Cassie (The Coven's Grove Chronicles #3) (22 page)

T
he sky was filled with that wondrous magenta that didn’t seem natural. The color transformed into burnt orange the closer it came to the setting sun, and dark blue farther up toward the rising moon. There was a slight breeze drifting through the maze of giant trees. The air cooled the beaded sweat on Cassie’s skin. It was the perfect evening to start her new life, and become part of a sisterhood she knew to be true.

Two months had gone by in a flash. She’d been instrumental in helping Brody with the construction of the new cottages. Her strength had done away with the need for a crane. She’d been able to set massive beams where Brody had directed. The boys had pitched in too, but only with the little stuff. The other witches visited periodically to lend a hand, and provide moral support. Cassie looked forward to Hannah’s visits the most because of the wonderful dishes she would bring for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The woman was a master chef as far as Cassie was concerned. Her ability in the kitchen alone was reason enough to join the coven.

The days had been filled with hard, fulfilling work. The cottage they had recently completed was built into the side of a hill, and was two stories with decks on both levels. The lower level veranda wrapped around three sides of the structure, while the smaller, second catwalk, adorned only the front. Rustic pine and stone covered the exterior, with tall windows to let in plenty of light. The roof was actually an extension of the grassy hill it was built into. She would have been more than happy to live in such a place, and felt a strong sense of pride at its completion.

Currently, she stood in the small glade that had been the backdrop of her dreams as of late. There was little difference between what she saw now, and the visions she’d had. A low-hanging mist drifted out from the surrounding forest onto the grassy clearing like a billowy blanket. The air was warm, and filled with the scent of redwood and fern. She expected to see fairies and mystical beings tromp out of the woods at any second.

The stone and wood dais, located between two adjoining streams, pulsed with energy and power. It looked just as it had in Cassie’s dreams. Carved runes along the sides of the stone block glowed with golden light, releasing bright sparkles into the evening air. The wooden base, made up of living roots from the surrounding trees, twisted with life, slowly rotating the altar in a continuous circle.

Miranda stood next to the dais, dressed in a gown so sheer, she might as well have not been wearing anything at all. The other witches, including Cassie herself, wore a similar scant outfit. Made from some metallic material, the sheer gowns reflected the golden glow of the altar. Miranda and the others looked like angels arranged in a tight circle of power.

Cassie was glad Caleb hadn’t been allowed to see her in the costume. If he had, she never would have made it to the ritual on time. Since moving into the cottage, Caleb had been relentless in his desire for her. Not that she had a problem with that by any means. She had taken advantage of him on multiple occasions to fulfill her own desires, but the ever present hunger for each other did pose issues for maintaining a schedule.

Miranda’s enchanting voice interrupted her thoughts. Hannah and Rhea stood to either side of the matriarch, joining her in harmony. The song they sang was soothing, and filled with words Cassie didn’t understand. She’d been told the chants were ancient and powerful rites of passage, but couldn’t say one way or the other.

The glowing runes on the dais pulsed brighter. Droplets of light fell to the ground, creating a carpet of gleaming sparkles. While at the same time, a smaller number drifted into the air on currents of heat.

Cassie had to squint against the brilliance, but managed to keep her eyes open. She and Alix held hands on the other side of the altar. The purple-haired woman’s anticipation was evident in the vice-like grip she had on Cassie’s hand. Cassie was having trouble managing her own excitement, as she waited for the que to recite the words she and Alix had spent the last few months memorizing. A spell. Something Cassie had never done before. She knew of and had used her innate power. But performing a magic spell in the traditional sense was something she hadn’t even know was possible before coming to Coven’s Grove, and now she found herself on the verge of casting her first one.

The three women in front of her continued their song, getting louder with each repetition. The rotating stone finally became so bright, that Cassie had to close her eyes. Grass tickled her feet, as power surged up from the earth into her body. The transference of power was akin to when they had banished the demon. The five of them shared themselves with each other, and became stronger for it.

The light suddenly dulled, and Cassie opened her eyes. The once marbled stone of the dais had become a glittering block of amber. Within its transparent walls, spun a cyclone of golden mist, littered with shards of ethereal light. It called to her. The magic called to her.

It was the signal she’d been waiting for.

Cassie squeezed Alix’s hand, and together they began to chant the words that would make them sisters, and part of a family, that would protect each other to the end.

I shed my old life

And say goodbye to my old self

To be renewed

A witch reborn

Walking with sisters

Hand in hand

And side by side

Fighting all evil we may find.

By the end Cassie gasped for breath, power still spewing from her lips. Miranda, Hannah, and Rhea, continued to sing, though Cassie could no longer hear them. A low thrum shook the ground, filling her ears. Rhea stepped forward and took Cassie’s other hand, while Hannah did the same with Alix. The circle joined, it was time for the last of the spell to be recited. All five of them chanted the next words in unison.

Old powers forgotten will survive

As the old way foretells

No longer wandering in solitude

This coven is our stewardship

The ways of evil we will always hinder

The old ways we understand

This coven, its powers solidified

Evil defeated when we are combined.

A wave of sound akin to a sonic boom rocked against Cassie, knocking her backward. The blanket of mist that surrounded them rolled back into the woods. The steely grasp of her sisters was the only thing that prevented her from falling flat on her ass. The others wobbled in place, but the circle remained closed. Remnants of magical power rippled through her like the aftershocks of an intense orgasm.

Miranda steady herself. Her gaze drifted to each of the women in the circle, and then settled on Cassie and Alix. When she spoke, her voice was a hoarse whisper. “Welcome sisters.”

Alix whooped and hopped around, despite the exhaustion she must have felt.

A smile spread across Cassie’s face. She’d never been happier, even during her childhood. The acceptance and knowledge she’d found here was beyond anything she could have ever imagined. She still cherished those memories when her father had been alive, but now, she’d finally found something to strive toward. She’d found people with whom she could share her life with. She’d finally found a home of her own.

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Book Four: Paige

Chapter 1

“T
his is stupid!” the blond-haired, blue-eyed boy whined at his parents.

Great,
Paige thought.
Another spoiled brat
.

“I wanna go back to the hotel!” Blond Boy demanded.

“Now Billy, we told you we’d go back once the tour was finished,” his mother said in a calming tone. Her gaze darted around at the crowd of people. The herd moved past them as they continued their way through the tour. A few sneers touched the pair, but no one said anything. “It’ll be just a bit longer, then we’ll go,” Billy’s mother continued. The boy’s father appeared completely uninterested in the little tantrum his son was starting, and moved on with the rest of the crowd.

Dick
.

As the group’s tour guide, Paige couldn’t leave anyone behind. It was against policy, liability issues, and all that other crap. It was times like this that she really didn’t like her job, which sucked, because most of the time, she really liked her job. Especially this time of year. October brought out all the weirdos and fun people that she loved to meet. From the vampire worshipers to the Cthulhu enthusiasts, these groups were a truckload of freak sauce, which made her feel like she actually fit in.

Every now and then there was one person that spoiled it for the rest. This time, it happened to be little Billy. It wasn’t really his fault. He was like, six years old or something; too young to be left alone, but not old enough to appreciate the historical spookiness around him. That didn’t make the situation any less annoying.

Billy stomped his feet. “I wanna go, now!”

Paige rolled her eyes.
Oh, hell
. This was going to turn into a full on whine-fest that she didn’t have time for. The rest of the group was trucking down the block toward the cemetery without them. She scanned the cobblestone street. People from all over the country littered the sidewalks in their Halloween costumes. Salem was a popular place this time of year, so there was no lack of variety or number. The shops were decked to the nines in fear-gear and creepy decorations. Life-sized witches greeted customers at every storefront with a screeching cackle, while black cats arched their backs in wide-eyed stances of fright. Bales of hay and stalks of corn were around every light post along the main streets, softening the otherwise dark atmosphere. October was Salem’s month, and shop owners did their best to capitalize on the short window of opportunity and popularity. Halloween ambiance wasn’t what Paige was looking for however. She needed to find incentive for little Billy to get a move on. Fortunately, across the worn cobbled street, next to Faust and Fun, she found it.

An old spirit by the name of Maggie Narwee hopped in place next one of the streetlights, giddy with excitement as she watched the flocks of children waddle by. Pink rollers hung askew around her shoulders, tangled within her disheveled gray hair. The hairstyle matched her patchworked sweater and faded black skirt, as well as the old, wingtip pumps on her feet. She had always been a pleasant and cheerful ghost. A kindly grandmother type, or what Paige assumed a kindly grandmother would be like. She hadn’t known any of her grandparents, so she could only assume.

Paige focused her thoughts as her hand subconsciously ran across the coolness of her blue flash moonstone necklace. The stone was a large oval encased in many tangling strands of silver. One of a kind...apparently just like her. She walked up to the wispy, old spirit and whispered, “Hello, Maggie.”

Maggie looked up and spun around in a circle. “The pretty blond girl speaks to me, so I shall listen.” Her clunky shoes left the ground as she hovered a few inches off of the sidewalk, and then floated across the street.

“I need your help, Maggie.” Paige glanced at Billy and his flustered mother. “Billy needs to keep up with the group. Do you think you can help him?” She had learned that when talking with spirits it was best to ask, not demand assistance.

“What an adorable little boy,” Maggie said. She drifted over to him, clasping her hands together in delight. She settled next to Billy, opposite his mother.