Page 49 of Shadow Running
“My uncle can’t do that?—”
“I know,” she said, laughing.“Don’t worry.I showed him what I’d planned and he said that it might work, but I can’t start inside the house.I have to start from the outside—at the corners of the lot.I leave one narrow space open, and at the end of it, I put the trap.I didn’t build it right, but I can alter the one I have.Then I keep moving the energy?—”
“Hold on, I can’t even follow right now.Tell me later, okay?”I was exhausted.
“Later, it is,” Penn said, sounding worried.
“So he thinks this will work?”
“He thinks there’s a chance.”She paused, then added, “Seton thinks I have more potential than I thought.My Fae heritage seems to have given my magic a boost.He’s going to talk to a friend of his who specializes training witches who have more power than they can handle.It’s too bad that Riana didn’t have someone like that to help her.”
I blinked.I had no clue that Penn was that powerful, but apparently something had happened to shift her magic.“What do you think Hecate will say?”
“I need to call on her and ask her.I have the pendant that can summon her, remember?”
During our last meeting with the goddess, she had given Penn a garnet pendant that connected them together, and while she had cautioned Penn not to abuse the power, this situation felt like it warranted the use.
“Right, you can do that when we get home,” I said.“I’m so tired, I don’t trust myself to drive.”
“I’ll do it,” Penn said.“Just give me your keys.”
“Sounds good.”I closed my eyes again, resting, until we reached the office.
Orik ran up to check, then returned with our things.“The lights are off and the door locked.Everybody has gone home.Which makes sense, given they didn’t know when we were going to be back.”
That was fine.We could wait until the next day to tell them everything that had happened.
Penn and I waved goodnight to Orik and, with Penn driving my car, she and I headed for home, for what would hopefully be a good night’s sleep.
* * *
That night,after we ate—we had stopped for takeout on the way home—Penn settled in the living room with the pendant.I curled up on the sofa, feeling reticent.So much had gone on that I needed to process.I wasn’t even sure how to process everything I had learned.I was so overwhelmed I felt like I was drowning.
Penn cast a circle, calling the elements to protect us, and then she put on the pendant, draping it over her head.She had set up a little altar on the coffee table, with candles—battery-operated so the cats wouldn’t get into them—her dagger, a chalice filled with wine, and a crystal ball.
“Oh Mighty Hecate, hear my call.I need your guidance, and I need your advice.Please, if you can, come to me.”
A swirling light filled the room, the energy crackling like bonfire flames.I averted my eyes, expecting some magical fanfare.But, with barely a whisper, Hecate appeared.
Unlike the first time we met her, she was wearing a calf-length black dress with a plunging neckline, cold-shoulder cap sleeves, and a silver belt.She still wore her silver circlet with the Triple Goddess moons, and her hair flowed down to her ass.The wavy strands were the color of the night sky, setting off her eyes which were a deep, watery grey.She hadn’t brought her staff, though I imagined it was a simple call away.
I sat up straight, inclining my head as she stood there in front of Penn.
“Thank you for coming,” Penn said.“My lady, I need your advice.”
“Get up off your knees,” Hecate said.“I know you revere me, but you don’t need to grovel.In fact, my priestessesnevergrovel unless I choose to force the issue.And that only happens when I’m angry.”
Penn started to get up, and Hecate held out her hand.Looking startled, Penn took it and allowed the goddess to help her to her feet.There was an awkward pause, but then Penn motioned to the sofa.
“Please, sit down.”
Hecate took a seat, looking across the room at me.“Hello Kyann, I hope you’re well?”
It’s not every day that a goddess asks how your health is.Startled, I let out a nervous laugh.
“I’m fine, kind of.Actually, I’m not so fine.It’s been a difficult day.”Horrified to hear myself babbling, I clapped my hand over my mouth.
Hecate laughed.“Your energy tells me it’s been worse than that.”She turned to Penn.“Sitdown.You aren’t my handmaiden, you’re my priestess.What’s going on?What do you need?”
