Then the birds, like they were of one mind, lifted their black wings, their white-spotted bodies taking to the air with incredible grace and fury.
They both cursed, grabbing each other's hand as they ran from the property to the sidewalk. The birds came at them. The women could feel them at their backs like something was pressing in, both of them running the fifteen yards, hand-in-hand with survival on their heels. Then, a chorus of cries pulled both of them to a halt as they watched the murmuration of black and white turn sharply as though there were an invisible barrier, swoop to the left in a large arc until they landed back on the roof. Both women were bent over, hands on knees as they looked at the house and then each other.
"I think that's proof that our bourbon-soaked protection spell worked," Ursula said in awe.
"I think we need to call the police," Eloise said, and this time Ursula agreed.
"Anonymously?"
"There's too much probability that someone saw us. Or a doorbell camera did. If we hide it, we look more suspicious."
Ursula gave her a look. "I told you we're too old for your crazy ideas."
Eloise held up a hand as she dialed. "This had nothing to do with age. Did you see us sprint like we were in the WNBA?"
"Yeah, I'm actually quite impressed with us. I haven't needed to run like that since high school gym."
"Hey, Taylor," Eloise said into the phone, her eyes connecting with Ursula's, the same thoughts going through both of their minds. They knew what this meant.
This was only going to damn them as the witches of The Lost Souls.
Two hours later and the women were sitting across from Chief Theodore Landry who was wearing a stern face that said he knew how to play poker and once they were finished telling him why they were there, and that they had not done anything odd to Carol Weatherby, his poker face was still strong.
He tapped the metal table once and stood. "I'll be back. Sit tight."
"Okay, that man is terrifying," Ursula whispered.
"Are you getting a Tom Selleck thing from him?"
Ursula nodded her dark head which could use a brush. "And oddly mixed with Colin Farrell."
Eloise snapped her fingers. "That's it. I was trying to figure it out."
Ursula tilted her head. "But also Gumby."
Eloise looked at her. "The freakish height thing?" Ursula nodded. "Mmm yeah, I can see it. There's something about him," she murmured and both women fell quiet as the starkness of the room, its barren silence and lack of color washed over them.
Ursula's head turned to the window and she frowned. "Is that Tilly?" Ursula asked seeing their friend with half black hair and half emerald green.
"Holy crap. Yep. And looks like she's giving Tom Gumby Farrell a piece of her mind."
Both women watched with awed expressions as their short friend who was generally docile and sweet tempered wagged a finger at the chief, who was considerably taller than her.
"She's half his size. Less than," Ursula said.
Eloise nodded, her eyebrows raised and voice impressed. "Yeah, she'd have to climb a ladder and have to face her fear of heights to be eye-to-eye with that man."
Ursula snorted.
"I missed your snort-laugh."
Ursula laid her head on Eloise's shoulder and smiled. "Wouldn't want to be in a police station being questioned about hexing a woman by having her surrounded by birds with anyone else."
Tilly looked up at the man standing in front of her and while she was steaming mad, he was cooler than a river in spring. Her hand was on her hip and she was pointing at him as he watched her. Intently. His eyes were a startling green. Almost the color of her self-hexed hair.
"Those two are kind and generous. They went over to talk to Carol Weatherby about our friend group and give her an exclusive interview, not to terrorize the woman with crows. That's horrible!"
"Starlings," he said without inflection.
