Chapter 13: Pagan Poser

I sipped at my fresh beer the kind waiter dropped off just as Piper took the seat Zephira had vacated a few moments ago. Her guitar case thudded on the ground next to her, black skirt brushing the ground, anger flashing in her dark eyes. I'd always heard that term, how anger can flash in someone's eyes. I had never actually seen it before now. Piper had the whole flashing and eye thing down to a science. Or a spell? Maybe that was her magical power. "What did she want?"

Pretty obvious who the Goth goddess referred to. And okay, so I'd fired her up. Maybe this was a good thing. I might actually get some real information out of her at last. "To introduce me to the real witches of PEI." Sarcasm much?

Piper set her jaw, that belligerent kind of frustration I knew all too well personally. Maybe we were more alike than I'd originally thought. That was rather comforting and annoying at the same time and did nothing to settle my own dark mood. "She's a total freak and a fake. Stay away from her."

Oh, no she did not just tell me what to do. She did not just order me around. She did not just tell Reese McDonald what she could and could not do. Independent filmmaker, independent woman. Hell no.

Piper tried to take the card for my fingers and I immediately and purposely tucked it into my pocket, never letting my eyes leave hers. She wanted to see anger flash? Keep staring, missy.

"I'm here to film witches, Piper. That means all witches, right? Since you are, you know, witches?" Prodding the unhappy woman before me-one of the women paying my way here-might have been a terrible idea. But I was in that kind of mood and, apparently, so was she.

"She's not a witch." Piper said that like Zephira offended her to the core of her being. "She just takes money from gullible people who think she's got powers." What exactly did Piper do then? I hadn't gotten that far yet. "Pagan poser." Her expression tightened further, the words practically spitting from between her black painted lips, a line forming between her perfectly shaped brows.

"Poser. Really." I couldn't help that little jab. And there was so much more I could say. She had no idea, did she? No clue whatsoever who she came across as, what the Lovely Witches represented to the rest of us. "Well, like it or not, she claims the same about you. And since I'm here to do a job, I'm going to do it the best I can. Which means talking to her and her coven." So there.

I expected a fight. Was honestly kind of hoping for one. I needed to get this uncomfortable frustration out and Piper seemed the perfect person to butt heads with. I figured we'd have a bit of a row, drink a beer and make up then she'd tell me everything and I'd go on to make the best documentary ever and maybe even win at life for once.

Instead, her face fell, her entire body slumping slightly, and I realized I had gone too far in the wrong direction. "Reese, that's not why you're here."

What the hell was she talking about? If I wasn't here for the film, what was I doing here?

Okay, now I really was angry. "Why am I here, Piper?" Like I was going to get an answer from her.

As I expected she hesitated, like she was thinking about saying something but didn't know if she could trust me with the result. And I realized in that moment I didn't want to know what it was that held her tongue, that made her so reluctant, that stirred guilt on her face. In fact, I'm pretty sure even if she tried I'd stick my fingers in my ears and sing lalalalala just to keep from hearing her explanation. So when she spoke again, to my relief, it was with a closed expression and a bit of defeat in her tone.

"To make a film about the Lovely Witches Club?"

I know what I said before, just now, in fact. I know, I didn't want an answer. And yet her response made me so angry I slammed down my beer glass and lurched to my feet, in that kind of mood that if she pushed me too hard I'd just dump that beer glass over her head.

"Well, you guys don't seem very interested in making a film. Or, being honest for that matter." Because I was being oh, so honest with myself right now, wasn't I? Pots called kettles black all the time and this was no exception. "I hate games, Piper, just so you know. I've had enough disappointment in my life so far, thank you very much." This wasn't her fault. And I was totally overreacting. But there was something about this place that triggered emotions in me I hadn't felt in a very long time, and I was completely out of control of them. "I thought this was a project I could be proud of. Instead I'm being jerked around by a pack of nut jobs who seem to think I'll fall for their cursed Island magic crap."

I'd never seen anyone look so hurt, not even that guy I accidentally kneed in the balls during the zombie massacre filming just a week ago. Wow, was it really only a week ago? How had my life gone from odd and unhappy to totally confusing in seven short days?

"It's not crap." Piper had tears in her voice. Tears. "Whatever." I could have been nicer, yes.

"I thought we were friends, Reese?"

Wait a second, what was this? Gothic goddess Piper hurt and upset because I wasn't her friend? You could have knocked me over with a broom stick. "It feels more like you're trying to recruit me into your cult or something."

Why did she look regretful all of a sudden?

"Look, I'm here to make a film, so I'm going to make a freaking film. But don't for a second think I'm not going to do everything I can to make sure the truth comes out, Piper. You bunch claim to be witches? Fine. Then you won't mind if the competition has a say too."

She looked away, down the street, but I could tell she wasn't seeing what was right in front of her, lost in thoughts darker than my own. "Zephira isn't paying you. We are."

"You're right. You are. Maybe that'll have to change." Her head whipped around and she stared up at me like I'd kicked her guitar. "After I see with these so-called real witches have to say. Since your little club isn't willing to give me what I need to actually do what you're paying me to do."

I turned my back on her, but spun around again to finish the thought. "That's what I'm doing Piper. What are you doing?"

I walked away then, reaching for my cell phone, for Zephira's card, ready to dial when I heard Piper's voice following after me.

"Oh, nothing. Just trying to save the Island."

***