LITMIR.BIZ

      Chapter One

      “Look! There she is!”

      Deme Chattox smiled as she stepped off the escalator into the baggage claim area of Chicago O’Hare Airport. All four of her siblings stood in a group. Each one of the Chattox sisters were so different in looks and personality, no one would guess they were related.

      But Deme knew. Even when they weren’t nearby, she felt their presence, sensed when one of them was in trouble and shared their emotions from happiness to sorrow, more intensely than normal humans.

      Truth was, the Chattox sisters and all the sisters on the Chattox side before them weren’t normal. They were witches. Once Deme had railed against the differences. Now she embraced their uniqueness. Not everyone was as in tune to the world around them, nor could others wield magic like herself and her siblings.

      “We missed you so much.” Aurai, the youngest, engulfed her in a bear hug so tight Deme could barely breathe. A wisp of wind swirled around her, a sure sign of Aurai’s emotions. The young woman had so much power at her fingertips, sometimes it scared Deme.

      “Hey, loosen up a bit. I was only gone a month.” Deme laughed and hugged her little sister, smoothing her hand over her long, silky hair. “I missed you too. How’s college?”

      Aurai laughed. “Much better without a monster in the cellar.”

      Deme frowned. “Any other weirdness going on at Colyer-Fenton?”

      Aurai shook her white-blond head. “Not since the initiation. I’ve kept busy studying and flirting with the hot guys.”

      Deme sighed. “As it should be for any college student.”

      “Hi, Deme.” Selene shook back her thick, chocolate brown hair. She wore one of her signature flowing broomstick skirts and peasant-style blouses, all soft and feminine compared to Deme. Selene wrapped her arms around Aurai and Deme, smiling softly. “I’m so glad you’re moving back to Chicago. We’re not the same when you’re gone.”

      “Let me have some of that love.” Gina grinned, her sea-green eyes sparkling as she slid into the group hug.

      “Hey, Sis. About time you came home.” Brigid crossed her arms over her chest, her black leather jacket swooshing softly. She looked like a badass biker chick, but Deme knew it was a front to protect her big heart from being broken.

      Deme held out a hand. “Get over here.”

      Brigid’s cheeks reddened, but she complied, completing the clutch of woman, all hugging.

      Deep inside, Deme could feel the rightness of having all of them together. They were meant to be close, to live in the same city and be a part of each other’s lives. Her time in St. Croix had only added to that conviction. With so many miles between them she’d been a shell of herself, running a business she had no passion for.

      “Okay, okay, let her have some air.” Brigid was the first to back away.

      Deme caught her hand and Aurai’s. The women formed a circle of joined hands. Then whispering quietly so that others wouldn’t hear, Deme lead a prayer to the goddess.