Page 13 of The 13th Daughter (The Witches of New Salem #1)

His nostrils flared and his eyes hardened with anger even as his face turned an ugly puce color. Definitely mad.

"Kay is trying to get your attention." Ethan cut off whatever he was about to say. "I think it's time to start."

"He's such an ass," Billy growled. "I don't know how Kay puts up with his crap."

She gets dead dog drunk, I thought to myself.

"Yeah, he is," Jeff agreed. "Thanks, CJ."

"It's her night. No one, especially me, should take it away from her."

"Why especially you?" Ethan asked.

"Because I don't believe in it."

"Are you sure about that?"

No, I wasn't sure, but neither was I about to admit it. Fortunately, Mr. Martin saved me from answering when he called everyone to attention.

"Welcome." His voice boomed throughout the clearing and the noise died down instantly.

Everyone turned to look where he stood beside the makings of a smaller circle.

"It is my honor and privilege to open tonight's meeting on this very special occasion.

A child has been decreed ready to join us.

She stands on the verge of change and growth.

We welcome you to our circle, little one, and greet you with open arms and open hearts. "

Megan stepped forward wearing a gown of white lace that seemed to flow and ripple as she walked forward.

It had long billowy sleeves that ended just at her fingertips.

It looked old, but very beautiful. I'd bet anything it had been worn by all the women in her mother's family before her.

It had a certain Old World feel to it. Megan looked radiant as she curtsied before him. Wait, she curtsied?

"Merry meet, sir."

"Merry meet, Megan Allison Parker," Mr. Martin bowed to her. "Now, our Junior Coven Leader will guide you through the Rite of Initiation."

He'd used her full name as was our habit. It was a witch's greeting. A person's full name held power.

Kay stepped forward and held out her hands.

"I call upon the guardians of the watchtowers to the north, the east,

the south, and the west to aide us this night.

Earth, Fire, Air, and Water I summon thee to do my bidding.

Spirit I call upon thee to bind them together and close this circle."

A snap reverberated and a tingle went through me. I felt the circle close. Not good.

Kay turned to Megan, her expression becoming hard and unyielding. It was a look I'd only ever seen on her father's face. I frowned, unable to shake a sudden queasy feeling in my stomach. Why would that expression set off alarm bells?

"Do you enter this circle with an open mind, an open heart and a purity of purpose?"

"I do," Megan nodded, her face alight with joy.

"Do you agree to pledge yourself to learning the craft of your people?"

"I do." Megan's answer came out strong and proud.

"Do you agree to respect and abide by the laws of this Coven?"

"I do."

Kay's face turned harsher, more demanding.

"Do you agree to protect the secrets of our Coven from all others, even if that means forfeiting your own life?"

Oh, what was this juicy little tidbit? I leaned forward.

Megan's eyes widened and she swallowed. "I do."

By the nervous look on her face, I'd guarantee Megan hadn't expected that question either.

"Then come forward, Megan Allison Parker, and follow me into my circle. If you have answered truthfully, you have nothing to fear."

Kay stepped into the circle of candles. Megan took a deep and steadying breath and followed her in. Kay nodded in approval. "Now we will set our circle and let the Elements decree your worthiness, Megan Allison Parker."

Megan looked nervous, but she walked to stand directly in the center of the small circle outlined by candles. She squared her shoulders, held her head up, and nodded for Kay to begin.

"Earth, enter our circle and judge this novice for stability of purpose."

The green candle flared to life.

"Air, enter this circle and judge this novice for the intelligence needed to learn our craft."

The blue candle flared to life.

"Fire, enter our circle and judge this novice for the strength needed to protect us."

The red candle flickered.

Megan took a shaky breath and closed her eyes, concentrating hard.

The red candle flared to life.

"Water, enter our circle and judge this novice for the wisdom needed to guide us."

The yellow candle flared to life.

"Spirit, enter this circle and judge this novice for the purity of all and nothing."

The purple candle flared to life.

Lights, like hundreds of fireflies, appeared around Megan and she stood, tall and proud, as they swirled around her.

The circle closed and the flames of all five candles shot at least ten feet into the air.

I felt a rush of power as the circle closed.

It spread outward and settled into...me.

I twitched as it coursed through my body.

My legs gave out as it pushed into me. Ethan grabbed me before I fell.

No one else seemed to notice, thankfully, as all eyes were on Megan.

He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me into his side, his gaze questioning.

I shook my head at him and motioned to Megan.

"The Elements have decreed you worthy for entrance into our craft, Megan Allison Parker," Kay told her formally. "We welcome you into the field of apprenticeship."

"I thank thee for the welcome, Mistress, and pledge to honor the creed of our Coven," Megan replied, barely able to suppress the grin that kept trying to explode.

"Spirit, Water, Fire, Air, and Earth, we thank all of thee for thy service," Kay stretched out her hands. "You may leave these circles."

Again, there was a large pop as the circle broke and it almost knocked me to my knees. Ethan's arm around me kept me from falling. This was so not good.

"Are you okay?" he whispered against my ear.

"No," I whispered back. No point in lying. He knew I wasn't okay.

Kay's face changed into an expression of joy. "I present thee, Megan Allison Parker, to the Coven. Friends, please join me in welcoming our newest member."

The crowd converged on them. Ethan and I stayed where we were. He looked concerned. I wanted to run. Instead, I took deep breaths and felt the strength creep back into my legs. After a few minutes, I was able to stand again. I pulled away from Ethan just to test myself. Good, no falling down.

"Better?" he asked, his gray eyes burning with worry.

"Yes, thank you."

"What happened to you, Cassie?"

"Here, you are!" Kay grabbed my hand and pulled me along with her. I tossed Ethan a helpless look and he stared after me, worried. "So, what did you think?"

"It was interesting."

She stopped and turned to stare at me in amazement. "Interesting? Is that all you can say?"

"Kay, I'm not about to convert after seeing one ceremony," I told her.

I knew by the look on her face she'd half expected that.

I also knew how important the Coven was to her so I tried to soothe her.

"The ceremony was really beautiful and whatever trick you used to make the candles shoot up like that was wicked cool. "

"It wasn't a trick, CJ," she told me quietly. "It was the Elements accepting Megan. The flames gave them a voice."

I frowned at her. I'd needed it to be a simple trick. That way I could explain away everything I'd seen.

"And I don't expect you to convert, not really," she smiled half-heartedly. "I know you need time. You have to think things to death before you make a decision."

"Hey!"

"But I count on that, CJ." She hooked her arm in mine. "If you didn't over think things, we'd both be SOL. I'm glad you're the way you are, and that you're my best friend even if you don't believe in all this nonsense."

"Yeah, well, I don't think anyone else would put up with either one of us for long," I laughed. "So, I guess we're stuck with each other."

"Speaking of stuck with each other..."

I rolled my eyes. I knew where this was going.

"Tell me what's going on with you and Ethan." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.

I laughed. "That's not going on."

She sighed wearily. "Have I taught you nothing?"

"I barely know him."

"You know him well enough to be kissing him on your front porch."

I groaned. Damn that nosy old woman!

"So, dish, girl. Is he a good kisser?"

"He makes me forget where I am," I confessed. I wasn't really sure I liked that fact.

"Billy does that to me," she smiled. "I've never met anyone who could do that before."

"He really loves you. He went so far as to ask me what to get you for your birthday."

"Ohhh, what did you tell him?"

"Uh-uh," I shook my head. "It's a surprise."

She sighed. "Since I know you're not going to divulge secret information, back to Ethan. Do you like him?"

"More than I should. He makes me so mad sometimes, but then he says or does something that just makes me melt."

"I think you're starting to fall in love, CJ," Kay whispered.

"I think maybe I am," I sighed.

"That's a good thing, isn't it?"

"I don't know, Kay. It just seems too soon, too sudden. I thought love was supposed to take longer."

"Nope," she said. "I knew I loved Billy after three dates."

"How?" I asked, curious.

"Well, the way I felt when he kissed me was a huge sign.

When I think about him, I get all...gooey on the inside.

I need to hear his voice when I wake up or before I go to sleep.

He makes me feel special and loved. No one else ever has.

Usually guys just want to go out with me because they think I'm hot or because my dad's the Coven leader.

Not Billy. He likes me, CJ, for me. He sees past the drinking and the smartass attitude. He sees me."

"Damn."

"Ethan makes you feel the same way?" she grinned down at me as we approached the boys from behind. We'd made a full circle of the clearing as we talked and were back to where we started.

"Yup."

"I can't believe you did it, man," Billy told Ethan. "I didn't think anyone would ever manage to get her to come anywhere near the Coven."

I saw Ethan shrug. "I told you I'd get her here and I did. You guys went about it the wrong way. You have to know how to handle Cassie."

Handle Cassie? What the hell?

"You can't push her. You have to let her make the decision on her own. All I did was just point out a few things to make her think about it."

Jeff looked up and saw us standing behind Ethan and Billy. "Well, you did promise to get CJ here. Was it hard to do?"

"No," Ethan shook his head. "I just kept her distracted like Billy suggested and asked the right questions."

Billy reached out and slapped him on the back. "Welcome to the Coven, man. You did the impossible and earned your place."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Kay shouted, outraged.

Billy and Ethan turned around to see us standing there.

They both looked alarmed, but Jeff stood with a vindictive smile on his face.

Wait. Had he known what Ethan and Billy were up to?

My eyes narrowed as they focused on Neighbor Boy.

His smile faded and he too began to look alarmed, realizing how much trouble he was in.

Had this entire week been about getting me to a stupid Coven meeting so he could prove something to the two jerks standing beside him?

Had everything he said just an hour earlier been a lie?

It hurt to think that, but it also pissed me off.

Anger was easier to deal with at the moment, so I let it out.

"So, let me get this straight," I snarled and the wind started to howl. It ripped through the trees and whipped around us. "You were manipulating me to get me to come to a damn meeting? Is that right?"

"Cassie, let me explain..."

"Shut it!" I tried to keep from yelling, everyone was already staring at us. The wind tore through the trees and lashed out at us all. "At least you got what you wanted. I'm here."

"Cassie..."

"Don't," I told him. "Just don't."

"It was Billy's idea!" Ethan pointed a finger at him.

"Billy's idea?" Kay rounded on her boyfriend. "You put him up to this? How could you do that? She's my best friend. How could you hurt her like that?"

"Kay..."

"Oh no, Billy, don't even try it. I'm so mad I might just break up with you right now if you say another word to me."

"Kay, I'm sorry. It was stupid."

"No, it was more than stupid, you assholes!" She glared at all three of them.

"Cassie, please..."

"No," Kay cut Ethan off. "Leave her alone. You've done enough. Come on, CJ, let's get you home."

"I'll drive you," Billy offered, his voice desperate.

"I don't think so," Kay told him, her own voice as cold as a winter's frost. "I have my own car. What you did was horrible and I can't stand to look at you right now, William James Howe!"

She turned us away from them and I didn't start to cry until we were in the car.