"Odd." George always thought of the word "odd" when he saw Sheila, his wife's friend. If he was honest with himself, he was also uncomfortable whenever she was around. There was no reason he could pinpoint in his mind, he just felt strange when she visited. Hil, his wife, had been friends with the older woman for years, ever since Hil was a teenager. Also strange that he had never met Sheila until after marrying Hil. One day, she appeared at the house, and Hil had greeted her warmly and made introductions. Sheila was an old family friend of sorts, and visited often, sometimes several times a month. "Please be welcoming," said Hil as she looked at George with her brown eyes. "Sheila has been around as a friend so long, and gives me advice."
Over the span of several years, he had grown somewhat accustomed to the presence of Sheila in his and Hil's life. She would appear at the door, with her scraggly black hair, grey intense eyes, long black nails, flowing garments, and her knowing smile. When she visited, she was also somewhat flirtatious towards George, kissing him in greeting, not on the cheek, but full on the mouth. When he was seated in a dining room chair, she would gently rake her nails across his back as she walked by him. During every visit, Sheila and his wife would have long private talks. George never overheard these; he had a strange reluctance to barge in on them, and whenever he came close to overcoming this reluctance, he was seized by an urge to complete some other task he had forgotten.
Today's visit followed the usual course. Hil answered the knock on the door, and welcomed Sheila in. She swooped into the house, her sleeves flowing in the breeze of her movement; she hugged Hil, then came over to George, gave him a slow kiss on the mouth and scratched the back of his neck. Hil never seemed threatened or upset by these displays, on the contrary, if George mentioned them at all, she was upset with him for not making her feel welcome. He had abandoned the thought of protesting and endured it in silence.
The two women excused themselves to go talk, and George, in unknowing obedience, moved himself to the bedroom where there was no chance of overhearing them. He propped himself on a few pillows and picked up the book he was currently reading.
An hour later, he heard footsteps at the bedroom door, and turned to see his wife there, a triumphant look in her eyes. He looked at her questioningly, but she gave no answer. Instead she reached a hand toward him, the fingers spread wide. She said a word George didn't recognize, and he felt a jolt through his body.
George still lay on the bed, propped on the pillows, but unable to move. His wife lowered her arm and moved further into the room. Behind her was Sheila, grey eyes blazing with excitement. She walked up to the immobile George and gently scratched his legs. Speaking to Hil, she said, "You have definitely increased your powers and abilities, sister. I feel the vitality of your spells. The coven has voted, and I am content with the decision." Again George saw the blazing triumphant light in his wife's brown eyes. Sheila turned to George, invisibly bound on the bed, and explained, "Yes. All the years you never knew your wife was a witch, practicing and studying under my instruction. Now, when I am ready to retire my position as head of the coven, they have seen her power and potential, as I did, and voted her my replacement."