Sneak peek from book 1 of the
Women of the Willow Wood Trilogy
Available in eBook, Print, and audiobook
Out of the Past
Three weeks ago I would have said, "See ya later, bitches! I’m outta this zombie ranch," but now I’m a different person, both physically and mentally. Once a prisoner to my past, I feel totally free now and view myself as an empowered woman. I look forward to and accept my new mission as a guardian, but it didn’t come without a fight.
The last four weeks have been a real eye-opener with respect to my newfound abilities and powers. During the past two months, I’ve managed to save my father’s soul, lost my first teaching job, saved two children from a life of child abuse, ended a great relationship with Luke, and was indirectly involved in the murder of one of my students’ fathers. Am I willing to pay the price? Damn straight, I am. It’s the only path to achieving total redemption—or so I’ve been told. So I had to change my identity, relocate, and maintain only limited ties to my family. Hell, it's the least I can do for the few women who risked it all to save my life. And so, I welcome my final days at Nina Santos’s ranch in preparation for my new role with the Women of the Willow Wood. I was never was one to join a sorority in college, so I reasoned this was my chance. Besides, this society trumped all the others. According to Nina, my latest transformation would prove to be epic: bring it on, I say.
I’ve learned so much during my sessions with the most powerful curandera, and I’ve left my angst behind me...well, most of it. I still had no real answers as to what had become of Latrice Burke, the evil white witch who'd botched my protection spell. I'd hoped she would meet whatever Fate had in store for her. I knew Karma would come knocking on her door, one day soon. I believe it would come as more of a bang than a whisper. I was about to become part of an elite circle of some of the most powerful women on the planet.
The Women of the Willow Wood date as far back as the fourteenth century. Their magic was a mix of ancient Celtic origins with ties to a direct lineage as far back as 1400 BC in ancient Greece. They consisted of high priestesses and goddesses, with some of them claiming direct ancestry to Priestess Tyrenea from the Oracles of Delphi. My new sisters were a group comprised of empaths, sensitives, healers, psychic mediums, hybrids, and guardians. The Higher Council, which was mostly the high priestesses and guardians, met twice a year in New Mexico in a secret cave. I was to be one of those fortunate enough to attend the council meeting next year, once my transition was complete. Nina had informed me of some of the details. I guess that’s why I tossed and turned all night—it was a lot to take in.
I hadn’t been to the sacred cave yet. I’d never even heard of it before. Just the thought of inhaling intoxicating vapors had me worried. The closest I'd come to inhaling anything similar were the few weeks I'd spent as a streetwalker when I was taken in by pimp Adrian Moreno. A few joints before a job was just enough to top me off. That was a time so long ago, but it had not been forgotten. Even so, I'd come this far and there was no turning back. A few weeks ago, I'd been tested with something far worse than vapors, and it had almost cost me my life.
I got dressed and walked into the kitchen to find that Nina Santos's sister, Marta, had prepared her special veggie omelets. The coffee smelled good and my stomach was rumbling. I sat at the breakfast bar and she handed me a fresh cup. "Where’s Nina?" I asked.
"She’s in the study going over some last-minute orders from Sister Francesca about your final ritual," Marta said with a gleam in her eye.
There was always an element of surprise lurking over these last few months, and these sisters had had their share. I guessed that the present and the future would be no different. I set my cup down and said, "So, I assume Sister Francesca holds rank on Nina?"
"Not at all. It’s just that she has a different gift and Nina needed to receive confirmation from her."
I sat there thinking about what she'd said for a moment. I thought about Marta’s ability to shapeshift and shuddered at the thought of the exact extent of some of the other women's abilities. I guess I’d find out soon enough.
Nina entered as I finished the last bite of my omelet. She always managed to look like she'd just stepped out of a spa, with her glowing skin and neatly brushed hair. For a woman in her sixties, she looked damn good. I assumed she was using some sort of glamour spell. Either that or all of the magical vapors she'd inhaled over the years had somehow enhanced her beauty and preserved her youth.
"Morning, Rachel," she said, striding over to give me a hug.
"Do we have to use that name now?" I queried. Rachel wasn't my given name. The name I was born with was Daniella Reyes. I adopted the name Rachel when I accepted my position as guardian. "Can’t we wait until I leave the ranch?"
"It’s better to get used to it now, while you’re still here and conversing with us. It'll get you in the habit of using it."
"I’m still going to feel weird. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to it." I carried my cup over to the sink.
"I guess I can make this one exception. You do have a way of breaking me down, lady. You’ll have to get used to it the minute you leave the ranch, though.
"So, are you ready for your final ritual today?" Nina asked.
"Ready as I can be, I guess. Is there anything I should be wearing to this special occasion?"
"It doesn’t matter. You’ll be wrapped in a loose linen sheath to allow room for body swelling," Nina said casually as she poured herself a cup of coffee.
"Swelling? What the hell?" I yelled from behind her.
"Now, calm down, Daniella. It’s only temporary."
"Oh, well, that’s reassuring."
As Marta cleaned up, Nina grabbed a piece of toast to chew on
while packing some things into a large duffle bag. I didn’t even want to know what was in there. Shades of my recent road trip with Carmen flashed through my mind. I remembered all of the magic oils and powders with which she'd sealed our car.
I headed to my room to get dressed but turned on my heel when I heard Nina calling my name. "Make sure you put on some good walking shoes," she said. "We’ll drive up to the Pecos Wilderness and walk to the Cave Creek Trail."
"So we’ll be heading into the secret caves?" I asked.
"Yes. We’ll be going back into a small, secret cave, deeper into the mountain to perform the last ritual."
"Don't caves have bats? I have to tell you, I don’t like small spaces." I reasoned that some of this phobia was due to the many nights I hid in a dark closet to escape my father’s wrath during my childhood.
"You’ll be fine. We won’t leave until early evening when most of the hikers are already gone. Besides, most people are oblivious to the location of the secret cave. It’s forbidden for anyone other than a priestess or guardian to enter.
"I’ve packed some flashlights for us. I want you to read the packet about cave vapors I left for you in the study so you’ll know what to expect. You have all afternoon."
This was a first: I was actually going to get the lowdown on what to expect, rather than be surprised with some paranormal freak show in which I was the main attraction.
"It’s all very exciting, Daniella. It’s your final transformation. We'll celebrate upon your return." Nina pulled a bottle of pink Champaign out of the fridge for me to see.
I held my breath and asked, "Will Mother and Auntie be here?"
"Afraid not, but you can Skype them today after you've read through the ritual procedure."
Well, that was kind of her. I shrugged it off as I headed to change. After that, it was off to the study to find out what was in store for me. What could be worse than what I'd already been through?
***
I have to admit, I was deep into the document about my final
ritual. I'd studied about the Oracles of Delphi in high school, but was amazed to find out there was so much more. History books leave out a lot, some of it intentional, as normal folks weren't supposed to have access to such powerful magic.
The Oracles of Delphi were high priestesses, regarded as such by Apollo. The "Pythia," as they were called, would deliver the oracle—the response or message—while in a frenzied state due to having inhaled vapors from a chasm in the rock. She'd interpret the prophecies in ancient Greek. In other words, these ladies had to be stoned in order to tap into this higher knowledge. This Pagan practice dated back to the eighth century BC.
Goddesses Themis and Phoebe are believed to have possessed the original oracle. The site upon which they practiced was sacred to Gaia—Mother Earth—and to Poseidon. The Pythias were always virgins, as the Oracle represented chastity and purity. This was similar in nature to the cult of Rome’s Vestal Virgins.
The Pythias had traits similar to shamans. While sitting on a tripod or cauldron, they'd make prophecies in an induced state of euphoria after inhaling vapors from the chasm in the rock. As they inhaled the vapors, their physical bodies would change, their breasts would become engorged, their complexion would also change, and their voice would take on a non-human cadence.
Everything I'd learned was coming back to me and it suddenly all made an odd sort of sense. I remembered how Nina’s body had changed—as did her voice—when she'd performed my healing ritual and I had chills. Was that what was in store for me? To think some Hollywood stars pay big money for a major makeover and here I was, getting it for free!
This was no simple magic, either. Nina was to perform a "soul merge" where she'd tap into my "higher-self" in order to "upgrade" my DNA. This was some bizarre alchemy here! From what I understood, she'd call upon those higher priestesses who were able to actually reconfigure the sacred geometry of my blood— every organ and tissue—right down to my sub-atomic particles. She'd be able to access my Akashic Records and read my contract for a "Vow of Service" with the Willow Wood Women. After all of this deeper magic, I'd be able to help with the soul rescue process in order to protect others. I'd already been called upon to assist with my father's soul rescue, and those of a few of my students. I wondered how many souls I was about to rescue now.
According to the document, I had to remain in service to the Women of the Willow Wood until I'd rescued three souls. I wondered if my father’s rescue counted as one? If so, then I only had two left. Hopefully, I'd return home soon and resume my normal life.
Who was I kidding? I guess I was trying to talk myself into thinking of this as being some sort of a perk. Hell, I was bat-shit crazy scared!
I decided to Skype Mother and Aunt Miranda. If anyone could calm me down it would be Auntie. After all, if it weren't for her, I wouldn’t be alive today. She was the one who'd found me, rescued me, and brought me back to the land of the living when I was hooking for my pimp and living in a dump.
It was good to hear Mom’s voice and know she was doing well. Aunt Miranda assured me I was right where I needed to be. She gave me a blessing and told me to be strong. I'd always known she had a sixth sense herself and was privy to so much more than she led on. There was, however, one question I had to ask. I hoped to hear the answer I wanted to hear. "So," I began, "have they found Latrice Burke yet?"
"No, Daniella," Auntie replied after a brief pause. "They have not, but this is something you need to let go of in order to move on. Trust that she will answer for the injustice she's done to you and others. Remember that forgiveness is a powerful path to redemption—you found that out when you forgave your father. It's when you forgive that you'll be able to move on and perform with your new mission."
After I ended my call, I thought a lot about redemption. I'd already paid for my past sins and forgiven my father’s, but I still had to face the fact I'd let my guard down on that dreadful day when I'd trusted Latrice Burke and had a taste of the dark side. I was damn sure I’d never let that happen again.
