Page 13 of Which Witch Is Wicked?
“I’ll be fine. It’s you three that could be in danger.” Tierra gave them both a small gauzy fabric pouch filled with herbs. “Angelica. For protection. Take one for Aerin, too. Hide it in her fancy handbag if she won’t take it, okay?”
Claire accepted her sister’s gifts with gratitude. Despite their differences, she could never deny the compelling, endearing bond between them.
A few moments and less than a mile later, Aerin parked Tierra’s Prius in the alley near their teashop. They lived close enough to walk to the shop, but they were less of a target if they drove.
First on their agenda would be to ward their business against threats as well. It would be more difficult to protect, considering they had to allow the public to enter, but Moira had come up with something that would diminish any negative attacks, much like pouring water on fighting cats.
“Make sure y’all stay close,” Moira said as they exited the vehicle. “I don’t know if you’ve noticed none or not, but even if we ain’t doing spells together, my powers seem stronger when y’all are nearby.”
“I’ve sensed that, too.” Claire had taken a great amount of reassurance in that fact.
“Agreed.” Aerin linked arms with her sisters, and the three of them hurried around the corner and down the sidewalk toward their shop. The smart and savvy sister might not like to admit weakness, but she wasn’t a fool, either. Claire respected her for that.
Claire eyed a scraggly man seated on the damp cement sidewalk, his back against the red brick of one of the downtown shops. His hair grew in a lanky, unkempt mess, complemented by stained jeans and a thin, once-white sweatshirt. He held a cardboard sign in his hands, but didn’t look up as they approached.
“Since when has Port Townsend had panhandlers on the streets?” She hadn’t lived in the quaint seaport village for long, but this was a new experience for her.
Aerin shrugged. “There’s hunger everywhere, Claire. This is nothing new.”
“I’ll be a dog’s conkers. His sign saysHungry, Hungry Hobos,” Moira whispered with a snicker.
Aerin snorted and rolled her eyes. “He deserves a Jackson for being so creative.” She slipped her wallet from her bag and stopped in front of him. Before she could retrieve a twenty-dollar bill, the beggar reached out and wrapped dirty fingers around Aerin’s ankle.
“Give me your soul.” Icy blue eyes glanced over the three of them, sending a fright through Claire. Familiar, yet alien.
“Let go before I crush your balls.” Aerin kicked, dislodging her foot. “How dare you?” Fear echoed through her words.
The man cackled a laugh and then fell into a coughing fit as he bent over.
Claire grasped her sister’s arm in a protective gesture, prepared to slip her favorite dagger from the hidden spot near her waist and defend them if necessary. “Let’s go,” she whispered. “We’re not safe out here.” Aerin gave a quick nod, and the three nearly ran to their shop.
“What the fuck was that?” Aerin asked as calming scents of lavender greeted them. Her pupils were enlarged, and a slight blush colored her cheeks. Claire knew she didn’t frighten easily, so their encounter must have really ruffled her.
“Hell if I know,” Claire replied, waiting for her heart rate to return to normal. “Just a crazy guy, I guess. Probably didn’t realize the effect of his words and actions.”
“No.” Moira shook her head, narrowing her aquamarine gaze. “Growin’ up down in the bayou, I’ve seen crazy, and he wasn’t it.Possessed. That’s what he was.”
“Possessed?” Claire shivered at the idea. She would have argued that possession wasn’t real, but most didn’t believe in witches, either.
Moira nodded. “By an evil spirit or some such thing. We’re lucky he didn’t get Aerin.”
Aerin stared at Moira for a long moment, and then she blinked. “I need a smoke.”
“Better take it upstairs, out on the balcony,” said their friendly hired help as she navigated through the armchairs and café tables, her once-pink dreads now a shade of plum.
“Sunny,” Claire said with a smile. “It’s good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you all, too.” She toyed with the piercing on her lower lip as she gave them all a quick perusal.
“Where’s T? It’s not like her to stay away for so long.”
“Tierra’s…incapacitated,” Claire offered.
“Incapacitated?” Sunny lifted a well-drawn brow.
“She’s caught a disease, and it’s likely there’s no cure,” Aerin said with sarcasm.
Deep concern darkened Sunny’s features. “Is she going to die?”
