Page 75 of Which Witch is Willing?
She regarded the three of them. “Then I’m coming, too.”
Killian and Dru opened the door, blocking Claire’s view. On purpose, she was sure, because it also blocked the crowd’s view of her and Aerin, thereby protecting them.
A chorus of cheers raised into the atmosphere, like angels praising the heavens, and Claire shared a questioning look with Aerin.
“What the hell?” Killian said, sounding bemused.
Dru and Killian stepped out onto the porch and scanned the crowd. “I don’t see any weapons,” Dru said.
Claire and Aerin pushed out behind them. “Can’t sense anything evil, either,” Claire said, but Kai bristled in her arms.
Dru strode to the edge of the porch and down the steps. “What’s going on?” he said in a loud voice to the growing crowd. “Why are you all here?”
A bunch of people spoke at once, drowning out each other’s words.
Aerin leaned close to Claire. “Do you feel it? The calm peacefulness in the air?”
After months of Port Townsend declining into the dark depths of despair, the world seemed somehow lighter. Claire looked to the sky, and the brilliant rays of sun caused her eyes to water. She nodded. “I feel it, but I don’t trust it. Neither does Kai.”
Aerin agreed with a quick nod. “Agreed. It’s a little too peaceful. Too hopeful.”
Dru cast a quick glance back toward Killian and then proceeded to the front gate. The cheers grew louder, and Dru leaned to talk to a woman and man both garbed completely in white. He nodded a few times and turned.
The bewildered expression on his face as he returned to them puzzled Claire. The second he stepped onto the porch, she hurried to him. “What is it? What do they want?”
He puffed up his cheeks and blew out a breath. “They want to see Violet.”
“What?” Aerin exclaimed. “No fucking way.”
“Apparently, some in the coven spread the word that Violet has white wings,” Dru continued. “Now, people believe she’s an angel, here to light the way for the second coming of the Lord. I think they want to worship her.”
The four of them stared at each other for a long moment. Then Killian cleared his throat. “She’s an angel, all right, and worthy of their worshipping, but she’s here to bring about the apocalypse, along with Moira’s baby. They’re not going to like it when they learn that part.”
Dru whispered a string of cuss words. “We need a meeting. Right now. Between the eight of us. Can’t wait until evening. Someone call Nick and tell him to get his ass back here.”
Aerin’s eyes grew wide. “I hope you all understand that something big has shifted in the world. Likely caused by Violet’s arrival. While it seems all rosy and shit, I believe we’ve entered the eye of the hurricane.”
36
Claire waited in the secret room in the attic, entertaining little Violet while her parents took a brief rest until Nick returned. No one needed to tell Claire that parenthood wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Long nights with no sleep didn’t appeal to her at all.
Kai rested next to the door, keeping guard Claire supposed.
Violet grew nearly as fast as Moira’s baby. Born only a few weeks ago, Violet now looked more like a toddler and had no trouble sitting upright.
Claire bounced the fussy baby on her hip while she pointed out various jars of herbs and crystals resting on a bookshelf in the room. She pointed to a six-inch purple tower gemstone pointed toward the sky. “This is an amethyst. It’s violet like you,” she said in a sing-song voice.
The little girl quieted and widened her violet eyes to stare at the stone.
Encouraged, Claire continued. “Did you know that purple and violet represent the future, imagination and dreams? Just like you.”
Violet turned her gaze to Claire in wonder.
An odd feeling of connection ran straight through Claire, and she pondered the meaning for a moment. “You understand everything I’m saying, don’t you? You might not be talking yet, but you’re fully aware of what’s happening around you.”
Violet grinned and clapped her pudgy hands together.
Maybe children weren’t so bad after all.
