Read Online Devil Dead by Linda Ladd - Free Book Online

more, you will have to study and learn our ways for a long time. For one year and one day. Then you will be acceptable to worship our Moon Goddess and the Horned God. You will learn all about them and how they protect us from the evil ones who roam this earth and are outside even now, watching us.”
    That scared Diana a lot. She didn’t really understand any of that Wicca stuff, but it all sounded okay to her. “Okay. If you want me to.”
    So they climbed out of the milk, dried off on some soft white towels that lay beside the tub, and then her mommy, now named Luna, put on a long loose white robe and wrapped Diana up in three white towels with one over her head like a hood. Luna led her to a table that had been placed up against the loft steps. Diana saw that there were some shiny things sitting on top of it. There was a pretty engraved silver knife, a tiny silver bell, and a magic wand kinda like in that Harry Potter book Mommy read to her sometimes. And a picture of a star with five points with a circle around it, like the other glowing ones in the Sanctuary, and a big silver chalice. There was a broomstick lying across the back, too, and a big kettle-like thing, and lots of burning candles all lit up and beautiful to look at.
    Her mommy—no, she had to remember that she was Luna now—picked up the long and shiny silver knife. “Diana, my love, we call this the athame. It is very sharp so you must never touch it until you are older and I give you permission to handle it. Do you understand?”
    â€œYes, Mommy.”
    Her mommy looked down at her and frowned. “What did you just call me?”
    â€œOh, I’m sorry, Mom—Luna, I mean.”
    â€œThis star inside the circle is called a pentacle. It has five points. See the one on top? It symbolizes the spirit.” She pointed at another one. “This one represents water, which sustains all living creatures, and this one is fire. This one is earth and this is air. You will learn much more about these elements as I teach you, my love.”
    â€œYes, Luna,” she said obediently.
    Her mother smiled, and then she knelt down in front of her and hugged her close. “You are going to be a good little Wiccan, my love. You will learn so much. You will be powerful someday.”
    â€œBut, Luna, you know that I can’t remember things. I always forget stuff that you tell me. I am not very good at learning things.”
    Her mommy looked into her eyes and gently cradled her face between her palms. She looked very serious. “That is because you are special. You are a very special child. Our gods made you different from the rest of us. You have trouble learning and remembering, but you are kind and trusting and you love nature and all that is good. You will never have to go to school with other children. They would not understand how special you are. They might say cruel words when you don’t remember things. But that is all right. The God and Goddess love you very much, and so do I. I will teach you how to take care of yourself and live here and be happy, just the way you are.”
    Diana tried to take all that in, but she still wondered why she had trouble understanding things and remembering the lessons her mommy taught to her. But she didn’t want to go to school and be around other children. They sounded very mean. Anyways, she loved it here beside the bayou with Spirit and Mommy. At least, most of the time she did.
    By the time Luna picked up the sharp knife, Diana had already forgotten what the thing was called. Luna waved it slowly in each direction, and she began saying words that Diana had never heard before. Next, Luna picked up a pretty little silver bell and rang it three times, then stood silently and waited for something. Diana just stood there and waited, too, and watched the pretty candle flames dancing all around.
    When her mommy started making those low sounds again, the ummmmmmmms , she hummed