August 4, Sunday

I HAD set my alarm for six a.m. with the intent to get a jump on my writing. But I had just opened a brand new notebook when I heard a car coming down the road. I went to the window to see a car roll by that I'd seen before, the one with the vanity license plate BNSNTWNS.

Curious as to what the teenage twin daughters of Tilda Benson would be doing in the cemetery at such an early hour, I dressed quickly and walked down to see, reasoning they might need the gate unlocked.

They had timed their arrival perfectly with the sunrise. Indeed, every woodland creature seemed to be waking up from the birds to a family of rabbits that hopped along the road in front of me before veering off to safety.

I slowed my steps as I walked up. The blonde twins had left their car and were pacing in front of the gate.

"Hello," I called. "I came to unlock the gate."

They turned startled eyes toward me, then exchanged worried glances before responding. "We don't need to get inside," one of them said.

"Okay," I said casually, then proceeded to the padlock. "I'm Josephine. Are you twins?"

They smiled and nodded. "I'm Taylor and this is Tessa… Benson."

"You must be Tilda's daughters."

They exchanged another glance. "That's right," Tessa said warily.

"I met her at the library."

"Are you staying in Rose's house?" Tayler asked.

"Yes."

"Alone?" Tessa asked, her eyes wide.

I hesitated and instead of answering, I asked, "If you don't mind me asking, why are you here so early?"

"It's a new moon—" Tessa began

"School project," Taylor cut in with a meaningful look at her sister.

After a beat, Tessa nodded agreement. "Right, school project. Local history and all that."

I smiled and nodded. "Lots of history in cemeteries, I suppose."

They nodded, then stood hugging themselves until I relented. "Have a good day."

"Thanks," they chorused.

I could feel their gazes on my back as I walked away. When I glanced over my shoulder, they had resumed their strange pacing in front of the gate, eyes down. I decided it must be some kind of ritual for the new moon, and from their body language, that the girls were new at it. Remembering how they were being shown ceremonial steps in a previous Wiccan ritual, I deduced the teenagers were new to the religion.

Witches in training?