Chapter 3

• It only took half an hour to get everything sorted out. Cora set the last package on the shelf they’d discovered behind a curtain they thought was a window. She looked over at Owen. “Were you expecting us to feed the whole camp?”
• Owen shrugged and then grinned at Chris. “Just didn’t want anyone to go hungry. You never know when those middle-of-the-night munchies will get you.” Cora laughed.
• Rachel was already putting some of the food back in bags. “If no one objects, I’m going to take this to the children’s area. Munchies always come in handy there.”
• Steven nodded. “I’ll go over with you and see if any of my fest kids are here.”
• Straightening from setting up the little travel table, Leena glanced at the women. “Before anyone goes anywhere ladies, shall we cleanse and protect?” The women nodded and went into their room. Leena looked around at the men. “A little tradition, although we could use this to recharge the gris-gris too.”
• Cora nodded as she walked back out. “Yes, good idea.” She stepped forward and placed a wooden carved mask on the table. “To watch over all,” she said and stood to the side.
• Rachel stepped up and placed her large blue and black candles down. Holding her hand over them, they smoldered and then caught fire. “To protect and repel negative.” She took her place beside Cora.
• Kasey stepped up to set a large piece of raw jasper down. “To bring courage and tranquility to us all.” She stepped over next to Cora.
• Leena stepped up and opened her hand over a small dish. Herbs floated from her palm, then settled in the dish, immediately smoldering. She waited for the smoke to rise and then lifted her hands. “To cleanse and protect us all.”
• Chris watched as the smoke swirled around the small table, then around each of them before circling the room and coming back to the dish.
• Cora motioned them to form a circle.
• The four women joined hands with the men and as soon as the circle was complete a warm tingle shot through their hands before everyone let go.
• “That should also strengthen the gris-gris bags,” Cora said as she went to sit down.
• Chris raised his eyebrows at Kasey. “Tranquility?”
• She nodded. “I didn’t know if everyone else was as uneasy as I was after Beltane, so I thought it wouldn’t hurt.” She looked down at her clasped hands.
• “A perfect choice, Kasey, thank you.”
• Dade sat on the edge of the little couch and sent Chris a determined look. “To test your stone out, Kase, now would be as good a time as any to discuss what Justin asked the men to do, before we all head in different directions.” All eyes were on him at once.
• Dade glanced once at Cora. “Justin says this undercover cop asked if the four of us would help by making rounds, off and on throughout the next few nights.” The other three men nodded, but none were jumping in to help Dade explain.
• “Alone?” Cora asked. Dade nodded and started to speak when she stepped in front of him and looked down at him, hands on hips. “I don’t think so.”
• “Coralee, the killer isn’t after men, obviously from that vision...”
• “No,” was all she said and then sat down, crossing her arms in front of her.
• Chris looked around at the women. He had been sure this wasn’t going to go over smoothly. “I have a suggestion.” Everyone looked at him. “We could take turns going out as couples and wandering around. It would look less suspicious.” He grinned over at Kasey. “I don’t know about you, but I’d feel safer knowing Kasey was with me. If we saw anything, she could work a confine spell while I ran for help.” Kasey laughed and put her hand over her mouth.
• Owen chuckled. “He’s right, well, for the most part. I’d feel better with Leena beside me than worrying about her.”
• Dade laughed. “You just want to sneak off and have sex in the bushes with her, bro. Tell the truth.”
• Owen grinned back at him. “Hadn’t thought of that, but not a bad idea, thanks.” Leena lifted a cushion from the couch with a brush of air and tossed it towards him.
• Ducking, Owen laughed and walked towards her. “Behave, woman.” He grinned.
• Steven stood up. “Other than the sex thing, which does have some merit, I agree with the idea.” He looked over at Rachel and smiled. “Well, warrior woman, you want to protect me from the dark shadows?”
• Rachel laughed and then shrugged.
• Cora stretched. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m going to go try to grab a nap. It’s going to be a long night, and getting up at dawn to light the Solstice fire will be even more difficult if we’ve all been in and out all night.”
• Dade nodded. “I’ll head over and let Justin know our plans. I also want to see what this undercover cop looks like, so we don’t attack him thinking he’s the killer.”
• Leena sighed. “See if you can get the list of registrants too, Dade. We could check them with the Beltane list before dinner.”
• Dade saluted her and walked out the door grinning.
• Rachel grabbed the bag of munchies and headed to the door. “You know where to find me.”
• Steven followed her. “Me too.”
• Leena grinned at Owen suggestively.
• Owen held up a hand. “I know that grin, it says, ‘Come get me,’ but the eyes are saying, ‘Owen, honey, I need a hand with something.’”
• She laughed. “I do need your hand, to hold mine while we walk through the woods and meadows, foraging.”
• He shrugged. “I can do that.” He took the bag she held out and opened the door.