Power of the Witch

Chapter 12

''What are you still hanging around for?'' She added, as she swung her feet out of bed and carefully tried her legs. ''You're supposed to stick with her, even when she's in the house. Don't stand here staring at me.'' ''You're welcome for putting you back together again.'' Meg said, her eyes on the ceiling. In the doorway, she turned. ''And, you know, it wasn't Gabriel she kept screaming we had to go back to and get last night. It was you, Rachel.'' Rachel stared at the door as it shut, bewildered.

''You can't go to school.'' Rachel hissed. ''Do you hear me? You can not go to school.'' They were all sitting around the kitchen table. Rebecka's mother, a lovely woman with a knot of platinum hair coiled on her neck, was making breakfast. She seemed slightly anxious about her four new houseguests, but in a pleasantly excited way. She certainly wasn't suspicious. Grandma Harman had done a good job of brainwashing. ''We're going to have a wonderful Christmas.'' She said now, and her angelic smile grew brighter. ''We can go into Winston-Salem for a Christmas and Candle Tea. Have you ever had a Moravain sugarcake? I just wish Great-aunt Aylaine had been able to stay.'' Grandma Harman was gone. Rachel didn't know whether to be relieved or frustrated. Despite what she kept saying, as long as the old woman was around, Rachel would worry about her. But with her gone, there was nobody to appeal to, nobody who could order Rebecka into safekeeping. So now they were sitting and having this argument. It looked like such a normal breakfast scene, Rachel thought dryly. Rebecka's father had already left for work. Her mother was bustling around cheerfully. Her little brother was in a highchair making a mess with Cheerios.

Too bad that the four nicely dressed teenagers at the table were actually two shapeshifters, a witch and a vampire. Gabriel was directly opposite Rachel. There were shadows under his eyes - had anyone gotten any sleep last night? - and seemed subdued but relaxed. Rachel hadn't had a chance to speak to him since the dragon's attack. Not that she had anything to say. ''Orange juice, Rachelle?'' ''No, thank you, Mrs. Hartman.'' That was what this family thought their last name was. They didn't realize that witches trace their heritage through the fermale line and that both Rebecka and her mother were therefore Harmans. ''Oh please, call me Aunt Ida.'' The woman said. She had her daughter's violet-grey eyes and the smile of an angel. She was also pouring Rachel juice. Now I see where Rebecka gets her scintillating intelligence from, Rachel thought. ''Oh - thanks, Aunt Ida. And, actually, it's Rachel, not Rachelle.'' ''How unusual. But it's nice, and modern.'' ''It's my middle name, but that's what everybody calls me.'' ''Oh really? What's your first name?'' Rachel broke off a piece of toast, feeling uncomfortable. ''Raksha.'' ''But that's beautiful! Why don't you use it?'' Rachel shrugged. ''I just don't.'' She could see Gabriel looking at her. Shapeshifters usually were named for their animal form, but neither Rachel nor Raksha fit the pattern. ''I was abandoned as a kid.'' She said with a clipped voice, looking back at Gabriel. Rebecka's mother wouldn't be able to make anything of this, but she might as well satisfy the princeling's curiosity. ''So I don't know my real middle or last name. But my first name means ''demon''.''

Rebecka's mother paused with the juice carton over Rubys glass. ''Oh. How... nice. Well, then, I see.'' She blinked a couple of times and walked off without pouring Ruby any juice. ''So what does Gabriel mean?'' Rachel said, holding his gaze challengingly and handing her full glass to Ruby. He smiled - a little wryly - for the first time since sitting down. '' ''Calm''.'' Rachel snorted. ''It figures.'' ''I like Raksha better.'' Rachel didn't answer. With ''Aunt Ide'' safely in the kitchen, she could speak again to Rebecka. ''You understood before, right? That you can't go to school?'' ''I have to go to school.'' For somebody who looked as if she were made of spun glass, Rebecka ate a lot. She spoke around a mouthful of microwave pancake. ''It's out of the question. How can we go with you? What are we supposed to be, for Godess's sake?'' ''My long-lost cousin from Canada and her friends.'' Rebecka said indistinctly. ''Or you can all be exchange students who're here to study our American educational system.'' Before Rachel could say anything, she added. ''Hey, how come you guys aren't at school? Don't you have schools?'' ''We've got the same ones you do.'' Meg said. ''Except Ruby - she graduated last year. But Rachel - and I are seniors like you. We just take time off for this stuff.'' ''I bet your grades are as bad as mine.'' Rebecka said unemotionally. ''Anyway, I have to go to school this week. There are all sorts of class parties and things. You can come. It'll be fun.'' Rachel wanted to hit her wit the pot of grits. She had a problem, though. Rebecka's little brother Jimmy had escaped from his highchair and was climbing up her leg.

She looked down at him uneasily. She wasn't good with family-type things, and especially wasn't good with children. ''Ok.'' She said. ''Go on back and sit down.'' She peeled him off and tried to start him off in the right direction. He turned around and put his arms up. ''Kee-kee. Kee-kee.'' ''That's his word for ''kitty''.'' Rebecka's mother said, coming in with a plate of sausages. She ruffled his white-blond hair. ''You mean Kitty, Kitty.'' She told him. ''Rachel, Rachel,'' Meg corrected helpfully. Jimmy climed into Rachels lap, grabbed her hair, and hoisted himself into a standing postition. She found herself looking into huge violet baby eyes. Witch eyes. ''Kee-kee.'' He said flatly, and gave her a sloppy kiss on the cheek. Meg grinned. ''Having trouble?'' The kid had two chubby arms around Rachels neck now and was nudging her chin with his head like a kitten looking for pets. He had a good grip, too. This time, she couldn't peel him off. ''It's just - distracting.'' She said, giving up and petting him awkwardly. It was ridiculous. How could she argue with baby giggles in her ears? ''You look kind of sweet together.'' Rebecka observed. ''I'm getting dressed for school now. You guys can do whatever you want.'' She floated off while Rachel was trying to think of a reply. Ruby and Meg hastily followed her. Gabriel got up to help Rebecka's mother with the dishes. Rachel tugged at the baby, who clung like a sloth. Maybe there was a shapeshifters blood in this family. ''Kee-kee...pui!'' That was what it sounded like.

''Pwee?'' Rachel glanced nervously at his diaper. ''He means ;;pretty''.'' Rebecka's mother said, coming back in. ''It's funny. He doesn't usually talt to people like that. He likes animals better.'' ''Oh. Well, he has a good taste.'' Rachel said. She finally succeeded in detatching him and gave him back to his mother. The she started down the hallway after Rebecka, muttering. ''Too bad about his eyesight.'' ''I think his eyesight's just fine.'' Gabriel said, right behind her. Rachel turned, realizing they were alone in the hall. His faint smile faded. ''I really wanted to talk to you.'' He said.