Sacred Circle (20 page)

“It was awful about Brenda, such a waste.” Her gaze drifted to a spot on the wall over Devlin's shoulder. “Sally seems to have made her peace with that awful time, but I can't seem to get past it. And now, to succumb to another illness almost as bad as the first . . . well, I suppose I will have night sweats for months after this terrible ordeal is over. It will make it almost impossible for me to ever erect a Sacred Circle again.” She turned her head, covering her mouth as she gave into a husky cough.

Devlin patted her legs.

“My careless handling of Brianna caused the Dark Time, but I knew what I was doing when I sealed the circle to ward off any repercussions.”

“But could you have done it without Brianna's help?” Eileen asked. “Sally has always maintained that you couldn't.”

“What do you think?” Devlin asked, eyeing her curiously.

“I think you could've sealed it with your eyes shut, and your hands tied behind your back.”

Devlin laughed at the preposterous statement.

“It's nice to know somebody that day was in my corner.”

“Oh, don't get me wrong, I disliked you for years for what you did. But then I read in an old magazine how your restoration of a natural habitat in Wyoming has guaranteed a new lease on life for the wolves residing there. I knew then that you had atoned for that awful day, and that it was foolish of me to dislike you any longer, so I forgave you.”

“Just like that?”

“Don't make fun. I'm serious.”

“Sorry. I didn't mean to make fun. I'm grateful for your forgiveness.”

She stifled a cough, and lowered her voice to a near whisper.

“We heard voices in the hallway earlier, but haven't been able to find out what's occurred. Has a new patient been brought in?”

“Actually, it's good news,” Devlin said. “Sienna's body has been recovered from the clearing.”

“What!”

“Thank the Goddesses!”

The exclamations were simultaneous as both women bolted up in bed and nailed him with a suspicious stare. To his surprise, Eileen was the first to challenge the news.

“You reversed the spell? When none of us could?” She sank back on the pillows, chewing on her lower lip thoughtfully. “I don't know how I feel about that.”

“I know how I feel,” Margaret snorted, her face as glum as Eileen's. “You are still a foolish boy, Devlin Janus, and you are lucky you aren't being laid out in the chapel for funeral services right now.”

Devlin studied her face. Why was Margaret assuming that he had cleansed the circle without help?

“Brianna and I examined the circle together, Margaret.”

“How could you? Are you married?” Her gaze dropped to his hand. “Oh, yes, I see that you are. Well, I suppose that's why Rufus had to agree to let you attempt a cleansing.”

“Margaret!” Eileen's tone was disapproving as her gaze surveyed Devlin's hand. “I had no idea that you were married, Devlin. The magazine I read said nothing about a wife.”

“It was spur of the moment on both our parts.” Devlin replied.

“Well, whoever did this to Sienna has lost all sense of decency,” Margaret remarked, with a huff. “We've always prided ourselves as an honest community. I don't understand why the person responsible hasn't come forward.”

“Could you tell if Sienna was purposely harmed?” Eileen asked, changing the subject.

“Too soon to tell,” Devlin answered. He studied Eileen's face, surprised that she had asked the question instead of Margaret Lord. His instincts told him that Margaret knew much more than she was saying.

“Perhaps, one of the young teens is responsible for what happened.” Margaret sniffed. “They are always begging to cast their own circles. Francis has his hands full as their mentor.”

“It's far too early to think of outing the teens,” Devlin remarked. “We will know more when the Council conducts an investigation.”

Margaret's mouth snapped shut; however, Eileen came out of her stupor with an airy wave.

“We'll find it was a horrible accident, nothing more,” she stated.

“An accident caused by displaced energy,” Devlin corrected.

“Which has been neutralized, or we wouldn't be starting to feel better,” Eileen replied. She placed a hand on Devlin's knee. “Why are you really here, Devlin? In our room, I mean.”

He considered fudging his answer, but thought better of it.

“If we are to solve this ominous mystery, we must trace Sienna's whereabouts before she entered the circle.”

“So you've come to interrogate us?” Margaret grumbled. “Shame on you!”

“Hush, Margaret. Devlin's right. Someone must remember seeing her.”

“You, Margaret? When did you last see or speak with her?” Devlin queried. She wrinkled her brow, attempting to recall.

“We attended vespers on Sunday evening together. She stayed to help me mop up the kitchen . . .”

“Did she confide in you?” Devlin asked. “Mention that an un-Sacred circle had been cast?” Margaret's face paled at the question.

“Heaven's, no! Has there been a black circle cast?”

“It appears so.”

Fear, stark and vivid, glittered in her eyes. She shuffled her feet from under the covers and slid to the edge of the bed.

“I must find Rufus at once. The congregation must be gathered together for a protection blessing.”

“You're not going anywhere,” Eileen touted, “Stop her, Devlin. Brad has given strict instructions for her to stay in bed and recuperate.”

Devlin hopped from the bed, barring Margaret's way.

“You must do as the doctor says, Margaret. Until your symptoms subside, you cannot participate in, or emcee a blessing.”

She frowned at his words, but slipped back into the bed and stuffed her feet under the sheets. Eileen banged the metal frame of her bed.

“I saw Sienna Sunday at the vigil, and then again at morning vespers on Monday. She seemed herself, asked no suspicious questions, never commented on anything amiss.”

“Was Francis at the vigil?”

“Yes, of course. He conducts Sunday vespers.”

“And Sally?”

Eileen's brow furrowed.

“No, I don't remember seeing her there. But then Danny attends the junior services on Sunday. Sally shadows him like a mother hen, so I can only assume that is where she was.”

Another sniff rocked the air.

“Sally is a loving, devoted mother. It is cruel of you to hint that she may have had something to do with Sienna's collapse. Next, you'll be spouting Francis is involved.”

Devlin saw a dangerous glint light Eileen's eyes.

“I am making no such accusation. It is my responsibility as Second Elder to discover the truth of Sienna's collapse. No stone can be unturned in accomplishing that task; if a member of the congregation is at fault, the Council must identify the person and sanction them immediately.”

“It is Rufus's responsibility as Third Elder to head up any interviews. Yours is to set up those interviews and nothing more.”

Devlin cut in, bent on warding off another barrage of insults.

“Actually, it's the Interim High Priestess' responsibility to oversee things,” he said.

Eileen's head whipped around.

“Did you say Interim High Priestess?”

“Yes, Brianna invoked her rights as High Priestess last night.”

Eileen's face drained of color, while a screech from the far bed echoed shrilly.

“She did what?!” Margaret shot up as if to leave the bed again, and Devlin derailed her escape. Seeing his gesture, she slid back under the covers and gave him a nasty glare. Seeing it, Devlin knew what question would be next. Had a marriage taken place after the invocation? Eileen came to life on the bed.

“She married you, didn't she? She invoked her rights, and then took a husband. That's how it's done. That's how you were able to disrupt the barrier of the circle so quickly. What a brilliant move on her part, and what a lucky break for you, huh? Finally getting to marry her after all these years?”

Devlin heard the dripping sarcasm as he re-took his seat on the bed, but before he could offer a retort, Margaret intervened.

“You're saying Brianna married you to halt this despicable illness? I don't believe it.”

“I think it was extremely smart on her part,” Eileen countered. “I always knew she had Sienna's powers, but to short-circuit a circle when it might harbor a spell within a spell. Oh, I wish I had been well enough to see how she did it.”

Devlin heard a hiss from his left and turned.

“You've something to add, Margaret?” he asked.

“Of course I do,” she stated firmly. “I intend to condemn this bogus wedding the first moment I see Rufus. You and Brianna have upset the balance of the community by returning and mocking our creed. If Rufus agrees, I will have plenty to say to you—none of it good.” Her gaze shifted to Eileen. “We shall devote our prayers tonight for protection and healing.” Her gaze shot back to Devlin. “You and Brianna will join us here for the prayers—to atone for causing such an imbalance in our spirits.”

“I don't attend prayer meetings anymore,” Devlin stated, “And I'm quite sure Brianna has no intention of leaving her mother's side this evening.”

“You will attend this one.” Margaret railed at him. “Brianna has set herself as a High Priestess, and she must act like one. She must lead us in prayer for her mother. And if there's any possibility that her foolish stab at cleansing the circle has caused this horrendous illness to re-ignite—inadvertent or not—she must ask the congregation for forgiveness.”

Devlin frowned at her censure. The congregation would have a long wait if they expected an apology from Brianna. It was clear that he would have to reveal Sienna's condition to the women. But how to do it tactfully?

“Sienna would never approve of unfocused prayers, you know,” Eileen interjected, attempting to break the sudden silence in the room. “She didn't believe in random spell-making or a reckless stirring of the Guardians.”

Devlin's hand sliced the air, cutting off any further criticism.

“Sienna is not dead. We found her alive in the circle.”

“Alive? Impossible!” Margaret exclaimed, shifting her feet beneath the covers.

“Five days down, and still alive?” Eileen marveled. “It's unheard of.”

“It can't happen,” Margaret continued to snuffle. “Francis says so. And he is certainly well-versed in performing the most elaborate of rituals. He's as good as Sienna in my estimation.”

Devlin heard the edge in her voice and responded.

“Was Sienna having problems with Francis?” he asked. “Something that might tie into her collapse?”

“Good heavens, no!” Margaret responded, snapping her mouth shut and giving Devlin a forbidding glare. “Francis wouldn't hurt a fly. Ask anyone.”

Devlin's gaze shot to Eileen, who glanced at the wall over his shoulder.

“If you know something, Eileen . . .”

“I suppose you'll find out anyway from Charles or Rufus,” she stated, bringing her gaze back to him. “Sienna didn't approve of Francis's fast rise within the Elder ranks. She thought his motives lacked clarity, especially since Rufus fought against his being initiated as an Elder.”

“She told you that?”

“Of course, Sienna has always been honest with the Council regarding any pending appointment. She'd be a poor High Priestess if she didn't.” She broke off speaking and Devlin saw a light flush stain her cheeks as she glanced at Margaret. “That came out as an insult to Francis, and I didn't mean it to, Margaret.”

Margaret glowered at her.

“You owe Francis the apology, not me.”

“Honestly, Margaret, your devotion to Francis is admirable, but even you must admit that his circle skills can't hold a candle to Sally's.”

Devlin's gaze shot to Eileen. Now here was a piece of information to be stuffed in the “suspect” category. Along with Eileen, Sally had the power to emcee a Sacred Circle.

Devlin heard a fractured wheeze.

“Francis can emcee rings around Sally. I don't know why you've chosen to insult Francis instead of supporting him. And why aren't you offering me sympathy?” she stressed, her voice beginning to crack. “Sienna was my dearest friend, and I'm unable to leave this room to offer any kind of consolation to Charles.” She sought a tissue from a Kleenex box and wiped her eyes. “Oh, I wish Rufus was here.” The bed under Devlin's rump jiggled, and he saw Eileen's rash movement to leave her bed. Devlin signaled her back. Hopping from the bed again, he flung an arm around Margaret's sagging shoulders.

“Rely on your faith to get you through this, Margaret.”

“I suppose you think I'm a foolish old woman for crying instead of daring to leave this room,” she remarked. “I suppose nothing ever rattles you.”

Devlin's smile was tired as he squeezed her shoulders.

“You're mistaken. Sienna's collapse has knocked me for a loop.”

Eileen tapped the bed frame with her fingers again.

“I don't mean to nag, Devlin. But the Council will need proof that the cleansing was successful. An entry must be logged in the Coven Book of Shadows, and the Council must give their blessing on its use.”

“The ritual is out of the box and not for public noting.” Devlin stated.

“She must give up the ritual—no matter how secret. It is the law.” Margaret huffed.

“As Interim High Priest of this coven, I won't allow her to reveal the spell until we have brought this master of dark magic to trial.”

“You have no say in this matter,” Margaret muttered. “You gave up that right when you killed Brenda Carver.”

“Margaret!”

Devlin didn't let Eileen smooth the way this time.

“I may have given up all rights to the Wicca faith when I left,” Devlin argued. “But my marriage to Brianna keeps me safe now. You can't toss either of us out.”