Alice hopped off the ski-machine and wiped the beads of sweat away with her Egyptian cotton towel. It was raining hard but she could still see Puget Sound clearly from her wall of windows. So much for her planned tennis game later. She slipped on her velour hoodie and grabbed a glass of ice water placed next to the sofa. Time to ring up the girls and fill them in on her call with Morgan. Not that the Coven’s head witch had told her that much, but hardly a day went by when she didn't speak to the rest of the group anyway. Angele, Catherine and M.C. had been her friends since college. Sorority sisters, along with Morgan, they had created their Coven before graduating from the University of Washington.
The Widdershins Circle had been going strong for ten years. Five witches, five friends, using their talents to enrich themselves however they could. The curse had been the first time they had ever done something like that, though. There had been spells to repel boyfriends and a few hexes on their ex-girlfriends, but never had they placed such a curse - especially on a stranger. Alice hadn't been sure it was a good idea, but Morgan had insisted they perform the ritual. She had assured the group that the witch deserved it - that she had used her magic to help a supernatural creature. Witchcraft should only be used to benefit humans - not supernatural freaks - at least as far as Alice was concerned. All five of them were descended from a long line of witches. Anytime a witch aided a supernatural, it ended badly, if her family stories were to be believed. Today's witches had no sense of history, no sense of what was proper and expected. No doubt that came from anyone being allowed to call herself a witch these days, whether they had the blood or not. And Alice most certainly had the blood.
"Teela, come on girl. Let's get you ready for your walk. I'll call the girls on my headset." Alice headed for the entry to round up the raincoat for herself and her familiar, a whippet. She needed another 10,000 steps to make her goal and with a wine tasting tonight at the clubhouse, that meant calories. She wanted to look good in her festival gown. They had all decided on a lovely pink gown with light green layers. Perfect for a pink moon.
"Hello, M.C., it's me. No word yet on the curse..."
Sorcery
Michael Syon was angry. Imps had long memories, and Michael's was longer than most. He had been cast aside by Hedy, unfairly blamed when all he had tried to do was help. He wasn't about to take such an insult lying down. Staring out the windows of his shop, The Red Bat, he watched the rain drizzle down Cole Street, puddling near the gutters. And indeed, he had already started his revenge in motion.
"Penny for your thoughts, Michael." Mary's voice called to him from the mirror near the back of the store. He flinched at the sound. For two hundred years he had been hearing that voice, ever since she had been killed for witchcraft back in England. His magic had saved her spirit in the mirror and she had been pestering him ever since.
"Just watching the rain, Mary. Hardly worth the penny. I'm curious if the witches managed that curse properly. I suppose I should take a walk to find out. Maybe after the rain stops." He brushed an invisible hair off the front of his crisp vest. Getting soaked to see whether the curse was working didn't sound appealing.
"Oh, it is working. I can tell. I paid a little visit to her mirror this morning and she looks dreadful. Only a short while now, and everyone will know." Mary's voice called out, sounding especially excited to Michael's ears. Why she should care whether this revenge took root he couldn't fathom. After all, he had been the one wronged, not Mary Worth, not Bloody Mary.
"As you say, I'll take your word for it, given your particular ability. In any event, this is just the first step in a longer plan. Once the local witches know to mind their own business, Hedy and her little coterie will have no one available to help them again when I get my revenge. Insult and injury. Such an act cannot be allowed to stand. Not against me.”
"I am well aware of your need for revenge on the Leckermaul woman. In due time, Michael. But first, the cursed witch. We need the cursed witch weakened and brought near death." Mary's sing-song voice grated on his last good nerve.
"Near death - not dead, you promised. I am not crossing that threshold. Any such death would bring me to full transformation into demon form, and I do not wish for that, Mary. I have your word on this." Michael turned from the window and headed toward the stack of summer hats he had been arranging. Sun, like his revenge, would have to come to Enumclaw.
"Of course, Michael. When have I ever not kept faith with you?" Mary asked sweetly.
The afternoon was nearly over and Helen was ready to leave work for the day. They were slated to meet up at The Sequel but she wanted to hurry home to feed Hester. The beauty of living so close to work was the convenience of dashing back for every little thing - including feeding her rabbit. Hester was a Belgian Hare, born wild, but she had found her way to Helen almost nine years ago. As those who practice the Craft know, the witch doesn't choose the familiar, quite the opposite. Once a witch has passed from novice to initiate, they must wait for their familiar to choose them. Hester had found Helen and had been with her ever since. She had been tempted to take Hester over to Hedy's house, to see if that strange staff of hers could give Hester the power of speech - but something told her that wasn't proper. Helen and Hester had a bond that made speech unnecessary. Hester knew Helen's thoughts and knew how to help in spellwork. She didn't dare do anything that might damage that bond, especially just out of curiosity.
Helen's slicker took the brunt of the rain from the quick walk down Porter Street to her house on Marion, and she gave it a good shake once she reached her porch. The purple front door, painted for the protective nature of the color, was a welcome sight and Helen had a fleeting wish to call the Coven and cancel tonight's event. Nothing sounded as good as cuddling up on her sofa with a book and a pot of tea, listening to the rain. She let the thought flit from her mind; that kind of slack behavior wasn't going to help them prepare for the Festival, and everything needed to be perfect.
"Hester, I'm home. Just popping in to give you some dinner before I head out to meet the Coven." The soft sound of Louis Prima singing greeted her; she left her music playlist on shuffle all day to keep Hester company.
The sound of nails clacking against the hardwood could be heard just above the horn solo. Hester came in from the den where she liked to curl up most of the day. Her long, orangish ears were the first thing Helen saw coming around the corner.
"Ah, there you are. Ready for some fruit and veg?" The rabbit gave her a look as she cocked her head to the right. Yes, of course she was ready.
"Okay then, let's get you fed and then I'll hustle out to the group. I hope I can get back early tonight; I'll do my best." The rabbit followed her into the kitchen.
The Sequel was a large bookstore in an old storefront on Cole Street, not far from Michael's vintage shop. A community fixture, the shop had stacks of new and used books and a nice meeting space in the back where the store’s book club held meetings. Kat, as an employee at the shop, had secured the space for tonight's meeting of the Coven.
Since it was just a steering meeting tonight, and no actual spellwork, no one was really worried about customers wandering into their midst. Ceremonial circles and casting require concentration and seclusion but discussing the need for port-a-potties and food trucks did not. The Eve of May Festival would draw dozens of witches to Ravensdale to congregate, cast magic and most importantly for some, shop for specialties in the vendor market. The Coven had been working on the event plans since last Summer Solstice when the Council announced they would be hosting. Now, there were only two weeks until the big event.
"Hey, Kat, how's it going?" Frankie entered the store, giving her umbrella a shake on the sidewalk before pulling it inside. Her dreads were beautifully styled, as always. Kat self-consciously gave her long bob a quick pat to feel for stray hairs.
"Hey, Frankie. How was the drive? Tacoma traffic bad tonight?" Frankie worked for a large health insurance company about thirty miles south of home.
"As
usual. Makes me jealous of Helen and her three block commute. Anybody else here yet?" Frankie took some time to ogle the shelves, picking up a Margaret Atwood novel to purchase before she left. It was hard for anyone to enter The Sequel and not find something to buy.
"You are the first. I have some wine in the back if you want a glass." Kat watched Frankie wander back with the book tucked under her arm. It wouldn't be long before all the Sisters were there.
The door opened again and this time it was Sage, carrying a hemp tote bag.
"Hey, Sage. How's it going? Where have you been shopping?"
Sage set the bag down with a grunt.
"All along Cole, stopping into all the shops. The twins have their birthday next month and I am trying to get a jump on it. Speaking of that, do you have the Captain Underpants series? I promised to bring them home a book tonight." Kat came out from behind the counter and led Sage toward the children's section.
"I hope not all the stores on Cole. You didn't go to The Red Bat, I'm assuming?" Kat saw Sage grimace and instantly felt stupid for asking.
"Yeah, like I would buy my daughters vintage women's clothes from an Imp who tried to kill someone. Come on, Kat." Sage squatted easily in front of the shelf with Dav Pilkey's books. Kat's legs weren't quite that flexible so she stood above her.
"Sorry, no, of course you wouldn't. Dumb question." Kat said.
"Oh, I am just teasing you. But no, I haven't been in that shop. I didn't even go into Diedre's shop. Nothing in there that the girls would want anyway and it is too expensive." Sage stood and Kat led her back to the cash register to ring up two copies.
"Yeah, I like to browse The Owl and the Jam Jar but I don't shop there. Too spendy for me. Glad someone does though or Diedre wouldn't have a job. Frankie's in the back." Kat handed Sage back her change and Sage tucked the books into her hemp bag.
"Nice. I'll join her. Helen should be here soon I would think, and Diedre. It's almost time."
As if on cue, the door opened and Helen was there, swathed in her yellow slicker and a pair of black Hunter rain boots. Before Kat could even say hello, Helen signaled for her to come to the door.
"Hurry, something is wrong with Diedre."
Hexes
Kat didn't bother with her jacket - it was far back at the end of the shop. She hustled after Helen into the rain, jogging out into traffic on Cole. The drivers could spot Helen's bright slicker, even in the gray rain, so Kat stayed close to the Head Witch as they hustled across the street and down a few blocks. Kat could hardly keep pace with the bustling woman.
"What's happening, Helen?" Kat called out, feeling a huge sploosh of rain drip from an awning onto the top of her head. It dribbled down her scalp.
"No time to explain, come on." Helen called back without turning her head.
The door to the Owl and the Jam Jar, the shop where Diedre worked, was right ahead of them. There was a wooden cart placed near the door with an array of small potted succulents with expensive price tags; their containers had cracks filled with a powdered gold lacquer. Kintsugi, Diedre had called it when Kat asked why all the pots were broken. Apparently, that made it fancy and pricey.
Helen gave the door a sharp yank and the scent of peony greeted them. Kat could see Diedre behind the counter at the back of the shop, looking like a crumpled hankie.
"Diedre? What's wrong?" Kat called from behind Helen's back as they marched toward the back of the shop. Thankfully, no customers were there to slow their progress - it was a tiny space.
"I'm fine, Kat. Just tired." Diedre called back to them in a weak voice. Even from this distance, Kat could see the yellowish tinge to Diedre's skin.
"You don't look fine. You look sick. How long has this been going on?" Kat asked as they came up to the counter and she could get a proper look at her friend. The view had not improved.
"I woke up feeling under the weather. It must be just a spring cold. Katelyn's on her way in to close out the day. I hated to bug her on her only day off but I really need to lie down." Diedre had a cup of tea in a china cup on the counter but it looked like she hadn't taken a sip.
"Good, we need to get you home. I'll call the others to meet us at your house." Helen said, fishing her cellphone out of her totebag printed with "My other car is a broom".
"Oh, I'm not up for company, Helen. I just want to go to sleep." Diedre protested.
"We aren't company, Diedre. And I won't take no for an answer. Let's get you home so we can get to the bottom of this."
Ten minutes later, Katelyn had arrived and Diedre had departed, with Kat and Helen taking charge of getting her back home. Helen had driven them in Diedre's car back to Buckley, a town just a few miles away from Enumclaw, where Diedre lived. The rest of the group would meet them there.
"There is no need for all this fuss, Helen. Really, I will be fine. I'll go to bed and sleep it off. Darro is going to bring me some chicken soup later." Diedre muttered in the back seat, wrapped up in her jacket. Her eyes were closed as she spoke.
"Let me worry about that, Diedre. You just rest." Helen replied, turning the Honda down East Mason Avenue and slowing in front of Diedre's house. The rain had finally let up.
"We are here, Diedre." Kat said, exiting the passenger seat and opening up the back door for Diedre. Together with Helen, they ushered Diedre up her front stairs. Helen fiddled with the keys until the front door opened, revealing a tawny striped cat with bright blue eyes.
"Hey, Jinx. Waiting at the door, huh? He never does that..." Diedre murmured as the trio entered the little house. Helen gently pulled off Diedre's coat and hung it on the hook. Diedre walked slowly toward the sofa.
"Have a seat and I'll start the tea. Kat, will you give me a hand?" The two women headed into Diedre's kitchen, which had enough plants and hanging herbs to look more like a garden. Kat heard a faint groan as Diedre sat down on the sofa.
"Should we take her to a doctor?" Kat asked, whispering as the small half doors on the kitchen closed behind them.
"No, this isn't something for a doctor. This is something for us. Diedre has been cursed." Helen said, in her usual matter-of-fact way.
"What? How can you tell, Helen? Who would curse Diedre?" Kat watched the older witch put the kettle on the gas stove and press on the button to ignite the flame. With a soft hiss, the blue flame came up.
"Kat, it is hard to explain, but I can see it around her, like an aura. It's unnatural and hangs on her, almost like a shroud. Whoever has cursed her means business; she is worse now than when I saw her just a little bit ago. We have to get to the bottom of this. That's why I need the whole Coven to come here." Helen sliced a lemon as she spoke, squeezing a bit of juice into a large mug, along with a hefty drizzle of honey. Apparently the remedy for a curse was the same as a sore throat, or so it seemed to Kat.
"So what do we do?" Kat asked.
"When the others are here, we will cast a circle and find out what is happening. For now, we are drinking tea."
It wasn't long before Frankie and Sage were in Diedre's living room. Mel, the Coven's current initiate, was too far away to make it. She was in Seattle, studying at the University of Washington, but Helen promised to keep her posted. The four witches hovered near the reclining Diedre, who had her eyes closed and her familiar perched on her chest.
"What's the plan, Helen?" Frankie asked, keeping her voice low so as not to disturb Diedre.
"We cast a circle and then see if we can find out what exactly is going on with her. Let's move this table out of the way." Helen started directing traffic, with Frankie and Sage moving the coffee table and Kat gathering the supplies from Diedre's hutch in the dining room. Candles, salt, a goblet for water, a bowl for herbs. Kat gathered everything and brought it to the small table Helen set up as a makeshift altar.
"I don't want to disturb her rest or I would have her join us in the middle of the circle. I think we can still cast it and find out what is happening with her where she is. At least I think so. I don't have a lot of experience
with curses." Helen said, placing the candles at the four cardinal points of east, west, north and south.
"Who does? I haven't met anyone working in curses these days. The repercussions are too high, even if the witch had the desire to do harm. I mean, who needs the Law of Three to bring a curse back on you three-fold? That's crazy." Frankie said, pouring distilled water into the goblet and handing it over to Helen.
"There are those who believe that certain curses, certain old curses can bypass the Law of Three, if performed properly. But I've never met a living witch who knew the incantations. I always thought they were just rumors. But whoever has cursed Diedre, we need to find out how to counteract it. Then we can figure out why anyone would do it in the first place." Helen took the goblet and placed it in the center of the floor, along with the cup of salt. The witches gathered, taking their places in a loose X shape around the four candles.
"We cast this circle and greet the four corners, with humility and peace in our hearts. We seek answers for what ails our Sister, Diedre. We invoke the magic of Isis and Brigid to aid us in our quest." Helen chanted, her voice low but strong. From the sofa, they heard a low growl from Jinx.
"Within the goblet's mirror, show us the source of Diedre's pain. Bring to light the magic used against her." Helen said, kneeling now to lean over the goblet. The candles flickered in the still room.
"Sisters, help me in my quest."
Frankie and Sage began to chant softly, with Kat joining in once she heard the words. "Si quæritis, si quæritis, si quæritis." 'We seek answers', said in Latin, as the age of the language can bring power to ordinary words.
Helen peered into the goblet, letting her eyes go soft and dim so she could see any apparitions in the still water. Helen had been scrying, using water as a kind of mirror, for many years, and normally the images came quickly to her, easily floating on the surface of the water. She was an Air Witch - her specialty was foreseeing the future and all forms of divination. She had had the power of Sight since she was a little girl, and through many years of practice, it had become second nature to her. Now, she focused on the water, using her skills to find any images to answer their questions.
Pink Moon Rising: The Witches of Enumclaw Book One Page 2
