Death's Shroud

by Robbie Cox

  “Anyone else get the feeling we’re surrounded?” Jayden asked.

  Laci just looked at her sister and mother, not sure what the hell was happening.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Tansy Paxton unlocked the front door of The Murky Cauldron, breathing in the remnants of incense that still wafted through the air thanks to the store’s air-conditioning. She could have come in through the back door, but she loved seeing the front first thing in the morning, smelling the scents that filled the area, rather than the stuffy, moldy odor of the back storage area. It was always a much better start to the day.

  It took Wanda and her another hour to put the place back to rights after that sudden windstorm busted through the place yesterday. She still had no idea what had caused it, and talk on the street suggested that others had seen it, but it hadn’t ransacked any other stores, just ripped a couple of awnings and twisted up some flags a few stores had hanging outside their doors. Tansy made a call to a locksmith to come double-check the strength of her doorknob. She didn’t need to go through that chaos again, especially if it left the door weakened and less secure. Tansy closed the door behind her, jiggling it a couple of times to make sure it was actually closed. When it didn’t open easily like yesterday, she pursed her lips together shaking her head. Weird.

  Blowing out a deep breath, she turned back to the store, walking through the main area toward the back where she plopped her purse on her desk and began to make some coffee. Wanda would be in shortly after lunch, and from there, tea would be the main beverage, so Tansy devoured as much coffee as she could until then. As the coffee brewed, she sat at her desk, opening her notebook with the things she needed to accomplish today. She paused as a photo frame on the edge of her desk caught her eye, a snapshot of the Cauldron Coven before all the craziness ripped them apart. Holding it in her hand, she touched the glass, taking in each individual face: Wanda, who helped her start the coven, Rose, Tansy’s assistant at the store and eager protege, Jayden and Laci Valentine, two sisters who found themselves after being separated so long, Kayla, a lost young woman who discovered friendship in the small group, and Alex, the only male member of the coven. Tansy stood in the middle of them, her arms outstretched as she tried to wrap each of them in her embrace. They were her family, and circumstances now shattered that family, some lost forever, some lost in pain. She had no idea how to heal her little group but knew she needed to do so quickly before she lost them forever. But how could she fix what was so devastatingly broken?

  The jingle of the bell over the front door announced her first customer of the day. She glanced at the coffee still brewing and sighed. Ah, well. With a deep breath, she left the back room and headed for the front. There would be time for coffee later.

  Stepping out into the front of the store, she noticed a short blond woman standing near the front, hands clasped behind her back as she studied the store. “Welcome to The Murky Cauldron, can I help you find something?” Tansy asked the slender woman, if slender was the right word. The young woman seemed thinner than a person should be, as if she had been starved recently or sick, perhaps been a junkie or something even though she didn’t have the shakes or sniffles Tansy had known other regular drug-users to possess. “I don’t think I’ve seen you in here before.”

  The blond woman turned to Tansy, smiling, her eyes lighting up a little more. “Actually, this is my first time,” she said. “Some friends of mine were talking about it the other day, telling me how much they loved it in here.” She tilted her head a little, her eyes narrowing. “They also said you had a small coven that met here once in a while. Is that true?”

  Tansy nodded as she moved over to stand in front of the glass counter. She didn’t want to hide behind it and give the other woman reason to think she was being standoffish. “It is actually, although some of our members have gone through some things lately and are taking a breather. Are you part of a coven here in town?”

  The girl shook her head as she ran a finger in front of the faerie statues along the glass. “No. Actually, I just started exploring.” She turned back to look at Tansy. “I’m fairly new to everything,” she said with a shrug.

  “Have your friends not been teaching you?” Tansy asked as she moved to lean on the rack of shirts in front of the counter. “If they told you about this place, then perhaps they have their own coven? Not that I wouldn’t mind you joining us. It’s just sometimes easier with people you know and with whom you already have a bond.”

  “They’re not genuine witches,” the young woman said, turning to face Tansy, her arms over her chest. “I mean, they don’t really take it seriously, more like it’s a trend right now, and they’re poking fun.” She gave a sheepish shrug. “I kind of wanted to dig deeper, see how much of it was truly real.”

  Tansy smiled, and for the first time in a long time, she felt hope well up within her, drowning out the fear. “Magic is very real,” she assured the other woman. “There is power in everything around us.” As she continued to speak, she gestured around her. “The air, the earth, water, even fire. The elements give us power to strengthen us, fill us with magical energy we can then use for spells and different things.” She nodded, clasping her hands in front of her. “I promise you, it’s all extremely real.”

  The young woman nodded, her lips pressed together as she looked around the store “I kind of hoped you would say that,” she said as she turned back around to face Tansy. “Do you think you’d have room for one more in your coven? I’d love to learn as much as I could from someone who takes magic as seriously as you seem to do.”

  Tansy paused a moment, considering, the hope she felt just a couple of moments ago feeling like a deadweight in the pit of her stomach now. She had lost two of her witches while another two struggled with their own inner demons due to the fact Tansy couldn’t protect them well enough against real threats. Should she even consider bringing this young, vulnerable woman into the coven and perhaps putting her at risk?

  Just then the door opened, the bells jingling overhead drawing their attention as Wanda walked in, a plate of cookies covered in plastic wrap in her hands. “Well, hello there,” she greeted the blond woman. “Hope you are doing well today. Care for a cookie?”

  Tansy chuckled slightly as she shook her head. “This cookie peddler is Wanda Patterson,” she said. “She’s helping me out for a little while instead of traveling the world. She’s also a member of the Cauldron Coven, which meets here once a week.”

  Wanda stood straighter as she beamed. “The first member outside of Tansy herself, actually.” She set the cookies on the counter before walking over and shaking the woman’s hand. “Are you thinking of joining a coven?”

  The woman nodded. “I was just asking this lady if she had room for me.”

  “Oh, for crying out loud, where are my manners,” Tansy said, putting a palm to her forehead. “I’m so sorry.” She reached out to shake the other woman’s hand. “I’m Tansy Paxton, owner of the store as well as leader of the coven.”

  The young woman shook Tansy’s hand, smiling. “No worries. We kind of just started in talking. I’m Regina Hawthorn; pleased to meet you.” She slid her arms back over her chest. “So, do you think you could use a green witch? I’d love to learn if you don’t mind teaching.”

  Tansy was about to turn the girl down when Wanda stepped between them. “Why, teaching is one of Tansy’s best talents,” the older woman said. “Tansy is a patient, knowledgeable witch.” Wanda wrapped an arm around the other girl and turned to face Tansy. “I think it’s a superb idea. Don’t you, Tansy? I’m sure the others would love a fresh face among us.”

  Tansy wasn’t so sure about that, especially with the weird windstorm last night. Things weren’t exactly back to normal, but she knew Wanda believed Tansy needed the distraction. She didn’t, though. She needed her coven back the way it was. However, she kept all those thoughts to herself and smiled as she nodded. “I agree. Welcome to the Murky Cauldron.”

  Ten


  Laci felt her eyes go wide as another bark came from the front yard. What the hell is happening? She could feel terror tremble throughout her body. Why won’t they leave me the hell alone? After all, who else could it be besides the faerie world trying to force her to hang on to her magic? She shot another glance out the kitchen window at the massive dog that just sat there staring back at her, almost as if they saw her, were waiting on her. But for what?

  “I think animal control would have a hard time dealing with this dog—these dogs, if that’s another one out front,” their mother said, tilting her head first one way then another as she studied the dog in her backyard through narrow eyes. “He seems a little…otherworldly, if you know what I mean.” She turned her gaze back to her daughters. “You sure he doesn’t belong to your friends?”

  Good question. “I’ll give Rhychard a call; see what he knows about him,” Laci said, but before she could turn to go grab her phone, a knock came on the front door, bringing her up short.

  “Um, do dogs know how to knock?” Jayden asked, turning and facing the front of the house, her arms down at her sides.

  Laci glanced over, seeing her sister tremble. She should have known Jayden had only been putting up a brave front for Laci and her mother. There was just no way the events of the past month had not had an effect on Jayden like everyone else. Reaching out, Laci placed a hand on Jayden’s arm. “I don’t think so,” she said, forcing a smile on her lips. “I’ll go see who it is.”

  “We’ll all go,” their mother said as she grabbed a clean skillet from the drainboard, gripping it tightly. She glanced at Laci, giving her one curt nod. “Just in case.”

  Laci smiled and inwardly admitted her mother made her feel better just by being there. Turning back toward the front door, Laci led the way to the living room and whoever waited for them. Maybe it was the owner of the dog—or dogs—come to apologize for the animals trampling their yard. Maybe it was a solicitor. Maybe they received a package. Maybe…

  Laci opened the door. Oh, shit. How the hell did he find me here? “Nazareth?” She felt her brows pinch together as she stared at the gray-haired man in disbelief. He should not be here.

  “You know this man?” Jayden asked, not looking at all pleased by Nazareth’s appearance. Laci couldn’t blame her sister. He wore a tattered tweed sport coat with dark brown patches at the elbows, his jeans were faded and frayed at the bottom, and his gray hair was a shaggy mess, always flopping into his deep blue eyes. He looked exactly the same as Laci had seen him the day before at the library.

  Laci sighed. “I don’t exactly know him,” she admitted. “I met him at the library yesterday when I went to ask about getting my G.E.D.”

  Jayden glanced at her sister, brows pinched and her face a mask of agitation. “You told a man you just met…” She glanced back at Nazareth, her face twisting into a scowl. “An old man at that…where you live? Why the hell would you do that?”

  Laci crossed her arms over her chest as she took a deep breath, standing taller as she glared at the man in front of them. “I didn’t, which begs the question, how the hell did you find me?”

  He shrugged, turning, and pointed to the giant mastiff sitting behind him, tongue lolling as the dog stared at Laci. “They found you, actually.” He turned back around to Laci. “I told you, Hekate has touched you, and those she touches are easy for her to find.” He slipped his hands into his front pockets. “I thought after you had a night to sleep on it, you might want to talk a bit more about our conversation from yesterday. It’d probably be good to get some things settled before anything, you know, crazy happens.”

  Laci arched an eyebrow at the scarecrow of a man in front of her, wondering if he referred to the ghost who popped in on her yesterday. “I told you already; I’m not interested in what you’re trying to tell me. Tell this Hekate to find someone else.” She reached for the door, ready to close it. “And tell your dogs not to shit on our lawn.”

  He smirked, glancing behind him at the massive canine sitting there, staring at her. “They’re not my dogs,” he told her with a shrug. “I kind of think they’re yours now. Knowing Hekate, she sent them to you. Probably as guard dogs or for communication or, hell with as big as they are, you could ride them around town.” He shrugged again as he turned back to Laci and the others. “Do what you want with them.” He reached up, scratching his scalp. “Truthfully, I never had a use for them. Kind of hard to conceal, you know? Hard to get around town unnoticed with them tagging along.”

  Laci took a deep breath. “Go away,” she said, gripping the edge of the door and beginning to close it.

  Her mother, however, stopped her. “Laci Valentine, stop being rude.” She turned to the other man, sliding her arms across her chest. “Just why did you find my daughter? What is it you think you need to talk to her about?”

  “Yeah, aren’t you a little old to be tracking down young women?” Jayden asked. “Kind of creepy. You do know no means no, right?”

  “Jayden!” Laci shouted, not believing where her sister took the conversation. “He wasn’t trying to talk me into going out with him.” She rolled her eyes as she turned her attention back to Nazareth, ready to tell him to just go away.

  However, the man already began to answer Laci’s mother. “As I tried to tell Laci yesterday, the goddess, Hekate, has touched her, touched her long ago, actually. Say, about a month ago, I would believe if my timetable is right. Not that it matters. I’m here to help her understand her powers before they overwhelm her. Some have been known to go,” he twirled his index finger in a circle beside his ear, “kind of bonkers, if you catch my drift.” He slid his hand back in his pocket. “And I don’t think we want that to happen to Laci.”

  “Her powers?” Jayden asked as she glanced over at Laci. “You have new powers you didn’t tell me about? That’s kind of rude.”

  Once again, Laci rolled her eyes. “I don’t have new powers. Nazareth thinks I’m a necromancer, someone who can talk to the dead and see ghosts.”

  “Oh, dearie, there’s more to it than that. Much more.” Nazareth scratched at his head again. “You communicate to the dead, true enough, but you can also bring them back long enough to talk to them, you can recognize them, travel to the Summerlands, or even other realms of the dead.”

  Jayden cocked her head as she stared at the man. “There are other realms for the dead?”

  Nazareth arched an eyebrow at her. “Really? You’ve never heard of Hades? Hell? Heaven?” He shook his head. “There are plenty of places that involve the dead, but what’s more, there are other beings besides ghosts who are, actually, dead. Demons. Poltergeists. Dybbuks. Just to name a few. Your sister has power over them to a certain degree, but if she doesn’t get a grip on her powers, they could overpower her, take her over. For some of them, that’s their whole plan, possess a necromancer. Then they can use your power to hurt others, opening the doors to realms that should never be opened.”

  “Like the Nether?” Laci asked, her heart wincing a little as she remembered how Alex and Rose sacrificed their next journey in life to heal the barrier of the Nether, keeping the worst of the Unseelie trapped inside. “That’s been repaired. No one can get out of there again.”

  He waved off her words. “I know you’ve been heavily involved with the faerie world, but there are more realms than just those. Lots more. Besides, you can be a great help to the citizens of Harbor City once you learn how to use your powers.”

  Laci shook her head. “There are others who can protect this city much better than I can. I suggest you go see them.” She turned and walked back to the kitchen. “I’m not interested.”

  She wasn’t sure why the man was so adamant about her doing whatever this Hekate wanted her to do, but she was not surrendering to the course she decided—no magic, no powers, no matter what. She slid back into her chair, picking up her fork and scooping up some of her mom’s waffles. The beach was looking better and better. As she shoved the food into her mouth, she heard the fr
ont door close as the dog in the back howled again, sending a shiver up her spine. They could stay out there all they wanted; she had no intention of giving in to what they wanted of her.

  She heard the others walk into the kitchen and lifted her head to apologize, but stopped as she saw Nazareth standing there, hands in his pockets as he gave her a sheepish smile.

  “How do you like your coffee?” Laci’s mother asked as she crossed the floor to the counter on the other side of the room. “Would you like some waffles?”

  Oh great. Laci sighed as she dropped her fork onto her plate, her appetite gone.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  Wanda poured each of them a cup of orange spice tea as they sat around the table in the back room. The bell over the door would alert them to anyone coming into the store. Right now, Tansy knew sitting there talking with Regina was the most important thing she could do; Tansy needed to talk to her, prepare her for what it meant to be a witch, to practice magic and everything that witchcraft would require of her. Tansy glanced down at Regina’s arm, sighing, worried the young woman wouldn’t have it in her. “Regina, magic isn’t something for people who aren’t planning on taking it seriously,” Tansy said as she held her teacup up by her fingertips. “It requires a lot from us in order to access the power of the elements around us. You’ll need to exercise and try to maintain a healthy diet. Do you think that’s something you’d be able to do?”

  Regina shrugged her thin shoulders. “I have a workout routine I try to follow, and I eat about as healthy as others.” She lifted her cup to her lips, taking a sip as she stared at Tansy over the rim.

  Tansy nodded as she stared back at the younger woman, deciding how best to broach the subject of the track marks on Regina’s arms. Drugs would hinder the girl’s connection to the elements, and she needed the elements to perform her magic, any magic. Tansy took a small breath, then a sip of her tea before setting the teacup back on the table. Well, I guess we see if she means what she says. Tansy ran her tongue over her lips, stalling for a moment, bracing for the confrontation she feared waited for her. With another deep breath, she dug in, asking the question she knew she needed to ask. “Regina, I’ve noticed your arms, the needle marks.” She pressed her lips into a thin line as she shook her head. “Drugs will block your power.”