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“Nothing doing!” Theta ripped the cat from Miss Lillian’s arms. She pressed him tightly to her chest. Archibald meowed loudly. “Nobody’s killing any cats.”
Miss Lillian glowered. “It’s what we’ve always done.”
“Yeah, well, I’m changing how things are done.”
Miss Lillian started to protest, but Miss Addie cut her off. “Very well. We could stand to change.” She smiled. “I do believe that Archibald likes you. You should take him home. He can be your familiar.”
“My what?”
“Your witch friend.”
Theta looked into the ginger cat’s green eyes. He meowed again and licked her cheek, and Theta knew she was going home with a cat. “Swell. Just what I need.”
“I’ve made mistakes,” Addie said, fidgeting with her lace handkerchief. “And I have tried to make amends for that. I’ve tried to do good in my life. I want to help you. All of you.” She pinned a brooch to Theta’s dress, a silver filigree heart. Dead leaves rattled around in the chamber.
“What’s in there?” Theta asked.
“Wolfsbane and rosemary, birch bark and sweet basil. It’s for protec
tion. And this”—Miss Addie removed her own silver locket and slipped it around Theta’s neck—“this is a bloodstone. It is for courage.”
“Miss Addie. I can’t take this. It’s yours.”
“And now it’s yours, my dear,” Addie said, squeezing Theta’s hand. “Bloodstone asks you to work for the good of others. It demands courage.” Miss Addie swept an age-spotted hand across Theta’s brow, and for a moment, Theta thought of her as the grandmother she’d always wanted but never had. “You’ve been very hurt, my dear. But you’re safe with me. And it’s high time to stop hiding from your power. It will find you out, you know, whether you accept it or not. Best to let it in, show it who’s boss.”
“I’ll think about it,” Theta said, cuddling the purring Archibald close. “But I’ll be counting the cats when I come over. There better be the same number each time.”
PUNISHMENT FOR THEIR SINS
The next day, the Diviners gathered as usual in the library. They were on edge, like the prophesied storm was already happening inside them.
“Good afternoon,” Will said as he and Sister Walker swept into the room, where the Diviners were seated around the long table, silent and scowling. “What’s the matter? Did the city run out of jazz?”
“Why did you breed Diviners as part of your Project Buffalo?” Ling blurted out.
Sam groaned and buried his head in his hands.
“Ling, what part of ‘keep our traps shut’ didn’t you understand?” Henry said under his breath.
Ling appraised him coolly. “I understood fine. I simply didn’t agree. It’s silly to pretend we don’t know when they have the answers we need.” She turned to Will and Sister Walker. “How do you expect us to work for you when you’ve been lying? You owe us the answers. You owe us the truth.”
Sam readied himself for further stonewalling, but to his surprise, Will nodded at Sister Walker.
“You’re right,” she said. “We do.”
Will started a fresh fire, poking at the kindling and newspaper until it roared to life. Then he took up his pacing, as if he could outrun the truth, while Sister Walker stood beside the fireplace quite still, her hands clasped at her waist like a schoolmarm ferreting out trouble.
“We thought we were helping. That we would make our country safer with the help of Diviners,” Will said at last.
“Yeah? By breeding Diviners?” Sam threw the punch cards on the table. “You made us out of some kind of crazy serum. You made us!”
“You made me,” Evie said with barely controlled fury.
“Evangeline, I… Where did you get those?” Will asked, pointing at the cards.
“And now you’re changing the subject!” Evie growled.
“It’s important. Please.”
