by Wendy Wang
Lisa’s lips twisted with disgust. “Fine.”
“Thank you,” he said and gave her a peck on the lips.
They emerged from the bedroom together and Lisa put her bag on the floor by the breakfast bar. On the wall was a keyholder with four hooks. They'd been dating for two months but still hadn't exchanged keys. She took her ring of extra keys with the house key and her car key on it and handed it to Jason.
"This will get you in the door."
"Okay." He put the keys in his front pocket. "How long do you think you'll be gone?"
"Shouldn’t be more than a couple of days," she said. "But if we are gone longer there's extra food for Butterbean in the pantry on the floor. He gets a can a day. And make sure that you scoop his litter and give him fresh water daily. He hates it when it sits for too long."
Jason cracked a smile. "You do know I have a cat, right? I know how they work."
It was just enough to make her smile back and break the tension between them. She touched his arm. “I know.”
His eyes flitted sideways at Cameron. He sighed, then closed the gap between them. He put his hand over hers and squeezed gently. "I really wish you didn't have to go. And not because you aren’t capable."
He paused and took a deep breath as if he were searching for the right words. His gaze flashed to Cameron again, then steadied on her face. He whispered, "I feel like I should give you my vest or something."
Warmth bloomed inside her chest and she couldn't help but smile. In that moment, she knew for certain what she’d suspected for a few weeks now. She loved him and he loved her. But she wasn’t quite brave enough to say it yet.
"I appreciate that. But I’ve got everything I need to protect me and you’re gonna need it.” She kissed him quickly on the lips. "We’ll all be fine. I promise."
A soft, shaky breath escaped his lips and he nodded. "Okay. Text me as soon as you get there. All right?"
"I will. Y'all go catch that guy. And keep an eye on that storm for me. Text me if they figure out where they think it’s headed," she said.
“I will,” Jason said.
"And Cameron? You take care of him, okay? This guy you’re after is pretty dangerous."
“I will.” Cameron gave her a solemn nod. “And you be careful too. Whatever it is you all are doing.”
“We will.” Lisa locked her gaze on Cameron’s face for a moment and something quiet passed between them. An acknowledgement that each was important in Jason’s life. That each had a place. A role to play. And that they would both do what it took to keep Jason safe. A knock on the front door broke their brief connection and Lisa let out a nervous laugh.
"That's Daphne." Lisa looked down at Butterbean, who was now sitting next to Jason's feet, watching her. "And you. You be good. Don't give Jason a hard time, all right?" The cat meowed as if to say I will.
Daphne opened the front door, knocking against the hollow steel. She walked into the foyer. "You ready?"
"Yeah." Lisa grabbed her overnight bag and slung it over her shoulder. “Let’s go.”
As she followed Daphne out, dread coiled in the pit of her stomach like an icy, hissing snake. She fought the urge to look back at the men standing in her living room and pulled the door shut behind her. But for one split second a sharp cold spike of intuition pierced her heart and the thought she might never see Jason again filled her head. It was a silly stupid thought and she dismissed it quickly. After all, she wasn't the psychic in the family.
Ben sat on the edge of the uncomfortable hospital chair and held Arista’s hand. The sharp, silvery black Shungite crystal he had placed in her palm, pressed against his fingers. He bowed his head and closed his eyes. Sweat traced from his scalp down the side of his face, leaving a hot, itchy trail. Healing could be exhausting, strenuous work and so far none of his usual spells had worked. He hated to admit it, but he needed help. Needed more energy. Charlie had said they were coming. Extra bodies, especially bodies as powerful as Jen and Evangeline, who were mature in their practice, would be a welcome boost.
"So mote it be," he whispered and opened his eyes. Arista lay so still that if it weren't for the slight rise of her chest every few seconds he would have thought her dead. He squeezed her hand then folded her fingers around the stone and stood up. His whole body ached, even after he'd gone back to his motel, taken a hot shower, and slept a few hours. The sky was finally starting to lighten. Dawn would be here soon and he would have to decide what to do. To find Megan and stop her, he needed Arista. She was his best chance for exorcising the demon and keeping Megan alive.
"Come on Arista," he whispered. "Open your eyes." He scrutinized her face for any little twitch. Any sign at all that she’d heard him. But only the hum of the machines monitoring her I.V. and blood oxygen levels, and the occasional whir of the blood pressure machine, answered him. His front pocket vibrated; he retrieved his phone, and walked over to the small window overlooking the parking lot.
A text from Charlie stared back at him.
We're here, was all it said.
A surge of relief spread through his chest. He was no longer alone.
I’m at the hospital with Arista. Do you need directions?
Nope. We’re downstairs near your car. Have you eaten breakfast?
How did you find me?
Psychic, remember?
He chuckled.
Be right down.
He shoved the phone back into his pocket and shifted his gaze to Arista.
“I’m going downstairs for a little while,” he said to Arista’s motionless body. “Once I get a few things taken care of, I’ll come back and we’ll try again. Okay?”
Arista’s chest rose and fell but she made no noise to acknowledge that she’d heard him. He touched the top of her feet and grabbed his bag off the floor then headed out the door to meet Charlie.
Every step he took across the parking lot pumped anxiety into his chest like sour breath into a balloon. Jen would be with Charlie, and as much as he wanted to see her, he also feared seeing her. What if she only came because Charlie asked? What if … what if she was mean to him? It was a stupid and irrational thought. Jen Holloway didn’t have a mean bone in her body. Still, he couldn’t shake the ridiculous feeling that she might be here out of some sense of obligation, because a fellow witch needed help.
He spotted Charlie standing next to his car. Her long blond hair was pulled into a messy bun and she had her back to him. As he drew closer the others came into view. Lisa stood in front of Charlie, and she pointed over Charlie’s shoulder. Charlie turned to face him. Daphne and Evangeline exited the front of the black SUV parked next to his car. When Jen emerged from the back door of the SUV, Ben’s heart dropped into his belly like an icy rock and he stopped in his tracks. Her lovely elfin face and wide blue eyes regarded him with a wary expression. He wanted more than anything to scoop her up into his arms and hold her close to him, but instead he approached with caution.
"Where’s the reaper?" The words rushed out of his mouth.
Charlie scowled. “Good to see you too.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” He tapped his forehead. What a stupid way to start this conversation. “It’s very good to see you. It’s been a long night.”
“Don’t you worry about it, Ben. From what Charlie says, you’ve been through quite an ordeal.” Evangeline stepped forward and moved in close. “How is your friend?” She patted him on the arm and a sense of calm spread through him. How did she do that? He would have to ask her about it sometime.
“She’s still unconscious,” he said. “I’ve tried every healing spell I know, but without her to set an intention for herself to be healed …” He blew out a frustrated breath.
“Yes, that is tricky,” Evangeline said. A reassuring smile crossed her face and she steadied her wise gaze on his. “But it’s not an impossible situation. And we’re here to help.”
“Normally I wouldn’t expose you to this danger, but honestly I’m glad you’re here,” Be
n admitted. He scanned their faces, landing on Jen last. He gave her a weary smile and it lightened his heart when she returned the smile.
“Tom is coming by the way. All I have to do is call to him and he'll be here,” Charlie said.
“That’s good news,” Ben said.
"You look like hell," Jen said softly, stepping closer. "Are you sure you’re all right?"
"I'm okay. I promise." He softened his tone. "I’m just worried that we won’t be able to heal Arista and without her, there’s not much hope of saving Megan.
"Who’s Megan?" Charlie asked.
"She's the witch that summoned the demon," Ben said.
“The one I saw in my vision? The one being possessed?” Charlie asked.
Ben nodded. “You know, I've only been in on a few exorcisms. And each time, the host died. I was really trying to avoid that."
"And there’s a child missing, too, right?" Charlie asked.
Ben opened his mouth to ask how she knew that, but stopped himself. Psychic, right? echoed through his head as he remembered her text. Ben nodded. “Yes, Megan evidently killed a couple and took a baby. I’m just not sure if she did it to please the demon or the demon was already possessing her when it happened.”
“Does it make a difference?” Lisa asked.
“It does according to the law,” Ben said. “Witch law, that is.”
Lisa pursed her lips and nodded.
“We’ll find her,” Charlie said. “With or without Arista.”
Ben wished he had Charlie’s confidence, but maybe she knew something he didn’t. Maybe those psychic gifts of hers would be the key. Ben’s stomach growled. He patted his hand to his flat belly.
Jen perked up. “Sounds like the first thing we need to do is get some breakfast. We’re all gonna need our strength for this.”
“Jen’s right,” Evangeline said. “We can eat and make a plan of attack.”
"I saw a Waffle Hut on our way in. Have you eaten there?" Charlie asked.
"Yes I have. But don't expect greatness."
"Is a witch running it?" Charlie asked.
"No, of course not," Ben said.
"Then why on goddesses green earth would I expect greatness?" Charlie gave him a wry grin. Ben chuckled and the anxiety he’d been holding onto dissipated in their warmth.
"Waffle Hut it is. Jen," he said softly. "Would you like to ride with me?"
Her wide blue eyes glittered and she nodded. "I would like that very much."
"Now that’s settled," Charlie grinned. "We'll meet you there.
Charlie spied the big corner booth and claimed it before anyone else could in the seat-yourself-style restaurant. The circular table was large enough to accommodate all of them and Charlie scooted in first, following the rounded booth to the middle. Daphne sat on one side of her and Lisa on the other with Evangeline sliding in next to her daughter. They left open space next to Lisa for Ben and Jen when they arrived.
A waitress in a faded yellow uniform with a mustard colored pocket square and a nametag that read Gina approached the table. She pulled an order pad from her right hip pocket and a pencil from behind her ear.
"What can I get y'all," she said.
Evangeline glanced up at her and smiled. "We're gonna need just a few minutes. We haven't even had a chance to look at the menu.”
"What's to look at?" The waitress said. "The best thing we have on the menu is waffles."
"Yes," Evangeline "I'm sure they are. But we’d still like to look. If that's all right."
"Suit yourself." The waitress shrugged and tucked her pencil behind her ear again. She walked away, grabbed a coffee carafe from the nearby machine and began filling the cups for the folks in the booths along the wide front window. Charlie grabbed the laminated menus from the holder in the center of the table and passed them around.
"This table is sticky," Daphne grimaced. Her large purse sat on the seat next to her and she unzipped the leather bag and plucked out a travel-size package of baby wipes. With the flick of her thumb, the top on the refillable container flipped open and she counted out wipes.
"Here," she handed one to Charlie, Lisa and her mother and the four of them wiped down the table until no trace of syrup or other stickiness could be felt.
Charlie surveyed the narrow menu. There were twenty different types of waffles and a build your own omelet that looked promising.
Evangeline glanced over her shoulder at the griddle and muttered, "It's not as clean as I would like."
Charlie followed her aunt’s line of sight and watched as the short order cook scooped out an egg mixture and poured it onto the griddle. Next to the griddle was the waffle-making station with four different waffle irons all going at the same time. Another cook manned that station, churning them out as quickly as he possibly could.
"Looks like they at least have the process down," Charlie noted.
"Come on mama, let's just decide what we’re going to eat and not worry about how other people conduct their business."
Daphne didn't look up from the menu in her hand as she spoke. Evangeline clucked her tongue but didn't give her daughter a response.
Charlie perused the waffle choices and quickly chose the pecan waffles. "I wonder if the syrup is real maple syrup."
"Oh, you can bet it's not real," Evangeline mumbled. She took a napkin from the chrome holder in the center of the table and polished her fork. "Not for the prices they're charging."
"I wonder what's keeping Jen and Ben?" Lisa said.
"Do you know what you want?" Charlie asked.
"Of course I do," Lisa said matter-of-factly. “I just want to eat, help Ben and get out here."
"Yeah, you got a hot date?" Daphne asked.
"No," Lisa said her voice full of irritation. "I’ve been getting weather alerts on my phone and it looks like Charleston may take a direct hit by this storm."
"Great," Charlie said. The storm was the last thing they needed to deal with.
"Are they thinking it's going to be a hurricane that when it hits or a tropical storm?" Evangeline asked.
"It strengthened to a cat one hurricane overnight. Hopefully it won’t get any stronger."
"Well that's not too bad." Evangeline said. "We've certainly been through worse."
"Yeah, I know.” Lisa squirmed.
“What's really bothering you?" Charlie asked. “You’ve been fidgety since before we even got here.”
"Nothing’s wrong,” Lisa said.
The little bell that went off in Charlie’s head when she detected a lie sounded off, loud and clear. “Nope. Try again.”
Lisa rolled her eyes and sighed. “I left my cat with Jason and he’ll probably be put on patrol with the other deputies. I’m just not sure what’s going to happen to him, that’s all."
"You're worried about your cat or Jason?" Daphne said her voice full of disapproval.
"My cat. Jason can take care of himself. I love that cat," Lisa said. Charlie regarded her cousin’s admission. Lisa did love her cat and her apprehension about the storm seemed real enough, but something felt off.
"He's more than just a cat and you know it, Daphne," Evangeline scolded.
The bell over the door jingled, drawing their attention. Jen and Ben walked in and headed to the booth. Charlie did not like the solemn expression on Jen's face. Jen squeezed in next to Lisa and Ben next to her.
"Sorry we’re late," Jen said, a little breathless. Her cheeks were flushed and Charlie figured it wasn't because of the heat.
"Everything okay?" Charlie asked.
Jen met her gaze and painted a smile across her face. "Of course. So what's good?" Jen picked up the laminated menu and perused it.
"The waffles," Ben said.
"Alrighty then." Jen laid the menu flat on the table. Her cousin’s strained energy vibrated like a guitar string strung too tightly. One too many plucks and it would break. "Waffles it is.”
Jen folded her hands in her lap and looked anywhere but at Ben. Whatever he ha
d said to Jen on the way over had definitely done a number on her cousin. Charlie frowned and tried to get a read on Ben but as usual his stone wall was firmly in place.
Evangeline straightened her back and rested one arm on the table. Charlie could see her aunt assessing the situation and the energy between them. Her sharp blue eyes went from face to face, narrowing once she rested her gaze on Ben.
The waitress came and took their orders, but still Evangeline’s heavy stare went back to Ben. Finally he looked up at her from beneath his brow.
“If there’s something you want to say Evangeline, I’d really appreciate if you went ahead and said it,” Ben said.
“I don’t really have much to say, Ben,” Evangeline said. “It seems whatever is going unsaid at this table is more between you and Jen than you and me.”
Evangeline looked down her long straight nose. "I don't know what's going on with you two. And I don't mean to be harsh, but honestly, y'all need to work it out.” Evangeline leaned forward and lowered her voice. "We are about to go into battle and that means focus. So whatever is chewing on y’all, you need to set it aside for now. Do you understand me?"
Jen's whole demeanor changed and she sat up straight. The sullen melancholy expression that had marred her face disappeared.
"Yes ma'am," Jen said. Ben glared across the table at Evangeline. The line between his brows deepened as he seemed to ponder her words. Charlie knew Ben wasn’t used to being part of a coven but in the greater scheme of things, Evangeline was the elder at the table and her position demanded respect, even from someone who wasn’t used to giving it, like Ben. Charlie and her cousins stared at Ben. Charlie could feel his recalcitrance beneath the surface. His nostrils flared and his lips pressed into a straight line. Jen nudged him in the ribs with her elbow.
Ben’s face softened. "Yes ma'am."
Jen’s body relaxed when the waitress put waffles down in front of her. Her lips curved up slightly and she ate with gusto. Charlie dug into her waffles too, and didn’t complain that they didn’t serve real maple syrup.
Evangeline was right. They had serious work ahead of them. Dangerous work and it would take all of them working together to win the battle ahead.
