The Secret Circle: The Complete Collection

by L. J. Smith

  “You don’t understand.” Cassie was giggling uncontrollably. “I hate peas so much, I swear it’s in my DNA.”

  Scarlett cracked up.

  Having a sleepover with Scarlett was nothing at all like having one with Diana. Diana always behaved like a serious adult. She rarely loosened up enough to just be silly. But silliness was no problem for Scarlett. Even though she was a witch, she didn’t always act like one. And even though she’d suffered through intolerable tragedy and loss, she wasn’t mired in somberness. First and foremost, Scarlett was a girl who wanted to have a little fun, and that was a much-needed breath of fresh air to Cassie.

  They stayed up late into the night talking. The outside world grew quiet and sleepy and finally silent while Cassie and Scarlett remained awake sharing stories. And as the hours passed, their conversation drifted into deeper waters. In hushed tones, Scarlett filled Cassie in on many of the gaps in their family history.

  “I always sensed I was different,” she said. “Even before I knew I was a witch.”

  “I know what you mean, believe me.” Cassie brought her knees in toward her chest. “I never felt at home anywhere. I always felt like a freak.”

  “And the dreams and nightmares,” Scarlett said.

  Cassie nodded. “Mostly the nightmares.”

  “And the strange things that would happen every time I got angry.” Scarlett’s voice rose a bit. “That was really the kicker.”

  Cassie nodded more rapidly. The similarities between them were uncanny. Cassie wanted to tell Scarlett about the darkness she sometimes felt inside. Not only the bad feelings triggered by certain people, like the new principal, for example, but that other darkness. The one deep down that she could hardly admit to herself existed. Did Scarlett feel that, too? Did she fear there was some sinister piece of Black John lodged in her soul, infecting and clouding it like a cancerous smoker’s lung? But before Cassie could muster up the courage to ask such a question, Scarlett’s round face turned deathly serious.

  “And when I first touched hematite,” she said. “The feeling in my chest was—”

  “I know!” Cassie screamed out. “Me, too!”

  “It’s my working stone,” Scarlett said.

  “Mine, too,” Cassie said.

  Scarlett grinned knowingly, as if she suspected as much. “It’s a truly rare occurrence, you know. To have hematite as your working stone.”

  Cassie turned away for a second, feeling ashamed. She had to remind herself that she didn’t have to be embarrassed of her connection to Black John, at least not with Scarlett.

  Scarlett watched her patiently. “It’s okay,” she said. “I know this is a lot to digest.”

  She does feel it, Cassie thought. Scarlett understood the mortification of Cassie’s deepest secret. Scarlett endured that same crushing darkness dormant inside herself.

  The air between them momentarily quieted, and Cassie knew this was her chance to ask about their father. “It’s because of him,” she said. “That hematite works for both of us. Right?”

  Scarlett nodded. “I’d say that’s most likely the reason.”

  “Did you know him?” Cassie asked, not having to utter their father’s name.

  Scarlett shook her head. “No. But my mom told me stories. Didn’t yours?”

  Cassie blushed, shamed by her own mother’s shortcomings. “Not really.”

  “Our moms were best friends growing up,” Scarlett said. “Did you know that?”

  Cassie searched her memory for any recollection of her mother talking about old friends, but she came up blank. “No,” she said, disappointed. “I don’t know much at all about my mother’s past.”

  “Well, our moms were best friends,” Scarlett said, matter-of-factly. “Until Black John came between them. Your mom stole him from my mom. That’s why my mom left town.”

  “I had no idea.” Cassie’s heart fell a little because of this new picture of her mother, but also because she suddenly thought of Diana and Nick, and how she and Adam came between them. Would things ever be the same between them, or were they bound for the same fate?

  Scarlett noticed a change in Cassie’s disposition. “Have I upset you?” she asked. “Maybe I’m saying too much too soon.”

  “No, don’t be silly.” Cassie forced herself to relax and to put Adam and the others out of her mind for now. “I want to know everything. Don’t hold anything back, please.”

  Scarlett puckered her lips and eyed Cassie skeptically. “We have our whole lives to catch up with each other, you know. We don’t have to do it all in one night.”

  It was an amazingly comforting thought. Our whole lives. They could go back to giggling and goofing around, and pick up this seriousness tomorrow. But Cassie had waited for this chance for far too long to let it go any longer. She needed to know the truth, about everything. “Please tell me more,” she said. “I can handle it.”

  “Okay then.” Scarlett took Cassie’s hand and squeezed it, and when she did, Cassie looked down at their intertwined fingers. It seemed like she could almost see a cord wrapping around their hands, connecting them. Just like the connection between Adam and me, Cassie thought. She and Scarlett were linked. They were fated. It explained everything she felt about Scarlett since the moment she’d set eyes on her, how she was willing to go against the whole Circle to defend her and protect her.

  If Scarlett saw it, she didn’t mention it. She went on talking as usual, while massaging Cassie’s hand in her own.

  “I’ll never forget the day my mother told me I had a sister,” Scarlett said. “It changed everything for me. I knew one day I’d find you. And see, I was right.”

  She waited a moment to read Cassie’s expression and then added, “I don’t understand why your mom never told you.”

  Cassie suddenly felt herself snap to a new level of awareness. She pulled her hand away. “Wait a minute. My mother knew about you?”

  “Of course she knew.” Scarlett’s voice contained the slightest hint of outrage. “They were all still in New Salem when we were born.”

  Cassie thought back to the conversation she recently had with her mother. How she’d looked deep into her eyes and swore she’d told Cassie the whole truth about her father. I loved that I was all his, and he was all mine, she’d said, but it was a lie. Her mother knew he was with someone else.

  “How could my mother not have told me I had a sister?” Cassie said aloud. This was a new divide that had sprung up between her and her mother, and at the moment, it felt insurmountable. Her whole childhood and adolescence had been hindered by lies—that truth had come to light when they first moved to New Salem, and Cassie learned she was a witch. But she’d come to terms with all the covering up her mother had done in hopes of protecting her. Now it occurred to Cassie that even their more recent conversations had been poisoned by deceit. As of this very moment, her mother was still lying to her. Cassie never felt more estranged from her as she did now.

  “She should have told you,” Scarlett said. “I wonder what else she’s kept from you.”

  Cassie realized Scarlett was absolutely right. If her mom could lie about the existence of a sibling, she could lie about anything. And if she was keeping secrets, Cassie would, too. She decided right then not to tell her mom anything about meeting Scarlett. Her mother didn’t deserve her honesty. She hadn’t earned it.

  Fortunately, now Cassie had a sister, and everything would be different. Everything would be better. If it had to be just the two of them against the rest of the world, so be it. They would remain inseparable, that was the one and only thing Cassie could feel secure about now.

  “Scarlett,” she said, feeling her heart overflow with love and affection, “now that you’re here, I finally feel like I’m home.”

  “Me, too.” Scarlett’s dark eyes shimmered. “I’ve never been more sure of anything,” she said. “This is where I belong.”

  Chapter 19

  “Do you want a latte or a cappuccino?” Adam asked
from the head of the line at the coffee shop counter.

  “Surprise me,” Cassie said, and then watched him interact with the barista, placing his order and counting out his money.

  Cassie pretended not to know him for a moment and imagined he was a stranger she’d just seen for the first time. She observed his cut jaw and broad shoulders, those auburn curls. Yes, she thought to herself. It would be love at first sight all over again.

  Things between Cassie and Adam had come around full circle. The past few days since the confrontation with Scarlett at the docks had been romantic and exciting, just like the first days of their relationship. When he kissed her, she shivered with that familiar pleasure and excitement, of loving him so completely with her entire body and soul, and knowing he felt the same.

  Since the truth had come out about Scarlett, Adam went back to being Adam, and Cassie went back to being Cassie, but happier and more confident.

  Adam returned to their table, setting down an iced mocha topped with whipped cream and a giant chocolate-chip cookie.

  “You said to surprise you,” he said.

  “You’re trying to get me high on sugar.”

  “That’s how I like you best.” He dipped his finger into the whipped cream for a taste.

  Cassie glanced at the door, but the girl entering wasn’t Scarlett.

  Adam laughed. “She’s only a few minutes late, relax.”

  “I know.” Cassie broke off a hunk of cookie and shoved it into her mouth while Adam took another swipe at the whipped cream. She looked away, not wanting to be caught watching him lick it from his fingers.

  “Should I leave you and my iced mocha alone?” she asked.

  Adam blushed, pushing the drink closer to Cassie and out of his reach. Then he wiped his mouth with a napkin and tried to be serious. “I’m so glad for you,” he said. “Scarlett is pretty amazing. I can totally see how the two of you are related.”

  “I tried to tell you,” Cassie said.

  “I know. And I’ve never been happier to admit that I was wrong.”

  “Well, you can tell Scarlett that in person, if she ever gets here.” Cassie glanced at the door again and then took a sip of her drink. “I’m starting to worry that she hasn’t shown up yet. I’m going to call her.”

  But Scarlett didn’t answer her phone, and Cassie began to worry even more.

  “I have a bad feeling about this,” she said. She knew if she phrased it that way, Adam would take her seriously.

  “Then we should go over to the B and B and see if she’s there.” Adam stood up, wasting no time.

  It was exactly what Cassie wanted him to suggest. Sometimes his predictability was her favorite thing about him.

  The bed-and-breakfast where Scarlett was staying was a Georgian building just off Old Town Square. It was one of the most beautiful historical B and Bs in New Salem, owned and operated by an old man whom Cassie knew by sight. She’d grown used to seeing him walking his three Pomeranians around town. A few times, she’d bent down to pet one of the dogs, but she never engaged in much conversation with the old man. He was who answered the door when they arrived, the dogs yapping and jumping around his feet.

  Cassie introduced herself and Adam while the man ordered his dogs to be quiet. Once inside, she stuttered a bit before saying, “Sorry to bother you, but my sister, Scarlett, is a guest here. We were wondering if she’s here.”

  It was the first time Cassie had ever said those words, my sister. It felt exhilarating to say it, but it also felt foreign, as if she were telling a lie.

  The man nodded and rubbed at the silver scruff on his chin. “Yes, yes, Scarlett with the crazy hair,” he said.

  “So she’s here?” Cassie was momentarily relieved.

  “No,” he replied. “She hasn’t been here since yesterday.”

  Adam noticed the panic in Cassie’s eyes and pressed for more information. “Are you sure? She never came home last night, not even to sleep?”

  “No, she didn’t,” the man said, straightening his posture. “But that’s really not your business. A girl has a right to her privacy.” His eyes ricocheted between Adam and Cassie, and then he raised his white eyebrows. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to ask you to leave. I can’t give out information on my guests to two strangers, kids or not.”

  “Of course,” Adam said. “We understand. Thank you for your help.” He left a phone number so they could be reached in case Scarlett returned, or if he heard anything of her whereabouts.

  Back in the car, Cassie turned to him. “Now I’m really worried sick. What should we do?”

  Adam focused on his driving. “I think we should give it a little more time,” he said calmly. “We don’t know that she’s in trouble. She could just be out and about.”

  “Out and about?” Cassie was exasperated. “If she was just out and about, then she would have shown up at the coffee shop when she was supposed to, or at least answered her phone.”

  “Cassie.” Adam chose his words carefully. “Try to remember that we don’t know all that much about Scarlett. She could be off visiting friends and forgot to call you.”

  “So you think she’d just stand up her new sister?”

  “That’s not what I’m saying.”

  “You think she’s some kind of flake,” Cassie said. “Just because she’s not as uptight as all of you.”

  “All of you?” Adam gripped the steering wheel tightly and brought the car to a halting stop. “You mean us, the Circle? Why do you keep insisting on separating yourself from us? I don’t understand it, Cassie.”

  Cassie was feeling too much all at once to make sense of it. But here they were again, having the same fight they seemed to keep having. She was tired of Adam always trying to reason her out of her true feelings.

  “I’m not separating myself,” she said. “But I don’t know what more you need to fully accept Scarlett. She’s my sister, Adam.”

  “I know,” he said, continuing along Crowhaven Road to Cassie’s house. “I didn’t mean anything by suggesting she might not be in trouble. Do you see how quickly you jumped to that conclusion?”

  Cassie didn’t want to admit it, but she did see that. She was silent until they reached her house. “I guess I’m just shaken up,” she said finally.

  “Let’s just give it the night,” Adam said. “If you still don’t hear from her, I promise we’ll get the group to look for her in the morning.”

  “Okay.” Cassie reached over and gave Adam a kiss on the cheek, but she didn’t invite him into her house.

  That night Cassie had a dream. One minute she was on a beach, tanning beneath the summer sun with the sound of the ocean and seagulls filling her ears, and the next minute she heard a scream. It was a bloodcurdling scream for help, much like Melanie’s scream the night Constance was killed at the festival. In the dream, Cassie opened her eyes and found she was no longer on a sunny beach but in a field or a meadow, at night. And the sky overhead had turned murky, like a polluted body of water.

  The scream for help came louder. Cassie thought it was coming from a shadowy house in the distance. It was unmistakably Scarlett’s voice, but Cassie couldn’t get to it. In fact, she couldn’t move at all.

  Scarlett! Cassie yelled out, still within the dream. I can hear you!

  It was all so vivid, Cassie was sure it was real.

  The connection worked, Scarlett replied, relieved but still terrified.

  Where are you? Cassie asked.

  I don’t know! The hunters are holding me captive. They’re torturing me, studying my powers. Please help me!

  Try to stay calm, Cassie said. Think hard, is there any clue as to where you are?

  Help me, Cassie. Please, hurry. I think they’re going to kill me soon.

  No! Cassie was losing her. The connection was fading. Scarlett, can you still hear me? I promise we’ll find you, somehow. Scarlett? Hello? Hang on. We’ll save you!

  Cassie sat up in bed, startled. She was fully awake now, in her
bedroom, alone. Her mahogany furniture stared back at her. She could hear her mother snoring down the hall. All was as it should be.

  It was three in the morning. Adam had said to give it the night. But what if Scarlett didn’t have till morning? She had to call him.

  Shaking, she dialed Adam’s number, and the moment he answered, she said, “Scarlett’s been kidnapped.”

  Adam sounded groggy and confused. “What?”

  “I dreamt it. But it wasn’t a dream. She came to me, Adam. We communicated.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything. It’s the hunters. They have her.”

  “Okay.” Adam cleared his throat. “I’ll put out a call to the others. Where should we meet?”

  “Behind my house, out on the bluff. We can’t risk waking my mom.”

  “Done. I’ll be right there.”

  “Adam, one more thing.” Cassie could hardly express how thankful she was to have him at a time like this. “I love you.”

  She could almost hear him smile. “I love you, too,” he said.

  Chapter 20

  Faye, Deborah, and Suzan were the last to arrive on the bluff. They staggered toward the others, bleary-eyed and disheveled, and severely underdressed for the pre-dawn chill. “They were out having a good time,” Adam said when he saw them coming. “Looks like they still are.”

  “So what’s the big emergency?” Faye called out in a voice much too loud. “It better be good. Do you have any idea what time it is?”

  “What’s wrong with you?” Melanie asked.

  Faye cracked up laughing and patted Melanie on the shoulder. “You and Laurel aren’t the only ones interested in herbology.” She pulled an eyedropper from her pocket. “Care for a taste? It’s all natural.”

  Melanie’s face hardened. “This is no time for that,” she said. “The hunters have Scarlett.”

  Faye returned the eyedropper to her pocket. “I guess that’s a no, then.”

  Cassie chose to ignore Faye, Deborah, and Suzan and only address the others, who were capable of paying attention.