The Seventh Witch (21 page)

Dressed in white cowled robes borrowed from Lydia, our little troop neared the clearing. We were almost there when I hung back and linked my arm with Abby.

“Are you okay with this?” I asked.

“Yes,” she said, her eyes on the broad back of the cousin carrying Great-Aunt Mary. “I’ve always told you to face your fears?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Now it’s time to face mine. I have a lot of happy memories of the Seven Sisters. Until the day the Dorans attacked me, it had always been a place of peace. I need to remember those memories if we’re going to be successful.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes,” she replied with a small smile. “And you need to focus on your vision of the shaman and his people. If you do, maybe we can finally end the influence the Dorans have had on this valley.”

“Will Tink be okay?” I still questioned the wisdom of bringing her.

Abby’s face grew serious. “If I didn’t trust Great-Aunt Mary’s word, I wouldn’t have let her come.” She stopped suddenly.

We reached the edge of the clearing and paused. As we’d passed the Aunts’ house, I ran inside and grabbed my runes.
Even though they hadn’t worked for me on this trip, I figured I needed all the help I could get. And now I sensed a warmth growing from where they nestled in the pocket of my robe. The feeling spread through me and chased away the morning chill. At the same time, I felt the oppressiveness of this place lift, and it was as if a sense of anticipation replaced it.

At the Seven Sisters, I heard Abby’s small cry of dismay when she saw the stagnant pool, the choked stones. A small tear slid down her cheek.

“To see this…” She sniffed. “It would’ve caused Mother so much pain.”

I tossed an arm around her shoulders. “Don’t think about it. We’re going to fix it,” I said with a confidence I wasn’t sure I really felt.

Maybelle’s son set Great-Aunt Mary on her feet as she whispered something in his ear. He quickly left, only to return a few minutes later carrying pieces of wood and kindling. After handing them to Lydia, he and his brother faded into the woods beyond the circle. They’d been instructed to return after sunrise.

We fell into step, and one by one entered the circle. Lydia crossed to the center and laid out the wood while Abby handed each of us a piece of hematite for grounding and a piece of green fluorite for cleansing. We all slipped them into the deep pockets of our robes. Abby then opened Lydia’s bag and withdrew the sack of salt. Opening it, she walked clockwise as she poured the salt in a large circle. Soon the circle was complete and the fire blazed.

One last thing…Lydia reached in her bag and grabbed the sack of herbs that Elsie had provided. When she cast it on the fire, the air immediately filled with the pungent smell of sage. She joined the rest of us, and with linked hands we all stepped over the circle of salt.

Closing her eyes, Abby called the Elements.

The dark richness of the Earth seemed to anchor us.

Air stirred the sage and its smoke drifted over and around us.

Bright flames of fire, fed by the breeze, leapt and danced.

From behind me, I heard the gurgle of water as if the stagnant pool had suddenly come to life once more.

Throughout the clearing, I felt a gentleness gather, forcing back the darkness that clung to this place.

I opened my eyes and looked at Lydia, facing me from across the fire. And I swear, she glowed with a soft green light while her amulet shone so bright it almost hurt my eyes. My attention traveled to Tink and Great-Aunt Mary. I saw shadows, shifting and moving behind them, drawing closer to the warmth of Lydia’s fire.

And Aunt Dot? Little sparks of light zigged and zagged above her head. Was it her fairies lending their energy to ours?

I felt the rays of the morning sun begin to warm the back of my neck. Just a few more minutes before its light hit the center of the circle. It would be done, finished, all the evil banished forever.

The warmth vanished. A chill, like icy fingers, moved down my back. No, no, this was not supposed to happen.

I dropped Abby’s and Elsie’s hands and spun around as Sharon Doran stepped from the shadow of one of the standing stones.

With a rifle pointed directly at Abby.

“What in the hell are you doing?” she said, her eyes flicking in my direction.

Without thinking, I broke the circle and stepped in front of Abby. “We’re taking back what’s ours.”

I heard a soft rustle on either side of me, and I glanced to my left then to my right. Still inside the circle of salt, everyone had moved to form a straight line. Now the seven of us faced Sharon.

A hint of fear flared in her brown eyes, and I pressed my advantage.

“It’s over, Sharon,” I said, keeping my voice calm.

Her hands on the gun tightened. “No, it’s not,” she replied
softly, and I saw the fear in her eyes vanish as a madness seemed to take hold.

Above us, clouds tumbled and rolled across the sun, blocking it. The heaviness that had been almost gone oozed around Sharon like a poisonous gas. I felt a darkening, building as it waited just beyond the edge of the Seven Sisters.

“Put the gun down and leave,” I commanded, taking one step forward. “Before it’s too late.”

Her jaw clenched. “No, I vowed you’d pay, and you will.” She slowly lifted the gun and sighted down the barrel.

I jerked up my hands. “Wait—let the others go. I’ll stay.”

Abby grabbed my sleeve, but I shook her off and crossed over the salt.

“You have nothing to gain by killing us. If you want revenge, take it out on me, not them.”

Her eyes narrowed and the gun lowered as she thought it over. I took another step.

She caught my movement and jerked the gun back to her shoulder. “She killed my grandpa,” she hissed with a slight wave of the barrel in Abby’s direction. “Granny said she cursed him.”

I shook my head. “Your grandfather cursed himself…I saw it, Sharon. He cowered before the spirits that dwell here.”

“There ain’t no ghosts here,” she scoffed.

I moved closer. “Yes there are. And they don’t like the way your family has defiled their sacred spot.”

As if to affirm my words, a crack of lightning crisscrossed the sky above us, and the low rumble of thunder shook the clearing, the sound bouncing off the standing stones.

A thin bead of sweat glimmered on Sharon’s top lip.

“They were the ones who caused your grandfather’s death. He insulted them, like you’re doing right now.” I crossed my arms. “Do you want to die like he did, Sharon?”

“Are you cursing me?” The end of her gun wavered.

If I could just get close enough to grab the gun. I slid one foot forward. “I—”

The ground beneath my feet seemed to tremble, and I thought I saw the standing stones vibrate, as if they were trying to shake off the vines choking them. Suddenly, Sharon screamed, and I watched in horror as a jagged slash appeared on her cheek.

“Stop it!” she screamed again, her gun swinging in a wild arc as another gash marked her forehead.

My God, she was being cut to ribbons before our eyes.

“Run!” I shouted over my shoulder as I lurched for the gun.

She fired wildly and I hit the ground. The sky opened and a torrent of rain poured down on us. Scrambling to my knees, I tried crawling toward her, but the gun kept barking bullets as she tried to shoot the unseen forces attacking her.

I heard the sound of pounding feet, and lifting my head, I saw three men, wearing deputy sheriff jackets, come running toward us. And sprinting out in front of them? Ethan.

Sharon heard them, too, and spun, her gun still firing.

“No!” I screamed as Ethan crumpled to the ground.

The two men with him launched themselves at Sharon, tackling her to the ground.

The gunfire stopped and a deadly silence filled the circle. With my robe tangling around my knees, I crawled over to where Ethan lay.

“Lydia, Lydia!” I called. “Help me!”

I raised my head, my eyes scanning the clearing through the rain.

I saw her…she sat cradling Abby in her arms.

My scream echoed again and again.

I thought the pain in my heart would kill me. We’d won, but at what price?

Then I saw Abby lift her head.

I almost fainted. “Is she hurt?” I called out.

With Lydia’s help, Abby raised herself to a sitting position and flapped a hand in my direction. After Elsie and Lydia helped Abby to her feet, Lydia rushed to my side.

Ethan had rolled over onto his back and rain poured down on his still face. I leaned over him, trying to shield him with my body as best I could.

“Ethan, open your eyes,” I said, bending close.

His eyes fluttered open and he groaned. “My leg,” he gasped, his breath coming in short quick pants.

I looked over my shoulder at Lydia. She knelt by his knee carefully inspecting the crimson stain slowly spreading down the leg of his jeans.

“Abby?” I said to her.

“When the bullets started flying, Elsie shoved her to the ground and it knocked the wind out of her. She’s fine.”

“The rest?”

“They’re all huddled under one of the lintels. No one was hit.”

“Ethan?” I asked.

“The bullet hit his knee. It’s not fatal, but I’ve got to stop
the bleeding,” she said, moving her hand over the ever widening stain.

Just like on the day when Dad had injured his foot, the air around us hummed with Lydia’s healing energy as she used it to stop the bleeding.

Abruptly, she stopped and shook her head. “It’s not working. His body is in too much pain and he’s blocking the healing.”

I turned back to Ethan, his eyes tightly shut as he rolled his head from side to side. “Ethan, listen to me…you’re going to be fine…Lydia and I are going to help you.”

Closing my eyes, I placed my hand on his forehead and concentrated on my mind touching his. His pain shot up my arm, and I almost lost the connection. Breathing deeply, I let it wash through me, absorbing it with my mind.

Slowly, Ethan calmed. His head stopped rolling and his muscles seemed to relax.

I don’t know how long Lydia and I knelt by his side, but finally I heard the sound of all-terrain vehicles ripping through the woods. They came to a stop and two men jumped off, running toward us. Lydia moved aside as one of the men ripped Ethan’s pant leg and assessed the wound. With quick sure motions, he opened the bag he’d carried and began treating Ethan’s leg. The other man knelt across from me, and after tearing Ethan’s shirt, started an IV.

He took a moment to glance at me. “We’ll take it from here,” he said.

I stumbled to my feet and slowly crossed the circle to where the rest of my family waited, their sodden robes hanging off their shoulders. As I did, out of the corner of my eye, I spied Sharon being led away in handcuffs.

From across the clearing her eyes met mine, and I staggered from the hatred I saw there.

Once they got us all out of the woods, I insisted that I be allowed to accompany Ethan in the ambulance. They didn’t argue. I guess even DEA agents didn’t want to take on a
group of women dressed in soggy white robes. Shoving mine into Lydia’s waiting arms, I hopped in the back and we took off.

On the ride to the hospital in Asheville, Ethan kept drifting in and out of consciousness. I didn’t even know if he realized I was there. Finally his cool, gray eyes opened and he stared up at me.

He frowned as they focused on my face. “Jensen?”

“Hey, slick, how ya doing?” I said with forced brightness.

“Haven’t I told you to keep your head down?” he asked, his voice slurred from the medication.

“I believe you have,” I agreed.

He winced as he shifted his body. “Next time listen.”

“I will, cross my heart.”

A slight grin tugged at his lips. “Right.”

“Ethan, you saved our lives…” I leaned in close. “Thanks.”

“Anytime, Jensen.” His eyes drifted shut. “Only next time, I’m going to try to not get shot doing it.”

When we arrived at the hospital, they rushed him into surgery while I kept a vigil in one of the waiting rooms. I’d called Lydia and everyone was fine. She asked if I wanted her to join me at the hospital, but I declined. I was on my third cup of coffee when a man dressed in a DEA jacket walked into the waiting room.

A big man—he looked like a football player and carried with him an air of authority. He crossed the room and extended his hand.

“You must be Ophelia,” he said smiling down at me. “I’m Ted Rivers.”

“You’re Ethan’s boss,” I replied, shaking his hand.

As he took a seat next to me, he chuckled. “How did you know?”

“A lucky guess?”

He chuckled again. “From what I hear, you have those frequently.”

I clutched my cup a little tighter. “Ethan’s told you about me?”

“A little,” he replied with a wry grin, “but I went to school with Bill Wilson. I believe you’re acquainted with him?”

“Sheriff
Bill Wilson?” I gave him a nervous glance.

“That would be the one.”

Peachy, I thought, rolling my eyes. Well at least he wasn’t reaching for his handcuffs. I’d take that as a good sign.

“Bill speaks very highly of you,” he continued.

I almost spilled my coffee. “Really?”

“You sound surprised?”

“Um…well…it’s…” I babbled. Clamping my jaw shut, I turned toward him. “Ethan’s still in surgery.”

“I know. I spoke with a nurse when I arrived. He should be out soon.”

“Is he going to be okay?”

His face grew serious. “The bullet shattered his knee and it’s going to require time to heal. We’re transferring him to the Mayo Clinic as soon as the surgeon gives the go-ahead.”

The Mayo Clinic? I took a sharp breath. It had some of the best doctors in the country, and people from all over the world went to the specialists there.

“That bad?”

“No, no,” he said, quickly facing me. “I didn’t mean to worry you. His family lives in Rochester, it will be easier for them if he’s nearby.”

Family? Ethan had family? I’d never thought about it. Wife? Kids?

Mr. Rivers continued. “His parents and a brother live there,” he said, filling me in. “His dad’s a retired police officer, and his mother, well—” He broke off with a chuckle. “She runs a New Age shop. She’s some kind of an astrologer.”