Witchin' Around the Clock

by Amanda M. Lee

  “For tonight,” I agreed. “As for tomorrow ... well, that’s a new day.”

  “Ugh.” He dropped his head and stared at the table. “This is what I get for falling in love with a mouthy woman who has her own ideas. I just ... why can’t you ever do things my way?”

  “I do. I just can’t this time. We’re in this. But for tonight we’ll leave it alone. Besides, I need to research relics before I decide on my next move. That’ll take time.”

  He grabbed my half-eaten ice cream and started shoveling it in his mouth. “You make me tired, Bay.”

  “I know, but I’m worth it.”

  “You still drive me crazy.”

  “Just think how boring your life would be if I didn’t.”

  Twenty

  I conducted research all afternoon. The information on relics was interesting ... and yet limited.

  “They’re definitely harbingers,” I noted as I stretched my arms over my head. I sat on the couch in Hypnotic and I hadn’t moved for hours. “But they’re more than that. Supposedly the individual calling to them can invade the animals with a sliver of human soul. That’s what makes them malevolent.”

  “Really?” Clove made a face. “I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “How does it work?” Thistle asked. “Doesn’t the witch in question have to fracture her soul to carry out something like that?”

  “Pretty much.” That had been the part bothering me, too. “That’s why only dark witches can do it.”

  “Well, that’s awesome.” Thistle’s distaste was evident. “And here we thought the worst thing we would have to worry about was a killer with sexual motivations.”

  I frowned. “How do you figure that?”

  “Well, our suspects are a wife who was thrown over for another woman, the other woman who couldn’t get the man she was in love with to divorce his wife, and the wife’s boyfriend, who wants to keep his sexual involvement with a married woman on the down low. Those are all sexual motivations.”

  Huh. I hadn’t really thought of it that way. She was right, though. “Well ... I need to think about that. Birds aren’t known for being sexual. They externally fertilize eggs.”

  “True, but certain birds — like peacocks, for example — preen and present themselves to garner favor from the opposite sex.”

  “That’s a male thing.”

  “And warlocks exist. We haven’t crossed paths with many of them, but they’re real.”

  “I guess. I ... .” Wind chimes over the door sounded to alert us to the presence of customers.

  “Oh, no,” Clove fretted as she stood. “I should’ve locked the door sooner. If we don’t leave in the next five minutes we’ll be late.”

  “You’re already technically late,” Mom drawled from the doorway, catching me by surprise. She was dressed in a purple robe rich in color and a little frayed around the hem. It looked old, which was probably because it was practically ancient … at least by our standards. I hadn’t seen her dust it off in more than a decade. Behind her, Twila and Marnie wore identical robes. “Why are you guys still loafing around? The ritual starts in twenty minutes.”

  I was beyond confused. “Why are you guys in town?” It’s not like they never came to town. They attended festivals and enjoyed the occasional gossip fest at the coffee shop. They stocked up at the store at least once a week. At this time of day, though, they were normally knee deep in dinner preparations. It was odd for them to change their schedule.

  “We’re here for the ritual,” Mom replied, her eyes flashing. “Have you suddenly gone deaf?”

  “But ... .” I shifted my eyes to Thistle. “I thought you said the ritual was on the bluff tonight.”

  “That’s what I was told,” she replied with a shrug.

  “The ritual was scheduled for the bluff,” Mom agreed. “After Hazel visited, however, she agreed that the magic out there was already primed and it was unnecessary to mess with the energy. She decided to move the ritual to the town square because she believes Hemlock Cove is inundated with negative energy right now.”

  Oh, well, that was interesting. The fact that Hazel had picked up on that made me realize that she was an untapped resource. As much as I disliked her, as nervous as she made me feel, she was a fountain of witchy information. “That sounds good.” I stood with determination. “I just need to tell Landon I won’t be going with him. I don’t want him looking for me.”

  “Landon is already out there,” Mom countered. “Hazel is showing him around and explaining things.”

  I was definitely out of the loop on this one. “Oh, well ... .” I caught Thistle’s cloudy gaze. She was obviously as confused as me. “Then I guess we should head out for the ritual.”

  “We don’t have to wear those ugly robes, do we?” Clove asked, wrinkling her nose. “I just mean ... the color isn’t flattering and they’re kind of shapeless.”

  Mom rolled her eyes. “The robes are for those already inducted into the coven. Things broke apart before you guys reached the age of maturity. You don’t get the robes unless you officially join the coven.”

  “Which we have no intention of doing,” Thistle mused. “Great. We’re excited for the ritual ... and the fact that the food trucks will be close if we get bored. This really is the best of both worlds.”

  “We’re expected to fast through the night,” Twila argued. “That makes the solstice celebration pure.”

  “It also makes us hungry,” Clove complained. “I can’t fast for the next twenty-four hours. That’s cruel and unusual punishment. I’m nourishing a human being here.” She gestured toward her stomach. “I can’t go without dinner.”

  “And we’re standing in solidarity with Clove,” Thistle added. “We can’t go without dinner either.”

  As ridiculous as I found the argument, there was no way I was joining the fasting witches. “Yeah. I think we’re going to watch and enjoy the ritual, and then eat a healthy dinner with our significant others.”

  “Do what you want.” Mom’s tone was airy. “If you don’t want to take this seriously, you’re not required to join in the fasting. After all, you’re not full coven members. It’s not required.”

  I could tell she was disappointed, but there was nothing I could do about that. Going without food wasn’t an option. I couldn’t help thinking they were to blame for our gluttonous behavior. If they weren’t such good cooks we wouldn’t be so food-oriented.

  “Great.” I forced a smile for her benefit. “Let’s ritual the night away.”

  Thistle waited until Mom and the aunts disappeared through the door. “That was the geekiest thing you’ve ever said.”

  “I heard it the second I said it.”

  THE TOWN SQUARE WAS DECKED OUT WITH twinkle lights and small candles. They’d been placed along the ground, in the shape of a pentagram, and glinted against the dimming light in a fantastical way. Honestly, it was breathtaking.

  “Do you think I’ll get in trouble if I have a snack before we get started?” Clove asked, rubbing her stomach. “The baby is hungry.”

  “That baby is going to turn out to be a convenient excuse,” Thistle noted. “You’ll be able to eat whatever you want for the next few months and no one will be able to say a thing about it.”

  “That means we can eat whatever we want, too,” I noted. “I mean ... Clove is forcing us to bend to her emotions.”

  Thistle brightened considerably. “Now that right there is genius thinking. Why wasn’t your brain firing on all cylinders like this earlier?”

  That was a good question. I had another. “None of them know about the other new development,” I offered. “They don’t know that Clove is controlling us with her emotions … at least sometimes.”

  “It’s probably best they don’t know that,” Thistle argued. “If Aunt Tillie finds out our link is so strong — and thus our individual minds so weak — that we’re allowing her to influence us, then she’s going to melt down.”

  “True story.” I heave
d out a sigh. “Let’s try to keep this particular secret to ourselves for the foreseeable future, huh? I think that will be best for everybody.”

  “I can get behind that.”

  We split up to find our respective significant others. Sam was stress eating at the bacon truck with Landon. With the wedding arriving the following day, nerves were apparently getting the better of him. I couldn’t blame him. Landon didn’t even have that excuse and he was shoveling it in.

  “Hello, Bay.” His tone was cool as he regarded me. “How was the rest of your afternoon?”

  I knew exactly what he was asking and I didn’t like it. “Fine. How was your afternoon?”

  “Productive.”

  “Really?” Hope surged in my chest. “What did you find? Do you have enough to arrest Lorna?”

  He slanted his eyes in my direction. “I’m afraid that I can’t talk about an ongoing investigation with a civilian. I don’t make the rules, but I do have to follow them.”

  Oh, well, now he was just punishing me. “Fine.” I turned to storm off but he caught my arm. “I’m not in the mood to fight with you right now,” I warned. “I get that you’re angry, but you can’t be mean just for the sake of being mean.”

  “I’m not being mean.” His tone softened. “Dammit, Bay, I love you. Do you not understand why I’m upset? For crying out loud, you could’ve been killed. You could’ve been caught and then I would’ve been forced to arrest you. Do you have any idea how hard that would be?”

  “It wouldn’t exactly be a picnic by the lake for me either. I did what I had to do. I can’t take it back ... and I wouldn’t. Adam is out there now, and he’s free. I’m hoping when he regroups that he’ll be able to find me. If he does, we’ll have the answers we need. Isn’t that the important thing?”

  “You’re the important thing,” he countered. “This is the most important thing.” He collected my hand and pressed it to his chest. “Don’t you understand that I can’t make it without you? I believe in your autonomy. I want you to be who you are. Fear is a funny thing, though. It doesn’t care about being rational.”

  He was so open, so earnest, that I couldn’t help taking pity on him. “I’m sorry.” Despite my earlier words, I meant it. “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I never want that. I just ... I had to know. I figured that Lorna being with you gave me an opening. We were supposed to get in and out. Dani coming home was a surprise.”

  “That wasn’t a true apology,” he countered.

  “That’s because I’m not sorry for doing what I did. I am sorry for causing you to worry ... and I admit I could’ve thought things out better. I am sorry about that.”

  “Ugh.” He groaned and rolled his eyes. “You are so much work. I should stay angry at you just for the sake of being right. That’s the Winchester way, after all.”

  I grinned and leaned closer. “I’ll wow you tonight with the bacon negligee I bought and was keeping for a special occasion if you promise to let this go.”

  He straightened, surprise flitting across his handsome features. “Bacon negligee? Does that mean you look like a slice of bacon?”

  “Yes.”

  “That shouldn’t be hot, but what I’m picturing in my head is hot.”

  Somehow I knew he would say that. I leaned close and lowered my voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “I probably shouldn’t tell you this because you might get over-excited, but it’s also scented.”

  “Does that mean you’re going to smell like bacon?” He practically had little hearts dancing in his eyes.

  “Yes ... and it’s the best of both worlds, because unlike Aunt Tillie’s curse, I can take the nightgown on and off.”

  “You’re the only one who ever wants the bacon smell to go away.” He slid his arms around my waist and tugged me close. “Fine. I declare this fight over. I don’t want you to think I’m calling it off because of the bacon negligee, though.”

  “Why are you doing it?”

  “Because I honestly don’t want you to change. It’s just ... there are times I’m afraid, Bay.” He rested his cheek against my forehead. “Somehow you’ve become my life. Your family has become my family. Your happiness and safety is more important than anything else.

  “I get that you’re brave ... and your powers are expanding ... and you come from a bold line of empowered women who don’t believe anyone should be able to tell them what to do,” he continued. “When we have a daughter of our own, I want her to be just like you ... other than the constantly finding danger thing. That freaks me out.”

  “You’re not going to be a helicopter parent, are you?”

  “I don’t know what that is, but I’m guessing no. But if it’s something I find cool, I reserve the right to change my mind.”

  I smiled into his shoulder. “I am sorry about making you worry.” I meant it with my whole heart. “I didn’t think things would go the way they went.”

  “You never do.”

  “Can we just put this behind us for now? I need to focus on this ritual. Supposedly it’s going to be a big deal.”

  “We can let it go ... for now.”

  “Great.” I pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “Are you going to meet me at home or what?”

  He pulled back, his eyebrows drawn. “Why would I meet you at home?”

  I was taken aback. “You’re staying?”

  “Yeah. I want to see what all the hoopla is about.”

  “But ... it’s a bunch of witches. We’re just going to be chanting and calling to the four corners. It’s nothing you haven’t seen.”

  “Maybe, but I still want to be a part of it. This life is our destiny, Bay. Any children we have — whether it’s one or ten — will have one foot in the magic world. I need to understand everything I can, and not just for them, but for you, too.”

  “You’ve been talking about children a lot lately,” I said. “It makes me kind of nervous. I don’t think we’re ready for that step.”

  “We’re not,” he agreed without hesitation. “It’s a natural progression, though. We’ll get there eventually. As for mentioning it ... I guess I’ve got it on my mind. Ever since Aunt Tillie sent us to the future and we saw those kids ... .” He left it hanging.

  “Those kids weren’t our kids,” I cautioned him. “They were figments of Aunt Tillie’s imagination. What we saw wasn’t real.”

  “I know.” He said the words, but I wasn’t sure I believed them. “First, I would never name one of our children Sumac.”

  He laughed at my serious expression. “I’m not attached to that part. I wasn’t even attached to that girl. It was the one in the field.” He turned serious. “I know I shouldn’t get attached, but I can’t stop myself. I liked her ... and she was this perfect little mix of you and me.

  “Even if we don’t get that exact girl, it doesn’t matter,” he continued. “We’ll get another just like her. I want to understand the world she comes from. I don’t think that’s unreasonable.”

  “It’s not. I just didn’t realize you were interested. You try to avoid the bluff rituals as often as possible.”

  “That’s because those rituals turn into drunken revelries of nakedness ... and you’re never the naked one.”

  His dour response caused my grin to widen. “I want you to be involved. I do. You’ve earned it.”

  “We’ve earned it,” he corrected, cupping the back of my head. “I know we’ve only been together about a year and a half, but the time has flown. It’s been wonderful, and I want more.

  “Going forward, it’s going to happen just as fast,” he continued. “We have a lifetime in front of us, but it’s going to feel as if it passes in minutes. I don’t want to miss anything ... and I definitely don’t want you risking yourself and cutting that time even shorter.”

  “That’s fair. I don’t want anything to happen to you either. But you’re an FBI agent and danger comes with the territory. I took that on when I took you on. You have to do the same for me. When you came back, you sai
d that you were in it for the long haul and that you were fine with the witch stuff. You can’t go back on your word.”

  “I have no intention of going back on my word.” He captured my lips and gave me a lingering kiss. “We’ll work this out. We always do. I don’t want you to worry ... and I’m sorry about being snarky earlier. That wasn’t fair.”

  “Snark is the name of the game in the Winchester world.”

  “Yeah, well ... we’re fine. I’m not even angry any longer. I just want to watch the ritual and then eat my weight in bacon..”

  “I think that can be arranged.”

  “Yeah, well ... .” He trailed off, turning his head to the left. “It got really quiet.”

  I didn’t realize until he pointed it out that I was thinking the same thing. When I turned to the square, I found a multitude of eyes focused on us. Mom looked disgusted. Aunt Tillie looked amused from her spot behind Mom ... so that, at least, was something.

  “If you’re ready,” Hazel intoned. “We’re about to begin.”

  “Sure.” I rapidly separated from Landon. “We’re definitely ready. We’re looking forward to it.”

  “Totally,” Landon echoed. “I love a good ritual. As long as you all don’t get naked I think it’ll be a great night.”

  The gazes darkened as Landon shrank next to me. “That probably wasn’t a smart thing to say,” he murmured.

  Aunt Tillie responded before I could, shooting her thumb in the air and doing a little dance. “Way to go, Landon. Every time I think I’m going to ruin an event, I know I can always count on you to make me look good.”

  I pursed my lips and slid him a sidelong look. “It’s fine.”

  “Let’s hope so. Now I feel as if they’re the birds and I’m on the dinner menu.”

  Twenty-One

  Hazel strode to the center of the square, her robe a shiny silver and gleaming against the lights as she took her spot.

  Aunt Tillie bitterly complained the entire time. “Do you know who wears robes? Cults. She’s trying to build a cult and I’m the only one who sees it.”