“I know that,” Brenna said with a chuckle. “This is Ronan and Celestine. Sorry I haven’t caught everybody else’s names yet.”
Everybody either nodded or waved at Maggie. Ronan stepped forward and put a hand on both of their shoulders. “Good to meet you, Maggie. Wish it were under better circumstances. Happy you both made it back.”
Maggie shrugged. “I don’t know, I’m not complaining.” Maggie walked to the edge of the circle and put her hand up. “Wow. The power in this circle is insane.”
Brenna could tell from the looks on everybody’s faces they were dying to know where they had been. Maggie was putting on a brave face, but Brenna knew from her short time in that scary place, Maggie had been through something terrible. The bite wound on her hand throbbed at the thought.
Celestine drew Maggie in for a hug. The rest of the coven came forward giving hugs and doting over Maggie. “You’re a strong woman, Maggie. I’m sure you can summon a circle just as powerful.”
“Bren and I do okay. Thank you all for helping to free me. I was desperate to get out of there and wash my hair.”
Everybody laughed except for Ronan who had just noticed the bite on Brenna’s hand.
“It was our pleasure, Maggie,” Celestine said. “Anything to help a fellow witch.”
“What was it like in there, Maggie?” Hazel eyes asked.
Maggie tipped her head up, thinking. “It was strange. It was like I was in a dream but I was in control of my actions, unlike in an actual dream.”
Ronan took Brenna’s hand and examined the bite. “Oh, don’t worry, Ronan, it’s nothing.”
“Looks like something!” Celestine said.
“Well it hurts a bit,” Brenna admitted.
“We’d better close the circle and get you cleaned up,” Ronan said, his features twisted with concern.
“It’s okay. It stopped bleeding when I got back here.”
“I think you’ll be okay then,” Celestine said. “When you receive a wound in a different realm it will only harm you if you stay in that realm.”
“Oh.” Brenna ran a hand through her hair. It also felt like Maggie’s looked. “That’s good then.”
Ronan looked relieved as he went to the altar and picked up the athame. He held it up high. “I thank thee dark mother for aiding us in our circle and we ask for your protection and guidance in our ritual on Hallows eve.”
When Ronan stopped, a dark shadow formed outside the circle. A ghostly black shape slowly circled them flashing two red eyes at Brenna. The black shadow slammed into the circle and was repelled by a bright blue light. Maggie took Brenna’s hand and stood firmly next to her. Brenna could feel her shaking. Ronan narrowed his eyes at the shadow as it transformed into the shape of its original form as a human. Celestine and the rest of the coven nodded at each other. They joined hands and chanted softly. The judge put out a skeletal hand toward Brenna.
“You won’t win, witches.” His scaly voice crawled into Brenna’s ears and seemed to reverberate in them. “I will burn you all.” He morphed back into a shadow and disappeared, leaving an awful stench. When Ronan was certain the judge was gone, he closed the circle leaving the room eerily cold. He took off his cloak and let it fall to the ground.
Brenna looked warily at Maggie and knew it was all an act. Inside she was a mess. The coven said their goodbyes and reassured Brenna they’d be there for her on Hallows eve when they would attempt to destroy the judge and set the souls of the tortured women free.
Maggie wanted a shower but didn’t want to be alone so Brenna sat on the closed toilet as Maggie had a well-deserved scrub. Brenna pulled at her clothes, which were dampening from the steam.
“Mags, I want you to know you can talk to me about what happened. Whenever you’re ready.”
“I know. Thank you.”
“I wish I could go back to that day you called me and tell you not to come.”
Maggie poked her head around the shower curtain. Her hair was piled on the top of her head, covered in bubbles. “I don’t. There’s no way I’d let you deal with all this yourself.”
“You’re the best friend a girl could ever have. I don’t think I tell you that enough.”
“Now that you mention it, I don’t think you’ve ever told me that.” Maggie grinned and resumed her shower. “So,” she yelled over the spray of water. “Have you done you know what with you know who yet?”
“Maggie! When you were gone that was the last thing on my mind.”
“Oh, come on, you thought about it.”
“Maybe. A little.”
“He’s gorgeous. You know those hot dudes from Supernatural? If they had like, a macho baby with long glorious hair. He would be that baby. But grown-up. You know what I mean.”
Brenna laughed. “I missed you.”
“Missed you, too. Bren?”
“Yeah?”
“Are we going to be okay?”
Brenna nibbled at her lip. “Of course.” I hope.
Ronan had set up one of the rooms with its own fireplace as a guest room. A queen-sized bed had been made up with a floral comforter. The fire roared, filling the room with comforting warmth. Candles flickered on a nightstand. Brenna led Maggie into the room and sat her down on the bed. Maggie let out a scream and clung to Brenna. Brenna followed Maggie’s gaze where Kiba stood at the door, tail wagging.
“It’s okay, Mags. This is Kiba. He’s a big sweetheart.”
“Come on, Kiba, it’s all right.”
Kiba lowered his head and approached, his paws clicking across the boards. He stopped a safe distance from Maggie and gave her his best puppy eyes. Maggie loosened her grip on Brenna’s arms and looked at Kiba. “He’s friendly?”
“Very. He’s Ronan’s…companion. Not so much a pet.”
“Sorry, Kiba. I had a bit of an experience with a not so nice wolf not so long ago,” Maggie said.
Kiba let out a gentle yip and scooted a little more forward. Maggie startled but stayed where she was. Brenna bent down and put her arm around the wolf. Maggie hopped off the bed and put her arm out. Kiba licked her hand. It wasn’t long before Maggie was rolling around with Kiba like he was the world’s largest puppy.
Ronan tapped on the open door, holding Maggie’s suitcase. He had a paper bag that smelled delicious in his other hand. “Thought you both might be hungry.
“You have no idea,” Maggie said, leaping up to take the food. “You got my luggage, too? That’s awesome. Thanks so much.”
“No problem. Anything else you need, just let me know. Plenty of wood by the fire.”
“Thank you.”
“So just relax, keep warm. Get some rest.”
“Good idea,” Brenna said, yawning. The earlier events were starting to take their toll.
“Goodnight, ladies.”
“Goodnight, Ronan,” Brenna said, smiling at him. His eyes lingered on her before leaving. Kiba sauntered after him.
Maggie took a burger out of the sack and unwrapped it. She tore off a chunk, letting sauce roll down her chin. She handed one to Brenna.
“So,” Maggie said with her mouth full. “What next?”