“Are you going to tell me where we’re headed or what we’re doing, or are you going to keep it a secret till we’re there?” Savi questioned over the music blaring in the car.

  We’d been on the road for a while and were well outside the city limits. I smiled at her and turned down the volume. The rumbling of my engine hummed as I found the words to say. I wasn’t sure where to begin, but I knew I had to ease into this gently. I had to think of the demon and consider how it could react to what we were going to walk into tonight.

  “Let’s just say that your world is about to be forever changed.”

  She laughed hard. “Not like it hasn't already? Watching you do actual magic while also learning that I’m a witch with dormant powers is kind of unforgettable. I highly doubt you're going to top that.”

  "Oh, you’d be surprised. Well, here goes nothing. My job tonight is to bring some supplies to a special someone that the coven helps. His name is Lawrence and he’s a bit… peculiar.”

  “That’s it? Deliver some supplies to some guy. How is that going to be 'life-changing'?"

  “You’ll have to see. I can assure you, he’s not just some guy," I said teasingly. “We’re almost there.”

  I followed the winding gravel road to a giant stone wall nestled in the woods. The car’s headlights beamed off the metal gate between a break in the stone. Spiraling metal twisting and turning, breaking off into leaves at the ends filled the iron gate. They coalesced in the center to form an ornate W when the two halves closed.

  I pulled up to a speaker box and rolled down my window. Pressing the silver button on top, I waited for entry as a security camera panned over my car.

  “Hello, how may I be of service?”

  "Yes, it’s Aster. I’m here for a delivery: Whispering Willows.”

  A resolute click filled the air, and the gates began to move, opening toward the paved road ahead. I passed through, and as my car cleared its path, it closed behind me.

  “What was that about? Whispering willows?” asked Savi.

  “It’s the passcode. Mr. Walcott is an extremely private person. A select few are allowed to enter, and those few are given a unique passcode that only we know. Trust me, it will all make sense in a moment. Patience, young one, patience.” I gave her a sidelong smile as we continued down the winding driveway.

  “Okay, if you say so, boss. Should I know the passcode? Won’t that get you into trouble?”

  “Typically, yes. But these are extenuating circumstances, and Lawrence will understand from the moment he sees you. Trust me. Everything’s okay.”

  “Oh my Gods, he lives here?”

  I looked over and Savi’s eyes widened as the house came into view. It was an old mansion estate littered with stone statues and ornate carvings all along the exterior. Lanterns lit the entrance in a way that made it mesmerizing.

  "Beautiful, isn’t it?” I pulled into the loop driveway and stopped under the canopy leading to the front door. “The whole property is about three thousand acres. The house sits within a two-thousand-acre stone wall that’s twenty feet high all the way around. Well, except for the gate we passed through. The remaining thousand acres are all woodland with several houses scattered throughout.”

  “This guy must be loaded. Oh my, I’ve never seen anything like this.”

  “He is. He owns the land but allows the coven to use it as we need. It’s all part of our relationship with him. Come on, I’m already late. I bet you’re dying to see inside, aren’t you?” I motioned for her to follow as I unlocked the back hatch of my car. Savi stumbled up beside me, almost tripping over my foot, not taking her eyes off the house.

  "Oh, sorry. This place is humongous. It's something out of a fairy tale.”

  “Just wait till you see inside. Here, carry this, please.” I shoved a cardboard box in her direction.

  "Okay. What is all this stuff?”

  “Some supplies they needed. A few groceries and some herbs. Various things.” I hauled another box from the trunk and reached for an oversized cooler beside it. Juggling the box on my hip, I set the cooler on the ground and closed the hatch. "Okay, that’s everything. Here we go.”

  Savi followed closely behind me through the entry patio to the grand metal door entrance. I stopped shy of the doors and turned to her. “Don’t forget what I said. Have an open mind. Oh, and don’t stare. He hates it when people stare.”

  I knocked on the door with my foot, and Savi huffed behind me. “What do you mean don’t stare? Don’t stare at wha-”

  The doors opened, cutting off Savi’s questioning, and a petite young woman stood inside. Her wavy blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders, covering much of her bright red sweater. It reached just shy of the top of her black and gray striped suit pants.

  “Ah, Aster, we’ve been expecting you. Please do come in.” She gestured for us to enter as she slipped to the side holding the door. I stepped in and as I passed her she asked, "And who might your guest be? We were not expecting another visitor, but a rare treat nonetheless."

  "Rebecca, this is Savi. Savi, Rebecca. Savi is a new member of the coven and is under my protection and guidance. She’s my pupil," I said, expressing the intent of why she was with me. They would understand not to question the coven, and declaring her my pupil wouldn’t raise any further questions.

  “Ah well, Savi. It’s so nice to meet you. A friend of the coven is a friend of ours indeed.” Rebecca grinned as she closed the door behind us and stepped into the foyer. "Right this way Aster; Daddy just retired to his study from dinner. You can leave the supplies here. I will have Marcus fetch them when he's done tending to the livestock. Come.” She turned and headed down a long hall to the left.

  I sat the supplies down and Savi followed, her eyes still wide, soaking in every inch of the place. “Place the box here on mine. It’s okay, Savi, no need to be nervous. Marcus is the groundskeeper and, as you can guess, Rebecca is Lawrence’s daughter. Nothing will happen to you as long as you’re with me. I promise.”

  She whirled her head and stared at me as she placed her box on mine. “What do you mean nothing will happen to me? Was that a concern before? Who are these people?”

  “Through here, ladies.” Rebecca stood at the end of the hall, waiting for us to follow.

  "Coming," I called back. “I hooked my arm in Savi’s and started walking towards the end of the hall and whispered to her, “Just trust me. And don’t stare.”

  “What?” was all Savi managed to reply before we arrived at the oak doors propped open beside Rebecca.

  “Daddy is in there. I need to freshen up before I head back to the city for the night. I’m so sorry to run out of here so fast and not get to catch up, but I have a lot of work at the firm tomorrow. I hope you understand.”

  “It’s fine. We won’t be visiting long. We too have a lot to get done, so I will fill Mr. Walcott in on the delivery and be out of his way shortly if that’s okay."

  “That sounds perfect. Have Marcus lock up after you leave. Thank you for making the trip out tonight. We’ll catch up next time.” She waved behind herself as she headed back down the hall toward the foyer.

  “Stay here a moment, please.” I let go of Savi’s arm and stepped inside the study. A sweet smell of musk and oranges caressed my senses. My eyes scanned the room of wall-to-wall books and leather chairs trimmed in ornate oak carvings. A soft glow from the fireplace danced in the shine of all the glass bookcase doors, giving the space a warm and inviting allure. I looked to my right and found Mr. Walcott seated at his desk opposite the lounge area. He was writing in a journal with his familiar pipe in hand.

  He noticed me over his tiny glasses and smiled. “Welcome, Aster. Come in, dear. Always a sight for sore eyes. Don’t mind this tired old man; I was lost in my thoughts.” He removed his glasses and placed them on his desk. Inserting his pen inside the journal, he flopped the aged leather cover over it, securing it closed.

  He paused and sniffed the air; his green eyes glistening with excitement. “It seems we have an unexpected guest.” His haggard face turned almost childlike as his smile widened. “And she’s a special one indeed. Hurry, bring her in.”

  “Yes, special indeed. Her name is Savi.” I turned toward the doorway behind me and motioned for Savi to come. She gave me a hesitant stare but walked to my side. "Savi, this is Mr. Lawrence Walcott, the owner of this grand estate.”

  Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  She glanced at Lawrence, then back at me, a slight puzzled look on her face. No doubt questioning what I meant about not staring. She peered back at him and gave a slight nod. "How do you do, sir?”

  “Bah, oh there’s no need for formalities here. My estate may be vast, but I can assure you I’m a regular old fool. Chin up now, dear. Now let’s have a look at ya, Savi.”

  He reached his hands to either side of himself and pushed back. He slid away from his desk and, as he turned, the back handles of his wheelchair caught the light glinting off his desk lamp. Giving another good push with his hands, he rolled around the side toward us. Savi stood beside me, and I felt her tense as he approached.

  He breathed in a long, deep breath and exhaled through a smile. "Savi, you are remarkable. The scent of your power is overwhelming, almost downright intoxicating.” He cocked his head before drawing another deep breath. “Ahh? A scent I can’t quite place. Fascinating. A special guest indeed, Aster. Tell me everything. Come sit.” Lawrence gestured toward the couches and wheeled himself to a small bar by the fireplace.

  She slapped my hand into hers and gripped it tightly. Fear, confusion, and curiosity rolled off her, and her body tensed as she eyed Lawrence preparing himself a drink. With every sound of ice clinking against his glass, her heart fluttered through her hand in mine.

  “It’s okay, Savi. I promise," I whispered to her and tugged on my hand to walk us to our seat on the couch. Lawrence pulled up beside an oversized chair and took a long swig before setting his glass down on the table beside him.

  "So, Savi’s magic. Tell me all about it.”

  Savi sat so close to me she might as well have been in my lap. "Well, unfortunately, there’s not much to tell yet. She’s a peculiar case who has been unaware of her true nature, so we’re trying to help her discover it.”

  His eyes gleamed as he tipped his head back in a half-laugh. “Peculiar case, that’s an understatement. Well, your coven does like their peculiar cases, don’t they? I can smell the cooler from here. For Luca, I presume?”

  I chuckled. "Yeah, it’s too late for me to drop it off at the cabin, so I thought Marcus wouldn’t mind leaving it out for Zoe."

  “It’s no trouble at all. There hasn't been a peep from them in a couple of weeks. How’s he holding up?”

  “From what I understand, he’s taking it in stride. One day at a time. Thank you again for letting him stay with Zoe.”

  “Oh that’s no bother either. She’s a good kid and she’s been here long enough to know that cabin’s her home for whatever she needs. Anything we can do to help, we will.” He took his glass and gulped down another long swig before glancing back to Savi. “Now back to this little lady here. Savi, tell this old soul what you do know. What powers do you possess?”

  I nudged her to answer while she kept staring straight at him.

  “Sorry. Um. Uh. I don’t yet know. You see, I didn’t even know magic was real until the other day. Like for real, real. I never imagined something like that existed.” She relaxed next to me as her nervousness eased. Lawrence had a way of doing that to people. He had such a kind and gentle smile.

  “Oh dear me. You’re in for quite the roller coaster ride finding out all the things that you never knew existed.” He chuckled to himself as he took another swig. As he withdrew his glass, his face turned somber. “Or the evil that exists out there to hunt you down and stop your magic. To hunt all of us.”

  “That’s a whole different topic of conversation, Lawrence. One Savi's not quite ready for tonight. I was bringing her here to help show her a little about this vast world that exists beyond what she’s known.” I braced for what was to come.

  I may know Lawrence Walcott as one of the kindest people, but he does not like it when someone disrespects him. Not agreeing with his way of thinking could set him off, so I needed to be careful as I was still unsure of how the demon might act. I watched both of them cautiously.

  “Throw her into this world head first before she’s even explained the threats that lie beyond? She needs to know these things, Aster. I'm not doubting your tutelage by any means; however, you of all people should understand the significance of those threats. Your grandmother’s healing is the only reason I'm still alive today.”

  I glanced at Savi from the corner of my eye, trying to make out her expression. She was rattled by this tension and no doubt full of questions now. I wanted this to be eye-opening for her but not explosive, so things needed to calm down before they got out of hand.

  “You’re absolutely right. How about we talk about the supplies I brought, and we can go into a full-depth explanation of everything else later? I promise. There’s no threat—"

  “No threat? No threat?” Lawrence’s eyes shifted in color as he let out a guttural growl, their deep emerald hue changing to fiery orange. “If there’s no threat, then explain this to Savi.” He yanked the wool blanket covering his legs off. There in his wheelchair lay exactly what I wanted her to see.

  She shrieked as her eyes met the two twisted limbs covered in dense gray fur with speckles of white spattered throughout. They followed from the haunches all the way to the paws perched on the footplates of his wheelchair. The massive talon-like claws that protruded from each digit sparkled in the fire’s light.

  "Whoa, what the—" Savi sprang from the cushion and flipped over the side. "Aster, what the fuck is that? Whoa, whoa, whoa. No, no, no, no, no.” She gripped the back of the couch, not taking her eyes off Lawrence, and readied herself to run. Creeping backwards, she lunged and grabbed the poker from the fireplace and held it up, ready to swing. “What is that thing?”

  I leapt to my feet and stood between them. “Savi, listen to me. It’s okay. Look at me.” I held out my hands and motioned for her to lower the poker. “Please put that down and listen. You know how I said I wanted you to keep an open mind tonight? Remember?”

  She bobbed her head yes, not taking her eyes off of his legs. "Well, Mr. Walcott here and the people in his community are exactly what I wanted to show you. I wanted you to see the world you’re agreeing to be a part of. There’s more than witches like us, Savi. Much more. So please put that down and let’s talk about this. I will explain everything.”

  I glanced back at Lawrence, who was gleaming ear to ear at her display of courage. He undoubtedly found this amusing to watch, but I know he would ultimately respect her bravery. “I will explain everything, even the threats you face. That will make everyone in this room very happy.”

  Savi’s face went white. "What—what is he then?” She stumbled to the side, losing her balance for a split second. "Oh, I don’t feel so good.” Her eyes fluttered closed and she whipped her head to the side to steady herself again. Wisps of smoke gathered around her eyes as she stared at me in confusion. “Aster, what’s happen—" The poker slammed to the floor and I lunged forward to catch her body before it collapsed with it.

  The demon had taken her out, like it had at the scrying. I peered over my shoulder at Lawrence, who was sniffing the air. “That smell. Brimstone. What is she? That’s the scent I couldn’t quite place earlier, isn’t it?”

  I nodded. “Like you said, the coven likes its peculiar cases. There’s an unknown demon within her and as far as we can tell, she has no idea, so it must stay between us.” I scooped my arm underneath her neck and legs and hoisted her up as best I could to the couch. “The coven has tasked me with not only teaching her our ways but also quietly finding out what she knows, if anything, about her guest.”

  “I will never claim to understand you witches and your pacts with demons, but if she has such a powerful being inside of her, there's even more reason to tell her of the Templar.” He wheeled beside her and placed a hand on her stomach. “She could be in grave danger if they got wind of her; then so would you. I have plenty of rooms here if it ever comes to that and you need a place to lay low. My doors are always open, Aster.”

  He grinned and took another long breath in. “Oh… no. There’s still something more. A hidden scent. The sulfur is trying to cover it almost like it’s trying to hide something. It’s willing to be discovered to keep whatever that is hidden. Aster, what have you gotten me into?”

  “I don’t know. I’m as shocked as you are. High Elder Mora said she could sense more in her, but it was shrouded by the darkness and the demon showed itself. I wonder…” I was completely unsure of what I was doing, but I had to test my theory. I had to know if it was present with us.

  I spoke loudly but firmly. I would have to display some semblance of control. “Show yourself, demon. I know you’re here.” I waited, watching Savi’s chest rise and fall. Her face was pale, yet her expression was peaceful. A low hiss whirled through the air. Savi’s serene lips curled into a wicked grin, yet the rest of her remained still.

  “Ah, little Aster. Still none the wiser, I see.”

  Savi’s lips moved through the motion of the words, but it wasn’t Savi’s voice, not entirely. My instincts had been correct. The demon had responded to the situation at hand. I needed to be cautious. Really cautious.

  “Why have you shown yourself now? Release Savi at once.”

  Another low hiss followed by a deep chuckle. "Oh, you poor puppet. Why, you ask? Why not? You throw my—this vessel—into danger and expect I will not respond? Tisk tisk, puppet.”

  “There is no danger here—"

  "Quiet, welp. This is between me and puppet.” The words bit harshly from Savi’s throat. “The danger lies in the knowledge. The more she knows, the more she will dig, and the more she will dig, the more knowledge this way comes. So you see, dear puppet, I cannot allow that.”

  “What do you mean, and why do you keep calling me puppet?”

  Another sly smile. “Time echoes truth. Truth echoes time. Time sees all. Time reveals all.”

  “You demons and your miserable lies and half-truths. Witches do you a favor by allowing you to remain as you are, and you spit in their faces. Back to hell with the lot of you if it were up to me," Lawrence scoffed between draws of his pipe.

  I glanced at him and gestured for him to stop. The last thing we wanted was to upset it, whoever it was, and cause more problems. “How much time?” I query, feigning an interest in making out the lunacy. It wasn’t uncommon for demons to trick witches or speak in rhymes and riddles, but this one wasn’t particularly keen on communicating in one style. This one was different for whatever reason.

  “The deceiver weaves the timeless thread. The unbound will be found, and your strings will be unstrung, for time will reveal, and time will heal.”

  “Just stop. I know you’re different. I know you clearly don’t want anything to happen to Savi since you misspoke and called her your vessel. She made no pact with you, which is why you can’t take over completely, isn’t it?”

  “Clever, clever puppet. Perhaps you should be the one in charge.”

  “Answer me. How much time, and what is it counting down to?”

  “I think we’ve had enough fun for today, little puppet. I will enjoy watching you squirm.” A low hiss retreated back into Savi, and a deep breath filled her chest.

  “You’ve got some explaining to do, Aster. What have you dragged me into now?”

  I couldn’t take my eyes off her to check Lawrence’s expression, but I could feel his eyes glaring into me. “It’s nothing the coven can’t handle. I promise. You’ll remain safe. We’ll explain everything to her once she’s awake. I need time to think for a moment. Something it said,” I paused, taking in my own thoughts, trying to make sense of everything. “Something it said doesn’t make sense. There’s something much bigger than what I was told going on here.”

  “Ya don’t say? Mora never liked to divulge all the information. She’s always one to keep a small tidbit of it hidden for herself. Information others could use.” He let out a breathy laugh. “Deceiver is accurate; I’ll give the old demon that one.”

  I continued studying Savi’s body for changes while I mulled over what he had said. Deceiver.

  'Was Mora truly the deceiver it mentioned?'

  So much was going on now. First, the words it spoke at Savi’s scrying and now this. What did all this add to? I hated to admit that the demon was right to a degree. Time does reveal all, but reveal what? I would have to figure this out before whatever it was came to be. For now, I would have to wait.

  newsletter (it's free to join) that goes out every Sunday with glimpses at what's coming soon. This Sunday I will be sharing a sneak peek at some character art I had made that will going into character bios in the Grimoire on my website. You won't want to miss seeing those before they are live!