Moments by M. Jayne

Author:M. Jayne [Jayne, M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Big Dog Publishing

Chapter Two

I brewed tea for Alice and made a fresh pot of coffee as well. I took my place at the table and asked, “What has happened?”

Alice glanced pointedly at Enid before responding, “Your name was brought up last night, and I wanted to see you.”

My stomach muscles contracted involuntarily. “You know that you are always welcome here.”

Enid put her mug down. “I want to look at the maple in your backyard. The last time I was here, he seemed unhappy.”

We silently watched her go through the door and not close it.

Kelly rose and took care of shutting the door. “I don’t know how you do it.”

“It really isn’t hard.” Alice smiled sweetly. “She is very much like your mother. She’s mostly quiet and does what I ask.”

Kelly widened her eyes at me, silently communicating. “I couldn’t handle a childlike woman.”

I turned to Alice. “I am grateful you have given her sanctuary.” I spoke formally to the woman who had intervened and saved my sister’s life.

“Enid has many skills. It would be a loss to the world if Dolores had destroyed her.” Alice’s tone was firm. When the Priestess had deemed Enid an outsider for some never-recorded infraction, Alice had offered her niece sanctuary and dared Dolores, her mother, to contradict her.

That had been fifteen years ago, and the two women were still quietly playing a chess game. Dolores made many decrees, and when something was too extreme, Alice usually stepped in. I worried that, someday, Alice would be killed for questioning the Priestess, but she still lived.

“I assume that whatever was said was not good.” I was with those I held closest. I did not need to be subtle.

Alice sipped her tea before she began. “You are to be summoned for a meeting. Ester stopped in last night for more sage and told me.”

I swallowed because my throat had gone dry. “Ester saw the missive?”

“That’s what she said.” Alice gave a one-shouldered shrug. “She manages to be in Dolores’s home several times a week, so I assume it is true.”

Kelly rolled her eyes. “Of course, it’s true. That’s why I had to get out of bed at the ass-crack of dawn.”

“You were probably just getting home.” I arched an eyebrow. “What was this one’s name?”

Kelly flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Who says that I asked?”

Apparently, her partner had not met her expectations. “Now, I understand your snippy mood.”

Kelly rolled her eyes. “Bad sex doesn’t make me like this. What have you been up to that caused that woman to wish to see you?”

“I appreciate your warning,” I said, nodding at Alice, “and your concern.” I lightly rested my hand on Kelly’s wrist. “I can think of nothing.” I attended gatherings on the holidays or when there was a call, but I was not interested in the day to day happenings of our Coven.

“Something is different,” Alice proclaimed. “Can’t you feel the change?”

Kelly pursed her lips as she considered the question. “I’ve been a little more on edge lately.”

“I hadn’t noticed,” I added dryly, hoping to lighten the mood because it frightened me.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.