Cassie (The Coven's Grove Chronicles #3)

by Virginia Hunter

  “Part of the job,” Brody replied. “I’ve built four of them already, while doing touch up work on this monstrosity.” He waved his hand at the great room. “If I’m here all the time, then it’ll get finished that much sooner. And she can keep an eye on me.”

  Cassie held her breath, hoping Brody’s offer and her threat were enough.

  Miranda eyed the two of them. “I accept your terms.” She pointed at Brody. “You stay, starting immediately. And you”—she pointed at Cassie—“will join the coven with Alix this spring.”

  She sighed in relief, and looked over at Brody. “I’m good with that.”

  He nodded, “Me too.”

  “I’ll take that drink now,” Caleb said. His heart rate had dropped back to normal.

  Alix pulled a couple bottles of wine from the handcrafted wrack on the back wall. “Let’s celebrate!”

  Hannah, Rhea, and Dominic, came back to find wine and high spirits waiting for them. Cassie couldn’t have been more pleased with the outcome. Finally she would get a chance to figure out what her power was about, and possibly make an actual home out of this place. But there was still one thing looming over her head. As the drinking continued and conversations deepened, Cassie pulled Miranda off to the side. “Can we talk? In private?”

  Miranda nodded. “I’m going to show Cassie my study,” she announced to those that listened.

  Caleb looked at Cassie with a touch of concern. She gave him a smile, signaling that everything was okay. Miranda led her down a hallway just off the great room, and into her study. It was essentially a library, which Cassie had never really had any use for. It was nice, just not her thing. Miranda offered her a seat next to the massive stone hearth on the far wall.

  “Would you like something else to drink?” Miranda asked.

  “No, I’m fine,” Cassie answered. She wasn’t sure how or where to start, especially since what she wanted to say might ruin her chances of joining the coven.

  “We don’t have to do this now,” Miranda said, breaking the lengthening silence.

  “Yeah, yeah we do,” she replied. “My past isn’t so great. There are some things you need to know before you decide if you want me in your coven.”

  “I’m listening.”

  This isn’t getting any easier. She shifted in her chair. “I have a warrant out for me in Canada.” She hadn’t realize how hard it was going to be for her to say the next part. She’d lived with the mistake for so long, that she’d shielded herself from it. Hidden her emotions away in the dark where they wouldn’t be seen or felt. Tears blurred her vision as she spoke in a rush. “I killed someone when I was seventeen.” The building tears overflowed, and ran down her cheeks. “I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean to kill him.”

  Miranda came out of her chair, and knelt in front of Cassie. She brushed the hair out of her face, and gently wiped her cheek with a soft thumb. “Horrible things have happened to all of us, dear. Do not fear the past, it will not affect your future here.” Her warm smile was comforting and knowing. “We will talk more on this, but for now be at ease. You will join the coven.”

  Cassie couldn’t help from hugging the woman. She wept on the matriarch’s shoulder like a child needing a mother’s reassurance. For the better part of five years she had been without guidance or direction, and now she had found a pillar of strength to cling to; someone to help her understand the mysteries she couldn’t unravel herself. A protector that would not abandon her, and a sisterhood that she could call family.

  The sky was filled with that wondrous magenta that didn’t seem natural. The color transformed into burnt orange the closer it came to the setting sun, and dark blue farther up toward the rising moon. There was a slight breeze drifting through the maze of giant trees. The air cooled the beaded sweat on Cassie’s skin. It was the perfect evening to start her new life, and become part of a sisterhood she knew to be true.

  Two months had gone by in a flash. She’d been instrumental in helping Brody with the construction of the new cottages. Her strength had done away with the need for a crane. She’d been able to set massive beams where Brody had directed. The boys had pitched in too, but only with the little stuff. The other witches visited periodically to lend a hand, and provide moral support. Cassie looked forward to Hannah’s visits the most because of the wonderful dishes she would bring for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The woman was a master chef as far as Cassie was concerned. Her ability in the kitchen alone was reason enough to join the coven.

  The days had been filled with hard, fulfilling work. The cottage they had recently completed was built into the side of a hill, and was two stories with decks on both levels. The lower level veranda wrapped around three sides of the structure, while the smaller, second catwalk, adorned only the front. Rustic pine and stone covered the exterior, with tall windows to let in plenty of light. The roof was actually an extension of the grassy hill it was built into. She would have been more than happy to live in such a place, and felt a strong sense of pride at its completion.

  Currently, she stood in the small glade that had been the backdrop of her dreams as of late. There was little difference between what she saw now, and the visions she’d had. A low-hanging mist drifted out from the surrounding forest onto the grassy clearing like a billowy blanket. The air was warm, and filled with the scent of redwood and fern. She expected to see fairies and mystical beings tromp out of the woods at any second.

  The stone and wood dais, located between two adjoining streams, pulsed with energy and power. It looked just as it had in Cassie’s dreams. Carved runes along the sides of the stone block glowed with golden light, releasing bright sparkles into the evening air. The wooden base, made up of living roots from the surrounding trees, twisted with life, slowly rotating the altar in a continuous circle.

  Miranda stood next to the dais, dressed in a gown so sheer, she might as well have not been wearing anything at all. The other witches, including Cassie herself, wore a similar scant outfit. Made from some metallic material, the sheer gowns reflected the golden glow of the altar. Miranda and the others looked like angels arranged in a tight circle of power.

  Cassie was glad Caleb hadn’t been allowed to see her in the costume. If he had, she never would have made it to the ritual on time. Since moving into the cottage, Caleb had been relentless in his desire for her. Not that she had a problem with that by any means. She had taken advantage of him on multiple occasions to fulfill her own desires, but the ever present hunger for each other did pose issues for maintaining a schedule.

  Miranda’s enchanting voice interrupted her thoughts. Hannah and Rhea stood to either side of the matriarch, joining her in harmony. The song they sang was soothing, and filled with words Cassie didn’t understand. She’d been told the chants were ancient and powerful rites of passage, but couldn’t say one way or the other.

  The glowing runes on the dais pulsed brighter. Droplets of light fell to the ground, creating a carpet of gleaming sparkles. While at the same time, a smaller number drifted into the air on currents of heat.

  Cassie had to squint against the brilliance, but managed to keep her eyes open. She and Alix held hands on the other side of the altar. The purple-haired woman’s anticipation was evident in the vice-like grip she had on Cassie’s hand. Cassie was having trouble managing her own excitement, as she waited for the que to recite the words she and Alix had spent the last few months memorizing. A spell. Something Cassie had never done before. She knew of and had used her innate power. But performing a magic spell in the traditional sense was something she hadn’t even know was possible before coming to Coven’s Grove, and now she found herself on the verge of casting her first one.

  The three women in front of her continued their song, getting louder with each repetition. The rotating stone finally became so bright, that Cassie had to close her eyes. Grass tickled her feet, as power surged up from the earth into her body. The transference of power was akin to when they had banished the demon. The five of them s
hared themselves with each other, and became stronger for it.

  The light suddenly dulled, and Cassie opened her eyes. The once marbled stone of the dais had become a glittering block of amber. Within its transparent walls, spun a cyclone of golden mist, littered with shards of ethereal light. It called to her. The magic called to her.

  It was the signal she’d been waiting for.

  Cassie squeezed Alix’s hand, and together they began to chant the words that would make them sisters, and part of a family, that would protect each other to the end.

  I shed my old life

  And say goodbye to my old self

  To be renewed

  A witch reborn

  Walking with sisters

  Hand in hand

  And side by side

  Fighting all evil we may find.

  By the end Cassie gasped for breath, power still spewing from her lips. Miranda, Hannah, and Rhea, continued to sing, though Cassie could no longer hear them. A low thrum shook the ground, filling her ears. Rhea stepped forward and took Cassie’s other hand, while Hannah did the same with Alix. The circle joined, it was time for the last of the spell to be recited. All five of them chanted the next words in unison.

  Old powers forgotten will survive

  As the old way foretells

  No longer wandering in solitude

  This coven is our stewardship

  The ways of evil we will always hinder

  The old ways we understand

  This coven, its powers solidified

  Evil defeated when we are combined.

  A wave of sound akin to a sonic boom rocked against Cassie, knocking her backward. The blanket of mist that surrounded them rolled back into the woods. The steely grasp of her sisters was the only thing that prevented her from falling flat on her ass. The others wobbled in place, but the circle remained closed. Remnants of magical power rippled through her like the aftershocks of an intense orgasm.

  Miranda steady herself. Her gaze drifted to each of the women in the circle, and then settled on Cassie and Alix. When she spoke, her voice was a hoarse whisper. “Welcome sisters.”

  Alix whooped and hopped around, despite the exhaustion she must have felt.

  A smile spread across Cassie’s face. She’d never been happier, even during her childhood. The acceptance and knowledge she’d found here was beyond anything she could have ever imagined. She still cherished those memories when her father had been alive, but now, she’d finally found something to strive toward. She’d found people with whom she could share her life with. She’d finally found a home of her own.

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  Book Four: Paige

  Chapter 1

  “This is stupid!” the blond-haired, blue-eyed boy whined at his parents.

  Great, Paige thought. Another spoiled brat.

  “I wanna go back to the hotel!” Blond Boy demanded.

  “Now Billy, we told you we’d go back once the tour was finished,” his mother said in a calming tone. Her gaze darted around at the crowd of people. The herd moved past them as they continued their way through the tour. A few sneers touched the pair, but no one said anything. “It’ll be just a bit longer, then we’ll go,” Billy’s mother continued. The boy’s father appeared completely uninterested in the little tantrum his son was starting, and moved on with the rest of the crowd.

  Dick.

  As the group’s tour guide, Paige couldn’t leave anyone behind. It was against policy, liability issues, and all that other crap. It was times like this that she really didn’t like her job, which sucked, because most of the time, she really liked her job. Especially this time of year. October brought out all the weirdos and fun people that she loved to meet. From the vampire worshipers to the Cthulhu enthusiasts, these groups were a truckload of freak sauce, which made her feel like she actually fit in.

  Every now and then there was one person that spoiled it for the rest. This time, it happened to be little Billy. It wasn’t really his fault. He was like, six years old or something; too young to be left alone, but not old enough to appreciate the historical spookiness around him. That didn’t make the situation any less annoying.

  Billy stomped his feet. “I wanna go, now!”

  Paige rolled her eyes. Oh, hell. This was going to turn into a full on whine-fest that she didn’t have time for. The rest of the group was trucking down the block toward the cemetery without them. She scanned the cobblestone street. People from all over the country littered the sidewalks in their Halloween costumes. Salem was a popular place this time of year, so there was no lack of variety or number. The shops were decked to the nines in fear-gear and creepy decorations. Life-sized witches greeted customers at every storefront with a screeching cackle, while black cats arched their backs in wide-eyed stances of fright. Bales of hay and stalks of corn were around every light post along the main streets, softening the otherwise dark atmosphere. October was Salem’s month, and shop owners did their best to capitalize on the short window of opportunity and popularity. Halloween ambiance wasn’t what Paige was looking for however. She needed to find incentive for little Billy to get a move on. Fortunately, across the worn cobbled street, next to Faust and Fun, she found it.

  An old spirit by the name of Maggie Narwee hopped in place next one of the streetlights, giddy with excitement as she watched the flocks of children waddle by. Pink rollers hung askew around her shoulders, tangled within her disheveled gray hair. The hairstyle matched her patchworked sweater and faded black skirt, as well as the old, wingtip pumps on her feet. She had always been a pleasant and cheerful ghost. A kindly grandmother type, or what Paige assumed a kindly grandmother would be like. She hadn’t known any of her grandparents, so she could only assume.

  Paige focused her thoughts as her hand subconsciously ran across the coolness of her blue flash moonstone necklace. The stone was a large oval encased in many tangling strands of silver. One of a kind...apparently just like her. She walked up to the wispy, old spirit and whispered, “Hello, Maggie.”

  Maggie looked up and spun around in a circle. “The pretty blond girl speaks to me, so I shall listen.” Her clunky shoes left the ground as she hovered a few inches off of the sidewalk, and then floated across the street.

  “I need your help, Maggie.” Paige glanced at Billy and his flustered mother. “Billy needs to keep up with the group. Do you think you can help him?” She had learned that when talking with spirits it was best to ask, not demand assistance.

  “What an adorable little boy,” Maggie said. She drifted over to him, clasping her hands together in delight. She settled next to Billy, opposite his mother.

  “I hate this place!” the blonde boy screamed. His mother continued her attempts to calm him, but to no avail. Promises of ice cream, toys, and a movie did nothing. The woman was doomed.

  “Why so upset?” Maggie pouted. She tapped the end of Billy’s nose with the tip of her finger. A powdery cloud of greenish mist encased the boy’s face and head. He blinked away the fairy dust, then opened his eyes wide in surprise at seeing the old ghost floating next to him. Maggie signaled for him to follow as she drifted away in the direction of the tour.

  Paige breathed a sigh of relief. You’re a lifesaver, Maggie. She quickly walked up to Billy’s mother who stood, mouth agape, staring at her child as he skipped happily toward the rest of the group. “Mam, are you okay?”

  The woman snapped out of her stunned silence, and looked at Paige with a touch of disbelief still in her eyes. “I’m fine, thank you.” She hurried after her son.

  Paige followed close behind the lagging pair. She smiled. Being a medium came in handy on occasion. After she’d gotten use to the initial shock o
f being able to see and talk with spirits, Paige had put the ability to good use and honed her skill over the years of constant practice. Necropolis by Night had made it all possible. For the most part anyway. The company gave tours at night; walking the significant historical areas of the witch trials Salem was famous for. The exposure to such a strong spiritual presence had opened the door to her learning and experimentation with the denizens of the afterlife. Even in the off season at the museum where she worked, spirits would linger, giving her plenty of subjects to converse with.

  Her “ability” gave her an edge over the other tour guides as well. Most of them dressed up like old-time Quakers, and even went as far as to act out some of the witch trials, with actresses hired to play the role of the condemned. A lot of the tourists got into that sort of thing, but deep down, they all hoped to see something that would be impossible to explain. They wanted to see or feel something Paige could provide. They all wanted a taste of the supernatural, and she was about to give this group a mouthful.

  The Burying Point cemetery her group had gathered near was the finale of her tour. There were always spirits hovering among the maze of tombstones and twisted trees, and most of them tended to be on the grouchy side. Paige never wanted any of her clients getting hurt, so she avoid angry spirits, but the pranksters and obnoxious ones did the trick every time.

  Paige made her way to the front of the group, stepping over the low, stone wall that ran along the property’s entire perimeter. She was pleased to see that a healthy fog had settled on the grass, giving the place that traditional eerie ambiance. “This is the last part of our tour, and definitely the best. If you’ll look over my shoulder...” Paige continued her rehearsed dialogue as she scanned the cemetery for her spectral friends. There were quite few of them out and about this evening, which was good, but she was looking for one in particular. He was a tall drip of a guy that called himself “The Duck”. Why he’d chosen that name Paige had no idea, but his easy manner and mischievous nature were the perfect fit for tonight’s climax. His outward appearance was like any average twenty-something, with brown hair that was parted to the side. The dark suit and tie he’d been buried in didn’t really match his easy going personality. It was as if his parents had been trying to make a good last impression. Jeans and a t-shirt would have been more fitting.