Secret Circle - The Captive Part 23

"But howl" Ca.s.sie whispered. She was thinking of that row of gravestones in the cemetery. "How did they die, Grandma?"

"I don't know. I doubt if anyone alive knows, unless it's . . ." Her grandmother broke off and shook her head, muttering. "There was fire in the sky, and then a storm. A hurricane from the sea. The older women got together the babies that had been left with them, and the young parents that hadn't gone with the group, and we managed to save them. But the next day the house at Number Thirteen was burned to the ground, and all the ones who'd gone to challenge Black John were dead.

"We never found most of the bodies. They were washed out to sea, I suppose. But one thing we did find was the burned corpse at Number Thirteen. We knew it was him by the ring he wore, a shiny black stone we used to call lodestone. I forget the modern name. We took him out to the old burying ground and put him in the bunker. Charles Meade, Diana's father, dropped that chunk of concrete in front of it. We figured that if he'd come back once, he might try again someday, and we meant to stop him if we could. And after that the parents that had survived hid their Books of Shadows and did their best to keep their children away from magic. And it's strange, but most of them forgot what they could. I guess because they couldn't remember and stay sane. Still, it's funny, now, how much they've forgotten."

The cracked voice had been growing weaker and weaker, but now Ca.s.sie's grandmother grasped Ca.s.sie's wrist hard. "Now, listen to me, child. This is important. Some of us didn't forget, because we couldn't. I'd named my daughter for a prophetess, and she did the same for her daughter, because we've always had the second sight. Your mother couldn't bear what her gift showed her, and so she ran away from New Salem; she ran all the way to the other coast. But I stayed, and I've watched all my premonitions come true, one by one. The babies that were born on Crowhaven Road in that single month grew up different, despite everything their parents could do. They were drawn to the Powers and the old ways from the beginning. They all grew up strong-and some of them grew up bad.

"I've watched it happen, and in my mind I've heard Black John laughing. They burned his body, but they couldn't burn his spirit, and it's always been here, waiting, hanging around the old burying ground and the vacant lot at Number Thirteen. He was waiting for his coven, the one he'd planned, the one he'd gotten born. He was waiting for them to come of age. He was waiting for them to bring him back.

"I knew it would happen-and I knew only one thing could stand against him when it did. And that's you, Ca.s.sie. You have the strength of our family, and the sight, and the Power. I begged your mother to come home, because I knew that without you the children of Crowhaven Road would be lost. They'd turn to him, the way their parents did, and he'd be their leader and their master. You are the only one who can stop him from taking them now."

"So that's what you and Mom fought about," Ca.s.sie said in wonder. "About me."

"We fought about courage. She wanted to protect you, and I knew that by protecting you we'd lose all the others. You had a destiny even before you were born. And the worst was that we couldn't tell you about it-that was what the prophecies said. You had to come here all unknowing and find your own way, like some innocent sacrifice. And you did. You've done everything we could have wanted. And the time was coming when we could have explained it all to you . . . but she fooled us, that Faye. By the way, how'd she do it?"

"I . . ." Ca.s.sie didn't know what to say. "I helped her, Grandma," she said finally. "We found the crystal skull that belonged to Black John, and it was full of dark energy. Every time we used it, somebody died. And then-" Ca.s.sie took a deep, ragged breath. "Then, tonight, Faye told us to bring the skull to the cemetery. And when she uncovered it there-I don't know-all this darkness came out . . ."

Ca.s.sie's grandmother was nodding. "He was master of dark things. Just like the real Man in Black, the lord of death. But, Ca.s.sie, do you really understand?" With a supreme effort, the old woman tried to sit up to look in Ca.s.sie's face. "When you took the skull to his burying place and let that energy out, it was enough to bring him back. He's here now; he's come back again. Not a ghost or a spirit, but a man. A walking, breathing man. He'll look different the next time you see him; once he's had a chance to pretty himself up. And he'll try to fool you." She sank back wearily.

"But, oh, Grandma-1 helped let him loose. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry . . ." Tears swam in Ca.s.sie's eyes.

"You didn't know. I forgive you, child, and what's done is done. But you have to be ready for him . . ." Ca.s.sie's grandmother's eyes drifted shut, and her breath had a frightening sound.

"Grandma!" Ca.s.sie said, shaking her in panic.

The old eyes opened again, slowly. "Poor Ca.s.sie. It's a lot to face. But you have strength, if you look for it. And now you have this." Feebly, she pressed the Book of Shadows again into Ca.s.sie's hands. "The wisdom of our family, and the prophecies. Read it. Learn it. It'll answer some of the questions I don't have time for. You'll find your way . . ."

"Grandma! Grandma, please . . ."

Her grandmother's eyes were still open, but they were changing, filming over, as if they didn't see her anymore. "I don't mind going now that I've told the story . . . but there's something else. Something you need to know . . ."

"Ca.s.sie!" The voice came from the doorway, and it startled Ca.s.sie so much that she jerked and looked up. Laurel was standing there, her elfin face white with concern. "Ca.s.sie, what's happening in here? Are you okay? Do you want a doctor?" She was staring at Ca.s.sie's grandmother on the floor.

"Laurel, not now!" Ca.s.sie gasped. She was crying, but she held on harder to her grandmother's knotted old hands. "Grandma, please don't go. I'm frightened, Grandmother. I need you!"

Her grandmother's lips were moving, but only the faintest of sounds came out. ". . . never be afraid, Ca.s.sie. There's nothing frightening in the dark if you just face it . . ."

"Please, Grandma, please. Oh, no . . ." Ca.s.sie's head dropped down to her grandmother's chest and she sobbed. The knotted hands weren't holding hers anymore.

"You said you had something else to tell me," she wept. "You can't go . . ."

An almost inaudible breath came from her grandmother's chest. Ca.s.sie thought it was the word "John." And then, ". . . nothing dies forever, Ca.s.sie . . ."

The chest against Ca.s.sie's forehead heaved once and was still.

Outside, a yellowing moon hung low in the sky.

"The Mourning Moon," Laurel said quietly. 'That's what this one is called."

It was appropriate, Ca.s.sie thought, although her eyes were dry now. There were more tears inside her, building up, but they would have to wait. There was something that had to be done before she could rest and cry. Even after her grandmother's story, she had so many questions, so much to figure out-but first, she had to do this one thing.

There were a bunch of cars parked near the street. The rest of the coven was there-no, not all of them. Ca.s.sie saw Suzan and Sean and the Hendersons, and Adam and Diana. But she didn't see the person she was looking for.

"Melanie and Nick took your mom to Melanie's aunt Constance," Laurel said hesitantly. "They thought it was the best place for her, tonight. She was still kind of s.p.a.cey-but I know she'll be okay."

Ca.s.sie swallowed and nodded. She wasn't sure; she wasn't sure of anything. She only knew what she had to do right now.

Never be afraid, Ca.s.sie. There's nothing frightening in the dark if you just face it.

Just face it. Face it and stand up to it.

Then Ca.s.sie saw who she was looking for.

Faye was in the shadows beyond the headlights of the cars. Her black shift and her hair blended in with the gloom, but the pallor of her face and the silver ornaments she wore stood out.

Ca.s.sie walked up to her without hesitation. At that moment, she could have hit Faye, strangled her, killed her. But all she said was, "It's over."

"What?" Faye's eyes gleamed a little, yellow as the moonlight. She looked sick and unsettled-and dangerous. Like a pile of dynamite ready to go off.

"It's over, Faye," Ca.s.sie repeated. "The blackmail, the threats . . . it's all over. I'm not your prisoner anymore.

Faye's nostrils flared. "I'm warning you, Ca.s.sie, this isn't the time to push me. I'm still leader of the coven. The vote was fair. You can't do anything to change it ..."

"I'm not trying to change it-now. Right now I'm just saying that you don't have a hold over me anymore. It's finished."

"It's finished when I say it's finished!" Faye snarled. Ca.s.sie realized then how close Faye was to snapping, how dangerous Faye's mood really was. But it didn't matter. Maybe it was even better this way, to get it all over with at once.

"I'm not joking, Ca.s.sie," Faye was going on heatedly. "If you can turn on me, I can do the same to you ..."

Ca.s.sie took a deep breath and then said, "Go ahead."

There's nothing frightening in the dark if you just face it.

"Fine," Faye said between her teeth. "I will."

She turned around and strode to the place where Diana and Adam were standing, arms around each other. Adam was practically supporting Diana, Ca.s.sie saw, and for a moment her heart failed her. But it had to be done. Despite the oath, despite Diana's pain, it had to be done.

Faye turned back once to look at Ca.s.sie. A look that said, clearly, you'll be sorry. Ca.s.sie wondered in sudden panic if it was true. Would she be sorry? Was she doing the wrong thing after all, defying Faye at the wrong time? Wouldn't it be better to wait, to think about this . . .

But Faye was turning back to Diana, malicious triumph written all over her face. The coven wasn't happy with Faye tonight, but Faye was still the leader and nothing could change that fact. Now Faye was going to start her reign by getting revenge on the people she hated most.

"Diana," she said, "I have a little surprise for you."

Don't miss the shocking conclusion of THE SECRET CIRCLE Volume III The Power "Diana, I have a little surprise for you," Faye said.

Diana's emerald eyes, with their thick, sooty lashes, were swimming already. She still hadn't recovered from the shocks of tonight, and her face was strained as she stared at Faye.

Well, there was worse to come.

Now that it was finally going to happen, Ca.s.sie felt a curious sense of freedom. No more trying to hide, no more lying and evading. The nightmare was here at last.

"I suppose I should have told you before, but I didn't want to upset you," Faye was saying. Her eyes burned golden with a savage inner fire.

Adam, who wasn't stupid, glanced from Ca.s.sie to Faye and obviously came to a quick, if shattering conclusion. He swiftly cupped a hand under Diana's elbow.

"Whatever it is can wait," he said. "Ca.s.sie ought to go and see her mother, and-"

"No, it can't wait, Adam Conant," Faye interrupted. "It's time Diana found out what sort of people she has around her." She whirled to face Diana again, her pale skin glowing with strange elation against the midnight-dark mane of her hair. "The ones you've chosen," she said to her cousin. "Your dearest friend-and him. The incorruptible Sir Adam. Do you want to know the reason you couldn't make it as leader? Do you want to know how naive you really are?"

Everyone was gathering close now, staring. Ca.s.sie could see varying degrees of bewilderment and suspicion in their expressions. The full moon shining from the west was so bright that it cast shadows, and it illuminated every detail of the scene.

Ca.s.sie looked at each of them: tough Deborah, beautiful Suzan with her perfect face marred by a puzzled frown, cool Melanie, and graceful, elfin Laurel. She looked at Chris and Doug Henderson, the wild twins, who were standing by the slinking figure of Sean, and at icily handsome Nick behind them.

Finally she looked at Adam.

He was still holding Diana's arm, but his proud, arresting face was tense and alert. His eyes met Ca.s.sie's, and something like understanding flashed between them, and then Ca.s.sie looked away, ashamed. She had no right to lean on Adam's strength. She was about to be exposed for what she was in front of the entire Circle.

"I kept hoping they would do the decent thing and control themselves," Faye said. "For their own sake, if not yours. But, obviously-"

"Faye, what are you talking about?" Diana interrrupted, her patience splintering.

"Why, about Ca.s.sie and Adam, of course," Faye said, slowly opening her golden eyes wide. "About how they've been fooling around behind your back."

The words fell like stones into a tranquil pool. There was a long moment of utter silence, then Doug Henderson threw back his head and laughed.

"Yeah, an' my mom's a topless dancer," he jeered.

"And Mother Theresa's really Cat-woman," said Chris.

"Come on, Faye," Laurel said sharply. "Don't be ridiculous."

Faye smiled.

"I don't blame you for not believing me," she said. "I was shocked too. But you see, it all started before Ca.s.sie came to New Salem. It started when she met Adam down on Cape Cod."

The silence this time had a different quality. Ca.s.sie saw Laurel look quickly at Melanie. Everyone knew that Ca.s.sie had spent several weeks that summer on the Cape. And everyone knew that Adam had been down in that area too, looking for the Master Tools. Ca.s.sie saw the dawning of startled understanding on the faces around her.

"It all started on the beach there," Faye went on. She was obviously enjoying herself, as she always enjoyed being the center of attention. She looked s.e.xy and commanding as she wet her lips and spoke throatily, addressing the entire group although her words were meant for Diana. "It was love at first sight, I guess-or at least they couldn't keep their hands off each other. When Ca.s.sie came up here she even wrote a poem about it. Now how did that go?" Faye put her head on one side and recited: "Each night I lie and dream about the one Who kissed me and awakened my desire I spent a single hour with him alone And since that hour, my days are laced with fire." "That's right; that was her poem," Suzan said. "I remember. We had her in the old science building and she didn't want us to read it." Deborah was nodding, her pet.i.te face twisted in a scowl. "I remember too." "You may also remember how strange they both acted at Ca.s.sie's initiation," Faye said.

"And how Raj seemed to take to Ca.s.sie so quickly, always jumping up on her and licking her and all.

Well, it's very simple really-it's because they'd known each other before. They didn't want any of us to know that, of course. They tried to hide it. But eventually they got caught. It was the night we first used the crystal skull in Diana's garage-Adam was taking Ca.s.sie home, I guess. I wonder how that got arranged."

Now it was the turn of Laurel and Melanie to look startled. Clearly they remembered the night of the first skull ceremony, when Diana had asked Adam to walk Ca.s.sie home, and Adam, after a brief hesitation, had agreed.

"They thought they were alone on the bluff-but somebody was watching. Two little somebodies, two little friends of mine . . ." Lazily, Faye worked her fingers, with their long, scarlet-tipped nails, as if stroking something. A flash of comprehension lighted Ca.s.sie's mind.

The kittens. The d.a.m.ned little bloodsucking kittens that lived wild in Faye's bedroom. Faye was saying the kittens were her spies? That she could communicate with them?

Ca.s.sie felt a deeper chill as she looked at the tall, darkly beautiful girl, sensing something alien and deadly behind those hooded golden eyes. She'd wondered all along who Faye had meant when she talked about her "friends" that saw things and reported back to her, but she'd never imagined this. Faye smiled in satisfaction and nodded at her.

"I have lots of secrets," she said directly to Ca.s.sie. "That's only one of them. But anyway," she said to the rest of the group, "it was that night they got caught. They were-well, kissing. That's the polite way to put it. The kind of kissing that starts spontaneous combustion. I suppose they just couldn't resist their l.u.s.tful pa.s.sions any longer." She sighed.

Diana was looking at Adam now, looking for a denial. But Adam, his jaw set, was staring straight ahead at Faye.

Diana's lips parted with the quick intake of her breath.

"And it wasn't the only time, I'm afraid," Faye continued, examining her nails with an expression of demure regret. "They've been doing it ever since, stealing secret moments when you weren't looking, Diana. Like at the Homecoming dance-what a pity you weren't there. They started kissing right in the middle of the dance floor. I guess maybe they went somewhere more private afterward ..."

"That's not true," Ca.s.sie cried, realizing even as she said it that she was virtually confirming that everything else Faye had said was true.

Everyone was looking at Ca.s.sie now, and there was no more jeering from the Hendersons. Their tilted blue-green eyes were focused and intent.

"I wanted to tell you," Faye said to Diana, "but Ca.s.sie just begged me not to. She was hysterical, crying and pleading-she said she would just die if you found out. She said she'd do anything. And that," Faye sighed, looking off into the distance, "was when she offered to get me the skull."

"What?" said Nick, his normally imperturbable face reflecting disbelief.

"Yes." Faye's eyes dropped to her nails again, but she couldn't keep a smile from curling the corners of her lips. "She knew I wanted to examine the skull, and she said she'd get it for me if I didn't tell. Well, what could I do? She was like a crazy person. I just didn't have the heart to refuse her."

Ca.s.sie sank her teeth into her lower lip. She wanted to scream, to protest that it hadn't been that way . . . but what was the use? Faye's story had enough of the truth in it to condemn her.

Melanie was speaking. "And I suppose you didn't have the heart to refuse the skull either," she said to Faye, her gray eyes scornful.

"Well . . ." Faye smiled deprecatingly. "Let's put it this way-it was just too good a chance to miss."

"This isn't funny," Laurel cried. She looked stricken. "I still don't believe it-"

"Then how do you think she knew where to dig up the skull tonight?" Faye said smoothly. "She stayed over at your house, Diana, the night we traced the dark energy to the cemetery. And she snuck around and figured out where the skull was buried by reading your Book of Shadows-but only after she stole the key to the walnut cabinet and checked there." Gleeful triumph shone out of Faye's golden eyes; she couldn't conceal it any longer.

And n.o.body in the group could deny the truth of Faye's words any longer. Ca.s.sie had known where to dig up the skull. There was no way to get around that. Ca.s.sie could see it happening in face after face; the ending of disbelief and the slow beginning of grim accusation.

It's like The Scarlet Letter, Ca.s.sie 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.

Ca.s.sie had never seen his blue-gray eyes look this way before-they were like silver lightning. He moved forward with his usual easy stride and there was no violence in the way he caught Faye's arm. But the grip must have been like iron-Ca.s.sie 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."

BOOKS BY L. J. SMITH.