"Lost Stars"

by Ann K Schwader
originally published Strange Stars and Alien Shadows, 2003

Sara works in an art gallery.  Her friend Diane wants her to attend a women's spirituality group she's found.  She claims this is not some mere wicca knock-off, but a gateway to real spiritual power, based on some very obscure ancient Egyptian beliefs.  Ever since she joined, she's lost weight, had more money - everything's going right.  Reluctantly, Sara attends.  The meeting is indeed different and impressive, but she's a little put off by the leader, Sesh'tet, who seems to have expected her, and gives her an unusual amulet.

The next morning, the amulet seems to have changed from a black stone to a leech-like glob, attached between her breasts.  She tears it off and destroys it, but is surprised to get a call from her ex-boyfriend a short time later.

Sara reaches out to an old college professor, Dr. Stanley, an Egyptologist, asking about the group and their unusual liturgy.  To her surprise, Stanley warns her away from the cult, noting that it is very dangerous and steeped in sorcery of the blackest sort.  He sends her a package of information about some bad business around an expeditions unearthing of a decidedly unusual tomb in the 1920's.

Sara convinces Diane to turn from the cult, especially since Diane's gotten the news she's been diagnosed with cervical cancer.  The group is planning a major ceremony timed to coincide with a meteor shower.  Sara crashes the party with molotov cocktails, and with Diane's help, exposes Sesh'tet for the mummified thing that she is, and spoils the party.  

Schwader writes well, and her characterization is strong - Sara and Diane are fully fleshed, highly believable women.  The build-up is quite good, especially the disquieting journal from the 1920's expedition.  Unfortunately, having the payoff be a routine break-up-the-ceremony-and-scatter-the-cultists is a letdown.