leaving the driver’s door open, she dug through her kit of magic items for a piece of consecrated chalk and a vial of the ocean water she had harvested on the beach by the light of the moon. At least she had some form of her two strongest elements with her.
In the vial, the liquid shone with an ivory light. The blessing she had used when she had taken the water made it glow with Power. Jamming it into her pocket, she slammed the door.
How much time had that taken? Three minutes? Five?
Falling to her knees in the middle of the road, she drew a pentagram. As she reached each point, she chanted.
“Holy Air, I implore thee, attend to me.
Hallowed Water, I implore thee, attend to me.
Come, Fire.
Rise, Earth.
I beckon you, Sacred Spirit.
Banish all weakness and fill my well.
Power within, power without,
Bless my vortex,
Fill my hand,
Bathe me in the Moon’s white light,
As I make my stand.”
With each phrase, she brought herself more into alignment. Here was her placement in the cosmos, exactly here, with the elements gathering around her like friends around a warm fire… if those friends were as ancient as the universe and as essential as gods. Her vortex spun slowly at her feet, acquiescent for the moment, and magic poured from her left hand.
A wave of Power hit—elegant, sharp and distinct. She recognized Josiah’s magic as it poured over her. He had found a way to reach her without using the phone as a conduit. She wanted to reject it. He had been running on sheer strength of will at the police station, but she also thought she might need all the help she could get, so she opened herself up to draw it in.
God, he was so strong, and she could sense he was boosted by the full force of his coven. The magic poured in until she felt as if she were floating above the pavement. “Okay, enough,” she muttered. “I can’t take any more. Ease up, love.”
The magic eased slightly, as if he could hear her, or more likely, he could sense she was full to the brim. She anchored herself back into her body.
Another massive wave of energy hit. This time she recognized Sarah’s rich, abundant magic buoyed by the Everwood coven. The ends of Molly’s hair lifted. This time, when she felt her awareness floating up, she tethered herself only lightly to her body.
She marveled at what they had achieved and basked in their combined Powers like bathing in rare wine. “Holy shit. I owe everyone flowers and chocolates.”
Sarah’s laugh ghosted through her head. She thought she heard Josiah whisper,
Then her own magic rose to match theirs. Lightning gathered at the edge of her vision. Her sight splintered, and she seemed to see several things at once.
There was Josiah, standing bare-chested in sweat pants with his feet planted wide, catlike eyes flaring yellow as he pulled energy up from the earth and poured it into her.
And there was Sarah’s dark gaze, watching her over a wide silver bowl filled with consecrated water. She thought those things were happening in the present, but she saw other things as well, shards of the past and possibly hints of the future.
Josiah, standing beside a grave. His hair was much longer, and his black suit looked like it belonged in a different time. There were tears on his bitter face.
A much younger Sarah, screaming in pain and joy as she gave birth.
And Molly saw herself as Austin swung a baseball bat and struck her with all his strength. She collapsed, and when she stood again, a night-skinned goddess settled a dark mantle of Power like a raven’s wings across her shoulders.
Sarah said clearly in her ear, “Focus.”
Molly’s snapped back to the present, and her vision became singular again.
The approaching witch was very near. Molly moved to the driver’s seat of the Volvo and sat halfway in, one foot on the brake while she shifted to drive.
Up ahead, a car growled around the bend in the road. It was some foreign model, racy and expensive. Just as when she had felt the search lock onto her, conviction settled into place. This was her adversary.
Taking her foot off the brake, she knocked the rock onto the gas pedal and jumped out. The Volvo roared forward. She wasn’t quite fast enough, and the car knocked her off her feet. Hitting the pavement, she rolled, twisted, and came