Trin stared down at the dull-blue gown, and the white bodice and skirt she’d laid out on the bed. The faded cornflower blue matched her drab mood as she dressed for their mission. Completing the ensemble, she affixed a black, leather belt around her waist and pulled on a pair of worn, leather boots. Jason donned a similar-colored vest over his loose shirt, taking the time to properly gather the sleeves at the cuffs. As ready as they’d ever be, they joined Caris and Kennedy in the kitchen as they all prepared to head out the door. Trin carried her typical basket for gathering berries, while Caris filled hers with flowers and herbs. They would act as the reason she was making the trip to town—for all she needed now was to buy some more twine from the general store, which was typically where she’d run into Lionel. With each of their plans in place, Kennedy stepped in front of the exit, gathering them for the glamour she’d need to cast before they left.
“Change in me, reflected be, as the Goddess’s love washes over thee. Under the glow of this time and place, we welcome the return of our one true face.”
A bright light shimmered, filling the room and removing the appearance of their current lives. Facing each other, they now stood as they once were: Karina, Jeremiah, Kara, and Kenna—their true faces visible again.
“Wow, this feels so weird.” Caris touched her cheek.
Kennedy met her sister’s gaze. “It shouldn’t feel any different.”
“Maybe not physically, but knowing everyone will see our original faces, I suddenly feel very … vulnerable.” Caris shrugged.
“Well, after Jason’s run-in with Danforth yesterday, and your plans to track down Lionel, I think it’s safer if we all look like we originally did, since the idea of four new ‘strangers’ showing up in town will definitely raise suspicion,” Kennedy explained.
“Agreed,” Caris replied, “but you do realize you look eight years old to anyone from this time now, right?” she needled Kennedy, the youngest of them all.
Trin, Jason, and Caris laughed as Kennedy stood dumfounded. She hadn’t thought about that. Her sisters were both close to their teenage years in 1685–hard-working and almost ready for marriage according to the customs back then. But she was still a little girl, and boy-oh-boy, was that going to be hard to remember as she navigated this f-ed up situation. “Well, as long as I control my cussing, I should be seen as a little girl and that’ll help us get the info we’re looking for. People don’t usually filter what they say in front of children.”
“That’s true,” Trin agreed. “Well, good luck and make sure you report anything you find, or give a shout out if you run into trouble.” She tapped a finger to her temple, then hugged both her sisters goodbye.
Trin suppressed a shudder as they walked out the door, unable to hide her concern.
“They’ll be okay.” Jason ran his hand down the length of her arm.
“I hope so. But now, with our faces truly visible, I’m not only worried about us running into ourselves, but also about others seeing us and questioning what we’re up to. It creates one more hurdle to deal with.”
“We all knew this wouldn’t be easy,” Jason wrapped his arms around her shoulders, “but I don’t think any of us realized it would be this hard.”
Cocooned in his embrace, Trin relaxed against his broad chest and took a deep breath, giving herself a minute to breathe and to prepare for what was coming next.
Easing out of his arms, she shifted her basket back into place. “Guess we better get going, too.”
“Do you remember where the Putnams live?” Jason asked, pulling the door closed behind them as they stepped outside.
“I never visited their home, but have a rough idea based on what Mrs. Bishop told me back in the day. From what I remember, it’s located in the forest outside of town, off Oakcrest Road.”
Jason offered Trin his arm, and they meandered down the dirt path in silence, heading back toward town and effectively into the lion’s den.
***
Twenty minutes later, they crept down the dirt road that led them to the Putnams’ farm, Trin chanting protection spells with every step they took.
“Hold on. Let’s stop here.” Jason pulled her to a halt, crouching down behind a thick hedge encircling the property ahead. “With Mr. Putnam holding a hostage, and ten daughters roaming about, it should be easy to spot any movement from back here. I don’t want you getting too close.”
Squeezing in to kneel down beside him, Trin’s toe caught on something in the grass as she neared the edge of the hedge. Pointing to the ground, she gasped. “Oh no. Jason, look.”
Glancing down, Jason made out two stone markers lying in the dirt. Gravestones.
Trin scrambled back, moving farther down the hedge as she sent up a silent plea to the Goddess, praying her mama was still alive. “I’m going to reach out for Mama’s energy to see if she’s in there.”
Jason simply nodded, picking up where she left off with the protection chant.
Trin clenched her mother’s pendant tightly, welcoming the energy pulsing beneath her hand. Closing her eyes, she focused a whisper of her magic into the stone and listened for her mama’s responding call.
Unfortunately, none came.
Trin released the pendant and shook her head. “She’s not in there.”
“I haven’t noticed any movement outside either,” Jason responded, “but where else could they be?”
Tears welled in Trin’s eyes. “I have no idea.” She glanced back at the gravestones, hoping one didn’t mark Mama’s end.