A Modern Witch Read online

  Mike spoke up from the corner. “In what you showed us, Jennie, Aervyn piped his power directly to Lauren. Are you thinking he’ll connect in through the air trio this time?”

  Just one of the reasons she’d put Mike on point. A talented spellcaster in his own right, he was also a highly innovative witch, and very quick to embrace possibilities.

  “Exactly right, Mike. The biggest risk to the circle would be an abrupt change in Aervyn’s power levels—that could destabilize the entire circle.

  “Jamie’s going to act as a bit of a circuit breaker. He’s the only one of us besides Aervyn with both spellcasting and mind-witch talents, so he’s the one most likely to sense a power fluctuation coming and be able to buffer it. Scott and Aurelia, you’ll want to be ready for surprises, as should everyone.”

  Jennie surveyed the room, and then did a quick mind scan. No signs of discontent or fear. Good.

  Tabitha leaned forward. “So what’s with all the mind witches, Jennie? You’ve got one in each trio, and we’re clearly not all playing to our strongest elements. What gives?”

  “Lauren isn’t an elemental witch,” Jennie said. “We learned a couple of things through trial and error in the training circle. In order for her to manage elemental power flows, it seems to work best if two things happen. First, she will connect to Aervyn, then to the four of you on elemental points.”

  “Damn smart,” Edric said. “When you’ve got that kind of power on tap, it’s hard to hold. Can’t believe someone didn’t think to try that sooner. You’ve trained her well.”

  Jennie laughed. “She came up with that one all on her own. Second thing is that Lauren uses only mind power to channel, since she has no elemental talent. It seems to help if there is a thread of mind power in the energy we feed to her.”

  Comprehension dawned for Tabby. “Ah, so I’m not sharing fire power with the circle, I’m providing mind power. I can do that. Heck, I’m a way stronger mind witch.”

  “Right,” Jennie said. “We’ve put you in a trio where you have at least a little of that element’s power, so you can hook in smoothly, but it’s mind power we need you to contribute. Take it easy on your wattage—volume doesn’t seem to matter, and we’re short on monitors for this circle, since all the mind witches we have will be participating.”

  Caro nodded in agreement. Jamie sighed in resignation. He was by far and away the weakest of the four mind witches, and he would have to offer up air power as well to properly handle his role as point for the air trio.

  Jennie patted his head. “Jamie’s not thrilled to be our fourth mind witch.”

  Tabitha laughed. “I think we’d have to go to Louisiana to find someone to replace you, Jamie, so man up.”

  Jamie rolled his eyes. “Can I at least get some more food first?”

  Taking that as a sign, the circle meeting ended in a mass exodus toward the kitchen.

  …

  Lauren reached for a third piece of fried chicken and handed a piece to Aervyn as well. If she needed to protein load, so did he.

  The witch horde had disappeared, and they were having a ‘small’ family dinner with the Walker family, Sophie, Nat, Jamie, and Jennie.

  Aervyn ignored the chicken and stared at Jamie’s head. Lauren tried to follow his gaze. In honor of something—she’d been afraid to ask what—the triplets had decorated crowns for everyone at the table. Their love affair with glitter glue and sparkles was eye-catching, but not enough to distract a four-year-old boy from food.

  As Lauren frowned at Jamie, the letters on his headwear shimmered and changed to spell ‘CtWumin’. Lauren giggled and pushed the correct spelling into Aervyn’s head. Jamie’s crown changed to ‘Cat Wunem’. Lauren giggled harder and pushed the spelling at Aervyn again, more slowly this time. Apparently “spelling prodigy” wasn’t on his list of talents.

  Ginia was the first to figure out the cause of Lauren’s giggles, and soon a case of contagious snickers worked its way around to everyone except for Jamie.

  “What?” Drumstick halfway to his mouth, Jamie finally realized everyone else had stopped eating. Clearly he was an old hat with witch pranks, however. One quick glance around the table and he’d honed in on Aervyn, possibly because the child in question was grinning with unholy glee.

  Nell, evidently more than happy to dig her baby in deeper, handed Jamie a mirror from her bag. Jamie’s lips quirked, and he shot a look at Lauren. “He’s only four. What’s your excuse?”

  Lauren tried for an innocent look. “I don’t know why you think I had anything to do with it.” Being an only child had not prepared her adequately for this kind of subterfuge.

  Jamie smirked. “Aervyn couldn’t spell Cat Woman if his life depended on it.”

  The table erupted in giggles again. Lauren looked around quickly, and then pulled her own crown off. “Robin.” Aervyn grabbed her arm and held out his own crown. “What’s it say, what does it say?”

  Lauren didn’t even have to look. She sent an image of Batman to Aervyn, and a second idea.

  Jennie intervened before they managed to pull off their revenge. “Save it for tonight, you two.”

  Lauren looked at Jennie just in time to see ”my favorite aunt” flash on Jennie’s tiara and then disappear. Apparently when you grew up the youngest of seven, you learned how to sneak in the last word. It was a world away from the cozy, but very quiet, dinners she’d shared with her parents growing up.

  A world away from someone else’s family dinners, too. Lauren looked down the table at Nat. Her friend was drinking up every moment. With Ginia on one side and Jamie on the other, she was literally bookended with people who loved her.

  Lauren knew her life was back in Chicago, but she suddenly wasn’t so sure Nat’s was. A week ago, she’d have said Nat’s studio was her everything. Watching her friend now, surrounded by a family that had adopted her without even trying, Lauren was pretty sure Nat’s everything was rapidly changing shape.

  As she tried to imagine life in Chicago without Nat, she remembered Jamie’s precog. He’d been building snowmen with Nat and Aervyn’s lookalike, and that surely wasn’t going to happen in Berkeley.

  In any case, it wasn’t hers to figure out. Jamie would get on a plane with them tomorrow, and the steps after that were up to him and Nat.

  Chapter 19

  Moira sat in her tower, scrying bowl in her lap. She was a woman who fully understood the weight of what would happen tonight in California. Aervyn would be the most important witch of his generation, and tonight was a very important step in accepting the responsibility that came with great power.

  Being Irish, Moira accepted that his fate had been set before he’d been born. She also knew it was his fate to choose, and being Irish, she understood that sometimes people made poor choices.

  Aervyn would do right by his power, his family, and a witching lineage that stretched back thousands of years. She was sure of it. No one who had felt the powers and portents present at his birth could ever doubt it.

  What no one had seen, thought Moira with satisfaction, was the girl who would stand as his partner. The girl she’d had a small role in finding. Fetching spells, indeed. Well, perhaps it was fitting that a most modern witch, unfettered by any history at all, supported a witch who carried the weight of history.

  Lauren had yet to fully understand what her power would ask of her. Tonight, they’d see what the girl was truly made of. Moira had an idea she’d rise to the challenge.

  And she intended to watch. As witch historian, it was only right. Moira waved a hand over her scrying bowl.

  “Bowl of great and powerful sight,

  Let this old and weak woman see tonight.

  Show the young witch

  And new witch dear to me,

  As I will, so mote it be.”

  …

  Lauren looked out in awe at the headlands of Point Reyes National Seashore. Sheer cliffs fell to sandy beaches, and the setting sun played with wisps of fog lifting from the headl
and hills. It was not hard to believe magic could be done here. Except for the fact that it was national park land and a bunch of tourists might walk into the middle of their gathering at any moment.

  She looked over at Jamie. “So, how do a hundred witches put on a magic show without attracting attention?”

  Jamie gestured toward the two park rangers currently chatting with Jennie. “We’ll take a short walk to a valley that’s hard to trip across by accident, and the rangers will watch nearby trails to make sure we have privacy.”

  “Do I want to know how you get national park rangers to provide these services?”

  Jamie took Nat’s hand and offered Lauren his other one. “The ranger on the left is my cousin Maria.”

  Lauren laughed and joined the motley line following Nell and Aervyn deeper into the headlands. Aervyn was going to yank Nell’s arm out of its socket if he bounced any harder.

  Sophie came up beside Lauren. “How are you doing?”

  Lauren gestured toward the front of the line. “I think my stomach is attached to Aervyn’s feet.”

  “I can help with that a bit if you want.”

  “That might be good. I don’t want to be remembered as the witch who puked.”

  Sophie laughed and reached for Lauren’s hand. “You wouldn’t be the first.”

  Lauren felt her lapis pendant heat briefly, and then the worst of the knots in her stomach relaxed. “Hey, thank you—that’s a lot better.”

  “You’re welcome, and blessed be, my new sister. We’re here now.”

  Lauren looked around and felt the awe return. They had come through a narrow valley that widened into a flatter meadow, if rocks and moss could be called a meadow. The low hills on three sides bracketed the mad crayoned sky and enormous orb sinking into the ocean.

  Jennie’s mind-augmented voice spoke to the group. “Welcome to Ocean’s Reach, where witches have gathered for centuries. We come here today to respect the old, root in the present, and welcome the new. I ask the inner circle to join me now, so the outer circle can form around us.”

  Thirteen witches moved to Jennie’s side, and most drew snacks out of bags or pockets. Jamie handed Lauren a yogurt drink, and then dropped two pillows on a flat, raised rock. Aervyn hopped up and sat on one, and Jamie pointed her to the other.

  The rest of the inner circle quickly took shape around them. Jamie sat facing the ocean with Aurelia and Scott on either side of him. The other nine in their trios formed each of the remaining cardinal directions of the circle. Jennie winked at Lauren.

  The remainder of their group formed into an outer circle. Lauren saw the triplets, Ginia in her usual spot at Nat’s elbow. Jennie’s daughter and her partner each had a purple-haired toddler in their lap. Others that she recognized from Jamie’s kitchen, the names all just a haze now. A few held instruments on their laps, and candles were passed out to the rest.

  An old man stood up, baby in one arm, and held his candle high.

  “We surround this circle

  With our love, with our power.

  Protect the work they do this hour.

  We hold the light, embrace the night,

  To watch and wait and see.

  As I will, so mote it be.”

  With his last words, the candle flamed and the baby cooed in delight.

  Fire was passed from candle to candle until the outer circle was a ring of light. At some unspoken cue, those with instruments started a low rhythm. Nat’s clear voice began to sing, a soft chant joined by tens of voices.

  Lauren heard Jennie’s voice inside her head. Open your mind, sweetling. Feel what they give you now.

  Dropping into mind center, Lauren softened her barriers and love rushed in. Some in the outer circle were still strangers to her, but they loved all the same. Love for the traditions, love for the community, and a deep love for each other, all offered to the inner circle in protection and support. It should have been overwhelming.

  Lauren breathed in Nat’s quiet joy, Ginia’s dreamy song, the wonder of a purple-haired toddler at his first circle. It was not overwhelming at all.

  She looked at Aervyn. His hearing aids were showing. The last of the butterflies in her belly settled. It was going to be okay.

  The earth trio stood, Mike holding handfuls of dirt, Sophie and Tabitha with outstretched hands.

  “We of the North call on Earth,

  Of fertile life and new growth.

  We of the North call on Earth,

  The rocks beneath us,

  Cliffs that soar with strength unbending.

  We of the North call on Earth,

  With voices three.

  As we will, so mote it be.”

  Lauren jolted as she felt the solid sweep of earth power. She felt the edges of panic. It wasn’t time yet for them to push power to her. Jennie sent calm. It’s only the power of the place you feel, child, and perhaps the echo of what Tabitha channels. We will not connect until you are ready.

  Jamie rose next, flanked by Aurelia and Scott, wind whipping their hair.

  “We of the East call on Air,

  Breath of life and soul’s flight.

  We of the East call on Air,

  Of ocean storms and soft breezes of night.

  We of the East call on Air,

  With voices three.

  As we will, so mote it be.”

  This time, Lauren was more prepared for the swirling zing of air power. Nell, Caro, and Govin rose next, bathed in light from the globes of fire on Nell’s outstretched palms.

  “We of the South call on Fire,

  Creator and destroyer, and force of will.

  We of the South call on Fire,

  Sun and stars that heat our sight.

  We of the South call on Fire,

  With voices three.

  As we will, so mote it be.”

  Fire’s energy was vibrant and hot. Lauren felt almost jittery as the power danced around her. Edric got to his feet slowly, Jennie and Nathan helping him up. He raised a clear bowl of water to the sky.

  “We of the West call on Water,

  Of life-giving stream and cleansing rain.

  We of the West call on Water,

  The ocean’s reach and drops under our feet.

  We of the West call on Water,

  With voices three.

  As we will, so mote it be.”

  Power rushed through witch and non-witch alike in the magic of this place—the light of fire, the strength of earth, the fluidity of water, and the dancing swirl of air. Lauren could see the glowing dome of magic form over the circles, stretching for the darkening sky. The dome of her mind’s center vibrated in welcome, and in comfort.

  It was time.

  Lauren reached for Aervyn’s mind. For just a moment, she sensed the power he could feel in this place and shivered. How did one small boy contain all that? She shoved her sudden fear away and deepened their connection.

  Just as she’d done in the training circle, Lauren grew tendrils from the base of her connection to Aervyn and reached toward Jamie. She felt his cocky grin as the air energy flowed cleanly over her dome. Then she felt him panic. Power exploded over her dome, a raging hurricane of energy. Holy God, what was that? Jamie’s mind sent one word. Aervyn.

  He was only four, dammit! Lauren’s mind snapped at Aervyn. Too much! The hurricane tapered to a minor tempest. Jamie and Lauren moved fast to glue down all the flapping loose ends of her dome that were leaking power everywhere. She grew more silk-strong tendrils for reinforcement.

  After that, connecting in the other three directions was child’s play. Jennie’s mind sent reassurance. The rest sent awe.

  Tell him to turn it up, sent Jamie. Best we figure out now what we can handle. Aervyn didn’t wait for Lauren to pass on the message, but this time the hurricane forces traveled the lines of her web. Barely. She refused to think about what might happen if it didn’t hold. It was her job to make it hold.

  You rock, sent Jamie. Now set him loose.

>   Aervyn grabbed the web of power with both hands. In that moment, it was stunningly clear. He had been born for this. The four-year-old witchling stood on the shoulders of magical giants and spun his spell. Lauren waited. The world waited.

  Impossible light swirled and then dimmed. Her dome powered down.

  Lauren opened her eyes and looked around. Heads were craning to see. What had happened?

  She looked at Aervyn. “What did you do, sweetie?”

  “I fixed it, the big crack.”

  “What big crack?”

  “The big crack in the earth, so it doesn’t make our house all wet.”

  Sometimes talking to a four-year-old just made things more confusing.

  “I think he stabilized the San Andreas Fault.” Sophie spoke from the edge of the circle, her voice dripping with tears. Lauren realized the entire earth trio looked hugely shaken up and white with exhaustion.

  Silence rang as a hundred minds tried to digest the impossible.

  Nell nodded slowly. “The fault runs right by here. It’s how the headlands were created. Aervyn, honey, what did you do to the crack?”

  Aervyn didn’t look tired at all. “I fixed it so it won’t get too jumpy. I didn’t make it stop. That would hurt the earth, so she asked me not to do that. But she said it was okay if I kept it from getting too jumpy.”

  He’d talked to the planet? Lauren was very glad she was already sitting down. She could hear the murmurs as word passed through the outer circle.

  “I think the fault was getting ready to quake again.” Mike sounded just as teary as Sophie. “Not really sure of the time frame. Planets have a different sense of time than we do.”

  Aervyn nodded vigorously. “It’s kind of like getting hiccups. When the earth gets a hiccup, it can make an earthquake. This one would’ve made our houses all wet from the big waves.”

  He grinned at Nell. “Mama, it’s just like burping babies. I patted the earth, and she burped, so now she won’t get the hiccups. She says I might have to do it again one day, but not for a long time.”

  Nell shook with incredulous laughter. “You burped the planet, sweetie?”

  “I did, and she said thank you. Did I do good, Mama?”