The Matusadona was 55’ in length and 12’ abeam painted a creamy yellow and trimmed in brick red with white metal railings fore, aft and surrounding the bridge deck and topped by a cramped little pilothouse that could seat two people as long as they didn’t mind cozy. Built in 1965 the Dona as her mistress affectionately called her was restored to her glory days in the early 1970’s and had two perfect Mercury 115 HP 1150EL outboard engines or at least that’s what Jimmy her guest who was the former owner and current ghost of the ship said.
Jac never cared about details in the mundane world preferring instead to allow respected experts to advise her and James Clark loved the Matusadona he had just never had the money to make her what she was today, Jac did though. She had made it a place of peace for the old man of the river to keep him content and his fetters strong to the craft because it intensified his protective nature of the Pontoon houseboat giving her the ultimate security system which explained why she didn’t even lock up when she left.
She walked out to a beat up old international scout that jimmy had pronounced as a good truck if she attended to a shopping list of minor repairs and paint...maybe some new seats. The pout on the old man’s face had been amusing and pitiful all in one and made her smile as she climbed into the rough old school SUV. Built by a tractor builder it was a solid affair that Jimmy insisted should be kept as simple as they made her because it made her more dependable; he was right of course because it was a golden rule of magic that complex spells meant more sure failures.
She cranked the beast and it roared to life it’s old but strong straight 6 throbbing more smoothly by the seconds it took her to warm up. Jac had bought it at a shop where it’s former had been storing it till he died leaving it to his grieving widow whom had come to her for spiritual closure. It had taken more than a few minutes to convince the casual Baptist woman that she was actually channeling her husband’s spirit.
As soon as the temp was where Jim said it should be should be Jac engaged the 3 speed transmission into gear after some fiddling and was off to town.
She had to drive a old potholed and lonely road that skirted the river for 6 miles to get to a main road and everything was going great till she heard a noise and then there was a hissing then steam. She knew it was a radiator hose that was on her list and likely busted at the duct tape patch that was supposed to hold it till she could get it in a shop she’d found and sensed the manager as a trustworthy man.
Stopping she dug in the back getting out a roll of Tape to try and patch it once more so she could drive to a parts store and charm a male or female clerk to put a new hose on for her but first she must wait for it to cool luckily it wasn’t that warm and she should be on her way soon. So cutting off the lights Jac rolled down her window and listened to the night as she leaned back and smoked a rum twist that was a type of cigar that her family rolled for casting and smoking; beside the skeeters hated the smell.
Claudia stood at the edge of town, a distasteful look on her face. Her black boots crunched the dried twigs that littered the edges of the road as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other, a clear indication that she was feeling impatient. Her blue eyes scanned the town. Even in the darkness of the night, her vision was excellent
"I can smell the lot of them, Cai. Tell me again why we're here,"Caius slowly emerged from the forest and stood next to his sister, his all black get up similar to hers. His blue eyes swept over the town, a thoughtful look settling in them.
"I believe it is to broaden our horizon...as Darric eloquently put it." Claudia snorted at her brother's words.
"Broaden our horizon? Can't we just burst in there and get rid of those blood sucking parasites?"Caius shook his head.
"You know we don't meddle that way in their business. As long as we aren't provoked and as long as there's no just reason to step in, we'll just be watching them." "Ugh. But that's so boring," Claudia complained.
Caius turned his head towards her and chuckled.
"Sometimes it amazes me that you're the older one between the two us. You---" he lifted his nose up to the air. His stance became guarded and the air around him seemed to vibrate with heat.
Claudia immediately noticed the change in her brother.
"What is it?" she asked but the words barely left her lips when she got a whiff of what had distracted Caius. Soon an old SUV rolled into view and stopped a few feet away from them.
Jac heard someone out there in the night ask
’What is it?” It sounded like a woman, an annoyed woman
The petite Raven Hair Witch looked out into the darkness concentrating on seeing an aura of life as large as a person but till she spotted the...them it had to be more than one unless besides being annoyed the woman was Loca and talked to herself.
Ova here mon pette, would you like me to use the marker lights to show tha way? she asked in her sweet creole tones.
Then she puffed on her twist making the coal expand in case it was required as a distraction while Jac fetched her razor.
Claudia glanced towards Caius and their eyes met. An unspoken understanding passed between brother and sister. They had the same thing in mind.
Witch. While werewolves didn't dislike witches the way they did vampires, it was always prudent to be wary.
"Are you on your way to town? It looks like your car has given up," Caius called out in a neutral voice.
Oh nary mind Sir for she’s jus an Old Lady an feelin her age but we are gettin her all she needs in the morning though I think tonight she needs ah new hose nezpas.
She about cool enough ta wrap her with more tape make tha parts store down tha corner then a quick hose some antifreeze and we be in motion once more. I could use the company aint been none ta parlay but the old man of tha river an luv him he’s older than Cain’s smile. she says then flicks on the dim dome bulb illuminating herself as she puffs on her twist.
Yall wan ta take tha risk I do tha run
Call me Jac, it’s short of Jacqueline or say your farewells an maybe we’ll meet at the Crossroads long after Scratch has given up on us says Jac with a sly but playful smile.
Claudia looked at the SUV, the distaste apparent on her face once more. She never liked cars and she wasn't sure she liked the woman that was in this one. She was never really one to stay too long to find out.
"Let's just go on our way, Cai," she said and looked expectantly at her brother.
Caius weighed his options. The woman was stranger than most he had come across. But she didn't seem like someone who would pose a threat to them. At least not now.
"It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Jac. I am Caius, and this is Claudia," he looked a little distasteful at the car himself. Like Claudia, he wasn't particularly fond of vehicles. To him, it was inferior compared to running freely.
"I believe we are not made to ride in vehicles," he started.
"You are, however, free to join us if you would walk into town instead."For a moment Jac thought of the offer and how odd it would be to your average person but she was anything but ordinary and she had set her feet on the path of tha seeker. She mulled it a second or two more before answering.
Well now I was gonna give her tha try an might but after your parlay I’ll be a walkin for I believe yall counseling an omen case she is also needin tha have her brakes seen.
Mighty powerful names I find myself in company with cuz; Caius an Claudia names that ring oh history and tha Romans.She hops out and pops the hood and removes the coil wire then slams it shut tossing the wire in the river because she knows that a tuneup includes new wires.
Well now it seems drivin tha shov-O-lay is ma task here under tha night sky she says cheerfully.
The older of the twins narrowed her eyes slightly at their unexpected companion.
"You're a witch, right?" she asked straightforwardly despite already knowing that she is.
I like Rootworker but sur a Bonifide Witch I am Moonchild Answers Jac her smile playful and broad her crystal blues eyes looking deeply into Claudia's.
She knows no fear of her situation seeing the truth of the socical positioning going on and knowing she stands outside of the circle of Moon childern as an outsider seeking acceptance without inclusion.
Claudia stared back into the witch's eyes, one of her eyebrowas raised a bit. After a while, it seemed like she lost interest.
"Uh, right," she said and then turned and began walking towards the town, leaving Caius to walk with Jac.
Caius' demeanor was still wary and his tone of voice remained neutral.
"What brings you to this town, Jac? Aside from the obvious reasons," he nodded towards the wires she had in her hands.
Jac watches Claudia walk ahead then falls in beside Caius
Well now Caius we alls hav family an some they is better at a distance which would be most O ma family and it is time I left their protection and tha bone chillin shadow they cast.
"Ah Oak Caint grow in tha Shadow O her Mater" so here I be seeking my own ground for Rootin in she tells him as she traces the flow of his aura with her eyes.
I done met yur kin in an ole man shy Adam's cat he is but you are a young an viril Sol ta his winter's night. Caius nodded his head as he listened to her speak, his eyes on his sister's back as she walked a few feet ahead of them. He offered Jac a small, polite smile.
"I'm afraid I can't say I've met a lot of your kind." He gestured towards the town.
"Not to be belittling your abilities but you are aware of what creatures are in this town, right?" he asked in the same straightforward way as his sister did earlier.
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