Page 41 of The Lone Wolf Café
“Alright, everyone.” Juniper’s voice cut through the deeply focused sound of pencils scrawling on paper. I felt heat at my back, and I turned around to see the fireplace on the left wall freshly lit. A bit of newspaper melted to ash as the flames expanded and spread on the logs.
Next to Juniper was another witch, with choppy, vibrant, auburn hair and a small lit flame in her cupped hand. She closed her palm, and the flame extinguished in a tiny puff of smoke. On her shoulder was a magnificent fire elemental, in the form of a bird of prey I didn’t recognize, who let out a satisfied chirp and fluffed its blazing wings.
I chuckled.Don’t need matches when you have a pyromancer witch. And a fire elemental.
“Everyone can banish their papers in the way they see fit,” Juniper continued, standing in front of the fireplace with an authoritative stance. “Feel free to burn them in the fireplace if you want, as is tradition. Though I know some of you prefer morealternativemethods of banishment.”
I joined the small line forming in front of the fireplace with my slip of paper in hand. I rolled it into a cylinder, one so tight it could be held up and used as a pretend telescope. I wasn’t taking any chances with other witches seeing what I’d written.
As I lingered in line, waiting as the witches before me tossed their slips into the fire, I peered around at those who were still seated. The auburn-haired pyromancer witch chose to burnher slip with her own flame. It was instantly reduced to ash, which then evaporated like magic into her palm. Her bird cooed triumphantly as a thin tendril of smoke rose from where the paper had been.
Another witch, with purple hair and thick, dark eyeliner, simply poofed her slip out of existence.Conjurer witch,I concluded. From what I’d learned from my books, they could both create and destroy inanimate objects with a snap of their fingers. They were some of the most powerful and feared witches in existence, due to having such a wide range of uses for their magic.
There was a back door in the far corner that led outside, and several witches chose to bury their papers. I found the practice odd, until I watched the way their palms interacted with the earth, summoning tiny blades of grass over the spot they’d just dug up.
They were chloromancer witches.
Just like Rowena.
The thought of her made a lump form in my throat again. I was still aching to know why she wasn’t part of the coven. But, as a newcomer, I had to choose my questions carefully. I couldn’t just go around accusing the coven of ostracizing her.
“Nettie, you’re up.”
I startled and spun my head around. Juniper was standing by the burning fireplace, and the line in front of me had disappeared.
“Oh, sorry,” I stuttered, jogging up to the fireplace. It was smokey and warm, and I enjoyed the way its heat sent waves of pleasure rippling through my skin. I knelt down, ensuring my cloak was pulled firmly over my head, and nestled my slip of paper beneath a burning log.
I remained there for a few seconds, watching the rolled-up paper ignite. The flames bit into the thin material, devouring itfrom the top down in seconds. Its charred remains sloughed off in pieces, melting into ash at the bottom of the fireplace.
I imagined Hollenboro, my family, my old life, burning away into nothing more than memories. I bit down on my lip to keep from getting emotional.
I will see them again, I told myself as I returned to my seat.Eventually.Once enough time has passed. I can’t risk going back now.
“Alright, everyone.” I looked over and noticed that Juniper was also returning to her seat. I’d been so preoccupied watching everyone else I hadn’t realized I was last in line.
“First off, I want to thank you all for being here today,” Juniper continued. She spoke with the calm, smooth elegance of an experienced High Priestess, with her back straight and her hands neatly folded in her lap. Silas, with his slitted pupils and hard reptilian features, surveyed the room with a shrewd glare. As if ensuring that no one spoke over his witch.
“The new moon is a time of renewal; of endings and beginnings,” Juniper continued. “I hope this banishment ritual has cleared the path for all of you to enter Halloween with a rejuvenated mind and spirit.”
There was a small chorus of applause and joyous murmurings from the group.
“But the topic of banishment brings up–” Juniper’s face hardened like stone. I swore the scar on her face was more pronounced than ever. “–our primary concern for the evening. We need to discuss the plans for this year’s Halloween festivities. I’m sure you are all excited for the pumpkin carving contest later this week…”
There was another small chorus of cheers. I chuckled, even as the tense look on Juniper’s face made my stomach squirm.
“…But we must address a serious issue regarding our celebrations. As you all know, this year, the full moon falls on Halloween.”
Oh gods.My blood froze like ice in my veins. I’d known this, since werewolves followed the moon cycle just as closely as witches did. But I’d been so busy with the café, I hadn’t realized the consequences of the coinciding dates.
“And of course,” Juniper continued, her tone low and somber. “This means the werewolves from the local pack will be going through their full moon frenzy the same night as our Halloween festivities.”
“We can prepare for it!” A sudden shout rang out from the opposite side of the circle. I looked up, and realized it was the pyromancer witch with the choppy red hair. “We’ll hold the festivities in the town hall. Willow can reinforce the wards. The kids can trick-or-treat in the afternoon, before the sun goes down.”
There were more murmurings from the crowd as the witches discussed the pyromancer’s suggestions amongst themselves. I could hear uncertainty in their voices, but also hope. As if the red-haired witch’s ideas might work.
“Nina,” Juniper glowered at the pyromancer, her tone like that of a parent scolding a child. “I appreciate your ideas, and I know how much the holiday means to all of you. It’s just as important to me as well. But safety must be our utmost concern.”
Across the room, I saw Nina’s face fall. A disappointed silence dampened the whole coven.
