Page 74 of Night of the Vampire
A few minutes later, we pulled up to the house. I drove up into the yard to give the other two cars room to park, then waited on the front porch for the group to join us.
"Nice digs," the red-haired witch commented, sarcasm dripping from her tone.
"It's only temporary," I told her. "Please, come in." Holding the door open, I ushered them all into the house. "This way."
Kenya was in bed, her eyes alert but bright with fever. They grew wide when the five witches crowded into the room behind Lizzy and me.
I approached the bed and felt her forehead. She was burning up.
She gave Lizzy a tired smile. "I'm so sorry about that night..."
But Lizzy shook her head, cutting her off. "We'll talk about it another time." Then she gave her a smile. "But it's very nice to officially meet you. I'm Lizzy."
Kenya's return smile was tired. "Kenya."
Judy walked around to the far side of the bed and I pulled Lizzy out of the way to stand beside me as the other witches made a circle around the Kenya. They were eerily silent as they studied her. Though I'd never made it back to the swamp last night, I'd called Kenya and explained to her what was going to happen tonight.
Kenya's feverish eyes found the high priestess. "Hey," she told her.
"Hi, Kenya."
"Killian told me it wasn't any of you who did this to me."
Judy glanced around the group and then shook her head. "No, hon. It wasn't. And I'm so sorry."
"I appreciate you coming here," Kenya told her. "I know it's a big risk you're taking, and I want you to know you will forever have my loyalty." She looked over at me. "Well, after Killian, of course."
Judy smiled. "Of course. But Kenya, you need to know, we'll do what we can, but that's all we can do."
"I have faith in you," she told her. Then she closed her eyes. "Magic away, please. I'm very tired of feeling human again."
Judy laughed a bit at that. "Lizzy, would you join us, please?"
Lizzy startled. "Me? Aunt Judy, I don't have your powers."
"You do," she informed her. "Somewhere in there. Isn't that right, Killian?" Judy's blue eyes met mine.
"Aye," I said.
Lizzy frowned up at me. "How do you know?"
"I can feel it," I told her. "I knew it the night we met as soon as I walked into your store."
"Honey." Her aunt laid her hand on Kenya's arm. "You have magic inside of you, and every little bit will help us find out what's going on with Kenya here. We need your help. You don't have to do anything, just join hands with Alice and concentrate on Kenya. Alice will channel whatever's inside of you."
"Oh. Um. Okay." I watched as Lizzy stepped up beside Alice. The innocent-looking witch smiled as she took Lizzy’s hand. "This won't hurt," she told her.
I stepped back out of the way as they all linked hands and bowed their heads. Judy pressed her free hand against Kenya's shoulder and began to chant, the others joining in. Time seemed to stop as I watched them, their magic thickening the air and crawling along my skin, but I refused to leave Lizzy and Kenya.
After what seemed like hours but was probably only minutes, they all stopped as one. My eyes darted from one to the next, trying to read their expressions.
It was Judy who spoke. "I don't know this magic," she told me. Looking around the circle, she questioned the other witches with her eyes, then shook her head. "I'm so sorry, Killian, Kenya."
Kenya's eyes opened and she looked up at Lizzy's aunt. As understanding dawned, they became frantic. "What are you saying, Judy?" She looked at the others, her voice rising in fear. "What are you saying?"
Lizzy reached for her hand, then looked over her shoulder for me.
I started to step forward when the male spoke up.
