The door closed and Lilly immediately took the crystal from the bedroom window and placed it around her neck. A shock went through her as the crystal fell over her heart. The raven from her dreams flashed quickly before her eyes. It was only a moment and she shook her head, took a deep breath, picked up her flute and played, setting her mind on practice and working as a musician again. ‘I must discipline myself to practice if I’m going to make a living as a professional musician.’
~
It was late afternoon when dark roiling clouds began to obscure the winter sun. Lilly pulled her jacket close and her knit cap over her ears. Dampness seeped into her bones as she walked down Decatur Street to spend the night with Regina.
Candle flames flickered as Lilly closed the door to Raven Moon. Wax dripped from long tapers in black candelabras. Trails of incense floated in thick clouds above the displays. Regina slumped in an intricately carved antique chair she called her throne. With shallow breath and glazed eyes, she stared unblinking at the crystal skull nearby. Lilly pried Regina’s fingers from the silver goblet she grasped in her hand. Taking the placid hand in hers she patted softly and called, “Regina, Regina, Regina.” Long minutes passed before Regina blinked and squeezed Lilly’s hand. She slowly straightened on her throne and spoke slowly, “Lilly, you’ve come to keep me company.”
“Yes, yes I have. Can you make it upstairs?” Regina stood, swaying slightly as Lilly helped her through the shop and up to the apartment. She settled her on the couch and ran downstairs to put out the candle flames and make sure the front door was locked.
Regina remained motionless on the couch, her eyes closed and her breath shallow. Lilly made grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup in the kitchen. Returning to Regina’s prone form, she rubbed her hands and called her name until she stirred. “Wake up Regina, it is time to eat.”
Sitting side by side the young witches ate slowly in the darkening apartment. Placing her barely touched plate on the floor, Regina stood and shuffled off to her bedroom. Lilly took a pillow and blanket from Claude’s room and settled on the couch. She turned on the television and watched the news, a comedy and an episode of The Six Million Dollar Man before drifting off to sleep.
The smell of pancakes, bacon and coffee drew Lilly from her restless sleep. Regina served breakfast on the coffin table in the living room. She was wide awake and feeling chatty while Lilly rubbed a kink in her neck and sipped the hot coffee.
“I’m so sorry about last night. I made a special brew for myself to help me relax. I’m afraid it was more potent than I expected. I’m lucky you came into the store and not some stranger. Anyone could have emptied the cash box. I was so out of it!”
~
Lilly nodded as she enjoyed the hot blueberry pancakes. Not sure what to say, she let Regina continue to chat on about her plans for Raven Moon. After breakfast Lilly said goodbye and walked to the river’s edge leaving Regina to open the shop.
She took in a deep breath of the morning air, and recognized the aroma of Roland’s French Quarter Par-fume. Smiling to herself, she touched the crystal around her neck and called out to Roland in her mind, I wish you were here, I miss you. The crystal warmed a bit as she sent her longing out through space and time.
Thick pieces of colorful river glass worn smooth by the water decorated the sandy shore along the river’s edge. Lilly collected a few pieces, watched the slowly moving river for a few minutes, buttoned her jacket and left the windy shore line. Fatigue pulled at her as she climbed the spiral stairs to her apartment. Kicking her shoes off, she flopped onto her bed, closed her eyes and fell asleep.
Swirls of darkness surrounded her. With her arms extended in front of her, she groped through the swirling murk. Something bumped against her shoulder and she screamed silently. Her first instinct was to run. She tried to move her legs, but found they were numb and unresponsive. She couldn’t run, yet her dream body lifted and floated through a dark and foreign landscape. Bare tree branches scraped her body, huge black birds swooped out of the darkness, their beaks tinged with blood.
A light glimmered in the distance. Her body propelled itself forward. As she grew closer to the light, it flickered orange against the stark tree branches. She grabbed a branch and clung to it as she looked down at a small fire in the center of the clearing. Her body jolted as screams filled the air and a blaze of light flashed through the night. Sparks flew as the fire grew into a bonfire. The smell of burning flesh filled her nostrils. Lilly leaned over the branch and vomited.
A continuous buzzing dragged her back to her room and she awoke to the sound of the gate buzzer. Rushing to the intercom by the door she pushed the button, “Telephone company, we’re here to install your phone.”
Lilly laughed as she released the lock on the gate and stepped out of her front door into the sunny afternoon. She had forgotten about the telephone. A surge of happiness washed through her as she realized Roland could call her, if she could get her phone number to him.
It was sunset when Lilly walked over to Raven Moon to check on Regina. She nearly fell over when she walked into the shop and was greeted by the biggest dog she had ever seen.
Stepping back, she looked around for Regina. “Hey, come on in, he won’t hurt you.” Regina shouted from the storage room.
Lilly shut the door and approached the dog slowly, “What kind of dog is it?
“Silly Lilly, he’s a Great
