The Coven (9 page)

“Open your eyes. Make this symbol with your right hand,” she prompted, drawing in the air with two fingers. “It’s the rune for comfort.”

I watched her, then carefully drew in the air one straight line down, then a small triangle attached to the top, like a little flag.

“I feel at peace,” she said, drawing the same rune on my forehead.

“I feel at peace,” I said, feeling her finger trace heat on my skin.The memory of what had happened to my birth parents receded into the distance. I was aware of it, but it had less power to hurt me.

“I am love. I am peace. I am strength.”

I said the words, feeling a delicious warmth flow over me.

“I call on the strength of the Goddess and the God. I call on the power of the Earth Mother,” said Selene, tracing another rune onto my forehead.This one felt like half of a lop-sided rectangle, and as it sank into my skin I thought, Strength.

Selene and I were joined. I could feel her strength inside my head, feel her smoothing every wrinkle in my emotions, searching out every knot of fear, every snarl of anger. She probed deeper and deeper, and languidly I let her. She soothed away the pain until I was almost in a trance.

Ages later, I seemed to come awake again. Unbidden, I opened my eyes in time to see her raising her head and opening hers. I felt a little groggy and so much better, I couldn’t help smiling. She smiled back.

“All right now?” she said softly.

“Oh, yes,” I said, unable to put my feelings into words.

“Here’s one more for you,” she said, and she traced two triangles, touching, onto the backs of my hands. “That’s for new beginnings.”

“Thank you,” I said, awed by her power. “I feel much better.”

“Good.” We stood, and she dissolved the circle and blew out the candles mounted around the small room. As we passed through the larger coven’s room I saw a reflection of Selene’s face in a huge, gilt-frame wall mirror. She was smiling. Her face was bright, almost triumphant as she led the way back to the foyer. Then the image was gone, and I thought I must have imagined it.

At the front door she patted my arm, and I thanked her again. Then I practically floated to my car, not feeling the slightest bit of November wind, November chill. I felt absolutely perfect all the way home. I didn’t even wonder where Cal had been.

August 14, 1981

The coven over at Much Bencham has three new students, they tell us. We have none. Tara and Cliff were the last to join Belwicket as students, and that was three years ago. Until Lizzie Sims turns fourteen in four years, we have no one. Of course, at Much Bencham they take almost anyone who wants to study.

I say we should do the same—if we could even convince anyone to join us. Belwicket chose its own path long ago, and it is not for everyone. But we must expand. If we stick to only blood-born, clan-born witches, we will surely die out. We must seek out others of our kind, mingle clans. But Ma and the elders have shot me down time and again. They want us to remain pure. They refuse to let outsiders in.

Maybe some in Belwicket would rather die.

—Bradhadair

When I got home that night, my parents’ light was already out, and if my car’s rumbling engine woke them up, they didn’t show it. Mary K. had waited up for me, listening to music in her room. She looked up and took off her headphones when I poked my head in.

“Hi,” I said, feeling a deep love for her. After all, she’d always been my sister, if not by blood, then by circumstance. I regretted hurting her.

“Where did you go?” she asked.

“To Cal’s. He wasn’t there, but I talked to his mom.”

Mary K. paused. “It was awful after you left. I thought Mom was going to burst into tears. Everyone was really embarrassed.”

“I’m sorry,” I said sincerely. “It’s just that I can’t believe Mom and Dad kept this to themselves my whole life. They lied to me.” I shook my head. “Tonight I realized that Aunt Eileen, and our other relatives, and Mom and Dad’s friends
all
know I’m adopted. I just felt so stupid for not knowing myself. I was just . . . furious that they never told me when all these other people know.”

“Yeah, I hadn’t thought of that,” said Mary K., frowning slightly. “But you’re right. They would all know.” She looked at me. “
I
didn’t know.You believe that, don’t you?”

I nodded. “There’s no way
you’d
be able to keep a secret like that.” I smiled as Mary K. aimed her pillow at me.

The blanket of peace, forgiveness, and love that Selene Belltower had wrapped around over me was still cocooning me in its comfortable embrace. “Look, it’s going to be pretty awful for a while. Mom and Dad have to tell me about my past and how I was adopted. I can’t stop till I know. But it doesn’t mean I don’t love you or them. We’ll get through it somehow,” I said.

Uncertainty played across Mary K.’s pretty face. “Okay,” she said, accepting my word.

“I’m happy about Aunt Eileen and Paula,” I said, changing the subject.

“Me too. I didn’t want Aunt Eileen to be alone anymore,” said Mary K. “Do you think they’ll have kids?”

I laughed. “First things first.They need to live together for a while.”

“Yeah. Oh, well. I’m tired.” Mary K. took off her headphones and dropped them on the floor.

“Here, let me do this.” Reaching over, I gently traced the rune for comfort on her forehead, the way Selene had showed me. I felt the warmth leave my fingertips and stood back to see Mary K. looking at me unhappily.

“Please don’t do that to me,” she whispered. “I don’t want to be part of it.”

Stung, I blinked, then nodded. “Yeah, sure,” I mumbled. I turned and fled to my own room, feeling dismayed. Something that had given me joy was only upsetting to my sister. It was a clear sign of the differences between us, the growing space that pushed her in one direction and me in another.

That night I slept deeply, without dreams, and woke up feeling wonderful. I put my hands together as if I could still see the sigil traced there: Daeg. A new dawn.An awakening.

 

“Morgan?” Mary K. called from the hallway. “Come on. School.”

I was already shoving my feet into my slippers. No doubt I was running late, as usual. I rushed through my shower, threw on some clothes, and pounded downstairs, my wet hair practically strangling me. In the kitchen I grabbed a breakfast bar, ready to dash out the door. Mary K. looked up calmly from her orange juice.

“No hurry,” she said. “I got you up early for once. I’ve been late twice in the last month.”

Mouth open, I looked at the clock. School didn’t start for almost forty-five minutes! I sank into a chair and waved incoherently at the fridge.

Taking pity on me, my sister reached in and handed me a Diet Coke. I gulped it down, then stomped back upstairs to untangle my hair.

Somehow, we were late anyway. At school I parallel parked my car with practiced efficiency. Then I spotted Bakker, coming toward the car to meet Mary K. My mood soured.

“Look, there he is,” I said. “Lying in wait like a spider.”

Mary K. punched my leg. “Stop it,” she said. “I thought you liked him.”

“He’s okay,” I said. I’ve got to chill, I thought. I’d be so peeved if anyone tried to pull the big-sister routine on me. But I couldn’t help asking, “Does he know you’re only fourteen?”

Mary K. rolled her eyes. “No, he thinks I’m a junior,” she said sarcastically. “Don’t let the cat out of the bag.” She got out of the car. As she and Bakker kissed, I slammed my car door shut and hitched my backpack onto my shoulder. Then I headed toward the east door.

“Oh, Morgan, wait!” someone called. I turned and spotted Janice Yutoh, her hair bouncing as she hurried toward me. Whoops—I’d totally forgotten to return her call the night before.

“Sorry I spaced on calling you,” I said as she caught up to me.

She waved a hand in the air. “No biggie. I just wanted to say hi,” she said, panting slightly. “I haven’t seen you at all lately, except in class.”

“I know,” I said apologetically. “A lot of stuff’s been going on.” This was such a lame representation of the truth that I almost laughed. “My aunt Eileen is moving in with her girlfriend,” I said, thinking of one bright spot.

“That’s great! Tell her I’m happy for her,” said Janice.

“Will do,” I said. “What’d you get on Fishman’s essay test?”

“I somehow pulled an A out of my hat,” she said as we walked toward the main building.

“Cool. I got a B-plus. I hate essay tests. Too many words,” I complained. Janice laughed. Then we saw Tamara and Ben Reggio heading into the main door just as the bell rang.

“Gotta catch Ben,” said Janice, moving off. “He’s got my Latin notes.”

“See you in class.” I went in through the east door, where the coven had started to meet in the mornings, but the cement benches were empty. Cal must have gone inside already. My disappointment at not seeing him was almost equaled by my relief at not having to face Bree.

By lunchtime it was drizzling outside, with sullen rivulets tracing lines on the windows. I filed into the lunchroom, for once grateful for its warm, steamy atmosphere. By the time I collected a tray and looked around, most of the coven was sitting at a table closest to the windows. Raven and Bree weren’t there, I saw with a lift of relief. Neither was Beth Nielson.

I made my way over and sat down next to Cal. When he smiled, it was like the sun coming out.

“Hi,” he said, making space for me on the table. “Did you get here late this morning?”

I nodded, opening my soda. “Just as the bell rang.”

“Can I have a fry?” he asked, taking one without waiting for my answer. I felt a warm glow at his easy familiarity.

“Mom told me you dropped by last night,” he said. “I’m sorry I missed you.” He squeezed my knee under the table. “You okay?” he asked softly.

“Yeah, your mom was really nice. She showed me some rune magick,” I said, dropping my voice.

“Cool,” Jenna said, leaning over the table. “Like what?”

“A few different runes for different things,” I said. “Like runes for happiness, starting over, peace and calm.”

“Did they work?” asked Ethan.

“Yes!” I said, laughing. As if a spell by Selene Belltower wouldn’t work. “It would be great if we could start learning about runes, everything about them.”

Cal nodded. “Runes are really powerful,” he said. “They’ve been used for thousands of years. I have some books on them if you want to borrow them.”

“I’d like to read them, too,” said Sharon, stirring her straw around in her milk carton.

“Here’s a rune for you guys,” said Cal. He cleared a space in the center of the table and traced an image with his finger. It looked like two parallel lines with two other lines crossed between them, joining them. He drew it several times until we could all picture it.

“What does that mean?” asked Matt.

“Basically it means interdependence,” Cal explained. “Community. Feeling goodwill toward your kinsmen and kinswomen. It’s how we all feel about each other, our circle. Cirrus.”

We all looked at each other for a minute, letting this sink in.

“God, there’s so much to learn,” said Sharon. “I feel like I’ll never be able to put it all together—herbs, spells, runes, potions.”

“Can I talk to you?” Beth Nielson had walked up and now stood in front of Cal, a multicolored crocheted cap covering her short hair.

“Sure,” said Cal. He looked more closely at her. She was frowning. “Do you want to go somewhere private?”

“No.” Beth shook her head, not looking at him. “It doesn’t matter.They can hear it.”

“What’s wrong, Beth?” Cal asked quietly. Somehow we all heard him, even over the din of the lunchroom.

Beth shrugged and looked away. Glittery aqua eye shadow glowed above her eyes and contrasted sharply with her coffee-colored skin. She sniffed, as if she had a cold.

Across the table I looked at Jenna. She raised her eyebrows at me.

“It’s just—the whole thing doesn’t feel right to me,” Beth said. “I thought it would be cool, you know? But it’s all too weird. Doing circles. Morgan making flowers bloom,” she said, gesturing to me. “It’s too strange.” She raised her shoulders beneath her brown leather jacket and let them fall. “I don’t want anything more to do with it. I don’t like it. It feels wrong.” Her nose ring twinkled under the fluorescent lights.

“That’s too bad,” said Cal. “Wicca isn’t intended to make anyone uncomfortable. It’s meant to make you celebrate the beauty and power of the earth.”

Beth gave him a blank look, as if to say, Come on.

“So you want to quit the coven. Are you sure about this?” Cal asked. “Maybe you just need more time to get used to it.”

Beth shook her head. “No. I don’t want to do it anymore.”

“Well, if Wicca isn’t for you, then that’s your choice. Thanks for being honest,” Cal said.

“Uh-huh,” said Beth, shifting her weight from one Doc Marten to the other.

“Beth, one thing,” Cal said. “Please respect our privacy.” There was a serious note in his voice that made Beth look up.

“You’ve come to our circles; you’ve felt magick’s power,” Cal went on. “Keep those experiences to yourself, okay? They’re no one’s business but ours.”

“Yeah, okay,” Beth said, looking at Cal.

“Well,” Cal said. “It’s your decision to go. But just remember that the circle won’t be open to you again if you change your mind. Sorry, but that’s how it works.”

“I’m not changing my mind,” said Beth. She moved off without looking back.

For a few moments we all looked around at each other.

“What was that about?” I asked.

Jenna coughed. “Yeah, that was pretty weird.”

“Don’t know,” said Cal.A shadow crossed his face.Then he seemed to shrug it off. “But like I said, Wicca isn’t for everyone.” He leaned forward. “I thought at our next circle, I could show you guys some more runes and maybe a small spell.”