by L. J. Smith
It’s like The Scarlet Letter, Cassie thought wildly as she stood apart with all of them looking at her. She might as well be standing up on a platform with an A pinned to her chest. Helplessly, she straightened her back and tried to hold her chin level, forcing herself to look back at the group. I will not cry, she thought. I will not look away.
Then she saw Diana’s face.
Diana’s expression was beyond stricken. She seemed simply paralyzed, her green eyes wide and blank and shattered.
“She swore to be loyal and faithful to the Circle, and never to harm anyone inside it,” Faye was saying huskily. “But she lied. I suppose it’s not surprising, considering she’s half outsider. Still, I think it’s gone on long enough; she and Adam have had enough time to enjoy themselves. So now you know the truth. And now,” Faye finished, looking over the ravaged members of the Circle, and especially her deathly still cousin, with an air of thoughtful gratification, “we’d probably better be getting home. It’s been a long night.” Lazily, smiling faintly, she started to move away.
“No.” It was a single word, but it stopped Faye in her tracks and it made everyone else turn toward Adam.
Cassie had never seen his blue-gray eyes look this way before—they were like silver lightning. He moved forward with his usual easy stride. There was no violence in the way he caught Faye’s arm, but the grip must have been like iron—Cassie could tell that because Faye couldn’t get away from it. Faye looked down at his fingers in offended surprise.
“You’ve had your turn,” Adam said to her. His voice was carefully quiet, but the words dropped from his lips like chips of white-hot steel. “Now it’s mine. And all of you”—he swung around on the group, holding them in place with his gaze—“are going to listen.”
Chapter 2
“You’ve told the story your way,” Adam said. “Some of it’s been close to the truth, and some of it’s been just plain lies. But none of it happened exactly the way you told it.”
He looked around the Circle again. “I don’t care what you think of me,” he said, “but there’s somebody else involved here. And she”—he glanced at Cassie, just long enough for her to see his blue-gray eyes, still shining like silver—“doesn’t deserve to be put through this, especially not tonight.”
A few of the coven members, notably Laurel and Melanie, looked away, slightly ashamed. But the rest simply stared, angry and mistrustful.
“So what’s your side of the story?” Deborah said, scowling. Her expression said she felt she’d been taken in, and she didn’t like it.
“First of all, it wasn’t like that when Cassie and I met. It wasn’t love at first sight . . .” Adam faltered for a moment, looking into the distance. He shook his head. “It wasn’t love. She helped me, she saved me from four outsider guys with a gun. The witch-hunting kind of outsiders.” He looked hard at Chris and Doug Henderson.
“But she didn’t know—” Deborah began.
“She didn’t know what I was, then. She didn’t know what she was. Witches were something out of fairy tales to her. Cassie helped me just because I needed help. These guys were after me, and she stashed me in a boat and sent them all off running in the wrong direction down the beach. They tried to get her to tell where I was, they even hurt her, but she didn’t give me up.”
There was a silence. Deborah, who admired physical bravery above all other qualities, looked quizzical, her scowl smoothing out a little.
Faye, though, was squirming like a fish trying to get off a hook, and her expression was unpleasant. “How sweet. The brave heroine. So you just couldn’t resist fooling around with her.”
“Don’t be a jerk, Faye,” Adam said, giving Faye’s arm a little shake. “I didn’t do anything with her. We just—” He shook his head again. “I told her ‘thank you.’ I wanted her to know that I wouldn’t forget what she’d done—remember, at the time I still thought she was an outsider, and I’d never known an outsider who did anything like that for one of us. She was just this nice outsider girl; sort of quiet and pretty, and I wanted to say ‘thanks.’ But when I was looking at her I suddenly felt—as if we were connected somehow. It sounds stupid now, maybe, but I could almost see this connection . . .”
“The silver cord,” Cassie whispered. Her eyes were full, and she wasn’t aware she’d spoken aloud until she saw faces swing toward her.
Melanie’s eyebrows went up and Diana looked startled too, maybe just at hearing Cassie break the silence she’d kept so long. Suzan’s rosebud lips were pursed into an O.
“Yeah, I guess that was what it looked like,” Adam was saying, staring off into the distance again. “I don’t know—it was just this confused impression. But I did feel grateful to her, and I would have liked her for a friend—how about that, an outsider friend?” There were murmurs of amusement and unbelief. “And,” Adam said, looking straight at Diana, “that’s why I gave her the chalcedony rose you gave me.”
No murmurs this time. Grim silence.
“It was a token of friendship, a way to repay a debt,” Adam said. “I figured if she ever got in trouble, I could sense it through the crystal and maybe do something to help. So I gave it to her—and that was all I did.” He looked at Faye defiantly, and then even more defiantly around the group. “Except—yeah, right—I did kiss her. I kissed her hand.”
Laurel blinked. The Henderson brothers looked at Adam sideways, as if to say he was crazy but they guessed it was his own business what bits of girls he kissed. Faye tried to look scornful, but it didn’t come off very well.
“Then I left the Cape,” Adam said. “I didn’t see Cassie again until I came back up here for Kori’s initiation—which turned out to be Cassie’s initiation. But there’s one other important thing. In all the time I talked to Cassie I never told her who I was or where I was from. I never told her my name. So whatever she came up here and did—whatever poems she wrote, Faye—she didn’t know who I was. She didn’t know Diana and I were together. Not until that night when I showed up on the beach.”
“So I suppose that’s a good reason for pretending you didn’t know each other, for sneaking around behind everybody’s back and meeting each other,” Faye said, on the offensive again.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” Adam said tightly, looking as if he’d like to shake Faye again. “We didn’t sneak anywhere. The first time we ever talked alone was the night the skull ceremony in Diana’s garage went wrong. Yeah, that night on the bluff when your little spies saw us, Faye. But d’you know what Cassie said to me in our first conversation alone since we’d met? She said she was in love with me—and that she knew it was wrong. Ever since she’d found out it was wrong, ever since she realized that I wasn’t just some guy on the beach, but Diana’s boyfriend, she’d been fighting against it. She’d even taken an oath—a blood oath—not to ever show anybody, by word or look or deed, how she felt about me. She didn’t want Diana to find out and feel bad, or feel sorry for her. Does that sound like somebody who’s trying to sneak around?”
The Circle looked back at him. Soberly, Melanie said, “Let me get this right. You’re saying there’s nothing at all to Faye’s accusations?”
Adam swallowed. “No,” he said quietly. “That’s not what I’m saying. That night on the bluff . . .” He stopped and swallowed again, and then his voice hardened. “I can’t explain what happened, except that it was my fault, not Cassie’s. She did everything she could to avoid me, to keep out of my way. But once we were alone we were drawn together.” He looked at Diana without flinching, although the pain was evident in his face. “I’m not proud of myself, but I never meant to hurt you. And Cassie is completely innocent. The only reason she was speaking to me at all that night was that she wanted to give me back the chalcedony rose—so I could give it back to you. In all of this, she’s never been anything but honest and honorable. No matter what it cost her.” He stopped and his mouth turned grim. “If I’d known she was being blackmailed by this snake—”
/> “I beg your pardon,” Faye interrupted, golden eyes flashing dangerously.
Adam returned the look, just as dangerous. “That’s what it was, wasn’t it, Faye? Blackmail. Your little spies saw us that night—when we were saying good-bye, and swearing never to see each other alone again, and you decided to make the most of it. I knew there was something going on with you and Cassie after that, but I could never figure out what it was. Cassie was scared to death all of a sudden, but why she didn’t just come to me and tell me what you were up to . . .” His voice trailed off and he looked toward Cassie.
Cassie shook her head mutely. How could she explain? “I didn’t want you caught up in it too,” she said in a voice scarcely above a whisper. “I was afraid you’d tell Diana, and Faye said if Diana found out . . .”
“What?” Adam said. When Cassie shook her head again he gave Faye’s arm a little shake. “What, Faye? If Diana found out it would kill her? Wreck the coven? Is that what you told Cassie?”
Faye smirked. “If I did, it was only the truth, wasn’t it? As things turned out.” She wrenched away from Adam.
“So you used her love for Diana against her. You blackmailed her to make her help you find the skull, right? I’ll bet it took some persuading.”
Adam was only guessing, but his guess was dead on target. Cassie found herself nodding. “I found out where it was—”
“But how?” Diana interrupted, blurting it, speaking for the first time directly to Cassie. Cassie looked into the clear green eyes with the tears hanging on the dark lashes and spoke directly back.
“I did what Faye said,” she said tremulously. “First I looked in the walnut cabinet—remember when I stayed overnight and you woke up with me in the room? When the skull wasn’t there I thought I’d have to give up, but then I had a dream. It made me remember something I’d seen in your Book of Shadows, about purifying an evil object by burying it in sand. So I went and searched the beach and finally found the skull under that ring of stones.”
Cassie paused, looking at Faye, her voice growing stronger. “Once I had my hands on it, though, I realized I couldn’t give it to Faye. I just couldn’t. But she had followed me and she took it anyway.”
Cassie took a deep breath, making herself meet Diana’s eyes again, her own eyes begging Diana to understand. “I know I shouldn’t have let her have it. I should have stood up to her, then and afterward, but I was weak and stupid. I’m sorry now—I wish I’d just come and told you in the beginning, but I was so afraid you’d be hurt . . .” Tears were choking her voice now, and making her vision blur. “And as for what Adam said—about it all being his fault—you have to know that isn’t true. It was my fault, and at the Halloween dance I tried to make him kiss me, because I was so upset by then and I thought that nothing really mattered, since I was evil anyway.”
There was wetness on Diana’s cheeks, but now she looked taken aback. “Since what?”
“Since I was evil,” Cassie said, hearing the terrible, stark truth in the simple words. “Since I was responsible for killing Jeffrey Lovejoy.”
The entire coven stared at her, appalled.
“Wait a minute,” Melanie said. “Run that by me one more time.”
“Whenever anybody used the skull, it released dark energy, which went out and killed somebody,” Cassie said carefully and clearly. “Faye and I were the ones who used the skull before Jeffrey was killed. If it wasn’t for me, she couldn’t have used it, and Jeffrey would still be alive. So, you see, I’m responsible.”
Animation was returning to Diana’s eyes. “But you didn’t know,” she said.
Cassie shook her head fiercely. “That’s no excuse. There’s no excuse for any of it—not even for doing worse things because I thought I was evil anyway and what did it matter? It did matter. I listened to Faye and I let her bully me.” And I kept the hematite, she thought, but there was no point in getting into that. She shrugged, blinking more tears away. “I even let her make me vote for her for leader. I’m sorry, Diana—I’m so sorry. I don’t know why I did it.”
“I do,” Diana said shakily. “Adam said it already—you were scared.”
Cassie nodded. All the words she’d held back for so long were pouring out. “Once I started doing things for her, I couldn’t stop. She had more and more to blackmail me with. Everything just went more and more wrong and I didn’t know how to get out of it . . .” Cassie’s voice broke. She saw Faye, lip curled, step forward and try to say something, and she saw Adam shut her up with a single glance. Then she turned and saw Diana’s eyes.
They were as luminous as peridot crystals held up to the light, liquid with unshed tears, but also with—something else. It was a look Cassie had never expected to see again, especially not directed at her. A look of pain, yes, but also of forgiveness and longing. A look of love.
Something broke inside Cassie, something hard and tight that had been growing since she had started to deceive Diana. She took a stumbling step forward.
Then she and Diana were in each others’ arms, both crying, both holding on with all their strength.
“I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry for everything,” Cassie sobbed.
It seemed a long time before Diana drew back, and when she did she stepped away from the group, turning to look into the darkness. Cassie wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand. The moon, hanging low on the horizon, shone like old gold on Diana’s hair.
There was absolute silence except for the distant roar and crash of waves on the beach. The entire group stood motionless, as if waiting for something that none of them could quite define.
At last Diana turned back to them. “I think we’ve all heard enough,” she said. “I think I understand, maybe not everything, but most of it. Listen, everybody, because I don’t want to say this again.”
Everyone was quiet, their faces turned toward Diana expectantly. Cassie had the distinct feeling that a judgment was about to be rendered. Diana looked like a priestess or a princess, tall and pale, but resolute. There was a strange dignity about her, an aura of greatness and of certainty that belied the pain in her eyes.
I’m waiting to hear my punishment, Cassie thought. Whatever it was, she deserved it. She glanced at Adam and saw he was waiting too. His expression asked no favors, but Cassie knew what he must be feeling underneath it. They both stood before Diana, connected by their crime, glad to have it in the open at last.
“I don’t want anybody to discuss what’s happened tonight again,” Diana said, her voice soft and distinct. “Not ever. Once I’ve finished talking we’ll all consider the subject closed.” She looked at Adam, not quite meeting his eyes. “I think,” she said slowly, “that I know how it must have been for you. These things happen sometimes. I forgive you. And as for you, Cassie—you’re even less to blame. There was no way for you to have known. I don’t blame either of you. All I ask—”
Cassie drew a shuddering breath and broke in. She couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Diana,” she said, “I want you to know something. All this time, underneath, I’ve been angry and jealous because Adam belonged to you and not me. Even up until tonight. But all that’s changed now—truly. Now all I want is for you and Adam to be happy. Nothing is more important to me than you—and the promise I made.” For an instant it crossed Cassie’s mind to wonder if Adam were less important, but she shoved the thought away and spoke earnestly, with utter conviction. “Adam and I—we both made that promise. If you’ll just give us another chance to keep
it—just one more chance . . .”
Diana was opening her mouth, but Cassie went on before she could speak.
“Please, Diana. You’ve got to know that you can trust me—that you can trust us. You’ve got to let us prove that.”
There was a slight pause, then Diana said, “Yes. Yes—you’re right.” She took a deep breath and let it out, looking at Adam almost tentatively. “Well, then, what if—if we just forget all about this for a while? Just—wipe the slate clea
n?”
A muscle in Adam’s jaw jerked. Silently, he took the hand Diana extended toward him.
Diana held her other hand out to Cassie. Cassie took it and held on tightly to the slim, cold fingers. She wanted to laugh and cry at once. Instead she just gave Diana a wobbly smile. Looking at Adam she saw that he was trying to smile too, although his eyes were dark as storm clouds over the ocean.
“And that’s it?” Faye exploded. “Everything’s all right now, all sweetness and light? Everybody loves everybody and you’re all going home holding hands?”
“Yes,” Adam snapped, giving her a hard look. “As for the last, anyway. We’re going home—it’s past time for that.”
“Cassie needs to rest,” Diana agreed. The blank helplessness had left her entirely, and although she looked more fragile than Cassie had ever seen her before, she also looked determined. “We all need that.”
“And we need to call a doctor—or somebody,” Deborah said unexpectedly. She inclined her head toward Number Twelve. “Cassie’s grandma . . .”
“Whose side are you on?” Faye snarled. Deborah just gave her a cool look.
Diana’s fingers tightened on Cassie’s. “Yes. You’re right, we’ll call Dr. Stern—and Cassie can come home with me.”
Faye gave a short bark of laughter, but nobody laughed with her. Even the Henderson brothers were serious, their slanted eyes thoughtful. Suzan twisted a lock of strawberry-blond hair around her fingers, looking at Cassie’s and Diana’s intertwined hands. Laurel nodded encouragingly when Cassie glanced at her, and Melanie’s cool gray eyes shone with quiet approval. Sean chewed his lip, looking uncertainly from one member of the group to another.
But it was Nick’s expression that surprised Cassie most. His face, usually so unemotional, was clearly strained, as if there were some violent struggle going on beneath the surface.
