by Rachel James
“Sit down, Sally. You look ready to drop.”
Sally sank onto a folding chair, and Brianna picked up her plate from the buffet table and joined her. As she sat, she noticed Sally’s vacant stare into space. Where had her mind gone to so rapidly? And what was she thinking?
“Are you sure this gathering isn’t too much for you, Sally? You’ve done a remarkable job on pulling it all together at the last minute, but you’ve barely recovered from your respiratory illness.”
The energy around Sally’s aura fizzled to an even more gray shade, and once again, Brianna felt that odd prickling on the back of her neck. What was spirit trying to tell her?
“I promised Francis that if Danny got well, I would see to it that l returned the favor in whatever way I could.” Her gaze swept Brianna’s face. “Danny’s the reason I get up each day, you see.” Her hand fanned the air. “I can’t thank you enough for giving him back to me.”
Brianna placed her hand over Sally’s.
“It was a joint effort, Sally. And you mustn’t be so hard on Francis. It’s clear he loves you a lot.”
Her gaze dropped to the ring on Brianna’s left finger.
“You were always first in his heart though.”
“In Francis’s heart? No way. It was always Brenda.”
“I meant Devlin, silly.” She removed her hand from beneath Brianna’s, and Brianna wondered where that observation had been dredged from. “I always thought in the end, you and Devlin would be together.”
“Did you? I always thought it would be Jordy Skyler.” Brianna gave a long sigh. “He sure knew how to kiss a girl.” Are we on the same page? her inner voice suddenly mocked. Jordy Skyler’s lips never made blood pound in your brain, leap from your heart, or make your legs tremble when he kissed you. Not the way Devlin’s do.
Brianna changed thoughts abruptly, stifling any thought of Devlin’s mouth on hers. Her gaze found Sally’s.
“Do you remember when we were nine, and Jordy stood in the recess yard, and yelled, ‘Sally Carver has buck teeth and cootie legs’?” Brianna saw a hesitant nod. “You were devastated by his insults, and when you started to cry, Francis marched across the yard and bloodied Jordy’s nose so bad he couldn’t talk for a week. Francis never once stood up for me like that.”
“He didn’t need to. You fought your own battles.”
“Yes, and look where it got me—separated from parents who love me, and the loss of my three best friends.” Sally’s face softened at her words, and Brianna covered her hands lying on the table once more. “I’m so sorry about Brenda, Sally. I know it’s a painful subject, but I don’t want to leave here not having said how sorry I am. I have no excuse to offer—what I did was despicable.”
“Devlin said the same thing to me only hours ago.”
“He did?” Brianna quizzed. Her glance shifted to the tall man now engaged in listening to Rufus’ chatter, and she drew in her breath. Even from far away, she could feel Devlin’s sexual magnetism pulsating. It radiated with a vitality that was raw and turbulent.
“What do you suppose he did after he left Green Sapphire?” Sally asked.
“He found his own life—away from Sacred Circles and rock gardens.”
“Don’t you miss the way it used to be?” Sally asked, her gaze swinging back to Brianna. “Growing herbs and making candles? Don’t you miss the way we were?”
Brianna took a bite of her fruit salad and chewed thoughtfully.
“I do miss the birthday celebrations,” she stated. She changed the subject abruptly, focusing on the morsel in her mouth. “Why do I recognize this taste?”
“We ate it for the first time on your tenth birthday.”
Brianna dropped her fork.
“Oh my God, that’s right. We placed dishes of it in the four corners as a gift for the Guardians.”
“Along with the four sandalwood candles I made.”
“That’s right,” Brianna remembered, with a grin. “We wanted to please the Guardians on all levels. Fire, earth, air, and water . . .”
“. . . which was working fine until the hem of Eileen’s skirt caught fire, and she started jumping around and screaming like a banshee.”
“And you started giggling,” Brianna remembered.
“You giggled first, and then Brenda got going.”
“And then Marla joined in.”
“But only because you were giggling,” Sally reminded. “We always giggled when you did. I miss those moments, don’t you?” Brianna thought back. Funny, how time could distort a memory. The only thing she remembered now was how much Sally had copied her actions back then. She had liked what Brianna liked, aped all her school assignments, and generally, had no opinions of her own. Sally’s lips lifted suddenly. “Devlin stepped in, whipped my cape from my neck, and wrapped Eileen with it before she went up in smoke.” She gave a long sigh. “He became our hero at that moment, didn’t he?”
Brianna tried to think back to that moment too, and realized the memory was nowhere in her mind’s storehouse. Had everything fun that occurred in the commune been stricken from her memories because of the Dark Time?
“I know Eileen fell madly in love with Devlin that day,” Sally finished.
“She was six years old.” Brianna laughed. “Much too young for him.”
Sally sighed and glanced to her left again.
“Her crush soon turned to the real thing, though. She was devastated when he left the commune. So was Marla.”
Brianna’s interest perked up.
“He had two admirers? I never knew.”
“Of course you didn’t. Eileen never told anyone but me about her feelings.”
“And now Devlin says she’s an Elder on the Council,” Brianna stated. “I’m so proud of her.”
“Are you? I think she’s much too young for the position, don’t you?”
Brianna’s head whipped around. Once again, she felt that uncommon prickling on the back of her neck. What was she being warned about? Sally’s revelation about Eileen’s crush on Devlin? Or Sally’s obvious dislike of Eileen’s appointment to the Council? She was sure now that she was being warned to pay attention to Sally’s words.
“Was the congregation against Eileen’s appointment, Sally?”
“Heavens, no. Eileen’s loved by everyone. Why, two years ago, when we all came down with the flu, she was the only one to figure out that the hatchery had been contaminated in some way. We stopped using the clearing in Green Glen after that, and built a new clearing down in the Hollow.”
“Green Glen?” Brianna repeated. A picture of the old woods flashed into her head. “Do you mean the clearing along the outer boundaries of the property? Why ever would that clearing be used for ceremonies? It’s old-school.”
“Well, we couldn’t very well continue to use the clearing after what happened to Brenda. Sienna felt the circle might still be contaminated and chose to switch our Sabbat ceremonies to the hatchery—until the earth had a chance to renew itself. We began using the clearing in Hollow Creek again, not long after Francis was appointed First Elder.”
Pleased by the change in topic, Brianna quizzed Sally on Francis.
“Did Francis happen to mention a conversation he had with Mother about someone abusing the Sacred Clearing?”
“He certainly did. I convinced him it was pure nonsense.”
“Why would it be nonsense?”
“Because no one here would be so bold as to cast a dark spell against a revered High Priestess.”
“Perhaps, the spell was meant for someone else,” Brianna remarked.
A loud sniff emanated.
“We don’t cast spells on people for our own gain. Besides, who could possibly be the target, if not your mother?”
“Me. Or Devlin, perhaps. Someone in the congregation may still hold a grudge for the havoc we caused.”
Sally’s lips pursed.
“Yet, here you are—back in our good graces. I suppose living outside the commune has made
you suspicious of every little thing.”
“I’m afraid so,” Brianna stated, picking up her fork again and pushing her food around her plate. So much for quizzing Sally about anything pertaining to her Mother. She was clearly a die-hard advocate of the Wicca lifestyle, and obviously devoted to it, heart and soul.
“I suppose Devlin has become as jaded as you,” Sally remarked. Her gaze skidded off to the other side of the clearing, and Brianna glanced that way as well. Devlin was now engaged in an animated conversation with both Marla and Eileen. She heard Sally’s haughty sniff a second later. “Your marriage to Devlin has devastated Marla. She cast a spell on him years ago, trying to bring him back to the commune, but as you can see, it didn’t work. He stayed single—until recently.” Another sniff rocked the air. “Marla never could keep a proper Book of Shadows. Not like you and Eileen could. Do you still keep a journal, Brianna?”
The change in subject had Brianna’s head spinning.
“I’m afraid not. There’s no call for rituals in my line of work.” She slipped a cauliflower floret into her mouth, and chewed it lazily. She wished Sally would go away. All the reminiscing was giving her a headache. Her entire energy field was fizzling all of a sudden. What was causing the rift? Sally’s close proximity to her shoulders or the fact that the woman beside her no longer resembled the gay, fun-loving girlfriend she remembered? Either way, she’d check with Devlin to see if he had detected anything amiss with her aura. For her part, she could only detect a sad, distressed grey.
“Francis says you travel quite a bit in your work.”
“Yes, I’m afraid so.”
“And Devlin?”
“I really couldn’t say. Yesterday was the first time I’ve seen him in fifteen years.” Brianna’s gaze shifted to Devlin again, and found him settled amongst another group of church members. He appeared to be making headway in his contacts while she appeared to be losing all interest in quizzing anyone about anything.
Brianna heard movement beside her and glanced at Sally who was popping up and greeting Eileen with a brief hug and kiss as she joined them. Brianna saw a sly wink come her way.
“Have you been talking girl-talk about rock gardens and herb stews?” Eileen asked.
“We’ve been trying to put some closure on our childhood,” Brianna answered. “However, it’s a little hard to do when the only thing we can remember is your dress on fire, and Devlin beating it out before you went up in flames.”
Brianna heard a light cluck.
“It hurt like hell. I still have the burn scar to prove it.”
The girls fell silent at her words, and then Sally rallied.
“Francis says I need to live more in the moment, although it is hard to do when you have a thirteen-year-old son demanding your attention. Did you know Brianna’s become fabulously wealthy?”
Brianna flushed at the compliment, and seeing her discomfort, Eileen sighed.
“She looks more tired than anything, Sally.”
Brianna heard a familiar sniff.
“You always were jealous of my friendship with Brianna.”
“You’re deluded if you think that. I was jealous of Brenda’s friendship with Brianna. They were inseparable.”
Brianna felt a distinct rise in the energy level around her, and realized that the two women beside her had become bitter rivals over the years. What had caused the rift? It wasn’t like Eileen to hold a grudge, and it certainly wasn’t part of the Wicca philosophy to wish harm on another human being.
Scooping a last morsel of fruit salad into her mouth, Brianna studied the women staring daggers at each other. She’d discuss their behavior with Devlin when she saw him. Perhaps, they had been barking up the wrong tree all along. Perhaps her mother’s collapse was simply the result of two bitter women working at cross-purposes.
“I’m sorry to interrupt your time with Brianna, but Francis is asking to see you. He won’t say why, but then he never does.”
She gestured to the other side of the clearing, and Brianna caught sight of Rufus and Francis sketching a wave in their direction. Brianna acknowledged the wave as Sally strode from the table. Tuning into the sudden silence, Eileen dropped into Sally’s vacated chair.
“She’s pretty hard to take, isn’t she? She’s not at all the girl we used to know when we were kids.”
“She almost lost her son,” Brianna stated, pushing her plate away, and realizing her appetite had gone south, along with her energy. She glanced across the way, watching Francis drape his arm around Sally’s shoulder as she reached him. The gesture had Brianna rubbing her chest area. “She seems to love Francis a lot,” she stated.
“She’s mad about him.”
“You sound as if that’s a bad thing,” Brianna remarked, wiping her mouth with her napkin.
“Not bad, just odd. Francis dated Marla after you left, and it was pretty much agreed that they would marry. And then out of the blue, he married Sally. Marla was devastated.”
“Is that when mother stepped in and gave the management of the café to her?”
Eileen’s head snapped around.
“Marla told you about that?”
“Not in so many words. She mentioned going through a bad patch while we were having lunch in the Tea Room earlier. Your comments just seemed to strike a chord.”
“It was a very bad time—on an emotional level—almost as bad as that day in the circle.”
“Sally mentioned something about having to use the hatchery for ceremonies after that day.”
Eileen propped her elbows on the table, giving Brianna her full attention.
“Your mother thought it best at the time. We used it for years as our primary clearing, until the ground there became contaminated.”
“Another contamination? What caused it, do you know?”
Eileen craned her head, her countenance turning thoughtful.
“You’re thinking that someone might have abused the hatchery clearing on purpose, aren’t you? In order to force us to go back to Hollow Creek for our ceremonies.”
“I thought you didn’t believe anyone abused the Sacred Clearing.”
“I didn’t until you and Devlin arrived and cleansed the circle. I can’t speak for Rufus or the other Elders, but I take trapped Guardians in a circle as serious business. It means that your mother came face to face with her attacker and recognized him or her. And because she did, she invoked the Guardians to stay and protect the circle.”
Brianna suppressed a gasp. Eileen had drawn the same conclusion as she about the Guardians. Did that insight place her at the top of her suspect list?
“You don’t think she was invoking them to keep watch on her essence, instead of protecting the circle?” Brianna asked.
“Her essence? I never thought of that.” Her expression turned thoughtful again. She shook her head a moment later. “No, if she was protecting herself it would mean that the same mandala she was performing could be recreated to restore her health, and Brad has assured us that he has found no such ritual in the Community Book of Shadows.”
“But suppose the ritual could be found?” Brianna asked, shifting in her chair. “What then?”
“It would take a pretty powerful witch to carry it off,” Eileen stated. “And as good as we are at ceremony, not one of us Elders holds that much power.”
“I might.”
“Good heavens! You’re not really thinking of recreating your mother’s ritual? It would be suicide.”
“Maybe not. With Mother’s inherited skills, and Devlin as my consort, it could be done.”
Eileen’s hands came down on Brianna’s folded ones, and Brianna saw her gaze soften.
“We both know that your marriage to Devlin is a sham.” Brianna blushed at the bald statement; however, Eileen seemed not to notice. “Though we hold no animosity towards you or him any longer, our forgiveness doesn’t extend to allowing either of you to slander our heritage. And as for performing a ritual to restore your mother’s health, well, yo
u must never mention such a thing to Rufus or Francis.”
“Why?”
“Because they have already discussed the idea with Brad, and he has assured them the attempt would be futile.”
Brianna’s pulse took a nosedive, but she offered no further comment out loud. Brad may have searched the Coven’s standing Book of Shadows but she was sure her mother’s personal journal would offer a much more hopeful outcome to restoring fractured essences. Brianna felt a light pat on the back of her hands and looked up.
“By the way, I like your friend Tommy. He’s funny and smart.”
“He means the world to me,” Brianna stated, picking up her fork and weaving circles on the tablecloth with it. “He was there when I had nobody else. He saw me through some really dark days.”
“It’s hard to believe that he and Devlin are friends, though. They seem such polar opposites. How did they meet?”
“I introduced them to each other last night.”
Eileen’s head whipped around.
“Are you positive? I was sure I heard Tommy tell Marla that they had met in Texas recently, during a business deal.”
Brianna’s fork clattered to the table.
“Did you say Devlin lives in Texas?”
“No, I don’t know where he lives. However, Marla said he told her he owns some big environmental firm—D.J. something.”
“D.J. Corporation,” Brianna stated, a sudden shiver lacing her spine.
“Yes, that’s it. I understand from Marla, he owns three silver mines, a wildlife refuge, and an underwater habitat off the coast of Italy.” Her glance bounced off Brianna to the far side of the clearing. “He doesn’t look like a millionaire, does he?”
No, just an arrogant bastard, Brianna thought, following Eileen’s gaze. She studied the tall figure inching closer to their table, and then began to inspect the tablecloth beneath her fingers. Devlin Janus was D.J. Corporation. Why hadn’t she seen it before? Hadn’t he said he had rearranged a NASA meeting when they first met? And hadn’t Tommy said earlier that Jake Rogers was in Florida for a NASA meeting? And now, here he was, being “outed” as a liar who had refused to do business with her. Why had he withheld his identity from her? Because he was an arrogant coward, that’s why.
