Page 7 of Alan

I couldn’t ask, of course, since they still wouldn’t allow me to speak. Not that I thought they would tell me, since they hadn’t yet.

There was a murmuring from them, and they parted to let one last woman through. Instead of black, she wore white, and I could’ve sworn she literally glowed. Maybe she did. That wouldn’t be the strangest thing I had seen all day.

Her silver hair hung in a thick braid down to her waist, slung over one shoulder, her skin was smooth and clear, her eyes sparkled like sapphires. She was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen.

The leader of the little band I met in the woods stepped forward. “Selene, we—”

Selene held up one hand, and there was silence. I didn’t think it was forced silence, like the silence forced on me. No, the woman was afraid, and Selene had enough clout that all she needed to do was hold up a hand to shut up everybody else in the room.

“You needn’t explain yourself, Iris,” Selene announced in a clear, sweet voice. “I have seen it all. I’ve felt your frustration, stronger all the time as you approached our home. You did not find the one for whom you searched.”

Iris cleared her throat. “No. This is not the one. We could not leave her in the woods.”

“Naturally.” Selene’s eyes never left my face, searching me like she was searching for some truth.

If she could read feelings or whatever, she had to be able to read mine. My confusion, my general terror, and more than just a little bit of curiosity. Because these women were strange, to say the least, and Selene had referred to the cave as their home.

If I were a witch, I’d live someplace a little nicer. Like on a beach or something.

“Hecate, release the human from silence,” Selene commanded.

The curly-haired blonde nodded, and just like that, I could move my mouth again. I swallowed, licked my lips, and told myself I’d never take speech for granted again.

Selene nodded to the redhead. “Fetch a glass of water, please, Electra.”

Silly me, thinking she would leave the room for that. Instead, a glass of water appeared in Electra’s hand, which she offered me. I was almost afraid to drink, but I was more afraid not to drink. The last thing I needed was to offend a witch.

It actually tasted like water. Really good water, in fact.

“Who are you?” Selene asked when I handed the glass back to Electra, tilting her head to one side. “Let us begin there. From where have you come? To what purpose?”

I had about a million questions for Selene but realized this wasn’t the time to ask them. Better to be honest and clear and get it over with. “My name is Emelie. I’m from America. New York. I came here to look for a friend of mine, somebody who traveled to this area weeks ago. I haven’t heard from her in a while and was afraid for her.”

The women murmured to each other like I’d said something wrong, but whatever phased them didn’t seem to phase Selene. She only nodded. “What is it you do in New York? Your profession?”

I swallowed. She’d probably know if I lied, wouldn’t she? Either way, there was no sense in taking chances. “Computers. Networks. Clients need information, files, I retrieve them.”

“A hacker, then.” She gave me a knowing smile. “It is the word which keeps coming to mind when I look at you. You’re thinking it very strongly.”

“I don’t like to think of myself that way,” I admitted, “though others do.”

“Which is likely the reason the word is at the forefront of your mind. That which we want the least, we tend to focus our energy on.”

“This is going nowhere,” Iris whispered.

Hecate shot her a look of surprise, as did several of the others.

“You seem to have forgotten that I am the one who makes such determinations,” Selene warned her. For the first time since, she turned from me to look at Hecate. “I merely wish to learn more about our guest.”

“Guest?” I couldn’t help but blurt it out. It was too ridiculous. “I was brought here against my will. I was made mute, I couldn’t move. If that’s how you treat your guests, I can’t imagine that you’d have many of them.”

The women gasped, muttered, whispered.

I didn’t care what they did.

I cared what Selene did. Something told me she was powerful enough to take my head off without touching me. Or to set me on fire with that magical, cool flame they used on their torches.

Maybe I should’ve kept quiet when I had the chance.

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