Chapter. 40

“…they cut…your hair off?” Diana lifted her eyes up and saw the look of horror on Agnes face. “Maybe you told your mother and she spelled your hair back on before I came back from an errand? She never told me. I tell you girl, if I had known, I’d have marched to that bloody school and had both Robinsons by their ears. Cousins of yours or no.” She added at the end to Anna.

“I had no idea.” Anna frowned and walked up to Diana to touch her arm. “They bullied you? I’m so sorry. I’m not naïve. I know they’re not very nice. But to cut your hair off…”

“Just don’t invite me to any family gatherings with the Robinsons.” Diana added with a shrug.

“Nor me.” Agnes added, looking ready for blood herself. “Not unless I can go with a batch of my strongest bowl movement brownies to give the blighters.” Diana couldn’t help but snigger at the thought of the twins shitting themselves.

“Can she? That would be awesome.”

“I can’t condone that.” Anna, ever the Coven Mother shook her head…with a chuckle. “But they can find themselves not invited for the foreseeable future to any of the greater rituals and ceremonies.” Anna nodded firmly. Diana still rather preferred Agnes’ offer, but the gesture from her sister was very much appreciated.

“Thanks guys. I appreciate the support. Man it just feels so raw you know? The memories coming back to me.” She fed her precious plait through her hands. Diana had taken extra time to brush and weave it that morning after losing it in her dream. No, her memory. “Something else happened in my memory, but I can’t tell you about it.”

“What?” Anna gasped and took hold of Diana’s biceps. “You mean the shadow beast was in your memories? You met it as a child?” She looked horrified when Diana nodded. “What did it do? What did it want? Was mother there?”

“I can’t tell you about…but I can tell you mother wasn’t there.” Diana sighed and untangled herself from her sister’s hands to retrieve her coffee. She regretted the extra sugar, but needed the caffeine to help fight off the grogginess of the night before. “When can we astral walk again?”

“W-well when you’ve recovered.” Anna seemed caught off guard by the question. “I would have thought that after the werewolf incident you wouldn’t want to rush back in so soon?”

“Oh trust me? The werewolves are not scary compared to…” Her voice clamed down and she groaned in her throat. “I want answers. I’m tired of being blindsided. I want to find a way to break the curses acting on me so I can remember everything, and stop having nightmares. I want the truth.”

“So do I.” Anna nodded and held her hand. “Trust me I do, but astral walking is very draining on the witch. We’re taking that toil for you by using our magic for you. It’s not a great drain since there are more of us to share the burden, but Elaina is the one anchoring and guiding you out of your body. She has to recover too.”

“Can you ask her when she can go again?” Diana urged.

“Of course.” Anna nodded and took her cell from her blue clutch bag. “Now I have business meetings all day today. Some with the coven, some with our business partners and investors. I thought you might be pleased to have this.” She retrieved a key from her bag and offered it to Diana with a bright smile. “You’re protected now Diana. You can’t leave Salem, but if you’d like to start looking for an apartment and a job, you can do so. Don’t rush to move out though…”

“I’m happy to stay here a while longer.” Diana accepted the key and enjoyed the relief on Anna’s face. In truth, she did feel safer with the other witch under the same roof as her. “I’ll definitely stretch my legs and start job hunting though.” Diana grinned and chucked as she noticed the keychain attached to the key. It was an metal black cauldron with the words ‘have a magical day’ engraved on it. “Cute.” She rolled her brown eyes and saluted her sister. “You have a magical day too.”

“I hope to. Let’s talk over dinner about how you get on and your next astral walk.” She waved over her shoulder. On her way out to be the Coven Mother and Couper business power house she was. Probably with Knox in tow, but Diana couldn’t see him.

Not that she wanted to. All those hands…ek. No thanks.

“Well if you’ll be job hunting, let’s get you looking smart shall we?” Agnes led the charge. Diana grabbed her toast to chew at speed through as she chased the older woman up the stairs. She brushed the crumbs off her face and walked into her bedroom to find Agnes had both hands raised and clothes were walking around the place.

Oh yes.

It looked like invisible people were wearing her clothes and walking out of her wardrobe to strut around her bedroom. Diana gawked from the doorway with her eyes wide and a butter smear on her cheek. Of course Agnes thinks that’s a totally normal thing to do to choose an outfit.

“I help Anna choose her outfits for the day too. As I did Isabella.” Agnes sighed and Diana softened at the wistful look on her face. Diana forgot sometimes she’s not the only one mourning what she’d lost.

“Alright Auntie Agnes-” The older woman nearly snapped her neck she turned to look at Diana that fast. “-but nothing too fancy. I’m not qualified for much more than stacking shelves and flipping pancakes.”

“Would smart causal be the look you’d prefer?” Agnes flicked her wrist to dismiss two of the invisible people back into the wardrobe. Diana craned her head over and watched the clothes slide back onto their hangers. That is pretty cool. “How about this one?” Agnes waved the ‘model’ to strut back and forth in front of Diana. “You seem to prefer wearing trousers to a dress.”

“Yeah I do. I think this looks great.” Diana gave the black slacks and cream chiffon blouse up and down. It looked much more suitable than the jeans and sweater she was currently wearing.

“Let’s try it on.” Agnes flicked her hand towards her.

“Sure I’ll just get-” The invisible model turned around and flew backwards at Diana. “-jeez I…huh?” Diana’s hands patted herself down to check she wasn’t missing anything. She was now swearing the soft slacks and blouse. A quick glance behind her grunt and stagger back from the ghost now wearing her jeans and sweater. It walked into the wardrobe, along with the other outfit wearing spectres, to leave Diana to stare in shock at Agnes.

“Very nice.” She walked over to adjust the collar around Diana’s neck and cupped her cheeks. “You’re a beautiful young woman and your mother would be very proud of you.”

“Even though I’m not a witch and I’m not a business tycoon?”

“Ay. She was a woman who respected hard work. My goodness you’ve worked hard to get here. I can tell. It’s good to have you home pet.” She hugged Diana, but let go before she could think about hugging her back. “Now you have a key, but you won’t remember Salem very well. Can I drive you into town? I’m going grocery shopping myself so it’s no bother.”

“That would be great.” Diana nodded and exhaled deeply. She was looking forward to getting some independence and freedom back. A sense of normalcy.