The Witching Hour

Chapter 12 - Thoughts

Friday night came faster than any of the Pentacle witches imagined. It might have simply been the next evening, but the day went flew by that they all had problems focusing. Marina fumbled orders while Aura couldn't string a sentence together. Ella stared infuriatingly at the crime board in the precinct, unable to think of any new ideas. As for Ivy, the shop literally froze, as her mind wandered to how tonight would go down.

Anticipating Hunter's questioning, Ivy had brought her clothes with her to the shop. All she had to do was fill her time between 6 and 10 p.m. Easier said than done. Her mind refused to focus on a book. People watching bored her at this moment. She couldn't stomach any food. Ivy ended up doing the only thing she does when she really needs to calm her nerves: calling her mother.

"Hi honey," Gale picked up after a couple of rings.

"Hi Mom," Ivy returned, twirling a pen in her hands. She leaned back in her office chair and kicked her feet up onto the corner of the desk. "How's Maine treating you?

"Cloudy and a little cold, but all right." Gale hesitated for a fraction of a second. "Now, I know you didn't want to talk about the weather. What's up?"

"Can't a daughter just want to call her mother?" Ivy shot back defensively. She did call with an agenda, but she didn't concede that to her mother.

"No."

"Well shit Mom, I won't call then." Ivy paused and waited to see if her mother would tell her not to hang up. Instead, Ivy ended up succumbing first. "I just needed to talk. A distraction of sorts."

Gale let out a long breath. "What's on your mind?"

Ivy launched into it, avoiding any mention of magical creatures. Gale didn't need to know those details or that her daughter was a witch. Gale listened and popped in when she felt she was needed, but Ivy did most of the talking. Time passed quickly, and not before long a knock rapped at the shop's door. Ivy's head popped up as she knew exactly who it was.

"Mom, I have to go." Ivy looked at her clock and cursed. She still needed to change.

"You were in the middle of a story," Gale whined. With how few and far between her daughter called, Ivy sensed that he mother didn't want the conversation to end.

"Mom, I really have to go." Ivy set the phone on the counter and changed it to speakerphone. She reached for her change of clothes and slipped on her black jeans before pulling her skirt off. "I'll call you when I get a chance."

"Love you, Ivy!" Gale interjected to avoid being hung up on.

Ivy hit the call end button and slid her phone into her back pocket. Another knock sounded at the door. Ivy was in the middle of changing into a black long sleeve when the lock began to twist. Rolling her eyes, she bounded to the front with boots in hand. She intercepted the door to see Ella as the culprit.

"I was on the phone," Ivy said sternly.

Aura and Marina followed behind the fire witch as they entered the shop. Each went for black but in varying styles.

"What'd Hunter have to say?" Ella chuckled darkly, pulling at the sleeves of her black sweater and adjusted the beanie over her hair. Ivy was certain that Ella's boots came right out of her detective uniform when she went trudging through crime scenes.

Marina rolled her eyes at Ella's feeble attempt to start a fight. She wore an outfit similar to Ivy, but with a black windbreaker. Beside her stood Aura in a black hoodie and dark jeans. The wind user's eyebrows drew together as she studied something on her phone, lips pursing, before she jammed it back into the back pocket of her pants.