The Cauldron Coven

Chapter 8 - Death's Shroud

Laci walked into the Harbor City Public Library, ignoring the temptation of the lake off to the side, the sun shimmering across the rippled surface. Determination forced her to walk past the enticement and focus on what she needed to do in order to start her journey as a social worker. She mentioned going to college, but before she did that, she needed to get her G.E.D. Colleges kind of required a high school diploma or the equivalent. When Jerome Williams forced her to run away from home, he also forced her to quit school. According to Jerome, his whores “didn't need no education to lie on their backs." She was about to enter her junior year of high school when he forced her to run away, so at least she had a tremendous head start in her education. Obtaining her G.E.D. shouldn't be difficult. If she could at least get started, that is.

Laci assumed the library would be the best place to begin. With her decision to leave the coven made, she could focus on her future, and thankfully, her mother offered her time to do just that without worrying about getting a job. Laci planned on making the most of her mother's offer. This time around, Laci would make something of herself.

She stood in the library's entrance, glancing around at the tall shelves of what seemed like an endless collection of books. Off to the right set a long counter, two of the librarians behind it, one checking in books and the other assisting people checking them out. Glancing around, Laci noticed square wooden tables with wooden chairs in a long line along the wall as well as some down the middle of two sections of shelves. A few students scattered among some, a few poring over thick textbooks, some scribbling on paper, probably writing a report or essay for some class. A couple of tables held some senior men playing chess or reading the newspaper or thumbing through a magazine. Behind the tables set a row of computer terminals, some empty, some with students scrolling through research of some kind or another. Laci could imagine herself sitting there, studying, preparing for a future that still seemed so far away from where she stood right then.

Standing there, she took a deep breath of the musty scent wafting up from the ancient brown carpet. She could smell the mold from a water leak, the dusty aroma of ancient books, some of which hadn't probably been touched in years, decades even. If Laci was honest with herself, she would admit the smell of the library reminded her of the ancient halls of her high school, carrying her back in time before life went haywire. It was a time she missed, a period in her life ripped from her grasp as Jerome forced her to follow another path, one she could never shake.

She glanced around once more, wondering where in the world to begin her journey, when she noticed the bright red hair of Kayla Lewell sulking around one of the bookshelves, her head tilted as she studied another young woman sitting in one of the plush chairs along the back windows of the library. Laci had not seen Kayla since their time in the Summerlands, and from what Jayden told Laci, the other girl hadn't visited The Murky Cauldron in that time, either, not that Laci could blame her. Too many memories existed there, too many ghosts.

Laci took a deep breath, debating whether or not she should go say hello to Kayla. Laci knew it was the right thing to do, but somehow, she thought doing so would just open old wounds and emotions, and they were both better off without those. No, she was out of the coven, and therefore, she would stay away, making a new path for herself. Blowing out a breath she hadn't realized she held, she turned away from Kayla and started to make her way to the research desk. The little gray-haired woman behind the counter could surely help her discover where to get started in her studies for the G.E.D. At least, Laci hoped.

As she walked, she noticed a tall, lanky man, with shaggy graying hair and a narrow nose, leaning against one of the dark gray metal bookshelves, his arms over his chest as he watched Laci walk across the library floor. She chanced a glance his way and felt a tremor of nervousness run through her as he didn't bother to look away, but continued to study her, one eyebrow c****d, as she made her way to the research desk. He seemed like an old professor from the way he dressed, one of those men who thought his students loved him because he gave off the persona of one who fought the establishment. He wore faded jeans with grungy white sneakers and a walnut-colored sports coat. As much as Laci didn't want to use her magic, she found herself searching for the man's aura, trying to determine his intentions. However, the air around him merely shimmered, adding to his creep factor. Laci shivered, but continued to the research desk.

Once there, Laci leaned on the counter, her hands clasped in front of her as she waited for the elderly lady behind the desk to acknowledge her, pushing thoughts of the strange man out of her mind. The lady continued scribbling for a couple more seconds before finally looking up at Laci, a fake smile on her lips telling Laci the interruption was tolerated but not appreciated. “Hello," the woman said, the fake smile in her tone. “How may I help you?"

Laci took a deep breath, straightening her shoulders, suddenly embarrassed at the question she needed to ask. Did kids drop out of school these days? “I need to study for my G.E.D. and I hoped you could point me in the right direction."

“Why, of course, dear," the woman said as she set her pen down on her desk. “You are free to use the computers, if you don't have a laptop of your own. I can give you the link if you're ready. Of course, you'll have to pay for the test, but you do everything online." The lady gave a sad shake of her head. “Seems people do everything online these days. So sad."

Cost was something Laci had not thought about. “Do you know how much the test costs?"

“Well, there are four parts and each one costs thirty-two dollars, so about one hundred and twenty-eight for the whole thing. It also takes seven-and-a-half hours to complete, so you'll need to make sure you have plenty of time."

Laci stared at the woman, seeing her dreams dashing on the ground around her. She didn't have eight dollars to her name, not to mention one hundred and twenty-eight. “Four parts, you said?" she asked the lady, putting off the conversation about money. Laci knew she would have to get a job to afford the test. She couldn't ask her mother to pay for it, not after everything she put her mother through over the past eight years.

The gray-haired woman nodded. “Yes, there will be language arts, science, math, and social studies." The woman shrugged. “Pretty much the basics that you would have studied in high school."

Laci heard the rest of the woman's sentence, the part the woman didn't say out loud. If you hadn't dropped out, that is. Laci took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto her face. “Thank you," she said. “I appreciate the information."

“Anytime, dear," the woman said. “That's why we're here, after all."

Laci highly doubted the woman believed that. With a smile on her face to show the information hadn't shocked or disappointed her, Laci nodded and turned to walk away. She glanced to where the man stood as she crossed the floor, relieved to see he had left. She then glanced over to where she noticed Kayla staring at the other woman along the windows, but both were gone, as well. Laci shook her head, thinking how strange the day had been, wondering if she should have taken the time to say something to Kayla. As she moved to the library doors, she shook her head. No, she decided. Kayla suffered enough from what happened to her, something that wasn't her fault, but it still held the death Laci grew tired of dealing with and wanted out of her life. The others of the coven would take care of Kayla. For once, Laci needed to take care of herself. Since she escaped Jerome's clutches, Rhychard Bartlett and his faerie realm friends as well as Tansy and the Cauldron Coven protected her. Laci had yet to stand on her own two feet and make it in this life without people helping her. Now was her chance, and she determined not to permit anything to take her off course. The worlds of faerie and magic could take care of themselves. Laci Valentine was no longer in the business of saving the world.

Determination filling her about her new course, Laci shoved against the glass door to the library and stepped out into the late-afternoon sun, only to come up short as she saw the man from inside the library sitting on a bench in front of the library, staring at her.