Free Blood Moon by T. Lynne Tolles Page A

corner of her driveway from here. She smiled as she rounded the tree, reaching out to touch its rough, hairy bark when something hit her from behind and everything went dark.
     

     
    Rachel dialed Sally’s number and let it ring a few times. “Sally?   It’s Rachel. Just checking in.   How are things going?”
    “Good. I’ve got what I need to complete the spell.”
    “Good. If it works, I wouldn’t mind using the spell on someone myself.”
    “I don’t know if you can get more yummy than mine, but sure, why not?”
    “How are the guests?”
    “They’re piling up, but they are all comfortably sleeping.”
    “Good, no problems then?”
    “Nope.   All’s good here.   How about you?   I heard you made a crashing entrance.”
    “Yes, I did. Didn’t really work as I hoped.   The weirdo was so attached to her car, she barely said a word to me. I’m going to have to try something else.”
    “So everything proceeds as planned, right?”
    “Yes.   I’ll call you again to check bases with you.”
    “Talk to you later, then.”
    “Bye.”
    After Sally hung up she went to the kitchen where she had started her spell.   Her altar cloth was spread out and incense burned; her athame lay next to the tiny cauldron that held a picture, a piece of hair, and some essential herbs and oils.   She wrote the words of the spell on a piece of paper and read them out loud:
     
    Venus goddess of lust and love
    Your help I need on wings of a dove.
    My allegiance to you I do vow.
    Bring dear Blake to me now
    Your need for me grows in your heart
    Feel the spark of love’s hot dart
    You’ll sense my presence when I am near
    Come at once to me, my dear.
    I am your Queen and you are my bee
    As I desire so shall it be.
     
    Then she lit the piece of paper and tossed it into the tiny cauldron, where it also burned the photo, the hair, the herbs and oils in a puff of flame and smoke.
     

     
    Blake didn’t feel like himself that evening when he grabbed his car keys and headed towards the door.   Dean met him in the hallway and asked where he was going.  
    “I’m going to Sally’s.”
    “Who’s Sally? Don’t you think we should talk about what happened with Rowan?”
    “Rowan who?”
    “Rowan who? That’s funny,” Dean said, but as he looked at Blake’s face he continued, “You’re kidding right?”
    “No. Why?”
    “Rowan’s the girl you’re in love with – remember? The girl you came to Colorado for? By the way, who is Sally?”
    “I don’t know what you are talking about. I don’t know any Rowan. And as for Sally - wouldn’t you like to know?” Blake asked.
    “No, not really.   Allison’s got all I need.   So is this some kind of game you’re playing? She hurt you so now you don’t know who she is? You’ve never ever mentioned a Sally before. How did you meet her?”
    “Hmmmm. I don’t know?”
    “When did you meet her? I haven’t even seen you leave the house since we’ve been here.”
    “No idea. Gotta go. I’m late.” Off he went out the door, smiling like a doofus.  
    Dean went next door and pulled Devon aside.
    “Have you spoken to Blake recently?” he asked.  
    “No, why?”
    “He’s acting really weird.”
    “How so?”
    “He claims he has no idea who Rowan is and he’s off to see some woman named Sally. He says he doesn’t remember how they even met, but seems totally infatuated with her.”
    “That is weird.   Where’d he go?”
    “To go meet her, I think.”
    “Huh?!   Darby?” Devon called into the hallway, “Could you come here for a minute?”
    “Sure. What’s up?”
    “Dean just had a very strange conversation with Blake.”
    “Really? What about?”  
    “Seems he has no idea who Rowan is and he’s off to meet someone named Sally. And get this, he doesn’t remember where he met her, but he seems to be totally obsessed with her.”
    “That’s pretty weird.   When would he have met someone? I haven’t seen him leave the house except with you