A Witch in Venice

Chapter 1: Ancient Sword

New Haven, Connecticut. New Year's Eve 2006.

"Who needs Venice?" Dean scanned the group sitting at the table as if challenging them to contradict him. "We're surrounded by cartoons, nonstop beer, pizza, and chicken wings." He tossed a nod in Chloe's direction. "I hope you noted I named all the key food groups. What better way to ring in 2006!"

Sam smiled ruefully at Maia. She'd probably disagree, but she'd gone along with Chloe's suggestion to party at Shazam Karaoke in New Haven. The club must have been decorated with Dean in mind. Large posters of superheroes were on the walls with Batman-style word bubbles on the ceiling.

Dean was the only one of the group who'd performed, belting out rock classics till he was booted off by yells for songs by the Backstreet Boys. At midnight, they'd taken their beer outside to watch the fireworks over the West River.

Chloe and Maia insisted on picking up the tab for the party. Chloe's contract to write Dork Guides for Wooster House had been extended but now she could work remotely. She'd moved to New Haven which was also home to Sam's girlfriend Maia. Girlfriend ... That word still took getting used to.

After Jessica died, Sam didn't think he'd ever call another woman his girlfriend. But then what were the odds he'd be dating a doctoral candidate at Yale? If you factored in the probability that the woman would be distantly related to a woman Dean was smitten with, the resulting number was astronomically remote, and yet it was true. Sam used to think his chance of finding lasting happiness with a woman was nil as long as he was a hunter. But Maia and Chloe were proving to him and Dean that the possibility wasn't as slim as they'd thought.

In the meantime, he was enjoying the moment. Maia had invited Chloe to live in the second bedroom of her cottage. He and Dean were also welcome there whenever they were in town.

"I'm much happier you're not in Venice," Chloe agreed, "but how could you have turned down Mozzie's offer?" She sighed longingly. "Free airfare to Venice has to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"I was surprised to hear Mozzie and Janet are in Venice," Maia said, "but then I'm not sure what he does for a living."

"Neither am I," Sam said, although he'd wager most of it was illegal.

"Janet's helping a fellow designer with costumes for the carnival season," Chloe explained. "She told me that Neal, Sara, and the Burkes are also in Venice for New Year's."

"Mozzie called a couple of days ago," Dean said. "Neal found another painting that shows the witch from Connecticut, Alcy Lancaster. This time it was painted by a nineteenth-century artist. Neal's now found Alcy in paintings from three different centuries."

Maia clasped Sam's hand under the table. "More confirmation that Alcy's another name for Astrena. If that goddess is in Venice, I'm glad you didn't go."

"We're a long, long way from taking off to Italy," Dean confirmed. "Just because Alcy liked Venice centuries ago doesn't mean she's a fan now."

"But you can't dismiss the possibility," Chloe argued. "No one's seen her in the States since her house was destroyed."

"True," he admitted, "but we shouldn't jump the gun on equating Alcy with Astrena. Instead of being the goddess, she could be one of her sicko sisters."

"From what we've read, the sisters are just as evil," Maia said. "Psychically feeding off artists and musicians." She shuddered. "My point stands. If she's in Venice, I'm glad you're not."

Maia had little understanding of the life he and Dean led on the road. If it wasn't Alcy, it'd be some other demon or monster. And they'd likely be a lot more violent.