- SAGE
- SAGE
Helen stepped away from her cubicle with her phone. Rather than jump into the sea of texts, she would call Sage directly.
"Hello, Helen. You saw the texts?" Sage said in answer to the call.
"Yes, are you still at the hospital?"
"Yes, but Frankie and I are just leaving now. We are going to head over to Diedre's house in case she is there. We'll let you know if we find her. The word here is not long after you left her, Diedre pulled out her IV, got dressed, and told the nurses she was leaving. Just like that. That sounds so weird." Sage said and Helen could hear Frankie's voice in the background chiming in with "Not like Diedre."
"Well, keep me posted if you find her at home. Did someone text Darro? Maybe he knows something." Helen's boss was heading her direction, holding a file folder she recognized as the thorny claim. She'd have to go soon.
"Frankie's on it. He hasn't responded yet - he must still be asleep. Anyway, we'll keep everyone in the loop. If you have your cards at work, maybe you could do a quick reading to see what is happening? Okay, we're getting in the car now. Talk later." Sage hung up and Helen walked toward her boss, trying to focus on the folder in his hands and not the missing friend everyone would be searching for.
Frankie pounded on Diedre's door but there was no answer. Just the subdued meow of Jinx from somewhere inside. Kat had a key to the place since she was taking care of the cat. Sage chided herself for not swinging by the book store to pick it up on the way to Diedre's house.
"We really should check in there, just in case she is passed out or something." Sage said, loud enough to be heard over Frankie's pounding fist.
"Let me try something. I don't know if it will work - it is a new spell I have been working on." Frankie fished around in her small purse and drew out what looked like metal toothpick.
"What's that?" Sage asked as Frankie knelt before the door. She held the pick in her right hand and began to mumble, almost too quiet for Sage to hear. After a moment, she slid the pick into the lock. Grasping the lever handle, Frankie gave it a turn and it opened freely.
"Wow, so you can pick locks now with that thing? That's amazing...and a bit scary, frankly." Sage said, following Frankie into the room. It smelled like dry cat food.
"Not so much picking locks as a spell to unbind the gears within the lock. Like I said, sometimes it works, and sometimes not. I've been practicing it since I locked myself out of my house a month ago. Good thing it worked now." Frankie called over her shoulder as she walked back toward the bedroom. She was back in a moment. "No one there."
"Well, she didn't come home. Where would she have gone?" Sage sat down on the sofa as she spoke. From underneath a set of claws reached out and sliced at her ankle.
"Owww, holy crap! Was that Jinx?" Sage bolted up, twisting her ankle toward her to get a look. Four deep scratches were dripping blood along her Achilles tendon.
"So he's still acting strange, apparently. Here, put some pressure on it." Frankie snatched a paper napkin from the kitchen counter and handed it to Sage. She stood on one leg, pressing the napkin against the blood.
"Yeah, he sure is. Whatever is going on with Diedre must still be affecting him. But damn it, that hurt!" Sage let go of her ankle but kept the napkin. She would tend to it more in the car.
"Let's get out of here. We need to go find her."
Grimoires
Even in a small town like Enumclaw, it’s easy to disappear, or so it seemed to Frankie and Sage. Back in town, they parked in the little lot across from the bookstore to see if Kat had seen Diedre. Kat was on a break down the street at the Percolator, so the pair wandered down Cole Street to look for Diedre along the way.
"Where would she have gone? It seems crazy she didn't come home." Sage said, glancing in the window where Diedre worked to see if she saw anything, but the shop was empty except the owner Katelyn.
"She must have gone to Darro's place. I don't know where he lives. I've texted him but no answer yet. His phone goes straight to voicemail when I call. Maybe Kat knows where he lives, or Mel - she's friends with him." Frankie said, hurrying to make the walk signal across Griffin Avenue. The coffee shop was just a block or so away.
"Has Helen tried divination to find her? No one is better at it than her." Sage said, keeping pace with Frankie, but just barely. They were moving quickly.
"No word if she has. You know Helen though, she isn't going to do something like that on company time. Her work ethic won't allow that. I bet she is waiting for her lunch break."
They reached the coffee shop as Kat was exiting, with Jimmy at her elbow. That would explain why she didn't just drink a coffee at the book shop, Sage mused. Jimmy was a handsome guy and she had always thought the two made a cute pair. Maybe they were finally getting together.
"Hi, we were looking for you," Frankie said, interrupting whatever the pair had been chatting about. Kat smiled for a minute before her look turned to worry.
"No Diedre? She's gotta be somewhere." Kat said
"Yeah, but the question is where. Do you know where Darro lives? Maybe she went there?" Frankie replied.
"Yeah, I do. He shares an apartment with his firefighter friend and I think they live on Watson Street. The apartments are called Rainier...something. I bet she's there. It makes sense anyway." Kat said, as she turned back toward the book store.
"I gotta get back to work but keep me posted, okay? Jimmy, see you later." With a wave of her hand, Kat hurried back down Cole.
"Okay, let's get the car. It is a little too far to walk but I found the apartments on my GPS." Frankie said, pulling up a small map on her phone.
It was a short drive to the Rainier Glade apartments. By now, Sage hoped that Darro would be up and answering his texts because they weren't sure which apartment was his. Maybe they would spot Diedre's car but as luck turned out, they spotted Diedre herself. Sage hopped out before Frankie even parked.
"Diedre, why are ye doing this? Ye wake from some weird sleep and now you dump me?" Darro's voice filled the small parking lot. He was standing yards away from Diedre who was walking away from him.
"I told you, I need to be on my own now - no man in my life. I can't be tied down. I'm sorry." Diedre replied, her voice sounding cold in the brisk wind.
"Diedre? We've been looking for you. Are you alright? What's going on?" Sage asked, standing between them.
"She's not alright, she leaves her sick bed to come to my house to dump me. I don't understand." Darro bellowed as he turned away from the women and walked back to his apartment. Sage thought he looked ravaged.
"Diedre?" Sage asked again, catching her friend's arm. "We're worried about you. Can we talk?" Frankie had joined them, with Diedre now in the middle.
"Nothing to be worried about. I feel fine. I feel better than fine. I just want to get back to my life. This thing with Darro has been coming for awhile. Now seemed like the time to start things fresh. He kept calling my phone, I couldn't just ignore him. But now, I don't have to worry about that anymore." Diedre replied, pulling her arm back from Sage slowly. She smiled as she spoke, without a hint of sadness to her eyes.
"Come on, let's get something to eat and talk." Frankie said, motioning Diedre toward the car. For a moment, the woman in the rumpled sweatpants and hoodie didn't move. She was clearly mulling it over.
"Alright, I am a bit hungry. And I need something new to wear. Nothing vintage or old though - something very modern and sharp. Let's go."
They left Diedre's car par
ked near the apartment and all rode in Frankie's car. Diedre took the backseat, sitting in the middle.
"What first? Food or clothing?" Frankie asked, turning back toward downtown. Her own stomach grumbled in reply.
"Clothes. I don't want to wear these a moment longer. Fresh start, fresh clothes." Diedre replied.
"Alright, let's head back to Cole Street and go to that little boutique, the one not far from the coffee shop. I bet they have something."
"Diedre, do you remember anything that happened?" Sage asked, watching Diedre's face in the rear view mirror. The smile was still there but the edges were pulling down a bit at the question.
"No, not really. I felt ill, went to work and then nothing. Then I woke up today. And I feel wonderful. Why do we have to worry about it? It's good enough that I am feeling fine." Diedre replied.
"Well, because you were cursed, at least that is what we think, and we don't know how you managed to wake up from it." Sage turned in her seat to look at Diedre directly. Sage thought she saw exasperation in Diedre's eyes.
"You worry too much. I'm fine and whatever was wrong is gone now. You don't need to worry about it anymore. Things are only going to get better from here on out. You'll see."
Sage turned back toward the front, giving Frankie a meaningful look as she did. The car pulled up in front of the clothing store and Diedre led the way inside.
"What's going on with her?" Sage whispered, letting Diedre move a few paces ahead of them.
"Don't know, but something is. Let's just keep an eye on her." Frankie mumbled back, catching the door before it closed on them. Diedre was already loading up her arms with different items to try on.
"I'll send everyone a text that we found her."
"Yeah, but let's not get into any of this right now - we don't need our phones blowing up with questions." Frankie said, stepping away from Sage to get closer to Diedre. She was heading toward a little changing room in the back, along with half the merchandise.
"So enough worry about me, what is happening with you both? Tell me everything. You start." Diedre pointed at Frankie with a broad smile.
"Uh, you mean besides chasing all over creation the last couple of days? Nothing much. Just preparing for the Festival - we've all been knee deep in those plans. Sage, any news from you?" Frankie was clearly passing the conversation on to her and she wasn't particularly grateful for it.
"Oh, well, there has been a bit of a dust up with my sister-in-law over the kids but she'll get over it. She's not happy that I am part of the Coven. She never approved but now with Chris gone, she really isn't happy. Family can be rough, right?"
Diedre had been making agreeing noises from behind the curtain when she suddenly drew it back to reveal a long black skirt and a tight black sweater. The effect was striking with her dark hair and dark eyes. It definitely wasn't her usual casual style.
"Sage...yes, Sage...so your husband's sister is causing you trouble because you are a witch? Do I have that right?" Diedre came out toward them, swirling the skirt as she went.
"Well, causing trouble might be a bit much, but she made some kind of threat last night - something about not letting this go on. She's just being theatrical. What could she do?"
"The question isn't what could she do, but what will you do? When someone threatens your home, your children? It is not as if you are powerless, you know." Diedre gave one last twirl and then went back to her dressing room, snapping the curtain back. Apparently it was time for another wardrobe change.
"What is with her?" Sage whispered.
"I can hear you, Sage." Diedre called back. "Nothing is with me - I am happy to be alive and I am going to treasure every day. No one should make me feel otherwise - nor should they for you. Don't let your husband's sister threaten you. Real witches are not meek." This time Diedre pulled the curtain to reveal tight black jeans with a black and silver button up blouse and a silver belt buckle.
"Ladies - let's get something to eat, I am famished. I want to hear all about our Coven, the Festival, everything."
Familiars
Mel's phone had been buzzing with texts all morning but the one from Avalon snapped her to attention.
Tonight? Mel hadn't known when the Widdershins Circle would be meeting but apparently it was happening tonight and she was expected to be there. Becca had told her that she wouldn't get a second invitation. She had planned to drive to Enumclaw tonight to see Diedre but apparently that would have to wait.
"Are you sure this is a good idea, Mel?" Ana called to her from the kitchen. She was making them a fish chowder for lunch and it smelled delicious. Ana had taken a fancy to cooking since moving in with her. Mel's talent was baking, not cooking. Mel's time working at Hedy's bakery meant she could make delicious, albeit weird looking, cookies, but not so much when it came to savory dishes. Luckily, Ana was a quick study.
"I don't know - probably not, to be honest." Mel chuckled but instantly regretted it. Ana worried enough as it was over Mel and her recent studies in witchcraft. It had almost broken them apart a few months ago.
"What did you say?" Ana said, wiping her hands on a plaid dish towel. She was adorable in her oversized apron; most things were oversized on the petite Undine, a water being. Mel stood several inches taller than her supernatural girlfriend.
"I don't know if it is a good idea or not but I won't get the opportunity again, so I better check it out." Mel said, walking over to Ana to give her a hug.
"That's not what you said," Ana scowled before tossing the dish towel at Mel. "But I trust that you know what you are doing."
Mel was glad one of them did.
It was just before seven o'clock when she walked up to the front steps of Zeta House. Avalon waited on the front porch, dressed in a long black dress, with a ballet dancer sweater wrap against the chill air. She looked perturbed. This is going to be fun, Mel thought sarcastically.
"Good, you are finally here. We can go. I'll drive." Without more preamble, Avalon led the way down the street to her black Audi. Mel was very glad she hadn't been asked to drive her old Ford.
"Where is the circle being held?" Mel asked as Avalon beeped the key fob to unlock her door.
"At Morgan's house. It is usually there or at Alice's place. They both live on the water, over by Three Trees Point." Avalon gave an unmistakable eyeroll at Mel's lack of recognition.
"You'll see."
Avalon pulled the Audi out of its spot, revving as she went and from then on, Mel wasn't sure she ever touched the brake pedal. Every light was green for her. The normally congested freeway seemed to make way for the sleek car and they roared south of the city, turning toward the city of Burien before Mel even realized they were at the exit. Avalon had turned up the radio to a level that prohibited conversation. She apparently was a fan of Taylor Swift, played very loudly. Mel wondered what enchantment Avalon was using on the traffic lights.
They made their way west, coming to a windy road that led down to the water and a cove of impossibly expensive houses. The places were triple decker, with viewing decks and glass walls - all to take advantage of the spectacular Puget Sound view. The streaking sun rays going down in the west gave testament to the beauty of living at Three Trees Point. Mel couldn't imagine the cost of that view but it had to be plenty.
"We're here." Avalon said, breaking the silence. The Audi pulled up to a large three story house painted a shade of burnt umber. It was striking in the dimming light. The road was lined with luxury cars, all parked against the cliff side.
"It's lovely," Mel said, catching the brisk salt in the air as she exited the car. It was definitely chillier now that the sun was going down. She was glad she had brought her jacket.
"Naturally." Avalon replied, walking up the angled driveway toward the stone steps. Mel felt sure now that this had been a bad idea after all.
"Come in. Glad you could make it." The door opened before Avalon touched the bell. Had Morgan sense
d their presence or just seen them from one of the dozens of windows? Probably the latter, but Mel wouldn't have been surprised either way.
"Mel, good of you to come. I see you wore black. We tend to be a bit more formal for circle than you are probably used to. Black is required at our circle; it is conducive to magic." Morgan said, giving Mel's black jeans a look even as she smiled.
"Come get a glass of wine and meet the others."
The entry led immediately to stairs to take them to the main floor. The living room had an enormous glass wall - completely spotless and unobstructed in its view of the water. Life must be very good for Morgan Cornwall. Was it lawyer money or magic that made her so prosperous, Mel wondered. Probably both.
"Mel, I'd like to introduce you formally to the members of the Widdershins Coven. You know Avalon, of course. She is our initiate and not a full member - yet. This is Alice, M.C., Catherine and Angele. We're glad to have you here tonight." Morgan finished, gesturing to the half circle of women that faced Mel. Mel gave a small wave in return.
"A shy witch. Isn't that charming?" M.C. said, with a soft laugh. She picked up another glass from the table and passed it to Mel.
"I think she is very brave, coming to a strange Coven, especially a strange and powerful Coven, as a new witch." Angele remarked, speaking about her rather than actually to Mel. Avalon gave a small sniff behind her.
"Two initiates - our little circle grows, ladies." Catherine chimed in, dressed in a long black gown that wouldn't have been out of place in the orchestra pit at Benaroya Hall.
"Well, not yet. Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Morgan said, crossing the room to the altar that stood near the glass wall. "First, we must decide if Mel is worthy to join Widdershins. And of course, she must want to join. We believe in free choice, of course." The rest of the women laughed lightly, even Avalon.
"Let's start the circle. There is time for chit chat after. Take your places."
Mel only knew the circles she had shared with her Enumclaw Coven, but this was different. From the moment the group stood in a ring, with Morgan's voice calling forth the cardinal points and blessing the space, there was a charge running through her limbs, a twang along her nerves that she felt flowing from the clasped hands of each witch. Mel's eyes began to drift, her vision hazy in the now dim room. The candle flames seemed enormous and dancing in the light. It was like her cells were vibrating within her - excited and energized and clambering to get out. She had never felt anything like it. Now that the circle was done and the ceremony over, she felt disappointed it was gone.
Pink Moon Rising: The Witches of Enumclaw Book One Page 8
