Blood Moon (21 page)

“Devon, check this out.
 
Doesn’t it look like this might be a door or something?” Following Blake’s gaze to the floor and his pointing finger, he too noticed the arch of scrapes. They both crouched down to take a closer look.
 

“I think he’s right,” Devon said to Darby.

Rowan said, “Look at this.
 
On the crest, doesn’t it look like there’s something missing here?”
 
She pointed to the indentation.
 
Darby agreed.
 
Blake nodded.
 

Devon looked at it and then walked closer, tracing the indentation with his fingertips.
 
He thought for a moment and then said to Darby, “Doesn’t this look to be about the same size as the pendant with the crest on it that I pulled off of Rachel?”

“It does,” Darby answered.
 
Rowan nodded and said, “I think you’re right. It does.
 
You don’t suppose the necklace is the key to the door, do you?”

“Actually, that’s exactly what I was thinking,” Devon concluded.

Darby said, “I think we just found where the ceremony will be held, but without the key, we can’t go any further.
 
We should get out of here in case one of the Keatons decides to have a visit.”

“Good thinking,” Blake said.

They exited the mausoleum one by one, Blake shutting the door behind him, and they headed back to the car, not saying a word as they walked, shuffling through the fallen leaves.

Once in the car, Darby asked for the spell they found in the urn.
 
While they drove home she looked it over and said, “It doesn’t seem to be a very complicated spell, but then again they practiced their powers more avidly which probably meant the spell didn’t have to be super powerful if the witches themselves were.
 
Rowan and I might have to pump this up a notch or two for it to work for us.”

“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Rowan said.

When they got home they called Dean to see if all was okay on his end. It was four or five rings before he answered and when he did he sounded groggy.

“Dean?” Devon said.
 
“Are you all right? We just called to check in with you.”

“What? Oh, check in.
 
Hmmm, I must have nodded off. Weird, I didn’t think I was that tired.” Devon could tell he was walking, probably to the front of the store. He could hear him call for Allison. “Hang on; she’s probably just in the restroom or something.”
 

Devon had a bad feeling. He could hear a knocking and Dean calling her name again. Then panic struck Dean’s voice and he said, “I can’t find her! Maybe there’s a note at the front desk.” In a calm, firm voice he said, “Devon, you guys need to get down here now.
 
They’ve taken Allison.”

“Who, Dean?”

“The Keaton witches.
 
There’s a note here.
 
Says they want to trade Allison for the spell.”

“We’ll be right there.”
 

They all piled into the SUV and headed to the bookstore. In less than five minutes they were there and found Dean in the loveseat at the front of the store looking awful green with the note in hand. Rowan and Darby went to him immediately, one on each side.
 

“How could I have screwed up so badly? She’s gone because of me.”

“No, Dean, she’s gone because of us,” Darby said. “We’re so sorry to have gotten you and Allison involved in this mess. We’ll give them the spell and get her back and if you want you can take her to Colorado with you until this is over.”

“You can’t give them the spell,” Rowan said, “They’ll kill those girls.”
 

“If we don’t, they’ll kill Allison too. We are four against two with strength and speed on our side. We’ll stop the ceremony before it is complete.
 
We still have time, Allison doesn’t.”

“Make that five against two,” Dean interrupted. “I’m definitely in this fight. You didn’t really expect me to stand on the sidelines after they just abducted my girlfriend, did you?
 

“I didn’t want to make any assumptions, Dean. I definitely understand,” Darby said. Rowan nodded.

“So what does the note say about contacting them?”
 

“Here, see for yourself,” Dean said as he handed the note to Devon.

Darby

If you ever want to see Allison alive, bring the spell to the Keaton Mausoleum at midnight tonight.
 
Come alone or Allison dies along with you and your guests.

Rachel Keaton

“Hmmm.
 
I wonder if she will be alone? Somehow I don’t think so,” Darby said.
 

They locked up the store and headed back to the house to make a plan. They all argued that Darby could not go alone.
 

“How can I not? Allison’s life is in danger.”

“It’s a trap.
 
Damned if you do and damned if you don’t. It takes care of two birds with one stone.
 
They get the spell and get rid of one of the witches that can stop them,” Devon said.
 

“Maybe so, but Allison didn’t ask for this.
 
As soon as I thought there was any danger to her, I should have sent her away with Dean. This is my fault, who better to pay for that?”

“But you can’t fight them both.
 
You may be able to hold your own with Rachel, but not with both of them blasting at you,” Rowan said. “If they can have the other sister involved, then I should be able to go.”

“I don’t think they are basing this on what’s fair, Rowan,” said Blake.

“But she can’t go by herself,” Rowan insisted.

Darby said, “If you go and you feel threatened, you will turn into a werewolf.
 
Magic-wise, you won’t be able to help me anyways, until you get better control over your emotions.
 
Plus we’ll lose our advantage of surprise on the werewolf issue.”

“She’s right,” Dean said reluctantly.

Devon had been very quiet and then suddenly spoke up. “Is there anything in your Book of Shadows about astral projection?”

“Astral what?” Blake said.

“Astral projection. It is a way to be there and not be there, at the same time.
 
It’s very mind-oriented and we already know that Darby is quite capable in that area.
 
She could meet the sisters at the mausoleum. If she can get them to show her that Allison is there and okay, she can hold up the spell.
 
That is when they will surely employ their double cross. If that’s their plan, which I think we are all sure it is, when they try to throw a spell at her, it is at the projection, not really Darby. At that point we know they’re double crossing us. The real Darby and I can show up then, making the playing field a little more even. That’s when we do the actual exchange.”

“I’ve never done anything like that. We’d only have what,” Darby looked at her watch, “thirteen hours to even try to practice.”
 

“I didn’t say it didn’t have its glitches, but it’s a lot safer than your plan,” Devon said. “It keeps Rowan’s werewolf form a secret, and lets us know just how honorable they are going to be with this exchange. If both witches show up, we already know they don’t like to fight fair, right? If Rachel is there by herself, we’ll change the plan accordingly.”

“It does keep you safe, Darby, and I’m all for that,” Rowan said. “Have you seen anything like that in the book?”

“Yeah, I think I read something about it, but it looked pretty complicated, so I never really read much further.”

“Well, at least get the book and we’ll give it a try – that can’t hurt, can it?”

“I suppose not,” Darby said reluctantly.
 

Devon jumped up and said, “I’ll go get the book.”

“Okay, Rowan, if I have to do this, then you are going to have to get started on some of the potion stuff we talked about. In my notebook on my nightstand I have made an incantation for a magnetic balm, but I still need to crush some hematite for the balm.
 
There is also a list of herbs, oils, and stones that represent water that I need to have for the anti-fire potion.
 
If you could collect those and start the potion, we can start testing that against fire.”

“Sure, no problem.”

Devon walked back in the house with the book.
 
“Here you go, Love.”
 

Darby flipped through the book for a moment before finding the page she was looking for then said, “Okay, I’ll have to relax and lie down to do this.
 
Since you can relax me best, Devon, I’ll probably need your help.”

“My pleasure.” He lovingly put his hand on her shoulder.

“Dean and Blake, Rowan will probably need you to go to the bookstore to get items for the balm and potion. All the items you need should be in the back room. Just make a list of things you take, so I can take them out of inventory later. If I have any success, I’ll try to project to you two and you can tell Devon and me just how solid the projection is.

“And Dean, I’ll do whatever it takes to get Allison back to you.
 
You know that, right?”

“I do,” Dean answered.
 
“Just don’t get yourself killed in trying. I don’t want to be without both of you.”

“I’ll do my best.”

“D, be careful.
 
This mind stuff has already landed you in the hospital once; let’s not go there again,” Rowan said.

“I think Devon feels the same. He won’t let me overdo it and I promise to be careful.”

Chapter 20

The door was closed and Devon was seated on the bed with her back to the headboard.
 

“Okay, Love, why don’t you lie on the bed diagonally and put your head here on my lap.”

“Okay, but let me get the curtains first and recite the incantation.”
 

Devon had the book open next to him and after Darby closed the curtains, she sat on the bed, closed her eyes and said:
 

“Gracious goddess I now implore,

Open the gates and unlock the doors.

Allow me passage through the astral veil,

Speed on fair winds to me sail.

Help me see what I must learn,

Then grant me safe and speedy return.”

She laid back into Devon’s waiting lap. He gently brushed her hair from her forehead and said, “You need to concentrate on something. How about the crystal knob hanging from the ceiling fan.”

“Good, that’s good.”

“Okay, keep concentrating on the crystal. Relaxing - letting all the tension out of your body. Just listen to my voice and relax – Love - relax.
 
You are safe here with me no matter where your projection roams. Always safe. Focus and relax. Your eyelids will become very heavy and eventually your eyes will close, but you will still be able to see the crystal. You will still be focusing on the crystal. When you have reached the state of relaxation to project, you will feel a tingling in your skin as your astral body becomes more solid.
 
When you get there, sit up and look at me.
 
I will be here.
 
You are safe and relaxed.”

A few minutes went by, and she did feel a tingling all over her skin and she was aware of everything around her.
 
She could hear Devon’s steady breathing and hers too, for that matter. She sat up to tell Devon that it just wasn’t working and that maybe they should try again later. But when she looked back at him to say something she noticed herself lying on the bed, eyes closed and sleeping. Devon was looking right at her with that beautiful smile of his.
 

“I knew you could do it, Love.
 
You never cease to surprise and amaze me.”
 

She leaned over and kissed him without even thinking and when she reached his lips she didn’t stop.
 
She forgot she wasn’t solid.
 
She said in a whisper as if not to wake herself, “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, it felt kind of nice, but I feel like I’m cheating on you with you.” She laughed.
 
“Go walk around, but focus a little harder, I can almost see through you.
 
See if you can’t have a conversation with someone and if they can tell if it is your astral projection.”

“Okay, here it goes.”

She stood up and went to the door and grabbed for the knob, but her hand passed through it.
 

“Umm, I think you can just go right through.”

She crinkled her forehead and said, “That’s a little freaky.”

He smiled and said, “Your projection can’t be hurt; you are right here, safe with me.” He pointed to her in his lap.

“Yeah, that’s a little disturbing too.” With that, she disappeared through the door.