The meeting with Calliope couldn't come fast enough. Ivy never opened up the shop. Her nerves sent her into a tizzy and left her stranded on the bed. At least Hunter hadn't come home last night. She wouldn't have been able to take that awkwardness on top of what was happening.
When Ella finally swung by with the car, Ivy let out a sigh of relief. She locked up the shop and sprinted for the vehicle. Marina's smiling face greeted her as she slid into the backseat.
"Hey, thanks again." Ivy buckled herself in. Ella gave a slight wave to say no problem.
"So...Calliope, did anyone warn her we were coming by?" Aura mused as she fiddled with the radio. Marina squeaked but didn't buck up to answer the question. "I'll take that as a no."
"Should we?" Ella pursed her lips, giving the group a quick glance. She turned the car onto a windy street, weaving between patches of forest. At the speed Ella drove, Ivy couldn't watch the blurring shapes out of her window without feeling nauseous.
"I think we're fine?" Marina scratched her head and let out a sigh. "I can call her if we want."
Ivy shook her head. "I think just showing up is fine. She always said we were welcome."
"Plus you don't know who could be listening." Ella's comment caused the whole car to freeze before they burst into a fit of giggles. Still, Ivy knew it was a semi-true statement.
The Pentacle sat back in their seats as Ella continued the path to Calliope's place. She lived on the far edge of town, closer to the road to Portland. Calliope had avoided the smokestacks of the industrial part of town by opting for a place in the mountains. The witches had been out here only a handful of times when Cassie wanted them to work on getting in touch with nature.
The sun had fallen midway through the sky, casting a golden blaze behind the cabin. Daylight savings time hadn't struck yet, affording the Pentacle a few more hours of sunlight. When they pulled up to the house, Calliope's door stood open, her screen door closed. The four women stood shoulder to shoulder as they stared at the beautiful home.
The craftsman architecture shone with a little evidence of age. Twin columns framed the door at the start of the porch. Flowers cascaded over the edges of the flower boxes under stained-glass windows. Ivy imagined Calliope sitting on her porch with a cup of tea in hand just watching the world pass by. She envisioned Cassie playing with her toys on the deck listening to Calliope tell stories. To have a home, a steady one at that, Ivy could only imagine what it must be like.
"Is this the best idea?" Marina broke the silence, looking back at the others. Ivy pushed the wistful thoughts to the back of her mind. She'd never be able to relive her childhood so there was no point in re-imagining the past.
"Is this the best idea?" Marina broke the silence, looking back at the others.
"It's the only way," Ella replied, tight lipped. She made the first move to the screen door and gave it a heavy knock.
What seemed like minutes passed before a frail figure arrived at the door. Ivy wasn't even sure that was Calliope, but when the woman gave them a warm smile, they knew it was she. Calliope flicked the door open and gestured for them to come in.
"My darlings." She opened her arms wide, slightly stumbling back in doing so. "It's been awhile."
"Since the last Council meeting," Aura noted, hugging the elder.
"Oof." Calliope readjusted herself in anticipation for more hugs. Marina followed suit, but Ivy and Ella stood back. "Come sit. Sit. We'll fix us up some tea and you can tell me why you've made the trip to see me."
The women waited for their elder to make the move, but when she could barely step forward, they went ahead of her. Calliope joined them in her own time, plopping down on her high-backed armchair. It engulfed her, a far cry from the power she had exuded at the Council meeting.
"Marina, be a dear and prepare some tea if you wouldn't mind," Calliope instructed. She rested her head against the back of the chair and took a deep breath. "Now, tell me, what are you lovelies doing here?"
"Something...something happened last night," Aura started, looking around the room. "We can't exactly explain it, but we know it's not a good sign."
Calliope remained solemn. Her face betrayed no sign of emotion as she waited on them to continue. Ivy watched her with fascination. Is this what her grandmother might look like? She never had seen photos of anyone else in the family. Her mother never talked about her parents or other relatives, which left Ivy's mind to wonder and wander. When her eyes made it to Calliope's bony hands, she realized how fragile they looked. One wrong gesture and her bones could break.
"I started a storm," Ivy blurted out, covering her mouth with a hand after it slipped out. Calliope's eyebrow twitched, but her mouth stayed closed. "We were all arguing as everything just escalated. One moment it was sunny and the next it was pouring down rain."
"You're saying you started the storm?" Calliope's voice cracked as she fought back disbelief.
"Yes, she is." Marina stood at the doorway with a tray of mugs. "I saw and felt it. The storm began with her."
"Remind me again, you're the earth witch, correct?" Calliope clasped her hands in front of her, leaning on her knees.
Ivy nodded, her curls cascading in front of her face. She shook them back to find Calliope's eyes boring into hers. Ivy was too stunned to look away, like a dear caught in headlights.
"You'll need to go see Helga." Calliope turned from Ivy to the rest of the group, shifting from side to side in her seat. "She'll know more."
"But we came to you," Aura protested as she landed at Calliope's feet. Ivy took note of how Aura looked up at Calliope with an admiration that one could wonder if Calliope was her own grandmother. "We trust you."
"My girl," Calliope rested her hands on either side of Aura's cheeks. "You can trust Helga by the mere fact that I trust her. I cannot help you on this matter. I can barely help myself."
"Calliope, what are you saying?" Aura's head jutted back, out of Calliope's grasp. She looked at the others, her eyes landing on Marina who also had grew up under Calliope's influence.
Marina floated around the group, handing the elder a steaming mug of tea. "You're...what are you saying?"
"I feel it in my bones. Something is coming." Calliope brought the mug to her lips, blowing on the liquid to cool it down. "You must go find Helga. She will help."
When nobody moved, Calliope gestured with her hand for them to get up and get going. "There is no time to waste. Go." The Pentacle leapt to their feet and scrambled to gather their things. "The descent up the mountain and its forest begins behind the house. Keep going, and you'll find your way, though she may find you first."
"Calliope, we can't just leave you." Aura clasped Calliope's hand. "One of us should stay back."
"Not even an option," Calliope shook her head fiercely. Ivy held back a chuckle as Calliope took her stubborn stance. It reminded Ivy of Cassie and when she refused to change her opinion or stance. "You all must go. She can give you the answers I cannot."
The Pentacle each gave her a hug before they exited the backdoor. They stared up the towering range before them and started the journey in silence. Aura and Marina led the group as they talked in hushed tones. Ella and Ivy didn't know Calliope very well, other than in the role of Cassie's grandmother. Now here she was sending them on a chase for a witch in the woods by the name of Helga. From one extreme to the next, Ivy thought to herself.
A/N
Wait, what is this? Two chapters in two days?
Why yes, I didn't make a mistake :)
I haven't been super consistent so I wanted to drop an extra chapter for y'all.
Drop a line and let me know what you think :)
Thanks again for all the votes/comments/reads.
Hope you are all doing well!