13. Which Witch Are You?

Chapter 13

Which Witch Are You?

A lice sat alone at the bar of Ez’s new club, The Coven Club, located in a different city far away from their original home. The Coven Club was fancier than the original. It was designed from the ground up, not shoved into an existing building like the one before. Everything was top of the line and spewed elegance. The walls were exposed brick. The bar top was made of a polished, black onyx and lined one side. The center was filled with square tables a few steps down from the rest of the bar. Gold railings surrounded them with more tables on the outside.

Gold and crystal light fixtures hung over every table, providing a dim spotlight on the occupants below. A curved stage filled the back wall. Thick, navy curtains were drawn back to reveal the floating instruments bathed in a blue and purple light. The entire floor was covered in a red velvet like carpet—a far cry from the black, wood floor of the original. If Ez had to start over, at least she went big this time.

“She’ll be right out,” a man’s voice said from behind the bar. “Can I get you anything to drink?”

Alice shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Thank you. ”

“Let me know if you need anything,” he said before returning to his prep for the night. His sleeves were rolled up to his elbows.

Alice chuckled. Time was circular. This seemed all too familiar as her mind slipped back to that fateful evening.

Soft jazz music filled the room as instruments floated above the stage. Unseen arcane hands plucked the strings, tapped the drums, and pressed the brass valves to conjure the melodic sounds. The room was dimly lit, smokey, and full of energy. A clandestine place for those empowered with arcane abilities to meet and mingle.

Alice Primrose sat alone at the bar with her head tilted and witch’s hat off-kilter. She held the left side of her head in her hand. Her elbow was propped up on top of the bar. She swirled her drink with her other hand. A cocktail mixture of cranberry juice and vodka—extra vodka—over ice in a rocks glass. She paused her twirling and took a sip. She set the glass back down and glanced at the rows of alcohol bottles stacked in front of her. A few were the wine bottles she had supplied.

“Not drinking the usual, I see,” a woman’s voice said from behind the bar.

A blonde woman captured Alice’s attention, her hands diligently scrubbing glasses in a sink. She placed the glasses down, one by one, on rubber mats to let them dry.

“Let me guess. Relationship troubles?”

“Good guess,” Alice said as she took another sip. “I needed something a little stronger tonight.”

Sam wiped her hands on a clean bar rag and moved closer to Alice. “Want me to deal with him? Or is it a her?”

Alice snickered. “No, I don’t need him to be dealt with, even if it is an enticing thought.”

Sam placed her hands on her hips and tilted her head. “Are you sure? I can be very forceful if need be. ”

Alice's gaze surveyed Sam, carefully noting each delicate feature. Ez had a very strict dress policy for her clubs, and Sam was known for skirting as close to the line as possible. She wore a tartan style vest—which was probably a size too small—that hugged and highlighted her hourglass frame. She left a few of the top buttons on her white, collar shirt unbuttoned to give the patrons an eyeful . . . and Alice appreciated the view.

Her sleeves were rolled up to her elbows. Ez preferred the sleeves all the way down, but Sam protested. She claimed they got wet when washing glasses. Alice knew Sam wanted to show off her colorful forearm tattoos.

Alice’s eyes lingered over every inch of her body. The way her wavy blonde hair fell on her shoulders as she tilted her head. Her hands placed on her curvy hips. The too tight vest. The tattoos.

I bet she’d be fun to date . A jolt ran down Alice’s spine at the thought. Maybe someday, but not now. Not after being recently scorned by her former lover, The Cheating Bastard.

“I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m just going to drown my sorrows in this vodka cranberry,” Alice said.

“Want an ear to listen?”

Alice sat upright on the barstool. “All right. I have a new rule. Never date a vampire. They suck. Literally and figuratively.”

“Why, Ms. Primrose, didn’t your mother ever tell you to stay away from those vampire boys?” Sam asked with a sly smile. “Or was it a vampire girl?” She batted her eyes.

“Boy. His name is now The Cheating Bastard.”

“Of course.” Sam crossed her arms, pushing her chest higher.

Either the vodka was getting to Alice or Sam was trying to flirt with her. Either way, it was bliss.

“He had this look that made me melt,” Alice said.

“Are you sure he didn’t try to enthrall you?”

“He didn’t need to. Curly hair. Sharp cheekbones. Tall. Muscles. I fell head over heels for him. It was all such a whirlwind. He told me he loved me. He said he cared for me. That I was special. All lies. ”

“How did you find out?”

“He forgot his phone, and text messages started appearing saying, ‘The door’s unlocked. I’ll be upstairs waiting for you,’” Alice said with a slight slurring of her words. “I found out he took one of my Luck bottles. When he returned, I confronted him. He said it was a misunderstanding, but like I said, lies. I told him if I ever saw him again, I’d have my broomstick stab him right in the heart. And he left, and now I’m here . . . alone.”

Alice took another sip and continued, “Always alone. Never appreciated.”

Sam cupped Alice’s hand with her own. “Maybe you just haven’t found the right guy . . . or gal.”

Alice gazed into Sam’s eyes. Her stomach fluttered, and a tingle pulsed up her arm. Sam’s touch was electric. Maybe it was the vodka coursing through her or something else, but Alice didn’t want her to let go.

Sam continued, “I get off in a half-hour. Want to go do something fun?”

Alice smiled. “Yeah. I could use fun.”

“Great. It’s a date,” Sam said as she let go of Alice’s hand.

“How was the drive, kiddo?” Ez asked, interrupting Alice’s memory.

It was a two-hour drive from her home to The Coven Club. Ez wanted to be close to Alice, yet not too close to attract attention. They had decided Alice would move to central Ohio, and Ez would move to the northeast.

“Long, but fine,” Alice replied.

“So, what’s the urgent thing you wanted to see me about?” Ez asked.

“I need a favor.”

“A good favor or a . . . special favor?”

“Let’s go in the back and talk. Away from other ears. ”

“A special favor it is,” Ez said. “Follow me.”

Alice moved around the bar and followed Ez through a doorway. They proceeded down a hallway, passing a few of the offices. At the end of the hallway was a wooden door covered in ornate iron fixtures. Very similar to the one in Alice’s basement. Ez pulled a key from her pocket and unlocked the door. She pulled it open to reveal a massive library.

Rows and rows of books and sacred scrolls containing arcane text. Stained mahogany bookcases stretched from the floor to the ceiling. Ladders on railings allowed those who wanted to ascend to the top to peruse various works. The colorful spines worn with age. Many old texts and some new ones. The smell of old paper overwhelmed Alice’s senses. A yellowish-orange glow emanated from vintage lamps hanging from the ceiling.

Ez was a coven witch, a keeper of the knowledge. She preserved ancient history, spells, rituals, and other things for witches and wizards to use. This was her sanctuary. If they needed a more secluded place to talk business, then Alice knew this was the place to be.

“So, talk, kiddo. What do you need?” Ez asked.

“How did the meeting with the Vampiric Conclave go?” Alice asked with a crack in her voice.

“They won’t intervene. They’re claiming it’s a business dispute. We’re on our own,” Ez said. “You didn’t come all the way up to ask me that question, did you?”

Alice hung her head. Her hands pressed together in front of her mouth. Thoughts raced through her mind. She knew what she wanted to ask, but was afraid of Ez’s answer. She parsed the words carefully, making sure they were crafted so Ez wouldn’t freak out.

Alice dropped her hands, breathed deep, and pulled back her shoulders to conjure the confidence needed for her next words. “We need to move again.”

“Out of the question,” Ez said as she flailed her arms in exasperation. “I finally got this place settled. I’m not moving again.”

“You don’t have to move. Just Hugo and myself.”

“Why?” Ez placed her hands on her hips.

“They know.” Alice took a deep breath. “The vampires know I have the spell.”

Ez dropped her hands to her side. “Are you certain?”

“Yes. They told me. They know. They tracked us down. They . . . they found out about the news article where people spotted Hugo. They know about my wine. They put two and two together and figured—” Alice’s voice cracked. “This is my fault. Again, everything is my fault.” Tears formed in Alice’s eyes.

“It’s not your fault, kiddo.”

“Yes, it is. The Savinos promised to make our lives miserable if I don’t give them what they want. They’ll make sure the Raskins lose their store. They threatened to pick the town apart piece by piece until they get their way. Until they have the spell.”

Ez lowered her head. “I’m sorry, kiddo. I’m truly sorry.”

“That’s not all. They don’t just want the spell. They want me to join them. They talked about how we’d be perfect for each other,” Alice said.

“What did you tell them?”

“I told them to go to hell. I work for me and me alone.”

“That’s my girl. Stand your ground.”

“They told me to reconsider. If I don’t join them, they’ll make life difficult. They didn’t elaborate, but I can guess. If I stay there, I’m a threat to the town. If I leave, they’ll leave too, trying to find me again.” A tear fell down Alice’s cheek.

Ez breathed deeply. “What if they don’t?”

“They’d try to follow me . . . wouldn’t they?”

“What if they don’t leave and use the town against you? They’ll do more than make people sick. The’ll put pressure on you to return. They know you’ve taken a liking to the town. What if they destroy the town, piece by piece, until nothing is left?”

Alice shook her head in disbelief. “They wouldn’t. They’d . . . they’d try to follow me. ”

“Kiddo, they wouldn’t. They’d destroy everything and everyone, including your friends, the Raskins. And who would stop them? I can’t move an entire town. I can’t send witches and wizards to fight vampires. It would escalate into another war. You’re the only one standing between them and the place you call home. The people you love.”

Alice pursed her lips and sniffled to hold back tears. “Nope. There has to be someone else. I can’t do it. I should run and draw them away.”

Esmerelda tapped the hardwood flooring with her shoe and crossed her arms. She glared at Alice. “Who are you?”

Alice was taken aback by the question. She scrunched her eyebrows, narrowing her eyes. “What kind of question is that?”

“I want to know who you are. Which witch are you?” Ez asked.

Alice stood in stunned silence.

Ez continued, “Are you a witch who runs from her troubles? You ran from Sam.”

Alice broke her gaze from Ez. Her mouth gaped open. Her mind blank.

“Or are you a witch that turns around and fights? Who upholds the promise you made to your grandmother? Who honors the legacy of your great-great grandmother? She guarded the spell and defended an entire town when faced with overwhelming odds. The same great-great grandmother who wasn’t willing to abandon the people she loved.”

Alice surveyed the room for answers, but found none. Her breath shortened, constricted by an unseen force collapsing her throat. She struggled to breathe. She shook her head, not wanting to answer.

“So, which witch are you?”

Alice’s phone dinged from an incoming text message. She withdrew her phone from her pocket, glancing at the screen. Alice let out a blood-curdling scream.

“No,” she yelled before covering her mouth.

“What is it?” Ez asked .

She read the words over and over as fast as she could.

From Hugo:

Looks like I now have a key - Sylvia

Alice beheld the horror of the picture that accompanied the text. It was a picture of her front door. Hugo slumped in the corner unconscious. Blood dripped down his neck.

“They got Hugo!” Alice shouted as she showed Ez the picture. “I have to go.”

“Oh, kiddo, get out of here. Go. Let me know what you need,” Ez said.

Alice sprinted toward the entrance. She leaned her shoulder into the door to push it open and disappeared into the hallway.