of her life she’d felt a little less than she wanted to be. As a child, she’d planned to do great things, but somehow, getting married and having babies had stolen her life and her dreams away.
Now, at long last, she was getting the chance to effect real change in the world. She was making a difference. Standing up for the rights of ordinary people. She was doing what she could to make the world a safer place for her children and grandchildren. And the pride she felt swelled inside her until she thought she might bust.
“Now,” Martha told them all, “Dr. Fender really wants this one particular witch. The scientific parts always confuse me no end, but he seems to think this witch is special. At any rate, she and the others like her may be the key to finally finding a way to drain all of their powers.”
“And give them to us, right?” Tony, the owner of the Italian restaurant in town, asked.
“That’s right, Tony.” Martha beamed at him and imagined one day holding the power to defend her town and country. “Once we drain the witches, the righteous will be gifted with the powers taken from their dark souls.”
“Isn’t that, um, dangerous?” Tessie spoke up again. “I mean, if they’re dark powers, wouldn’t they turn us dark, too?”
Martha stepped down from the dais, walked to the teenager and cupped the girl’s chin in her hand. Here was another soul she was influencing. Helping along the righteous path.
“Not at all, sweetie,” she said. “Why, when those powers are torn from the Godless and given to True Believers . . .” She paused and let the light of her zealous gaze sweep across the faces of her friends and neighbors. Let them see the glory of what they were doing. Feel the importance of the task they’d been assigned. This could be the most significant night of their lives. She smiled at each of them in turn, showing them all how proud she was to serve with them, how sure she was that they would be victorious. “Why, when this night’s work is done, we will be true warriors of the Lord. We will be instruments of His peace.”
“Amen,” someone murmured and a smattering of applause broke out.
“And always remember, sweetheart,” Martha said, looking down into Tessie’s wide blue eyes. “You’re on the side of right in this. Why, the Bible itself tells us, You shall not suffer a witch to live. Now, the Lord couldn’t have been more clear in His instructions, could He?”
“I guess not,” Tessie whispered.
Martha patted her on the shoulder and softly added, “We’re doing God’s work here, Tessie, each and every one of us—and don’t you ever forget it.”
“No, ma’am,” the girl answered.
Caterers bustled in, carrying steam trays, sending the scent of barbecued chicken and potatoes and gravy into the air.
“My,” Martha said, “that does smell good, doesn’t it?” Then, clapping her hands, she smiled and added, “Now, I don’t know about you all, but I’ve got a pot roast in the oven at home. So what do you say we go and get that witch so none of us is late for supper?”
Chapter 37
Shea sat at the foot of the bed and propped her face in her hands. She didn’t like sensing Torin’s frustration with her actions. His anger at being shut out of her decision. But they were both just going to have to live with it. She’d done what needed doing and she’d lived through it. Time to move on.
She listened to the sound of the shower and thought about joining Torin in the bathroom. But she discounted that idea a second or two later. They had to leave and if she went in there with him, it might be hours before they got moving again.
So instead she rifled through her newfound memories. As she’d told Torin, they were all so jumbled up together, centuries of them, it was going to take her some time to find the one they needed most. Shea knew he was waiting for her to tell him where they had to go. To have the vision. To awaken the memory that would give them direction. Speed them on the path toward straightening out this mess.
But so far she had nothing.
Shaking her head, she grabbed the TV remote and flicked it on, hoping for a mindless sitcom.
Naturally, the news popped on. Before she could change the channel, she was drawn into the report. On her.
“Shea Jameson has