The Witch: Book Two of The Sorceress Saga

by Taliesin Govannon

  “I know what Vincent does to pedophiles.” I said with a slight shudder. “She’s going to learn from the best.”

  “So what’s this about that book not being lost?” Raina asked, still focused.

  “My Uncle has a copy.” she replied, lighting up. She took a deep hit and then let it out. “He used to read to me from it… or, I should say, from type-written sheets copied directly from a hand-written copy of an original copy that’s currently being held in the most secure location in the world, my Uncle’s private vault… when I was a little girl.”

  “See, this is kind of a strange part.” I said. “I was, like, someone’s childhood bedtime stories!”

  “He got the copy from his Father, and was raised the same way.” Tiffany continued. “It’s why he let Trevor Hawkins… someone who he’s told me he wants to torture on many occasions… into his compound. It’s why he’s showing such devotion to you. It’s why he’s not charging the three thousand dollars a day that he’d normally charge for someone with my training’s services.”

  “Three thousand?” I said, surprised. “How much of that goes to you, and how much to the house?”

  “It’s always two to one with my Uncle: two thirds to the operative, one third to my Uncle.” Tiffany said. “That’s not just me, it’s everyone who goes on missions for hire.”

  “Wow… so you’re sacrificing some serious bank to be here.” I said, eyebrows raised.

  “It’s an honor to be, if not in the Court of the Sorceress, then Court adjacent.” she replied.

  “Oh, you are in my court, whatever that is right now!” I said firmly. “Everyone who lives in the mansion or on the grounds is a part of my inner circle, and I depend on every one of you.”

  “Thank you.” she said, her voice genuinely touched. “It is, indeed, an honor.”

  “Have you checked your bank account lately?” Raina asked, her own eyebrows raised.

  “No.” Tiffany said. “I haven’t had to spend any money since I came with you guys, so I haven’t been worried about my balance. Why?”

  Raina grinned. “Check it. Right now.”

  Tiffany looked confused but pulled out her smartphone anyway. "Where's the damn app? Oh, here it is!" she muttered, and started pushing buttons once the app opened. A moment went by before her eyes went wide. She almost dropped her phone. "What the serious fuck?"

  “Vincent and Angelique are wealthy.” I said, smiling at her reaction to her bank balance. “Like, stupidly wealthy. Like, governments-would-ask-for-loans-if-they-knew wealthy.”

  “Angelique’s been a vampire for sixteen hundred years.” Raina added. “Now, if there’s something that typifies the economic models that have evolved over the past one thousand six hundred years, it’s that wealth begets wealth. The more money you have, the easier it is to get more.”

  “Vincent’s never given me a total on how much their holdings are worth,” I continued, “but they have enough squirreled away around the world that… let’s just say those news stories about the first trillion-airs? They’re late to the party.”

  “Well, there goes my need to ever work another day in my life!” Tiffany said, putting her phone away.

  “So, Miss Rockefeller… “ Raina said, grinning, “any chance we could get our hands on a copy of said copy of said book?”

  “My Uncle would probably send you the original.” Tiffany replied, re-lighting her joint.

  “No!” I said firmly, waving her off. “I do not want the responsibility of safeguarding something that rare! A copy is just fine.”

  “I’ll text him when he’s up.” Tiffany said. “Now for some more disturbing news.”

  “What’s up?” I asked.

  “I’ve finished analyzing the attacks and incursions connected to you.” she said, looking at me. “The conclusion is inescapable. They’re testing our defenses.”

  “So they’re probing attacks?” Raina said.

  “I don’t get it.” I said. “What’s the difference between a probing attack and a regular attack?”

  “A probing attack isn’t really designed to achieve their final objective, which is getting to you.” Tiffany explained to me. “They’ve never sent the kind of numbers that said that they were serious. And they’ve only sent one kind of creature at a time… imagine how chaotic it would be to fight off giant spiders, giant bats, mechanized corpses, and mud monsters all at once! No, they were seeing how you guys reacted to individual threats. They’re assessing you.”

  “So, what do we do about that?” I asked, wondering about our next step.

  “We stay fluid.” she replied. “We’re going to stay on the move… another week here, a couple of weeks at the Hawaii compound y’all told me about, and then to Starwood to find the Oracle.”

  “And then,” I said, “hopefully we’ll find some answers.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  From the Diaries of Angelique Dupre

  11/11/1589

  Roanoke Colony

  I have discovered where Sarah goes when she disappears, and the answer is very disturbing.

  She took me to see it today, her secret house in the forest. It was well hidden… it seems that the lass is smarter than I gave her credit for. It was also finely crafted. The men she had enchanted did very good work!

  Half of her old village was there, as well as half of the local indigenous tribe… women to care for the house, men to do the heavy labor, as well as to do be at Sarah’s beck and call for her carnal desires.

  It happened so quickly! I am furious with myself to have allowed this to happen!

  Sarah has never had power over her own life. Now that she’s tasted power, she wants more. And more.

  I hope I can pull her out of this.

  * * *

  My legs were stiff as I got out of the van and stretched. Three hour drives weren’t the worst, but they were long enough to make it feel good to stand afterwards.

  Raina, Tiffany, and Gaia had gone over to the registration tent by the side of the road to get us checked into the festival, and I stayed back and looked around.

  It was sparse inside the gate. This was by design… keep things looking boring up top, while letting the festival in the lands below have the craziness. A single ten by twenty foot pavilion sat by the side of the road, giving out festival wristbands and programs to registered participants.

  The Starwood festival had been going on for longer than I’d been alive, launching in 1981. It was a hodge-podge of Pagans, hippies, leftist political activists, and alternative health advocates… at least, that’s what Raina had read on the internet. It was also supposed to be where the Oracle was at the present time.

  Gaia came back over first, an extra program and wristband for me. She was in her human glamour, her black skin and green hair mirroring her Fae reality, She handed me the program while securing the wristband around my right wrist.

  “Any problems?” I asked. “I guess I’m supposed to show my ID and stuff?”

  “Don’t sweat it.” Gaia replied. “It wasn’t hard to do a little confusion spell and get you registered.” She fastened the plastic wristband around my wrist as Raina and Tiffany joined us.

  “Why do they put people who obviously uncomfortable with computers in charge of checking people in?” Tiffany asked, frustrated. “That took way longer than it needed.”

  “Groups that put on festivals like this behave like a lot of the Pagan groups I've been in." Raina said. "Finding people who are a: trustworthy enough to handle cash, and b: are willing to do the damned job is difficult enough. Adding 'tech-savvy' to the list is just pushing your luck."

  “So, we ready to hit the festival?” I said.

  “We are ready to roll!" Raina said. "I just got off of the phone with Jack, and they have everything set up. We just need to turn left at the bottom of the hill and head back to the pinewoods."

  We got back in the van and drove down the tree-lined road. We passed people dressed for summer weather, and I was glad that I h
ad brought plenty of bright, colorful skirts and tops with me.

  We turned left at the bottom of the hill, and the Starwood festival opened up in front of us. There were brightly decorated merchant booths, a cafe, and even a pirate radio station. We drove by a big wooden stage where the concerts featured at the festival were obviously performed, and people in various stages of undress were being body-painted in front of it. Tents, some decorated with flowers and tapestries, were everywhere.

  “This looks awesome.” I said from my seat, looking out of the window,

  “I have heard about this festival from my Pagan friends for years.” Raina replied. “I can’t believe I’m finally here.”

  We drove slowly down the road through the campground, and soon saw Jack waving us over. We pulled up to the treeline and parked.

  “Welcome to Starwood!” Jack said when we piled out of the van. “Come on, we have a spot in the woods.”

  We followed him down the path. Raina looked over Jack’s regular uniform… jeans and some form of superhero t-shirt, this one being Doctor Strange… and shook her head.

  “Dude, do you own anything with, I don’t know, style?” she asked him.

  “I do have a style.” Jack insisted. “It’s just not a very good one.”

  We came upon the campsite, and it looked serene in the sun-dappled afternoon. Nestled in the pine trees, dome tents were arranged in a rough semi-circle, with a ten by twenty-foot pavilion sitting just behind them. An area for a campfire was in the middle, with folding chairs sitting around it.

  “This looks awesome!” I said, smiling. I felt better already.

  “Just wait until you see the inside.” Jack said, smiling.

  He unzipped one of the bigger dome tents and flipped the door aside. I looked in, and saw nothing out of the ordinary… a couple of sleeping bags, a few pieces of clothes tossed about, and so on.

  “What’s so great about this?” I asked, confused.

  “Step inside.” Jack answered.

  I did, and everything changed. I found myself in a long wooden building, torches lighting the room, with a long wooden table and chairs in the center. Sitting around the table were Katsu, Trevor, Evelyn, and the Twilight Fae sisters.

  “Welcome!” Trevor boomed, raising a beer in greeting.

  “Hey guys!” Evelyn chimed in.

  I looked around in wonder. “How… what?” was all I could say.

  “It’s just… “ Drucilla said.

  “... a little… “ Darla continued.

  “... Fae magick.” Cordelia finished.

  I looked at the Fae sisters, in their actual appearances due to being inside, surprised. “Okay...”

  “Yeah, just wait...” Drucilla said next.

  “... until you see… “ Cordelia continued this time.

  “… you and Vincent’s room.” Darla finished with a grin.

  I rolled my eyes and moved on. “So, Hatsu decided against coming?”

  “My sister dislikes crowds.” Katsu replied. “She’s visiting old allies in Japan to try and find out what’s going on.”

  “And where is my boyfriend?” I asked, still taking everything in.

  “He and Angelique have already started networking, looking for the Oracle.” Katsu replied.

  “Well, I am going to network my ass into some festival clothes!” Raina said with a grin.

  “Good Idea.” I said.

  “Well then, allow me to show you to your tents.” Jack said, and we followed him out of the hall.

  * * *

  A little while later I found myself walking down the main road through the festival with Raina and Tiffany. While Tiffany and I were wearing colorful mini-dresses, Raina really went all out… an African print sarong, a tiny bikini top, and a large floppy hat to protect her from the late afternoon sun. A large wicker handbag swung lazily on one arm, and sunglasses finished out the combo, making her look more like a vacationing movie star than a Witch on a mission. Her clothes showed every curve, and she turned more than a few heads as we walked.

  “Hmm., oh yes.” she said under her breath as she met the eyes of a statuesque brunette, filling her water bottle at a spicket. “I think I’m gonna like it here.”

  “You’re sharing a tent with three horny Fae sisters, and you’re still looking?” I said with a grin. “Shouldn’t you pace yourself?”

  “Honey, this festival is going to be over in less than a week.” she replied. “She who waits is also going to be she who loses out on some truly soul-shaking orgasms.”

  “I was looking through the festival program earlier.” Tiffany said. “Tomorrow, when everything starts, there’s going to be an LGBTQ meet and greet. Maybe we should go.”

  “As long as it’s in the shade.” Raina replied. “It is going to be hot this week, and I’m not just talking about the sex.”

  “This is nothing.” Tiffany said. “I went to Burning Man a few years ago. That fucker was in the middle of the desert!”

  “Was it fun?” I had heard about Burning Man.

  Tiffany shrugged. “I was there on business. Uncle Jex wanted me to meet someone who had an old grimoire to sell.”

  “Well, mixing business with pleasure is what we do best!” Raina replied, and we shared the laugh.

  We wandered over to the cafe and got drinks. We sat down at a plastic table surrounded by folding chairs, multiple other groups of people seated along the row. Everyone looked to be in good spirits.

  “The energy here… “ I said, sipping my caramel mocha, “… it’s just so… happy. Content.”

  “These kinds of spaces are godsends for folks who may not fit in everywhere.” Tiffany said. “I’ve known a few folks over the years who are a part of these scenes, and it’s an incredible release for them. See that guy over there?”

  I looked to see where she was nodding, and saw a man dressed in a pink dress that matched his dyed beard. “The guy in the pink?”

  “Yeah.” Tiffany replied. “Who knows why he dresses like that… what kind of inner need that’s met. The fact is, he can walk around here dressed however he wants with no judgment and no harassment. It’s probably one of the only times he can be truly free.”

  “And he dresses better than Jack.” Raina added, and I had to laugh.

  “So, anything on tap for tonight?” I asked after.

  “Festival doesn’t officially start until tomorrow.” Raina answered. “So tonight it’s explore and enjoy time.”

  Cordelia, Drucilla, and Darla walked into the cafe next, and all three were in their human glamour. That was all they were in, too… the festival was officially clothing-optional, and the three Fae sisters were taking full advantage of that by walking around in sandals and nothing else.

  “Well, you three are diving in feet first.” Raina said with a grin.

  “There are lots… “ Darla said.

  “... of naked people around… “ Cordelia continued.

  “... so we thought we’d fit right in.” Drucilla finished.

  I looked around, and they were being noticed. Even with all of the nudity, three gorgeous, naked black women with varying shades of blue hair stick out I thought with a grin.

  “We were walking around… “ Cordelia began this time.

  “... and ran into Vincent.” Darla continued.

  “He wants Annabelle to come down to the drum fire area.” Drucilla finished.

  “Okay.” I replied. I looked at Tiffany and Raina. “You guys want to join me?”

  “Sure!” Tiffany said. Raina, however, was distracted.

  “Where are, uh, you three going?” she asked the trio.

  “There’s an ice cream social happening… “ Darla said, excited.

  “... in the woods.” Cordelia said next.

  “Yeah, where people put ice cream on your body… Drucilla continued.

  “... and lick it off!” they finished together.

  “I’m in!” Raina said, getting up. I had to laugh again.

  * * *
>
  While the fire wasn’t lit yet, the evening drumming area was already a hive of activity. Nestled in a clearing in the woods, it was being festooned with glitter, shiny decorations, and some tarps in the trees for shelter in case of rain. Drums sat in clumps around where the fire would go, and the whine of chainsaws could be heard from just beyond the clearing.

  That was where I found Vincent. He was working with several other men, all shirtless, as they cut and hauled wood for the night’s fire.

  Well hello sailor I thought as I watched him work. His well-developed muscles rippled beneath his skin as he picked up cut log after cut log and hauled them to the growing pile of wood.

  He looked up and smiled at me. Damn!

  “I’m going to check out the decorations.” Tiffany said with a grin.

  “So, how was your trip?” he asked as he walked up to me.

  “Uneventful.” I replied, looking around. “How’s our tent?”

  “Stupidly opulent.” he said. “I take it you saw Trevor’s mead hall?”

  “Oh, so that was his idea?”

  “His idea, Cordelia’s execution. It’s not bad to have places to go for private conversation, though. Nylon tents give the illusion of privacy only.”

  “I’m sure Jack likes the comfort.”

  “Are you kidding? His tent has its own WiFi."

  I looked at him. “Any word on the Oracle?”

  “Her crew gets in tomorrow night.” he replied. “So tonight it’s time to unwind a little.”

  I leaned in and kissed him, running my hand over his chest. “Want to unwind a little now?” I asked.

  He smiled. “Guys?” he called to the others cutting wood. “I’m gonna be back in a few.”

  * * *

  After night fell, the fire was lit and festivities commenced. Vincent and I returned sometime later, walking down a steep forest path to get to the drum circle.

  I could see the energy before I saw the fire. In addition to the glow surrounding every living thing in the forest, I could see waves of different colors rippling along the ground. It washed across my feet like the tide, and I started to giggle.