Little Red Riding Witch

012: Coven Leader

[Gideon]

Her eyes, her intense sparkling eyes, are the first thing that catches my attention. Edged in red cat-eye frames, they are a startling blue-ringed with silver, not gray, silver. The next thing I notice is her aura, blue and violet ringed in bright silver like her eyes with a touch of warm orange-red: so much power, so much potential, so much untapped passion.

What a shame. Because I’m not sure that this girl is worth my time.

“You!” her face is turning red. I can tell she’s just as disappointed as I am.

I smile. She’s adorable when she’s angry.

“Coven Leader,” Slone bows. It's embarrassing watching this talentless girl grovel. How remarkable it is that Slone has a friend with so much power (a friend who is completely clueless about her true nature as a natural-born witch) when she has absolutely no power herself, but all the book knowledge of a proper witch? What an unlikely pair. And to think, based on what Slone expressed via text message, they have known each other for 15 years... If Slone had even a spark of ability, she'd have sensed this girl's nature long ago.

If only I could combine the two they'd be the perfect apprentice.

Too bad that isn't possible.

"This jerk is your head witch?" Rosalynd curls her lip at me. "Why would I want to hear anything he has to say."

"How do you know Gideon?" Marigold asks, placing a handcarefully on Rosalynd's bare shoulder. The dress this girl is wearing is obscene. You can tell it's borrowed because it hardly covers her ass, it's so short and tight. Her breasts are threatening to bubble from the top like foamy beer if she bends forward even a little. And the white fabric, stretched so tightly over her curves, leaves almost nothing to the imagination.

Peeling my eyes away from her obscene display I respond. "You could say we ran into each other," I grin down at her.

"Ha!" She scowls.

"Really?" Slone looks horrified. "Like actually."

I pull a chair up to their booth and take a seat. I can feel their eyes on me as I adjust my trousers, vest, jacket, and tie before slowly pulling out a handkerchief. I take my time, meticulously cleaning my glasses, one lens at a time, as the coven watches, nobody wanting to interrupt my process as I become situated. Everyone knows I won't speak until I'm ready. They are used to my little grounding rituals.

It is only after I have placed my glasses back onto my nose that I bother to respond. "Yes, Ms. Tracy. Quite literally. Your friend here was responsible for my tardiness to my afternoon lecture. Had she not carelessly ran into me while texting her boyfriend," the girl opens her mouth, but I do not give her a chance to interrupt as I continue, "If it weren't for her mindless wandering around campus, I'd have been able to arrive on time and have my papers in order." Slone looks mortified. "As it was, not only was I five minutes late, but it took me another five minutes to rearrange my notes and another five minutes after that to finally feel settled." Adjusting my glasses I look over at Rosalynd, whose face is so red I can practically see steam.

"From what I understand, Ms Tracy," My smile grows as I place my folded hands on the table, "Your friend has made a mess of her life. She has nowhere to live, no job, and if my guess is correct, isn't even a student." Rosalynd's face begins to puff up as she opens and closes her mouth like a fish out of water. I don't even give her the chance to explain as I begin to tick off my reasoning with my fingers as I continue. "She has no money, no prospects, no plan, and a car that cannot travel more than 50 miles before breaking down. Quite frankly, I'm not sure that this coven has the resources to help someone so incapable of helping themselves, a person who runs haphazardly into potentially dangerous situations without a thought to how she might be inconveniencing those around her. And I..."

"Excuse you?" Rosalynd glares at me from across the table. The waves of energy pouring from her are intoxicating. Just being in her presence is making me power drunk. "What makes you think I even want your help?"

"Maybe you don't," I admit. "You don't even believe any of this is real. Why would we want to work with someone who doesn't even respect us? We have enough people in this world to think our craft, our religion, and our very way of living is a joke. Why should we make an exception for an unbeliever like yourself?" I scoff. "Just because your friend asks nicely? I'm sorry, dear, but knowing someone who likes crystals and reads tarot doesn't make you a witch."

The coven is silent. Slone starts to giggle nervously. The twins eye each other, shifting from side to side. Antigone looks like she's about to faint and Rainy is holding her hand, trying to keep her girlfriend steady. As Rosalynd's untrained power bounces off of the shields of my heavily disciplined abilities, the aftershocks leave everyone in the room stunned by the backlashing energy, creating a nervous buzz that affects even those without magic.

Eventually, it's Marigold who suggests "Hey, guys I feel we have all gotten off to a bad start. How about we have another round of drinks now that Gideon is here and then we can head in for some karaoke."

Nobody is listening. All eyes are glued on the situation brewing between me and Rosalynd.

Rosalynd stands. I watch as she takes three deep breaths, each breath pulling her power inward, calming the room. She is doing it intuitively, without instruction.

"You're right," she agrees. "I'm not a believer. But," she makes eye contact and I see the sincerity of her words. "We came here with pure intentions asking for your guidance." Placing a hand on her friend's shoulder, she apologizes. "I'm sorry, Slone. I tried. But it looks like we won't find any answers here."

She turns to everyone else as she picks up a red wool cape and drapes it around her shoulders. "I'm sorry for wasting all of your time. You seem like lovely people."

And then, without giving me a second glance, she walks out of the bar.

I take a handful of shaking breaths before rushing out after her.

"Wait!" I call after her.