by Rachel James
“Nothing. It’s far too premature to assume anything. Nothing has been ruled out at this point.”
“Surely you have some notion,” Brianna chided. “An angry elemental, a door left open . . .”
Rufus cut her off.
“Interference by a stranger? I know all the possibilities, but I would be a poor Third Elder if I centered on the criminal aspect, and ignored the spiritual possibilities first.”
“Where does the Council stand on her collapse? We heard of an unsacred circle being constructed.”
“Conjecture only. We have inspected the grounds and found no hint of anything dangerous being constructed. There is simply no reason for this energy sickness to be occurring.”
“Unless of course, Mother’s ritual is still in flux and every patient in the clinic was part of the Intercession ceremony. That could account for their energy sickness.”
Rufus frowned.
“If the circle was in flux, wouldn’t Francis be suffering the effects? He conducted the ceremony.”
“Perhaps he’s the carrier of the sickness,” Brianna said. “It’s not unheard of for a parasite to latch onto the strongest witch’s essence during a ceremony.”
“It’s not the case here, though,” Devlin interjected. “I read his aura earlier and it’s clean.”
Rufus looked relieved by Devlin’s words, and Brianna wished she could read auras as well as Devlin. Right now, she needed a gauge to judge everyone by; including Devlin.
“The energy sickness is a priority, of course,” Rufus remarked. “If left undiagnosed, it could go beyond our compound walls.”
“There is absolutely no indication that this illness is contagious,” Brianna spoke up, her gaze switching to Tommy, whose face had suddenly drained of color. “Relax, Tommy, you are perfectly safe.” Brianna’s focus returned to Rufus. “There is no reason to create a panic by speculating the worst. It might only be a small energy leak. And that can be remedied by the Council easily when we find it.”
“If you find it,” Rufus stated.
Brianna heard the sarcasm in his tone; however, before she could fling back her own sarcastic retort, Devlin intervened again.
“Is there a way to circumvent the Sanctity law, Rufus? Some dispensation in the Book of Shadows?”
“Absolutely not!” Rufus stated. “The law is straight-forward. For you to aid us in the clearing, Brianna must invoke her rights as High Priestess. Once she does that, she will be required to take a husband.” He glanced back and forth between Devlin and Tommy, and then centered back on Devlin. “I’m assuming she’d be forced to choose you, since Mr. Cloisters is an outsider, and not eligible.”
Brianna did bristle this time.
“No harm will come to the coven if we examine the circle without being married,” Brianna countered. “Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
“So we should just abandon our principles, and re-work them every time a crisis occurs?” Rufus asked. He shook his head. “I think not.”
Brianna ground her teeth unhappily.
“We won’t blemish the Sacred Clearing with our citified hearts. You should look a little closer to home for that sin.”
His face shut down completely at the subtle jibe.
“Are you insinuating that a master of dark magic is residing here in the coven?”
“I’m merely questioning the rush to force a marriage between Devlin and I. It’s almost as if you hope to pit us against each other. That way, we’ll leave before the dispensation runs out.” She craned her head. “Or is it that you have an idea of the sinner’s identity and hope to sanction them for causing another Dark Time?”
Devlin squeezed her arm, offering Rufus a quick apology.
“Chalk Brianna’s rudeness up to a repressed sense of persecution,” he muttered. His gaze met Brianna’s. “The past is the past, and this is now—and new. You are going to have to invoke your rights as Interim High Priestess.”
Brianna ground her teeth with a hiss this time. Invoke her rights when she didn’t know whether her Mother was alive or dead? She wouldn’t do it. There had to be an alternative solution. Annoyed by Devlin’s continuing stare, she shifted in her chair.
“Any damage to the clearing has already been done, and being married won’t alter that fact.” She glanced out the window and caught sight of Devlin’s reflection. Why wasn’t he putting up a fight against marrying her? He’d do anything to save your mother, her inner voice supplied. Even marry you.
“Brianna?” She brought her gaze back to Rufus. “Perhaps if you advised Francis on how to clear the circle, the marriage wouldn’t be necessary. He’s extremely adept at emceeing Sacred Circles.”
Brianna balked at the suggestion.
“No one is going to repair the circle. I forbid it!” She felt a nudge on her wrist and knew Devlin was losing patience with her runaway tongue.
“As good as Francis is,” Devlin stated. “He’s never been through a busted circle. If he guesses wrong and the clearing is still hot, there will be ramifications not even a marriage can save.”
Brianna tuned into the warmth of the fingers lying along her arm, and wondered where Devlin was finding the courage to accept the fact that they might have to marry in order to retrieve her mother’s body from the circle. The thought gave her goose bumps, an erratic pulse, and a damnable vision of his naked body claiming hers during The Joining ritual.
“However, given our history with circles,” Devlin continued, “I see no reason for Brianna and me to contemplate marriage. Her skills would be better used supporting your leadership role. The congregation will be expecting a certain behavior from her as the next-in-line High Priestess.”
Rufus’s gaze swung to Brianna, who shifted uncomfortably under his penetrating stare. Why had Devlin brought up her lineage to Rufus? Especially when his aura exuded a questionable energy around his frame? It was clear by his glare that he doubted her ability to follow in the footsteps of her mother. No, that wasn’t it, she realized, holding his gaze. He didn’t want her to follow in her mother’s footsteps.
His careful scrutiny of her placid expression changed suddenly, and Brianna gave a relieved sigh.
“How do you feel about it, Brianna?” he finally asked. “Is it alright for Devlin to risk retrieving your mother by himself, and thus, facing reprisals from the Council?”
“No, it’s not alright,” Brianna replied, curtly. “We must do it together, or not at all.” She heard a fractured hiss. “No, I won’t change my mind, Devlin. The illness is contained for the moment, which means if we’re lucky enough to find a way to retrieve Mother’s body, it’s going to take two healthy witches to carry it off.”
“She’s got a point, Devlin,” Rufus agreed.
“Yes, damn her, she does.” Devlin turned in his chair, contemplating Brianna’s face and posture. A moment later, her hands were engulfed in his strong ones. “Look here; let’s be frank with one another. I don’t think it’s possible for any witch, even a High Priestess, to remain alive after being trapped five days in a circle. Do you?”
A sudden rush of tears welled up and Brianna suppressed a sob.
“If she’s wearing her amulet, she could. She might have used it to build a bubble of protection.”
Her fingers were squeezed.
“Don’t give me the emotional answer. Give me the rational one. Do you believe a witch could stay alive after five days down?”
“N-n-no.”
Brianna’s voice broke on the word, and her fingers were re-squeezed.
“Right. So let’s forget about a loveless marriage that neither of us wants. Instead, let’s concentrate on letting me enter the clearing alone. I might get lucky and not go down.”
Brianna fell silent, digesting his words. Should she let him sacrifice his life to retrieve her mother’s body, when she was already beyond help? As much as she wanted to, she couldn’t let him do it. She would have to marry him, and that was that. It was the only logical thing to
do.
“Brianna?”
“It’s true you are far more versed in Sacred Circle rituals than I am. But I have the power of six generations behind me. And that might be all the edge we need.”
“Excuse my ignorance, Brianna,” Tommy interrupted from the couch. “But it sounds like you’re considering a makeshift marriage to someone you haven’t seen in more than a decade.” He squinted at Devlin. “I can’t allow Brianna to marry you. She’s in the middle of a financial buyout that depends on her being in good health and focused.”
Brianna’s head snapped around and she scrubbed her wet cheeks.
“You’ve found a buyer for my company already?”
She felt a strong pressure on her arm again, and she snapped her mouth shut.
“This argument is better left till later,” Devlin advised. “When we have the privacy to battle it out amongst ourselves.”
Brianna flushed at the reprimand.
“Sorry, Tommy. I’m riding on my nerves.” The man on the futon nodded as Devlin took up the conversation with Rufus again.
“We will need some time to talk this marriage proposal out between us. We both have a lot to lose if we decide to marry.”
Brianna heard the emphasis on “if” and winced. He didn’t want to marry her; not now, not ever. He was stalling for time. And as much as she agreed with him, she couldn’t let him have his way. Too much was riding on their decision.
Tommy’s voice cut through the sudden silence.
“There is always a way to circumvent an unbreakable law,” he remarked. “I don’t see why it can’t be done in this instance.”
Devlin’s sigh was demonstrably loud.
“Because coven law isn’t governed by any state or local administrative laws. This particular coven has chosen to abide by Sanctity laws established over a century ago. These laws cannot be circumvented or reworked in any way, no matter the crisis. So, if we are to help the community through this crisis, we must abide by the Sanctity law and marry.”
Tired of the subject, Brianna glanced out the window.
“I wish you would stop talking as if we had other options.” Her voice turned brittle as she swung back to Devlin. “Mother must be removed from the circle and then buried with honors.” She turned towards Rufus. “As coven protocol dictates, I’m invoking my rights as Interim High Priestess. Make note of the time.” She shifted back to Devlin. “I’m ready to marry you now.” He seemed startled by her words, but Brianna ignored the look. All that mattered was retrieving her mother’s body from the circle. “Tommy can serve as our witness,” she added.
Devlin threw up his hand.
“Hold on. There are dowries to settle, votes to be taken, and an oath to be administered. The marriage will have to wait a few more hours.”
“And leave Mother down another night? Not on your life!”
The room went silent at her declaration, but not for long. Devlin shot to his feet and circled his chair.
“It’s already been five days,” he chided, gripping the backrest. “One more night won’t make a damn bit of difference. Besides, if we are going to have any chance of halting this epidemic, we have to see the sun rise over the circle boundaries and make our judgments at that time. To attempt a retrieval in the middle of the night is just plain idiotic.”
“So is getting married,” Tommy threw in.
“Shut up, Tommy,” Brianna bristled. “You have no say in the matter.”
Devlin cut off her indignation.
“Can it—both of you.” He began pacing the carpet behind the chairs, and Brianna didn’t need to see his face to know he was weighing all their options in his head, looking for one that didn’t constitute an insane marriage. Well, let him try. There was no other viable solution. She tapped on her chair arm impatiently.
“Will you, or won’t you marry me, Devlin? If the answer is no, I’ll be forced to ask Tommy to marry me.”
“What!” The man on the futon jerked to life. “Marry me? When pigs fly!”
Brianna’s mouth suddenly twitched.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence, Tommy.”
He withdrew a hankie from his pocket and wiped his brow.
“Always glad to oblige, blue eyes. Now, stop screwing around and get serious.”
Devlin shot them both a glowering stare.
“Shut up—both of you!” He re-circled his chair and studied Brianna’s face. “I know that you love your mother more than life itself, but are you truly ready to take on all the responsibilities that go with being a High Priestess? There will be a shift in lifestyle for both of us, not to mention a busted career. And, God knows what we’ll find when we go down to the clearing. It could be a replay of Brenda’s death.”
“There is no other way,” Brianna responded. “There just isn’t.” He sighed and it was clear by the resigned slouch of his shoulders that he agreed.
“Well, then ‘so mote it be,’” he stated. He glanced over at Rufus. “You heard Brianna. Note the time and make the necessary wedding arrangements.” Brianna gave a small sigh of relief as warm fingers descended on hers again. “We will wait until sunrise to examine the clearing, though . . . no, this is not up for debate. You may have been blessed with six generations of witches, but I haven’t. I will need to be well-rested before we enter the clearing.”
Surprised by the backhanded compliment, Brianna could do no more than stare at Devlin’s serious countenance. Noting her silence, Rufus hoisted himself from the chair.
“Well, I shall ready the altar in the chapel for the ceremony.” He started to exit and then hesitated. “Though it might not seem like it, we are committed to learning what caused Sienna’s collapse and fix it.” He did exit the room then, leaving an awkward silence behind him. A clearing of a throat finally emerged, and Brianna’s gaze followed the sound. She saw Tommy inching towards the door and she sprang from her chair.
“Wait! You can’t leave, Tommy, You’ve been brought to the coven to witness our marriage, and spirit never makes mistakes.”
Once again, his expression looked startled.
“I came to comfort you in your time of need. It wasn’t to participate in this farce you’re concocting.”
Devlin sprang to his feet.
“Nevertheless, your sudden decision to follow Brianna may have been orchestrated by spirit. Now, the question becomes, what does spirit intend for you to do here, besides witness our marriage?”
Devlin strode to the door without offering any answer, and Brianna listened as the door slammed shut behind him. She gave a long sigh, glad to have a quiet moment without him. She dropped back into her chair, chewing on her thumbnail. Taking note of her actions, Tommy dropped into the vacated chair beside her, and brought her fingers from her face.
“Why are you marrying this Devlin character without thinking it all through? It’s not like you. And what will the marriage accomplish anyway? The chance to perform God-knows what, in a clearing with painted circles on the ground?”
“You don’t understand, Tommy, the circle might still be open.”
“You’ve lost me.”
Brianna squeezed his fingers.
“Casting a Sacred Circle is like playing with matches. If you’re not careful, you could set off a fire that consumes everything it touches, including yourself. One of the worst things that can happen inside a circle is to leave it open when you’ve finished performing your ritual. It opens a door between two worlds, allowing all kinds of negative energy to seep through and attach its essence to whatever it finds.”
“Holy crap! That sounds like a page out of a horror film.”
“Don’t make fun; this is serious. Great harm could come to the commune if we don’t learn what caused Mother’s collapse!”
“And what happens if you find the circle has been left open? What then?”
“The Elders will have to close it.”
Tommy’s face soured.
“Surely the Elders can do that without a marriage. Tak
e Reverend Lord up on his offer. Let this Francis person take the risk.”
“You need a healthy witch to examine a circle of this magnitude. The Elders are suffering with energy sickness. Devlin and I aren’t.”
Tommy bounded up from his chair, dragging his fingers through his hair.
“This is crazy. You could get yourself killed; maybe even get this Janus fellow killed.”
“Thanks again for the vote of confidence,” Brianna stated, hopping to her feet. It was clear Tommy would never fully understand what it meant to be connected to the world of spirit. He was far too jaded—and too much of a stickler for organized protocol. “On that bleak note, I think I’ll visit the little girl’s room and repair my face. I can’t get married looking like a drowned rat, you know.”
“You shouldn’t get married at all.”
Brianna sighed.
“Go and keep an eye on Devlin. I wouldn’t put it past him to change his mind about the marriage. There’s no love-lost between us.”
A frown stained Tommy’s lips at her confession.
“And that’s exactly why you should cancel this farce you’re contemplating. Hasty marriages always end unpleasantly—for both parties.”
“Not in this case. We will sign divorce papers once this whole debacle is behind us.”
Tommy clasped her hands.
“I know you’ve been thrown for a loop by all this, and I admire your sense of right and wrong, but a makeshift marriage?”
Brianna met his glance, her voice turning brittle again.
“There is no other way, Tommy. The Coven Book of Shadows is specific. No unmarried man or woman may enter a Sacred Circle after they are of age. It’s a good law—just inconvenient, at the moment. Besides, if there’s any possibility that Mother’s collapse wasn’t a freak accident of nature, I have to know it and take steps to bring the sinner to justice.”
“That smacks of harming someone, blue eyes.”
“It certainly does,” Brianna stated, spinning on her heel and heading for the door. Reaching it, she flung it open and crossed out into the hall. “Go and find Devlin.”
A loud grunt followed her exit, and her lips twitched. In seconds, she was entering the ladies bathroom and studying her appearance. She did look like a drowned rat; her mascara caked and splintered. She brushed the dark streaks from her lower lid, noting her shaking fingers. Could she recite the marriage vows without becoming hysterical? She had to. She had to keep believing spirit would carry her down the right path, with the right tools, with the right person, at the right time. So mote it be, she decided. Everything connected to everything.
