Page 21 of Witch Moon

"It would be awfully hard not to," she said. "Considering I am one."

He slammed his eyes closed, swore under his breath.

Mirabella took a step away from him. "I've kept the truth to myself long enough, Jonathon. Something's going on...something that involves you, and me, and Rowan. And...and maybe Ashley. Now you can believe what you want about me, my spirituality, my powers or lack thereof, but you must know damn well I would never do anything to hurt your daughter." She licked her lips. "She's in danger, Jonathon."

His head came up slowly, eyes narrowing on her. "What kind of danger?"

"The same kind that Bryan Marcomb was in."'

"Suicide?" He gripped her wrists tight. "Suicide? For God's sake! What do you know? And how do you know it? Tell me. Mirabella."

She glanced downward, at where he held her, and he eased his grip, but didn't let go. "I don't know anything. Except that someone is trying to help me protect Rowan. When that truck almost hit her. I saw a woman, pointing, and I knew what was about to happen."

He frowned. "What...could the truck possibly have to do with-"

"Not the truck. The woman. I think she was Ashley."

He released her wrists as if they'd turned into snakes and would bite him. His lips parted, and his face twisted into a grimace as if he'd just bitten into something sour. "My God. You're right, Mirabella. I don't know you. Not in the least."

She managed not to flinch at his words. She had to get through this, tell him everything. "I've seen her again, too. At my house, standing behind me in the mirror. And Rowan's been seeing her as well."

"Oh, for the love of Christ!" He threw up his hands. "Enough. It's enough. Just stop it."

"She's trying to warn us. Damn it, she'd probably come to you too, if you weren't too closed-minded to let her."

"It's bullshit!"

"Is it?" She drew a breath, sighed deeply. Then lowering her head, shook it from side to side. "I guess it's time I went home." When he started to move, she held up a hand. "No. I'll walk. It's only a few blocks, and...I like the night."

"You shouldn't walk alone."

"I want to. I have a lot of thinking to do. And Jonathon, so do you. Rowan is hurting and confused. Maybe it would be a good idea for you to learn a little bit about what it is you're condemning before you write it off, hmm? For her sake? You don't have to agree with it. You don't have to believe in it. Just respect it for what it is, and know it for what it isn't. Witches don't sacrifice animals, Jonathon. And they don't drive kids to suicide."

He lowered his head. "I know that much."

"Do you? Do you really?" She shook her head slowly, and walked away.

"Bella?"

She turned slowly, looked back at him.

"Why the hell didn't you tell me this before you let me...."

"Let you what? Fall in love with me?" she said. Her voice was soft with unshed tears, but she knew he could hear her. "We've been in love for a long, long time, Jonathon. Before we ever met, I think." She lowered her head. "But you don't believe in that kind of thing, do you?"

Turning, she walked away.

There wasa pall over the entire town as she walked through it to school the next morning. But she stopped, when she saw the bright red spray paint and the broken glass at Gwen's place. Across the front walk in bloody lettering, were the words, "Suffer not a Witch to live."

"Oh no.," Bella whispered as a cold hand closed around her heart. "Oh, Goddess, please, no!" Racing across the street toward the shop with her heart in her throat, she shouted, "Gwen! Gwenyth!"

Gwen came out the door before she even got there. "Oh, thank goodness!" Bella said, grabbing Gwen and hugging her hard, kissing her cheek. "Thank goodness. Are you okay? Hmm?" She backed off, pressing her palms to the sides of Gwen's face. Her cheeks were tear streaked and her eyes, puffy. But she was in one piece, thank the Goddess!

Bella hugged her hard, looking past her at the men in overalls who were chipping the jagged pieces of glass out of the window, preparing to install a new one. Others were just arriving in a pick up truck, and unloading their paint and brushes. "Honey, what happened?"

"Circe's missing," she said, her voice raspy. "I'm so afraid they took her, and I just keep thinking about what's been going on with...with animals around here lately."

"Oh no," Bella whispered. "Come on, come inside, and tell me everything." She kept one arm firmly around Gwen's shoulders as she led her into the shop, through it, and to the small parlor off the back that divided the shop from the rest of the house and served as Gwen's temple room. "Sit," Bella said, pressing her into a chair. "Now talk."

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