Something About Witches (12 page)

Ruby stepped back out on the front stoop of the guesthouse, her eyes narrowing. “So the owner…. he set all this up?”

“Yes. And yes, he is a witch. Actually, a fairly powerful priest. I’ll tell you about him at dinner if you’d like. He’s an interesting story.”

Linda elevated herself further in Ruby’s eyes by helping her wake Theo, massaging his front limbs while Ruby took the more affected hips and rear haunches. The dog nosed Linda thoroughly, checking her out. When he got drool on her blouse, it didn’t faze her. The two women hefted him out of the van, steadying him until he woke up enough to become interested in his surroundings. Then Linda let the shepherds out so they could become friends. As Linda helped Ruby carry in Theo’s mattress, Ruby saw Theo lumbering off with them to investigate his new place.

She had forgotten what it was like to interact with a practitioner who understood what being a witch was about. Except for Raina and Ramona, Ruby didn’t often trust women or relax around them. While she certainly didn’t need a shrink to help her understand that, it didn’t change the fact she was always looking for that backstabbing competitive trait that most women carried in their X chromosome. In this case, it would have been pretty detrimental, so she was glad not to see it in Linda.

Probably sensing Ruby’s impending caffeine crash, Linda had encouraged her to turn in whenever she wished, and they could get started in earnest tomorrow. Because Ruby did have some questions she wanted answered tonight, however, she took Linda up on her offer of an early dinner. The woman proved she had awesome culinary skills, putting together a lightly spiced tomato-cheese spread on focaccia bread with a side of pita chips.

During the dinner, Ruby got her second wind and asked Linda some pointed questions about the other twelve women in the coven. If Linda was surprised about the intimate details Ruby requested, she didn’t show it. For the serious nature of the work they were doing, Ruby would need to know weaknesses and strengths of the group. For her part, Ruby found Linda’s answers thoughtful and not defensive, even when they were asked about herself.

In short, Linda was a well-grounded, quietly confident
woman who seemed more interested in serving the Light than in proving herself more accomplished than the unknown magic user Derek had sent to help her and the coven.

To finish out the evening, Ruby joined Linda on the screened porch of the main house, curling up on a comfortable papasan chair to listen to the forest night sounds. Theo lay at her feet, his nose almost touching the flank of one of the sprawled Australian shepherds. Linda had changed out of her work clothes into a long patchwork skirt and a snug wraparound top that made the most of her voluptuous Renaissance figure. It gave her a sensual Earth-mother look.

Ruby cupped her hot tea, blew on it, keeping her eyes on the caramel color. “So, now that we have the preliminaries out of the way, how do
you
feel about me being here?”

“I’m relieved,” Linda said frankly. “I have the most experience in our coven, because I’ve been a practitioner for most of my life, learned the Craft from my grandmother, but I’m very much a hearth witch. Potions, spells, crystals, general energy raisings for the highest good. We have the foundation to do what Derek says needs to happen, but I’m in the dark about the best way to go about it. Do I need to be scared, for me or my ladies?”

Ruby gave her an honest answer. “To fight what comes out of the Underworld requires a Guardian of the Light, or a serious kick-ass magic user. A witch’s magic is often very intuitive, connected to Earth energies, related to maintaining balance or making slight adjustments to it as needed. For this, you’re the peacekeeping border patrol. Derek’s job is being the invading force, taking back territory from the enemy.”

Linda pressed her lips together. “Sometimes the border patrol gets shot.”

“Yeah, they do. But I’ll teach you how to heighten your senses, give you more lead time if hot spots happen. I’ll also give you ways to protect and defend yourselves if you miscalculate.” Ruby held her gaze. “It’s like having a firearm in the house. You train with it, make sure you’re comfortable
using it, but in the end it’s for self-defense. If you have a way to get away from the threat, that’s always your first option.”

“Well, as long as whatever boils up from the Underworld isn’t here for my limited-edition Fairies of the World plate collection, that’ll work. Otherwise, I’ll fight to the death.”

Ruby didn’t smile. “You know you don’t have to do this. It remains a choice, for you and the rest of the coven.”

“I know.” Linda set her jaw. “Derek made that very clear. But this is our home, Ruby. The Craft has been my way of life since I was a little girl. What does it say about my faith if, the first time I’m called to use it in a way that I’m uniquely qualified to do, that can help others, I turn my back because I’m afraid?”

“It says you’ve joined the billion other species that instinctively know what most humans are too dumb to figure out. Running from a fight is the best way to survive.”

Linda raised a brow. “You don’t look like the type who runs from a fight.”

Ruby yawned. “I didn’t say I was any smarter than the average human.”

Linda smiled at that. Leaning forward, she covered Ruby’s hand, gave it a quick squeeze. “I’ll yammer at you half the night, so you just tell me when you need to go to bed. I know you’re done in. Per your instructions, I’ve set it up so the coven won’t come until tomorrow at dusk. You can sleep in, recover from your drive, and then I’ll help you with any setup you need for your teaching strategy. Today was my last day at work for the next couple weeks. I’ve taken my vacation time to dedicate myself fully to this, and the other women who could do so have done the same. The full coven will be here every night and on the weekends.”

Ruby nodded. “Good. It sinks in better that way, like a language immersion course.”

“That’s what we figured. Now, would you like me to freshen your tea, so you can take it to bed with you?”

“In a minute. Just a couple more questions. I want some things to mull over tonight, get a head start on tomorrow.”

Despite her exhaustion, Ruby knew other things would kick in and stir when she went to bed. It was best for her to have something to occupy her mind, distract it, so she could slip past that darkness, escape to oblivion. Only of course it was never oblivion. Her dreams were getting more and more surreal, disturbing, leaving her with the acrid taste of nausea when she woke.

“Your coven is all women. But you said the guy who owns this place is a priest. Is he not a joiner?”

“Justin actually was a part of our coven. Or, rather, is a part, whenever he can be here. He’s a very powerful witch, a very good man. He got married, and as you know, that can change some things. His wife, who is our sheriff, had a commitment to help out with a task force in Chicago for six months, so he closed his shop for the next two seasons to be with her there.” Linda gave her a mischievous look. “Justin runs an erotic boutique for women.”

“In
Lilesville
?” Ruby thought of the sparse, eclectic, but mostly conservative populace she’d seen when she’d driven into town late afternoon.

“Women come all the way from Tampa to shop there.” Linda winked. “He could have left it open while he was gone, but he’s tried employees before and they just…. Well, women come as much for his understanding of their needs as they do for what the shop has to offer. He says you can’t really teach that kind of intuition. They come for the full experience. Though he won’t be there, I’ll take you through it if we have time. I have a key so I can check on the place. If you see anything you like, I’ll just deposit the money in his account.”

The planted suggestion, as well as the fading effects of the caffeine high, stirred that heated need the exertion of the drive had blissfully quelled. Ruby managed to stifle a curse as it swept low through her vitals. It was Derek’s fault. She’d
had it leashed down, and he’d gotten it all worked up again, like a bronc goaded with an electric prod in the chute.

How is it a guy a jillion years old still likes sex so much? Shouldn’t you be beyond such earthly cares by now?

She remembered teasing him about that once. While she’d been cooking them dinner, she’d extended a wooden spoon for him to sample her sauce, and some of it had dripped on his hand. Quickly putting her mouth on his flesh, she’d given him a playful lick to soothe the burn. That was all it took to have him carting her off to the bedroom.

He’d brought that sauce with them, dropped it on her like hot wax. He’d done just as she had, sealing his mouth over each place, licking her slow, making her imagine where else he’d put it before he was done. But when she’d asked the question again, much more breathlessly, he’d lifted his head, stared into her face that way he did, as if she were the eighth wonder of the world.

Do you know, in a jillion years—
his lips quirked
—I’ve never seen the sun rise in exactly the same way? The colors, the clouds, it’s always different, sometimes a lot, sometimes a little, but always different. And I never get tired of the pleasure of it. Earthly pleasures were meant to be enjoyed for all eternity, Ruby. Else it’s an insult to the Powers that made them.

Yeah, immersing herself in a store full of sex toys and lingerie would
really
help with this burning need. While she was sure Derek would approve wholeheartedly, there was no chance in hell she was going to that shop. “We’ll be pretty busy, but thanks.” She managed to inject dry humor into her voice rather than whining, resentful regret. From Linda’s odd look, she wasn’t entirely successful. “So does Justin know what’s going on this week?”

“He said he could come back for this, that Sarah could spare him, but I could tell he was torn. He loves her so much, and the task force she’s on is a dangerous one. Derek talked to him, though. He told Justin he could handle the Great
Rite or any other areas where male energy was needed, so Justin reluctantly agreed to stay in Chicago and let me call him if I need anything. Men. They can be so overprotective.”

Derek could handle the Great Rite.
Yeah, sure he could. Remembering the catty comment she’d made to Raina, Ruby knew being married did, in fact, change things for some couples. While the Lord and Lady were channeled into the priest and priestess during the Great Rite, it didn’t change the fact two earthly bodies were coupling. A man and woman needed to achieve some level of intimacy and pleasure, some familiarity and trust with each other, to give the energy a free flow. And the practical facts of life— that birth control and disease protection had to be used— underscored that “sacred” or not, it was real sex between two real people.

If she were this Sarah, married to the remarkable Justin, she wouldn’t be thrilled about him doing a Great Rite with another woman. After all, Ruby wasn’t married to Derek, and she was having a hard time quelling an ugly, unpleasant tide toward Linda, her warm face and soft body. Ruby knew she was too skinny right now, had seen it in Derek’s assessing look. According to medical professionals, Dr Pepper and M& M’S weren’t the world’s best diet, but what the hell did they know?

“So no other guys practicing in the area?”

“Not to my knowledge.” Linda grimaced. “I wish it was different, but you know how it is. Modern-day Wicca, where most of us have landed, attracts far more women than men. As the Craft has always done. Of course, we have a good mix. Three of our ladies are actively Wiccan, and four are churchgoing Christians, who recognize this path reinforces the mystical side of theirs. The others have chosen not to categorize their faith, but they believe in what we do here.”

A good mix of belief systems, and from what Linda had told her about the women, they were well-meshed friends. That would be helpful. It was important in this type of teaching situation to be working with open minds, willing to learn and confident enough to tolerate new paradigms.

“Derek said you used to work in a Wiccan store out in California? And now you run a gun shop? That was quite a switch.”

“It was time for me to move on.” Ruby shrugged. “I’m not one of those witches who looks down her nose at the mundane practitioners. I know we all have the personal power within us to connect to the Lord and Lady, use energy. But the shop in which I worked…. I had some life changes, ended up in a different place. I didn’t fit there anymore.”

Linda digested that. “Would you like some wine?”

“Did I just give the impression I needed some?” Ruby asked wryly.

Linda smiled. “I thought it might also help you sleep. Sometimes when you’re as exhausted as you are now, you lie down to sleep and end up staring at the ceiling.”

“All right. But if I end up sacked out here, you’ll just have to live with my snoring.”

“I’m sure it’s no worse than Theo’s.” Linda poured her a glass, settled back down across from her. “So what was it about the people at the arcane shop that no longer fit with your perspective? I don’t want to pry into anything too personal, but I’m the curious type.”

After an hour of being quizzed in detail on her own life, and that of her friends, as well as being told there was a real element of danger involved, Ruby suspected Linda felt it was quid pro quo to seek more information about the woman to whom Derek had entrusted her coven. Ruby didn’t blame her a bit.

“At Witches R Us, they saw the world as a matter of Light battling and overcoming Dark. Really, it’s about Light
balancing
Dark. Human beings will always have killers, megalomaniacs, sexual predators, because all of us have the capability for that darkness. Our circumstances or genetics will manifest it. Saints and Good Samaritans happen the same way. To pretend that we’ll one day have this peaceful world where there’s no war and no money, that we’ll all live
in this happy bubble hugging one another, is not only faintly nauseating, but it completely overlooks what human nature is. Hell, it overlooks Nature itself.”

Linda blinked. “So it’s wrong to hope for world peace?”

“No more wrong than it is to strive to lose those ten vanity pounds. It helps you keep it from becoming fifty, right?”