by M. J. Caan
Torie’s eyes lit up. “Wait, are you a witch as well?”
Jasmin smiled and nodded. “I am. Nice to meet another sister.”
“And you?” asked Torie, turning to face Taylor.
“I’m a fox shifter. So not a member of your select sisterhood.” She smiled to let Torie know it was all in good fun.
“We are all sisters here,” said Fionna.
“Are you all from this area?” asked Torie.
“Well, most shifters were born and raised here,” said Taylor.
“But, like you, most of us witches migrated here from somewhere else,” added Jasmin. “Me, I’m from Oregon. I’ve only been here a couple of years, but I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
“You came here after finding out you were a…witch?” Torie hesitated, then whispered the last word.
Jasmin laughed. “Girl, you don’t have to act like you’re saying something nasty. Yes, I was drawn here after discovering who I truly am.”
“I find it fascinating that this happens to us as we get older,” said Torie. “Why did I have to wait until now for this to happen?”
“Are you kidding?” said Jasmin. “Shit, if I had the kind of powers I have now in my twenties…I would probably be dead by now. What would we have done back then? Used our powers to make the high school mean girl’s hair fall out? Given the cheerleaders boobs so big they couldn’t pick them up off the ground?”
The images she created made Torie laugh out loud. “I would probably have made Bobby Johnson grow inches of hair from every opening in his body and given him warts.” She laughed uncontrollably. “He was the kid in Junior High that told everyone I gave him a hand job when I wouldn’t let him kiss me under the bleachers one day. After that, I was known as Butter Churn for the entire next year.”
The women roared in laughter. But then, slowly, as if remembering that there was a dark pall over their heads, the laughter stopped.
“I feel guilty,” said Taylor, “having fun here, laughing. All while Eddie is near death, and so many of our brethren have been slaughtered.”
Torie hung her head, feeling bad for bringing mirth to the group.
“Oh no, don’t feel bad,” said Taylor. “It was kind of nice to laugh again.”
“So, I hate to ask, but does anyone have any leads on who is doing this to your community?” said Torie.
“Who,” said Jasmin, “or what. Most of the shifters are peaceful creatures, living in harmony with one another. But they are still supernatural creatures, and therefore, should not be easy marks for whatever is hunting them.”
“Unless it’s another supernatural,” said Fionna, looking around worriedly. “There are rumors that—” she stopped mid-sentence, her body stiffening and her head lifted, turning slightly in the way of the front door as it swung open.
“What is it?” said Torie, her eyes locking on the two men that walked into the shop.
Taylor frowned, staring at them as she whispered a single word. “Wolves.”
8
“Wolves?” Torie said. “As in wolf shifters?”
Fionna leaned in close, her voice low and even. “Yes. But more.”
Torie noticed the immediate tension in the room as the two men entered. They were both tall, lean of build with dark hair and eyes. One had a full beard while the other was clean shaven. They carried themselves with an air of authority, like they were not used to being questioned. She watched as they surveyed the room, one of them slightly tilting his head back a couple of times as he sniffed the air. He turned and looked at the group of women, nodding ever so slightly, and then made his way to the checkout counter.
“What do you feel?” whispered Jasmin.
Torie wasn’t sure what she meant, but then as she watched the two men, she could feel a tingle in the pit of her stomach. It wasn’t as if she had not encountered men like these before; they reminded her of the politicians and stock traders that Ward had often had to dinner at their home.
Cocky. Headstrong. Alpha.
But the way she felt when she looked at these two was completely different. She was on the verge of being physically ill the more she looked at them.
“They make me nauseous,” she said.
Jasmin nodded. “They are more than just wolf shifters. Always trust your feelings around these types.”
“What…what are they then?” Torie said, turning to Jasmin.
Before the witch could answer, she sat back in her chair, signaling for Torie to remain quiet. Torie turned just as the two men walked up to them.
“Hello, ladies,” said the bearded one. “Taylor.” He nodded in her direction; his eyes fixed on her.
She curled one lip, working hard to contain herself. “Max,” she acknowledged.
The tension was broken by the other man, who leaned closer. “Hi, Taylor, Fionna, Jasmin. How are you?”
He was careful not to look them directly in the eye for too long, unlike his friend who had yet to break contact with Taylor.
“It’s going to be a gorgeous day out. Ya’ll have plans?”
“Uh, not really,” said Fionna, clearly nervous.
“Oh, we might decide to go for a stroll later on,” said Jasmin, her tone hard and direct, “maybe patrol for a killer. Or two.”
Torie saw Fionna suck in a breath and hold it. The darker man, Max, turned his gaze to Jasmin, squinting slightly in her direction. He opened his mouth to speak, but his friend cut him off.
“So, who’s this? I don’t think I know you,” he said, looking at Torie.
“No,” said Jasmine, “you don’t.”
Now it was Torie’s turn to cut the tension as she stood and offered her hand. “My name’s Torie. I’m new in town.”
He smiled, reaching to take her hand in his. “Nice to meet you. I’m Elric.”
“Alright, let’s go,” said Max, grabbing Elric by the collar of his shirt. “I’m sure they have better things to do than listen to you.” He turned as he was pulling the other man away. “Be seeing you, Taylor.”
And with that, they were both out the door, leaving everyone in the bakery to breathe easier.
“What just happened?” asked Torie.
Fionna and Taylor exchanged glances and finally Fionna leaned in, still not willing to speak at normal volume.
“Do you remember what we were just saying about the theory that the person killing the shifters is a supernatural? Well, the victims have all been fairly small shifters. And those—” she nodded at the closed door, “are very big, very mean shifters.”
“To be fair, we shouldn’t paint them all with the same brush,” said Taylor. “But the reports have all said that the victims were cut with something very sharp. And poisonous.”
“And?” said Torie.
“Wolves have claws that can cut through anything,” said Fionna. “And their bite carries a poison that is unique to them. It paralyzes their victims to prevent them from struggling.”
Torie felt a cold sweat creep up her spine. She swallowed, her throat suddenly very dry.
“Here you go, ladies,” said the baker. He had appeared out of the blue with a tray of muffins and coffees. All of them jumped at his approach. “I’m sorry. Shouldn’t have sneaked up like that.” He eyed the door as well before turning back to them. “Enjoy. Let me know if you need something else.”
Torie eyed him as he walked back to the other side of the counter. She didn’t miss the fact that he kept looking at the door, almost like he wanted to make sure there would be no more surprises walking in.
“I thought everyone in town was all peace and love,” said Torie.
“For the most part we are,” replied Jasmin. “But the wolves, they aren’t from around here. They, and some of the other more extreme supernaturals, started drifting up from Trinity. They are still finding their place, if you will.”
“So, what’s up with this Trinity place?” asked Torie, reaching for a muffin and sinking her teeth into it. She heard herself actually ‘u
mm’ out loud at the first bite. Whatever this was, it was perfection. “I’m sorry, but this is the best muffin I have ever tasted. What is it?”
“It’s made from elderberries and apples,” said Fionna. “Jim is the best baker in state. He’s a wood elf so he knows how to put all kinds of things together into amazing tasting treats.”
Torie smiled, not sure what a wood elf was but anyone that could make something this delicious was okay in her book.
“Anyway, as far as Trinity Cove goes, it’s another little town about an hour south of us,” said Jasmin. “It’s like Singing Falls, and completely different at the same time. It was overrun by darkness, literally, and is now a refuge for supernaturals like us, but ones that prefer the cover of darkness.”
“Like the wolves,” said Fionna. “Only lately they have been finding their way up here more and more. Not sure why, but here they are. For the most part, they leave us alone and we leave them alone.”
“When did they start showing up?” asked Torie.
“About four months ago,” said Jasmin, “around the same time the killings started.” Her gaze grew hard, and Torie felt the tension start to build again.
“So, was I reading into things or was there something between the two of you?” Torie said, looking at Taylor.
She looked down, sipping the coffee in her hands. “Not at all. I own a small bookstore just off main here, and he walked in one day; said he followed my scent. Yeah, not creepy at all. He started with the whole ‘made for each other’ nonsense. He proceeded to get a little handsy; I wasn’t having it. He wasn’t used to not having his way. Hasn’t really been cool with me since.”
“Alpha level shifters can be real assholes,” said Fionna. “Bears, lions, tigers…but wolves are the worst. For the most part they all stay down in Trinity. But every now and then, one seeks new hunting grounds.”
“So what do you do about it?” said Torie. “I mean, if the majority of citizens in Singing Falls are supernaturals, why don’t you get together and just run them out of town?”
“Yeah, cause a wolf shifter is really going to be terrified of a squirrel and a few bunnies,” said Fionna, laughing.
Jasmin wasn’t laughing, however. She glanced at Torie and smiled.
“I like the way you think,” she said. “We need more witches like you in the community. But first, I take it you need to get a little more used to your powers. Learn just what being a witch is all about.”
Torie nodded. Was this the person her mother had wanted her to learn from? Her mother was right about the town. She felt like this was where she belonged. Something occurred to her and she felt like she had to get it out.
“Hey, I can’t help but notice, are all of you single? I mean, not you, Fionna, but are you two married?”
“Nope, single and free here,” said Taylor.
“Witches don’t do well with husbands,” said Jasmin. “I was married, but to an ass. Of course, I couldn’t see that he was an ass at first. But once I went through the change, it was like a veil lifted; he was ass all up and through.”
Torie roared with laughter. “Trust me, I know what you mean. Let me guess, did he run off with his business partner too?”
Jasmin placed a hand on her hip. “First, he would have had to get off the couch to start a business to then have a partner to run off with. Second, she was a bar waitress he met while hanging out with his ‘boys’. She was the neighborhood man-stealer…and he fell for her dirty ass.”
“Okay, we don’t slut shame,” said Taylor, “remember, she wasn’t the married one. Why should we be mad at her because she got around?”
“I’m not mad at her, I’m mad at him. Who knows what he could have brought home to me? That girl treated STDs like they were Pokémon; gotta catch ‘em all.”
Again, they laughed at the visual Jasmin had created.
“Did you want to get back at them?” asked Torie, taking the conversation in a more serious direction.
“Yeah, I wanted to. Considered all kinds of nasty little revenge spells that I wanted to cast on him. But in the end, I realized it wasn’t worth it to give him my energy like that. Everything happens for a reason. Besides, if he hadn’t cheated on me, I would never have ended up here.” She reached over and took the hands of her two friends. “And that means I wouldn’t have met these lovely women. So I let all that go and I’m better off for it.”
Torie hoped that she would attain this level of forgiveness. Maybe one day; but not just yet. First things first,. She felt like she was a part of this new community after only a day. That kind of connection for her was rare; practically unheard of. If she were going to be here for any amount of time, she needed to help keep it safe.
That meant taking part in finding out who was preying on the people of this little town.
“So, what can I do?” she asked.
Fionna smiled. “Just be an ally. We don’t need any more enemies.”
“Oh, I can do that. As long as I can have another one of these elderberry muffins before we head back to the house.”
“The best thing about living here is you get to go shopping for a new wardrobe after the first month,” joked Taylor.
Torie frowned. “Okay, so I can understand not wanting to use witchcraft against our exes, but what about on ourselves? Isn’t there a spell that we can cast that lets us eat all the carbs and sugars we want without gaining weight?”
Jasmin laughed heartily at this. “Oh, I like this one.”
They spent a bit more time together before Taylor announced that it was time for her to go open her book store, which Torie promised to visit the next time she ventured into town, and Jasmin announced that she had to get going as well. She owned a holistic wellness shop specializing in herbs and potions designed to align ones inner and outer selves.
After they left, Torie thanked Fionna for introducing her to such strong, witty, women. It was a relief to talk to someone that didn’t start the conversation with ‘where do you summer?’, or by announcing what charities they were on the board of.
She loved everything about Singing Falls.
As they walked out of the shop, Fionna linked arms with her and happily introduced her to everyone they passed on the walk back to the car. She also told Torie what everyone was if they were on the supernatural spectrum. Torie had never known that fairies, elves, wiccans—not the same as witches she learned—and shifters of all kinds, even existed. Let alone that they all lived in a tiny, bucolic town nestled in the mountains of North Carolina.
Everywhere she turned, a new world opened up to her.
The ride back to her mother’s house was completed in silence as she reveled in the fresh mountain air, her senses opening in a way she had never imagined.
They pulled into the drive and she turned to Fionna. “Do you want to come in? I’m sure there is a pot of tea on the stove as we speak. It’s not like I need another muffin, but I’d love to split one of these carrot ones with you if—”
Fionna’s change in body language cut her off. She looked around, her eyes shifting in all directions, her nose quivering.
“Fionna? What is it? What’s wrong?”
But rather than answer, Fionna was out of the car and sprinting toward the house. Torie followed her, her heart racing in fear.
The door was open just a crack and the two of them raced inside.
The house appeared to be in order, but Torie felt an uneasiness in the pit of her stomach. As she stepped farther inside, Fionna walked in front of her, holding out a hand to stop her.
“Torie, don’t. Stay here; please.”
“No way. Mom!” she called, “where are you?”
They made their way into the kitchen, and that was where the orderliness stopped. The room was a mess; plates were shattered, cabinet doors hung open, some off their hinges, and there were kitchen knives stuck in the wall.
“Mom!” screamed Torie, rushing past her friend to the workroom.
Her mother was there, lying
face down on the large table, blood pooled around her, her head turned to one side, eyes glassy and staring.
“No!” screamed Torie. She turned and buried her face in Fionna’s shoulder, holding onto her new friend for dear life, her mind refusing to accept the horror that had taken place in her mother’s house.
9
“Mom? Mom, can you hear me?”
Torie felt a light touch on her shoulder, gently rousing her from a drug-induced stupor. She turned over, confusion clouding her eyes. A fog that threatened to keep her eyes closed weighed heavily on her. The face that was leaning over her was familiar, and warmth spread throughout her being as she recognized him.
“Shawn?” She tried to sit up, but he lightly placed a hand on her shoulder, urging her to remain lying back in bed. “What…what are you doing here? What time is it?”
“Easy, Mom.” He smiled at her, his soft brown eyes bloodshot and puffy. He’d been crying. Who had made her beautiful child cry? “It’s late; just after seven. Miss Freya had my number and called me.”
“Freya called you? I told her not to do that. You have class and—”
“Mom, don’t make me curse, but, well, eff those classes. No way I’m not being at your side at a time like this.”
“Watch your mouth, young man. You know I hate it when you even hint at saying that word.”
He smiled. Even now, she was thinking about him, and that made Shawn’s guilt come flooding to the surface.
“Mom, I’m so sorry I didn’t pick up when you called. I was so wrapped up in me; I should have answered.” His tears started to flow again, but she quickly reached up and placed a finger on his lips.
“Don’t. I knew you were in the midst of exams. I didn’t want to bother you. I wanted to tell you about…” she hesitated, a lot of memories came flooding back to her. “Ward? Is he…I don’t suppose he came?”
She saw her only child’s visage change; he grew harder, his eyes cold. Guess someone had told him what happened.
“Haven’t heard from him,” Shawn said. “And honestly, it’s probably a good thing he’s not here.” He turned away so that his mother couldn’t see the hatred flooding his features.