"No." Andris gunned the engine.

I patted his shoulder. "You're sweet."

"I know." He backed out of the parking spot. Gina pulled out too. They stayed behind us.

Where was Torin? Was he okay? No matter how hard I tried to act indifferent to his disappearance, I couldn't stop my thoughts and feelings. What if he was hurt or was in trouble? Once again, I tried to distract myself. "We have witches at school."

Andris shuddered. "I was hoping Ingrid was wrong. She said someone's been singing witchy songs."

"They're not just at our school. They've come from all over the world to meet right here in Kayville. They supposedly answered a call."

Andris groaned. "Crap."

"You know what that means?"

"Oh yeah. When a call is issued, witches come out in droves. It takes something big for that to happen. The first time I saw it was at the beginning of the Witch hunt. There's like a secret council of Old Religion elders and each region is represented. They hold meetings and warn their people if something big is going down. Most went underground after the meeting about the Witch hunts and kept their practices hidden. The defiant ones didn't and were busted, tortured and burned."

"There's no inquisition right now, but they're here waiting for, I don't know, orders or something. Who could have called them? Why?"

"In my lifetime, I've heard of only several Calls and each case their lives and the practices were threatened. It's obvious why they're here." He pulled up in the parking lot behind the Mirage, parked, and turned to face me. His expression was serious. "You. You are about the most unusual Witch to ever walk this earth and someone somewhere told them about you. Either they're here to see you and pay their respect, or they know you're in danger and have come to protect you. Either case, we should beat the crap out of the Witch who called them."

My eyes followed the blue car as it pulled into the parking lot by the art center. "We don't know any witches."

"No, we don't. Thank goodness." He grimaced.

I guess this was not the time to tell him about the two keeping tabs on us from the neighboring parking lot. He stepped out of the SUV and looked around. "Are you still being stalked?"

He laughed. "Yeah, I am."

That derisive laugh told me he wasn't. "So if you're not. Why the cloak and dagger?"

He peered at me. "The perks of being friends with you. Did you really think witches would come to town without us knowing about it? We sensed them and went on full alert. We just didn't know what we were dealing with. Could have been Grimnirs. Actually, I would rather have Grimnirs than witches."

I gawked at him. "You knew and didn't say anything?"

He shrugged. "You didn't need to know."

I made a face. "Yeah. Whatever. See you at six."

"I'll leave when you are safe behind the desk and under Hawk's watchful eyes." He followed me inside. While he chatted with Hawk, I followed Jared who came out of the storage room pushing a box on a flatbed push cart.

"What's that?" I asked.

"New merchandize. I'll show you." He lifted the box from the cart, cut off the tapes and reached inside for a bubble-wrapped item.

"Oh, that's so pretty," I said, when he removed a gilded vintage vanity mirror.

"The free standing ones go to the right, but ones like this one can be unsnapped so it sits on its handle." He showed me the hinge at the base of the mirror, which transformed it from hand-held to a standing mirror. "You want to put them behind the display glass case while I get the second box?"

"Sure." Each mirror was bubble-wrapped, each frame exquisitely crafted. I knelt on the floor and checked the descriptions. Gothic cryptograph inlays. Classic Baroque. Vintage handle princess. I wanted one.

"What are you doing?" Andris asked.

"Putting mirrors away. Look at this. Isn't it beautiful?" I showed him the back. "The handle bends at an angle, so it stands. I want to buy all of them."

"Yeah. Whatever. You're supposed to be learning how the business is run, not do menial work. What next? Cleaning the floor?"

I hoped not. "Go away, Andris, before I tell Mr. Hawk." Andris made a face as if to say: go ahead. "Please, go. And you don't have to pick me up. I can use the portal in the office and go directly home"

"And deprive me the pleasure of your charming company? I don't think so. I'll be back at six and you'd better not be cleaning the floor or Hawk and I will have a long chat."

I sighed. I didn't know where he got the idea that I shouldn't do normal things like an average person. "You know what, wise guy. I can do whatever I want to do and you have no say whatsoever." He opened his mouth. "Not another word. Bye." I went back to work.

The back dinged when he left. Minutes later, it dinged again. Then I felt a presence behind me. "Forgot something, Andris, or are you here to complain about my work?"

"You work here?" a familiar voice said.

Ah, the Irish sisters. I looked up. "Yes."

"But you are a powerful ...," Rita glanced around and whispered, "Seeress."

"You should be practicing your powers, not wasting time doing something so..." Gina waved her hand to indicate the store.

"Normal," I said. "I like normal. What are you doing here?"

"I want to apologize for testing you with the talisman," Gina said. "Our mother gave it to me to test any witches we met."

I studied the circular disk between her thumb and fingers. It had the tree of life on one end and the back had Celtic knots. From my vision, some of the witches weren't sure whether the Call was a trap or not.

"What does it do?" I asked.

"It burns when anyone evil touches it."

"That's okay. It doesn't hurt to be cautious." I put the last mirror away and gathered up the bubble-wrap. Rita bent down to help.

"We texted Mom about you and she'd really like to meet you," Gina said.

"Sure." I caught Hawk watching us. "I have to get back to work before my boss fires me. Coming, boss," I added louder and picked up the box with the bubble-wrap.

"Hey," Rita said and touched my arm. "Do you want to go out for a cup of coffee?"

"Rita," Gina protested.

Rita shrugged, her cheeks reddening. "It's okay. She can always say no."

I could, but I wanted to know why my vision had been so clear when I touched their talisman. "Sure. I know just the place." I pulled out my cell phone, asked her for her number and sent her a text. "Now you have my number."

CHAPTER 11. PARTY TIME OR NOT.

An hour later, the back door dinged and Cora entered the shop. We'd eaten lunch together and she never mentioned stopping by the shop.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, stepping out from behind the counter.

"Coming to pick you up." She looked around. "So what do you do around here?"

"Everything. I help with the displays, customers, inventory... Whatever Jared wants."

"When do you get done?"

"In half an hour. Come on. I want to show you something." I led the way to the display cases where I'd put the hand-held mirrors. A kid at a candy shop wouldn't have reacted like she did.

She chose two. "Mom's birthday is coming up and she'd love this."

"You and Echo got plans for tonight?"

"Nope. He's reaping." She sighed. "I don't know what to do. No boyfriend. No plans. Worse, I don't volunteer at the nursing home on Fridays. You and yours have plans?"

I imagined staying at home and stressing over Torin. The idea didn't appeal to me. I might hate L.A. Connection, but it was the most popular club in town.

"Torin is out of town, so we have two choices. We can hang out at my place, watch one of our favorite series and pig out on junk food, or dress up and go partying. The cheerleaders are throwing the football team a party tonight. Torin and I were invited, but he's not here. We are."

Cora squealed and hugged me. "I knew you'd come up with something. This could be fun. I can't remember the last time we did something so normal."

It was just like old times. Pre-Torin. I'd missed the squealing Cora. Just a little. And normal now and again wasn't so bad. It should keep my mind off worrying. Actually, I was beginning to get pissed too. There was a reason for portals. What was stopping him from using one?

"Now all we have to do is convince Andris to come with us."

She wrinkled her nose. "Andris? Why?"

"Torin left him in charge." When Cora cocked her eyebrows, I glanced around to make sure Jared wasn't within hearing distance. "Remember the Seeresses attacks?"

"Oh crappola. I'd completely forgotten about that." A thoughtful expression settled on her face. "Maybe we shouldn't go out tonight. We could do the marathon and pig out. Oh, and read the responses I've gotten on my vlog. I've gotten hundreds of hits. Two people gave video responses. I'd be so stroked if it went viral."

"The party doesn't start until eight. We have time."

She studied me. "You really want to go."

"Keep asking and I'll develop cold feet. The last few days I've done nothing but work, run and worry. I want to unload." Plus, I hated to let fear paralyze me even though deep inside I shook with it whenever I thought about the people willing to hurt others to find me. Like Torin had said, we must act like we didn't know or care. Besides, I'd be conquering another thing tonight-the nasty memories I associated with L. A. Connection.

Six o'clock arrived and Andris was a no show. Instead, the door dinged and a customer walked in from the back. Very few customers used the back door. I was helping a man choose a frame for a custom job when she walked past the counter on her way out and I saw her face.

I recognized her right away. What name had the old woman in my vision called her? Stefania. And this wasn't the first time I'd seen her in the shop. She'd asked to use our bathroom before.

"Excuse me?" I called out, but she kept going. "Could you hold on a minute?"

I didn't wait for his response, just took off after the woman. The back door didn't ding, but she wasn't in the back parking lot. Could witches disappear in thin air?

"What's going on? Did someone steal something?" Cora asked. Behind her stood Jared, and the customer I'd left inside. Of course I couldn't tell them I just saw a woman from my vision and she'd disappeared into thin air.

"I thought I saw her pocket something but I could be wrong." Back inside, I offered the man I'd been serving a brochure. "Take this home, see which one is perfect for the background on your photograph. Or bring in the photograph tomorrow and you and I can find the perfect frame for you."

"Thank you, dear." He patted my hand and that was when I noticed the ornate ring in his pinkie. Another Witch or was I becoming paranoid?

"Is it always this exciting?" Cora asked.

"No." I glanced at my watch again. It was quarter past six. "Let's go. I'll text Andris on our way." I grabbed my phone and poked my head into the office. "I'm leaving now, Hawk."

"Is Andris or Torin here?" he asked.

"No. I'm leaving with Cora." A spasm crossed his face. Could that be concern for me? "I'll be fine."

He stood and walked to the door. He glanced at Jared and lowered his voice. "Is she the one who helps souls?"

"Yes."

He didn't seem relieved. "Maybe you two should use the portal in my office, and she could pick up her car later."

"We'll go directly home from here and use the road with the runes. If anything seems off, I'll call. I can create a portal on the car door." I'd never done it and the runes for non-reflective surfaces were iffy, but I didn't want everyone in my life worrying about me.

He nodded. "Okay. See you in the morning."

"Ten-to-one, right?"

He nodded. "That sounds good."

I gave him a tiny wave, high-fived Jared on our way out. Cora was already behind the wheel of her Sentra when I left the building. My eyes automatically went to where I'd last seen Gina and Rita. Their car was gone.

Andris pulled into the parking lot before we pulled out and raced toward the back door. I rolled down my window and yelled, "Over here."

He stopped, turned, and sauntered to our car. He finger combed his silver hair. "I thought I missed you." He leaned down and peered at Cora from above his sunglasses. "Hey, blondie."

"Hi-yo, silver," she shot right back. "You didn't have to run down here. I got our girl's back."

"I'm here now. Run along and play house with your reaper boyfriend." He opened the car door.

"Just follow us," I said, sighing.

"We're going by the Hub to get lattes then home," Cora said.

Lattes hadn't been part of our plan. Andris shot me an annoyed look. "That was not in your text."