Page 65 of Which Witch Is Wicked?
But not today.
Mentally she conversed with the stately evergreen, asking for a favor it seemed all too happy to give. With a flick of her finger, the pine branch bowed and released, flipping the raven off his perch. A deep throaty caw echoed like a sardonic laugh as the raven sling-shotted away.Take that, you demonic peeping Tom.
Death might not be intimidated by her powers, but a pregnant woman was a force to be reckoned with. And she planned on kicking some ass today. She wasn't doing another midnight zombie brawl, or midday one, for that matter. They needed to find out, without Aerin using spells in the back of the book, how to kill—er, rid the world of the undead.
Grabbing another quick shower—she'd taken one before bed, but after the last twenty-four hours she didn't think she could get clean enough—Tierra dressed in a flowing sundress the color of apricots, adding her crystal bracelets that helped protect against evil. Cat's eye, agate, and topaz, which had Jinx meowing approvingly. The cat sat on the dresser next to the mirror monitoring Tierra's choices, and tossing her a few Tierra hadn't considered. But when Tierra added the jasper and moonstone for pregnancy, Jinx hissed.
What did it say when a witch's familiar was against protecting her child?
"Either tell me what you know or stop hissing," Tierra said, picking up the ancient scrying crystal that had helped deflect Conquest's arrow from piercing her heart, and slipped the golden chain over her head. She'd left her hair down, rather than taxing her sore muscles into braiding or putting it up. Maybe she could get one of her sisters to help her with her hair.
Jinx gave a mocking meow as if reading Tierra's thoughts.
Hmm…what if the cat understood her? She locked gazes with the feline, and its green eyes met hers, feral and shrewd.
This was no pet.
First on the list of chores for today: witches' familiars. What help were they? From modern-day fairytales to before the recording of the Brothers Grimm, the witch's familiar held some power or was a helpmate to the witches. And as each of her sisters had their familiars, too, it made sense that they would be useful.
Jinx purred and rubbed up against Tierra's arm. Well, she must be on the right track.
Gathering Jinx in her arms, Tierra ventured downstairs to consult the book and scare up some lunch. For the first time in a long time, she felt like she could eat and maybe keep it down.
That is until she reached the first floor and entered the kitchen.
Aunt Justine, Gwen, and the new coven member, Lucy, sat at the table having coffee with Aerin while Moira leaned against the wall. Moira's grudge against Aunt Justine wrapped around her like armor and added a pall of unease over the gathering. Those sitting at the table tried to ignore Moira's resentment for the perceived villain in their midst, but Aunt Justine still squirmed in her chair.
The overwhelming stench of sulphur assaulted Tierra's senses and her stomach churned. Could emotions put off scent? Was Moira emitting that putrid smell with her hatred of Aunt Justine? Lately, as her pregnancy progressed, smells were magnified tenfold. But this was rancid enough that the others should be able to smell it.
Jinx hissed at the guests, leapt from her arms, and scampered out of the room.
"There she is!" Aunt Justine exclaimed, her smile all white teeth, her eyes bright jade. "I'd know that jingle anywhere."
Maybe she should retire the ankle bracelet, but she loved their musical bells that sang of mystical places.
"Aunt Justine." Tierra swallowed hard and put on her welcome face, greeting Lucy and Gwen. Why hadn't anyone told her they had company? She would have stayed upstairs. Making small talk would require more than she had in her to give right now.
Especially coven company.
"Where's Claire?" she asked, looking around the room and not finding her.
"Claire's with Tommy." Moira folded her arms over her braless tank top, glaring daggers at Aunt Justine.
Would Moira ever get over Aunt Justine trying to kill her? Probably not. Justine didn't look very comfortable either squashed between Gwen and Lucy at the round table. Smart of her though, to not sit within scratching distance of Moira.
Claire's Tommy was another thing that needed to be handled. Tierra mentally added ridding the house of him to her list of chores. After last night, Claire had to know that Tommy was dangerous and not the boy she'd loved.
"Is that a good idea?" Tierra asked. "Tommy alone with Claire?"Did no one remember the power-hungry zombies wanting to eat our hearts out from last night?
"Youwant to tell Claire who she can and cannot see?" Aerin asked, glancing at both her sisters to gauge their reaction. "Yeah, didn't think so."
Well, if Miss Dark Spell isn't feeling her oats this morning.
"Tierra, you look as fresh as a ripe peach in that dress," Lucy commented, smiling and seeming sincere, but the hairs on the back of Tierra's neck rose again. "I swear each time I see you, your skin glows brighter. Please, join us for coffee and share with us your secrets. Aerin makes it just how I love it. Strong enough to wake the dead."
"Tierra doesn't drink coffee. She's more of ateatotaller," Aerin smirked, raising her cup to her lips.
"Tea is probably better for your…nerves anyway. Isn't it, dear?" Lucy asked with a knowing quirk of her perfectly penciled brow.
