Authors: Rachel James
“Standing between the worlds of the known and unknown, I call to the Ancients to rise from the river. Come from your resting place, your light to deliver. I am your daughter, a sister of light. Respond to my call and show yourselves bright.”
She paused, waiting for a response. None came; however, she felt a change in energy levels as Nicodemus stood and approached the inner circle. He sat in front of Sally's hunched and sobbing form, and Brianna heard a loud purr begin to bounce off the cone of power.
A jarring bolt of electricity suddenly erupted in the middle of Brianna's palms, and she marveled at the awesome rush of adrenalin that suddenly shook her body. She had never expected to experience a healing wash in her life, and here she was being totally cleansed and purified by the arriving Masters. Was Devlin being cleansed by the same waves of light?
She closed her eyes, and felt an immediate connection to his life-force. A second later, an unexpected transfer occurred from his body to hers, and back again. The exchange was so powerful that it was all she could do to remain on her feet.
For a moment, she saw two sparkling lights slamming into each other and then, by magic, both merged into one bright, white light. Immediately on the heels of the first vision, the Masters sent a second one, filtering the image through a scrim of blue light. This time, the vision that swept over her didn't stay hers alone. Instead, bits and pieces of it washed over Devlin, who clutched his head in self-defense. Ten seconds later, he blacked out under the powerful assault. He hit the ground with a thud, severing his connection with Brianna, who ended up taking a full hit of energy as it looped back around to find an alternate source.
It took all her self-control not to wither under the onslaught that began jamming her thoughts. And then, out of nowhere, a peaceful euphoria saturated her entire being, and she knew the Ancient Ones were powering down the wash and preparing to respond to her request.
Ahead of her, in the circle, Sally's tortured sobs turned to full-scale weeping. Hearing the sobs, Brianna knew Sally's spell was imploding, and so was her psychosis. It was impossible to maintain a spell against the Ancients, and she was learning that lesson the hard way.
Nicodemus stood then and entered the circle, brushing past Sally and jumping over Brianna's father's motionless form. Swinging about, he raised his paw and laid it on her father's chest.
“Rr-roow.”
His cry was directed at Brianna, who immediately responded. Snatching up the Amulet, she placed it in the middle of her forehead.
“Givers of light, let me share in your glory. I seek your light for one who comes from a long line of stories. Send your daughter, Sienna, back to the light of the earth. Restore her to all who know her true worth. Remove all discord, trauma, and strife. Make these distresses unable to pierce her new life.”
A spiral of wind buffeted Brianna's body, and she knew the ascended Masters were assessing her second request. She braced for the administration of their powers, aware that the Ancients waited on no one, not even High Priestesses. Her hair rose from her shoulders and billowed around her face, and Brianna marveled at the pure joy of being at one with the River of Souls. Directing the stone towards the inner circle, she addressed the Masters.
“Live and let live, fairly take, and fairly give. Bide the Wicca laws you must, in perfect love and perfect trust. I ask that all be released from their river of dark. Their spiritual essence once more energized by your powerful mark. I ask that you dispatch my sister Sally's pain to the earth. And align her once again with the renewal of birth. Thank you all for this healing. Your work now is through. Return to your resting place, to refresh and renew.”
The wind rushed up at the dismissal, swirling into a cyclone above Brianna's head, and then splitting off into the separate quadrants and dissipating. The sudden loss of power in the clearing brought Brianna to her knees, and she hit the ground alongside Devlin. Her vision clouded at once, and a huge buzzing erupted behind her temples. She clutched her head in self-defense. She had temporarily forgotten about the after-effects of releasing powerful entities from a circle.
“Brianna?” The voice sounded far away, but she recognized it.
“Brad.” She turned her head in the general direction of the voice. “I'm b-b-lind as a bat.”
“What do you need me to do?” The voice came closer, and Brianna felt a presence settle beside her.
“Check Devlin. I tried to protect him, but he got hammered by the Masters.” Brianna heard movement and queried anxiously. “Is he alive?”
“Alive and breathing; although, he's going to have a whale of a headache when he wakes.”
Brianna suppressed a grin. A gigantic headache was just what he deserved for following her to the Glen and triggering the ritual.
He was attempting to keep you from getting yourself killed,
her ego chided.
He loves you.
She did grin then. Well, he's going to get a sizeable shock when he wakes and remembers the healing wash vision.
“Is it safe to check Sally's vital signs?” the doctor queried. “She seems to have passed out.”
“Yes, but be careful. I can't be sure how much payback the Masters administered to her. And don't forget about Papa. He will need medical help as soon as possible.”
Brianna heard movement, followed by Francis's voice.
“Let me take her, Brad. She's my responsibility.”
Brianna heard boots scrape on the ground, and knew that Sally was being carried from the clearing by the one person who loved her more than life itself. Francis may have been at fault in keeping silent on her increasing paranoia, but she'd not judge him harshly for that. After all, Sally's madness had resorted to a binding of the worst kind.
A hand landed on Brianna's shoulder, and she jumped.
“Sorry,” Tommy stated. “I forgot about the left-over energy thingy. Is the circle safe for you to leave?”
“Yes, but give me a minute anyway.”
A companionable silence descended, and Brianna was grateful not to be rushed into leaving the circle. She felt as if the Pentagram had dissolved inside of her, and reset the relays of her mind. The buzzing in her head was finally lowering its volume, allowing her to hear the sound of bubbling water and swaying branches in the distance.
A loud groan shattered the silence and she felt a bump against her knees.
“I hope you got the license plate of the truck that hit me,” Devlin muttered. “I've got a headache the size of Texas.” His fingers fumbled for her legs. “You?”
“Grateful to be alive.”
“Amen,” Brianna heard another groan and assumed that Devlin was rolling onto his back and studying the stars. “How do you go back to the real world after experiencing that?” he asked.
Brianna didn't need to ask what he was referring to.
“You take all the love and light with you, and you do your best to make this world a better place to live in.” A thoughtful silence descended, and Brianna sensed Devlin was digesting her words.
“Help me up, Tommy,” he finally mumbled. “I need an aspirin as soon as possible. By the time Brianna reaches the clinic, her vision should have cleared.”
“Righto.”
A flash of white moved in front of Brianna, and the blurred image sprang from the ground. In a matter of seconds, she felt strong hands yanking her to her feet. The touch sent an intense physical awareness of who was lifting her. Not Tommy, but Devlin. Fleeting thoughts of his naked body claiming hers pranced through her head, and she shut the image out. Backing out of his arms, she patted his chest.
“On the mend.” A new pair of hands whirled her around and nudged her forward. Tommy's voice assailed the top of her head.
“Can I make a suggestion now that I'm temporarily in charge?”
“I'm listening.”
“Don't you ever scare the hell out of me like that again, do you hear?” His fingers squeezed her collarbone. “My heart can't take it.”
“Trust me, next time I'll let someone else rush in where angels fear to tread.”
His fingers left her shoulders, and she heard a light growl.
“There won't be a next time. I'm taking you back to Washington where they've never heard of Sacred Circlesâor demons who want to rip your heart out and eat it.” His mention of Washington had Brianna's pulse skittering. “Sorry,” Tommy said, a moment later. “I forgot you can't go back to Washington.”
To her surprise, Brianna laughed at his sarcasm, and then spying Devlin's blurred form striking off through the trees, she sobered. Where was he going in such a hurry?
Leaving you behind,
her inner voice nudged.
He's through with you.
The observation was a stab in her heart and she felt as if her breath was caught in a whirlpool. He wouldn't leave her, not after all they had been through together.
He would and he is,
her voice pressured again.
“Rrr-owww.”
The wail was at her feet and she looked down at the black blob keeping stride with her steps. Nicodemusâever faithful. The blob streaked away from her ankles; however, Brianna was sure she would soon find him tailing her again. So mote it be, she thought, as her vision suddenly cleared. She searched the tree line for Devlin's retreating figure, only to see him falling into step with Eileen. He flung his arm around the woman's shoulders and bent and whispered in her ear.
Your pulse is racing like a mad man,
her inner voice chided.
You're jealous of the attention he's showing Eileen. Do something. Make a move on him. Prove to him he's not the only one who can deliver a killer kiss.
A flicker of a smile rose on her lips and with it, a new determination. She would kiss Devlin very soon. And when she did, the pleasure would be pure and explosiveâfor both of them. Glancing back, she saw her father struggling to sit up and gave a sigh of relief. Her father was moving like a slug, but at least he was moving.
Entering the tree line, she lost sight of the clearing, and by the time, she arrived in the Main Street Plaza, Devlin was nowhere in sight. Her mind floundered, once againâas dark as the night sky around her. She felt a warm touch on her arm and, seeing Tommy's keenly, observant stare, she burst into tears.
Brianna sat in the dimly lit room, deep sobs rocking her insides. For twenty-four hours, it had been touch and go; her mother on the verge of slipping away permanently. And then she had stunned them all by regaining consciousnessâmoving out of the dark, and into the light again. So why then, was she sitting in the dark crying?
You know why. He's leavingâwithout acknowledging the vision.
Brianna gave a choked sob. Perhaps he doesn't remember the vision.
It happens sometimes,
her cynical voice added.
Besides, why should he stay? You've never shown him a lick of kindness ever.
Brianna swallowed hard and her clamped lips imprisoned a wail. She was facing a desolate future without Devlin, and it was just what she deserved for not discussing the binding with him.
Beg him to stay,
her inner voice urged. She snatched up another tissue and wept into it. Beg him to stay? No, he wouldn't like it if she begged him. She had to sheath her inner feelings and shore up the old Briannaâthe one who was in perfect control. The bedside lamp snapped on, startling Brianna. She scrambled forward in her chair, capturing her Mother's trembling hand. She stuffed it back under the covers, scolding her lightly.
“You must rest, Mother. Doctor Ellis's orders.”
Her mother's whisper was raspy.
“What's wrong? You're crying. Are you ill?” Hearing the concern laced in her Mother's voice, Brianna emitted a convulsive sob.
“He's leaving, Mother, without remembering the healing wa . . .” She broke off, covering her face with her hands. Her Mother couldn't know about the healing wash. No one could. Her Mother's fingers exited the covers and found her manicured ones. She squeezed the digits.
“Is he going without acknowledging the healing wash?”
Dropping her hands, Brianna drew in her breath.
“How did you know?”
“I'm ill, dear, not blind,” Her voice faltered. “And of course, your father has told me some of what's occurred while I was comatose.”
“Devlin won't talk to me; he won't let me beg his forgiveness for consenting to the binding with Nicodemus. He refuses to believe I had no choice.”
Her mother jiggled her fingers.
“Correct me if I'm wrong, but did you or did you not vow to love, honor, and obey Devlin when you married him.”
“Yes, of course, but that was days ago, when I still had his respect.”
Her mother's voice turned irritable.
“Oh, for heaven's sake, Brianna, the boy has been your constant shadow since you were three. Surely that should tell you something about his character.” She paused to catch her breath, and Brianna saw a stab of pain cross her features.
“Rest, Mother, you need rest.”
Her eyes closed and Brianna sensed she was drifting off to sleep.
“Tell Devlin you love him, dear,” her mother said, sleepily. A second later, she wafted into sleep.
“It's too late,” Brianna whispered, watching her features relax.
“RRR-owww.”
Brianna turned at the meow, studying the cat sitting outside the hospital room. She swiped at her wet cheeks.
“It's alright to come in. She's asleep.”
“Rrr-oww.”
Brianna sighed.
“Alright, have it you way. Sit out in the cold corridor all night. I'm sure I don't care.”
The cat yawned rudely at her, and then standing, he meowed at her again. He moved then, out of her sight, and Brianna stood and crossed to the door. Peeking around the doorframe, she saw him slip into a second room. She followed his path, surprised to find the room occupied. She glanced at the two men shaking hands, and drew back.