by Rachel James
Brianna looked at the lanky figure rising from a chair. Merciful heavens! Francis was still lurking in shadows and eavesdropping.
“You’re full of surprises, Charles. I wish I didn’t have to put a damper on this homecoming, but as First Elder, I must. We cannot have outsiders dictating our destiny. It is against coven protocols.”
“Throw me out. I dare you!” Brianna declared, recklessly.
Devlin interrupted her impending tirade. He focused on Francis’s mulish expression.
“Neither Brianna nor I have any intention of interfering with coven matters. We are here to give advice only. If Charles thinks we can be of help by taking a brief look at the circle, we will do it. So the question now becomes, what will you need from us in order to release the clearing back to the Council?”
Brianna saw a surprised look cross Francis’s face, and his gaze shot to her father.
“They don’t know?”
“Know what?” Brianna asked, following Francis’ scrutiny of her father. A sudden prickling on the ridge of her neck had Brianna catching her breath. Bad news was coming. She could feel it.
“I didn’t tell you everything when I called,” her father replied. “About your Mother, that is.”
Brianna fumbled for a chair and sank down.
“She’s not . . .”
Her father’s hand reached out from the bed.
“No, no. She’s alive . . .”
“Thank goodness!” Her father fell back against the pillows and Brianna felt a brief touch on her shoulder. She nodded at Devlin. “No hysterics yet, I promise you.”
“Good girl.”
“She was Drawing down the Moon in a special binding ceremony,” her father rallied. “There had been a report of an un-Sacred Circle being created.”
“My God, Papa! You let her go into the clearing knowing that? What were you thinking?”
“That your mother could take care of herself; she always has.”
“Are you sure she wasn’t conducting a protection ceremony? You don’t need to Draw down the Moon to bind a sinner.”
“I can only assume that is what she was doing. She left the cottage without a word to me.”
“Performing a ceremony without back-up was a risky thing for her to do under the circumstances,” Devlin said.
A set of spasms contorted her father’s chest, cutting off any reply he would’ve liked to make. Alarmed, Brianna jumped from her chair and grabbed his fingers.
“Enough talking. Francis can fill us in on the rest.”
Her father shook his head, rallying his strength.
“Don’t go baiting Francis. He may be the only person that can aid you in collecting evidence from the clearing.”
Brianna made a face.
“The evidence has already gone underground, we all know that. Francis is purposely being a horse’s . . .” She felt Devlin’s hand along her upper arm, and brushed his fingers away. “I’m not going to insult Francis. I just want to remind him of the proper protocol when comforting a High Priest under the weather.”
“I can’t wait to hear what you think that is,” Devlin muttered.
Brianna rumpled her nose at him, turning her attention to Francis, whose scowl was almost as fierce as her own. His next words were terse.
“You have no authority here, Brianna, and even though you have been clever enough to evoke the Dispensation Law, it’s only bought you one more day in our midst.” He held out his hand. “The Pentagram, if you please. It will need to be cleansed and purified before being returned to the Sacristy.”
His pointed barb didn’t go unnoticed.
“I have no desire to rule anyone, Francis,” Brianna remarked, ignoring his outstretched hand. “but you are mad if you think I came all this way to be shunned by the Elders.” She waved her hand towards the bed. “I am not going to let anyone sweep the illnesses occurring here under a rug.”
“Are you insinuating that the Council had something to do with your mother’s collapse?” Francis asked. “And that we now intend to hide what happened to her?”
That was what Brianna thought, but she didn’t have the courage to say it out loud, especially when she had no proof of any wrongdoing by the Council. Beside her, her father contained another hacking cough.
“What has Brad recommended for Mother?” Brianna asked. “Has he tried a healing wash?”
“No, I haven’t,” Brad replied, entering the room. “None of us have the purity to do it at the moment.” He crossed to the bed and lifted her father’s hand, measuring his pulse. Her father’s eyes re-opened and he flashed a weak smile at the doctor.
“Look here, Brad,” Devlin stated, stepping forward. “Something is going on that you’re not telling us. I can feel it around your auras. What is going on?”
“And you had better have a damn good reason for keeping it a secret.” Brianna threw in. “All this secrecy smacks of a cover-up.”
“I couldn’t tell you everything when you called,” her father said. “In case, you didn’t come.”
“We’re here, so spill the bad news,” Devlin muttered.
Her father blew threw his cheeks, glancing at Devlin, rather than at her.
“Sienna’s body is still in the circle in the clearing. We are unable to get past the energy barrier.”
“What!” Brianna fumbled for her chair again, and dropped down. “She’s still inside the circle? You’ve left her inside the circle?” She covered her face with her hands. “How could you keep that vital piece of information from us?” She peeped through her fingers at her father. “How could you be so cruel? Do you realize how much time you’ve wasted by keeping this a secret? You’ve wasted days that we could’ve used to save Mother’s life.”
“We tried to get her out, Brianna. The attempt failed.”
Brianna’s temper flared.
“You can’t manipulate spirit, Papa. I know that better than anyone.” She whirled on the doctor. “How long has she been unconscious, Brad?”
“Four days, maybe five.”
“Five!” Brianna covered her face with her hands again. “Five days down!” A weight settled on her shoulders and she glanced up at Devlin’s face. A stray tear escaped her right eye. “Have you ever heard such garbage? They left her in the circle. They’ve m-m-murdered her.” Her voice cracked on the words.
“No one’s murdered anyone,” Devlin advised. “We’re going down to the clearing right now, and by God, we’re going to repair the problem.”
Brianna’s tears dried instantly.
“Have you lost your mind? We are not going to repair anything. Not even to appease our guilt over past mistakes.”
“Brianna.”
Brianna hopped to her feet.
“No, I don’t want to hear it, Papa. You attempted to reverse a spell without knowing its source and look what’s happened.” She whirled around, glaring at both Francis and Devlin. “No one is going to try any type of repair—until I give the word. There have been enough reckless acts already. It’s time for some logical assessments for a change.” She rounded on Francis. “Is there anyone who hasn’t come down with the bug besides you, Francis?”
He ignored her question, turning his back on her, and retaking his former chair. He shot her a mutinous glare, and then shifted his attention to the outside window. Seeing his slouched posture and mulish expression, Brianna’s anger edged up a decibel; however, before she could utter a scathing retort, Brad intervened.
“Rufus is still healthy, and so are some of the teens,” he said.
“Where can we find Rufus?” Devlin asked, clutching Brianna’s elbow and pulling her towards him.
“In his office,” Francis finally spoke up. “But if you think you can convince him to let you examine the circle, let me warn you, you cannot step foot in the clearing.”
“Why the hell not?” Brianna hissed.
“You aren’t married,” he gloated. “The Sanctity Law clearly states that no unmarried man or woman can enter th
e Sacred Clearing once they are of age.”
His words floored Brianna, but she didn’t let it show. Instead, her mouth formed a perfect rosette.
“Oh, dear, didn’t anyone tell you, Francis? Devlin and I married years ago.”
Shock siphoned the blood from his face and Brianna would’ve laughed if she hadn’t heard the intake of breath mirrored by Devlin. Francis’ gaze dropped to her ring-less hand and then to Devlin’s left hand.
“You always did love making a mockery of our laws, Brianna,” he stated.
“No, it was you I loved making a mockery of,” she replied.
Devlin quelled the rivalry at once.
“Can the insults, you two. We’ve a pressing problem to solve. We need to get Rufus’s permission to examine the clearing and we need to get it now.” Francis started to rise from the chair; however, Devlin waved him down. “It’s best we face Rufus on our own, Francis.”
“Like you did fifteen years ago?”
For the first time since they had arrived, Brianna saw Devlin’s demeanor darken.
“Careful, Francis, you’re treading on thin ice here. I still know a thing or two about spell making, and I’m not above proving that to you.”
Francis blanched at the threat, and then slouched deeper into his chair. Noting his posture, Devlin pushed Brianna out the door, and down the hallway. Nearing the elevator, Brianna balked at his aggressive shoving.
“Stop pushing me, I’m not a vacuum cleaner.” Reaching the elevator, she jammed the “down” button rapidly.
“Neither of us can afford to act like brats,” Devlin replied. “We have to sound grown up and confident—even if we aren’t.”
“Do you honestly think either of us is ready to face a Sacred Circle again?”
“Not without the Council’s blessing.”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“I know what you meant.”
“It is forbidden for an unmarried couple to enter a Sacred Clearing; we forgot that. So unless you can conjure up a wife in the next few minutes, we are screwed.”
Devlin stuffed his hands into his back jeans pocket.
“Our problem will be solved if you consent to marry me in the next few minutes,” he countered.
“That isn’t funny.” Brianna shot him a withering glance. “We have to find a way to circumvent the Sanctity law.”
“Rufus will never agree.”
“He’ll have to. Otherwise, I’ll make so many allegations of attempted murder, his head will spin.”
A black scowl saturated Devlin’s features at the threat. He snatched her arm and shook it.
“Don’t even think about pushing him. If you do, we will be ousted from the commune before our twenty-four hours is up.”
Brianna jerked free of his fingers.
“Stop bossing me around. I outrank you, thanks to my heritage.”
He took a step back, his expression one of impatience. And then he grabbed her elbow and shoved her into the now open elevator cage. In less than a minute, they were moving through the downstairs lobby, and out the front door, into the full fledged darkness of night. Reaching the sidewalk, Brianna slowed her steps.
“I didn’t mean what I said back there,” she apologized. “You bring out the worst in me. You always have.”
He sighed at her words.
“I’m not your enemy, Brianna.”
She sighed even louder.
“I know that . . . no, don’t say it. I’m not your babysitter either, but I need to know that we are both on the same page here.” She saw his mouth open. “No, I need your assurance right now, or I swear I will invoke my rights as High Priestess and toss you out of the commune.”
He took her elbow again, this time more gently; however, his words were anything but gentle.
“You may be used to browbeating clients in your daily life, but don’t try that bullshit on me. If by some miracle, we get permission to enter the clearing, neither of us will be attempting any secondary ritual in an effort to resolve this problem—even if you’ve thought everything out in that level-headed brain of yours. Disrupting a spell always results in disaster. Mother Nature sees to it.”
Satisfaction pursed Brianna’s mouth.
“We are on the same page at last. We will examine first, talk it out, and then make a decision together.”
“Unless of course, a hasty marriage is the best option,” Devlin added.
Brianna’s hiss was out before she could stop it.
“Don’t make me cast a spell on you instead of Francis.” She felt her elbow gripped harder, followed by a strong push towards a grassy swale.
“Don’t get your panties in a twist, Rapunzel. Being married to you doesn’t have the same fascination it once did. It sounds more like a prison sentence now.”
Brianna didn’t bother to hide her laughter.
“See, I knew we were on the same page.”
“Well, hold that thought, because if I remember right, Rufus Lord never liked either of us very much. One misplaced threat, and he’ll have the Council come down on us hard.”
“You think he knows we’re here?”
“Is the Pope Catholic?”
“Right.” Brianna frowned. “Let’s get a move on. Patience is not my strong suit.”
“Amen to that.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
ELDER OFFICES
The Healing Center was empty except for the sound of falling water, a fact that pleased Brianna more than she could say. She needed to hear something soothing for a change, and she only hoped that her current feeling of calm wouldn’t desert her during their upcoming meeting with Rufus Lord. She glanced at the far end of the room, to the etched rock formation called Spirit Fountain. At least they had retained the beauty of the building in its purest, physical form.
“Try not to be a rotten brat when we get in there, huh?”
Brianna crinkled her nose, entering the narrow hallway ahead of Devlin’s mock bow. She had never learned the art of holding her tongue; however, it was rude of him to remind her of it. After all, they had just agreed to work together. She passed a pastel mural on the wall, and then another, impressed by the serenity of the pieces. Had Rufus chosen the paintings? It was hard to imagine, given his sour disposition and chilling stare.
Reaching the back offices, Brianna heard raised voices and instantly recognized the deeper of the two. She bustled down the corridor and through Rufus’s open door.
“Tommy! For heaven sakes! What are you doing here? However did you find me?”
Her colleague’s grin was amiable, a total contrast to his rumpled clothes.
“It wasn’t easy. This place isn’t listed on any GPS tracking map in the known world. I have to say, however, I can see the fascination in living here. The nearest neighbor is what? Fifty miles away? Plenty of room for casting spells and shit.”
Offended by the glib obscenity, Rufus offered a rebuke.
“To label our community as practicing ‘shit’ is a mockery of the Wicca Creed—and of course, to all of us who hold respected positions in the Coven Council.”
Brianna twisted towards the desk. Rufus hadn’t changed a bit. He was still tall, dark, and not at all likeable.
“Stow your criticism, Rufus,” she stated. “Tommy meant no disrespect.” She stepped towards the desk, holding out the Coven Pentagram. “Coven protocol dictates we seek your blessing after evoking the Dispensation Law.”
He took the Pentagram, his cool demeanor warming slightly at her apology.
“I suppose you felt compelled to come home after hearing about your mother.” He studied the man behind her. “But I must say I’m surprised to see you here, Devlin.” A light tug emanated on her jeans pocket, and Brianna looked down.
“Introduce me to this tall fellow behind you, blue eyes.” Tommy said. “He looks too urban to be a witch.”
“He’s Devlin Janus. We grew up together here in Green Sapphire.”
Surprise permeated Tommy’s face; howev
er, Brianna chose to ignore the look. If she focused attention on Devlin, Tommy would automatically assume they shared some type of intimate relationship.
“You two grew up together? Here?”
Devlin roused behind her, placing his hand on Tommy’s shoulder.
“I’m sure Brianna will find time later to bring you up to speed on our relationship. Right now, we have urgent business with Reverend Lord. Give up your seat.”
He bolted up and took a seat on a nearby futon. Seeing his puzzled look, Brianna knew his firecracker brain wouldn’t stay puzzled for long. He was a master at solving mysteries.
“I suppose Doctor Ellis has briefed you on Sienna’s condition,” Rufus stated, settling back in his chair. He focused on Brianna’s face, and then switched to Devlin’s lowering form. His voice took on an amused tone. “I’d like to know how you intend to disrupt the barrier, since neither of you can enter the clearing.”
Brianna made a face at him.
“What difference does it make how we do it, as long as we do it?”
His good-naturedness dampened.
“I won’t allow you to make a mockery of our ways, Brianna—even if you are Sienna’s daughter.”
“That’s a little high-handed, don’t you think?” Brianna asked. “Given the circumstances.”
Brianna felt a light pinch on her arm and she snapped her mouth shut. Her bitterness was showing again, and Devlin was warning her of it.
“We’ve told Francis we have no intention of getting in anyone’s way,” Devlin interjected. “And we mean it. However, I’m at a loss to see why you would be so dead-set against our taking a look at the circle, especially when the High Priest of this coven has given us his seal of approval.”
“I’m not against you entering the clearing. All you have to do is marry Brianna, and I shall gladly walk you both to the clearing myself.”
“We have no intention of getting married, just to appease the Sanctity law,” Brianna stressed. “But I think you knew that as soon as we entered the room. So, I’ll ask you straight out, what is the Council hiding about Mother’s collapse?”
