Page 9 of Home Is Where the Witch Is
“What?” Hella’s warm brown eyes were innocently wide, although Rosie wasn’t about to be fooled by that act. “Been a while between drinks, girl, and I’s thiiiiiirs-TEE. That man is sex on legs and then some.Hooboy!”
Rosie giggled. It was impossible not to be drawn in by Hella’s enthusiasm andjoie de vivre, to borrow a little French herself. For as long as she’d known the colorful drag queen, she’d come to depend on Hella’s liveliness and humor to get them through many a situation. Having her here for something as potentially boring as a Council of Witches election gave Rosie a little hope that the whole thing wouldn’t be a complete bore.
And then there was always the bonus of getting to live vicariously.
“Well you knock yourself out—” she started.
“Hopin’ he’ll do the job for me if you gets ma drift,” Hella interrupted gleefully.
“—only make sure he’s elected to the Council first,” Rosie counseled her friend. “We don’t wantanyaccusations of favoritism.”
“Spoilsport,” Hella pouted, even though Rosie knew she knew better than to mess with the results of the election. “Was bettin’ the bank on him wantin’ to go the extra mile in the lead up to the vote, if you catch my drift.”
“I don’t think you need to worry about that,” Rosie laughed, finally making it to the stage.
“Me either, come to think of it. He looks like the kinda guy who’d go the extra mile—repeatedly—multiple times in one night.”
Rosie snorted with another laugh, pressing a hand carefully to her belly.
“You’re killing me,” she snickered at Hella, knowing there was plenty more where that came from.
“Sit in the chair on the left side,” her friend said, leading her on a little farther. “It’s the closest to the bathroom.”
“You’re not planning on toning it down any, are you?” Rosie said, wondering how many times she would need to go to the bathroom before the nomination introductions began. Between the all the water she’d drunk that morning and Hella’s antics, the ladies’ room was going to be her new best friend.
“No fucking way,” Hella grinned devilishly, making Rosie giggle again.
CHAPTER FOUR
A short while later,it seemed that everyone who was gathering to watch the opening of the proceedings had arrived. The Council were gathered in their positions on the stage, and when the time came to get things underway it was Chaoxiang who stood and moved to the podium.
“Greetings and welcome to the Council of Witches election. I’m Chaoxiang Ling. Here today we also have Emperia von Yorgenson, Hella Getho, Declan Forrest, and Rosemary Forrest."
“We come together today to hear introductions from candidates vying for the seats of Europe and Australia,” Chaoxiang announced, “but first I would like to acknowledge and thank a very special friend of the Council. This person stepped up to be the proxy for Europe during a time of great turbulence and danger—and fought alongside of us through the recent wizard-war. Therefore, on behalf of the Council of Witches and on behalf of all witchkind, I present this token of our appreciation to…Dracula.”
Severalooohsdrifted out of the crowd before a loudpwoomp!filled the air, making several people jump including Rosie. When the shock was over she could see her dear friend standing next to Chaoxiang, looking rather humbled. His huge broad shoulders were the perfect mantle for a black leathery cape that draped down his back and trailed upon the floor, and he bowed slightly so Chaoxiang could get the medallion around his neck. They exchanged a few quiet words before Dracula bowed to the crowd also, and the space was filled with thunderous applause before Draculapwoomp!ed back out again.
“And now we introduce the nominees for the election. First we have Medea Florakis from Greece and Alain D’Louncrais from France—campaigning for the European Line.”
Rosie turned to see a buxom woman with gray hair approaching the stage. She wore an ox-blood colored Grecian-style gown that sat under her bust and then draped elegantly to the floor, while her gold-colored sandals matched the laurel she had woven through the hair at the crown of her head. It may have been overkill, but Rosie supposed she couldn’t blame the woman for being a little patriotic given the occasion.
Alain followed in the woman’s wake. His tailored navy-blue suit showed off his powerful figure perfectly and was paired with a crisp white shirt. No tie, no fuss—just perfectly polished, effortless French fashion that made Rosie want to sigh with envy. He smiled wolfishly at her as he passed, and she refused to let herself blush, though she doubted that Hella had the same compunctions.
The woman stepped up to the podium first, drawing herself up in a way that accentuated her voluptuous curves.
“I am Medea Alekia Florakis and I am descended from the ancestry of the first witches in Greece,” she declared. Her tone was self-important, and she’d magically enhanced her own voice so it would carry to everyone who'd gathered for the event.
“My ancestors have consorted with Gods and Goddesses, vanquished evil, and prospered in a community that cares for one another. It is that care and protection that I bring to my bid for the seat of Europe on the Council of Witches.”
A murmur of conversation echoed through the crowd as Medea continued to speak. “It’s no secret that lately there has been turmoil in our world,” the Greek woman said, her accent very evident. “Not only has it put our very livelihoods in danger, but it has also put us in league withunnaturalcreatures—creatures who are enemies of witches and have been for centuries.”
This caused a stir within the audience, but were they for or against what the witch was saying? Rosie’s brows lifted, and she leaned toward Declan who had sat in the chair beside hers.
“Is she referring toDracula?” she asked incredulously.
“I think so,” Declan replied quietly. “Vampires aren’t all sweetness’n light, even though we have managed to strike an alliance with some. And not all vampires are allied with Dracula, either. Evenhedoesn’t have such a great history when you really think about it.”
Rosie shook her head. “I still don’t like to hear this talk, especially not when he saved our bacon! It seems really underhanded.”
