“Okay, okay. You’re probably right that we should tell him what we’re up to—just to be considerate.” She knocked on Sly’s door.
When he didn’t open it right away, Gwyneth called out, “It’s just little ol’ us, Sly. No big baddies out here.”
He opened the door and glanced around them up and down the hall. “Sorry girls. I knew you were out here. I just had to be sure he hadn’t compelled you.”
“We understand,” Morgaine said. “We’d like to do a locator spell to know where your maker’s lair is. We need to do it here in the hallway in front of your door—while his energy is fresh.”
Sly frowned. “I hate calling him my maker. I hate calling him my anything, but we don’t even know his name.”
“We could call him A-hole,” Morgaine said and winked.
That made Sly laugh.
“And pretty soon,” Gwyneth added, “A-hole won’t be able to get into the building, don’t you fret. Sorry, but I don’t like to swear—except when doin’ phone sex. Tomorrow I’m headed off to Witch City, Salem, Mass. I’ll find out what to do there.”
Sly sighed. “Thanks. I appreciate any help you can give me.”
Morgaine turned to Gwyneth and said, “We may be able to do more.”
Sounding hopeful, Sly asked, “Like what?”
“I’ll tell you what we discussed after this.”
“Okay. Mind if I watch my two favorite witches in action? Or is that against some kind of Wiccan rules?”
Gwyneth smiled. “It ain’t agin’ no rules I know of.”
“It’s fine if you watch, but…” Morgaine spread out the Boston street map. “Stay inside your apartment. I don’t want to confuse your energy with his. Especially since I may have to call him “the vampire” and the divine ones can be very literal.”
“Sure. Of course.” Sly took a step back, but left his door open and stood there, riveted to the scene.
The women sat cross-legged on the cold floor on either side of the map. Morgaine placed the compass on their present location. As expected, it pointed due North.”
They closed their eyes and held hands. Then took three deep breaths.
Together, they chanted, “God and Goddess, hear our plea. This intention bound shall be, to cause no harm nor turn on me. As by your will, so mote it be.”
Then Morgaine spoke alone. “Please use these tools to help us locate the source of evil energy that stood here tonight. We come here with pure hearts and a singular purpose. To protect ourselves, our neighbors, and especially our friend, Sylvestro Flores.”
They let their eyes drift open and watched as the arrow on the tiny compass twitched at first. Finally, it moved slowly, but with purpose, in a singular direction. When it stopped, it was pointing southeast.
Sly let out a whistle. “I wouldn’t have believed it, if I hadn’t seen it myself.”
Morgaine held up one hand to let him know they weren’t finished. She slowly moved the compass toward the southeast. She stopped street by street until the arrow began to move again. She slowed her forward progress until it spun.
“Gotcha!” Gwyneth clapped her hands.
Morgaine looked closer. “It’s between Clarendon and Dartmouth Streets. I’d say it’s close to the corner of Commonwealth and Clarendon. What’s over there?”
Sly cocked his head. “A residential neighborhood, like this one. It’s only a few blocks away. Haven’t you explored your own neighborhood in the city?”
“Uh, I—uh, don’t get out much,” Morgaine said, her cheeks heating. As she rose from the floor, she realized he didn’t know about her agoraphobia. “Thanks for your help, Gwyneth.” She reached down and helped her cousin up. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Gwyneth waved away the compliment. “T’weren’t nuthin’.”
“It’s nice to see you two getting along again,” Sly said. “I heard you arguing the other night. I know you turned up the radio so I couldn’t hear what it was about. It was none of my business, after all.”
Gwyneth folded her arms. “I wish everyone would mind their own beeswax.”
