Carolyn's chin hit the floor. "Oh my-You've got to be-How much?"

Chief Rose stood to pour her a gla.s.s of water. "Seventeen million. Ample motive to scare you from your house, or even kill you, which I'm sure is what he planned to do all along."

Carolyn drained the gla.s.s. "You really think so?"

Carolyn floated into the store, and Maggie ran across the floor to meet her. "Carolyn! Are you all right? I got the strangest call from the chief of police this morning, telling me you would be late coming in today, but to not worry. He said you were fine, but what does the fuzz know? What the h.e.l.l is going on?"

Carolyn closed the store for the day and took Maggie to the coffee house down the street where she explained in detail the entire story of what Hargrove tried to do. She apologized to Maggie for doubting her friend then informed Maggie that she was her missing cousin.

Maggie dismissed Carolyn's suspicions with a casual flip of her hand, "Don't worry, I would have done the same to you. Are you positive we're related? You're not pulling my leg, are you?"

"According to Chief Rose, we are. He saw the files from Hargrove's office, and I couldn't be happier it's you."

"Same here. I knew there had to be a reason I liked so you so much when we first met. It was like we had been friends forever."

"I know! I had the same feeling, Cuz."

"So, tell me more about your plan to help free Caleb. I want to help."

"You can. You can help at the seance. Sarah said the more the merrier."

"Cool! I've always wanted to be in a seance. Hey, didn't you say that all the women in your family were witches? Then, am I one too?"

"I don't know. We can ask Sarah."

Carolyn answered the knock on her door to find Sarah dressed in a long, gray, hooded cloak. Sarah brushed past her, asking, "Why aren't you dressed?"

Wondering if she had somehow become naked again, without her knowing, Carolyn glanced down and breathed a sigh of relief. She still had on her blouse and jeans. "I am dressed, Sarah."

"No, no, child. Your cloak, why aren't you wearing your cloak?"

"What cloak?"

"The one you need to wear for the ceremony. Don't you know anything?" Sarah asked impatiently.

"What ceremony?"

Sarah stared at Carolyn and rubbed her temples. "Oh, I am sorry, my dear. My mind has been getting a little forgetful these days. Are you sure I didn't tell you about tonight?"

"No, you didn't."

"The coven meets once a month and tonight is the night. We are going to elect a new High Priestess and initiate you into the order."

"Excuse me?"

"You do want to join our coven, don't you? I a.s.sumed you would, because of your grandmother."

"I don't know, I never thought about joining. I would like to have been asked if I want to join, first."

"You're right, dear. To be honest with you, I thought I had. My mind isn't what it used to be," Sarah said with such a forlorn expression Carolyn instantly relented.

"I'm sorry, Sarah. I didn't mean to doubt you. It's quite possible you did ask and I'm the one who forgot. I've had a lot on my mind too, you know. Yes, I would very much like to join Grandmother's coven. I would be honored."

Sarah brightened. "See? I knew you wanted to join us. Now, hurry. The meeting starts in a couple minutes."

"Can't I go dressed like this? I'm afraid I don't own a cloak."

"You can use Ester's. I packed the robe and a few of her other clothes in a trunk in her bedroom when she became an invalid. Hurry, child. We don't have time to waste." Sarah headed up the stairs with Carolyn in tow.

Sarah opened the trunk and started removing old dresses and blankets, tossing them haphazardly on the floor. At the bottom lay a carefully folded gray cloak, one exactly the same as the one Sarah wore.

"Hurry up, child, put it on."

With no b.u.t.tons or zippers on the cloak, Carolyn started to slip the robe over her head when Sarah s.n.a.t.c.hed the robe from her hands.

"No, no. Take all your clothes off. The only clothes you can be wearing are the cloak and these sandals," Sarah said testily, picking a pair from the trunk.

"You're kidding? Who's going to know what I'm wearing underneath?"

"They will know, trust me."

"Well, if you insist. Sarah? When I join tonight, is there going to be some sort of initiation, like they do in sororities?"

"Yes, there is a ritual for new members," Sarah said dismissively. "Don't be afraid, other than a small cut to the palm of your hand there is nothing dangerous about the ceremony."

"Oh, you mean like the Indians did in the old west? We'll become blood sisters?"

"Better," Sarah said cryptically.

Sarah's evasive answers made Carolyn feel a little nervous, but she had come to trust the woman completely in the short time she had known her. Quickly, she took all her clothes off and slipped the cloak on. Together they hurried to the bas.e.m.e.nt and into the altar room. Sarah began lighting the candles and paused at the third sconce. Carolyn watched as Sarah twisted the holder first left and then right. To Carolyn's amazement, a short section of wall swung open, revealing a pitch-black tunnel on the other side.

"Sarah? Where does this tunnel go?"

"Why, to the cemetery, of course, The Wexford mausoleum to be precise. Your future sisters are waiting there now. They will be here in just a moment."

"Why didn't you tell me about this before? This has to be how Hargrove got in and out of the house."

Scratching her head, her eyes unfocused, Sarah said, "I'm sure I mentioned the tunnel. You must have forgotten again, sweetie."

"Did you forget to take your medication today, Sarah?" a voice from the tunnel asked. "You'll need to forgive Sarah, Carolyn; she's in the early stages of Alzheimer's. She has her good days and her bad ones, mostly good though. She'll be fine once she takes her medicine. My name is Adele, by the way."

Reaching into a pocket, Adele pulled out a small vial. "Drink this, Sarah." While Sarah drank from the vial, Adele asked, "Why don't I start the meeting for you?"

As they talked, robed figures continued to file out of the tunnel behind Adele. Each carried a tall, white, lighted candle. Carolyn counted eleven women in all; at least, she a.s.sumed they were women. Under those robes, one wasn't able to tell what s.e.x the person might be, or even if a person hid underneath.

Adele took her and Sarah by the arm and led them to the altar, placing Sarah to her right and Carolyn on her left. Adele raised her arms over her head, "Sisters of Wexford Coven," she said in a loud voice. "Tonight we are a.s.sembled for two purposes. The first is to elect a new High Priestess to succeed our beloved Ester. High Priestess Ester made her choice of successor known to me before she died. She wanted Sarah to succeed her and I'm sure you will all agree. How do you vote, my sisters?"

Silently, every sister encircled the altar and raised their candles. Carolyn a.s.sumed this meant they voted yes and raised her candle as well. Adele gave her a rea.s.suring smile.

"Thank you, my sisters. Ester would be glad you approved of her choice." Adele turned to a robed figure, standing slightly to her side, to open the small, ornate, wooden box the woman held and lifted a pentagram shaped medallion with a thick silver chain attached. Adele asked, "Sarah Burns, daughter of the G.o.ddess of Fire, do you accept our highest honor to become the next High Priestess of Wexford Coven?" As Adele placed the medallion over Sarah's bowed head, every member bowed in supplication to Sarah.

"Sisters, we are also here tonight to bring a new member into our fold. Our newest initiate, I am pleased to say, is none other than Ester's granddaughter, Carolyn Waters. Carolyn, is it your wish to join the Wexford House Coven?"

Carolyn duplicated Sarah's response with a low bow, then feared she did something wrong when Adele removed a small vial from the still open box, not another medallion. Adele handed Carolyn the vial and told her to drink.

Turning to face the coven, Adele said. "My sisters, how say you? Do you accept Carolyn to be your new sister?"

Again, each sister raised her candle high. Carolyn let out an audible breath of relief, surprised at how much she really wanted to be a member of her Grandmother's coven, carry on in the family tradition even if this wasn't exactly banking. From Sarah's subtle hints, Carolyn knew there would be more to this ceremony. Silently, she bowed to the others and waited anxiously, not exactly sure what would come next.

Adele handed her candle to Sarah and helped Carolyn remove her cloak, leaving her to stand in front of the coven in nothing but her birthday suit, s.h.i.+vering in the cool, damp air. What the h.e.l.l did I get myself into? I'm standing naked in front of a bunch of hooded strangers, and yet, for some odd reason, I'm not the least bit scared or embarra.s.sed. So why does this feel so perfectly normal? What's happening to me?

Adele retrieved her candle and stepped back, allowing Sarah to a.s.sume control of the ritual. Sarah stepped to the altar, her eyes clearer, and fastened a blue sapphire pendant around Carolyn's neck; exactly like the one Sarah wore every day.

Sarah chanted, "G.o.ddesses of Air and Water, G.o.ddesses of Fire and Earth, G.o.ddesses of the Moon and Sun, hear me. I present for your approval, your newest daughter, Carolyn Waters." Sarah then indicated for Carolyn to lie down on the altar.

Carolyn climbed onto the stone slab, surprised how warm the altar felt on her flesh, and laid flat on her back. Hands grabbed her ankles and pulled her legs wide apart, tying them to the corners at the end of the altar. Other hands tied down her right arm. Her left arm remained free until Sarah took her wrist in one hand and held an athame high in the air with her other hand, candlelight gleamed off the large blade.

"G.o.ddess of Fire, my Mother, I beseech you to a.s.sist us in welcoming our new Sister into our coven."

A wide-eyed Carolyn nervously watched the other members surrounding her as they drew similar knives. A brief moment of panic hit her. Oh, my G.o.d! They're going to kill me. I'm going to be a sacrifice in some bizarre ritual. Why can't I scream?

The women chanted an ancient mantra that touched Carolyn at a primal level. Every lungful of air she took, Carolyn's senses rose to new heights of awareness. She heard her new sister's hearts beating in cadence to the chanting, each having a visible aura glowing around their heads. Their emotions; confidence, pride, antic.i.p.ation, and from one, l.u.s.t, filled her senses.

Sarah neatly cut a long, shallow slice in Carolyn's left palm with her athame, blood poured freely from the wound. Her hand held above her navel, blood dripped onto Carolyn's stomach while Sarah sliced her own palm, as did the others.

Her sister's blood dripped onto Carolyn's body, pooling on her stomach, mixing with hers. A dozen sets of hands began slowly, caressingly, smearing their blood onto her skin. Hands touched her face, neck, arms, and legs. The sensations Carolyn experienced seemed more sensual than anything else did. Old, wrinkled hands mingled with young, smooth hands on her stomach and chest.

Slick hands and fingers caressed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, while others glided up and down her thighs, occasionally brus.h.i.+ng against her aroused mound. Carolyn's body burned with desire, and she bit her lip to hold back a moan as one hand did more than lightly brush up against her damp p.u.s.s.y. The heel of someone's hand pressed firmly above her c.l.i.t and twisted back and forth, driving Carolyn into a heated frenzy.

Then, one by one, her sisters licked the blood from her skin, hands continued to caress and tease her, while lips and tongues brought her to a shuddering o.r.g.a.s.m-a hard, body-tightening, toe curling, eyeball-rolling o.r.g.a.s.m.

Carolyn had never made love to a woman before, and to her amazement, lay in what may well only be called a dungeon, being ravaged by twelve women, yet she couldn't summon the will to object. It's only rape if you say no, she reminded herself, and I'm not saying no. A finger's feathery touch on her lips produced an overwhelming urge to take the digit into her mouth and suck. Her tongue swirled around the finger as her mouth sucked away in devilish delight.

To Carolyn's utter dismay, her sisters withdrew their hands, lips, and tongues, leaving her craving their return. She opened her eyes as one member approach the foot of the altar, casually discarding her robe. The woman appeared to be a couple of years younger than Carolyn, her body tanned, toned, and firm. The full, round b.r.e.a.s.t.s rode high on her chest, age and gravity had yet to touch them. The young woman wore a half mask on her face, leaving only her golden hair, chin, and a set of lush, pouting lips exposed.

The cat mask suited this woman to a T. With feline grace and agility, she climbed onto the slab, crouching between Carolyn's legs, her lips turning into a snarl as she rose to her knees. She then stretched her arms high above her head, clawing at the air, her ribcage fully outlined on her taut body.

Carolyn's right arm now loosed from its restraint, and licking her lips, she ran her hands up and down her own ribs and over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, anxiously waiting for what this young woman would do next.

Her eyes widened as two robed sisters approached and buckled a strap-on c.o.c.k to the young tigress. The attached d.i.l.d.o, bigger and wider than any Carolyn had ever seen or used, appeared made from a highly polished, ivory tusk.

Carolyn fell into a s.e.xual fervor as the chanting increased in tempo, her heartbeat matching that of her sister's, and fire seemed to course through her veins as if she were a panther on the prowl. Her vision narrowed, focused on her prey, as the woman crouched between her legs.

Her chest heaved with desire as she stretched her arms, Carolyn eagerly antic.i.p.ated taking this temptress and to be taken in return. Her feline lover's head lowered to sniff Carolyn's dripping p.u.s.s.y. A long, slow, maddening lick along Carolyn's slit caused her to convulse with a fresh o.r.g.a.s.m. Before the shaking subsided, Carolyn felt the huge d.i.l.d.o enter her, the pain unbelievably exquisite. As the d.i.l.d.o inched further and further inside her, Carolyn's fierce desire demanded she take every inch, and right now. Nothing else would quench her wild yearning.

Carolyn's slick legs, freed from their bonds, wrapped around the woman's sweat covered hips and jerked her closer, the last few inches of the d.i.l.d.o ramming home deliciously.

Carolyn gasped at the intense pleasure. Imagining Caleb as the one between her legs, and insane with pure animal l.u.s.t, she rode her lover with crazed abandon. The hands returned, touching her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, arms, face, and a.n.u.s.

Carolyn sensed nothing but l.u.s.t in the sensual caresses, making her come once more in an earth-shattering explosion, threatening to shatter the last shreds of her sanity as endless, rolling waves of thunder coursed through her rigid body.

Minutes later, and with the o.r.g.a.s.m's last vestiges still echoing inside her, Carolyn slipped into a semi-conscious state as damp cloths cleansed her body. Dimly aware of the warm cloth draped over her trembling body; a sense of floating overtook her while strong hands lifted and carried her out of the room and up the stairs to her bed. The women sang softly as they carried her, an ancient song she vaguely recognized, again not able to place where she heard the refrain before. The soothing tone relaxed her, and a peaceful darkness settled over her.

When she woke, the sun shone high in the afternoon sky. Chester lay curled on her stomach and Sarah dozed in the rocking chair next to the bed. Carolyn smiled lovingly at them, closed her eyes, and fell back to sleep.

Chapter Six.

The vision of a smiling Adele standing next to the bed filled Carolyn's eyes when she opened them. Tantalizing aromas tickled her nose from the tray Adele held, laden with more food than Carolyn normally ate in a week. Carolyn quickly scooted to a sitting position, making room for Adele to set the tray down.

"After your initiation, my dear, you need to replenish yourself."

Carolyn surveyed the tray's contents; a large gla.s.s filled with chilled orange juice, a pot of hot tea, a huge pile of steaming, scrambled eggs, toast, sausage links, and a stack of waffles swimming in b.u.t.ter and syrup. "Do you think we can eat all this?"

Adele smiled down at Carolyn. "Not we-you. You expended quite a lot of energy during the ceremony. You nearly wore poor Samantha out, something no one has ever been able to do. It kind of reminded me of my initiation, quite a few years ago, I'm not ashamed to say."

Blus.h.i.+ng, Carolyn asked, "Are there many more ceremonies like last night's I'll have to go through?"

"First off, my dear, the ceremony was two nights ago, you slept the clock around and then some. Secondly, the initiation rite is only for new acolytes, like you. Of course, there is always Beltane, our May Day celebration. Beltane can get rather wild, but you need only to partic.i.p.ate up to the level of play you want. No one will force you to do anything you don't want to do." Then, with a mischievous grin, she added, "Unless you want Samantha's role? I think you would be very good as the Lover."

Carolyn turned a beet red. "I admit, I enjoyed myself, but I'm glad I won't be the center of entertainment again, will I?"

"Child, our ceremonies aren't for entertainment. Acolyte initiation is a very important ceremony. Your blood and spirit now mix with those of your sisters. We are joined as a family, body, and soul, for all time. Now eat, before the eggs get cold."

Carolyn scooped a large forkful of eggs, took the fluffy morsels into her mouth, and while she chewed, realized what had been nagging at her since she woke. Strange sensations, emotions more than voices, filtered through her mind. "I can sense them!"

"Who can you sense?"

"Why, all of them. All my new sisters."

Adele beamed. "Very good. Can you describe what you're sensing?"

Concentrating, Carolyn said, "I don't hear any voices, more like, I can tell their moods; only I can't tell who is feeling what. For instance, Sarah? She is very happy, probably baking right now. Then there is another, I don't know who..."

"Don't worry, you will learn to identify each sister as you get to know us better. I believe you are sensing Samantha right now."

"Which one is Samantha?" At Adele's canary eating grin, Carolyn said, "Oh! Okay. She's hopping mad over something, and she's very sore?" Carolyn said with an embarra.s.sing smile.

"Yes, she is. I imagine she's mad at her boyfriend again; those two are always fighting. Although, you're the reason she's so sore," Adele said. "Anyone else?"