FIVE

 

The next morning Merle kneaded me on the cheek to wake me. Thank the stars she’d been declawed. “It’s nice to have you back in my life. What took you so long?”

With that, my cat sat back on her haunches and stared at me in disbelief. Instead of her former cat dialect, she let loose. “Hell, you wouldn’t know a psychic cat if you tripped over one. By the by, you still don’t have my cat language pegged either, or you’d know by now I’ve been patient for longer than any other cat on this planet—make that this galaxy.” She blinked at me and took out time to give her front paw a lick.

“Hmmph. After that frickin’ fiasco in Salem, in every one of your damned lives, there I was. That time in California in 1849 when you were mining gold, you thought I was a stray and took me in for all of twenty-four hours.” She pounded one paw into the other one. “Before that little boy going east wanted me and you told him to take me back to civilization.”

“I didn’t know that was you. Besides, I was afraid you wouldn’t get the care you needed.”

“Yeah. You were much more focused on the mission. Forget your lifelong soul cat. Just worry about saving a soul from a frickin’ demise in the mine.”

“It was my job,” I told her, feeling somewhat defensive.

“Well, how about the last life?” She sat there, her tail going up and down, beating the bed. “I was there when you became Miranda Phillips. Okay, you got there in your late fifties, I realize, but really!” She shook her paw at me. “Couldn’t help it if I ended up in a pet store. The breeder sold me before you got there to look at the kitties. You were LATE!”

“Sorry.” I nodded, remembering. “I’d stopped to give a man on the street some money and I took him to a shelter where he could have a hot meal and some new clothes.”

“That one I guess I can’t blame you for.” She took her front paws and kneaded the covers in front of her as if she were beating them. “But you saw me YET AGAIN in the pet store and passed me by for that stupid little Pekinese. Meanwhile, what happened to me? I had to live giving birth to three—three mind you—litters of kittens. The sucking little cling-ons.”

“I don’t know what I was thinking. Petey did live to be fourteen, though.”

She slapped herself in her face with her tail. “Meanwhile, I had to linger on to the ripe old age of twenty-four. Arthritis, bladder issues and cataracts. Thanks a lot, Mom. You want to know what took me so long?” She turned around, showing me her ample backside.

“Merle, Merlie, baby, don’t be mad at Mommy. I know now. I promise not to make the same mistake in future lives. Okay, sweetie?” I reached out and scratched her behind the ears.

“Oh, a little to the left, down just a bit. Ohhh yeahhh.”

She stretched into my fingernails. Cats can be so easy when you know how to persuade them to see your side.

“Okay, I guess I’ll forgive you.” She swished her tail. “As long as you don’t forget to do this and the chin and belly scratches. And lots of tuna in my food?”

“Well, maybe a little tuna.”

She nodded. “Okay, let’s go, slow poke.” She jumped down from the bed. “Time’s a wastin’ on finding out what you need to do next.”

I got up and threw on my robe. We swiftly made our way downstairs, and I smelled fresh baked biscuits and cinnamon permeating the air in the kitchen. Walking in, I saw a woman who must be Pokie humming in front of the stove, busily cooking what appeared to be fried apples. She was very tanned, but I guess that’s not a real surprise, considering where she lives. Short, she was also wiry, not an ounce of extra flesh on her body. It made me wonder if the lady ever ate any of her own food. She turned as she saw me. “Hello, child. Biscuits and apples are made. Now, how about some sausage and eggs?”

“No sausage. I’m going vegetarian. Eggs would be good, though. From now on, I’ll eat eggs, cheese and other dairy products, plus fish and shellfish, but no meat.”

“Good for you!” She patted me on the arm. “I’ve been a vegetarian for years.”

I stared at her in disbelief. “Then how can you be a cook?”

She shrugged. “When you’re a cook, you cook whate’er de boss wants. I just don’t taste it.” She wrinkled her nose. “Haven’t for twenty years. No complaints yet.”

I put my hand on her arm. “I think I’m going to like you.”

She looked startled. “Sure you’re okay? The Miranda I know would ne’er even give me the time of day. Only George could boss her around.”

“Well this Miranda’s different.” I smiled as I walked out to see Uncle Paddy. Merle waved her tail at me as she kept eating from her bowl.

“Hello, Uncle.” I sat at the table.

“And a top o’ the mornin’ to ye, Kitten. The sun is a climbin’ already. Gonna be a hot one, September or no.”

“So it seems.” I sniffed the sea air. There was a breeze, though. This was heaven on earth. The stiff George bowed formally and poured me a cup of black coffee. Guess he was giving me the cold shoulder.

Pokie stuck her face out the door. “Scuze me, ma’am, you have a caller on the phone. It’s Hazel next door.”

I walked in and picked up the handset. “Hello, Hazel? You did what? You’ve lost how much? Okay, I can tell you’re excited. Let me eat breakfast and get in touch with my friends. We’ll be over there in an hour or less.” I dialed Olivia’s number and smiled about the news as it rang and she answered. “Olivia dear, something big’s going on. Get everyone together, everyone who’s one of us, that is, and Josh if he likes, and meet me next door to Angel Wave. It’s a small bungalow.”

* * * *

 

Exactly fifty minutes later, everyone arrived at Hazel’s little house. She’d set up folding chairs in her living room and we sat in a circle with her in the middle.

Now I’ve gotta say, I was amazed when I arrived earlier. Hazel’s gray hair was gone, as were many of the wrinkles on her face. Her cornflower blue eyes seemed much larger, and I attributed that to the fact that since last night when I heard her incantation she’d been fifteen pounds heavier. That much of a weight loss on such a small frame is a lot, and now she probably had to take off fifteen more to be at her fighting weight.

No one else from the group had met Hazel, except for Josh, and he’d asked her three times after everyone got there if she were really the same woman he met on the beach. She’d assured him she was and that she’d explain.

Feeling like kindergarteners during story time, we leaned forward to hear her story.

“So,” she began, “it all began when I was twenty-two. I met this man and fell in love. So I thought. Turns out he was a dark soul. I was too blown away by his, um, shall we say, carnal ways.”

“Say it like it is, honey.” Natasha crossed her legs. “This group of angels ain’t gonna hear anything they haven’t done.”

“Speak for yourself, Bambi Woods.” Seth pushed his hair out of his face and rolled his eyes. “Hazel, let’s just say we’re worldly, but discreet.”

She smiled, looking back and forth between Natasha and Seth. “Well, as I was saying, I was consumed with lust and it took me a while to realize that every time I was with the man, he sucked in all of my energy. I thought it was just because our lovemaking was so, well…you know, fast and furious. But then, he started acting out in other ways. First verbal abuse, then one day he hit me, sent me sprawling across the floor.”

“That would have been it for any man near me,” Natasha said. “I’d have sicced my guardian, Mandy, on him in a heartbeat.”

“Unfortunately, I’m a white witch. I don’t have a guardian.”

“Sure you do,” I told her. “They just don’t take an active role like ours. They, in their own quiet ways, help you to achieve your end.”

“I did that.” She smiled. “I went to my spell book and found a good one to transform the deadbeat into a salamander. Changing them into toads is so old fashioned. He should slither, not hop away. It worked.” She frowned. “But a few weeks ago in late July, he must have been set free. I know it was no princess kissing him on the lips.”

“More than likely it was a demon so the guy could do his bidding,” Olivia said.

“It most definitely was,” Rae added. “I can see him. He’s a Baal-Rog, whatever that is, dressed in purple, double the height of a man. Besides a hideous face, he has huge black bat wings.” She shivered.

“A Baal-Rog is a greater demon.” Gregory crossed his arms. “Sounds like one may have broken off from the Underworld and is trying to build his own power palace here with your former lover as a slave to do his bidding.”

“Well, he must have helped Riley,” she said. “Because in July, I suddenly felt a heavy darkness shadow me, and within two weeks, I went from looking my normal age of thirty-five to looking like I was in my sixties. During the same period I gained over thirty pounds.” She shook her head. “But last night, as I said my karmic break incantation, like I had for many nights, something happened. I think it was because Miranda was here. Whatever it was, Riley’s gone.”

“And you already look like you’re in your late forties,” Josh said.

She nodded. “I’m also fifteen pounds lighter.”

“Well, that Baal-Rog’s probably one pissed off demon right now,” I said. “He may have lost a slave. From what I’ve heard, it’s not nice to fool with Baal-Rogs.”

“Well, dear,” Rae sighed. “My visions tell me he agrees, and he knows you’re the one who did it. By the way, his name is Nadulbar, and if I were you, I’d be very careful.”

* * * *

 

Later that day, I joined Seth, Natasha, and Gregory at Mystic Dream. We had agreed to form an angel circle. Rae suggested she get Herb out of the house, and Josh had volunteered to take the twins for ice cream. That way, we had the freedom to perform our ritual with only angels present. I’d brought Merle with me after telling them she was now speaking in English, but only angels could hear her. With the one exception of Hazel, our witch buddy, that is.

From the minute I told her, Merle had been purring in excitement about the angel circle. According to her, she’d taken part in a session before we were teamed in Salem but refused to tell me how she’d participated.

Maybe it was because she’s bossy, and maybe it was because of her time as a traveling stand-in for the good luck lottery fairy, but we all agreed Natasha was the best choice in leading us in the angel circle invocation.

“Okay Natasha, let’s get started.” Gregory motioned for her to take her position in the middle of the circle we had made. Merle sat dutifully beside me in the circle with her tail up.

“Do we have the incense?” she asked.

I came forward. “I got some from Hazel. I know how you like it.”

She smiled. “Thanks, old friend.”

I lit three long sticks of incense and placed them in a vase. The strong aroma of ancient aromatic oils filled the room.

“Okay, now, please face east and think of summer. Archangel Michael, champion over adversity, please protect us as we make this circle and after we leave, no matter what danger demons and other evil forces may attempt to inflict on us.” We stood there in silence for a moment, concentrating on her words.

Then, Natasha turned to her right. “Turn with me and face south, thinking of autumn. Archangel Uriel, angel of forgiveness and retribution. Please proceed to our enemies and shower them with kindness, showing them the errors of their ways.” I thought of Nadulbar and Kendra, and prayed.

Once again, Natasha turned around and gestured for us to do the same. “Face west now, thinking of winter. Archangel Gabriel, deliverer of good news and mercy, bring to us the tidings that we are safe from evil and mercy to the ones who are now aware of his errors.”

Finally, she made one last right turn with us following in her wake. “Face north and think of spring.” I smelled the air, thinking of freshly sprouting grass. “Archangel Raphael, universal healer, please heal our pain and the pain of the one who does not understand the truth. Please let us both have peace.”

Slowly, she stepped out of the middle of the circle, and we all joined hands. “In the name of Ms. C, we the earthbound angels evoke our guardians to come forth and help us now to discover what we must know to save Earth. Come forth guardians!”

Then the magic really began. Four bright pink lights whizzed around the room bouncing off the ceiling and floor and formed into a line whirling around our backs in a counterclockwise rotating and quickly accelerating. Next a large green ball came down from the ceiling into the middle of the circle and began to accelerate clockwise in front of us. The pink balls of light shot through all our bodies, including Merle’s, and exploded in the middle. Suddenly five angels materialized. We all recognized the group, except for one. There was Neil, Seth’s angel, in his white Truman Capote suit. There stood Mandy, Natasha’s guardian, complete with corset, stilettos and whip. Clarice, the dear, was dressed more old-fashioned in her long white dress and fluttering wings. Ariel was as I’d seen her when I’d first arrived and she was still yawning. But there was a newcomer. Looking down, we saw a cat angel. She was a solid white Persian with dark green wings.

“Merle, I believe you’ve seen Ariel and Mandy before,” I told her. “Neil, the angel in the suit is Seth’s guardian, and Clarice came out of retirement to help Olivia and Gregory.”

“Nice to meet you, Neil.” Merle swished her tail. Neil bowed and said something in cat. I didn’t catch it, but Merle and her angel giggled. Merle saluted to Clarice. “I met Clarice before in Salem. We used to be buds.”

Clarice smiled. “I’ve always had a soft-spot in my heart for her.”

“So, who’s your angel?” I asked.

“Why, Caterine, of course.” She grinned, and licked her front paw.

I’ve noticed that’s one of her little idiosyncrasies. “I see.”

Ariel leaned over and scratched behind Caterine’s ears. “She’s actually my cat, but she’s a fine cat guardian for Merle. Merle hasn’t had to use but one of her lives in every one of yours. She also has great visions, but you’ll see.” She straightened back up. “So what trouble have you all gotten yourselves into already?”

Olivia looked down at the floor and moved her foot in a circle. “What makes you think we’re in trouble?”

Clarice shook her head. “Oh Olivia, you do need to work on your poker face.”

Gregory grinned. “Thank all of you for coming. We appreciate your help. It seems many of us have issues this time. Ariel, you already told Miranda about Kendra being here. It seems there may be another demon lurking in Miranda’s metaphysics class and a friend of ours, a white witch, had a dark soul haunting her until Miranda’s presence helped rid of her of him during an incantation. We think that soul was trying to be used by a Baal-Rog and he may now be after Miranda.”

Ariel tut-tut-tutted at them, but all the while looked at me with her eyes narrowed. “Miranda you certainly know how to stir things up in short order.” She looked at the angels. “So guardians, who wants to help them with a clue first?”

Neil stepped forward. “Everyone else takes so long. Mine’s always short.”

“And accurate,” Seth said, grinning.

“Go ahead.” Ariel nodded at him.

He put his finger on his chin, then grinned. “Beware of giant shells. Pearls of wisdom come in small ones.”

“Okay, great as always,” Ariel said. “Next.”

Clarice fluttered her wings. “I’ll go.”

Ariel nodded and she began.

“Clouds above and sand below,

Stars peek through and try to show

What is real and what’s not true,

Don’t forget to take your cue

From the things the guy does say.

In his eyes you’ll find your way.”

“You’re getting back to your former glory,” Ariel told Clarice. “Who wants to go next?”

Mandy cracked her whip, and I almost jumped out of my skin. I’d been trying to think through the last clue, and I felt like she popped it across my back. I watched as she wrapped the whip around her waist, and saw Natasha nod her approval. “I’ll go,” she said.

Ariel nodded. Mandy looked at me and then pointed in my direction.

“North, then West you’ll travel to

Beach that has a gorgeous view.

But be careful as you sleep,

Evil into chamber creeps.

No one’s there to pave the way

You will have to save the day.”

Oh joy. I was getting all sorts of jolly news. Was anyone going to give me a ray of hope?

Ariel smiled. Well done. Now, Olivia and Miranda, this is for you.

“Olivia wait upon the scene

Until the beach is all washed clean.

Miranda swims so fast and true

That between the two of you

Light of day will come upon

Both of you—Darkness is gone.”

“My turrrrrrn,” Caterine purred.

“Okay, little love cat.” Ariel bent to scratch behind her ears.

Caterine waved a paw. “This is for Merle.”

“Through this all you have a place,

Use your powers and now erase

All the bad that once did come

Make the bad one turn and run.”

“Now, you’ve heard all the clues,” Ariel said. “Any questions before we all go away and resume our regular activities?”

I raised my hand. “Will Hazel fit into any of these clues?”

Ariel smiled. “Which witch thinks like a white witch can?”

What the hell was that supposed to mean? I watched as the angels vanished. Heaven might know the answer. But it seemed they weren’t talking.