As the song came to an end, silver tears tracked down Abbi’s cheeks.
The witches sank down to their knees, hands lifted toward Abbi. In their hands were flowers, leaves, stones, fruits, and yes, cookies.
Abbi stood. The forest was—impossibly—still a forest. Silent.
Light surrounded her, a soft, green power that grew.
In that light she was rabbit, swift and strong andmagic. “I understand,” Abbi said. “I’ll do what I can. I promise you we all will.”
Lula sighed. “Shit.”
I shook my head, but didn’t speak. Lu reached for me, found my right hand. I squeezed. Whatever Abbi had just promised us into, we would do it together.
“Now,” Abbi said, “let us be where we are.”
The forest dropped away. The sky, the night, the soft wind, gone.
I shifted on the hard chair at the table, leaned back, and crossed my arms over my chest, wincing as I forgot my injured left wrist.
Abbi was still out on the dance floor, because of course she was.
The witches—men, women, and others—gathered closer around her, each taking a moment to touch her outstretched hands, leaving the gifts of flowers, leaves, fruit, and cookies in a basket at her feet.
Then they calmly returned to their seats, chatting as if they’d just had a nice lunch social.
Cassia bent and picked up the basket.
Abbi spun toward me and Lula. “We should help them.”
I raised my eyebrows.
“Why?” Lula asked.
“I don’t think…” Cassia said.
“Just listen,” Abbi said, catching Cassia by the wrist and tugging her to our table. “I know you’ll want to help. It’s about a little girl.”
Abbi pulled chairs out for both of them and waited for Cassia to sit before clambering into the other chair. “Now we can all talk about it,” Abbi said.
“Why do you need our help? Who is the child?” Lula asked.
“We don’t need your help,” Cassia said. “This isn’t your business.”
“You wanted our help back at the motel,” I said.
“Well, yes. But that was before the Moon Rabbit offered hers.”
“I promisedallof our help,” Abbi said.
I couldn’t hold back my sigh.
“Does she not speak for you?” Cassia asked me.
“We’re family,” I said with a shrug.
Abbi made a happy sound.
“Of course she speaks for us, even,” I added, giving Abbi a look, “when we’d prefer she ask us first. You told us you and your people would find the thing we are looking for. Does that still stand?”
