Making the Saint Read online

  Follow the Circle:

  Book 1: So Mote It Be

  Book 2: Merry Meet

  Book 3: Second Sight

  Book 4: What the Cards Said

  Book 5: In the Dreaming

  Book 6: Ring of Light

  Book 7: Blue Moon

  Book 8: The Five Paths

  Book 9: Through the Veil

  Book

  10

  Making the Saint

  Isobel Bird

  Contents

  PerfectBound Special Feature

  Taking a Different Path

  Chapter 1 “Ready to kick some butt?” Cooper asked Jane.

  Chapter 2 “It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen...”

  Chapter 3 “Well, what’s the news?” Annie asked Becka...

  Chapter 4 “We’ve just passed the seven-month point...”

  Chapter 5 “There it is,” Annie said, pointing across the street...

  Chapter 6 Tyler grabbed Annie and pulled her to him.

  Chapter 7 “Are you going to be like this all night?”

  Chapter 8 “It was weird,” Cooper told Jane the next day...

  Chapter 9 “Something’s going on with you.”

  Chapter 10 “Hey! Where is everybody?”

  Chapter 11 “How are the potatoes?”

  Chapter 12 Becka and Annie raced up the stairs and...

  Chapter 13 “Kate, would you put this on the table?”

  Chapter 14 “It was so cute,” Annie said, popping a fry...

  Chapter 15 “Annie and Tyler are fooling around...”

  Chapter 16 “I think it’s important that we all talk about this.”

  Chapter 17 I know she knows something...

  Chapter 18 “What happened to your hand?” Cooper looked...

  About the Author

  Credits

  About the Publisher

  Taking A Different Path

  In Making the Saint the participants in the girls’ Wicca study class are asked to spend some time studying different pagan spiritual traditions. The purpose of this is to show them how their own beliefs and practices are similar to and different from the beliefs of other paths.

  Since you’re reading this series, you’re most likely interested in Wicca. Perhaps you’ve had some experience with the Craft already, or maybe you’ve just heard about it and are curious as to what it’s all about. Whatever your experience with Wicca is – and whatever spiritual tradition you come from – it can be very interesting to learn about the traditions of others.

  Like Kate, Annie, and Cooper, you might like to spend some time exploring spiritual traditions other than the one you belong to or were brought up in. How do you do this? You can start by looking at the traditions your friends belong to. Chances are, you have at least some friends who don’t belong to the same religious faith that you do. If that’s true, you might find it useful to ask questions about what your friends’ traditions are like. What kind of rituals do they do? What are their main holidays and holy days? What are the principle books or texts of their religions? These are just a few of the questions you can use to start a conversation about your various faiths.

  You might also find it fun to take part in the traditions your friends come from or asking them to participate in yours. If you’re Jewish, for example, you might consider asking your non-Jewish friends to participate in a Seder or other ritual with your family. Or if you come from a Hindu background, you might celebrate one of the many holidays of your religion with friends who are interested in finding out more about your faith. The many different Christian traditions also have differences between them, and it can be both informative and enjoyable to see, for example, how a Catholic mass differs from a Quaker meeting, or a Baptist church service from a Methodist one. While the traditions and practices of our own faiths might seem ordinary to us, friends who have never experienced them can find them very interesting, and asking them to participate in them can be a good way to learn more about one another.

  Even if you don’t know people of other faiths, you can still find out what being a part of those faiths is like. There are numerous books about the different religions, and you can easily find basic information about the many spiritual traditions there are in the world. Similarly, you might want to attend a worship service or other gathering held by a tradition other than your own. Many faiths welcome people who are interested in finding out more about what they believe, and they would likely be more than happy to have you attend a service or gathering. If you are interested in finding out more about a particular faith, see if they have a church, synagogue, mosque, or other meeting place in your area. Then call to see if they allow visitors.

  It’s very easy for those of us raised in particular spiritual traditions to forget that there are many, many ways of expressing spirituality. The religion that we’re brought up in, or the religion of our families, may sometimes seem like the only one that it’s important to know about. But when you start to look at different spiritual paths, and when you begin to experience the traditions of others, it both helps you to understand the meaning behind your own practices and to see that often our different faiths have much more in common than we realize.

  When you’re exploring these different traditions, it’s important that you do it with an open attitude. Too often we think that what we believe is right. When we encounter people who don’t believe the same thing – and who might even believe something very different – it can make us defensive or even angry.

  When discussing religious differences with your friends, or when participating in the rituals and traditions of others, do it respectfully. Even if you don’t agree with a particular religion, try to see what its members find interesting or empowering about it. Experience the church service, or the holiday celebration, with an open mind and an open heart. When you do that, you will learn a great deal about the path you’re experiencing and about yourself.

  If you are someone reading this book who would like to know more about Wicca, there are many ways to do that. Again, you can read books. There are numerous books available that discuss the different kinds of witchcraft practiced by people around the world. There are books that give instructions for rituals you can do, and books that discuss the various pagan holidays. If you decide to learn about Wicca through books, remember that every author has a different viewpoint on Wicca and how it is practiced. Don’t take any one book as the only guide, and don’t believe any author who says that her or his way is the only true way to be a witch.

  If you would like to actually experience a Wiccan ritual, you might try looking in your area for a group that holds open, or public, rituals. If you are a young person, be sure to ask the permission of your parent or guardian before doing this, as most Wiccan groups will not allow young people to be present without this permission anyway. You can then look for local pagan or Wiccan groups. A good place to start is by asking at bookstores specializing in New Age or Wiccan books. If you have access to the Internet you might also look at a website called The Witches’ Voice (www.witchvox.com), which is a wonderful site containing all kinds of information of interest to people who want to know more about Wicca, including contact information for pagan groups around the country. Other excellent online sources of information regarding public rituals or gatherings held around the country include the website for the Reclaiming network of communities (www.reclaiming.org) which hosts public rituals, retreats, and workshops (mainly on the West Coast, but also in other areas) and the Earth Spirit Community site (www.earthspirit.com) which sponsors several excellent retreats, sabbat celebrations, and gatherings throughout the year on the East Coast.

  Another good source for people interested in learning more about traditions like Wicca is local
adult or continuing education programs. Witchcraft is a popular topic at such places, and you might find a good beginning class on the subject there. It is also possible to find ongoing workshops devoted to Wicca at women’s bookstores and New Age bookstores, so look around. Again, be sure to ask if any classes, workshops, or retreats that you’re interested in have age restrictions for participants, as you may need permission to attend them.

  As with the books you read about Wicca, approach any classes or workshops you might take with care. Remember that what you are being taught is one approach to practicing Wiccan spirituality. If you find that something you’re being told doesn’t make sense to you, question it. Any teacher who is really interested in helping you understand witchcraft will be more than happy to explain things to you and discuss any different views there might be about a particular topic.

  Learning about spiritual traditions – either yours or those of others – is an ongoing process. The more you participate in a tradition, the more you learn about it. Whether you’ve already chosen the tradition you want to be in or not, be open to experiencing what other paths have to offer. When you do, you will find all kinds of interesting things to learn and enjoy.

  – Isobel Bird

  CHAPTER 1

  “Ready to kick some butt?” Cooper asked Jane.

  They were standing in the backstage area of Bar None. Peering through the curtains, the girls could see a crowd gathered around the small stage, listening to the band that was playing. Some people were nodding their heads along with the driving bass line being hammered out by the band’s lead singer, whose throaty voice matched the forceful music he was playing. Listening to him, Cooper had to admit that he was good—really good.

  Unfortunately, the singer was her boyfriend, T.J., and the band was Schroedinger’s Cat, which she and T.J. had founded together. She had quit three weeks before, when they’d told her that they thought her music was getting “too witchy.” This was the first time Cooper had heard them play without her. While the split with the band had been friendly, if undeniably difficult, Cooper found herself feeling a little bit jealous that they’d been able to carry on without her guitar playing and singing.

  “Don’t let them get to you,” Jane told her, noting her friend’s expression.

  Cooper smiled at her new songwriting partner. She’d met Jane shortly after leaving the band. Jane had been playing the guitar and singing on a street corner. Attracted by her lyrics and her skillful playing, Cooper had struck up a conversation with her. She and Jane had become friends, and lately they’d been playing together a lot. Both of them had been hesitant to start writing with someone else, but they’d created a couple of songs they were happy with. So when Cooper had seen Bar None’s Battle of the Bands flyer, she’d suggested to Jane that they try their stuff out in front of a live audience.

  At first Jane had said no. But Cooper had worked on her, and finally Jane had given in and said she would do it. Cooper suspected that Jane had agreed simply to get her to shut up, but that was fine with her. The important thing was that they were about to perform in front of a live audience. Standing there, waiting to go on, she felt the familiar mix of anticipation and nervousness coursing through her veins.

  Schroedinger’s Cat finished their number and the band members walked backstage. T.J. came over to Cooper and stopped, wiping the sweat from his forehead. “What did you think?” he asked, grinning.

  Cooper snorted. “You call that music?” she said, taunting him. “I’ve heard better songs on an ‘N SYNC album.”

  T.J. laughed. “Good thing the audience gets the last word, then,” he said. “We’ll see who they pick.” He nodded toward the main room, where the sound of the cheering audience was still deafening. “Listen to that. I think it’s safe to say we have it in the bag.”

  “What do they know?” Jane said caustically. “They’re probably the same ones who made Celine Dion a star.”

  “T.J., meet Jane,” Cooper said.

  T.J. reached out and shook Jane’s hand. “So you’re the one who stole my girlfriend away from me,” he said jokingly.

  “Hey,” Jane said. “Don’t blame me if you’re a lousy kisser.”

  “Now I see why you two get along so well,” remarked T.J. to Cooper.

  “Wait until you hear us sing,” replied his girlfriend.

  Just then the emcee of the evening walked to the microphone and said, “That was Schroedinger’s Cat, people. I have no idea what the name means, but they were pretty rocking, don’t you think?”

  The audience clapped and cheered. Then the emcee continued. “Now we’ve got another great act for you,” he said. “Cooper and Jane, otherwise known as the Bitter Pills.”

  “The Bitter Pills?” T.J. repeated, giving Cooper a look. “How appropriate.”

  “Yeah, well, we’ll see how easily you guys can swallow us down when we win this thing,” Cooper said. She gave him a quick kiss and then followed Jane as she walked onstage.

  The two of them plugged their guitars into the amps that were set up beside the microphones. Cooper looked at Jane. “Here goes nothing,” she said, and launched into the song they’d chosen to perform for the contest, “Danger Girl.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do,” she sang, the words hard and fierce. “Don’t tell me what to say.”

  Her fingers moved across the strings of her guitar, coaxing the melody out. Beside her, Jane was playing as well. Her eyes were closed as she unleashed the fierce rhythms of the song, and her long dark hair hung in her face.

  “I’m not your little baby. I’m not your sweetest thing,” Cooper sang, pouring herself into the lyrics. She was swept up in the music, and she felt powerful. She could do anything. She could say anything. And no one could stop her. She had become the girl in their song.

  When she reached the chorus, Jane joined her, her throaty voice blending perfectly with Cooper’s. “I’m the one they said would steal your heart,” they purred. “I’m the one they said would steal your soul. I’m the one they said would turn the world upside down. I’m a danger girl.”

  After another verse, Jane launched into a guitar solo. Cooper stood back and let her friend take center stage. Jane unleashed a torrent of notes, and Cooper looked out at the audience to see how they were responding to what they heard. She saw a lot of astonished faces, and she knew that she and Jane had surprised some people. Why does it always shock them that girls can rock? she thought as the solo came to an end.

  The crowd was really into the song. Many of them—particularly the girls—were waving their fists in the air. Some even sang along on the chorus, their voices joining Cooper’s and Jane’s as they learned the words. On the last line, Cooper really let loose, her voice rising to a wail as she sang the last words. She let the final notes hang in the air as Jane finished with a flurry of licks on her guitar. Then the two of them stood side by side as the club erupted in applause. Whistling and clapping filled the air, and people called out their approval.

  “I think they liked it,” Cooper said to Jane.

  They left the stage, slipping behind the curtain as the crowd continued to cheer. Cooper saw T.J. and the other members of Schroedinger’s Cat standing there, looking at her. T.J. had a big grin on his face.

  “What did you think?” Cooper asked him, putting her guitar down.

  T.J. nodded his head. “Not bad,” he said. “It needs some polishing, but it’s a good start. I’d be happy to help you out if you want.”

  “Give me a break,” said Jane. “We made you guys look like Britney Spears’s backup band.”

  They all laughed. Then their attention turned to the emcee, who had once more taken the stage and was talking to the audience.

  “What did you all think of the Bitter Pills?” he asked.

  The crowd let loose again, clapping madly. When they quieted down the emcee continued. “Well, we’re not done yet,” he said. “We’ve got one more act to hear tonight before we declare a winner. So let’s find out what t
his next performer has for us. Give it up for Voodoo Mama.”

  As the emcee left the stage the lights switched from blue to red, and a mirrored ball somewhere above them began to turn, scattering flashes of red over the walls and ceiling. The effect was disorienting, as the shadows that flickered over everything made it seem as if faces and objects were moving rapidly from place to place when really they were standing still.

  Then the sound of a single guitar floated out of the darkness. The notes came slowly and fluidly, like honey dripping from a spoon. Cooper felt a chill creep along her skin, and she shuddered as the music reached out and took hold of her. It was enticing and disturbing at the same time, a mixture of blues and something else she couldn’t quite identify.

  The guitar played for a minute, the player still hidden in the shadows so that the sound seemed to be coming from nowhere. Then a figure stepped forward and walked silently to the microphone. It was a girl. A single pale spotlight lit her as she reached up and cupped her hands around the mike. She was wearing a simple red dress, and her hair was done in numerous long twisting braids that fell around her shoulders.

  “Midnight,” she sang, the single word pouring out of her mouth in a low growl that seemed to swell and fill the room. “And you call my name.”

  The girl barely moved as she sang, her body swaying slightly. Accompanied only by the invisible guitarist, she let her voice convey the emotion behind her words. Her song was simple and beautiful, and it was totally different from anything any of the other bands had done.

  “She’s good,” Jane whispered to Cooper. “Really good.”

  When the girl finished there wasn’t a sound from the audience. They just stood there, staring at her for a moment as she waited behind the mike. Then they applauded politely, almost nervously, as if they weren’t quite sure what they’d just heard. The girl waited, as if she expected the applause to grow louder, and then she turned and walked offstage. The lights returned to normal and the emcee emerged from the curtains.