by Dana Davis
Okay, we’re free to move our heads. So, how about an arm or leg? She tried to budge another part of her body, any part, without success. Instead of panicking again, she focused on the saguaro with the face of a woman embedded in it. A pair of probing eyes, ancient, knowing, scanned the group. When those eyes rested on her, she fought a shiver. Like being under a fucking microscope.
The woman’s face smiled warmly at her. Can she read my thoughts? Daisy smiled back, not wanting to be rude to the giant saguaro that could move all by itself. Nice saguaro. Nice Titan. May the universe protect us!
* * * *
Crap, crap, crap. Is this really happening? Am I a total nut job? Or am I still asleep somewhere? Zoey hoped for the latter. Paranormal or not, she’d never experienced anything like this before. Not even close! Besides the Catcher box and aura sex, the weirdest thing she’d seen up until now was the time Cousin Daisy spelled a car alarm silent during one of their family reunions.
What I wouldn’t give to be an inherent witch right about now. Although the witches didn’t seem to have any more control over the situation.
The clear eyes on the lady saguaro looked so similar to Aunt Mena’s that Zoey sucked in a breath at the resemblance. The eyes locked on her a moment, making her want to wet herself, then the eyes moved on.
“Why have you summoned us?” a female voice said in a not-so-nice tone.
Zoey nearly jumped out of her skin. Or she would have if she could move something besides just her damn head. It can talk, too? Well, that’s just fucking peachy. Sebastian said we wouldn’t die. I hope he’s right. Zoey turned her head with a bit of effort to see Daisy again. The witch looked just as astounded that a giant cactus could talk. Guess even a kick-ass witch has her disadvantages. She couldn’t see Bridgette’s expression—the telepath stood the other side of Noah—but she guessed the redhead had a gazillion curses flaring in her head right about now. Oddly, that gave her some comfort.
“Forgive us for bothering you, great Council,” Connie said. “But we’re in trouble. Our new Dream Catcher needs your guidance.”
Hey, no fair. I want to talk too. Zoey tried again but no sound made it to her lips. The lady saguaro turned eyes on her again. How does it know I’m the Catcher? Before she could think about anything else, her body suddenly unlocked from its frozen position and she lost her balance, toppling into Jason, who somehow managed to keep them both on their feet. Well, that was a great first impression.
Bridgette chuckled, obviously picking up that thought. Everyone could move now. Thankfully. Daisy started what sounded like a spell but was cut off in mid-word when the saguaro frowned at her.
“Don’t do that, witch.” The giant saguaro lady sounded annoyed. Daisy looked shocked but covered quickly and nodded. “Call me by my name.” The saguaro peeled eyes away from Daisy and back to Connie. Was that amusement on its—her—face? “My name is Selene. You will remember it only for this meeting. Continue.”
Connie paled and uttered what Zoey thought might be a curse. She wanted to ask the meaning of the name. If she remembered it when she got out of this place, she certainly would.
“Great Selene.” Connie’s voice held respect and awe. And a bit of trembling too, Zoey noticed. “The Anguisher has conjoined with another power. We suspect a Gorgon.”
We do? When the hell did we decide that? And why wasn’t I in on it? Another, more disturbing, thought arose. A Gorgon? Where have I heard that term before? Then she remembered. Just fucking great. Can this day get any worse?
One of Connie’s arms motioned to Zoey and she fought the urge to burst out in hysterical laughter. “The new Catcher can’t keep balance with these combined forces against her. She needs to conjoin with allies if she’s to have any chance of saving humankind’s hopes and dreams.”
Uh, yeah, that about sums it up. In a really dumb, sci-fi movie kinda way. Zoey’s neck began to cramp from looking nearly straight up, and she fought the urge to rub at it.
Selene eyed her with what looked like humor. “Come here, child.”
Zoey swallowed hard. Not exactly on my to-do list. Her heart pounded in her ears so loud she was certain the others heard.
“I won’t hurt you, little one. Now do as I say. Come to me.”
Something deep inside Zoey stirred at the beckon. Her feet carried her close and she gazed up into the probing eyes. Energy pulsed through her body, a great force that seemed to reveal her inner most secrets. She wrapped her arms around herself in a vain attempt to hide.
The Titan—Council—Selene—whatever—the big, creepy, talking saguaro studied her. “You’re the new Dream Catcher.” The voice was now as gentle as a mother speaking to a very small child.
“Yes, ma’am.” Zoey tried desperately to keep her voice from quivering. Did I just say, yes ma’am, to a giant cactus? Well, there’s something to tell the grandkids about.
“Do you wish for humankind to lose dreams?”
“No, ma’am.” I’m talking to a friggin’ saguaro named Selene.
“Are you willing to fight for hopes and dreams? Are you willing to give your life for them?”
So, we get right to it, huh? I knew that dying thing would come up again. I just knew it. Hell, she’d barely accepted she had any powers at all, much less a Dream Catcher with talents beyond those of most paranormals. Her mind grew numb at the question. How should she answer? If she refused, Selene might think she didn’t care about hopes and dreams. But die? I’m not ready to die. I have too much to do in this life. Hell, I’m not even out of college yet. Fear settled in her gut like bad seafood and she was glad she’d eaten only a small muffin at breakfast. A world without dreams would be a miserable place for anyone. Except the Anguisher.
“You will answer the question, Catcher.” All tenderness had left the inquisitor’s voice.
Yes, that’s what this feels like. An inquisition. With me the accused witch. Or in this case, the accused Catcher. Zoey closed her eyes briefly and sucked in a breath to keep from puking. Then she lifted her head looked into those probing eyes. “Yes,” she said softly. “I would give my life for the dreams.” Part of her screamed in resistance to the words. But they’d been said. She couldn’t take them back. Tears pricked her eyes.
The clear gaze studied hers for a moment longer then looked to the two remaining saguaros. Zoey realized she hadn’t paid them any attention until now. In fact, she hadn’t realized they had grown faces. When did they appear? One looked male, the other female. Three saguaros with faces. Three Titans. Oh, man, this is really happening. I really am the Dream Catcher. The Titans glanced at one another as though in some silent communication, and Zoey wondered whether they were telepaths. Most likely. Or something like that anyway. Clear eyes focused on her again and she fought the urge to backpedal.
“Put your hand on me,” Selene instructed. “I need to feel your skin.”
No fucking way. I’ll get stuck to bits. Not to mention a giant, talking saguaro with powers strong enough to silence a kick-ass witch like Daisy could probably evaporate her with that prickly touch. But Connie nodded to her. She turned her gaze onto Bridgette in hopes the telepath was still listening. If I die, Jason gets the house. The witch smirked but said nothing. Okay, here goes. Zoey placed her right palm on the thick needles, expecting pain and blood. But the needles were malleable, like hair. She pressed harder so that her hand touched the vertical ridges of the great cactus. It was warm and supple, as though life pulsed inside.
Selene peered down at her. “Dream Catcher. You will have knowledge to conjoin with whomever you need to keep the balance. Whatever the outcome, you must live with the decisions you make.”
“Thank you, Selene.” For what? I don’t want to do some stupid conjoining. But it was too late.
Something latched onto her skull like a too-tight cap and her thoughts raced. Knowledge poured into her brain so fast she couldn’t decipher it all, and she grabbed her head with her left hand. Her right stuck to the saguaro, as though glued there.
Light flickered behind her eyes with the strain and she groaned as she went to her knees, right arm stretching painfully upward, wrenching her shoulder socket.
The transfer felt as though it lasted an eternity but couldn’t have been more than a few seconds. Her hand came away from the saguaro and Jason helped her to her feet. The ordeal left her with a sore shoulder and a throbbing behind her temples. Her brain felt bruised. Not that she had any experienced with a bruised brain. But that’s how it felt. Oh, shit, I need aspirin!
“Now put us back to rest.” Selene gazed hard at the small people before her. “We are old. Fragile. Do not come to us again.”
Fragile my ass, Zoey thought as she rubbed at her aching temples.
“Remember, we must not be summoned again. Not in your lifetime. The three giant saguaros stared straight ahead and waited.
With Jason’s help, Zoey hurried to her place in the circle, wanting to send this Council back to wherever they’d come from. She scooped the piece of paper with the words on it from Jason’s offered hand—she didn’t even remember dropping it—and focused on the closing chant:
“Oh, Council, whose knowledge pierces the denizens of these woods of Gaia, be thou favorable to the peace we here conclude and get thee back to rest. Through thee may our hearts and minds be long united.”
After the third recitation, the faces disappeared from the giant cacti. And, except for their massive sizes, they looked like any other saguaros in the area.
I never want to go through that again. Zoey rubbed at her temples, her headache no better. A ritual of sorts tried to work itself out in her brain but she couldn’t make any sense of it. Like a dream all willy-nilly in her head. The image of a Native dreamcatcher pushed to the forefront then faded. She had one such thing in her home, above her bed. A round artistic piece, with web-like string making a crisscross pattern. It was decorated with colorful beads and feathers. The Native’s used them to catch nightmares. A similar one decorated the lid of the Catcher box.
Those thoughts faded as Connie stepped to her. “You all right, darling?”
She shivered and leaned into Jason, who placed a comforting arm around her shoulders. “Who are they really? These Titans.”
“They’re living knowledge, like an encyclopedia.” Connie waved a hand to the three giant saguaros. “Natural triple representations similar to these can be found all over the world, and the Council can be called through them. They guide us when we need advice or assistance with something very important. Like now. In ancient times they were known as oracles.” She glanced at Daisy, who eyed her with interest, and smiled. “Our version of a witch’s spell book. The one with the most dangerous magick.” She brought her gaze back to Zoey. “Our ancestors transferred their most precious knowledge, along with, well, pieces of their souls into the earth herself, into Gaia, so future generations like us would have access to it.”
They gave up pieces of their souls? Holy crap! “She said not to summon them again.” The Council woman had a name. What was it? Zoey couldn’t remember now.
“Yes. Each summoning weakens the link and they can’t stay animated very long. Something our ancestors didn’t foresee. We’re only supposed to contact them once in a generation now, if needed, about every seventy years or so, to try and make the information last. Knowledge has already been lost with past summonings.” Connie glanced at the clearing. She looked nervous. “We can talk more when we get back to the house.”
Zoey walked with Jason and glanced over her shoulder at the retreating saguaros, wondering just what the hell kind of paranormals would give up pieces of their souls.
Chapter 22
Back Home Again in Scottsdale
It had taken several aspirin tablets, along with another dose of Tessa’s nasty tea concoction, to get rid of Zoey’s headache. Connie had her write down information as it came to her, and she’d spent over an hour last night jotting down disjointed notes the Council had given her. The transferred knowledge got put into computer files, along with notes from past summonings. Some of the information was distributed onto flash drives but the bulk was burned onto CDs and copies went off with chosen paranormals for safekeeping.
The Council could degrade tomorrow or centuries from now. No one knew for certain. So, Zoey’s paranormal cousins had been logging these summonings for the past four generations. Not on a computer, of course, until recently. Zoey was instructed not to tell the Council any of this, though she guessed they probably knew, since they seemed to have mind-reading abilities.
No matter. I don’t plan to ever do another summoning.
Though Zoey had deciphered some of the Council’s information, she had yet to reach the part of who would conjoin with her, much less how the hell to accomplish such a thing. A struggle with the Anguisher soured her stomach. If he had an heir, no one was aware of him, or her. Or else this heir was too young to have powers. Tessa suspected a Gorgon adult had already begun conjoining with the idiot man. Tessa also assured Zoey that a Gorgon couldn’t turn anyone to stone, that the Medusa tales had been exaggerated by the men she’d scorned.
Typical. They didn’t like being rejected, so they made up nasty rumors about her. Ancient version of the campus slut gossip. How many times throughout history were women blamed for men’s sexual problems or shortcomings? Probably too many to count.
The front door of the cabin swung open and Connie came onto the porch. “Penny for your thoughts, dear.” She placed her packed bag near Zoey’s.
“Not worth even that, I’m afraid.” Zoey smirked, trying to lighten the mood. Well, her mood, anyway. The others seemed more optimistic about this damned conjoining thing.
Connie reached an arm over and caressed her cheek, a motherly gesture that sent Zoey’s heart aching for her aunt. She pushed the grief away, something that seemed to get easier as the days passed.
“Nervous about the conjoining, dear?”
Understatement. “Yes. But I don’t want to live in a world without dreams.” Connie nodded. “What would you have said to—her?” What was her name? It was on the tip of her tongue but she couldn’t remember it. She nodded in the direction of the clearing, where those damn saguaros stood. Thankfully not moving or talking just now.
Connie studied her. “I would die to save this world and its hopes and dreams. I would die for you and Jason.”
Of course you would. Zoey sighed. All through history, mothers had died for their children. It wouldn’t happen to Zoey just yet, not until she had a daughter. But that didn’t still her fears. I can be hurt. I feel pain. I bleed. And others could die. What if the Vanquisher went after Jason or her cousins? That horrid thought lodged in her brain and she couldn’t get it out as they began packing up the cars.
On the ride home, Jason hadn’t said more than two words to her. She thought at first he was angry but decided perhaps he was feeling a bit overwhelmed with all that had happened at the lake.
Who wasn’t? After all, saguaros didn’t just up and talk every day. That must have been a shock to everyone. Even if Zoey had known what to expect, the summoning would have stunned her.
When George pulled into Zoey’s circular drive, the sun was low. He didn’t have to drive her the extra half a block home, but he was in parent mode. Jason got out with her, told his parents to go on home, and he followed Zoey to her porch. She stepped inside, then flipped on the lights and turned off the alarm.
Jason followed with her bag over one shoulder. “Zoey?” He put her bag down on the tile entry.
“Yes?”
“Back in that clearing, with the Council, when you said you’d choose death if necessary to keep hope alive, well, that scared the crap out of me.” You’re not the only one, buster. “I know you’re not happy about the marriage thing. I thought I was upset about it too. But arranged or not, I want to marry you. And I want you to be okay with the betrothal.” He dug into his shorts pocket and pulled out a black velvet box.
Suddenly, he seemed to be moving in slow motion. Zoey�
��s heart hammered as he got to one knee, lifted his chin, looked her square in the face and took her hand. Oh, no. Not now. And where the hell did he get the ring?
“Zoey Anne Vega. I love you and I want to spend my life with you. Will you marry me?” He opened the velvet box to reveal a gold and platinum band with delicate vines woven around the large tear-shaped diamond that stood out in the center. Stunning!
Her face grew hot as blood flooded her ears. It was perfect—he was perfect—everything a little girl dreamed about in a future husband. But not now. Not now, damnit!
“I—I—” she stammered. I’m not ready. “We’re not even out of college, Jason.” His face fell and he pinched his lips together, causing guilt to rise in her. “I need some time. Please?”
He closed the box and stood. She held her breath as she prepared for his hurt and anger. Instead, he kissed her, and she flung her arms about him. They stood that way for some time before a ringing phone prompted them to pull apart. The landline.
“The machine will pick up,” she said in a soft voice.
“You keep this.” He pressed the velvet box into her hand. “Let me know when you’ve thought on it.” She wanted to protest but she took the box and nodded. “I’d better get home. We both need sleep.”
Jason started to walk away but turned and gave her another kiss. Her body responded and she wanted so much to bring him to her bed. Instead, she stood at the door and watched him walk down her circular drive and out of sight before she ducked back inside.
She placed the velvet box on the coffee table next to her music box. Oh, Jason. Why now? The Catcher box pulled at her and she stooped to dig it out from her bag, angry that she couldn’t have just said, “Yes.”
Chapter 23
A Good Witch is Hard to Find
