Sacred Circle (30 page)

“Well, in that case, take your ass out of here.”

Nodding, Devlin pulled out a chair.

“Sit here and wait for Brianna. And whatever you do, don't let your curiosity get the better of you. If you interfere with the circle, you'll be lying alongside Sienna Sage.”

Tommy dropped into the chair, pulling out a handkerchief and wiping his beaded brow. Devlin spun about, angling back around the reception desk, sliding to a halt when he spied Nicodemus barring his way.

“Rrr-oow!”

Ignoring the cat's cry, Devlin sidestepped him. He didn't have time to cater to a crazed cat. A second later, a heavy pressure hit the back of his calf. What now? He looked down at the black bundle righting itself on the floor and taking a surly stance in front of him again.

“Get away, Nicodemus.”

“Rrrrrr-ow, rrrrr-ow.”

“It's no use talking to me. I have no cat skills.”

As if understanding his words, the cat spun about and scampered to the basement door. He paused in front of it, looking back at Devlin, and then at the door again. Devlin studied the glow of the overhead light, assessing the cat's posture. Was the obnoxious pest trying to converse with him?

“What the hell's going on? Why haven't you gone?” Tommy asked, coming around the reception desk.

“The damn cat's keeping me here,” Devlin replied.

The eerie sheen of Nicodemus's fur underwent a drastic change as the cat raised its hackles and hissed at the pair. All at once, Brianna's aura floated through Devlin's senses. She was below. He could feel her essence once again. Had the damn cat relayed it to him? He stepped forward, trying the door handle, not at all surprised to find it locked. He jiggled the doorknob, looking for a key. Suddenly, a large pounding erupted from the other side of the door.

“Devlin!”

Hearing Brianna's muffled voice, incredible relief washed over him. The she-bear was still alive. Scanning the area around the door, Devlin hunted for something to break the handle with. He spotted a fire extinguisher on the wall next to the reception desk, and headed towards it.

“Devlin!” The door handle rattled.

“Hold your horses,” Tommy called through the door. “We're working on it.”

Devlin returned with the extinguisher, and with one fell swoop, smashed it down hard on the knob. The metal tore from its hinges, and hit the floor with a loud clank. The door flew open, bringing a stumbling Brianna with it. Devlin tossed the extinguisher to the floor.

“Thank God! I thought you were dead.” He swept her into his arms, and in a split second, his lips were devouring hers in a punishing kiss. And then he was lifting his head. “If you ever scare the hell out of me again like that, I'll chain you to a damn chair.” He saw the dangerous glint in her eye as she wriggled out of his arms, and whirled around the front desk and into the main part of the library. Following, Devlin watched her stop before the painted circle and study it intently. “I haven't touched it, if that's what you're thinking.”

Her answer was breathless.

“I wasn't.”

Devlin settled beside her.

“Has it been cast against me—as payback for Brenda's death?” He saw her mouth turn down, followed by a fast shake of her head.

“That may be the end result, but it is not the reason it was cast.” She stepped across the chalk markings, and scooped up the book inside. “Mother's journal was left as bait, an invitation of sorts.”

Devlin hauled her out of the circle, snatching the book from her fingers.

“You idiot! The book isn't bait, it's a trigger. And now, you've set it off.”

Her scoff echoed as the book was snatched back.

“Don't you dare tell me how to read circles, or what flux they're in. I've been reading circles since I was nine.”

“And I've been reading them since I was six. So what's your point?”

“You didn't learn to read them from my mother. And since you didn't, you have missed the fact that Mother gave her journal to someone for safekeeping.”

“Someone she obviously never suspected was the sinner,” Devlin stated.

“Someone she suspected
was
the sinner,” Brianna corrected. “She chose to bait that someone with a false journal.”

“. . . which is why the circle feels unfinished,” Devlin remarked suddenly. He gave Brianna a curious stare. “You've figured out the name of the sinner. Who is it? Francis?”

“Right house, wrong person,” Brianna replied. “The book was a ruse to confuse Sally, but it backfired.” She broke off as Nicodemus sat down beside her ankles. “Yes, I know,” she told the cat. “I can feel it. She's half-way into the spell.”

Catching the exchange, Devlin's puzzled gaze came up to study Brianna's face, and then dropped to the cat. A disquieting thought raced through his mind and he stepped forward, grabbing Brianna and spinning her around. He saw the amulet around her neck immediately, even though she attempted to shield it from him with her fingers. In seconds, he was jerking the chain from her neck. He dangled the amulet in front of Tommy.

“You gave her the amulet?”

“She said she needed it.”

Devlin's mind veered sharply to anger, and rearing back, he rammed his fist into Tommy's jaw, sending the man stumbling backwards. Appalled by the attack, Brianna rushed to Tommy's side. Shielding him, she glared at Devlin.

“Are you insane? How could you hit Tommy?”

“I couldn't very well hit you, now could I?” Devlin answered. He took a step forward. “Did you even bother to tell him the truth before taking the amulet?”

“What truth?” Tommy asked, wiping his bloodied lip, and staring at Brianna.

Devlin's retort hardened his features.

“She's merged her essence with the damn cat, and in doing so, she has become the leader of this Coven. She has thrown her life in Washington away, and worse, she has thrown mine away too.”

“I didn't do it on purpose,” Brianna said, “Sally conjured a spell on Nicodemus and the only way to save him was to merge our essences.”

“Unfortunately, that reckless act has made it impossible for me to trust you anymore. And since I don't trust you, I don't intend to stay married to you.” His gaze scorched Brianna, and rancor sharpened his tone. “You've gotten your wish, Cinderella. When this madness is all through, I'm through with you.”

“What's going on here?”

The voice, though quiet, had an ominous quality to it, and the trio turned, startled to find Francis and Rufus staring at them with baffled glances. Rufus was the first to take stock of the situation, his gaze landing on Tommy's bleeding lip. His expression shriveled as Eileen, Marla, and the doctor joined them.

“You've resorted to violence—a thing that can't be allowed. You will leave the property at once—all of you.” His voice held a hint of steel, but then so did Devlin's as he snarled.

“We're not going anywhere!” His glance bounced from face to face, and Devlin sensed that for the first time since their arrival, the group was intimidated by him. Realizing it was best to soften his approach, Devlin took a step towards the front door, signaling Francis.

“Come with me. We've not much time.”

“I can't come with you,” Francis responded.

Annoyed, Devlin rounded on him.

“Can't or won't?”

“I can't come with you.”

“Look here,” Devlin stated. “There's no time for your bullshit. We've got to find Sally. You're coming with me.” He took a step towards Francis and so did Brianna. She laid a hand on Devlin's arm and her voice held a depth of authority.

“It's not that he won't. It's that he can't.” She studied his face intently. “What type of spell has Sally bound you with? Air magic? Earth magic? What? I need to know and I need to know now.”

Baffled by the question, Rufus glanced from Devlin to Brianna, and then, catching on, he stepped between Brianna and Francis, laying a hand on Francis' sleeve.

“Has Sally placed a binding spell on you? You must answer; the Ancients decree it.”

Francis's mulish expression collapsed under the gentle probing of his father's words.

“It's not her fault. She didn't ask for such pain.”

“I'm not accusing you,” Rufus replied. “If I was in your place, I might do the same. But if she has misused magic for her own personal gain, we are all in grave danger.”

Francis's gaze shot to Devlin.

“Her rage is spotty, but when it comes, it's directed towards Devlin for Brenda's death, and for taking Brianna away from her.”

Devlin took a step back. He had never expected to hear himself condemned so openly. Yet, for all his surprise, he knew he deserved Francis's derisive scorn. His banishment had allowed a hidden evil to fester in Sally's essence and take root. Not against Brianna, but against himself. They had to disrupt the ritual drawn on the floor without delay. Whirling, he moved to the circle, finding his elbow snatched back roughly.

“What are you going to do?” Francis asked. “Sally has no memory of these psychotic breaks. Any confrontation may cause irreparable damage to her soul.”

Devlin didn't bother to respond. Francis's face said it all. He felt compelled to save Sally from her dark psychosis, but in trying he had managed to become part of her spell-making.

“We've got to short-circuit this circle immediately—throw her off her game,” Devlin stated. “If she is as unstable as you imply, she will target whomever she can, whenever she can. It's clear her psychosis is accelerating. When it finally splits off, her ritual will come full circle.”

Spinning back, Devlin studied the circle, discarding option after option in his head. A loud purr soon echoed from beside his ankles. Damn cat. He oughta be shot. And so should his mistress. But he had the right idea. They had to disconnect the circle by any means necessary.

“Any suggestions on how we disconnect it?” Eileen asked, settling beside him and studying the markings.

“I'm fresh out of ideas,” Devlin remarked. “What do you think, Brianna?” He turned, expecting to find Brianna studying the circle as well. When he didn't see her, he scanned the room. A door slammed, followed by the sound of a rebar dropping. He flew around the reception desk, emitting a vindictive curse on all stubborn she-bears. Reaching the front door, he tried the handle, knowing full well he'd find it sealed shut. Exasperated, he whirled on his heels and dove back around the desk, dragging Francis forward.

“Have you any idea where Sally might erect a circle to match this one?” he asked.

“It isn't possible for Sally to deceive us, Devlin,” Eileen stated. “There is too much foot traffic in the gardens for her to do so. Members are always cutting through, meditating on benches, or greeting guests strolling the footpaths.”

“And there's always nighttime vigils,” Brad added. “No one can be everywhere twenty-four seven, no matter how many of us there are.”

Devlin's gaze shot to Francis again.

“You know Sally the best, Francis. How much time occurs between these fugues?”

“Sometimes years, but each episode is more severe than the last—and lasts longer.”

“There's always Green Glen,” Eileen stated, suddenly.

“Don't be ridiculous,” Francis stated. “No one uses the original gardens anymore. It's off-limits.”

“Is that the old Sacred Circle site?” Devlin asked, a frown emerging on his lips. Eileen answered for Francis.

“Unfortunately, yes. But you can cross it off your list. The ground is contaminated. Not even Sally in her madness would dare to initiate a ceremony there.”

“But how did the ground get contaminated?” Devlin asked. Looks of horror marred each face, as they supplied their own answer. Their expressions were enough for Devlin. They had to find a way out of the library and fast. A pull on his sleeve had Devlin turning to Tommy.

“The cat's on to something,” he stated. He signaled the floor behind them. “Something in the circle.”

Devlin twisted around, spotting Nicodemus sitting in the center of the circle. His mind clicked into focus.

“Not in the circle, Tommy, but beneath it,” he muttered. His gaze collided with Francis's and held.

“The emergency tunnel,” they said, simultaneously.

Devlin dove forward, shoving Nicodemus aside. The cat hissed its displeasure; however, in seconds, the floorboard was raised, and the cat was diving down the steps into the hole. Peering into the darkened space, Devlin called after him.

“You better wait for us, you miserable beast!”

Devlin heard a chuckle from beside him.

“Are we relying on that creature to show us the way again?”

Devlin's lips twitched, but he sobered instantly.

“If you say one word of this to Brianna, I'll do more than bust your jaw. Now, hang back and stay with the others.”

“The hell I will. I'm going with you.”

Devlin frowned, but made no other demand as he dropped down on the first step, and began his descent. Time was once again his enemy, rushing forward like a raging river gone wild. He listened as his boots stomped on the wood, wondering why he hadn't kept his attention on Brianna. The circle was meant for her and she had sensed it from the get-go—which meant he would've sensed it too, if Nicodemus hadn't blocked her essence from him. What would she find when she arrived in Green Glen?

He didn't want to think that far ahead. He had to cut her off and prevent the confrontation Sally was obviously intending. He heard a light wheeze from above him and knew Francis was dogging his footsteps.

“Hang back, Francis. I can handle this one without you.”

An out-of-breath stutter floated in his right ear.

“Yeah, just like you did fifteen years ago.”

His meaning was clear, and it stung Devlin to the core; however, he didn't lessen his pace. Instead, he reached the exit door, jerked it open, and headed for the wooded pathway off the Crystal Gardens. If he cut through to the Sage cottage onto the old path outside the back door acreage, he could shave off at least four minutes of their running time. Brianna was no more than five minutes ahead.