Chapter 13 #2
We watch as she removes a large cardboard box from the back seat of the car. She says something to the man behind the wheel and disappears through the back gate. The SUV reverses down the driveway and takes off toward the end of the street.
I’ve got to get a look inside the house. Maybe I’ll see something of note.
Heavy curtains obscure the windows, so there’s no hope of getting a peek inside the front of the house. I’ll have to try the back.
I hold my hand in front of my face. It’s barely translucent enough to see through to the seat in front of me. I’ve stretched my magic thin, so I’m not sure whether the illusion will be strong enough to keep me shielded if I run into Aria or another witch, but I have to try.
Both Malik and Lizzie glance back as I unbuckle my seat belt. “I’m going to take a closer look.”
“Is that safe?” Malik asks. “Should I come with you?”
“I’ll be fine. Keep the car running in case we need to make a quick getaway.”
The last thing I want to do is put my friends in danger. Getting to the bottom of all this is my responsibility, not theirs.
Lizzie grips my arm. “Are you sure? These people sound dangerous.” Her acrylic nails dig into my skin. “How do we know they don’t sacrifice people, too?”
If the Hightowers really are stealing magic from other witches, then that means they’ve progressed to harming humans already. But I don’t point that out to Lizzie. I don’t want to worry her further.
“If I’m not back in a few minutes, come looking for me.” Neither of them looks convinced. “I’ll be fine. I’ve got to fly on my own sometime, right?”
“Let her go,” Malik murmurs. “She’s right.”
Reluctantly, Lizzie releases her grip, and I slip from the car before she changes her mind.
I sprint across the yard and duck through the shrubbery lining the side of the house, trying to avoid making too much noise. There’s no movement from the window, so hopefully no one saw me.
Please let the shield hold.
Gravel crunches beneath my feet as I creep around the edge of the house toward the fence.
Carefully, I unlatch the gate and peek past the vinyl siding.
The yard is empty save for a brick firepit filled with ashes and a small herb garden.
I creep inside, leaving the gate propped open for a quick escape.
The patio is completely bare. If I were to go by appearance alone, I’d assume no one lives here. There aren’t any lawn chairs or knickknacks. No personality whatsoever. The Hightowers fly beneath the radar in their own home.
I walk over to the sliding glass doors and peer inside.
Through the glass, there’s a clear view of what looks to be the dining room.
An Oriental rug covers the hardwood, and the majority of the room is taken up by an oblong mahogany dining table.
Instead of table settings, a single unlit red candle is placed before each of the eight chairs.
Movement out of the corner of my eye snags my attention. My gaze drifts down to the floor, where the cardboard box that Aria brought into the house rests open on its side. Two calico kittens peer at me, while a third taps its paw against the glass and opens its mouth to cry out.
Cats are incredibly perceptive creatures. Even with my spell, the kittens can see me clear as day. Which also means they’re able to sound the alarm of my arrival.
I duck out of sight right as Aria reenters the room. I’m pressed against the brick wall of the house as the patio door slides open.
“Hello?” her raspy voice calls out.
I don’t dare move a muscle or even breathe as Aria peers around the backyard.
She’s mere feet away from me. I don’t think she can see me, but she must sense my presence because she takes a step onto the patio.
I’m mentally preparing which spell I’ll use to distract her when one of the kittens darts outside.
“No you don’t!” Quick on her feet, she scoops it up and cradles it to her chest, rewarding it with scratches beneath its chin. “You’re a menace to society. Get back in here with your sisters.”
The door slides shut with a resounding click of the lock.
There goes any opportunity to break into the house, which is probably for the best. If they catch me, I don’t have a solid plan to escape. More importantly, it would start a war between our covens before I’ve even found evidence that the Hightowers are attacking our witches.
The sound of voices drifts over from an open window on the first floor. I crawl on my hands and knees until I’m directly underneath and open a new voice memo on my phone.
An older female voice speaks loud and clear. “Did you get them?”
“Yes, they’ll be ready for tonight,” Aria responds.
“Good. It’s been far too long since our last ritual. A few of the members have grown restless.” There’s a crunchy sound, like that of a hairbrush being yanked through dry hair. The woman has to be the Hightower Matron, Gloria. This must be her bedroom.
“Must it really be kittens, Grandmother?” Aria’s voice is hesitant. “It seems…cruel.”
“How many times must I explain myself? Youth offers the most potential and therefore the most power when life is cut short.” There’s a loud smack as something drops onto the floor or a table. “Don’t act as if you don’t benefit,” Gloria snaps.
Aria doesn’t speak for a long moment. When she does, her voice sounds closer. I shrink down lower to avoid being spotted.
“I think I saw the Broussard girl today.”
Gloria harrumphs. “More importantly, did she see you?”
“I lost her in the crowd.”
“Good girl.” A chair scrapes against the floor. “Their suffering has only just begun. Serves them right.”
I clamp my hand over my mouth to keep from gasping. Is that a confession?
Gloria’s and Aria’s voices retreat, so I take the chance to peek through the window.
It seems to be some sort of office or dressing room with a chaise in one corner and a vanity near the window.
A mason jar filled with a thick red liquid is perched on the table next to an assortment of lipstick and hair products.
I snap a photo of the room and make a beeline for the fence.
It sounds like Gloria Hightower has grown tired of sacrificing animals for power. This recording is proof enough that they’ve made the jump to humans, and they’ve set their sights on us.
As far as we know, witches are the most powerful beings this world has ever known. To the Hightowers, we’re both a threat and the perfect target.