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CHAPTER SIXTEEN

After that, everything else on the agenda seemed to fade in importance. But if I’d learned one thing over the years, it was that even though something huge was looming, the smaller steps along the way were equally as important. Even if you got cancer, you could still be hit by a bus if you stepped off the curb one second too soon, and then the big “C” faded to nothing.

“So, Maisy, why don’t you tell Nightshade about Brenda’s case. She might have some good advice for you.” Astra gave me a nudge.

I was still feeling a little star-struck. It wasn’t every day that I met the high priestess who was affiliated with the Crown. True, the Order of the Moon was only one organization under the Court Magika’s jurisdiction, but Nightshade still carried an enormous amount of clout compared to the average member of the witchblood community.

“I’m not sure she’s interested,” I started to say.

“Once you become a member, everybody will be interested. Go ahead,” Nightshade said.

I told her what had happened and our supposition that Edgar was responsible, and how he had interfered every time Brenda tried to get close to another man.

“You’re correct in that he’s a Haunt,” Nightshade said. “You’ll need to send him over to the Veil.”

She reached for my hands and I offered them to her. Her skin was warm and tingly, and I felt a low vibration as she held my fingers in hers. It was like a bass voice, so low you could feel it more than hear it. I kept quiet, waiting for her to speak.

After a few moments, she took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “All right. You have the ability to take this on, and it will teach you much. But you must focus, and you have to believe you can do this. Belief goes a long way. It won’t engineer your success, but it will help shore up your magic.”

“How do you suggest I approach him? Do I use a standard exorcism rite?” I was honestly clueless. I’d cleared houses, but I’d never actually exorcised a spirit before. I wasn’t clear on the procedure.

“I suggest you use a spirit trap,” Nightshade said. “I can give you the components.”

I thought for a moment. I hadn’t thought about spirit traps in years—but yes, that might actually work!

Excited, I said, “That’s a fantastic idea. I’ve never used one and didn’t even think about it.”

“I’ll get you the components and we’ll go over the spell.” Nightshade excused herself. I felt my spirits lift. With one simple sentence, she’d given me the answer to Brenda’s problem. While it wouldn’t bring her a mate, it would clear the way.

On the way home, I texted Brenda . i’m pretty sure i can take care of edgar. i’ll explain later but how about if i come over tonight and we go after him?

A moment later, she texted back. really? i’d love to get rid of him. tonight at seven will work, if you’re up to it.

i’m ready. let’s get him out of your life. at least we’ll pave the way for you to find someone and he won’t be able to interfere.

I glanced at Astra. “I’m going to go over to Brenda’s tonight.”

“You’re going to fashion the spirit trap?”

I nodded. Nightshade had given me specific instructions. “It’s not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. I should be able to handle it.”

“What did you think of her?” Astra asked.

I thought for a moment before answering. “She’s not somebody I’d ever want to tangle with, in terms of arguments. But I like her, and she seems fair.”

“You’ll find that most of the high priestesses who work with the Order of the Moon are like that. Strong willed, but willing to listen. Take no prisoners, but fair. They have to be stern, because they help guide the magical community in the direction that Queen Heliesa deems appropriate.”

“Have you ever met the queen?”

Astra paused, then added, “Yes, I have. She listens to her advisors, yet in the end she consults her own conscience. There have been a few members of the royal family in the past that weren’t as trustworthy. And there were some who had to be almost draconian, given the time periods.”

I thought back to history. There was a time when witches and Otherkin had to hide, because they were hunted out and targeted for execution. We fought back, eventually gaining enough trust that the witch-hunters were banned. Vampires, however, still had to fight for their rights, and there were still hate groups against all types of Otherkin. Unfortunately, the real enemies were bigotry and willful ignorance, and that affected so many groups of people.

“I’m glad I live now, but we can’t ever stop being watchful. It remains the same for other ethnicities, and for women. There will always be a subset of power hungry men who want to rule everyone else, and they consider suppression a weapon.” I shook my head. “I don’t understand the mindset.”

“Neither do I, dear. Neither do I,” Astra said, easing into our driveway. “Here, you jump out. I need to drop off a basket to a friend. She’s down on her luck, and some of us in the who are in my garden club have taken to making sure she’s got food and a bit of spare change.”

“I didn’t know that,” I said, opening the door and unbuckling my seat belt. “Garden club, huh?”

Astra nodded, shivering as a blast of cold air rushed into the car. “Yes, we’re all earth witches. I’ll see you later.”

As she inched out of the driveway, avoiding a skid onto the icy road, I watched my aunt leave. There was still so much I didn’t know about her life now, but I was looking forward to finding out.

All afternoon, I spent familiarizing myself with the spell components. Nightshade had given me a lodestone—it was one of the fraction that were naturally magnetic.

Legend had it that magnetic lodestones had been buried at the site of lightning strikes. While lodestones were primarily protective, if you found one that was magnetic and you set a binding spell on it, it could be used to trap spirits. Then you could hand it over to a witch who would guide them through the Veil, and see that they got there.

I followed Nightshade’s instructions, creating a binding spell that would fold itself into the stone, and as I was charging it, I realized how much I missed practicing regular magic. Oh, I cast my share of spells, and I worked with magic on my clients, to find them a match, but this—this was different. It was actually fun.

I held the stone in my hand and breathed the binding spell into it, sighing as the energy settled into the lodestone. The rock vibrated in my hand. It was ready, and it would be like honey was to ants—hard to pass up and impossible to get out of once you were stuck in it.

“You are a beauty,” I whispered.

Yes, it is…

I jumped. There it was again, the voice I had been hearing. I decided it was time to find out who had been talking to me. I was still in circle, so I settled down, crossed my legs, and opened my third eye.

“Who are you? I know you’re there, and I want to know who’s been talking to me.”

A beat. Then another. No one answered, but I felt a warm, radiant energy begin to sweep around me. I opened my eyes. A pinkish mist surrounded me, flecked with shimmering flakes of gold. It was inviting, warm and sensuous, and yet it was caring and gentle.

“Who are you?” I whispered, keeping my voice low.

You know who I am, the woman’s voice whispered back.

“Aphrodite,” I said. I was right, I knew it from my inner heart to my outer core.

I am the essence of love and passion, she said. And I come to you now, when you stand at the crossroads. You stand between worlds. You must either choose my path, or to walk on your own. If you come into my service, the road may not always be easy, but it will always be paved with love. Do you choose to follow me?

I thought about it. I’d never thought of having a patron goddess before, of pledging to the gods. But Aphrodite was the heart of what I worked for—to help people bring love into their lives. It made so much sense.

“What do you require, my Lady?”

You work with me and only with me, unless I give you permission. I will do what I can to protect you and further your magic. And you in turn, pay homage to me. This is the moment, Maisy. Will you walk this earth as my priestess?

And right then, I knew that I was destined to belong to her. Aphrodite embodied everything I stood for. I caught my breath, held it for a moment, then let it rush out in one big breath.

“I will. I choose to walk your path, Lady.” I wasn’t sure what to do next, but I figured she’d tell me, and I wasn’t disappointed.

Then gather to you the tools of our trade…you will need a crystal ball and a deck of cards dedicated only to me. An apple wand, which you will make by hand, and an athame whose hilt is silver as the night sky. A necklace, to honor me—you will wear it at all times.

“What kind of necklace?”

You will know it when you see it, Aphrodite said. And then, she added, Pledge to me when the moon is next full. Until then, know I am watching over you.

Before I could answer, as quickly as it had come, the mist departed and I was alone again. Only, I wasn’t alone in my heart. And never again, would I be isolated and totally lonely.

As I turned around, I caught sight of something on my desk that hadn’t been there before.

It was a gorgeous shell—a conch shell that was the size of a cantaloupe. The spiral curves were a warm peachy color, with a perfectly shaped spire that reminded me of a Ram Thai Crown Dancer headdress, laid on its side. The little bumps along the curving ridges made me think of jewels on the headdresses.

I picked up the shell and magic tingled through my fingers. As I brought it to my ear, I heard the swirl of ocean waves, and a light breeze sprang up, bringing with it the scent of seaweed and brine. It calmed my worries, sending a wave of peace through me, and I could feel Aphrodite’s energy behind it.

Use this whenever you need to reconnect with yourself and with me. Make certain it’s part of your pledging ritual.

I silently assented. I had to hurry. The full moon was tomorrow, and I could feel Aphrodite there, ready to claim me for her own.

Astra arrived home and I immediately told her what had gone down with Aphrodite. “I need someone to oversee my pledging ritual and it has to be tomorrow. Can you do it?”

Astra didn’t hesitate. “Of course,” she said, sitting down. “First, you need to invite Crystal to be here. I’m not certain why, but she’s a necessary part of the ritual. It can be just the three of us, but she’s necessary. Second…you need a new dress for this. Sexy and comfortable, but it needs to represent Aphrodite, so something in a pastel pink or seafoam would be perfect. Or peach. Third, the necklace. You must have it before the ritual.”

“So, I have to go shopping tomorrow. I hope I can find something that looks good on me.” I wasn’t used to wearing revealing clothing. When Dan had been alive, I’d been far less self-conscious.

“Yes, you do. And you’ll find something. I know it.” Astra glanced at the clock. “Why don’t I make a light dinner before Brenda gets here?”

“Thanks,” I said. “A sandwich or soup would be great.”

As my aunt headed into the kitchen, I let out a long breath. Everything was changing so much that I wasn’t sure what to expect next. All I knew was that the next few days would change my life in numerous ways, and I hoped those changes would be for the best.