Page 22 of Witch Moon

Gwen lugged a tissue from her pocket and swiped at her face. "It must've been around three a.m. I heard the glass breaking. I came downstairs. The window was smashed, there was a brick on the floor." She shook her head slowly. "And I couldn't find Circe, so I went outside, calling, her and that's when I saw the paint on the front wall." She shuddered with her whole body at the memory. "I thought it was blood at first...."

"Did you call the police?"

"Yes. They're calling it vandalism."

Bella frowned. "Vandalism? This is a hate crime!"

Gwen frowned, shaking her head slowly. "This is it, Bella. I can't take it anymore. I think I'm going to go ahead and take Mark Hayes' offer on the house."

"But you can't. This was your great-grandmother's legacy. Oh. Gwen, please think this over some more."

Gwen lowered her head.

"Look, at least don't make any decisions right now. "Not when you're still this upset."

She sniffled, nodded. "I'm not going anywhere until I find out what happened to Circe, at least."

"I'm sure she just got scared by the noise and ran off to hide. She'll show up soon." She reached across the table to clasp Gwen's hands. "You want me to make you some tea?"

"No. I'm fine, really. You...probably need to go."

Bella glanced at her watch. "I have another minute or two."

"Liar." Gwen said, dashing her eyes dry. "So how are things going with the prosecutor and his daughter?"

Bella pursed her lips and shook her head. "Well, his first wife was a Witch. He seems to think that because she died of ovarian cancer, that's some kind of proof that the entire belief system is bogus. And, he knows that includes me."

"You told him?" Gwen asked, wide eyed.

"I had to." She shook her head. "His wife's name was Ashley. And I'm pretty sure I've had a couple of visitations from her. So has Rowan."

Gwen lifted her brows. "She's trying to drive you away?"

"No. I don't think so. She's trying to help me protect Rowan from...whatever the hell is about to happen to her."

"Then you have an ally."

"A powerful one, I think," Bella said.

Gwen smiled. "Well, if you see Witch Ashley again, would you ask her to look out for Circe, maybe send her home if she sees her?"

"Maybe you'll be able to ask her yourself. If you're up to a full blown ritual."

Gwen lifted her brows. "You want to try to stir her spirit, see if we can get some answers?"

"Yeah, and I'm thinking it might take the full coven to do it."

"We should have been working on uncovering the truth behind what's been going on in this town before now," Gwen said. "But everyone's been too damned scared of being found out to come to circle." She nodded. "But they'll come now. When and where, hon?"

"Tonight. The full moon's in Saturn. Couldn't be much better timing." Bella frowned. "Are yousureyou're up to this?"

"You bet I am." Gwen tried a shaky smile. "In fact, it's good to have something to focus on besides worrying about my precious feline. Go on, now. You'd better get to work before they fire you."

If only Bella had known how prophetic Gwen's parting words had been.

Chapter 7

Mirabella walked into the school building, and knew immediately the place was deserted. Of students at least. An empty school had a feel to it that was different from anything else. Even anearlyempty one tended to exude a lonely, haunted feeling.

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