Putting on the Witch (6 page)

Both times we'd been invited to the Fullers' castle, a car and driver had been dispatched for us. Tonight, it was the same black limo in front of Smuggler's Arcane that had picked us up the last time, and the same driver.

This visit was much more auspicious. The last time—I couldn't even bear to think about it. The circumstances weren't something that I'd ever want to do again. Just thinking about it made me want to cry.

It seemed no one drove or otherwise arrived at the castle. We'd speculated that this was because it wasn't in our world. Elsie thought it might just be in another country, but I wasn't convinced that was true. Whatever the location, the Fullers were very conscious of their security. Sending a car for each visitor took a lot of magic, but they could keep out the riffraff that way and keep the location of their home a secret.

The driver was stiffly polite as he helped us into the car. Unlike the messenger with the invitation to the birthday ball, the driver was a real person. He still wore the Fuller
livery well with his height and broad shoulders. When the door was closed behind us, he assumed his position behind the wheel and we were off.

I tried to see out of the windows, but they were too heavily tinted to view anything moving in the darkness. I finally sat back with nervous butterflies in my stomach, not at all sure we should be attending Brian's birthday bash. The last time we'd been at the castle, I'd felt like a stranger in a strange land. We all had. We were housewives, mothers, teachers and librarians. Hobnobbing with celebrity witches wasn't fun or relaxing.

I was sure Olivia would have fit right in. As I'd said to Dorothy, her mother had spent her life traveling the world and meeting wealthy, famous witches like Drago and the council. She wouldn't have felt intimidated at all. But this had come too late for her. It had to be enough for her that Dorothy was there in her place.

Being part of Brian's family now as his coven meant that we had to support him in times like these. We had to set aside our feelings about this glittering world he'd grown up in. It also helped to know he didn't want to be there either.

Dorothy didn't stop talking. She had a tendency to be that way when she was nervous. Elsie was grinning and staring at the rings on her fingers. I fingered my amulet, feeling its coolness against my skin, and hoped for the best.

The entire trip didn't take more than a few minutes—at least we didn't have to spend much time worrying about what was to come. When we emerged from the car, we were in a different weather pattern with unusual landmarks.

“I really don't think this is our world,” Elsie said, glancing around as we got out of the car.

“Maybe it's a magical realm created by the Fullers,” Dorothy suggested.

“If that's the case, I don't want to see the monthly bill
for additional magic.” I took the driver's hand when he offered to assist me from the car.

We were outside the same castle as last time. It was a huge, imposing structure with mullioned windows and immense double doors. But this time the stone was glowing a soft pink color.

“I think the castle is happier this time,” Dorothy said as we started up the wide staircase to the front door.

“I should hope so, since the last time we came for a funeral,” Elsie said. “If they have so much magic, why don't they have moving stairs?”

Dozens of people in elaborate, expensive clothes were moving slowly toward the arched, open doors where Abdon, Brian's parents and Brian were greeting their guests. Dorothy waved to Brian and then stumbled in her very high-heeled sandals. I caught her arm to keep her from falling, but Brian was there a moment later.

“Are you okay?” he asked with an arm around her.

“I guess I should've worn flats like usual,” she said. “I'm kind of clumsy in heels.”

Unexpectedly, Brian lifted her in his arms and kissed her. “Maybe, but you're also beautiful, and I'm so glad you're here with me tonight.”

People around us stared but didn't remark on the gesture as Brian carried Dorothy the rest of the way up the stairs.

“I don't suppose he'd be willing to come back for me,” Elsie wondered as she huffed and puffed up the stairs.

“Probably not.” I took her arm and drew her close. “But you can lean on me.”

“Can I take off my shoes when we get inside? I'd forgotten how much I hate being dressed up.”

“That's why we don't go to many of these things, I suppose. We're just too settled and we're happy to be comfortable.”

Elsie chuckled. “I suppose we are, Molly. But we can do this for Brian, right?”

“That's right.”

There was no sign of Brian or Dorothy by the time we reached the entrance. A few guests milled around at the top of the stairs after being greeted by Brian's family, but most descended into the ballroom right away.

We were greeted by the Fuller family. There was as much warmth in that greeting as one might expect from frozen fish. Not so much as a smile graced the three party-givers' faces. We barely touched hands and then moved on through the doorway. They didn't want us there and we knew it. Always a fun way to start a party.

We stood at the top of another set of stairs, this one leading down to the bottom of the large ballroom. With dozens of crystal chandeliers above us, we watched the glittering crowd of wealthy witches as they stood in groups to chat, drank champagne from sparkling flutes or whirled around the dance floor past the colored fountain and ornate furniture.

“It might have been worth it just to see this,” Elsie murmured. “I've never seen so many diamonds in one place. It's almost blinding.”

“Don't forget that they probably came by their jewels like we did, and they'll all disappear at dawn.”

“Not hers, I'll bet.” She nodded toward Yuriza Fuller, Brian's mother. “I'll bet those are real.”

“They most definitely are.” Council member Makaleigh Veazy joined us. She had an open, interesting face that was both stern and merciful in its countenance. There was a ring of gold in her dark eyes, and her black hair was coiffed to become a ring around her features. She had been born on the Nile River centuries before and had been instrumental in starting the first Council of Witches. She was dressed in a bright orange floor-length robe but had come without any jewels. “Just ask her. She'll be glad to tell you.”

We smiled at her remark but were careful with what we said. Makaleigh was my favorite of all the council members, but our first meeting had shown that she had a streak of maliciousness too when it came to the laws of the council regarding witches and non-witches marrying and having children. I couldn't agree with her ideas, probably since I was married to a non-witch and had a son who had no magic.

The council's strict policy about erasing the memories of magic and witches from non–magic users' minds was a thorn in many witches' sides. The punishment was swift and could be badly done—using magic to erase memories was tricky business. I'd known too many lives that had been ruined by it. I understood the fear of the Inquisition and other witch hunts down through the centuries and certainly didn't want them to happen again, but this was a different time.

No one could convince the council of that.

“You know, Molly, I've thought a great deal about what you said when we first met,” Makaleigh said. “I think you may be right.”

“Really?” I could hardly believe she would have softened her stand on this major rule of the council. “That's amazing.”

She nodded regally. “I believe you are correct about the council playing too much of a role in protecting magic from the families of witches. We have been harsh in our judgments. At the next council meeting, I intend to bring up changes in that code of conduct.”

For Elsie and me, and thousands of other witches who had children without magic, that was good news. The idea of protecting your child from being marked by the council was a frightening thing. You never knew when someone might hear a careless whisper, and then your life would be changed forever.

“Thank you for considering it,” I said. “It means a lot to many witches.”

She patted her orange turban–wrapped head. “Thank you for being bold enough to say it. I think the council should go out amongst the people more often and gain back their trust. We must hear what they have to say and try to make their lives better. That was my intent when the council was formed. We lost it along the way.”

I was too stunned to speak. No one on the council ever talked like that. I glanced at Elsie. She shrugged and wiped a tear from her eye.

“I hope I can count on you to support me in this, Molly.” Makaleigh smiled. “Elsie. We can make things better, you know. There is always room for improvement. I shall speak with you later. Have a wonderful time.”

Elsie and I hugged each other after she left us to head down into the ballroom.

“Did she really say what I thought she said?” Elsie asked.

“She did.” I cleared my throat. “I don't know what to say.”

“It would be so wonderful to tell Aleese about magic, even if she won't ever be able to use it herself. I know she's thought I was crazy all these years. But I was so afraid of what could happen to her if she knew about witches.”

“I know what you mean.” Would I tell Mike? It was hard to say, but at least I could tell him if I wanted to, or needed to, as I had Joe. I could protect them from the council, but how wonderful it would be not feeling as though they had to be protected.

The world would tilt for many witches who were afraid to share that part of their lives with their families. I would certainly support Makaleigh in that quest. I knew many others would too.

Of course there would be many who weren't ready for a broad change like that. I knew there would be stiff opposition. But Makaleigh led the council, and that could make all the difference. The evening took on a shimmering highlight that had nothing to do with diamonds or champagne.

Elsie and I still hadn't moved from the large stone landing. We stared at the array of blue diamonds on Yuriza's chest, making a few impolite remarks to ourselves, before we finally turned away.

I hadn't bothered looking for Dorothy, since I knew she was with Brian and was probably busy being introduced to his other family and friends. But there she was suddenly marching back toward us.

“Isn't this amazing? I've never seen anything like it, have you?”

“That's just what we were talking about,” I said, not telling her what Makaleigh had mentioned. It had no direct bearing on her as yet. Maybe never would, since she might marry a witch and have witchlings. “Where's Brian?”

“He brought my birthday present and went to get it so he could show her off. I wish he wouldn't have. Did you notice the gift table over there?” She pointed to the far end of the room. “A cat isn't going to seem like much compared to all those other things.”

We gawked at the tremendous pile of gifts—some wrapped, others open to scrutiny. There was a new red Harley-Davidson that only had a bow on it. Probably supposed to match his Corvette. I had to assume the motorcycle came from the same source.