“Very well, let us cross Peoria and then we will go up through the Rose Gardens and approach the park from the south, atop the ridge. The Garden Center will be deserted. If I remember correctly, the rear of the mansion will provide some protection from the elements. You girls can leave your clothes there while Lynette reminds you of your roles. Then we will enter the park and prepare to release your goddess.”
“Ok-k-kay, y-y-yeah, that s-sounds good.” Vanessa’s teeth chattered, and she shivered violently before stepping back to huddle with the other young women as they continued to follow Lynette and Neferet. They wore their velvet cloaks that corresponded to the element they each pretended to represent. Beneath the cloaks they wore nothing but bathrobes. On their feet were thick Ugg boots that Neferet had always thought were terribly unattractive, but they did allow them to traverse the icy streets and sidewalks without slipping too much.
As Neferet had explained in private to Lynette—the girls were not to bring anything with their clothes that could identify their bodies. No purses, no credit cards, nothing personal at all. The fact that they were each wearing extremely expensive bathrobes they’d ordered specially through the Blue Dolphin, a posh linen shop in Utica Square, was annoying enough, but dearest Lynette had thought of a way to get rid of those as well. All Neferet had to do was to be sure their bodies couldn’t be identified, and for that she had her ravenous children and the power of the new moon.
The driveway that stretched up to the historic Snedden Mansion that housed the Tulsa Garden Center was so ice covered that they were forced to walk up the expansive front lawn.
“Hurry, we are far too easy to see out here in the open!” Neferet commanded, forcing the girls to slip and slide behind her as she increased the pace.
Finally, they got to the mansion and rushed around back. In the distinctive style of the Italian Renaissance, majestic white columns held up arched stone that, more than a century before, had shielded gaily dressed party-goers from the harsh Oklahoma weather.
The five young women huddled beneath the protective stone, shivering and shifting from foot to foot in an attempt to keep warm.
Lynette faced them. “Why, I wish you could see how perfectly wild and dramatic you look! Your face paint is exquisite, and the ice has turned your cloaks to jewels.”
Amber’s voice was sharp with irritation. “If you’d let us bring our phones, you could take our picture.”
“Would that picture be worth keeping your goddess trapped?” Neferet snapped. “Dearest Lynette already explained to you that what I am about to do is to conjure ancient spirits, and technology offends them. If they are offended, they will not be as powerful, and it will take a powerful spell to break loose Neferet!” Of course, nothing she said was true. The only spirits that would be used that night would be the power from their five deaths—and the only things conjured would be her children, who were already there surrounding them, though invisible to everything except Lynette and the strength of the new moon.
“We understand,” Vanessa said. “We’re ready to get this over with and go back to the house with our goddess.” The girl’s blue eyes narrowed. “Did you say you and your handmaid would be returning with our Neferet?”
“We didn’t say,” Neferet answered, carefully holding her irritation at the young woman’s offensive question in check. “But there tends to be room for only one goddess per home, and Lynette and I shall be on our way back to our own shortly.”
Vanessa and the others looked relieved, and Neferet was again amazed at their naivete. She’d read the news reports of what this world’s Neferet had done a year ago, and how they could imagine she would be a gracious guest, holding court over ridiculous girls, was beyond her comprehension.
“Lynette, dearest, while you remind the Dark Sisters of the roles they must willingly play tonight, I shall scout ahead and be sure the park is empty. When I return we will be ready to begin.”
“Yes, my lady.”
“Oh, and one other thing,” Neferet added. “Be sure each of the Dark Sisters takes several drinks of the excellent single malt scotch I tucked away in your satchel. It will help warm them.” And make their minds foggy and their reflexes slow.
“Thank you for reminding me, my lady.” Lynette faced the shivering women who had perked up the moment Neferet had mentioned booze. “Okay, ladies, after I remind you of your roles, it will be time for you to take off your robes and give them to me. I will fold and place them in this bag so that they remain dry and ready for you when the ritual is over.”
Neferet smiled to herself. The women would never return, though the robes would remain dry. Well, more accurately, they would be tossed into a nearby dumpster and set ablaze by the fire starters Lynette carried inside the chic bag she’d borrowed from Vanessa.
“You know, Lynette,” Vanessa had taken to pronouncing her name carefully since Neferet had put an end to her overt insolence. “You really were born to serve.”
Neferet wanted to spin around and fly at the impertinent, spoiled child’s throat, but Lynette’s response drifted through the falling ice to make her smile.
“Yes, I was. Just as you were born to be a willing participant in the freeing of your goddess.”
Still grinning, Neferet walked quickly to the uppermost tier of the Tulsa Rose Gardens. She wished she had time to enjoy the night. The ice had turned everything from bleak to magickal. The only light came from the greenhouse that sat to the
