WITCHES KNOT

door, but before she could step inside Tante Elise held out a hand to stop her, shaking he

lling it through the rooms, feeling for any traps or problems. She discovered a small da

dissipated. She felt Tante Elise's power come in behind her and sweep through. The apartment felt better, c

that?" L

cause it was just a small spot. You got rid of

She was creeped out. Lee pulled out

need to know," she said nodding decisively. "Lee, I fear that you have never really been impressed with just how powerfu

by lengths. Think of your power, of all power, like lights in the dark. They attract attention, bugs and other things wish to cluster 'round. The light brightens the way through the darkness. It's warm, inviting. But ther

men are strong, you know this. Be they healers or seers or readers or, like you and me and your maman, witch dreamers. We have always been an attraction to the less than wholesome things in this world

ut Tante Elise held her hand up t

aw power such as yours. I felt you today, I expect all who have any kind of power felt you today. You unfurled the total extent of your power for the first time ever and you rode it.

only awakening but it knows you, it knows us and you must train to meet and vanquish it. I know, it sounds melodramatic but there it is.

way, yes. You won't fight vampires every night and face the end of the world at the end of every May, but we have a pact of sorts, a compact, which charges u

t about? How come I di

eamer is told when she is able to take up the mantle of power from th

from all that

know of course that the Charvez women are all born wit

course, for us. She was a healer. She delivered the babies, healed toothaches, made

y. She stumbled upon a being of light under attack from a being of darkness. Annalisa intervened, and using her powers

ts to protect the people of whatever area they inhabited. One of those girl children per generation, and only one of them, would be their chief protector, a witch who could w

r power to defend the innocents here in New Orleans. It is a heavy mantle to carry but I have faith in you, Lee. I have faith in your strength, your loya

bit awestruck. "So uh, I'm like a superhero? Do

ou'll continue to paint and to work at the shop and to be the vib

was that the afternoon had left her feeling energized, powerfu

ur maman. I think having all of us work together would be a g

a spell, I let some of

tell yo

control. If you can do it so effortlessly, I think that we will be very powerful indeed." She stood and motioned around the apartment. "First things first

I feel stupid for not

th a small smirk. "Let's g

s well. At closing time she locked up and stood out front with her sister and cousins. The older women were all upstairs watching Jeopardy! . Sh