Initiate

by Christina Garner

  The path wasn’t marked but was discernible and an indication Jules wasn’t the only one who knew about this place.

  Spheres of light illuminated their way as they walked deeper into the forest.

  “I’m trying really hard to be a good sport,” Sarah said after fifteen minutes and several stumbles in the thick brush.

  Eden pulled a twig from her hair. “You’re a trooper.”

  “It’s just up here.” Jules gestured and kept walking.

  They came to a small clearing.

  “Whoa.” Sarah stopped short and put a hand on her head.

  “What is it?” Eden asked.

  “You don’t feel that?” Sarah licked her lips. “The energy radiates off this place. It’s making me a little…”

  Eden rushed to her and helped her sit down on a patch of soft grass.

  “I’m okay. It’s just really powerful. You don’t feel that?”

  “Sort of, I guess.” Eden wasn’t dizzy, but she did sense something—a heaviness to the air. “What about you?”

  Jules joined them. “A little, but I’m not dizzy. Do you want to forget about this?”

  “No.” Sarah hauled herself back to her feet. “I definitely want to do it.”

  The three friends hadn’t discussed their reasons for wanting to perform the ritual. It was enough that each had agreed to go.

  As Jules set up the candles, Eden whispered, “It kind of makes sense—you feeling this place so strongly. Didn’t Carolyn say those with second sight often struggle with rituals involving earth elements but thrive on those requiring spirit?”

  Sarah nodded. “I was thinking the same thing. It’s still pretty intense, but I’m okay now.”

  “Good to both,” Eden said, making her way toward Jules. “The more powerful the energy, the more likely this will work, right?”

  “In theory.” Jules struck a match, and it hissed to life. “Let’s find out.”

  They each took a few rose stems and found seats in front of the three candles Jules had laid atop a large, flat stone.

  “Good luck,” Sarah said, smiling at each of them.

  “That’s the idea.” Jules spoke solemnly and closed her eyes.

  Eden did the same, steadying herself against the energy that reverberated more strongly here at the center of the vortex.

  After a moment of silence, Jules spoke. “Goddess Selene, you of the moon, please accept our offering.”

  Eden laid her roses on the stone altar and listened as her friends did the same.

  “We ask that you look into our hearts and grant the wishes we hold most dear.” Jules’s voice held a dreamlike quality.

  Let me hold onto the light and banish the dark, both within and without.

  It was just a wish—no guarantee it would come true. But as the energy rippled through Eden’s body and penetrated her heart, she was confident the Goddess had heard her.

  She opened her eyes and smiled.

  Until she saw the face that stared back at her.

  Chapter 12

  “What are you doing here?”

  Eden’s voice pulled Jules from her trancelike state. She opened her eyes and gasped.

  “Ash? What’s going on?” Jules scrambled to her feet.

  Who is that woman with him?

  Eden was on her feet now, too.

  “We don’t want to hurt you.” Ash held up his hands in a placating gesture. “We just want the stone.”

  “What stone?” Sarah said, seeming as confused as Jules felt.

  What was he talking about? How did he even know where they were?

  “Did you follow us?” Fear rose in Jules’s belly.

  “We followed the stone.” The woman was speaking. Who was she? “Now give it to me, because unlike my brother, I don’t much care who gets hurt.”

  “That’s a good thing.” Eden narrowed her eyes. “Because if you don’t back off, it’s going to be you.”

  “I think I’m late to this party.” Sarah stood. “But why don’t we all calm down and discuss whatever’s going on.”

  “There’s nothing to discuss.” Ash’s sister advanced. “The stone is ours by birthright.”

  “Ani.” Ash’s tone held a warning. “This is not our way.”

  “It’s not your way, brother. But it’s mine if it needs to be.” The blade whisked as she pulled it from the sheath.

  “This is why…” Jules was shaking. She took a breath. “This is why you asked me out. Why you wanted Eden to show you the artifact.”

  “Well, look at that. Your new girlfriend is a genius.” Ani studied her knife, moonlight glinting off the steel.

  Ash rushed forward and put his hands on Jules’s shoulders. She fought back the tears as she stared into his eyes. “I’m sorry, Jules. Everything I said… I like you. I really do. But tell your friend to give us that stone, because otherwise I’m not sure I can protect you.”

  “You want it?” Eden pulled the relic from her pocket and held it up, a dangerous gleam in her eye. “Come take it.”

  “With pleasure.” A ball of fire burst to life above Ani’s palm.

  She’s a witch? Jules had sensed nothing.

  “No!” Ash cried, launching himself at his sister.

  Ani hurled the fireball, and Eden ducked just in time. A split-second later, Ash was on his sister, the two of them tumbling to the ground.

  Think, Jules.

  A catalog of spells ran through her mind, none of them useful. Students didn’t learn battle magic until second year. She scanned the ground for a rock—something she could use as a weapon.

  Ani freed herself from Ash’s clutches and scrambled to her feet. The fireball was larger this time, but when she hurled it, Eden stood still.

  “No.”

  A tidal wave of energy burst forward. Eden was channeling the energy of the vortex!

  The fireball reversed course before exploding into a shower of sparks raining down on them.

  A green ribbon shot out from Ani’s palm but dissolved before it had gone two feet. She squinted at her palm and cursed. She launched herself at Eden, knife raised, but Sarah was there, jumping on her back. Jules joined the fray and wrestled the blade from her. Ani kicked and thrashed, but together they brought her down.

  “What about you?” Eden turned to Ash. “Any tricks up your sleeve?”

  Ash shook his head. “Please, just give me the stone.”

  “You know?” Eden tossed the relic in the air then caught it again. “I didn’t even want this thing. No matter how ancient, how valuable. Honestly, it gives me the willies. But now I think I’m gonna hang onto it. Because whatever the two of you want with it, I’m pretty sure it’s not good. At least with me, I know it won’t be used to harm anyone.”

  Ani thrashed and managed to wriggle free.

  “I can get more power. And when I do—”

  “I’ll be ready.” Her eye held an un-Edenlike predatory gleam.

  “Let’s go, brother.” Ani backed away.

  Ash turned to face Jules. He appeared torn, as though he didn’t want to go, but had to. But that was probably as much of an act as everything else had been.

  “I’m sorry, Jules. I never meant—”

  “Just go.” Jules turned away.

  The brother and sister left.

  “We’re just letting them leave?” Sarah glanced from Jules to Eden. “She could have killed you.”

  “What else are we going to do? Even if we call the cops right now, they’ll be long gone by the time anyone could get here.”

  “How would we even explain this to them?” Jules stared at the spot where flames had scorched the grass. “We’d probably get arrested for being arsonists.”

  “We should get out of here.” Eden went back to the altar and blew out the candles.

  A sphere of light blossomed in each of Sarah’s hands. “Now that, I agree with.”

  As Eden drove, she and the others tried to figure out what had just happened.

  “What d
id they even want with it?” Sarah asked.

  “Sell it, maybe?” Eden turned onto the highway. “I know it’s worth money.”

  “Did he say anything to you?” Sarah twisted to look at Jules in the back seat.

  Eden glanced at her in the rearview mirror, her heart breaking at the pain on her friend’s face.

  “You think I wouldn’t have told you if I’d known?” She was clearly affronted.

  “What? No.” Sarah reached back and laid a hand on Jules’s arm. “I would never think that. I just thought, in retrospect, something he said might stand out.”

  Jules shook her head, a bitter expression on her face. “He asked what I’d done for Halloween, and I told him about the scavenger hunt and you winning an artifact. He said his mother dealt in collectibles and asked to see it. It didn’t seem weird at the time.”

  “Of course not.” Eden didn’t want her friend thinking this situation was her fault. How could she have known? “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

  “What do we tell Carolyn?”

  “Everything.” Jules was adamant. “She does not appreciate secrets.”

  “She also won’t be happy about us running off in middle of the night to do a spell without telling her,” Eden said.

  “It wasn’t a spell. It was a simple ritual. A prayer—like Sarah said.”

  “And you think Carolyn’s the type to split that hair?” Eden was pretty sure she wouldn’t. “Look, they’re not witches. Whatever power Ani had, she got it on the black market.”

  “Which means she can get more and come back. I’m with Jules on this. We have to tell Carolyn.” Sarah seemed resolute.

  “I know we do, it’s just, she’s already threatened to bind me.” Eden glanced in the mirror and glimpsed the surprise on Jules’s face. She’d have to tell her the rest of that story, but now was not the time. “If Carolyn finds out the three of us went to that vortex… We need to tell her the right way, the one with the smallest amount of fallout.”

  “What are you thinking?” Sarah’s tone had softened.

  “That we get through this weekend. Tomorrow is the party, Sunday is the test for Jules and me. Even if those two could get more power that fast—which I doubt—we’ll be safe inside the house. Can we agree to just wait two days, and then we’ll tell Carolyn?”

  The moment stretched.

  “Agree,” Sarah answered.

  Jules met Eden’s eye in the mirror. “Agree.”

  It was almost two in the morning when they made it back to Coventry House. Jules was exhausted and suspected the other girls were too.

  They said goodnight, each of them heading to their rooms.

  Once alone, Jules’s emotions crashed down on her, flooding her with anger at being betrayed and shame for being so gullible and stupid.

  He’d said, “Wow” and she’d believed him. Believed he felt the same way she did—as though she’d found someone who understood. Someone she might let in all the way.

  Jules pulled out the hand sewn doll she kept hidden in her closet and curled up with it on her bed. She told herself not to cry—it had only been one date—but the tears came anyway, running hot and salty onto her pillow.

  She wouldn’t be that stupid again.

  She forced herself to sit up, and as tired as she was, started practicing.

  All that mattered was Coventry House.

  Sarah had trouble sleeping that night, tossing and turning with thoughts of what had happened and what would come next.

  She wasn’t sure they weren’t buying more trouble by waiting to tell Carolyn.

  Unless Eden expects us to lie about when we were attacked.

  But she’d given her word, and Eden had a point. If they’d come back to Coventry House babbling on about heading into the woods in the middle of the night to do a ritual… Carolyn would not have been pleased. Better they get through the weekend and work on their stories so they induced as little wrath as possible.

  Sarah felt terrible for Jules—being preyed on by someone like Ash. She almost hoped he’d come back, so she could watch Carolyn thoroughly kick his ass.

  As the sun rose, she texted Kai. She taught a six o’clock tai chi class that day, and Sarah wanted to catch her before it started.

  Sarah—I don’t need a few days. Remember the house party I invited you to? It’s tonight. Please come.

  She hesitated only the briefest of seconds before adding,

  Sarah—I want to show off my girlfriend.

  She hit send before she could chicken out.

  Prior to the badness happening, the ritual had been a success, at least for Sarah. She’d wished for courage—wished it with her whole heart—and had felt something pass through her. She was still afraid, but just didn’t care. Kai was too important to lose because of people’s opinions, even her own.

  Sarah’s phone chimed, and she felt warm all over as she read the response.

  Kai—That’s my girl.

  Eden helped clean up for the party, distracted by thoughts of Ash and his sister. Were they that desperate for money to take on three witches?

  Not that we’re all that formidable.

  If being a witch was this dangerous, it seemed negligent of the school not to teach students how to defend themselves first thing. She had a good mind to say that to Carolyn, but she knew once the story came out, she’d be too busy being lectured. Besides, somehow it was only her and her friends who found their lives in danger.

  She wondered if Carolyn would call in the Council of Magic. They would probably be very interested in tracking down anyone buying power on the black market. Everything she’d heard about the Council led her to think they were not the kind of people you’d want on your trail.

  Serves them right.

  Eden knew where that “borrowed” power came from. She shuddered to think of the witch being forced to provide it.

  “Are you trying to fluff it or murder it?”

  Eden looked up to see Paige, but dropped her attention back down at the pillow she held in a death grip.

  “I didn’t like the way it was looking at me.” Eden forced a smile and put the pillow back on the couch.

  “Is Quinn coming tonight?” Paige dusted the mantle.

  “After work. How about you?” Eden straightened items on a side table. “Anyone you want to put forward to be judged by the group?”

  “I wish.” She moved to a windowsill. “Most of the time I meet a guy it’s when I’m out with Rebecca, and well… One look at her and they stop seeing me.”

  Eden knew firsthand how that worked—having lost a cute boy to her on their first night at Coventry House.

  “Don’t worry. The right guy won’t even look at her twice.”

  Rebecca still flirted with Quinn, and he was totally oblivious—or at least smart enough to pretend to be.

  “What about Quinn? Does he have any friends?” The request was too casual not to have been planned. “Any you weren’t planning to set up with Sarah, I mean.”

  Well, that number would be zero…

  Eden told her she’d ask and moved on to straightening up the dining room. It’s not that she didn’t like Paige, she just couldn’t totally trust anyone who called Rebecca her best friend.

  Sarah’s stomach turned flips as she waited for Kai to arrive. She’d tried to remain in her bedroom, but Carolyn made it clear they were expected to mingle. Sarah wove through the crowd introducing herself and offering drinks.

  “Any word?” Eden’s voice pitched low.

  Sarah had confided in her about the plan to come out.

  “Not yet, but she should be any minute.”

  Eden glanced toward the door. “The eagle has landed.”

  Sarah turned to see Haley taking Kai’s coat.

  “Good luck.” Eden squeezed her hand. “You’ve got this.”

  “Right.” Sarah returned the gesture before going to the door.

  I’ve got this.

  “Hey.” Sarah pulled Kai off to the side. “
Thanks for coming.”

  “Thanks for inviting me.”

  Haley was busy greeting another guest, so Sarah turned to the nearest sister.

  “Courtney, I’d like to introduce you to Kai.” She took a breath. “She’s my girlfriend.”

  Surprise flashed on Courtney’s face but was quickly replaced with a smile. “Nice to meet you.” She shook Kai’s hand.

  “You too. Sarah talks about this place all the time.”

  “Not giving away any secrets, I hope.”

  Sarah hadn’t realized Carolyn was behind them. Her tone was light, but the look she flashed Sarah was anything but.

  “Mostly just that she loves it here and you guys meet a lot.”

  “Guilty as charged.” Carolyn smiled warmly. “We believe it fosters camaraderie among the sisters. Welcome, and please, enjoy yourself.” Carolyn turned, but then glanced back, her voice low enough so only Sarah and Kai could hear. “It must feel strange coming through the front door for once.”

  Sarah’s mouth dropped open, and even Kai blushed scarlet. They looked at each other—mortified—then burst out laughing once Carolyn was out of earshot.

  “There really are no secrets in this house,” Sarah said.

  “I can see that.” Kai shook her head in disbelief. “At least she was cool about it.”

  Sarah looked at her then—really seeing her. She’d been so nervous, she hadn’t even noticed how stunning Kai was that night. She’d put in extra effort to look nice to meet her friends. She reached out and interlaced her fingers with Kai’s.

  “I wasn’t actually lying about the PDA thing, so I hope this is enough for now.”

  Kai rubbed her thumb over the back of Sarah’s hand. “It’s perfect.”

  Sarah felt radiant. She’d come out, and her world hadn’t collapsed.

  “Come on,” she said. “There are more people I want you to meet.”

  The party was filling up, and Jules kept herself busy refilling beverages and snacks. It wasn’t as if she had anyone important coming.

  Not anymore.

  “Jules, may I speak with you a moment?”

  She’d been avoiding Carolyn all day, fearing she might blurt out the truth about last night, but now she obliged.