As the waxing moon rose they made their way through the streets of the French Quarter hand in hand. Entering the courtyard at Panthea’s, they saw Lucky sitting on the old iron bench with Topaz. They stopped to tell him of the day’s events.
“Something has to be done,” Lucky said looking worried. “I’m postponing my trip. I want to be here for you.”
Lilly thanked him, rubbed Topaz behind his ears for a moment, took Roland’s hand and led him up the winding stairs.
Curling up in bed together, they watched the starlight silvering the rooftops of the French Quarter. Soon they were asleep. In the darkest hour of the night, an insistent rapping woke the sleeping couple. Roland put on his pants and head for the door.
Lilly looked up and screamed, “No it’s not the door. Look!” Pointing to the window, they watched as the raven balanced on the narrow ledge beating his sharp beak against the window pane.
“Holy Hell,” Roland exclaimed, as he and Lilly ran from the bedroom. He slammed the door and traced a ward of protection across it. Lilly saw the ward’s blue glow and gave a sigh of relief. The tapping continued as they paced around the tiny living room.
“I’ll make some coffee,” Lilly said. “Maybe it will wake us from this nightmare.”
Roland touched her shoulder and said, “No, you stay here. I’ll make coffee.”
The insistent rapping continued. Lilly was about to burst. “What if he breaks the window? What if he gets into the bedroom?”
“He will have to get through the door and that is not going to happen,” Roland said grabbing the broom from its hook on the wall near the stove. He brandished it around and managed a smile from Lilly.
Feeling her hands tingle, Lilly gathered the surge of energy. She centered herself and called to Roland. “Come! Join your energy with mine.”
As they stood in the center of the living room, Lilly drew a large pentagram in the air before them. She could see it glowing with her second sight. As the star within spun clockwise, a portal was created. They drew a pentagram in violet light over one another’s third eye. Joining hands, they turned slowly clockwise, feeling for the direction from which the attack originated. No surprise, the attack had come from the West, the direction of the Raven Moon. Bringing their hands up in a triangle shape over their foreheads, they called in protection from all five points of the violet pentagram. Stepping forward together they projected their triangular hands forward, sending the pentagram’s violet fire through the portal, to the source of the attack. Feeling the link sever, they relaxed and embraced.
As suddenly as it had begun, the rapping stopped. They stood still. The only sound was coffee percolating on the stove. Roland put his ear to the bedroom door. Unable to stand the suspense, he cracked the door open, broom ready for an attack. He flipped on the overhead light, ran to the window and stepped back, “It’s gone.”
The coffee boiled over, and Lilly turned the stove off, taking two cups out of the cupboard, she poured the dark liquid. They sat on the sofa, silently sipping scalded coffee.
“Do you think it is gone? Maybe it is in the courtyard waiting for us to come out. What if it attacks another member of the coven?”
“I’ll go look around,” Roland said.
Lilly grabbed his arm, “Don’t go, I’ll call Lucky. He has a good view of the courtyard. I’ll ask him to see if it’s out there.”
Lucky was glad to help. He looked out of his window, but could see little in the dark courtyard. Grabbing a baseball bat, he walked out of his front door, through the courtyard and around the fountain. He examined dark shadows and peered through the darkness searching the roof top.
A few minutes later, he knocked on Lilly’s front door. It’s clear in the courtyard, he reported. Lilly took his hand and gently tugged him through the front door. She gave him a cup of coffee and the three of them went over the events of the latest intrusion. When a soft gray light filtered through the transom over the front door, Lilly called Jolene’s apartment. James answered groggily. She apologized for the early hour and told him briefly of the raven’s latest visit.
By 6AM, Lilly, Roland, Lucky, Sabine, James and Jolene sat around the oak table eating warm almond croissants and drinking hot coffee. “We have to have a plan to deal with this creature,” Jolene said. “Chasing it with a broom is not going to stop these attacks. I’m proud of you” she said nodding towards Lilly and Roland. “In the midst of an attack you were able to act like warrior priest and priestess and protect yourselves. I’m concerned next time you won’t be in the comfort and safety of your home.”
Roland licked his lips and looked around the table, “Regina has already sent the vile creature to invade Lilly’s dreams. Now, she is sending it to threaten her home. I’d say the attacks on both fronts are sure to escalate. We have to take action.”
Sabine suggested they call in other members of the coven, “Gemma and Forest know a bit about what is going on already.”
James, who had been silent, spoke up, “Let’s make sure all of our members are informed. I don’t think there is a need to get everyone involved at this time, however they need to be apprised of the situation. We may need some members of the group to watch the shop, or help out in other ways. Let’s work on a plan and call on the other members when we need their help.”
Jolene spoke with authority, “We’ll gather in our meditation temple tonight when the moon rises. Be prepared for invocation, deep meditation and multi-dimensional journeying. We’ll seek the council and protection of our ancestors, guides and guardians. Together, we will call on the wisdom of the goddess and the strength
