Page 3 of Witch (Gray Wolf Security #24)

“So, you’re a witch?” asked Nine.

“I am. Oh, I don’t ride a broomstick or stir a cauldron unless it’s got gumbo in it. But I’m a witch all the same. Or at least that’s what the world would classify me as. Truth is, I simply know more than most about the earth, about plants, trees, and flowers. I know how to speak to the earth.”

“Like Grandfather,” said Trak, staring at the woman.

“Exactly like your grandfather. He was considered a shaman. I’m considered a witch.

His word is much nicer,” she smirked. “There are all kinds of witches in this world. A green witch, like me, focuses on working with herbs, plants, and the natural world. I just happen to have a very good relationship with the animal kingdom as well.”

“Yes, I’m aware,” said Gaspar as he winked at his mother.

“Well, start to get more aware. You have that gift as well, son. You’ve been ignoring it,” she said, staring at her eldest.

“I haven’t been ignoring it, Mama. I’ve been hiding it.”

“Wait. You speak with animals?” asked Miller.

“I don’t speak to them. I listen to them,” he said hesitantly. “Later. Go on, Mama.”

“As I was sayin’, all kinds of witches. There are those called kitchen witches who put magic and energy into things like food or your home, all with nurturing in mind.

I guess I have a little of that as well.

You have witches who work with celestial energy, cosmic witches.

Or those that connect with spirits, ancestors, and the like. ”

“But you do that, too,” said Wilson.

“I do. So does Claudette, Noah, and Trak, and of course your sweet Julia.”

“Julia is a witch?” frowned Wilson.

“She’s a special person who connects with the beyond,” smiled Irene.

“Where was I? Oh, yes. Sea witches have a connection to the ocean and its energies. Crystal witches work with the powers and energies of stones and crystals. Then there are divination witches, ceremonial witches, cottage, secular, wiccan, coven…”

“Okay, okay, I think we get it, Mama,” said Marie. “You seem to have a bit of all of that within you. Miss Ruby, she’s more on the voodoo side, right?” Marie looked at Ruby.

“My people called it voodoo, child, but it’s still witchcraft,” she smiled.

“Irene, are you telling us that we all have some of this within us?” asked Ghost.

“I’m telling you that every person has the ability, but they don’t tap into it.

I’ve been workin’ with y’all for fifty years tryin’ to get you to see it.

Trak was the first with the animals. He didn’t fight it at all.

The first time was when you saw the red hawk fly over Lauren’s grandmother’s nursing home. ”

“How-how did you know that?” asked Lauren. Irene just laughed, shaking her head. “Never mind. You know all of it, don’t you?”

“I do, child,” she said, patting her hand. Irene took in a deep breath, smiling at her husband. “It’s coming up on our time. Mine, your daddy’s, Ruby, Sven, and Teddy. We’ll all be movin’ on at the same time.”

The group was silent, swallowing back emotions and tears.

“Listen to me,” said Matthew. “What you see before you will continue. We will be here, just like Martha, Franklin, Nathan, Yori, and all the others. In fact, I’ve made a special place for us. An island that’s just for us. It’s called ?le Fant?me.”

“Island of ghosts, spirits, right?” asked Jean.

“That’s right. We will hear everything, see everything, and be here for you. We will be just a boat ride away or a call away. Think of me, and I will be before you.”

“So, we’re really not losing you at all,” said Baptiste.

“You will never lose us,” said Matthew. “But the world needs to think that you have lost us. We must stage a car accident with the five of us. Me, Irene, Ruby, Sven, and Teddy. We’ll make a big deal of it, announce it to the press in New Orleans. We’ll even hold funerals.”

“God, Pops, you’re asking a lot of us,” said Antoine.

“I’m asking nothing more than you’re capable of,” he smiled. Antoine nodded at his father. All he’d given them, they could do this one thing for him.

“Does this mean you stop being an angel?” asked Erin.

“No, child. I will always be an angel, helping others to move into the next world. I guess you could consider me your angel. All of yours. Like Martha, Franklin, and the others, your mother and I, all of us, will be here for you.”

“And when the time comes for us?” asked Rafe. They all turned to look at him, realizing he was speaking their minds. All of them. “When it comes our time to move on, Pops, will we move to the new island or will we move…” He pointed up, toward the heavens.

“Well,” chuckled Matthew, “with any luck you will remain here.”

Everyone looked at one another, then back at Irene, Matthew, Ruby, Sven, and Teddy.

They’d asked Fitch, Carsen, Alistair, Bodhi, Vivienne, Walker, Cade, Cassidy, Milo, Lia, and Christian to join them.

After all, it was their parents, grandparents, and great-grandparents who would be moving on. They had a right to hear it all.

“Will you be telling the others the whole story?” asked Cade.

“We will,” nodded Matthew. “The entire property needs to know. Changes are coming for everyone. Big changes. You are already considering removing yourselves from Gray Wolf. It’s time. But you will be very busy with other things.”

“What other things, Pops?” asked Gaspar.

“Gaspar, my sweet firstborn,” he grinned. “What is it you think I do all day?”

“I-I’m not sure,” he said, chuckling. “Honestly, Pops, I’m not sure. Work with the oil and gas team? Move spirits through to the other side? I don’t know.”

“That’s true. I do those things,” he nodded. “But mostly what I do is watch over my children.”

That caused all of them to pause. They stared at one another, then back at Matthew. Jean started laughing as the animals surrounded Gaspar, one of the elephants wrapping her trunk around his shoulders, while Semu sat in front of him. There was no denying it. Gaspar had the touch with the animals.

Trak smiled at his friend, petting the head of Alvin as he let out a low, relaxed growl.

“You’ve been preparing us for decades, and we didn’t even know it,” said Alec.

“All that work you asked us to do with the girls’ and boys’ orphanages and schools.

The facility we built in New Orleans. This animal sanctuary.

The holiday charity. All of it. You were preparing us for what you do all by yourself. ”

“I never did anything by myself,” he smiled.

“I had help. All kinds of beautiful help, including your mother, Ruby, and others. But all the spirits on this land have helped me. Grip and Jonathon are instrumental in the holiday gift baskets. Martha, Nathan, Yori, and Franklin in keeping things right with the land. Charity, Genevieve, Archie, and all the others have helped me. Now, it’s your turn to chip in. ”

“How can we help?” asked Suzette, smiling at her parents. She was seated beside Ruby and grabbed her hand. “How can I help all of you?”

“You’re doing it, baby,” smiled Ruby. “You’re all doing it. What happens on this land, all this beautiful land, is critical to the world. Not just New Orleans. Not just Louisiana. The magic that happens here helps to sustain the world.”

“I guess I can see that,” said Luc. “I mean, we’ve all known it was special. It was why we returned. Why we wanted to be here and protect the privacy of this place.”

“You’ll continue to do that,” said Matthew. “But make no mistake. There will be changes soon. Changes that you will need to adhere to. For now, we have a car accident to plan.”