Eve folds her arms around Oxana. She strokes her newly washed hair. ‘Do you think Athene can see us, from her temple?’
‘Probably. Do you think we should draw the curtains?’
‘No.’ Eve moves her hand down Oxana’s body, relearning its smooth, muscled contours. ‘Athene can watch. She might learn something.’
‘Mmm.’ Oxana lays her thigh over Eve’s. ‘I don’t want her messing with my hair. Turning it into snakes.’
‘Your hair smells like seaweed. It tastes salty.’
‘I know. I’m your Japanese meal.’ Oxana smooths her thumb across Eve’s cheekbone. ‘When am I going to hear aboutyouradventures?’
‘When would you like to?’
She gently takes Eve’s lower lip between her teeth. ‘Afterwards?’
49
‘That was delicious,’ Eve says.
‘It was.’ Oxana sighs contentedly. ‘Thank you.’
‘My pleasure.’ Philippa smiles.
It’s ten days later, and the three of them are sitting at Philippa’s kitchen table, in the house in Cranborne. Pyewacket is winding himself adoringly around Oxana’s legs.
‘Did Eve tell you?’ Philippa asks Oxana. ‘We did a ritual together when you were… away.’
Oxana looks at her uncertainly. ‘What kind of ritual?’
‘Black magic,’ Eve says. ‘To get you and me back together.’
‘That’s what it took?’ Oxana asks.
Eve nods. ‘That’s what it took. So you be careful.’
‘Don’t listen to her.’ Philippa smiles. ‘It was all very loving and benevolent.’
‘So…’ Oxana frowns. ‘Are there many witches around here?’
‘More and more people are going back to the old ways. It’s a fight-back.’
‘Against?’
‘The puritans. The scolds. The people who want to tell us what to think, what to feel, what to believe… I’d say join us, but I sense that you’re on your own path.’
Oxana opens her mouth but says nothing.
‘Angel,’ Eve says. ‘Do me a favour. Go for a walk round the town for half an hour. There are things I need to discuss with Philippa.’
Oxana looks at them. ‘Um… Yeah. Sure.’ She stands up, walks through to the front room, and stops to examine Philippa’s collection of ritual objects. She lifts the dagger, weighs it thoughtfully in her hand, and experimentally pricks her fingertip. She nods. ‘I’ll see you in a bit.’
The door closes behind her. Philippa stands and takes two mugs from a shelf. ‘So,’ she says. ‘That’s her. That’s your panther.’
‘That’s her,’ Eve says.
Philippa fills the kettle. ‘Big appetite, I couldn’t help noticing.’
‘Mmm.’