Page 28 of One Cry Too Loud
“Are you in a club?” She cut me off.
“A club?” I asked. “I mean, I suppose it’s kind of a club. It’s a Unit.”
“That’s just another word for a club though, isn’t it?” She smiled. “I had a dream last night. I drew the three of clubs and a voice in my head said that it meant our troubles would be behind us. Do you think that’s a sign? Do you believe in signs?”
“Ma’am, I just need to see Ms. Masters about her daughter. We believe we have a chance at bringing her home,” I said.
“She’ll be very happy to hear that, assuming the spell she’s casting right now doesn’t do the job first,” the woman said.
“Spell?” I asked.
“Why yes,” the woman answered. “She’s in the backyard with the rest of the coven right now.”
“Coven?” I asked. “You mean to say that-”
“Certainly,” the woman replied. “Alice Masters is a witch.”
I groaned as I heard the words. “Right.” I rolled my eyes. “Of course she is.”
CHAPTER 19
“You seem surprised,” the woman motioning us into the Masters’ house said. She had a glint in her eye and a smirk on her face that told me she was enjoying the idea of us finding what she had just said strange. I had to admit, when I pulled up to this home today, I wasn’t expecting to hear the words ‘coven’ or ‘spell’. I was a professional, though, and I wasn’t going to let any of that shake me. Holly, on the other hand, didn’t share the same sentiment.
“Obviously we’re surprised. You just told us she’s a bloody witch!” The Englishwoman said, her face growing more red with each passing word.
“Not just her. All of us,” the woman said as she settled into the sizable living room, spreading her arms out as if to soak in the attention. “You’re looking at the Sisters of the Southern Moon; the premiere coven in-not only Miami, but the entire Southeast if you don’t count Atlanta or Mobile.”
“Mobile, Alabama?” Kat asked.
“You would not believe all the witchy goodness going on in Mobile. It reallyisquite impressive,” the woman said.
“I’m sure that’s one word for it,” I answered. “You’ll have to forgive Holly, ma’am. She’s not what you might call a believer in the supernatural.”
“I get the feeling none of you are,” she answered. “At least, that’s the vibe I got from my dream last night.” Her smile widened. “The three of clubs.”
“You got me there. I’ve never been much into magic or anything. It seems a bit fanciful if you ask me,” I admitted.
“More fanciful than praying for what you want or what your family might need?” The woman asked, her smile shrinking into that self satisfied smirk again. “Wicca is a religion, just as is whatever religion I assume you practice. Is praying to God for the things you wish for not a form of magic? Is it different somehow?”
“Yes. It is. Or, at least, I believe it is,” I said confidently. “But I’m not here to talk about religion; yours, mine, or anyone else’s. I’m here to talk to Alice Masters about what happened to her daughter.”
“All business. That’s not as interesting as I’d have hoped,” the woman said. “The spell should be done within the next few minutes. You’re welcome to wait in the living room until such a time that Alice can see you. There are refreshments in the kitchen if you find yourselves feeling peckish.” She pointed to the back wall of the house, precisely at the large window. Through it, we could see a circle of people sitting cross-legged on the grass. They had their hands held high in the air and their eyes were closed. “If any of you feel the urge to join in on our ceremony, don’t be shy.”
“I can’t imagine that happening, but thank you for the invitation,” I said as the woman began to walk away. “I assume you’re going out there with them.”
“But of course,” the woman said, spinning around on her heels. “After all, they couldn’t finish the ceremony without me. I’m High Priestess Montella Moonlight.”
“Can I assume that’s not your given name?” I asked.
“My given name is Carla,” she said. “You may call me High Priestess Montella Moonlight.”
“Whatever you say,” I replied.
She nodded at me, spun back around, and headed out the back door into the yard.
“Oh my God,” Holly said, her eyes wide and distraught as the High priestess left the room. “I gave my daughter to witches.”
“Holly, “I said. “You couldn-”
