hood,” he explained. “They don’t make parts for this model anymore. I’ll have to get them from a used-parts dealer in Pennsylvania. You call me and let me know when you’re ready to go ahead.”
I thanked him, barely even listening. Before I left I traced the rune Eolh on Max’s forehead for protection. What had that mysterious presence been? Was it after me? Was it connected to the dark force I had felt the other night? Was it Cal or Selene?
Though the sun was shining brightly, I felt like a black veil had been pulled across the sky. Shivering, I got into my car and drove back to school.
Mary K. went to Jaycee’s house after school, as she often did, so I drove straight home. I was still shaken up from the incident at the garage. I had no idea what it had been, but I didn’t want to take any chances. I had felt something evil. If it was after me, I’d better start protecting myself fast.
In the empty house I went upstairs and took my birth mother’s athame from its hiding place in the HVAC vent. Then I walked around the outside of my house, running the athame lightly over the clapboard siding. Hunter and Sky had placed runes of protection all around the house about two weeks ago. The athame revealed the magick signs to me, and I breathed a sigh of relief. They were still there and still glowing with potency.
Next I went up to my room and closed the door. I’d been planning to make an altar for some time, but now it seemed doubly urgent. If there really was someone or something after me, I needed to be as strong and sure in my magick as possible.
The problem was, the altar had to be somewhere my family wouldn’t notice. Although my parents now seemed to realize that they couldn’t prevent me from being a witch, there was no point in setting up an altar where they would see it and get upset.
I looked around my room. It wasn’t big. There was no obvious place to set up an altar—certainly none that wouldn’t be totally noticeable. I thought a moment and opened the door to my closet. It was a deep walk-in, with a long hanging rod running the length of it. I began taking clothes off the rod, laying shirts, dresses, jackets, and skirts on my bed. “Yuck,” I said as a sundress with an enormous tropical flower print surfaced. It was time to give some things away.
When the closet was empty, I stared at the back of it. A small footlocker from when I went to summer camp sat on the floor. It had potential.
I rummaged in my dresser drawer for the length of plum-colored Irish linen that Aunt Eileen had brought back from her trip to Ireland. It covered the trunk perfectly, as if that’s exactly what it had been woven for. Voilà. One altar.
Next I opened the junk drawer of my desk. I sorted through the crap until I found a small, perfect, pink-and-white scallop shell. I set it on one corner of the altar to represent water. On another I put a chunk of amethyst that had been among the crystals in Maeve’s box of tools. That was for earth. On the remaining corners I set a candle for fire and a stick of incense for air. Of course, I wouldn’t actually be able to light the candle or incense inside the closet. For that the altar would have to come out into my room. But I liked having all four elements in place.
I sat before my altar. It was pretty simple, as basic as you can get. Yet it felt right.
Something soft nudged me. Dagda. I ran my hand down his silky little back. “This is where we’re going to invoke the Goddess,” I explained. He purred as if in approval.
May I work strong, pure magick here, I said silently, spells of healing and wholeness.
And may they keep me safe, I couldn’t help adding.
8
Potential
I left a note for my mom saying that I’d be back for dinner, then drove over to Hunter’s house. As much as being around him upset me, I realized Hunter needed to know about the dark presence I’d sensed at Unser’s and the dark magick I had felt on Monday night. He might be able
I thanked him, barely even listening. Before I left I traced the rune Eolh on Max’s forehead for protection. What had that mysterious presence been? Was it after me? Was it connected to the dark force I had felt the other night? Was it Cal or Selene?
Though the sun was shining brightly, I felt like a black veil had been pulled across the sky. Shivering, I got into my car and drove back to school.
Mary K. went to Jaycee’s house after school, as she often did, so I drove straight home. I was still shaken up from the incident at the garage. I had no idea what it had been, but I didn’t want to take any chances. I had felt something evil. If it was after me, I’d better start protecting myself fast.
In the empty house I went upstairs and took my birth mother’s athame from its hiding place in the HVAC vent. Then I walked around the outside of my house, running the athame lightly over the clapboard siding. Hunter and Sky had placed runes of protection all around the house about two weeks ago. The athame revealed the magick signs to me, and I breathed a sigh of relief. They were still there and still glowing with potency.
Next I went up to my room and closed the door. I’d been planning to make an altar for some time, but now it seemed doubly urgent. If there really was someone or something after me, I needed to be as strong and sure in my magick as possible.
The problem was, the altar had to be somewhere my family wouldn’t notice. Although my parents now seemed to realize that they couldn’t prevent me from being a witch, there was no point in setting up an altar where they would see it and get upset.
I looked around my room. It wasn’t big. There was no obvious place to set up an altar—certainly none that wouldn’t be totally noticeable. I thought a moment and opened the door to my closet. It was a deep walk-in, with a long hanging rod running the length of it. I began taking clothes off the rod, laying shirts, dresses, jackets, and skirts on my bed. “Yuck,” I said as a sundress with an enormous tropical flower print surfaced. It was time to give some things away.
When the closet was empty, I stared at the back of it. A small footlocker from when I went to summer camp sat on the floor. It had potential.
I rummaged in my dresser drawer for the length of plum-colored Irish linen that Aunt Eileen had brought back from her trip to Ireland. It covered the trunk perfectly, as if that’s exactly what it had been woven for. Voilà. One altar.
Next I opened the junk drawer of my desk. I sorted through the crap until I found a small, perfect, pink-and-white scallop shell. I set it on one corner of the altar to represent water. On another I put a chunk of amethyst that had been among the crystals in Maeve’s box of tools. That was for earth. On the remaining corners I set a candle for fire and a stick of incense for air. Of course, I wouldn’t actually be able to light the candle or incense inside the closet. For that the altar would have to come out into my room. But I liked having all four elements in place.
I sat before my altar. It was pretty simple, as basic as you can get. Yet it felt right.
Something soft nudged me. Dagda. I ran my hand down his silky little back. “This is where we’re going to invoke the Goddess,” I explained. He purred as if in approval.
May I work strong, pure magick here, I said silently, spells of healing and wholeness.
And may they keep me safe, I couldn’t help adding.
8
Potential
I left a note for my mom saying that I’d be back for dinner, then drove over to Hunter’s house. As much as being around him upset me, I realized Hunter needed to know about the dark presence I’d sensed at Unser’s and the dark magick I had felt on Monday night. He might be able
Similar Books
