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Seeing Auras.
I hitched myself onto the stool at my worktable to study the book. The picture on the yellowed page showed a halo surrounding a roughly drawn body. The text began with an explanation, that auras surrounded every living being and indicated emotional wellbeing and physical state. I scanned the paragraph that detailed how to focus on a person’s aura and went straight to the meanings of the colors—a dozen or so of them.
“Like I’m going to remember all that?” I took out my cell phone and snapped a photo. Whose aura was I supposed to look for? As with everything related to my gifts, I expected I’d know when the time came. Circling back to the paragraph I’d browsed, I read through the steps required.
A footnote had been added to the bottom of the page.
Auras have both positive and negative attributes. For those born with gifts, be forewarned they may hide their true selves the way they can mask the shimmer of their eyes.
A chill raced down my spine. I was familiar with that shimmer. I’d seen it in Nora from the time I’d first met her, but I’d missed it in Narcy—at least until after I’d fully accepted my gifts the night of the summer solstice. I read the footnote a second time— Be forewarned they may hide their true selves. Like Nora said.
“Okay,” I told the book. “I’ll watch for auras.”
My cell phone startled me. Nora’s ring tone.
“I called Hannah,” she said when I answered.
“Hannah. The woman from the solstice?”
“Yes, and if you’re free tomorrow, she’s invited you to her retreat.”
Retreat? “Where does she live?”
“Her family owns a castle in Brown’s Landing. I’ll send you a link.”
“A castle? Wait. Did you say she invited me? You aren’t going?”
“You’ll learn more without me there. You have nothing to be concerned about. You’ve already met her. She’s a lovely woman. You’ll call me after you’ve spoken to her?”
“Yeah.”
As Kyle walked in, I disconnected the call. “What are you up to tomorrow?” I asked him.
“Working. You need something?”
“No, just checking. Nora suggested I take a drive to Brown’s Landing. You ever hear of a woman named Hannah Noonan? She owns a castle there.”
“Aerie Castle? No, I don’t know her, but she’s something of a big deal there. You want me to check her out?”
“Nah. She’s a friend of Nora’s, so I’m not worried. Just wondering.” I chuckled. “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, Wisconsin style.”
“Not someone I’ll be rubbing elbows with. As a lowly police officer, I’m not likely to reach that stratosphere.”
I circled his waist with my arms. “I have everything I need right here.” I looked for the grimoire on my work table—gone, once again. I took a step back and studied Kyle, letting him go out of focus, the way the book had dictated, until the white aura around him became visible, then looked for the color behind it. Red.
“You’ve got that look in your eye,” Kyle said. “Should I be worried?”
I blinked to refocus, glanced at my phone to determine what his aura meant. Energy. Strength. Courage. And if I’d missed the color by a shade, sensuality. “Only if you’re hungry,” I said. “I was thinking about a little physical activity before dinner.”
He raised his eyebrows. “I think I can manage.”
~ ~ ~
AFTER MUCH FUSSING about my safety before he left for work, I promised Kyle I’d call both when I arrived at and when I left Brown’s Landing.
I checked the workroom, wondering if I should take anything with me. Ash sat in the window watching me, her paws curled under her. “What about you?” I asked her.
She tilted her head, but didn’t move. Her purr echoed, indicating she was content where she was. Considering the way she instinctively crawled into her basket every morning when I went to work, and again when it was time to come home, I trusted if she was meant to join me, she would. I scratched her ears, increasing the volume of her purr, and retreated to the dining table.
The web link Nora had sent opened to a website with pictures of a castle-like retreat made of brick, three stories tall, in an idyllic wooded setting—Aerie Castle. Curved paths wound through manicured beds of tulips and daffodils, a springtime photo. The text outlined how the property was open to corporate retreats and special events. A photo carousel showed outbuildings, meeting rooms, guest suites, and a cellar room with a triquetra on a gray stone wall.
I opened the map link on my phone, which calculated an hour and forty-nine minutes to get to Brown’s Landing. If I left right away, I’d be there by lunchtime. That would allow plenty of time to grab a bite to eat before my visit with Hannah and still get me home in time for dinner tonight.
With one last glance at the workroom to make sure Ash wasn’t meant to join me—she’d flopped to her side, eyes closed—I walked outside. Kyle had shoveled my driveway and I made a mental note to thank him when I got home tonight.
The bright sun reflected off yesterday’s snow, evaporating what remained on the roads while creating blinding glare. The GPS on my phone called out directions, and in an hour and a half, I arrived in Brown’s Landing.
I left the highway for a road that ran alongside the Fox River. Barren trees lined the banks, allowing an unobstructed view of water tumbling over rocks and branches while I drove upstream. Bends and turns led me deeper into the woods, with an occasional glimpse of the water as I made my way farther inland. I pictured the canopy overhead in the summer months, lush and green. The GPS alerted me to my destination as I rounded the final bend and the castle came into view. Situated in a landscaped meadow, I recognized it from the pictures on the website.
The road ended in a lot, where half a dozen other cars were parked.
A voice echoed inside my head. Welcome.
Well. That was nice. I sent a telepathic thank you, parked, and got out of my car.
The castle was huge, and I wasn’t sure where to go. A tower with crenellations marked the corner of the building, with an arched wooden door at the base. A welcome sign was mounted beside the door. The entrance. I followed the curving sidewalk, and when I reached the door, a woman opened it for me.
She had long blonde hair that cascaded over her shoulders, as many white strands as flaxen. Grace lines fanned from cornflower blue eyes and well-worn ridges creased her face with her smile. She wore a long, flowing dress made from a purple paisley print with smocking across the bodice that made me think of a princess gown.
“You must be Brynn Taylor.” She held out a hand to invite me inside, a collection of rings on her fingers and bracelets jangling at her wrist. “I understand we met briefly at the solstice, but we weren’t introduced. I’m Hannah Noonan. It’s lovely to meet you officially.”
“Likewise. Thank you for inviting me.” I walked inside, to a small room which doubled as the reception area. A polished suit of armor stood at attention opposite the check-in desk. Shields and heraldry decorated the walls.
“Nora mentioned you were looking for ideas. Why don’t you accompany me to my office and we can talk about your problem there.”
“Thank you.” I unbuttoned my coat while I followed her along a wide corridor to an arched wooden door marked private. Hannah reached into a pocket and produced a large skeleton key. She unlocked the door to a stone staircase that curved downward between narrow fieldstone walls. Hannah took a black candle from a sconce in the wall to light the way.
“How very medieval,” I said.
She sent me a wink over her shoulder. “I do appreciate a little atmosphere. That, and it’s difficult to light the staircase here.”
At the bottom, she opened yet another door to a cavernous room that contained an earthy smell. A metal triquetra sculpture decorated the wall.
“Is this the cellar room on your website?” I asked.
“It is. We use this room for wiccan gatherings from time to time.”
“You said this was your office.”
“My personal office, yes. Not my business office. This is my private space.” Hannah set the candle onto a candleholder and flipped on a switch.
The dim lighting showed me more fieldstone. A pentagram was inlaid in the hardwood floor. A bookcase took up one wall, containing an assortment of compartments both big and small, and a built-in desk. Shadows darkened the corners of the room. I made out the shape of an end table in one corner.
With a sweep of her hand, Hannah proffered a half bow. “Welcome to the coven.”