But on the other side and back to the ocean, we had about ten acres. Most of it was woods or wild, untouched by any development. It would make for a gorgeous, secluded spot for Wallie’s home.
Suddenly, the spell telling me where to go shifted direction. “Turn!” I squawked.
Owen slammed on the brakes and stopped in the middle of the road. “Left or right?”
I looked back and forth. “Oh, sorry. Left.” I probably should’ve specified that when I yelled.
“I think we’re close.” Leaning forward, I squinted out of the windshield and tried to see past the illumination of the car’s headlights.
As we turned a corner, an enormous house came into view, suddenly visible once the car cleared the trees. The mansion was at least three-stories of gothic perfection. It even had a few gargoyles perched on the roof. Dark grey stone covered the exterior with red shutters that accented the windows only added to the witchy look of the building.
On either side of the front of the home, two round, tower-like structures melted in with the rest of the structure. My Victorian would be so jealous if he saw this. So I wouldn’t be telling him. Wait, he might already know. This mansion in front of me had been the meeting place for the coven for as long as my family had owned my house. Maybe it had taken on a bit of personality as well.
We pulled right up to the front door and a teenager in a suit ran down the stairs. “Let me park your car for you, sir,” he said as he rounded the car to Owen.
Since it was my vehicle, Owen raised his eyebrows at me. I nodded once, so he handed the keys to the young man while Wallie and I got out and shut our car doors.
When we reached the front door of the mansion, it opened without warning. We stepped inside to find nobody holding it. “Ohh,” I whispered in a sing-song voice. “Magic.”
A thrill went through me. It felt good to be around others that were open with their magic. Even though I still didn’t trust most of the members of the coven or their intentions for wanting me—a necromancer—to be inducted into their inner circle.
Owen and Wallie chuckled as we moved farther into the entryway. The interior was a mix of contemporary and gothic style. A black cast iron spiral staircase sat to our left that was wide enough for two people to walk up, side by side. The floors were white and black marble. I wasn’t sure if it was real marble or just ceramic flooring made to look like it. But with how elegant the house was, I was going with the former.
The white walls had dark grey trim, while the doors were all black, sticking with the gothic theme.
“This place is amazing.” I’d have to seriously talk with Winston—my house—about some upgrades. That would mean he’d have to let strangers inside to make said changes. I couldn’t do all of it with magic, and he was still mad at me for wanting to sell him.
Soft footsteps brought my attention to another teenager, a girl this time, exiting a doorway to our right. “Please, allow me to take your coats.”
She smiled eagerly, her blonde hair in a long braid down one side of her head. I had no trouble imagining her in a bouncy cheerleader uniform.
“Friends,” a rich female voice drifted across the large entryway. “Thank you so much for coming.” We turned to find a woman walking serenely out of a large double door to an impressive library.
“Cynthia,” I said. “How nice to see you.” Ugh. I hated putting on this face, this fakeness. But that’s what it took to be in a coven. This coven, at least.
Cynthia was beautiful and youthful. Her blond hair was gathered in a neat bun at the base of her neck. A few curly strands hung loose to frame her pale, heart-shaped face. She had brown eyes that had flecks of silver through them. It was an odd mix of colors but worked on her.
“Please, call me CeCe. And come in. We were just about to get started.” She stepped to the side and held out her arm for us to enter the library.
We walked in to find eight or nine witches sitting in a circle. Men and women I’d known off and on all my life, mostly. There were a few faces I didn’t recognize.
“Please, sit,” a man said. He stood and smiled, but the distaste rolled off of him like a stinky cologne. I had to stop myself from curling my lip at him. For whatever reason, he didn’t like me or maybe Owen. Maybe both, since we were necromancers. He’d have no reason to dislike Wallie. Nobody here knew him. I doubted these people even knew he was my son. Except the invitation had included his name. Maybe they did.
“We were just about to have a drink to the memory of our beloved lost coven member, Miriam Buckner.” A tray floated toward us with three champagne flutes resting on it. I took one, pretending the act of magic was no big deal. Even though I’d begun doing much more with magic myself, now that I’d fully embraced my magical side, I still felt like a fish at a bird convention with all these lifelong practitioners around me.
The man, the one who didn’t seem to like us, spoke first. “To Miriam. A blessed friend and sister to us all. She will be missed. May her next journey be all she wants it to be.”
CeCe raised her glass and looked around the room. “Now, we will continue to honor our fallen sister in our actions and deeds.” She sighed and looked at the man who had given the toast. “Bevan,” she paused and looked at me. “Bevan Magnus, our recruiter, secretary, pretty much a jack of all trades, eh, Magnus?”
Magnus nodded his head once at her as more disapproval flowed off of him. Surely, I wasn’t the only one who could feel it?
“Bevan will update us on the reunion at the Witch Academy,” CeCe said, then gave Bevan her full attention.
Well, heck. I hadn’t even attended the witch academy. Once I’d told Yaya and Aunt Winnie, I didn’t want anything to do with it, they’d left me alone about witch stuff. Part of me wished now I hadn’t done it, but it was what it was.
“The reunion planning is moving along smoothly. All invitations have been sent out. Catering selections were finalized.” Bevan smiled at everyone in the room except for me.
Yeah, the feeling’s mutual, buddy. Something about him didn’t sit right with me.
CeCe took the floor with the last few items on an agenda that I hadn’t seen. I guessed I had to be a member to see the meeting’s to-do list. “And the final current business is the New Moon Ritual. This month it will be held at Bevan’s house. Don’t forget to sign up to bring a treat or drink.”
Oh, the New Moon Ritual sounded nice. I bet Olivia would’ve loved to see it.
“It’s a real shame that your mom and grandmother aren't with us to attend the reunion,” a woman said as she walked up to us. “Hi, I’m Lorelai.”
She smiled, and her apple cheeks and red lips dazzled under kind blue eyes and perfectly coiffed honey-blonde hair. She looked like she could step into any boardroom and take complete charge. At the same time, I had no trouble picturing her in jeans and a sweater, teaching kindergarteners.
“Ava. But I guess you know that.” I laughed softly, completely out of my element. There were too many mixed energies here that made me a little uneasy.
Lorelai smiled at me and it felt genuine. I liked her. “I was friends with your Aunt Winnie at the Witch Academy,” she said. “And our Bevan went through with your mother.”