Howl of the Wolf

Chapter Three

They didn’t talk as they made their way down the busy sidewalk and around the corner to Sabrina’s apartment, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Sabrina was still trying to come to grips with the vivid daydream she’d experienced back at the café. It was the first time her dreams had followed her out of sleep and into her waking life, and it scared her. If she started having visions at all hours of the day and night she was in big trouble.

Her street was surprisingly quiet considering it was only a little past nine in the evening. It gave the night an eerie feeling that she couldn’t quite shake. Of course, anyone would be a little shaken after the waking dream she’d had. Heck, her panties were still damp and she could still taste the thick flavor of fear on her tongue—eroticism and fear, a heck of a potent combination.

The wind was light, tugging at her skirt and top, drying the light sheen of perspiration on her arms and neck as the trio made their way up the stairs to her apartment.

Sabrina unlocked the door and pushed her way inside. “You want anything to drink? I’ve got sweet tea and orange juice.”

“Not for me.” Jessica kicked off her shoes and dropped her tote bag onto the bright yellow sofa that dominated the small living space. She’d gotten the sofa for a steal because the color was too vivid for most people. She loved it and the colorful jewel-toned throw pillows that were tossed on top of it.

“Me either.” Tilly wandered over to the living room window and glanced out as though searching for something.

“What is it?” Sabrina asked. She set her bag on the round table that served as her dining table.

“I don’t know.” Tilly rubbed her hands over her arms. “I felt as though something was following us.”

“Something?” Shivers raced down Sabrina’s back. She was really beginning to get freaked out.

Tilly yanked the leaf-green drapes shut and turned away from the window. She glanced toward Jessica. “You almost ready?”

Jessica nodded. “Take off your shoes and get comfortable.” Sabrina removed her sandals and padded across the hardwood floor to stand by her friend. Jessica had a variety of items spread across the coffee table—various stones, what looked to be a feather from a wild turkey, a seashell, a bundle of herbs, candles and a few other items.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked. Sabrina was glad to be doing something proactive rather than simply reacting to whatever was causing the dreams.

“First, we need to move the sofa so we can cast a circle.”

Sabrina and Tilly each grabbed an end and moved the sofa against the wall making a space large enough for the three women to sit easily. Sabrina wiped her hands over her skirt. “What’s next?”

“The candles,” Tilly replied before Jessica could. Jessica nodded and Tilly started setting the candles up so they formed an equidistant cross pattern.

“The candles represent the four elements,” Jessica explained as Tilly put them in place. “Green goes to the north to signify the earth, the blue to the east for water, the red to the south for fire and the yellow to the west for the element of air.”

Sabrina had seen rituals done before, but she’d never actually been a part of one. It was exciting and scary all at once.

“The white candle goes in the center to represent purity and protection.” Jessica placed the final candle in the proper position. “Before I cast the circle I’m going to purify the space.” She lifted the small bundle of herbs to her nose and sniffed them before offering it to Sabrina to smell.

The scent was slightly sweet and somehow comforting. Sabrina liked it a lot.

“This is a combination of sage and sweet grass. It’s very good for clearing negativity out of a space.” Jessica opened a box, struck a match to the side and used the flame to ignite the tip of the bundle. The flame flared briefly and then Jessica blew softly until the fire went out leaving embers smoldering. Whitish smoke rose from the bundle as she set it carefully in the large shell. Then she picked up the large white-and-black-striped feather. “Come with me,” her friend instructed.

The three of them walked the perimeter of the apartment, including the bedroom, tiny kitchen and bathroom. Jessica even opened closet doors and gently waved the feather through the smoke so it dispersed inside. Every corner, every nook was gently bathed in the fragrant smoke until the entire apartment was perfumed with its scent.

Jessica returned to the center of the circle and carefully placed the shell with the still-smoldering bundle on the coffee table. “The salt is next.” She opened a small wooden container. “It’s been blessed already.”

Sabrina followed her friend, curious as to what she would do with it. Jessica went to the living room window and started there. She laid a thin line of salt across the windowsill. “The salt will provide a protective barrier, keeping out evil.”

Sabrina wasn’t so sure about that, but she’d take any help she could get. Her friend did the same thing at each window and finished by adding a line across the threshold. “Be sure not to smudge or scuff the line when you come and go,” she instructed.

Sabrina nodded even as she wondered how long the protection would last or if it would even work at all, but she didn’t voice her concerns aloud.

Tilly went to her bag and brought out a small leather pouch. Sabrina immediately knew what it was, had seen her grandmother make them—a voodoo gris-gris bag. “You need something personal from me to make that.” A few strands of hair or a piece of clothing was the preferred item.

Totally unrepentant, Tilly placed the gris-gris on the table. “You wore your sweater to the café when you last worked. There were three stray hairs on it that I took. I knew the dreams were getting worse.” She stood, hands on hips, dominating the room with her sheer height and presence. In another time, Tilly could have been the high priestess for some ancient religion. “I took them to my granny and asked for her help.”

Sabrina knew Granny Ledet. She’d been a close friend of her own granny, the two women spending much of their time together, their friendship going back to childhood, much like her and Tilly’s friendship. Sabrina respected Granny Ledet’s power and was more than willing to accept any help she could get. “I’ll call her tomorrow and thank her.”

Tilly shook her head. “You know she doesn’t want any thanks. But maybe you could bake her some of your cherry tarts on the weekend. She likes those.”

“We should begin.” Jessica shifted the gris-gris so it was sitting next to the still-smoldering bundle of sage and sweet grass. “Stand inside the circle and, whatever you do, don’t leave it until I tell you.”

The tension was rising with each passing second, as was a sense of anticipation. Sabrina wasn’t certain how much of it was real and how much was simply generated by her own fears. Not that it really mattered. The fear she felt was real enough.

Jessica began at the green candle, raised her arms and invoked the element of earth to join them and to protect them. She went around the circle in a clockwise direction, stopping at each candle and invoking the particular element to join them. Sabrina’s skin tingled and she could feel the power rising in the room. The short hairs on her arms rose and her body felt as though it was humming. She’d always known her friend was a witch, but she’d always thought it more a personal belief system than an actual, tangible power.

The circle closed and she felt it all the way to her bones like a resounding thud even though the only sound was Jessica’s voice as she lifted the white candle in the center of the circle and invoked the protection of the goddess.

“Lady, with your light so bright, lend your power, lend your might. Banish darkness with your light and protect your daughter through the day and night.” Jessica walked around Sabrina as she chanted. Sabrina felt a gentle warmth envelop her like a cloak. It was such a comforting sensation it brought tears to her eyes.

Tilly picked up the gris-gris bag, which was suspended on a long leather thong, and slipped it over Sabrina’s neck. Real or imagined, Sabrina wasn’t sure, but she felt another layer of protection settle over her. Her granny had often told her that intention was everything and her friends’ intention was obviously to protect her.

Something dark and deadly crept across her consciousness. Beside her, Tilly and Jessica both sucked in a breath. “Whatever happens, stay inside the circle,” Jessica warned.

Tilly began to chant, a mixture of Cajun and English, speaking so fast Sabrina couldn’t make out all of it, but she understood enough to know it was definitely a spell to drive back evil.

Sabrina could feel the evil creeping up on her, pressing against the windows and walls of the apartment as though trying to get in. She could sense its anger when it was repelled. “What the hell is that?” she whispered.

Jessica’s head whipped around. “Whatever you do, don’t name it aloud. That only gives it power.” She turned back to the white candle and began to invoke the goddess, banishing darkness, pushing it back.

She might not name it aloud, but in her heart Sabrina feared she knew what was out there in the darkness. The devil card from her tarot deck had only solidified what she’d already expected. For some unknown reason, she’d attracted the attention of Satan himself. Some folks might scoff at the notion, but not her. Evil was as real as goodness, and the devil personified it.

Sabrina.

She whipped her head around when she heard her name being called. Her friends continued to chant and pray as though they’d heard nothing.

Sabrina.

The dark, cultured voice echoing in her head was the same one from her dreams. A huge lump formed in her throat, making it almost impossible for her to swallow.

Step out of the circle. Come to me.

She’d never been a very religious person, but she began to pray, begging God to help her, to save her from whatever was out there.

Male laughter exploded around her and she clapped her hands over her ears to try to block it out. It did no good. The laughter was all around her, inside her.

Like poison, she felt it trying to seep into her very pores. “No,” she whispered. Closing her eyes, she pictured her wolf, the one from her dreams, the one tattooed on her back, asking, no pleading, for protection.

Once again, male laughter split her skull. He will not protect you.

A long, low howl far in the distance filled her with hope and a burst of strength. You’re not welcome here. She shoved with all her mental might, hoping to kick whatever or whoever it was out of her brain.

It retaliated swiftly. Sabrina’s eyes jerked open and she fell to her knees, clutching her throat as her air was cut off. It was as though someone was choking her.

She heard Tilly’s yell of concern. Jessica said something to her, but she couldn’t understand it. Her skin was clammy and her heart pounded, lungs strained as she struggled to breathe. Someone hit her hard on the back, jolting her. She sucked in a small amount of air but then it was cut off once again.

Her vision grew dark around the edges. She was going to die.

A woman’s voice sifted into her consciousness. No, you won’t die. Sabrina clung to the promise and the comfort in the unknown voice. Another wolf’s howl echoed inside her, this one closer, louder.

The darkness retreated as swiftly as it had come, jerking away from her so suddenly she would have toppled to the side if Tilly hadn’t caught her.

“Are you okay?” Tilly shook her slightly. “Talk to me.”

“I’m okay.” Her voice was little more than a croak, as though she had a bad cold. Her throat was actually sore and she rubbed her neck.

Tilly’s gaze shot to Jessica. “What the hell was that?”

Jessica shook her head, picked up the candle and began to go around the circle, this time in reverse. Once the elements were all thanked and dismissed and the circle opened, Jessica picked up the dried-herb bundle, relit it and started around the room again.

“Help me to the sofa.” The floor seemed harder with each passing second. Her entire body was exhausted, her skin tender.

Tilly helped her stand and led her to the sofa. Sabrina collapsed against the cushions, breathing a sigh of relief. Breathing had never felt quite this good before.

“I’m going to make you some hot tea.” Tilly was started toward the kitchen when Jessica called out to her.

“Use the tea leaves in the outside pocket of my bag. It will help.”

Tilly backtracked and dug out the bag of tea leaves before heading to the kitchen. Sabrina closed her eyes and soaked in the sounds of her friends. Jessica’s voice was low and powerful as she made her way through the apartment again, cleansing and blessing it. She could hear Tilly rummaging around the kitchen, which her friend knew as well as her own, digging out mugs, the teapot and diffuser.

Her heart slowed and her breathing finally went back to normal. Her clothing clung to her body and she longed for a shower but, for the first time in her life, was afraid to take one, afraid to leave herself naked and vulnerable to whatever was stalking her. She shivered, grabbed one of the throw pillows and clutched it to her chest. How had this happened to her?

She sensed Jessica standing next to her and opened her eyes. Her friend stared down at her, concern etched on her delicate features as she waved the bundle of sage and sweet grass around her. The aromatic smoke wafted over her and made her feel a little stronger. When she was done, Jessica went back to the table and set the smudge stick carefully inside the seashell.

Tilly carried a tray from the kitchen and set it on the floor in front of the sofa. “I figured we could all use some of this tea, and I found some oatmeal cookies in your stash.” Sabrina almost always had treats of some kind in her kitchen and she was glad for it now.

Jessica pulled a pillow from the sofa, dropped it onto the floor and gracefully sank down on it, legs crossed tailor style. “Well, that was a bit more intense than I was expecting.” Jessica took the mug Tilly offered her.

Sabrina was about to take a sip of tea but paused. “A bit more?” Really, her friend was the master of understatement.

Tilly drank down half her tea in one swallow before reaching for a cookie. “What exactly was that?”

Jessica shook her head. “It’s really better not to name it, but we all know what we think it was.” She turned to Sabrina. “You haven’t been fooling around with black magic or voodoo or anything like that, have you? Maybe opened a portal for something nasty to come through?”

Sabrina shook her head and shoved a lock of hair out of her face, ignoring how lank and damp it was. “You know I’ve had the occasional psychic vision and have excellent intuition, but beyond that, I read the tarot cards, that’s it.” She’d always had an affinity for the cards. Her granny had always said the touch of psychic awareness she had made her a natural with them. “I don’t fool around with anything dark. Granny taught me better than that.”

“I figured, but I had to ask.” Jessica took another sip of tea and grabbed a cookie. Sabrina wanted one, but her throat was still sore so she settled for drinking the tea, which seemed to be a predominantly lemon with a few other things she couldn’t quite place. Rosehips maybe. Whatever was in the tea, it was good and was soothing her abused throat.

Tilly pointed at Sabrina. “For whatever reason, this…thing is attracted to you. The question remains, what do we do about it?” She finished her tea and set her mug aside. “The gris-gris and the smudging and salt didn’t seem to do much good.”

“I don’t know about that.” Jessica took a bite of her cookie, chewed and swallowed. “I think it might have been worse if we hadn’t done that.”

“Maybe we just pissed it off.” That was the sense that she’d gotten. Whatever had been haunting her dreams had been angry at her attempts to keep it out.

“I need to do some more research,” Jessica announced. “I’ll check my grandmother’s diary.” Sabrina knew Jessica’s grandmother had also been a witch who’d died a few years ago. Jessica’s mother had done her best to deny any part of her heritage, actively discouraging Jessica from pursuing it, which is why she’d finally left home and come to New Orleans.

“You want one of us to stay with you tonight?” Tilly asked.

Sabrina wanted to say yes, but didn’t want to put her friends in harm’s way. “Could you stay while I get a shower?”

Tilly’s dark brown eyes softened. “Of course we’ll stay.”

Jessica rose and went back to her seemingly bottomless bag and pulled out a cake of homemade soap. “I was going to give this to you. It’s lavender. It will help relax you and cleanse away any negativity.”

Sabrina took the soap and held it to her nose, letting the light, delicate scent fill her. She loved lavender. “Thanks.” Tears filled her eyes, but she blinked them back. “I won’t be long.”

“Take your time.” Tilly waved away her concern. “We’ll clean up out here while you shower.”

She pushed herself off the sofa and reached out to Tilly. She pulled her friend into her arms and hugged her. “Thank you for being there for me.” Tilly rubbed her hand over Sabrina’s back, offering silent comfort. When they stepped back, both of them gave a watery laugh. Tilly rubbed her eyes and started gathering the tea mugs.

Jessica waited like a silent woodland sprite. Sabrina hadn’t known her nearly as long as she’d known Tilly, but she felt the same way about her. “Thank you,” she whispered. Jessica slid her arms around Sabrina’s waist and hugged her tight, her grip strong and sure.

“We’ll figure this out,” her friend promised.

Sabrina nodded and hurried out of the room, stopping in her bedroom long enough to gather a clean pair of panties and a nightgown. She went into the bathroom, shut the door and stared at herself in the mirror.

Long streaks of red covered her neck and, the more she stared at them, the more they resembled fingers. It looked as though someone or something had grabbed her by the neck. Maybe she’d done it herself when she was choking and had clutched at her throat. It was entirely possible.

The necklace and gris-gris bag hung there, symbols of protection that she wasn’t certain had worked at all. Or maybe things would have gone worse for her if she hadn’t been wearing them. There was no way to know.

She slowly removed both, setting them carefully on the vanity. Her neck was blotchy, but her face was deathly pale, making her eyes seem even greener.

She turned away from her reflection and turned on the water, making sure it was just barely warm. She set the lavender soap in the dish and tugged off her clothing, stuffing it all into the laundry hamper before stepping under the spray.

Tilting her head upward, she let the water wash over her. It felt so good against her sticky skin, cleansing and renewing. Grabbing the soap, she worked it between her hands until she’d built up a thick lather and then rubbed it gently over her skin. Normally, she’d use a cloth or a loofah sponge, but her skin felt too sensitive, as though all the nerve endings were exposed.

She immediately felt better as the sweat and fear was swept from her skin and the healing scent of the lavender surrounded her. Next came her hair. She grabbed her shampoo and squeezed a dollop into her hand. It was amazing how something as simple as being clean could make a person feel better.

As soon as the shampoo was rinsed from her hair, she turned off the water. She grabbed a towel and wrapped it around her head and then reached for another one. She patted her skin dry and took the time to moisturize before donning her panties and a short cotton nightgown.

Then she unwound the towel from her head, sprayed on some leave-in conditioner and quickly blew it dry. The noise from the hairdryer seemed extra loud, but she knew all her senses were heightened from the experience she’d had tonight. When she was done, she brushed out the thick mass and braided it to help keep it out of her way.

It only took her a few minutes to tidy away the bathroom and slip the two amulets around her neck again. Whether they worked or not was irrelevant. Her friends had given them to her and they offered comfort.

There was no putting off the inevitable any longer. Her friends had to go home and she had to face this night alone.

Hades peered out at the legion of demons that stood waiting on his every mood, every whim. Heat and steam surrounded them, making it difficult to breathe. No human, and not many demons, could survive here. They were deep in the bowels of Hell. These were his toughest, most single-minded demons. They were all tall, all thickly muscled and well trained. They would all, to the last demon, die for him, and they were his to command.

When the time came for him to launch his plan to take over the world, there would be no mistakes. Whether or not Arand joined him or ended up dead remained to be seen.

Agmar, the leader of the group, stood off to his right, his red eyes glowing with anticipation. The seven-foot demon was smarter than most, but not a threat to Hades, not like Mordecai was.

“They are ready at your command.” Agmar bowed at the waist.

Hades liked the demon’s tone and posture. It was one of deference. One that assured Hades the demon knew who was the master and who was the servant. “Good. Keep them training. I want them ready at a moment’s notice.”

He turned and walked away.

Agmar yelled at his men. “You heard the Dark Lord. Begin training.”

Metal struck metal. Yells and the occasional scream of pain could be heard in the distance as Hades passed over a thin rock bridge that looked down upon a fiery river afloat with lost, lamenting souls. He paused halfway across to peer down at them. Such lovely souls, and all his. Soon there would be more.

Mordecai was training most of his troops, but Agmar was in charge of Hades’ elite guard. These were the demons he would take with him when the invasion of the world began. He trusted them at his back in a way he could not trust Mordecai. These demons feared him. The serpent did not.

But that would change. And soon.

Satisfied all was as it should be, Hades continued on to his private quarters, reviewing his plans all the way there.