“I love you too, David,” she said, looking up at him and smiling.
They fell asleep wrapped in each other’s arms under the light of the full moon, each more content than they’d ever been. Both knew that when the sun rose in the morning, the world would still be there, the doorway still waiting in the forest, Molly still trapped in limbo to protect them from the evil lurking inside.
But they also knew that these precious stolen hours belonged to them; the rest of it could wait; it was important for them to take what life had given them and use it to give them strength. As he fell asleep, David thought about how much his life had changed, how doing a favor for Sophie had given him the most precious gift he’d ever been given.
Chapter Nineteen
***Michelle***
The next morning when the sun came up over the mountains to light up the little valley, Michelle and David were still wrapped in each other’s arms snug and warm under the blanket. Michelle opened her eyes slowly, savoring the feeling of waking up in David’s arms again, and promised herself that they’d never be separated again.
She looked up at David, who looked like he was still sleeping, but she could tell by his breathing that he was awake. But that didn’t stop her from silently examining his face, memorizing every line and curve until she could see his face in her mind with her eyes closed.
He stirred, opened his eyes, then looked at her. “You’ve been studying me for so long I’m beginning to think that you found something wrong,” he said.
She sighed. “What could be wrong with waking up in your arms here?” she asked, grinning up at him.
“Not a thing if you ask me,” he said, then rolled her onto her back and looked down at her. “Well, actually I can think of one thing that might be better.”
When his hand slid down between her legs, she giggled. “Okay that might be better,” she said.
When they finally managed to get out of the bed so Michelle could send it back where it came from, they both knew that their respite from the serious situation they were in was over. Silently, they walked hand and hand back through the forest to the cabin where Sally was waiting on the porch for them.
“I thought you two were going to sleep all day,” she said, then cackled and slapped her knee. “Sometimes I wish I was young again, that I could feel the magic of young love once more before I die. Enjoy it while you can.”
David looked down at Michelle and smiled. “I have every intention of doing that,” he said, making her blush.
Michelle let go of his hand, walked over to Sally, and sat down beside her. “Thank you for everything Sally,” she said knowing she’d understand just what she meant.
Sally waved her hand in the air. “It was nothing; you did all the work. Does this mean that it’s done?”
Michelle nodded and looked over at David. “I didn’t even have to force him,” she said, grinning at him.
“Good, now maybe you can concentrate on closing that doorway,” she said, getting to her feet. “I have a few more things I want to show you, but then our time together is over.”
Michelle watched her walk into the cabin, then got up and followed her. “What do you mean? Aren’t you coming with me? I thought... I mean you said...”
Sally shook her head. “My days of coming down off this mountain are over, but you don’t need me, Michelle. You’ll have the help of the coven, and your magic is strong; follow your instincts and you will triumph over the evil that lurks at the gravesite.”
Michelle sat down heavily on a chair; she’d been so sure that Sally would be there to guide her that night. As strong as she felt, leaving Sally behind made her nervous, made her question if she was ready or not.
“Stop that fussing and get over here; there are a few more spells I want to show you, and if I touch the book, it shocks me,” Sally said, her voice gruff to cover her emotions.
An hour later, she heard Sophie’s truck come up the dirt road, and she knew that her time with Sally was over, that she was as ready as she was ever going to be. It was up to fate now, up to the good in the universe and her magic to rid Swensen’s Mountain of the evil that had plagued it for decades.
Sally refused to say goodbye. Instead she said, “I expect to see you back up here soon. I’ve taught you a lot this week, but you still have a lot to learn.”
Michelle nodded, hoping that she’d live to see Sally again. “I’ll come back as soon as I can,” she said, then turned and walked out of the cabin, refusing to let the tears in her eyes fall.
When she slid in next to Sophie, she looked at her for a long time, then said, “Well, you don’t look different.”
Michelle laughed. “Did you think I was going to grow some warts or start carrying a broom around with me?” she asked, then gave Sophie a big hug.
Sophie laughed and hugged her back, then became serious. “Michelle, if you don’t want to do this, it’s not too late to stop the whole thing. Jessie and I talked about it, and we want to make sure that you know that.”
Michelle shook her head. “That’s the thing, Sophie: I think I’m the only one who can do it. I’m the only one who’s ever seen the doorway; either Molly has never shown it to anyone else, or they can’t see it. This is my destiny, and I’m ready to face it, but I know I won’t be alone.”
Sophie snorted. “No, that’s not going to happen. I don’t want to ruin the surprise but be prepared for some company today,” she said, shaking her head. “Jessie’s about to lose his mind, and it’s going to get worse before it gets better.”
“That sounds like a perfect distraction to me,” she said, then added, “Maybe Jessie should go up and keep Sally company.”
Sophie laughed, put the truck into gear, waved to Sally who was still standing on the porch, and pulled away from the cabin. Michelle turned in her seat to look back, waved to Sally, who waved back and blew her a kiss, making her laugh.
Turning back around in her seat, she took David’s hand in hers, feeling the power of their love flowing between them, and looked straight ahead. She was ready for what was to come, had spent the best night of her life committing herself to the man she loved; now all she had to do was survive the night to come.
***David***
When they pulled up to the farmhouse and got out of the truck, David was sure that he heard the melody of women’s voices. He looked over at Sophie, who shrugged her shoulders and said, “I wasn’t given much choice. In fact, I was told that this is the way things are done in the coven.”
Michelle looked from Jessie to Sophie and back. “Is the coven here?” she asked, suddenly a little nervous.
“All of them,” Sophie said, heading for the house.
“Oh, well, okay,” she said. “I thought they wouldn’t come until tonight.”
“I was informed that there were formalities that had to be followed. Jessie wasn’t very happy when I…” Sophie said, then stopped speaking abruptly when she walked around the corner. “Oh, my, they’ve been busy.”
David wasn’t sure what he expected to find when he looked around the corner into the front yard of the farmhouse. There must have been about twenty women in the yard; they were setting up tables and chairs, chatting happily as they worked.
Along one side of the yard, there was a big table, one end full of food, the other set up to receive more. “What’s all this?” he asked, taking Michelle’s hand when she stepped up next to him.
“This is some kind of feast the coven has when they induct a new member,” Sophie said, starting down the hill to the yard, David and Michelle trailing behind him. “It’s got a name, but I can’t remember; Stephanie will explain it all to you.”
Just then, Stephanie came running up to them and gave Michelle a big hug. “I’m so glad you’re here; we’re almost ready,” she said breathlessly.
Michelle laughed; she couldn’t help herself. “Ready for what?”
“For your induction into the coven,” she said, then pulled Michelle down the hill and into the mid
dle of the women who had gathered together when they saw Michelle with Stephanie. “They’re all dying to meet you.”
Suddenly, she was surrounded by so many faces that it was hard to put them together with the names that were shouted at her. Stephanie grinned at her. “Don’t worry they’ll all come and introduce themselves one by one once we sit down to eat.”
Michelle breathed a sigh of relief and let the women gather around her, let their conversation wash over her. She soon discovered that their excitement was contagious and that their well-wishes began to fill her with a new kind of power, a power derived from the kindness she was receiving.
“Okay, we’d better get to work if we want to be ready for tonight,” Stephanie said, scattering the group.
“Is the coven only women?” Michelle asked, looking around. “No wonder Jessie is about to lose his mind. Where is he?”
Stephanie laughed. “He’s off with the men getting the rest of the food.”
“Well, I wish he’d get back soon. I feel a bit out-numbered,” David said, taking Michelle’s hand.
“It shouldn’t be much longer. Why don’t you two go get freshened up? I laid out some clothes on the bed in the apartment,” Stephanie said, shooing them away with her hand.
David thought that sounded like a good idea, he wanted a few minutes alone with Michelle before what looked to be a long day. “Are you up for all this?” he asked when they got away from the chattering women.
Michelle nodded her head. “Sally warned me that they might want to make me part of the coven, but I had no idea it was so big. There has to be at least twenty women down there, and the men are still coming; most covens aren’t this big.”
“It’s a mountain community; there’s probably only one coven that covers hundreds of miles. You don’t have to join if you don’t want to,” he said, feeling like her answer was important, but not sure why.
Michelle smiled up at him. “Why wouldn’t I? This is going to be my home. I should belong. Besides, it will make our spells stronger if we’re united. That’s why last night was so important to me; I knew that the power of our love would be on my side if the universe recognized our union.”
David swept her up in his arms and spun her around. “I was hoping you’d say that you wanted to stay here with me,” he said, then added, “but I would have gone anywhere you wanted.”
Michelle looked up at him and said, “For the first time in my life, I feel like I belong. I love Gypsum Creek, and I love you. Besides, there’s more than enough work for a historian to do here. Don’t we have a museum to open?”
When they came back from the barn, Michelle dressed in a white flowing dress, David in a pair of loose-fitting pants and shirt, the front yard had been transformed into a fairyland. The tables were draped with white table linens, ribbons hug from the trees, and everyone was dressed just as they were.
Stephanie rushed up to them and said, “Let’s get the induction ceremony over with, then we can eat.”
David had no idea what to expect, but Michelle stepped forward with confidence. When one of the women came and took David by the arm, he pulled back, but Michelle nodded her head, and he let himself be led away.
Stephanie stood on one side of Michelle, and then to his amazement, Millie hobbled up and stood on the other. Then one by one, the other members of the coven filed up to stand in front of her, each approaching her and whispering something in her ear before taking their place.
As the last witch walked away from Michelle, a hush fell over the mountain; even the animals of the forest were quiet, and then Millie’s voice could be heard. “Goddess of the universe, we ask you to welcome your loyal servant Michelle into our fold. That you support her and protect her as long as she obeys the laws of the universe.”
Chapter Twenty
***Michelle***
Michelle’s heart was pounding in her chest, her body pulsing with the power of the assembled witches, and she knew that it was her turn. Stepping forward, she raised her hands to the sky and repeated Millie’s words, their power making her voice louder and stronger than it had ever been.
“I promise to serve and protect this coven, to shelter any who require it and to always choose good over evil,” she finished, feeling the power inside her begin to grow.
Then just as they had done before, each member of the coven approached her and whispered the sacred words in her ear. When the last one walked away and sat down, Stephanie raised her hands into the air and said, “Daughter of the goddess, we welcome you home.”
There was a roar of approval from the group, and then Millie said, “Let’s eat.”
Hours later, Michelle had met each witch in the coven, had a private discussion with them, and eaten more than she’d eaten in a long time. They’d encouraged her to eat, wanting her to have all the strength she needed for the night to come.
She could tell that not everyone in the coven was as certain of her success as they could have been, but she understood their reluctance. Only a few openly voiced their reservations, but she listened to their reasoning and reminded herself that she was a young witch, and no matter how powerful she was, experience was a good teacher.
As the sun began to set, she expected to begin to get nervous, but instead a deep sense of calm spread through her. Tonight, she would face the biggest test of her life, but she’d learned well from first her grandmother, and then from Sally.
She had a wonderful new group of friends that had pledged to support her, and most importantly, she had the love of a wonderful man, a man who would love her for the rest of her life. David had been silent for most of the day, absorbing the conversation around him, but he was closed off and tense.
Only the touch of her hand seemed to calm him, and she hated the fact that he had to go through all this because of her. When they finally had a minute alone, she said, “I’m sorry, David, I know this must be hard for you. I wish you didn’t have to go through all this for me.”
He turned and looked at her. “I wouldn’t be anywhere else, but it’s hard to sit and listen to these people tell you how dangerous this is, how likely you are to get sucked into that thing.”
“But that’s not going to happen. I can get away before that happens. Sally taught me how to. Besides, all these people wouldn’t let that happen either,” she said, squeezing his hand and giving him a kiss on the cheek.
“I just wish there was more I could do, a way that I could help,” he said, stroking her face with his thumb.
“Loving me and being there with me are more than enough; you give me strength and hope, David, hope for the life we’ll share together,” she said, reaching up and cupping his face with her hand.
David leaned over and pressed his forehead against hers. “Just promise me that when this is all over, you’ll still be here.”
“I promise,” she said, swearing to herself that she’d keep that promise.
***David***
David stood back in the trees with Jessie, Sophie and the rest of the family while Michelle got ready to close the doorway. She’d burned sage and purified the space, drawn the symbol for the three goddesses of nature on the ground then circled it with a pentagram, a ring of salt and sacred oils.
The rest of the coven was scattered around her in a wide circle, candles in their hands, chanting a protection spell that he couldn’t understand. His instincts were on high alert, every sound in the forest amplified by his acute hearing, his nostrils pulling in scents from far away.
He was funneling power from the other shifters, feeling it build inside him, and wondered if it would have a place to go. In this, the most difficult moment of Michelle’s life, all he could do was stand and watch, and hope that his love would give her the added strength that she needed.
As night began to fall, the slightest sliver of a moon appeared in the eastern sky and Michelle began to chant, turning in a slow circle as she did. The clearing began to fill with power, power that seemed to make the air vibrate and shimmer before his e
yes.
Then Molly appeared, her eyes focused on Michelle, who returned her stare for a few seconds then said, “Open the doorway, Molly; we need to shut it and set you free from your prison.”
Then Michelle began to chant the spell that she and Sally had written, and Molly’s eyes got big. She bowed her head to Michelle, raised her arm, and the leaves on the ground began to stir; soon they began to swirl into a whirlwind, picking up sticks and debris.
David tried not to react when a black hole began to appear in the ground, resisted the urge to run to Michelle, to protect her from the evil that suddenly filled the clearing. There were gasps of shock from the gathered witches, and they began to chant even louder as the doorway opened further.
In the blink of an eye, Molly disappeared, leaving Michelle standing alone in front of the darkness. He was so focused on her that he almost missed the sound of leaves and twigs crunching under someone’s feet. He looked around him, scanning the forest for the origin of the sound, but the forest had gone silent.
He glanced at Jessie, who was also on high alert, and with only a nod to one another, they fanned out into the forest. It was the hardest thing he’d ever done to walk away from Michelle right then, but there had been something in the forest, and it wasn’t a spirit.
***Michelle***
Michelle was only vaguely aware that David had slipped away from the clearing and into the forest. She was focused on the doorway, channeling all her energy into shrinking it until it disappeared, chanting the spell over and over.
The evil flowing out of the hole threatened to overtake her, she could feel it pulling at her. But she also felt the protection of the coven fighting it and as she watched, the doorway began to shirk, and the evil in the air began to drain away with it.
She was only seconds from closing the doorway when the night was illuminated by a bright light and a loud bang. Distracted, she lost her concentration and doorway began to open again, the evil stronger than before. Momentarily confused by the surge of evil, she let the doorway open fully.
Young Love: Wolves of Gypsum Creek (A Paranormal Romance Story) Page 12
