Water Witch (8 page)

And the physical was pretty nice. I ran my hand across his back, down over his hip, and urged him closer to me. Goddess, he was sexy. He lifted his head, and I turned my chin to put my mouth in line with his. I wanted to taste him, to rub myself against him, to bring the dreams I’d been having about him recently to life. His lips shook, like he was unsure if he should say something or just kiss me, and I moved forward to make his decision easier.

Before I made contact he pulled away and shook his head. “I am sorry, my witch. It is not the right time for us to be physical.”

“What? Why—”

He frowned, an apology in his eyes. “I am sorry.” He gave my arms one last gentle squeeze, and then left, climbing swiftly up the rocks.

“What the fuck?” Maybe I’d misread all those visions of us together, those feelings of affection. Or maybe he had some weird Fae issue with kissing.

I tried not to worry about it. I had bigger problems right now.

CHAPTER EIGHT

That night, my mom drove Noni and I to the coven meeting. I sat in the passenger seat, a tray of stuffed mushrooms on my lap.

“Nervous?” Mom eyed me suspiciously.

“Nope. I feel good about this. Actually, I’m not even sure I need their help anymore, but I’m willing to ask. You’re right—we’re stronger together.”

“Okay, what happened? You were a bundle of nerves last night.”

Before I could answer, Noni piped up from the backseat. “The Fae boy visited him again. But Vincenzo’s not interested, of course.”

I rolled my eyes and groaned, but turned to the window to hide my smile. “That’s right, I’m not.”

“Did you ask him for our journal back?” My mom’s tone was sharp enough to wipe the smirk off my face.

“He refused to talk about that. But he did help me with my visions. I worked all afternoon, and I feel pretty strong right now. And I’m looking forward to seeing everyone tonight.”

My mom didn’t take the opening for a change in subject, and we drove the rest of the way in silence.

Our coven building had once been a farmhouse, and the small plot of remaining land was still worked by members of our coven. Inside, the old home provided a comfortable place to meet and socialize around an oversized stone fireplace, while the bedrooms upstairs sat empty until anyone had need of them. Our rituals were performed in the barn, which had been renovated to accommodate us. The hay-lofts could be left open to the moon and stars, and yet we retained privacy from the neighbors and any passers-by. Behind the barn was the bonfire area, set in a small empty field. We occasionally had meetings there, when our rituals called for an open-air space.

We entered the old house, and added our food to the buffet table already half filled with potluck dishes. If I had any lingering doubts about my welcome, they were laid to rest immediately. I was greeted with warm smiles from everyone, and when they heard I was back for good, sighs of relief. After a while it became almost embarrassing. Was I the only person who hadn’t realized going west with Scott was the wrong path?

Finally Liliana rang the old brass bell, calling us to order. “Jackson, Myra, Ryder, and Sarah will call the quarters.” She smiled at my mom. “Maria will assist me with the altar. Let us all adjourn to the ritual space for tonight’s New Moon rite.”

We filed out, my mom and the other witches who had been called to help leading the way. For the first few moments of our rite, we were silent, and very formal. We entered in single file, and walked around the large open room, following a perfect circle inlaid in the wood floor. We all sat on the floor in the center of the circle, around the low altar. Liliana’s voice rang out clear and strong, “The circle is about to be cast. We freely stand within to greet our Lady and our Lord.”

She nodded at my mother to light the altar candles in the center of the circle. The others took that as their cue to begin. One by one, they called out the elements. All of us joined our intentions to those performing the rite, so that even though there was only one physical voice speaking at any given time, the quarters were called, and the circle cast, by the entire coven. Finally, Liliana’s voice called out again, “The circle is drawn. Only love shall enter and leave.”

With the circle complete, the tone of the rite relaxed somewhat. Inside it, we knew peace and safety, and our intentions aligned. Liliana and my mother prepared the salted water and walked the circle with the censer, spreading incense as they chanted the greetings to the God and Goddess. Ryder and Sarah passed out small cakes, which today took the form of shortbread cookies, while Jackson helped Myra pour wine into tiny paper cups. Through it all, I was filled with a deeper sense of community than I ever remembered feeling. Why had I ever left? What had I been thinking? For the first time, I could see the strength of the coven, each of our members donating their own light and power to the circle, all of us together forming a new whole.

The cakes and wine were consumed, a few tools blessed, the elements released with our thanks and blessings, and I was still in a state of blissful appreciation for my community. Liliana ended the rite, as always, “The circle is open, yet the circle remains in each of us as we absorb its power. Blessings have been given here, and blessings received. May peace remain in all our hearts, so mote it be!”

We moved as a group back into the house, many members chatting on the way. I was silent, tears pricking my eyes. How could I have been so wrong for all those years? Thinking I didn’t need anyone, thinking I could ignore my skills and my heritage?

Jasper, who I hadn’t seen since last Yule, jogged up to me and put his arm around my shoulder as we walked. “Hey, man, didn’t get a chance to say ‘Hi’ earlier. How are ya?”

I nodded and smiled at him.

He noticed my glistening eyes. “What’s wrong?”

I shook my head. “Nothing. I just missed this, didn’t realize how much.”

He nodded and squeezed my shoulder, keeping his gaze straight ahead and his arm firmly around me as we walked back into the Covenstead.

It took some time for everyone to load their plates and pour their wine and return to find seats around the big room. Liliana called our informal coven meeting to order. “As I am sure you have all noticed, our brother Vincenzo has returned to us.” She smiled at me and there was a soft murmuring of positive sentiments from the crowd. “We have no coven business to discuss tonight, but Vincenzo has need of our assistance. Let us listen well, and offer him the strength of our combined wisdom.”

I smiled my thanks, but wished Liliana didn’t always have to be so formal. I was already emotional from the service, and now in front of all these kind eyes I felt tears threaten again. “Hi guys. Uh, I’m really glad to be back.” I swallowed down the emotion Liliana’s welcome had brought up and continued, “I had a vision, and I’m pretty sure I know what it means, but I could use any insight anyone might have about it.” I told them what I’d seen while journeying, and they listened as they ate.

“What do
you
think it means?” Noni asked from the old leather couch in the corner.

“A major life change. Something big and…disastrous.” I answered.

A lot of nodding, and a few “Yes, that sounds right,” type comments, and then Maxwell asked, “What kind of disaster?”

This opened up a lively discussion about all the possible tragedies that might befall me: my mother dying, a massage client suing me, a near-fatal car accident. The kinds of things you never really think will happen to you. But now with this vision, I was certain one of them would.

Liliana saved me. “Whatever it is, we will be here.”

“Thanks.”

She turned her attention to the group, most of whom were still discussing my possible downfall. “Any other interpretations that may be of value?”

Jasper offered some positivity. “Well, at least you know you’ll be all right, I mean, the tree survived, so…”

“Yeah, you’re right, thanks.”

The meeting broke up after that, people talked in smaller groups and several members disappeared to go out back and light the bonfire. Maxwell bumped my elbow. “You didn’t mention the Fae.”

“I know. I can handle him on my own for now.”

His eyebrows shot up and he pressed his lips together to keep from laughing. “Can you? Or are you afraid to tell everyone about your secret boyfriend?”

“Fuck you.” I pushed him away playfully. “I’m only afraid to tell my mom.”

He couldn’t control his laugh that time, and several people turned to us, smiling. “Come on, let’s go help with the fire.”

Most of the witches had gone home. Jasper, Maxwell, and I sat by the fire, still talking. Nolan, a guy a few years older than me, stared at me from across the fire. I had hooked up with him a few times in college, nothing serious, but he was fun. I’d turned him down last summer when I was still with Scott, but now…it might be a good time. I held his gaze a moment and then turned back to my friends.

Maxwell was looking into the forest, and Jasper was in the middle of a funny story about his girlfriend’s bad luck with cars. Maxwell turned back to me and caught me eying Nolan again. “Hey, dude, how serious are you with the Fae?”

“What do you mean? Not at all, he just—”

“Because I think he’s here. I’m pretty sure I saw him in the woods.”

“What?” I squinted into the trees, but it was too dark for me, I didn’t have Maxwell’s talent for seeing in the dark. My pulse pounded. What was he doing here? Why? Nolan shot me a questioning glance, noticing my change in mood, and I shook my head. Shit, I hadn’t felt wrong about it a few moments ago, but the mention of Salil and I suddenly had the feeling I was doing something shady. It wasn’t like we were dating or anything, that ‘secret boyfriend’ thing was just a joke. Right?

“Look at you, all guilty, like you got caught looking.” Maxwell shook his head and finished his wine. He stood and announced, “I gotta get home, work tomorrow.”

Jasper joined him, collecting our empty wine bottles from the grass. “Me too.”

Maxwell took a last glance into the woods, then asked, “You want a ride home?” his tone implying that I really should take it.

“Uh, yeah, okay.” I gave Nolan an apologetic shrug as I left, and he turned his attention to a few older guys still laughing and drinking by the fading fire.

My mom seemed surprised to see me home so early, but said nothing, just kissed me and went to her bedroom. I crawled into bed eagerly, expecting a dream-meeting with Salil. None came, and I woke disappointed. I got a call from a customer, who’d picked up one of my cards from the health club, and I booked her for an hour massage on Friday. Then I went to the beach to practice journeying again. Maybe I’d get a clearer picture of whatever trauma was in store for me.

But it was just more of the same: the same water washing away the roots, the same destruction, I even had the same panicky reaction. Exiting the vision, I flopped back onto the warm sand and breathed deeply, trying to push those worries away. They wouldn’t help me.

I pulled myself together and tried another divination, this time focused on Salil. I pictured his face, his body, imagined his smell, and remembered his voice and speech patterns. When I had him in my mind I tried to go to him, to divine where he was and what he was doing. This was a tricky maneuver, as my powers mostly lay in future events, not spying on people in the present time. Yet it was the only way I could imagine instigating a psychic meeting with him.

***

He was sitting on a bench in the forest, in the center of a rustic garden. He wore another of his exotic tunics, pale orange this time and embroidered with swirling vines in gold. For a moment, I was so overjoyed I’d managed to locate him I almost lost the vision, but I got myself under control. He looked sad, staring at a tiny sprig of thyme in his hand. Then he twisted his head to the side as if he heard an odd sound, and a smile crept across his face. His eyes snapped to mine and he laughed. “My witch, you are growing brave.”

“You were right, about the practicing. Thank you.”

He lifted his hand and gestured me toward him. I twitched my foot to follow him, felt the sand shift under me, and froze. “I don’t know how—”

“Not with your body, Vincenzo. Just your mind. Visualize coming here and sitting on the bench near me.”

I did want to sit near him. I moved, and my body stayed on the beach. For an odd minute I was in both places at once, and a feeling of wrongness sent a shiver through me.

“All the way, love, right here.” He patted the bench.

I pulled away from my body with a sharp snap. “I don’t like this. Salil, I feel weird.”

“As you should. Your mind is split into two. I am surprised you are managing it.” He beamed at me, and his pride helped soothe the feeling of disconnect.

I moved to the bench, as if I was floating over the forest floor, and sat near him without feeling the bench under me. “Why were you able to touch things in my vision, but I can’t?”

“I am Fae.” He tilted his head and smiled. “You were hoping to touch me?”

“Maybe,” I flirted back. If we couldn’t touch, I might as well be more brazen. “Were you at my coven last night?”

“Would you have given yourself to that man?”

Fuck. He’d been there. And he was jealous. “You and I haven’t made any promises, as far as I recall. In fact, we’ve never even ever kissed.” I folded my arms over my chest without thinking, and was thrilled when I realized what I’d done. I could totally handle myself in a vision!

He studied me and smiled softly. “You are right, my witch. I was thinking the same thing, just before you came.” He took a deep breath. “I fear I am a distraction to you, at a time when you need to focus.”

“What? Are you…breaking up with me?” I laughed at the absurdity of the situation.

“No. I am removing myself from your world for a short time.”

“How is that different? And why do you get to decide what I need?”

“That is not my intention. I may have erred when I allowed you to see me. The timing may have been wrong. You returned home partially because of me, when it should have been a decision you felt necessary for yourself. You practiced your visions at my suggestion, when you should have been compelled to do so without my intervention.” He tucked his hair behind his ear, looking almost nervous. “I watched your coven meeting to see if you mentioned me to them, and I was both pleased and disappointed you did not. I want you to tell your coven about me out of joy, not worry. I want to be a part of your life, not a distraction to you.”