Goddess of the Rose (Goddess Summoning #4)(104)

"Her power should still be yours to wield," Sevillana said. "Even in the mundane world." The old woman reached into her leather clutch and pulled out a glass rose stem, exactly like the first one she'd given Mikki. "This is the anointing oil of Hecate's Empousa. It is the one step in the invocation ritual with which I can aid you."

"Thank you, Sevillana." Mikki took the stem, carefully folding it in a napkin before sliding it into her purse.

"I ask only one thing of you, Empousa," the old woman said. "I ask that you petition Hecate's forgiveness for me. I know I cannot return to the realm, but I am weary and I would like to be allowed to shed this life and embrace my eternity in the Elysian Fields. I cannot do so without Hecate's forgiveness."

"I'll ask her. But why not ask her yourself?"

"I wish I could, but I cannot return. I have tried, many times over the long, silent years. The goddess will not hear me. She has turned her face from me."

"But Hecate hasn't turned her face from me!" she said in a rush of understanding. "Why do you think I'm not a ghost in the Elysian Fields? I died. I should not have woken up back in Tulsa - unless there was a damn good reason Hecate wanted me to return here." Remembering, Mikki sat straight up. "She knew you were here. I told her your name when she asked me how I'd 'accidentally' gotten my hands on the anointing oil of an Empousa. I remember the look on her face now - she knew it even then."

"The Guardian Statue - the goddess did put it here so I would find it - and find you," Sevillana said through a voice thickened with tears.

"Hecate meant for me to come back so I'd see you." This time it was Mikki who took the old woman's trembling hand in hers. "Hecate's forgiven you, Sevillana."

"Oh, my dear, if only that was true . . ."

"Let's find out. Tonight is the night of the new moon. Come to the rose gardens. Stand inside the sacred circle with me. Let's try to go home, Sevillana."

MIKKI was glad for the rainy night. It was cold and miserable, but it was also so dark that even the illuminating lampposts in Woodward Park cast only the smallest halo of weak, iridescent light in limited bubbles around the park. It was easy for someone who knew the park well to avoid the lights. And Mikki knew the park well.

She clutched her briefcase in one hand and held tightly to Sevillana with her other, helping maneuver the old woman through the darkness. They didn't speak; they didn't need to. Mikki kept up a running commentary in her head that prayed over and over that no one would be in the park or the gardens. By the time they'd reached the boundary between the park and the gardens, Mikki had relaxed a little. Clearly no one was crazy enough to venture out into the park on a night like this, especially a couple hours past midnight. Still, Mikki didn't say anything until they passed beneath the rock archway and stepped lightly onto the third tier of the gardens.

The illumination from the fountain lazily lit the area surrounding it in a watery light that, coupled with the drizzly mist that hung in the cold air, washed the tier with dreamlike color.

"It's appropriate," Mikki said softly.

"Yes. The lighting evokes dream images," Sevillana said in perfect understanding. "It is a good omen, Empousa."

"Let's hope so," she muttered. Then she looked at the empty pedestal. She hadn't been back since that horrible morning they'd found her. She couldn't bear it. Mikki hadn't quit as a volunteer; she'd asked for a leave of absence, which was granted immediately. Everyone said they understood how hard it must be for her to come back into the gardens where she'd been attacked and left for dead. But of course, they didn't really understand. How could they? They'd never know the truth.

"Mikado?" Sevillana touched her arm gently.

Mikki turned her back to the empty pedestal. "You're right. We need to hurry. This will definitely be impossible to explain if we get caught."

"Then we must not get caught," the old woman said firmly.

"Agreed. Let's get busy."

Mikki chose a place near the fountain. She opened her briefcase, and Sevillana helped her place a candle in each of the four Elemental positions of the circle: yellow in the east for Wind; red in the south for Flame; blue in the west for Water; green in the north for Earth and, finally, purple in the center of the circle for Spirit. Then she took the long, narrow fireplace matchbox from the briefcase as well as the little razor-sharp knife that usually stayed hidden in her apartment, and placed them beside the spirit candle.

Stepping outside the ring of candles, Mikki took one last thing from the briefcase before she placed it in the shadows beside the empty pillar. She pulled free the cork that closed the end of the delicate glass stem and then applied the perfumed oil liberally to the pulse points at her neck, wrists and br**sts. Then she handed it to Sevillana. With only a small hesitation, the old woman took the bottle and applied the perfume to her own body. The scent of roses and spice was heavy in the damp air, and Mikki's stomach clenched with remembrance.

This had to work; she had to return.

"Are you ready?" Mikki asked.

The old woman nodded and tugged two long hair pins from her elegant French knot, setting her waist-length fall of silver hair free. Then with a flourish that showed grace and beauty that belied her years, Sevillana whirled off her long raincoat, under which she was wearing a beautiful silk chiton the color of lilacs.