Free Freaksville by Ashley Brooke Robbins Page A

people, I swear. A succubus isn’t a witch, she’s a seductress demon.
    My grandma only liked you if you were family and even then only for a short visit. Soon you’d end up getting on her nerves because you’d “think too loud.” Still, she’d never hurt a fly. The rumors were created by close-minded people and drama queens who need entertainment in their lives.
    She died before I was born, but my mom tells me stories.
    My mom claps her hands twice to get everyone’s attention. As the High Priestess of our small coven, she leads us—especially me—into not doing stupid stuff. And as the High Priestess’s daughter I’m supposed to be well behaved. That part always doesn’t work out.
    Soft music starts playing from my iPod.
    “ The Earth, the Air, the Fire, the Water. Return, return, return….”
    She walks to Beth first. “Merry meet, Sister,” she greets, giving her a reassuring nod. This is her first time joining us and she grips a green candle in shaking fingers.
    “Merry m-meet,” she replies.
    “Just breathe.” My mom squeezes her shoulder, “From the sacred, sweet grass we stand on, this night. To the soil that feeds our trees. I call Earth to our circle.” Her clear voice carries. The green candle lights itself. “Thank you, Sasha dear.”
    Sasha nods once trying for her normal devious grin, but I can see the sorrow shining in her dark eyes. She was really close to Racheal. When Mom calls Air, the wind bends the boughs of the trees and Molly coughs, guiltily staring down to the ground. This continues with each element. When Fire’s called, I get another sudden—much welcomed—rush of warmth. When Water’s called, it brings a drizzle, and I tilt my head back and try to catch raindrops in my mouth.
    Then she moves to the center of the circle, and, once everyone’s calmed down again, she holds up a purple candle. “Tonight, on this rather windy night….” She gives a pointed, playful look to Molly, who grins sheepishly. “We welcome you, Spirit, with open arms and ask you to joins us.”
    Once the candle lights itself, she takes a deep breath. Holding her arms above her head, she gracefully dances around the circle three times before stopping in the middle again, I want to clap happily but stop myself.
    “We’re here to celebrate the life of young Racheal,” my mom calls out. “She was taken too soon, and now we’re here to help her move on.” Then she goes on to tell the story of when she and her mother first came to join us.
    The stories continue around the circle, and Janice starts to cry at one point. My mom comforts her, and when it’s my turn, I freeze, until I get one of Mom’s reassuring nods.
    “I actually didn’t know her very well, but she was always nice to me when we did talk. Um…. I think it’s obvious she’ll be missed, and I don’t know what else to say.” I pass her pom-pom on to the person beside me.
    After the last story, the women and very few men bow their heads in silence. I try to, but the flame on the Spirit candle catches my attention. And then something rushes through me, probably one of the ghosts that like to hang around and torment Billy. But, with the rush, I get a sudden realization.
    To get the answers to my questions, I need to have my own circle.
    “We ask that Earth helps Racheal find her home.” My mom calls. “Air, to blow away any leftover negativity and then wrap around her to keep her safe. Fire to keep her warm and comfortable through this next journey…. Water to cleanse her of the wounds that might’ve stayed with her soul as it left its vessel. And Spirit to bring the other witches’ souls to help carry her through to the next realm.”
    Janice drops to her knees and cries out then screams at the top of her lungs. “Why?” She brings tears to my eyes, and that’s what helps me make up my mind.
    I’ll get answers for her and Racheal.
     

CHAPTER EIGHT
     
    ~ The Circle ~
     
    My mom walks in on me changing the next