Free BloodMoon by David VanDyke, Drew VanDyke Page B

under control. We don’t talk about it much; it’s like the underside of witchcraft, having to deal with those who abuse their powers. But we suppress their magic with various means, often by drugs that are administered to them in their food.”
    Funny, seemed to be a lot of that administering of potions going around. No wonder witches gained a reputation as poisoners. In fact, in that oft-quoted Bible verse, “Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live,” the original Hebrew implied this was aimed at women who used herbs for ill: in other words, poisoners or purveyors of fell potions. Look at the witches in Sleeping Beauty or Snow White or a dozen other tales. What did they use? Poison and drugs. I didn’t think these Street Witches were doing themselves any favors by imitating these methods.
    On the other hand, I guess they do what they feel they gotta do.
    Amber said, “Elle says that Jeanetta’s still locked up tight, but I keep seeing her in my dreams, and today there were times during the ritual when I looked up and I could swear I saw her mocking face staring back at me. I’m worried, Lena.”
    Lena patted my sister’s hand. “When I get home, I’ll do a scrying spell and let you know what I find out. If Jeanetta’s up to mischief, I’ll know about it soon enough.”
    My twin hugged Lena and said her goodbyes.
    “You never told me you were still getting visions of Jeanetta,” I said after the door had shut.
    “I didn’t want you to worry.”
    “Well, I’m worried now,” I said, and then sighed. “Just keep me in the loop, okay?”
    “When I know, you’ll know.”
    We both laughed.
     
    That night, Amber did the spell. And you know me, little miss eavesdrop, I just had to listen in.
     
    Standard white poodle
    You appear to be
    Familiar spirit
    Come to me
    Siegfried. Daemon
    Whatever you may be
    Let your thoughts make sense to me
     
    It was surprisingly simple, Amber told me afterwards; again, no Grammy awards. As she already was psychic, she just had to open up her receptors to a different plane. So she wove a spell into a talisman and hung it on Siegfried’s collar.
    This meant if she wanted silence she could turn it off, like the twin bond. I couldn’t help but wonder how Siegfried would do with it, two-way only when Amber wanted it. I mean, what type of a relationship is that when one party can just shut you out without any warning? But that’s a witch and her familiar I guess. The witch is in charge, supposedly. And that was me and my sister too, sometimes, a constant dance of control and surrender. And we never knew which one of us was leading.

Chapter 7
    “So, what do you know about this Blood Moon Fever?” I asked Con Shelby over the phone the next day. It seemed safer that way, and hopefully wouldn’t provoke my allergies.
    “What do the pack elders say?”
    “They don’t seem worried about it at all. Says it’s all superstition. But it sounds to me like a recipe for disaster if there’s even a bit of truth to it.”
    “If it makes you feel any better I can make sure that no harm comes to you all. We can ask the witches for a spell, and I was already planning on calling in Adam and his team for security that night. We can have them loaded with tranq darts in case you all go, as you say, ‘batshit crazy.’”
    I could feel the air quotes over the phone. Sixth sense, women’s intuition, or maybe I could just hear them.
    “I give you my solemn oath and vow that I will do my utmost as your liege lord to keep you safe.” Shelby oozed that magical charm and I sneezed. Sheesh. He must be strong if he could affect me like that over the phone. Better bookmark a conversation with a witch, I thought as I hung up on his assurances.
    I saw my sister the next day as she headed out the door to take JR to swim practice.
    “Oh, I heard from Sister Lena,” she said as she gathered up her things from the vestibule.
    “And…”
    “And she said it’s likely that Jeanetta’s been trying to