Song of the Ancients (Ancient Magic Book 1) (30 page)

"Oh, I have no doubt. The question is
what
, exactly,
is it
?" She turned the first several pages with the tip of her pen. "No publisher's mark, no date or origin of printing. Hmmm."

I could practically see her ticking off book collector checkmarks in her head. "You purchased this for Nicholas? I had no idea the two of you were this seriously involved."

"Why would you think we are?"

"This is an extremely expensive gift."

"Mr. Ravenscroft gave it to me," I said. "He said he thought Nicholas would like it and to bring it back if it wasn't right for him."

Kamaria turned from the book to stare at me in surprise, the pen marking her spot. "He
gave
it to you?"

I shrugged.

She paged slowly through the first few chapters, apparently appraising the print and binding quality, and pointed out the beautiful hand calligraphy of the initial letter of each chapter. I read snatches of the pages over her shoulder.

"Wait! Stop for a minute."

I scanned the page. "Listen to this: 'The Dark Ones,
Los Oscuros,
are entities formless, ageless and eternal, who exist in the twilight realms. They flow between worlds and times as they please, through nexions--gates or tunnels between twilight and the material mundane'."

Kamaria looked troubled. "What a strange book." She paged to the next chapter and read more. 'There are many Dark Gods and an even larger number of demons. In the human world, these shapeshifter deities cannot exist for long in corporeal form. They need to return to the acausal world, or regularly find some source of acausal energy here.'

"Why would Mr. Ravenscroft suggest a book on demons for a holiday gift? He doesn't know me or Nicholas."

Or
did
he? I didn't recall mentioning Nicholas at all, yet the bookseller had said, "I think your gentleman would enjoy this volume." Nuin too acted as if he knew Nicholas, a creepy
déjà vu
I had paid no attention to until now.

"Samantha," Kamaria said slowly. "Listen to this part."

'The dark realm is joined to our physical world through nine gates or portals. Each gate opens only once an Aeon, forcing its way through the earth at a depleted energy site. If the magic at a gate is positively charged,
Los Oscuros
must find another entrance or wait until the new Aeon to return'."

A cabal of magical ancestors guarding the slumbering power in the earth, looking for the signs of the dark times to rekindle it. The Dark Ones, waiting for the next occurrence of a weakened energetic gateway to allow their demon god to surface.

In other words, a cosmic apocalypse waiting to happen. Were any of Sedona's other residents aware of the events about to occur in their backyards?

"Does any of this sound familiar to you? Have you heard or read of any of this prophecy lore about Sedona and the vortexes?"

Kamaria looked at me blankly. "No. Do you think--"

I cut her off. "It's a warning. The book, it's a warning."

I wrapped the slim volume back in its paper and shoved it in my backpack, pulling out my cell phone.
Still no messages.

Chapter 44: Yule Party

I went through the motions of everyday life for the two days before the Yule party. I even bought snow chains and braved the mountain to Jerome. Tramped around the house and pounded on Nicholas's front door. His car was gone, and the tire tracks in the snow looked recent.

Heart heavy, I surrendered to the truth. Nicholas's phone was not dead. He did not inadvertently overlook my calls. He ignored them. I wrapped gifts, picked up my party dress from the alterations woman, hugged Rumor goodbye when she left for Phoenix to pick Duncan up at the airport, all on autopilot. I considered not going to Maya's at all. No, he wasn't going to make me miserable for the holidays.

I had offered him my heart and my partnership. I had asked for his protection. He had refused.

The timing could not be worse. I faced some kind of supernatural battle in a little more than ten days, and it looked like I'd be in it without him. Instead of feeling frightened, the prospect brought only resignation, a fading of innocence, and the opening of an interminable waiting. I now felt the constant ticking of the clock counting my end of days. I was going to have to face Nuin alone.

But there were still a few things I could do. First, I left a message for Sinclair and asked him if we could meet sometime before Christmas. Then I pulled up the notes of the torn grimoire page I'd painstakingly copied while housesitting for Nicholas. Lastly, I pulled a business card from my purse and dialed the number.

"Ravenscroft's Rare Books," the familiar voice answered. "How may I help you?"

"Mr. Ravenscroft, this is Samantha Danroe. I need to talk with you about the book you gave me."

I heard the little man clear his throat. A quiet cough. "I wondered if you would call," he finally said. "I'm sure we have quite a lot to talk about. Have you presented the gift yet?"

His words brought a stab of pain to my heart. "No. Our Yule party is tomorrow."

"Will you be coming alone then?" he asked quietly.

"I'm…I'm not sure. Possibly."

"Not a problem my dear."

I sniffed, thinking,
Stiff upper lip, Sam. Carry on and all that crap.
"Oh, Mr. Ravenscroft, I have another favor to ask. I need a translation on a document. If I fax it over, would you take a look at it?"

"Certainly," the strange, kind little man answered. "Send it over right now and I'll start on it immediately."

I drew a deep breath of sadness mingled with relief. Time to get ready for the party. Time to face the man I feared. And the one with whom I was falling in love.

* * * * *

Winter stayed for Yule eve and added another dusting of fresh snow. Pristine and white, it sparkled in the light of the bare sliver of a new moon. The pines along Maya's long drive stood like sparkling ladies wearing crystalline coats of ice on their dark green shoulders.

I left my shoulders bare, and let my hair fall wild and loose, twisting only the sides into French braids, tucking a sprig of holly at each temple. The only jewelry I chose to wear was my moonstone necklace and a pair of tiny earrings I'd found to match.

Maya stood in the doorway greeting guests as I picked my way carefully up the snow-covered drive. She wore a long green skirt and a shimmering cloak of white, edged in silver thread.

Behind her I could see glowing candles on the walls and a long table crammed with food. In the center of the foyer stood the beautiful Yule tree, which we would decorate tonight.

The house was packed with people. Some coven members I had met at the various full moon rituals, but many more were strangers. I put my cloak in the bedroom and did a quick circuit of the house, but Nicholas had not arrived. Nuin helped Maya in the kitchen, and I avoided them both, still hoping Nicholas would arrive in time to have my back when I approached Nuin.

Rumor introduced Duncan Campbell. She glowed with happiness, and my heart swelled for her good fortune. From the way he looked at her, I guessed he'd be back to visit often.

Standing Bear sat in a corner with his guest, a beautiful woman with flowing black hair named Red Deer. When I caught his attention, he nodded solemnly.

When everyone held a cup of Nuin's wassail, we gathered in the foyer for the Yule tree trimming. Maya had already strung red, green and white lights through the branches.

Each of us had brought a special decoration to add. Standing Bear hung a glass ornament on which he had painted a landscape of Sedona. Red Deer added a small doeskin pouch filled with seeds for future life.

A coven member I did not know pulled a fresh sprig of mistletoe from her hair and attached it to the tree with a jeweled clip. Another hung a glowing piece of amber, tied with green satin ribbon.

Rumor hung an orange pompadour studded with cloves, while Duncan added a quartz crystal icicle. Several people contributed herbs from their own gardens: Sage, rosemary, catnip. I added my own bundle of lavender stems covered with pungent buds and tied with silver ribbon.

Kamaria hung a clay pottery sun ornament, painted in bright Mexican colors of orange, turquoise, black and yellow.

When everyone had a turn, Nuin placed a grapevine pentagram as a tree topper. I watched him carefully, but he was engrossed in holiday celebrations and didn't glance my way. If Nuin intended to harm me, then he was the world's best faker tonight.

Maya carried a big wicker basket to the tree. In it were strands upon strands of cranberries and anise seeds, interwoven with tiny bells. They tinkled softly with every step…
tink, tink, tink
…as she distributed a strand to pairs of us to drape on the tree.

As we finished the doorbell rang. Maya excused herself and came back looking grim. Nicholas followed behind her, but he wasn't alone. Lilith's thin, black-clad arm was tucked through his.

My mouth dropped open. I watched in numb disbelief as Maya, looking unhappy, wound her way through the group introducing the latecomers.

When Nicholas and Lilith walked up to the tree to add their ornaments, I turned away, too shattered to watch.

The tree glowed with light and the Yule log burned brightly in the fireplace. The room was filled with the scent of orange and pine, and music played a soft undercurrent to the happy conversations and laughter. Soon Maya called us into the dining room to eat.

The magic of the night was wasted on me. I sat alone on the hearth staring into the fire as the merriment faded away. All I could see was Nicholas, eyes downcast, avoiding my astonished stare when he entered the room.

I stood up from the hearth and walked to the tree. In the front, on a middle branch, sat Nicholas's ornament, a tiny black Book of Shadows, with a gold pentagram painted on the front. It hung on a braided cord of red, black and white. I wondered fleetingly if Nicholas had thought of me when he bought it.

On the branch next to the book was Lilith's contribution: A tarot card of the Holly King, the ruler of the waning year and Yule. The card depicted him dressed in winter furs and wearing a holly wreath crown. I recalled the card signified dissolution or loss.

I looked more closely at the Holly King's dark eyes and long black hair. Lilith's choice of this card and the figure's resemblance to Nicholas was no coincidence, and I felt the loss as acutely as if she had cut him out of my heart with her blade.

The guests filed into the dining room, but I veered off at the foyer and slipped out to the front porch. I sat on the porch swing and tucked my feet under me for warmth. I knew tonight would be hard, but this was a nightmare. My heart felt like a leaden dead lump in my chest. No pain. No tears. I was beyond hurt. Beyond loss. All I felt was emptiness. And oh, so alone.

Voices drifted through the front door from the foyer, a man and woman in heated conversation. "I don't want her in my house!" the woman said, her voice full of suppressed anger. Maya I guessed.

"Lower your voice and take it easy," the man said. "They're not hurting anyone." Maya murmured something, and the man replied, "All right. I'll ask them to leave right after dinner."

The front door opened and Nuin walked out onto the porch. He began pacing with his back to me, and, for a moment, I thought I could sneak in unseen. But as I uncurled my legs to stand up, he turned.

"Sam." He looked surprised for a moment and then chuckled. "Having a nice evening? No. Of course you're not. Did you also hear our argument?"

I looked at the floor.

He sat beside me on the swing, rocking us gently. "Why your friend would choose to bring an ousted coven member to our High Priestess's house is beyond me. And it's insulting to you." Stopping abruptly, Nuin continued in a gentler tone. "I'm sorry the party's not turning out the way you planned." He put his arm around me and squeezed. The charm around my neck warmed at this touch. "But you look ravishing, which you know is the best revenge." He stood up and planted a kiss on the top of my head. "Just wait, sweetheart, your evening will get better. We're going to ask Lilith to leave. I assume Nicholas will have to go too, if he's her ride."

Maybe leaving is the best solution for both of us
, I thought as Nuin stood and went inside, His departure left the swing rocking me gently.

* * * * *

"Please stay," Rumor wheedled. I had run into her when I went to the bedroom to retrieve my purse, hoping to slip out unnoticed and head home. "It's the last ritual of the year, and we haven't exchanged gifts yet." Then she tried the logical approach. "You don't know the situation yet, Sam. It seems odd. Why did Nicholas suddenly show up with a woman he's shown no interest in before?"

"He had a chance to get to know her more at their intimate little dinner after the tree cutting," I reminded her.

We sat glumly on the bed for several minutes. Then Rumor took my hand and stood up, flipping her long hair over her shoulder. "If he's being a bastard, then skulking off from the party is accepting defeat and letting him win. And if he's not being a bastard," she added, "you've wasted a perfectly good party for nothing. Either way, you should stay."

We joined Duncan in the kitchen where he waited for Rumor. The wassail simmered on the stove and the mead bottles sat open on the counter, so most of the unattached males kept Duncan company there. He had imbibed heartily and was amiable to anything his date suggested.

With much laughter and stops beneath the mistletoe hanging in every doorway, we made our way into the living room for the gift exchange.

I noticed Nicholas watching our rowdy group, eyes narrowed, so I blew him a kiss. As I turned away, I saw him frown. I was standing in the doorway to the foyer, so I draped my arm across the shoulders of the male closest to me and pointed upward suggestively.

Nuin grinned broadly and pulled me into an exaggerated embrace, bending me backwards for a kiss. His breath smelled of mead and cigars and his kiss was brief and hard. He laughed at my spluttered protest and smacked me on the butt as I broke free.

I didn't dare risk a glance at Nicholas but I could feel his dark eyes boring into my back.
Two can dance this jig
, I thought with spite. C
ause I don't trust you either.