ONE

"I climbed up the topsails
I lost my leg
I'm shipping up to Boston" - Dropkick Murphys

I both loved and hate Halloween. I love Halloween because I also love candy, pumpkin flavored things, and dressing up as a Viking warrior. I once pillaged my schoolyard for other kids' candy. My principal took away my ax until I went into middle school.

I hated Halloween because I was a witch. And ever since Others came out to the world I had to deal with stupid questions on Halloween. Oh and Halloween was the one day demons got to walk around above ground without being summoned.

Every year demons picked a spot and met. They had rules. No hurting anyone without being asked. I had heard one or two disturbing tales of sex acts gone wrong, but it had been a stupid person's fault, not the demons. Since becoming demon marked I had missed the meeting in Madrid, the one in Hong Kong, and the one in Branson, MO, among others. I missed that one on purpose. I did make the one in the Twin Cities, the one in Miami, and the one in Sioux City. I should have missed that one too.

This year's was in Salem, MA. I wasn't excited. Salem had a huge Wicca population. I hated Wiccans as much as I hated everyone else, but I had a special hate for them. Not because I disagreed with or cared what they believed, but because they looked at me weird for not being a Wiccan. Not many real witches followed Wiccan. Witches didn't originally come from Druids or the Celtic world. They came from all over and the religious tradition they followed was whatever they were taught. Some were atheists, some Muslims, some Hindus, Christians, whatever. I was a Catholic. I didn't eat meat during Lent. I braided and burned the palms from Palm Sunday. I didn't take communion if I missed church the week before. And it shocked Wiccans. Their stupid shock that real, magic wielding witches don't subscribe to their religion.

The bigger problem was a "friend" lived in Salem and ran a potions shop. It was mostly a tourist trap, but she made a decent living. I hated seeing an ex in any capacity, but this one was especially annoying. She was a dirty hippy. She looked at my demon mark and tutted. She looked at my bar and scowled. She once threw out my vinyl because she hated classic rock. I threw her ass out after that. That's why I brought David.

"I hate flying over Lake Michigan," he said leaning over me to look out the airplane window.

"Then stop trying to catch a peek." I elbowed him away. I didn't blame him though. Flying over the lake was like being in a blue orb. I didn't know where the sky ended and the water began.

"Ready to see Megan?"

"I think she prefers Willow or Beetle or something now."

David took a sip of his ginger ale and shrugged. "Answer the question."

"No, but it's a free place to stay. Plus I was thinking of leaving some vials of Grandad's brew for her customers."

David always had a look of disgust and fear when it came to that brew. He didn't know what I put in it and I had no intention of telling him either. Every generation added a new ingredient. It had started as a simple whiskey. Now it had wasabi paste. That was my addition. It started as a prank, but I liked the responses. And I had a wonderful chance to make the Wiccans pay.

"Once we get to Salem, I don't know you. You go to your witches' convention and I'll sight see Boston and stuff."

I refused to tell David my "scar" was really a demon mark. It was bad enough most Others knew it and it broke my mother's hear.t I was a little nervous to see my demon again. Though if this was going to be like the Miami meeting, then I was going to be privy to his amazing bass skills.

"If you go to the witch trials museum without me I will pour Grandad's brew into your oatmeal while you're not looking." I liked history. I loved museums. I hated when people left me out of educational tours. No. Seriously.

"Take a nap. You're being cranky." He took my Sprite away from me and put it on his tray. "Sleep." He put up my tray.

I submitted. I needed energy to deal with the pretentiousness of Megan. I put my head against the window and closed my eyes.