A Witch's Curse (10 page)

“
So who would get the estate if I fail to live in the house for a year?”

Chief Rose squirmed once again. “She, uh, left the house to her...coven.”

Carolyn tried her best not to laugh at the look on Rose’s face. “From what I understand, Chief, my Grandmother and some of her friends had a slight interest in the occult. They would meet every so often, perform séances, and do other silly things. All perfectly harmless, I assure you, Chief.”

Flustered, Rose said. “Really, Miss Waters, I wasn’t trying to insinuate your grandmother was a...”

“
A witch? Really, Chief Rose,” she said with a faux disapproving tone. “After all, this
is
the twenty-first century. They don’t burn witches these days.”

“
You’re absolutely right, Miss Waters. I hadn’t really given Hargrove’s accusations any credence, but I did need a better explanation as to how you overcame your attacker and to account for his current state of mind.”

“
As my Grandmother’s lawyer, I’m sure Hargrove knew all about the house's reputation, and even some of its secrets, which is why he chose to dress as Caroline in order to scare me. Then, when he hit his head, who knows what damage the wall did to his mind?” she said with a shrug. “Plus, what man would admit to being beaten up by a girl?”

“
Or he’s simply trying to use the legend as an excuse to appear mentally incompetent,” Rose added.

“
I suppose that’s possible. You mentioned earlier he embezzled from my Grandmother?”

“
Yes, I did. Don’t worry though. Herman recovered every cent Hargrove stole.” Chief Rose chuckled. “Hargrove wasn’t a very smart embezzler. He transferred the money to an off shore account all right, only he kept the account numbers in the safe in his office. With the proper codes, Herman easily transferred the money back to the rightful owner, which is you.”

“
May I ask how much he recovered? Hargrove was quite vague about Grandmother's worth.”

“
Now you know why he was so vague. I believe the total Herman recovered was seventeen million.”

Carolyn’s chin hit the floor. “Oh my—You’ve got to be—How much?”

Chief Rose stood to pour her a glass of water. “Seventeen million. Ample motive to scare you from your house, or even kill you, which I’m sure is what he planned to do all along.”

Carolyn drained the glass. “You really think so?”

* * * *

Carolyn floated into the sto
re, and Maggie ran across the floor to meet her. “Carolyn! Are you all right? I got the strangest call from the chief of police this morning, telling me you would be late coming in today, but to not worry. He said you were fine, but what does the fuzz know? What the hell is going on?”

Carolyn closed the store for the day and took Maggie to the coffee house down the street where she explained in detail the entire story of what Hargrove tried to do. She apologized to Maggie for doubting her friend then informed Maggie that she was her missing cousin.

Maggie dismissed Carolyn’s suspicions with a casual flip of her hand, “Don’t worry, I would have done the same to you. Are you positive we’re related? You're not pulling my leg, are you?”

“
According to Chief Rose, we are. He saw the files from Hargrove’s office, and I couldn’t be happier it’s you.”

“
Same here. I knew there had to be a reason I liked so you so much when we first met. It was like we had been friends forever.”

“
I know! I had the same feeling, Cuz.”

“
So, tell me more about your plan to help free Caleb. I want to help.”

“
You can. You can help at the séance. Sarah said the more the merrier.”

“
Cool! I’ve always wanted to be in a séance. Hey, didn’t you say that all the women in your family were witches? Then, am I one too?”

“
I don’t know. We can ask Sarah.”

* * * *

Carolyn answered the knock on her door to find Sarah dressed in a long, gray, hooded cloak. Sarah
brushed past her, asking, “Why aren’t you dressed?”

Wondering if she had somehow become naked again, without her knowing, Carolyn glanced down and breathed a sigh of relief. She still had on her blouse and jeans. “I am dressed, Sarah.”

“
No, no, child. Your cloak, why aren’t you wearing your cloak?”

“
What cloak?”

“
The one you need to wear for the ceremony. Don’t you know anything?” Sarah asked impatiently.

“
What ceremony?”

Sarah stared at Carolyn and rubbed her temples. “Oh, I am sorry, my dear. My mind has been getting a little forgetful these days. Are you sure I didn’t tell you about tonight?”

“
No, you didn’t.”

“
The coven meets once a month and tonight is the night. We are going to elect a new High Priestess and initiate you into the order.”

“
Excuse me?”

“
You do want to join our coven, don’t you? I assumed you would, because of your grandmother.”

“
I don’t know, I never thought about joining. I would like to have been asked if I want to join, first.”

“
You’re right, dear. To be honest with you, I thought I had. My mind isn’t what it used to be,” Sarah said with such a forlorn expression Carolyn instantly relented.

“
I’m sorry, Sarah. I didn’t mean to doubt you. It’s quite possible you did ask and I’m the one who forgot. I’ve had a lot on my mind too, you know. Yes, I would very much like to join Grandmother’s coven. I would be honored.”

Sarah brightened. “See? I knew you wanted to join us. Now, hurry. The meeting starts in a couple minutes.”

“
Can’t I go dressed like this? I’m afraid I don’t own a cloak.”

“
You can use Ester’s. I packed the robe and a few of her other clothes in a trunk in her bedroom when she became an invalid. Hurry, child. We don’t have time to waste.” Sarah headed up the stairs with Carolyn in tow.

Sarah opened the trunk and started removing old dresses and blankets, tossing them haphazardly on the floor. At the bottom lay a carefully folded gray cloak, one exactly the same as the one Sarah wore.

“
Hurry up, child, put it on.”

With no
buttons or zippers on the cloak, Carolyn started to slip the robe over her head when Sarah snatched the robe from her hands.

“
No, no. Take all your clothes off. The only clothes you can be wearing are the cloak and these sandals,” Sarah said testily, picking a pair from the trunk.

“
You’re kidding? Who’s going to know what I’m wearing underneath?”

“
They will know, trust me.”

“
Well, if you insist. Sarah? When I join tonight, is there going to be some sort of initiation, like they do in sororities?”

“
Yes, there is a ritual for new members,” Sarah said dismissively. “Don’t be afraid, other than a small cut to the palm of your hand there is nothing dangerous about the ceremony.”

“
Oh, you mean like the Indians did in the old west? We’ll become blood sisters?”

“
Better,” Sarah said cryptically.

Sarah’s evasive answers made
Carolyn feel a little nervous, but she had come to trust the woman completely in the short time she had known her. Quickly, she took all her clothes off and slipped the cloak on. Together they hurried to the basement and into the altar room. Sarah began lighting the candles and paused at the third sconce. Carolyn watched as Sarah twisted the holder first left and then right. To Carolyn’s amazement, a short section of wall swung open, revealing a pitch-black tunnel on the other side.

“
Sarah? Where does this tunnel go?”

“
Why, to the cemetery, of course, The Wexford mausoleum to be precise. Your future sisters are waiting there now. They will be here in just a moment.”

“
Why didn’t you tell me about this before? This has to be how Hargrove got in and out of the house.”

Scratching her head, her eyes unfocused, Sarah said, “I’m sure I mentioned the tunnel. You must have forgotten again, sweetie.”

“
Did you forget to take your medication today, Sarah?” a voice from the tunnel asked. “You’ll need to forgive Sarah, Carolyn; she’s in the early stages of Alzheimer’s. She has her good days and her bad ones, mostly good though. She’ll be fine once she takes her medicine. My name is Adele, by the way.”

Reaching into a pocket, Adele pulled out a small vial. “Drink this, Sarah.” While Sarah drank from the vial, Adele asked, “Why don’t I start the meeting for you?”

As they talked, robed figures continued to file out of the tunnel behind Adele. Each carried a tall, white, lighted candle. Carolyn counted eleven women in all; at least, she assumed they were women. Under those robes, one wasn’t able to tell what sex the person might be, or even if a person hid underneath.

Adele took her and Sarah by the arm and led them to the altar, placing Sarah to her right and Carolyn on her left. Adele raised her arms over her head, “Sisters of Wexford Coven,” she said in a loud voice. “Tonight we are assembled for two purposes. The first is to elect a new High Priestess to succeed our beloved Ester. High Priestess Ester made her choice of successor known to me before she died. She wanted Sarah to succeed her and I’m sure you will all agree. How do you vote, my sisters?”

Silently, every sister
encircled the altar and raised their candles. Carolyn assumed this meant they voted yes and raised her candle as well. Adele gave her a reassuring smile.

“
Thank you, my sisters. Ester would be glad you approved of her choice.” Adele turned to a robed figure, standing slightly to her side, to open the small, ornate, wooden box the woman held and lifted a pentagram shaped medallion with a thick silver chain attached. Adele asked, “Sarah Burns, daughter of the Goddess of Fire, do you accept our highest honor to become the next High Priestess of Wexford Coven?” As Adele placed the medallion over Sarah’s bowed head, every member bowed in supplication to Sarah.

“
Sisters, we are also here tonight to bring a new member into our fold. Our newest initiate, I am pleased to say, is none other than Ester’s granddaughter, Carolyn Waters. Carolyn, is it your wish to join the Wexford House Coven?”

Carolyn duplicated Sarah's response with a low bow, then feared she did something wrong when Adele removed a small vial from the still open box, not another medallion. Adele handed Carolyn the vial and told her to drink.

Turning to face the coven, Adele said.
“My sisters, how say you? Do you accept Carolyn to be your new sister?”

Again, each sister raised her candle high. Carolyn let out an audible breath of relief, surprised at how much she really wanted to be a member of her Grandmother’s coven, carry on in the family tradition even if this wasn't exactly banking. From Sarah’s subtle hints, Carolyn knew there would be more to this ceremony. Silently, she bowed to the others and waited anxiously, not exactly sure what would come next.

Adele handed her candle to Sarah and helped Carolyn remove her cloak, leaving her to stand in front of the coven in nothing but her birthday suit, shivering in the cool, damp air.
What the hell did I get myself into? I’m standing naked in front of a bunch of hooded strangers, and yet, for some odd reason, I’m not the least bit scared or embarrassed. So why does this feel so perfectly normal? What’s happening to me?

Adele retrieved her candle and stepped back, allowing Sarah to
assume control of the ritual. Sarah stepped to the altar, her eyes clearer, and fastened a blue sapphire pendant around Carolyn's neck; exactly like the one Sarah wore every day.