Sacred Circle (29 page)

Her gaze lifted to the book again. The journal could be interpreted as plus one more—a trapdoor built in case things went horribly wrong. But that interpretation felt wrong too. The book had been placed on the floor as bait to come in, not to get out. But who was being invited in, if not Devlin?

A shiver slaked her spine at the question, and Brianna wiped her sweating palms on her skirt. Now that she had read the last words of the mantra, the dynamics of the ritual didn't seem to be aimed at Devlin. If only he was here to . . . she scratched that thought. It didn't matter what Devlin thought about anything. He was out of her life for good.
Still, two witches against one would be so much more effective,
her inner voice nudged.

“Rrr-ow.”

The cat's cry had Brianna rearing back as if stung.

“Good Lord, Nicodemus! Stop sneaking up on people.” The cat blinked up at her, seeming not at all repentant as she stared down at him. His gaze never wavered from hers, and because it didn't, she felt a shiver ripple up her spine again. What was he trying to communicate to her? To look beyond her own logic for answers?

Turning her back on his intimidation, she took a step towards the circle. A loud hiss erupted at her movement, and a black paw swiped at her ankle. Falling back, she stamped her foot at the cat.

“Yes, I know, it's dangerous, but I have to determine the circle's intent.”

Nicodemus growled at her this time, and giving into his intimidation, she took six steps back, deciding he meant her to view the circle from a greater distance. She let her gaze encompass the total shape. No talisman, no engraved pentacle, no gifts for the Guardians.

Circling left, Brianna began to chew on her lip again. Gateways and guiding words, but no gifts. Why? Only one reason. The circle had been improvised on the spur of the moment and had been interrupted before it could be completed.

“Rrrrrrrr-ooooow.”

Brianna looked down at the cat now walking by her ankles. He was studying the circle as intently as she was. Was he suggesting she finally use his magic to get her answer? Nothing ventured, nothing gained, her inner voice taunted. Right. Raising her arms, she reversed directions, walking back along the rim of the markings and offering an impromptu chant.

“I walk this circle thrice about, one for the world within, one for the world without. Here, in this place, beginnings and endings are meeting. What lies ahead, shall be revealed at my greeting.”

Giving a half-turn left, Brianna prepared to elevate her chant; however, the cat's mewl had her breaking off. To her surprise, a voice inside her head introduced a new chant.

“Weavers of black fire, heed my call. I bind the man in this circle, and ask that he fall. I bind all gateways in and out, preventing his escape in releasing your wrath. I bind his aura and energies so that my spell will override the one previously cast.”

Stunned by the familiar voice, Brianna glanced at the cat at her feet. Was Nicodemus channeling Sally's voice for her benefit? It felt like it. She craned her head and waited for the voice to continue in her head. When it didn't, she leaned over and petted Nicodemus' head.

“You are a true spirit guide, Nicodemus. And you are absolutely right. I have been very stupid. All the signs were clear. The disjointed memories, the subtle grillings, the energy shift during the Weaving ceremony, the smell of sandalwood—clear signs I overlooked.”

“Rrr-ow.”

“I know I can feel it too. We have no time to lose. Devlin is about to feel the wrath of a conjured demon.”

She whirled around, bolting for the front door; however, upon reaching it, she found it locked. She shook the handle and then pounded on the door. A second, louder hammering brought no response, and because it didn't, icy fear snaked around Brianna's heart. She was sealed in, and if she hadn't been so immersed in trying to decipher the circle's intent, she would've heard the rebar being dropped. If only she had listened to her instincts the moment she had spied the circle and retreated back out the front door. Now, she had no choice but to defend herself, rather than going on the offensive.

“Rrr-ooowww.”

Brianna whirled at Nicodemus's wail. He darted away—towards the basement door. She moved quickly after him. He had the right idea. Find a way out and take it. In a matter of seconds, she was flicking on the wall light and descending the steps.

Spotting a huge stack of furniture piled against the exit door, her spirits sank. The furniture was much too heavy to move without help. Not to her surprise, Nicodemus took charge, climbing the lower limbs of the furniture and making his way to an open window near the ceiling. Reaching it, he glanced back at her and purred. She grimaced up at him.

“I know I'm too big to fit through. Go get help.” He scrambled onto the ledge and out the window before Brianna could finish her instructions. “Wait!” Her yell was two seconds too late and she frowned. He'd seek out Devlin, but he'd be unable to converse with him when they met. Sighing, she turned back to the staircase and re-climbed the steps. How long would it take for Nicodemus to bring help?

Reaching the top step, she found the basement door shut. Odd! Had the door blown shut behind her when she descended? She jiggled the knob. Locked! She would make Sally pay for her treachery.

Giving the door an impatient kick, she whirled around and retraced her steps. Muted light spiraled across the basement floor ahead of her steps, casting misshapen shadows all around her. Brianna shivered, grabbing a discarded chair and righting it. She sank down on the seat cushion, plotting all the ways she would make Sally pay for harming her mother and the community.

Devlin slammed the stairwell door. He had been searching for Brianna for over an hour, and at each point of stopping, he had come up empty. How had she managed to slip off the face of the earth in such a short time? And how was she able to hide her energy from him? Since the marriage binding, he felt the pull of her energy no matter how far apart they were. And now, less than a day later, he couldn't read her essence. Had he been wrong in thinking that their merged energies had been a sign from the Sisters of Fate that they had been forgiven for the Dark Time? No, he couldn't feel Brianna because she was pissed at him. And a pissed off Brianna was nothing short of a wild tornado. Why had he been so stupid as to confront her on her mother's journal? It had brought the she-bear out in her again, and now he hadn't the foggiest idea how to catch up with her.

He listened to the echo of his boots tattooing on the pavement and frowned. Sienna's essence could be restored and the energy displacement broken loose of its hold, if he could read her journal. It was foolish to think that Brianna hadn't already worked out some kind of ritual in her head to break the spell. She was that talented. He just hoped she wouldn't try it without his being there to back her up.

He halted his flight, glancing up at the twinkling stars. He had to locate Tommy. He was Brianna's only other ally and it didn't take a dunce-capped wizard to realize that she would seek him out before long. Which direction had she taken after leaving the clearing? He was certain she retrieved the book the moment she left him, but where would she hide it?

A black streak flashed in front of him and into the bushes, and Devlin slowed his steps. Damn pesky cat. Why was he slinking about the sidewalk in the moonlight?

“Rrr-oww.”

Devlin jumped as Nicodemus darted from the bushes, and came to a halt in front of him. Now what? The cat sat down, his yellow eyes glued to Devlin's face. If only he could read the damn cat's mind.

“Rrrrr-owww.”

A quick sneeze followed the cat-call.

“I don't know what you're saying, you miserable beast,” Devlin declared.

The cat meowed in response and then bolted away, through the shrubs again. Watching him go, Devlin gave a wry smile. It was stupid to think the cat knew Brianna's whereabouts, and was attempting to alert him to her location. Women like Brianna weren't devious. They hid in plain sight; he just needed to think like her.

“Meditating? Or contemplating murder?”

Devlin whirled, startled by Tommy's silent arrival.

“Neither. I'm attempting to locate Brianna.”

Tommy's smile snaked to a grin.

“Why? Is she lost?”

“Yes.”

Tommy's amusement died instantly.

“What's happened? What have you done?”

“I haven't done a thing,” Devlin replied. “She's learned my true identity.”

“Good God, that's great news.”

“She's vowed never to speak to me again. She's turned into a tsunami, and you know what that means.”

“Of course. You'll never get her to fall in love with you now.”

Devlin's face contorted in anger.

“There was never any hope of that, and we both know it.”

Tommy scuffed his toe on a clump of grass.

“I can't believe you were stupid enough to marry her without telling her the truth.”

“If you had kept your mouth shut, we wouldn't be having this conversation.”

“Hey, don't put this at my door,” Tommy fired up. “I had no idea you were a witch in sheep's clothing.”

“Can the sarcasm. We need to find Brianna. She's acquired her mother's Book of Shadows, and I need it. It may contain the key to solving this whole idiotic mess.”

“Then why are we standing here talking? Let's go find her.”

Devlin hissed through his cheeks.

“Have you any idea how large this friggin' compound is?”

“Well then, let's go and demand the Elders start a search for her. The more of us attempting to locate her, the better. We can spread out. She can't be that lost.”

Devlin hooted loudly.

“I'm not about to get the Elders involved in this, Tommy. One of them is our sinner. I'm certainly not going to call attention to the fact that Brianna's gone off by herself. I won't put her life in danger just to satisfy my own anger at her. She'd do the same in my place.”

“Well then, why don't you do what Brianna would do—if she were in your place?”

“For once, I don't know what she would do.”

“Yes, you do. She would be hiding the book in plain sight.”

Devlin's head shot up.

“And what better place to hide a book than in a library filled with them,” Devlin stated. He bolted off the sidewalk and into the street, gesturing Tommy to follow. A second later, a dark shadow streaked across the road in front of him. Nicodemus. Up to some new mischief, he'd bet. The shadow flashed back across the road a moment later. It would be just like the cat to strike out after them and take up residence beside him as he searched for the journal. What power had Sienna really charged the creature with? Spying the library steps, Devlin gave a shiver. He didn't want to know the cat's power. He didn't like cats, and the thought of them being able to read his thoughts and understand them, well, it was better not to think on it.

Dismissing the feline's erratic scurrying, he crashed through the shrubbery on the left side of the library entrance, skidding to a halt when he spotted the rebar in place. Barreling up the steps, he signaled Tommy for help. Together, the pair shoved the bar up and dove through the door as soon it swung open.

The smell was the first thing he noticed as they crossed the entry-way. Candle-wax—sandalwood, to be exact. His gaze drifted to the ceiling, noticing the alternating prisms of light flickering. What the hell was Brianna doing? Trying to burn the place down? He angled around the reception desk and into the main room, skidding to a halt upon spying the tables shoved aside and a large circle etched on the wood floor of the room. He threw his hand out, preventing Tommy from walking over the sketched lines.

“Stay back.” Scanning the circle, he studied the placement of the candles around the borders. Definitely gateways. But for what purpose?

“What the hell is Brianna up to?” Tommy asked. He fanned the air around him. “The air reeks of rotting corpses.”

Devlin lifted his hand.

“Give me a minute to think.” He dropped to his haunches and inspected the floorboards. “Gateways, no Guardians yet, and no gifts.” He felt heat against his shoulder.

“What do you think? Is it one of Brianna's circles?”

“Not likely. It feels wrong.”

“Wrong?”

“I can't put my finger on it, but the closest thing I can equate it to is a Venus Fly Trap. There's something I'm missing here, though.”

Devlin felt the heat on his shoulder vanish.

“I can't imagine what. Even with my limited knowledge, I can see candles representing doorways,” Tommy bent down and inspected the center of the circle. “What do you suppose this book represents?”

“Book?” Devlin's heart leapt at the word and he bolted to his feet, knocking Tommy out of the way. “It's not just a book, Tommy. It's Sienna's personal journal. No, don't touch it. It's the trigger.”

“Trigger?”

Devlin shot to his feet, ignoring Tommy's question. The ritual was underway, though not yet in full motion; however, when the designated trigger set off, the true intent of the circle would kick in. And it wasn't hard to imagine who the target would be when it did set off. Like mother, like daughter. He felt his arm snatched roughly, followed by a husky growl.

“Talk to me, Devlin. Tell me what the circle means.”

Devlin brushed the fingers from his sleeve.

“We're out of choices.”

“I'll go with you.”

“You have to stay here.”

“The hell I will!”

Devlin's gaze softened.

“Look, I'm thinking of Brianna. If the book is meant to lure her, as I believe it is, she needs to be warned. One of us has to stay here in case she attempts to touch the circle.”

A cranky sigh emanated.