Blood Moon (10 page)

With Blake safe behind the door, he hugged Rowan back. It was good to see her. He walked into the house and was greeted by Devon and Darby who seemed very excited to see him.
 
They sat and talked for a while and Devon offered his room next door, which Dean much appreciated.
 
Then Devon asked about Blake and Dean told him he had gone next door.

After a few minutes, Devon excused himself and headed next door to greet his brother whom he found slumped against the front door, bag in hand, looking like he had just been slugged in the stomach.
 
Devon went to him, offering him a hand. Blake took his hand and stood up, dropping his bag at his feet. Devon patted him on the shoulder in a gesture of comfort. Blake tried unsuccessfully to smile at his brother’s gesture, and went to the couch and collapsed into it, not saying a word. Something had happened outside, but Devon didn’t know what it was and looking at his brother’s face, he was sure he didn’t want to talk about it.

A few minutes later, Darby walked in. To her, Blake looked just awful.
 
She walked over to the couch and flung her arms around him, holding him close to her, comforting him with all her might. She looked at Devon for answers but he just shook his head.

“What is it, Sweetie? What happened?”

He didn’t speak at first and she just held him tight.
 
When he started talking, she pulled away from him and she stroked his face, brushing his hair out of his eyes while holding one of his hands.

He said, “She never even looked at me. She came running out the door and jumped into Dean’s arms.”

“Aw, Sweetie.
 
I’m so sorry! That was pretty insensitive of her. If she knew it would hurt you like this I’m sure she wouldn’t have done that.”

“How could she not know? I love her. I’ve been away to give her space and. . . I’ve tried to do everything she’s asked of me.”

She hugged him again, not knowing what to say. Devon had one hand on Darby’s back and one on Blake’s shoulder.
 

“Dean had just finished telling me, ‘you should walk up to her, sweep her off her feet, and lay one on her’.
 
He said maybe she thought that I went to Colorado because I was running away from her. She can’t really think that, can she?”

“I don’t know, Blake. She has been pretty tight-lipped about it all to me.”

“But now it’s apparent why she invited Dean.
 
I had foolishly hoped they were just friends, but it’s obvious she wants to...”

“Not necessarily, Blake, but you two need to talk before too much more time goes by,” Devon chimed in as he sat down.

“But she didn’t want to talk.
 
I thought it would be easier if I left and she wouldn’t have to see me all the time, but I’ve just made it worse, haven’t I?”

Darby held him. She looked at Devon in hopes he had some great words of wisdom, but he was at a loss. They sat there in silence, the three of them, for a while.

Later that night the boys decided to go out to Paddy’s and have a drink or two.
 
Blake was quieter than usual, but Dean and Devon both knew why and left it alone.
 
Devon got an earful of all the things Dean made Blake do while in Colorado. They had some great laughs and for a while Blake forgot about his troubles.
 

Soon, the boys had enjoyed a couple of pitchers and were good and relaxed when Allison and a friend walked in. Like a Mac truck had hit him, Dean froze as Allison stood next to him and ordered two beers to take to the loveseat by the fireplace. He was absolutely mesmerized by her pretty red hair and green eyes.
 
He wasn’t quite bold enough to introduce himself to her, but he nodded at her when she looked at him. Dean jabbed Devon in the ribs hard, hoping he’d help out.
 
Devon rubbed his ribs; he remembered Allison from the other day at the bookstore when Darby’s car had gotten crunched.
 

“It’s Allison, right? We weren’t really introduced the other day at the bookstore, but Darby’s told me all about you,” Devon said.

She said, “Oh right, you’re Devon, Darby’s boyfriend.
 
Thanks again for coming and getting her.
 
She didn’t look too good. Thank God Rowan was there to take down all the information needed.”

“Yes,” Devon said. “I’d like to introduce you to my brother, Blake, and our mutual friend from Colorado, Dean Wolfe.”

“I’ve heard of you too; Darby talks about you both,” she said directly to Blake and then she turned to Dean and smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you, Dean. Are you here for a visit, or are you staying for a while?”
 

“Maybe both,” he said, knowing that what he’d said didn’t really making much sense, but he was absolutely enthralled with her being so close to him.

Devon tried to camouflage Dean’s gawking. “Dean, Allison works at Darby’s bookstore, Cauldron, Book and Candle, downtown.
 
From what Darby says, it would not be the success it is if she didn’t have Allison.
 
She’s like Darby’s right hand in the bookstore world.”
 

“Really? I’d love to hear more. Maybe I could buy you and your friend these beers and join you?” Dean asked.

“Umm, sure. Why not?”

And that was that. Dean was head over heels. He sat there and talked to Allison for the rest of the night. Allison’s friend seemed bored out of her mind. Dean and Allison were so engrossed in their own conversation; the poor woman was barely noticed at all. She had gorgeous, come-hither eyes of green and beautiful, long brown – almost auburn – hair. Alison’s friend came over to the bar and ordered a glass of white wine and sat next to Blake, who never even turned towards her.
 
Devon introduced himself and his brother to her, revealing their link to Allison and Dean since she had not heard that conversation.
 

“Oh, Devon, you must be Darby’s boyfriend, hmmmm. I’m Allys and I regret to inform you it was my sister, Cheral, who totaled your girlfriend’s car. Allison and I met a few days ago and we were going to get to know each other, but I think plans have changed as I don’t think a pin could get between those two any time soon,” Allys said, waving a hand to Dean and Allison.

She eyed Blake like a child would eye a piece of candy, but Blake just stared ahead or at his beer.
 
She grabbed an unattached piece of hair off Blake’s shoulder, startling him, but at least he looked at her, which is what Devon figured had been her plan. At that, Blake grabbed his wallet and slapped some money down, swallowed the rest of his beer, nodded to Kyle, and smacked Devon on the back of the head. The beautiful woman, looking disappointed, watched him walk away from her. With her looks, Devon figured she didn’t get snubbed like that much and it seemed to have miffed her a bit. Devon figured he would follow Blake home, leaving the woman alone at the bar.
 

“Dean? You know your way home. I’ll see you later.” Dean raised a hand as if to wave, but never turned towards Devon. “Allison, it was nice seeing you again.”

“Night, Devon.” Allison waved.

“Allys, it was nice to meet you. Sorry your plans were changed.
 
Hope you have a good night anyways!” Devon said.

Allys replied with, “Thank you and good night to you too!”

Chapter 9

Sydney Alder was very fit and into doing what was right for her planet.
 
She wore only organic clothing, rode her bike or walked wherever she needed to go, and always recycled.
 
She felt this was her tiny contribution to the global warming problem.
 
She was walking home with her groceries in cotton bags she had made so as not to use paper or plastic.
 
She smiled as she swung the bags, feeling pleased with herself and humming as she walked.
 

She lived up off a dirt road about a mile from the store, so it wasn’t a bad walk at all, especially on such a lovely evening.
 
Bellvale was a small town nestled away from the big city life. She liked it here close to the beautiful redwoods and just a couple of miles from the ocean.
 
She was nearly home now, just one more turn off the deserted dirt road to her driveway.
 
She could see the big, lovely redwood that graced the 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.