by Judith Post
“A long, golden crocodile that circles his neck,” Luna, Hecate, and Banafrit said in unison.
Banafrit touched a hand to her neck. “It has black, onyx eyes and red gems for teeth.”
“For blood?” Whitey asked.
The witches nodded.
Appropriate, Reece decided. A giant, dangerous reptile. Cold-blooded. It suited him.
Whitey frowned. “In storybooks, witches always have familiars.”
“I have one,” Luna said. “So does Aidann. We didn’t travel with them this time. We were in a hurry.”
“And you?” Whitey looked at Banafrit.
“Egyptians worshipped cats. They were sacred. Mine’s been with me since I gained my powers.”
Whitey looked around the lodge. “I haven’t seen any cats with any of you.”
“Not safe with werewolves,” Hecate said.
“So yours is….?”
“Gone. I lost Grimmer when I fought Nen the last time. I haven’t replaced him.” There was an edge to Hecate’s voice, and Reece realized how much her cat must have meant to her.
“Nen killed it?” Reece asked.
“Grimmer took a blast meant for me.” Hecate looked away, unwilling to share her vulnerability.
Damian frowned. “So how does a witch get a familiar? Reece is new, but nothing’s shown up.”
Luna answered. “Usually, the right cat would have come right away, but I blocked the vibes. She was battling rogues, and I didn’t want her to lose her familiar the minute it found her.”
“And now?” Damian asked.
“We’re battling Nen.” That pretty much answered the question.
Damian returned them to the matters at hand. “Back to Nen. If a witch spied on us, how did she report to Nen that we left the city? Pete or Hud would have called me if they saw a witch enter his house.”
Hecate smiled. “Dear gargoyle, we get so wrapped up in magic, we forget the obvious sometimes. She probably used her cell phone.”
Damian laughed at himself. Reece loved the sound of his laugh. He shook his head, “Simple and easy. Do you think the witch followed us?”
“We didn’t see anyone on the road behind us on our way here. And none of our necklaces glowed.”
“How can Nen find you then?” Whitey asked.
Banafrit went out the French doors onto the patio. She raised her palm and shot white, hot energy straight up into the air. “He can sense when we use our powers. He’ll feel this. It won’t be enough to trace us, but it will let him know that we’re hiding outside of the city, but close by.”
“And when you’re ready?” Whitey watched Banafrit return to the kitchen. “What then?”
“The five of us will unite our energies to build a shield around this lodge. It takes blood to complete one strong enough. He’ll feel it, and he’ll send witches to scout us out and report to him.”
“How many witches?” Damian asked.
“Enough to cause trouble. Not many are as old or powerful as we are. I don’t foresee a problem, but we have to let one of them escape.”
“Why?”
Aidann gave Damian a sour look. “To lead Nen here, of course. Nen will worry that we claimed the power of the witches we killed. He won’t send more. He’ll come himself.”
“That soon?” Reece tried to keep fear out of her voice, but knew she didn’t succeed.
Luna gave her a look of sympathy. “The sooner, the better. Waiting won’t make us stronger, and it might make us sloppy.”
Reece understood her reasoning, and once she thought about it, she’d rather get it over with, too, one way or another.
Damian glanced at each of their somber faces. “Enough business talk. Let’s eat breakfast while the food’s still hot.”
Aidann looked relieved to let the conversation go. He took a seat at the long, rectangular table.
Whitey shook his head. “I’m not hungry. I am tired. I’m heading back to our camp.”
“Thanks for the news,” Banafrit said. She placed a hand on Whitey’s chest, and energy seeped into him. At his surprised look, she smiled. “I am a healer, remember?”
Whitey looked nonplussed. “But I have no injuries.”
“You’re weary. You’ve worked long hours to set up camp and run with the pack. You’ll rest well now.”
He gave a quick nod, not sure what to make of that, and turned to leave.
“Wait!” Banafrit cried. “Where is your camp? Far from here? Well placed? I haven’t seen it.”
Reece thought of the tents circled on the shoreline. Was that a good place for them? She wasn’t used to thinking about strategy.
“An oversight,” Hecate agreed. “We went in the opposite direction. We should place it under an obscuring spell and spray it with potions.”
Banafrit turned to Whitey. “I’ll walk with you to your camp. We can’t take anything for granted. If there’s a way to protect you more than we have, we need to do it.”
“We’ll save a plate for you,” Aidann offered. “You can eat when you get back.”
“No worry, I’m fine. I mean to explore that side of Wedge’s property. It pays to know your battleground.”
Reece watched them until they reached the stream. Then she asked, “Why did Banafrit pour energy into Whitey? Did she see something we didn’t?”
“Did you notice how tired he looked?” Luna turned thoughtful. “I wonder how old Whitey is. I get the impression he’s been around a long time.”
“The older a Were, the more powerful he is,” Damian told them.
“But he started out old. Look at his white hair and wrinkles. Why would someone shift him that late in life?” Aidann shook his head, puzzled.
“He won’t thank me for telling you this, but his pack knows." Damian struggled with himself a moment, then went on, obviously deciding that telling them was for the best. "The Indians he lived with didn’t think of him as a missionary. They thought of him as a friend. He caught something, got a high fever, and almost died.”
Aidann looked more confused than before. “So they let a werewolf attack him?”
“The shaman didn’t know any other way to heal him. The Were only scratched him to infect him. So that he'd fight off the disease. They meant it as a tribute. Whitey thinks of it as a curse.”
For once, Aidann couldn’t think of a caustic reply. He ran a hand through his hair. “What happened when he changed?”
“The shifters in the tribe taught him to control his gift—and they thought of it that way—as a gift. He stayed with them until, one spring, he joined the other Weres for a full moon hunt. When they got back, every man, woman, and child had been slaughtered—gunned down. Including his wife.”
“Wait a minute. Did you say wife?” Luna’s eyes narrowed. “I thought missionaries didn’t have wives. I thought they were married to their job or something.”
“Whitey’s religious views changed once he shifted. He didn't feel worthy of calling himself "holy" anymore. He married an Indian woman.”
“And?” Luna’s tone was sharp.
“Without her, with no tribe, he wandered. He was a lone wolf, close to losing control, until he joined Wedge’s pack.”
Luna's hands went to her hips. “He got a bum deal. Is he happy there?”
Damian shrugged. “As happy as he can be, I guess. He sets awfully high standards for himself.”
Chatter stopped while everyone dug in. After their meal, Damian volunteered to clean the dishes. “You guys can get started with your herbs and roots. I’ll stay out of the way.”
They moved outside to the deck. Reece was grinding lousewort and vervain with a mortar and pestle when Banafrit finally returned. She looked preoccupied. “Is everything all right?” Reece asked.
“I chanted an obscuring spell, but the camp is out in the open. That’s not wise.”
Reece stopped to consider. “They’re easy targets for witches, aren’t they?”
“Energy could fly at them from all directions,
even from across the lake.”
“We can stop that with protective potions, can’t we?” Luna wiped sweat from her brow. She’d been stirring a boiling cauldron at the fire pit most of the morning.
“Why invite trouble?” Banafrit said. “If they put up their tents in the woods, the trees would deflect some of the volleys and help hide them.”
“Then they have to move.” Reece wouldn’t risk Wedge and his Weres. She respected them too much.
Banafrit smiled. “You’re close to the Weres, aren’t you?”
“Wedge and his pack helped us fight the rogues,” Reece said. “Wedge always comes through. The Weres are allies.”
More than allies, Reece realized. She considered them friends. The thought surprised her, but it was true. She didn’t want anything to happen to them. "I'll talk to Damian, have him call Wedge, let him know.”
She waved her gargoyle to her. Once she explained, Damian flipped open his cell. He and Wedge were debating ideas when a petite, slender woman with flowing, honey- blond hair and saucer-sized, blue eyes walked toward them. “Luna, do you remember me?”
Aidann raised his palms.
“Sylwan!” Luna broke into a smile. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to join you.”
“Now?” Luna's smile crumpled. "Now's not a good time."
"Oh, but it is." The girl looked down, her words rushing out in a jumble. “Nen summoned me to spy for him. When I saw you, I knew this was my chance. I ran away.”
“How did you find us?”
“I felt magic and followed it.”
Sylwan had felt the shot Banafrit blasted into the air. The girl didn’t look powerful, but she must be skilled. Why else would Nen summon her? Was she still his spy? Reece narrowed her eyes, studying her. “Are you the witch who watched us leave Bay City?”
Sylwan nodded.
"You can't stay." Luna motioned for her to leave. “It’s not that I don’t want you, but we’re under a death sentence. You know that, don’t you? If you step foot on this deck, you will be, too.”
“I know. I came anyway.”
Luna started to step aside to make room for the girl, but Aidann blocked her way. Dressed in his usual black, he looked intimidating. Sylwan glanced from Luna to the warlock and back again. “Is he part of your coven?”
“No. He came to fight Nen with me.”
Aidann's gaze narrowed. “Nen only calls black witches. Why are you here?”
Luna stared.
The young witch glanced at the ground, embarrassed.
“Do you practice dark arts?” Aidann demanded.
A blush crept up the girl’s neck to the roots of her hair. “I dabbled in them for a time. I’ll always be tarnished.”
Luna's potion nearly boiled over, and she hurried to stir it. Damian helped her lift it off the fire, then she took a minute to compose herself. “I sent you to Amethyst’s coven. She practices white magic.”
Sylwan nervously twisted and untwisted her fingers. She dropped her eyes, avoiding Luna’s gaze. “I should have listened to you, but on the way, I met another group—witches and warlocks who were my age.”
Aidann’s tone went dry. “Soltices and sex—a potent combination.”
Sylwan’s cheeks turned a brighter red. “We studied spells and chants together for almost a century. Then Brennus found a spell book that promised more power than we ever dreamed possible.”
“The Dark Arts.” Aidann didn’t move from his spot, his expression fierce.
Reece remembered the stench of the books hidden in Hecate’s study, the horrible spells and rituals. She couldn’t imagine paging through them for pleasure. “How far did you go?”
Sylwan's chin shot up. Her voice rose, sounding defensive. “You’re modern. You know nothing of raising animals for food. We twisted chickens' necks to put food on the table. We slit a sheep’s throat and gutted it for stew. Killing animals was nothing out of the ordinary, but when Brennus bound a person, my stomach emptied and I ran.”
Aidann’s posture relaxed. “What should we do with her?” he asked Luna.
Luna motioned her to join them. “If you're willing to risk death, we welcome you. I might not survive this.”
Sylwan tried to climb the steps to the deck, but couldn’t. She stamped her foot, frustrated. “Your spells won’t let me pass.”
It was Hecate’s turn to step forward. “They only stop enemies.”
“The potions must sense Nen’s pull on her,” Luna argued.
Hands on hips, Hecate didn’t budge. “If she can’t cross the threshold, she’s not a friend.”
Reece watched and waited, curious what her mentors would decide.
“She wasn’t brought here as a friend,” Luna agreed, “but she’s come to us as one.”
“It’s too risky.” Hecate waved an arm around the area. “We’re not just putting ourselves in danger. If she’s with Nen, we’d be compromising the safety of everyone here.”
Sylwan nodded. “I understand. I wanted to help, but I didn’t think it through.” She bit her bottom lip. “I’ll just leave.”
“You can’t. Nen will know. He always finds out.” Luna’s voice rose in frustration. “He’ll destroy you.”
Aidann stared. “Who is this girl? What connection does she have with you? Why do you care what happens to her?”
“She came to train with my coven. When I thought she was ready to practice, I sent her to Amethyst. If I had let her stay and join us….”
He shook his head. "Don't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault she didn't go to your friend."
The moonstone glowed under Reece’s fingers. She closed her eyes to concentrate. When she opened them, Luna was watching her. “Isn’t there a witch’s pledge of some kind?” Reece asked. “Where you swear on something?”
Hecate almost laughed with relief. “We should have thought of that.” She turned to Sylwan. “Well? Do you want to join us enough to swear your loyalty to us?”
The girl pulled a chain with an agate attached to it from under her dark blouse. She locked eyes with Luna and said, “I swear to be your friend and never harm you.”
“Not good enough.” Banafrit stepped forward, her posture threatening.
Gripping the agate, Sylwan said, “I swear never to cause harm to one of my sisters.”
Aidann’s expression turned thunderous, and Sylwan hurried to explain. “I’m sorry, but I don’t trust men. I won’t make myself defenseless around you.”
Tears misted Luna’s eyes. “Things just kept getting worse for you, didn’t they?”
Reece’s necklace tingled. She put a hand to it and felt a vague sense of unease. Sylwan was the picture of innocence, but her oaths weren’t completely reassuring. “What did you do after you left your coven?”
The girl grimaced. “I wandered from place to place.”
“Until?” Damian, too, studied Sylwan closely.
Footsteps padded toward them and Sylwan glanced at Andre uncertainly when he went to stand behind Hecate. His sleek, black hair was mussed, his chin covered with stubble. He rubbed Hecate’s shoulders, and she relaxed slightly.
“You’re a Were.” Sylwan glanced at Damian’s wings. “And you’re a gargoyle. Have you formed some kind of strange coven, a new kind of mix?”
“No, and you haven’t answered our question.” Hecate raised an eyebrow in warning.
“Why did Nen call you?” Aidann’s question reverberated like the snap of a whip.
“I told you. He wanted me to spy on you, but this is my chance. I can die, fighting him, or I can die later—when I irritate him somehow.”
Damian shook his head, unsatisfied. “But how did you catch Nen’s attention in the first place?”
Sylwan flushed. “We met at a Black Sabbath.”
Luna whirled on her. “You said you didn’t do human sacrifices.”
“I was scheduled for the altar. I was alone after I ran from my coven, no one to protect me. A warlock took me to a sols
tice celebration and handed me over.”
“He betrayed you? Is he still alive?” Aidann looked as if he’d fly out of the house and find the warlock if Sylwan gave him a name and destination.
Damian wanted more answers. “Did you escape?”
“No, my powers didn't interest Nen. They were too puny, but he did see a use for me.” Her face pinched with pain.
Reece hugged herself.
Luna groaned. “Nen is never gentle.”
Sylwan shut her eyes, her lips tight. “I lived through it. When he summoned me, I thought…. Well, you can guess what I thought.”
“And that’s why you came to us,” Luna said. “To escape him.”
Sylwan exhaled and glanced toward the stream, not seeing it. “If he tries to take you, Hecate, you’d be better off dead.”
Andre clamped a hand on Hecate’s arm. “He won’t have her.”
“I’ll finish myself first.” Hecate’s words were flat, final. She’d thought about this a lot, Reece was sure.
But Sylwan shook her head. “He stuns you before you can do anything. When you wake up, he’s cast a binding spell, and then he does what he wants with you.”
Hecate pressed herself against Andre. “Promise me you’ll rip out my throat first.”
“I’ll die trying.”
“Will you do the same for me?” Sylwan pleaded.
Andre nodded. “We’ll try.”
Luna jammed her hands deep into her pockets. “I’m tired of talk. This is too gloomy. We were going to spend the day making spells and potions. I need to busy myself.”
Reece knew the feeling. Sylwan’s story was downright depressing. She needed something to lift her mood.
“Sylwan can help you some other time,” Damian said, pushing to his feet. “For now, I’d like to show her the property and get her caught up on everything that’s happened.”
Reece blinked at him, surprised. Hecate and Luna stared. Aidann gave him a thoughtful look. “Not a bad idea. The more she knows, the better she’s prepared. I’ll go with you.”
Damian gave a quick nod. “I’ve been told there’s an abundance of magical plants that grow near bogs. We’ll look for some.”
Reece fought to keep her face from showing what she was thinking. Damian was hiking their guest to the front of Wedge’s property, away from the Weres’ camp and anything significant. He didn’t want her to know about the werewolves camped nearby or the specific spells they were about to cast.