A bunch of cars are parked in Alondra’s driveway, some blocking each other, near her distinctive red carriage. The lights are on in the front yard, lighting her perfectly trimmed trees and freshly mowed lawn, but I don’t see any lights inside the house. A breeze rustles the leaves along all the trees and the ground. I expected to hear voices but I hear nothing, only the leaves. I smell fire though. I knock at the front door a few times. No answer. So I try the side yard.
I walk along a stone-bordered path by the side of the house. That’s where I finally hear voices. Alondra’s voice.
“Blessings come from Hecate. Glory be the stars. Let not these clouds block Selene. And if it be, let the rays of light come in the morrow. Lux alba.”
“Lux tenebris,” says a male voice. I think it’s Capper.
Through the branches, I make out a very large bonfire in the center of Alondra’s backyard. Alondra has her yard neatly cared for in the front, but in the back, it’s just wild grass surrounded by the tall Hawthorne Forest. And in the center of this grass, there’s a bonfire. Tonight, a witch is raising her arms before the flames with a bunch of witches sitting around the fire in white plastic chairs. The central witch is Alondra, I suppose, but all I see, with her back turned to me, is her black hair and cloak.
“Tragedy’s befallen one of our sisters,” Alondra says, lowering her arms. “Tonight, we pray that Hecate can restore peace. Let us pray, sisters.” Then, as if in church, the group chants in unison a litany: “Glory be Hecate, our supreme goddess of witchcraft. Glory be Selene shining white light under Astraeus. Let moonlight light our hearts. Gather sisters as one. Atman. Let this coven be blessed under Falconsong, your leader and high priestess of the Hawthorne coven.”
I’m walking over, but everything is slowing. I don’t think it’s magic. I think I’m simply freaked out. Then one of the witches starts crying. That makes me feel worse. Weirder, really weirder, I hear a baby crying. I see the weeping witch crouching over a baby in her arms, bouncing her gently on her lap.
When I come closer, through the wild grass, I see the crying witch has short blond hair. It’s Jane. And the baby she’s holding isn’t a baby at all; it’s little Madison.
Alondra turns and I finally recognize her profile under her black hood. “Let us give all of our love and support to our sister, Owl-Jay,” she says.
They all get up and walk over to Jane and Madison and pat her shoulder or lean down and hug her. But the toddler’s inconsolable. So is Jane. That’s when one of the witches sees me.
“High priestess, high priestess,” she says, pointing excitedly. “Look!”
Alondra turns. They all do.
Now I’ve witnessed Alondra angry, but never at me. Right now, she narrows those green eyes and looks seriously pissed. She’s told me a thousand times to never come to her house on Friday night. She said it’s one agreement I must never break.
“What are you doing on private property?” asks the only man in the group. I recognize his Australian accent. It’s that asshole Capper.
“Why are you here, Lee?” asks Alondra.
“Why is your friend witnessing our Sabbath, Alondra?” Capper asks.
“Alondra,” I say, “I had to talk to you.” I turn to Cap and raise a hand. “Sorry. I have to talk to her.”
“These meetings are private, Liam,” Alondra says, shaking her head. “I’ve told you that. Get out. Tell me later.”
“But I have to talk to you now.” I’m shaking my head. “I saw the ghost again. I think it’s the same ghost—”
“An initiate is not allowed in the circle,” snaps another witch. She has a nose ring under her hood. I think it’s the sweet Asian girl who introduced herself to me in Brentwood, but she’s not sweet now. “Especially now. Falconsong, let me expel him from the premises.”
Capper walks from the fire, standing tall, self-assured, and arrogant as hell. Jane and Madison are crying more than ever. Three witches are still crouching over her, consoling her.
“Jane, are you all right?” I ask.
Capper shoves me to the ground. I’m too surprised to defend myself from him. The warlock grabs my shirt, lifting me up, and then decks me square in the face.
“Cap!” cries Alondra. “Stop it!”
“She told you, dickhead, you’re not allowed here!” he says, waving his fist at me. “Now get the fuck out. Or you won’t just be hit with my fist.”
“Alondra!” I snap, turning on my side, ignoring him. “I saw the ghost. The Ekimmu. I tried to call you. It was the same ghost that was in the house. Winona’s ghost. I was in a study group and everything turned dark. I even saw the two little girls again. And then—”
I’m hit hard again. It feels like my face is being rammed against a wall.
“Stop it, Cap!” screams Jane. “Don’t touch him!”
Another swing contacts my jaw. I taste blood.
Now, I can hold my own in a fight. I used to box in high school. This guy’s really big, but I’m pissed. So I manage to push him away, kick him, then get up and charge him, tackling him like a football player. As he’s on the ground, I swing my fist at his face a few times, hard. He wrestles me, spins me, and shoves my face into the dirt with his elbow. Then the asshole pins my arms.
“Cap, stop it!” says Alondra. “Stop it, Lee!”
But I’m strong. I squirm free, spin around, and push him again. As I’m about to swing at his face—
“Get out, Liam!” cries Alondra. “Get out of my yard! Now!”
I can’t believe she’s yelling at me.
Capper’s face is under my fist. He has a smile on his face, goading me to hit him again.
All the witches circle me with their hoods over their heads. If I weren’t used to their cloaks, I think that would be super weird. Well, I suppose it is. Perhaps they’re about to cast a spell, or something? But none of it means anything. What really gets me is Alondra’s expression. She’s angry. Angry at me. This fuck jumped me, but Allie’s mad at me.
“I saw your ghost again!” I spit at her, rising from the warlock. “I might not be a part of all your shit, but you brought me into this! You have to hear me! I came for your help. I need your help, Allie, whatever the hell you and your witches can do.”
“But you can’t be here now,” Alondra says, shaking her head. She softens a little, but I don’t care anymore. “You have to go.”
“Come on, fucker.” Capper is brushing blood from his lips, goading me to hit him. “We’re not done.”
“Some other time,” I say, wiping more blood from my lip. “Alondra, if you and your witches here have power, you have to help me. I saw that demon again. I—”
“Exite,” whisper all the witches in unison, surrounding me, “exite, vade in domum tuam.” They’re all circling me like a flock of ravens. “Exite, exite, exite vade in donum tuam.”
“Alondra,” I say. But Alondra’s turned her back to me and is walking back to the fire.
“Impossible,” Alondra mutters, shaking her head, putting her forehead in her hand. “Liam… not now.” But she won’t turn and look at me.
“Exite, exite, exite.”
All the weirdos in their black hoods are looking down at me, as I’m on my knees, chanting the words over and over again.
“Bye-bye,” Capper says with an annoying smirk, waving his hand.
I’m thrown to the ground by some invisible force. It reminds me of what happened to Jane in the kitchen that night. But this isn’t the middle of the night. And I’m not drunk or drugged. I’m not being pushed by Capper. It seems the air itself threw me to the ground and is dragging me.
“Exite, exite,” all the witches echo as if reciting some kind of incantation. “Exite vade in domum tuam. Exite. Exite.” The witches keep repeating these words. The words grow louder and louder, reverberating in my head. “Exite. Exite.”
I’m sliding along the dirt and mud now. As I’m pulled by nothing across her yard, I take one last glance. They’re all creepily standing, facing me, with their heads hidden under their hoods. They don’t look human. These dark shadows remind me of the surrounding trees. But two of the witches aren’t with them. Jane and Alondra. Jane’s still sitting with Alondra, on white plastic chairs, holding Madison and weeping.
“Exite. Exite. Exite vade in domum tuam. Exite. Exite.”
I manage to climb back to my feet. I trip. Stumble. Then I get up and run.