But I couldn't imagine not feeling the vibration in a stone, or the elemental's spirits standing guard in a circle, or not hearing the call of a ley line.

Determined to clear my mind and keep my secrets my own, I started up the steps. The handrail was cold under my sweaty palm as I ascended into the dark, and turned to the dimly lit center of the vast floor.

"Come, child," said the Eldrenne.

I went.

The candlewicks had receded deep; the flames were no longer atop the pillars, but housed inside thin walls of wax, dimming the already low light until the Elders' faces were shadowed under the brims of their hats, wrinkles deep and forbidding as they appraised me.

"Merry Meet," I said, bowing in formal greeting, "Elders and Eldrenne. I am—"

"You are Persephone Alcmedi, of Eris Alcmedi, of Demeter Alcmedi, of Clio Alcmedi, of Thalia Alcmedi, of Elpis Alcmedi," Elspeth said.

"Yes," I answered. My Greek witch lineage went back centuries. I was grateful she didn't want to list it all.

"As the local nominee, we all anticipated you would breeze through the written portion of the test, as surely the acting priestess made a wise choice in you. We were not disappointed. We are assured by your very nomination that you not only know the Rede well, but strictly adhere to it."

Fighting against swallowing the lump forming in my throat as it would be a telltale sign, I worked at mastering the blankness within me and without and making the lump shrink so it wasn't choking me.

"Being high priestess is many things," Elspeth continued. "What concerns us here is how, in some ways, it is akin to being the owner of a business. There is a budget to consider—funds must come in, and they must flow out as well. What would you do to keep that flow of funds coming, and what would you do with it once you were in control of the Venefica Coven finances?"

Whoa. I didn't actually want this job. Suddenly, I was willing to bet Hunter had a business degree. Vivian had run a coffee shop, so she had a degree of sorts, or experience anyway. What experience did I have? "I honestly don't have experience with a business's finances but I am self-employed, so I understand money management and documentation. I maintain savings, handle investments with the help of a qualified professional, and live within my means. Do you have guidelines, training, or assistance in this area?"

Elspeth's mouth crooked wickedly on one side. It was not a smile; more like a cat's mouth twitching before it pounced. "You readily admit then, that you are not experienced enough to take this position and would need help."

"Yes, if it is available. If left to my own, though, I'd pull the books and study what was spent where and for what purpose in the past, and compare that to the budget at the time. I could create my own guidelines that way."

"What would you do to raise funds?"

"Find a successful coven and ask their priestess to share her techniques with me."

"Bah!" She thumped her staff on the dais and shook her head, irritated. "Do you know what the annual goals for this coven are? The long-term goals?"

"No."

"Are you aware of the policies and politics? The promises and commitments made to local government?"

"No."

"Have you read the Coven's business minutes? Have you even shown up to a sabbat?"

"No."

She screeched questions at me in a rapid-fire manner, but there she paused. "What makes you think," she taunted ruthlessly, "the members of this coven would accept you as their high priestess?"

My face turned to the floor. I felt so damn small in that giant room, like a mouse that had left its hole in the wall and scurried into the middle of the room only to have a big cat leap in front of me. "I don't." I felt cold, as if a draft blew over me; I should have left my sweatshirt on.

The Elders began whispering and murmuring to themselves as if they were a mental group in a nursing home. But there was a cadence to it, a rhythm, and I knew it was more than mad ravings.

"The local nominee," the Eldrenne whispered and her voice silenced the others, "is not indifferent to her coven. She is a solitary, who knows nothing of the coven model."

My head lifted. She had her palm out to me. No wonder I felt a draft; she was searching my aura. "That is true," I said. I hoped like hell she couldn't see things I didn't want her to see. I centered my thoughts on what experience I did have.

"The acting priestess has nominated a woman who cannot hope to run the coven!" Elspeth cried in outrage.

The Eldrenne's blind eyes seemed locked on me; her lids narrowed.

I went utterly still.

The Eldrenne gestured dismissively and the cool draft dissipated. "Lydia's a wise witch. She would never waste her nomination," the Eldrenne countered. "Tell us, Persephone Alcmedi, what qualities does Lydia see in you that make you worthy for this honor, despite your weaknesses?"

"I have many strengths," I said with conviction. "I am well known in my community for my skills with divination and counseling, especially with Tarot. I write a syndicated newspaper column, so I am well aware of local and national views on not only witches, but waeres as well. And I am always learning more about vampires and fairies. I have become something of a champion for the other-than-ordinary community, though admittedly I think that public battle will continue for some time. My long lineage affords me access to several Books of Shadows. I can organize people, set goals, form and implement a plan. I am responsible, fair, and hard-working." As I spoke, I realized I was getting angry and defensive. I couldn't help adding, "And I'm wondering why you aren't asking me about my spirituality and moral compass, which pantheon I prefer, and what elemental quarter-calls I use."

The Eldrenne laughed; it was a heh-heh-heh chuckle. "I think we know what Lydia saw in you," she said. Her hand returned to her lap and her face dropped down again. It seemed a kind of signal.

Elspeth resumed her questioning. "What is it you hope to accomplish, should you become high priestess?"

I hadn't thought about answering questions like this. I should have. Now was not the time to be formulating such ideas.

"You are hesitant to share your hopes?"

"No. No. It isn't that. I just…" I paused again, knowing I was not getting off to a good start. "Vivian pandered to the kind of witches who are mostly show and talk. I didn't like that and it kept me rooted in being a solitary. It seemed she snubbed those who wanted to practice the witches' ways of magic and spirituality."

Elspeth gestured to indicate the geo-dome. "Her 'pandering' paid off well for Venefica Coven."

"Yes, this facility is an admirable Covenstead." My hands slipped meekly into my pockets.

"You would snub those curious souls who gave deeply from their personal finances?"

"No, never." I paused. "I don't have a grand speech to pitch myself to you. What I know is that most of those who paid for this wanted a place to brag about, a place to be toadied to as they are at their country clubs and spas. Their donations were generous, but they were also strategic tax deductions." I pulled my hands from my pockets. "Vivian was good at schmoozing the wealthy. But, for the rest… take Mandy, for instance. That girl is a seeker, and she's thirsty for knowledge. She idolized Vivian, and Vivian took advantage of her. What does Mandy have to show for her loyal service? I'm not sure Vivian taught her anything. Mandy, and those like her, are the future. They are you" — I gestured at the dais—"decades from now. What groundwork is being laid for them? What ethics and standards are they being taught? Any?"

"So ethics and standards are important to you?"

"Yes. Personal responsibility, accountability, and a true sense of kindness. What is a high priestess if not a teacher? What will anyone learn from someone who cares nothing for them?" I hushed myself there. This was not a soapbox. I wasn't here to preach at the Elders.