have a cat-shaped doggy door.”

  * * * *

  They all went back to the hospital. Nanette had said there was power in numbers. Angelique had gathered all the supplies they would need. Her big bag contained a water basin, some herbs, a blue candle, a lodestone and the ammonite fossil from Enchanted Rock.

  As they traveled, Elizabeth brought the others up to speed. “He was right where Arabella said he would be. The doctor didn’t want us anywhere around him. He had terrible plans for that boy. I just wonder how many people he has let die, just so he could sell their organs on the black market. I can’t believe this is happening right here under our noses. What a dirty shame!”

  “Do you think they will let us all go into his room?” Evangeline asked, her voice still a little on the shaky side.

  “They don’t have a choice, baby,” Nanette stated emphatically.

  “Mother, something is bothering me.” Elizabeth adjusted the air condition vent. ”This is no ordinary man. Arabella has found herself a rather prominent politician. I took the opportunity to look into this matter last night and I also talked to Tyler about the situation. If we heal this man, we won’t be able to keep it off the television or out of the papers. Everything this man has done makes the news. Can you imagine the headlines, WITCHES HEAL PARAPLEGIC CONGRESSMAN?”

  “We don’t have a choice, Elizabeth,” Nanette spoke quietly. “This is Arabella’s heart. This is Arabella’s destiny. Fate has chosen to intertwine their lives. I don’t know what the future holds, but not healing this man would cause our little girl to suffer immeasurable hurt.”

  “I’m afraid she’s in for hurt, either way we go,” Arabella’s mother said with a sigh.

  When they arrived, the receptionist did not attempt to delay them. They walked down the hall and pushed open the door. They found Arabella sitting in a chair at his side with her head lying on the bed next to his hand. She rose immediately when they walked into the room.

  “Oh, I am so glad you’re here. I have been so nervous.”

  “We’ve been busy,” Nanette said without explaining. “Fill the basin with water.”

  Angelique cleared off the rolling table that sat next to the hospital bed and started arranging the candle and the other things she had brought.

  “Pull the covers off him,” Nanette instructed. At Arabella’s reluctance, she explained, “This is no time for modesty, Arabella. We need to wash him with the lodestone.”

  Arabella uncovered Jade, hoping he would understand, laying a cloth over his groin for modesty’s sake. “Is there a lock on the door, Arabella?” She went to check for her grandmother.

  “No, ma’am, there’s not.”

  “Put a chair under the door knob. We can’t be disturbed.”

  Jade’s eyes followed their movements as much as his paralyzed neck would let him. Nanette walked up to him. “Sweetie, we are going to heal you. What I need you to do is have faith. What I am about to do to you is an ancient ritual. I am going to bathe you with water we have empowered with herbs. I am going to rub your body from head to toe with a lodestone. This stone will draw out the malady and transfer what hinders you to this water.” She picked up the ammonite. “This is an ammonite fossil I picked up at Enchanted Rock where you had your accident. This is a very special stone. It’s called the horn of Ammon. He was an Egyptian God known as a protector of his people. This stone will aid our efforts. We’re going to have to turn you over after we wash your front side, so don’t be alarmed. Soon, all will be well.”

  They stood around and watched her work. First, the candle was lit. Next, she placed the fossil at the base of his throat. Then, she dipped the lodestone in the water and began washing him at the crown of his head. She stroked all the way down his body, from top to toe. Repeating the procedure, Nanette dipped the lodestone in the water and washed him in long, slow strokes twenty five times.

  “Roll him over.”

  Very carefully they did as she asked, replacing the fossil at the base of his neck, near his brain stem. Arabella prayed they wouldn’t hurt him any worse than he was already hurt. Nanette repeated the procedure on his back. As she did she chanted.

  “I banish this paralysis

  I banish the pain

  I command feeling to flow through this body

  I demand the nerves be reknit

  And power flow through these limbs once again.”

  When Nanette completed the fifty st
rokes, she instructed Elizabeth to take the basin outside.

  “Be very careful not to splash any water on you. That water contains the source of this boy’s problem. Take it to the first crossroads you can find. Empty the container, then walk away and don’t look back. When we leave, we must not drive through that particular crossroad. So be careful and don’t choose one that will trap us in this dreadful place or we’ll have to start over completely.”

  To the rest of them she ordered, “Roll him over, gently. Now come with me and let us all lay our hands on his body.” They did as they were told.

  “Arabella, this is your calling. You are a traiteur, my dear. Healing is your greatest gift. You have magick in your hands. You won’t remember this, but when you were just a baby, one of my old cats had a batch of kittens. When you found them, one of them wasn’t moving. You called me and I came to see. The little kitten laid cold and dead. I started to take him from you, but you pushed me back. Arabella, you cradled that kitten next to your cheek and you rubbed him with your warm little hands. You willed him back to life.

  “Over the years, I have seen you place your hands on us when we were sick. Even though you didn’t realize you were doing it, your love and concern—the intent of your heart healed us. You can do the same thing, now. Come on baby, the lodestone has done its work. This is the time, place your hands on this boy and will him to move.”

  Mesmerized, Arabella listened to her grandmother’s voice. She knew what the word traiteur meant, a Cajun healer. What her grandmother said sounded right. Instinct told her to move her hands to his head. She could feel the heat coming from them. With everything in her, Arabella willed his brain to heal. She willed the nerves to mend and feeling to flow back into the extremities of his body. She willed his voice box to open. She willed his legs to move and his arms to move. She willed Jade Landale back to life.

  * * * *

  What they had done, Jade could not explain. At first, he felt nothing. He could see them touching him, but it felt like he was watching a film. Sensations started, he began to have an awareness of his limbs. He began to feel heat. At first, he thought his imagination was working overtime—wishful thinking—but then the tingling started. Sensations began to shoot down his arms and down his legs. Hope began to bud in his heart and mind. How could water and a rock heal him? There had to be more to it, he knew. Right now, he didn’t care. With everything he had, he attempted to move a finger or a toe. As he concentrated, he didn’t realize he had begun to speak.

  Everyone in the room turned to look at him as he hoarsely said, “Arabella. Arabella.”

  Arabella ran to his side as tears streamed down her cheeks. She covered his face with kisses. “Oh, Jade. Say it again. Say my name again.”

  He did as she asked. Hoarsely, he croaked, “Arabella. I knew you would come.”

  “This is a Christmas miracle,” Nanette whispered as she wiped her eyes.

  Jade watched their faces light up as he moved first his fingers and then his toes. “I can’t believe I’m doing this.” It was his first movement in almost a month.

  “Arabella, every day, you will do another healing spell until he is as good as new. Elizabeth, call that detective of yours and see if he can pull some strings and get an ambulance out here to move this boy to Wildflower Way. The sooner we get him out of this hellhole the better. And I’m going to inform that nurse that we’re taking our boy out of here. I’ll be right back.” Nanette stormed out the door, as if ready for battle.

  Jade’s laugh was a little rusty, but these women made him happy.

  After a few moments, the rattled doctor came in and began taking Jade’s vitals in disbelief. Where there had been complete paralysis, now there was some movement. Where there had been silence, now Jade’s hoarse voice rang out. “Get your hands off me. I heard what you said; you were ready to kill me just because you thought I had nobody who cared anything about me. You bastard!”

  The doctor backed away step by step as if plotting his escape.

  “How did you do this?” The doctor was absolutely flabbergasted.

  “Power, love and faith,” Nanette said quietly. “Remember this, and beware; power that cannot kill, cannot heal. Get out of my sight before I turn you into a toad.”

  The doctor wasted no time exiting the room.

  It was almost laughable. Arabella sat by his bed and addressed the group. “There’s really no reason for all of you to stay. Why don’t you all go on home and get everything ready. Christmas dinner is waiting on us and we’re having company.” She smiled at Jade. “I will stay with Jade and ride in the EMS vehicle.”

  Soon they were alone. Arabella kept her back to him. “I don’t understand it, but I feel unbearably shy.”

  “Have you had any good dreams lately?” His hoarse, yet teasing voice caused her to wheel around and face him, her cheeks blazing. “It was more than a dream, wasn’t it? I met you night after night—and the things we did…”

  “I intend to do them again…and much more…at the very first opportunity. Assuming everything works as it is supposed to. Come to me, Arabella.” He turned his hand over and held it out to her. With every moment that passed, more improvements in his condition were becoming evident.

  When she came within touching distance, he captured her hand and she closed the gap between them. “Would you get me a drink of water?” She felt bad that he had to ask, so she poured water for him and held the glass so he could drink as much as he wanted. “Now put the glass down and kiss me.” He pulled her to his side.

  * * * *

  Her knees became weak and she thought she would sink to the floor. Instead, she found herself held to his side by a surprisingly strong hand. Their lips met and their kiss was the same, familiar, yet completely different. This time the feelings and textures and scents were not two dimensional, but three, four, five and six dimensional. He kissed her thoroughly, nipping at her lower lip with his teeth. She felt the same response to him she always did, heat and molten sensation flowed right to her center and she found it hard to be still. Lord, she felt shameless! Here he was, moments out of a paralyzed state and she was considering mounting him where he lay.

  He seemed to be equally affected. “I never thought I would kiss a woman again. Last night, when I made love to you, I held you and kissed you as if it were the last chance I would ever have. You’ll never know how you saved me, not only from this crippling state but also from insanity. I laid here trapped in my own body, not able to move, speak, swallow or even breathe on my own. Amazingly, I could shut my eyes and will you to my side. You saved me Arabella, in more ways than one, you saved me.”

  “Baby, it was my pleasure.” He raised an eyebrow and she blushed. “That sounded bold, didn’t it? But I am telling the truth…it was my pleasure. I searched for you as desperately and eagerly as you longed for me. I have been hunting you since the first night. If I hadn’t gotten involved with the murder case, I might have found you sooner.”

  “Murder, did you say murder?” Jade asked incredulously.

  “I warn you, it’s never boring at my house. Yes, a neighbor and her child were murdered just a few days ago. My family helped find the body and now they are looking for the killer. There’s more, too, but I don’t want to talk about sad stuff now. Today is Christmas and you’re safe and I am so happy I could die from pure joy.”

  Then she considered something. “Jade, is there somewhere else you would rather go? I would understand. I know you have many people who would be interested in your recovery.”

  “Not as many as you might think. My visitors dwindled fast; everyone gave up hope on me. Everyone but you. I do have a home, but right now your face is more of a home to me than my cold apartment could ever be.” As Jade continued speaking, the room door opened and in walked Reese Phillips.

  “My God, Jade! The receptionist called me and said you had taken a dramatic turn for the better. Frankly, I had been expecting a call telling me you had died.” Reese came up to the bed and
put a hand on his boss’s shoulder.

  “Thanks, for the confidence Reese.” Jade looked at his trusted friend. “Reese, let me introduce you to someone special. This is Arabella Landry. Arabella this is my Chief of Staff and right hand man, Reese Phillips.”

  Reese held out his hand and Arabella took it. Reese looked her over appreciatively. He didn’t see the hardening on Jade’s face as his watched his friend ogle his woman, but Arabella did. “I don’t remember you. I thought I knew all of Jade’s friends.”

  Arabella didn’t know what to say, so she just smiled, slightly.

  Reese returned his attention to Jade. “What happened, buddy? I had sadly accepted that it was basically over for you and for our campaign.”

  “Arabella happened, Reese.” Arabella swallowed hard, she wished she had told Jade not to try and explain what they had done for him. Oh well, the truth was the truth. But she knew sometimes the truth could hurt.

  “What do you mean?” Reese asked quizzically.

  “Arabella and her family healed me.”

  “They healed you.” Reese spoke every word slowly. “How?”

  “I don’t know. Does it matter?” Jade was obviously so euphoric he didn’t care what anyone thought.

  “I’m glad you’re healed—I am very glad you’re healed—but we don’t need any strange stories circulating about some off-the-wall faith healer. You have to consider your career and especially our ultra conservative base we have to deal with here in Texas.”