Circle of Blood (10 page)

A memory stirred. Something she hadn’t thought about in a long, long time. In her head she saw a teen girl, with long, dark hair and hard, cold eyes.

“What is it?” Ed asked, sensing her hesitation.

“I think . . . I think there was someone missing the night of the massacre.”

He straightened. “Are you sure?”

“I’m trying to think, remember. His daughter, she had black hair and blue eyes, dead eyes. She was older than me, a teen. I remember her from when I was younger. She was always kind of mean, just like her father. But then she disappeared when I was about nine or so. It seems like she came by once or twice after that, but then she’d go away again.”

“Samantha, think. This is very important. You said she was older than you. Is it possible that she was old enough to be in college?”

“Yes! That’s it. She went away to college. She only came home on a couple of breaks. She wasn’t there the night of the massacre. I mean, I can’t remember that night well, but I know that everyone who was there was killed.”

“But she isn’t dead?”

“There was no grave at the cemetery for her with the others. Her father was there, but not her. It has to be her. She has to be the one behind all this.”

“What was her name?”

“Lilith. Lilith Black.”

“Helluva name for a witch.”

Her chest tightened, as if a fist were squeezing her heart. “All these years, I thought I was the last one, the last survivor. But I’m not. There are two of us.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Ed said, a look of satisfaction on his face. “And we have a name. I can see if there’s anything I can find out about her. And now that you know who she is, can’t you do some kind of location spell or summoning spell or something like that?”

“Normally, but she is really powerful and she seems to have all these protections and wards around her. I’m not sure any of the usual tricks are going to work on her.”

“Then it’s time to start thinking outside the box. Get a little creative.”

She thought of her infant self, breathing fire. “You know, yesterday I would have said that wasn’t possible, but today the world seems completely different to me.”

“Good. Let’s work on finding this witch and then we can figure out a plan to take her down.”

“I don’t want you and Anthony getting hurt. He’s not going to want to go, but I need you to take him—”

He held up a hand, interrupting her. “Don’t even bother. We’re both here to see this through to the end. Yeah, we owe you, but we also owe ourselves and the universe.”

“The universe is notoriously bad at thanking those who sacrifice on its behalf,” she said, raising an eyebrow.

“Doesn’t matter. One way or another, we will see it done.”

“Thank you,” she said, reaching out to squeeze his hand.

“You’re welcome. Now, let’s talk about this Anthony character. It seems like he’s really into you. You want me to have a talk with him, put the fear of God in him about hurting you?”

She laughed. “I don’t think that will be necessary.”

“Okay, but you say the word and I’m happy to break his legs for you.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“You like him, too.”

She flushed. “Is it that obvious?”

“I’ve known you for three years. He’s the first guy I’ve ever even seen you look twice at. So, yeah, little bit.”

“Good to know.” She stood. “Speaking of Anthony, he’s waiting for us in the coffee shop downstairs.”

“Great, I’m starving.”

They walked downstairs and Samantha was amazed at how improved her mood was. Relationships, friends she had thought she had lost were being restored as if by magic. The best part was, she knew magic had nothing to do with it.

Once inside the coffee shop, she saw Anthony seated at a table, drinking a cup of coffee. Freaky was sitting on the table dipping his paw in and out of a saucer of milk. She’d have to explain to Anthony that Freaky didn’t need to actually eat or drink anything, another advantage of an energy kitten.

As she watched, Freaky shook his paw, sending droplets of milk everywhere.

Ed slid into the booth and Samantha followed. Freaky bounded over to her.

“That cat ain’t real, is he?” Ed said.

“Real enough,” Samantha said. She looked up at Anthony, who was studying them intently. “Did they give you any trouble about having a cat in here?” Samantha asked.

“They started to, but I told them not to mess with him or they could watch him turn into a black panther.”

Samantha bit her lip. Freaky shouldn’t be able to change at his own will or even Anthony’s command. She wouldn’t tell him that, though. Besides, there was something about the little kitten that almost made her believe that he could.

“Hey, I kind of want to see that,” Ed said.

“Trust me on this one. You really don’t,” Anthony said. “So, I take it we’re all good.”

“Better than good,” Samantha said. “I figured out who’s behind all this.”

Anthony’s eyes bulged. “Wow, that was fast. You two are a good team.”

“The best,” Ed said.

“It turns out one of the coven members, Lilith Black, was away at college. She wasn’t there the night of the massacre.”

Anthony blinked. “Can you imagine coming back to the slaughter? The devastation and rage?”

“And then finding out you weren’t the last one of your coven?” Ed said. “I bet she had some questions for you about what happened.”

“But with you having been adopted and changing your name, maybe she couldn’t find you,” Anthony said.

“Whatever her motivation, or her damage, I’m sure she’s the one behind all of this,” Samantha said.

A waiter came over, interrupting the conversation.

They ordered some food, and as soon as the waiter left, they resumed their conversation.

“So, how do we find her?” Anthony asked.

“We’ve already got a plan for that,” Ed said.

“If it works,” Samantha cautioned.

They filled him in and a couple of minutes later their food arrived. Samantha picked up her burger and took a huge bite. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Ed grab a French fry off her plate, and joy filled her. He truly had forgiven her; it wasn’t just lip service, if he was back to filching food.

Freaky took note and sauntered over and began grabbing at her fries. Anthony laughed. The little kitten was clearly enjoying the attention and Samantha rolled her eyes as she rescued a fry from him.

A moment later, she froze as she felt a surge of power. There was someone outside the restaurant.

“Wait here,” she said, standing swiftly. “There’s someone outside.”

“Do you need backup?” Ed asked quickly.

“Hopefully not. Feels like one person. If I’m not back in ten minutes, though, come out and make as big a commotion as you can,” she said.

“Got it,” Anthony said intently, not even noticing as Freaky turned and began attacking his hamburger.

Samantha walked outside, wondering who would be waiting out there. Maybe it was just Nala, checking in. Samantha hadn’t exactly made herself difficult to find.

She pushed open the door and walked outside. There, leaning against the side of the building, arms folded over his chest, was the self-proclaimed Druid she’d run into before.

“So, you appear again,” she said, not bothering to hide her surprise.

“Well, you’re a rather easy witch to find,” he said.

She bit back the urge to tell him she wasn’t a witch. Time enough to clear things up once she knew who he was and why he had pulled her out of the cemetery.

“Thank you for saving my life,” she said.

“You’re welcome.”

“How come you didn’t stick around?”

“Things were getting a little busy for my taste, and crowded. Didn’t care to talk to the police,” he said.

She nodded.

“So, you seem . . . different.”

“It’s a woman’s prerogative to change.”

“Yeah, this is a bit more than your hair color, though.”

“I’m surprised you can tell.”

He shrugged. “I would have thought anyone with half a brain could.”

“So, why did you save me?”

“Let’s just say you were the lesser of two evils in that graveyard.”

She stared at him intently. “You’re lying about something.”

“Probably,” he admitted.

“Why?”

“Care to tell me how you’re so much different today?”

“Not really.”

“There you go,” he said.

“What are you doing here? Care to tell me that?”

He sized her up and after a moment gave her a faint smile. “I want you to know that you’re not alone. The witch who did that to you last night? I want her stopped, too.”

“Then why didn’t you join in the battle last night?”

“It wouldn’t have done any good. It’s going to take a lot more than either of us had to offer last night to take her down.”

“Are there others in the city who feel the same way?” Samantha asked.

“A few, but most don’t even realize why they’re here. Heck, most don’t even realize that it wasn’t their choice to come here.”

“Did you kill that waiter in the alley?” she asked, changing her line of questioning.

“No.”

She nodded. “Can you help me?”

“I can try.”

“Why do you want her stopped? And how come you’re aware of what’s going on when so many others aren’t?” she questioned.

“As it turns out, being hypersensitive to the forces that are acting on me is one of my strengths, something of a gift and a curse. When I’m at the top of my game, I can even feel ripples when people make decisions and get a sense of how they will affect me, or if they will.”

“That’s pretty impressive,” Samantha said. “I’ve actually never heard of that.”

“There are a few of us out there who can do it. It requires a level of self-awareness most people are unwilling to experience or incapable of achieving.”

“Chalk me up in the unwilling category,” she said before she could stop herself.

“When that changes for you, when you truly become comfortable in your own skin, you’re going to wield power that will amaze anyone who sees you,” he said.

“Is that a fact?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “And just how is it you know that about me?”

“Like I said, I’m sensitive to the things that are going to affect me and sometimes to the things that can potentially affect me. You are chock-f of potential to do great things, save the world. Frankly, I’m relieved. Yesterday I would have said you were chock-f of potential to destroy the world.”

“And yet you chose to help me.”

He shrugged. “Like I said, the lesser of two evils.”

“Also known as the enemy of my enemy,” she suggested.

“You could say that.”

“And why is it that you want her stopped?”

He laughed. “Seriously? She plans on killing every one of us, using us to amp her own power. And thanks to her spell, it’s not like I can leave the city. I can’t hide from her forever. And my instincts tell me that in the end, you have the best chance at stopping her. You’re connected, I think, the two of you.”

“I just found out that you’re right about that.”

He nodded, clearly not surprised.

“You seem pretty calm for a dead man walking,” she noted.

“It’s mostly an act, but when you’ve made as many hard decisions in your life as I have, you learn to get comfortable with pain and fear.”

“That doesn’t sound like much of a way to live.”

“Running from the things that frighten you isn’t much of a way to live, either,” he noted.

“Ouch,” she said.

He shrugged. “I call them as I see them.”

“Clearly.”

“So, am I right? Are you the one who’s going to put a stop to her tyranny, save the world?”

“What can I say? I will or I’ll die trying.”

“I had that impression.”

She shrugged. “Like you said, no one’s leaving this city anyway.”

He rolled his eyes. “You’re a hero. We both know it, so don’t play it down.”

“Fine. Then how about you stop dancing around? You plan on helping me, I mean, more than just dragging me out of the line of fire? Will you fight when the time comes?”

He nodded. “When the time comes I’ll stand with you.”

“Thank you, Thomas. Is that what you said your name was?”

“It’s as good a name as any.”

“Not really one to throw stones on that account,” she said.

“Great. Now you might want to get back inside. I’m getting the distinct feeling that if you don’t, someone’s about to make a decision to shoot me.”

“How can I reach you?”

“Don’t worry. I’ll find you. I’m never that far away.”

He turned and walked off.

“That isn’t very reassuring,” she said with a sigh as she turned and walked back inside.

Ed did, indeed, have his hand on his holstered gun and have a look on his face that didn’t bode well.

“Stand down—everything’s okay,” she said.

“Who was out there?” Anthony asked.

“An ally, I think. He seems to be at any rate. I know that he saved my life last night.”

“That puts him in the ally category in my book,” Ed said, taking his hand off his weapon and picking his hamburger back up.

Samantha dropped her eyes to the table. “Looks like someone’s been having fun,” she said drily.

Freaky had managed to completely disassemble Anthony’s burger, strewing the components all about the table. He had a dollop of mustard on the top of his head and he was currently rolling over and over on the lettuce with wild abandon.

Anthony looked down and grimaced. “Great. I know he’s an energy creature, but I’m not sure I want to know where those paws have been.”

Samantha bit her lip. “Maybe we should order you another burger and talk strategy some more.”

Samantha flagged down the waiter, who looked down at the table in disgust. “We’re going to need another burger here,” Samantha told him.

“The health code—”

Samantha forced her eyes to start glowing and Ed leaned forward, making sure the waiter got an eyeful of the gun he was packing. The man beat a hasty retreat.

“You know they’re never going to let us back in here,” Anthony said.

Ed shrugged. “They will if they know what’s good for them.” He glanced down at Freaky. “That little guy ever go to sleep?”

“You got to tire him out first, just like the real thing,” Samantha said.

Freaky sat down in the middle of the table and began to groom himself as if he had not a care in the world. Samantha couldn’t help laughing, especially when he kept continually missing the mustard blob on his head.

“Help a kitten out. That’s just sad,” Ed said.

Samantha reached over with her napkin and rubbed off the mustard. Freaky swiped at her napkin, but she managed to move it out of the way just in time.

The waiter finally brought Anthony’s replacement burger and he quickly snatched it off his plate before Freaky could attack it.

Samantha actually felt herself relaxing for the first time in months. It was good to have friends and share a meal and some laughter with them. It was also good to know that she had an ally out there, even if he did play his cards pretty close to the vest.

She couldn’t blame Thomas. In a town full of people like them with a crazy witch bent on killing them all, it was hard to know who to trust, especially when that same witch had the power to control and manipulate others like puppets.

“Okay, so, what’s the plan?” Ed asked as they neared the end of their meal.

“Leave no tip and get out of here as quick as we can?” Anthony quipped.

Samantha rolled her eyes. “You two should never have gotten to be friends. I can see it’s just going to complicate my life.”

“I resent that,” Ed said. “We’re not friends. We’re the two guys who are stuck looking after you.”

Anthony smirked.

“Okay, seriously, I need some sleep. I’m dead on my feet,” she admitted.

“Okay, but what about in the morning?” Ed asked.

“Thomas suggested that there might be others willing to help and that most of the community isn’t even aware of what’s going on.”

“I’ve been down here before on a couple of research tours, collecting things for the museum. I know a few people. I could make some discreet inquiries tomorrow, see who’s in the know and who’s willing to do something about it,” Anthony volunteered.

Anthony had owned a museum of the occult in Salem before it had been destroyed by witches. She remembered how frantic she had been when she thought the witches might also have killed him in the process.

“I don’t want to put you in harm’s way,” she said.

“Hello? We’re all kind of screwed until we put this witch down,” Ed said. “Let the man do his thing.”

“What about you?” Anthony asked Ed.

“I’m going to go talk with local law enforcement, say I’m working a case that seems to track back here, see if anyone knows anything whatsoever. Maybe they have a suspect for the theme park killings. Even if they don’t know Lilith, they might know someone who does.”

“Great,” Samantha said. “I’m going to spend the day trying to find her.”

“In a city full of magic users, that’s going to be hard,” Anthony commented.

“Yeah, and she’s definitely put some wards up to protect herself and her location, but there’s got to be something she hasn’t thought of that I can do to try and get a better idea where she’s hiding out. I’m positive she’s got to be in the city itself.”

“Yeah, ’cause that narrows it down so much,” Ed said sarcastically.

“It’s at least a start,” Samantha said.

“Meet up here for breakfast?” Anthony suggested.

“Let’s make it brunch. I have to get a lot of sleep and then there’re a couple things I’ll want to try and set in motion as soon as I’m up.”

“Okay, so let’s say eleven, here, to touch base. Call in if something comes up,” Ed said.

“Works,” Samantha said.

Anthony nodded in agreement.

“All right, drive her home and I’ll get the check,” Ed said.

“Are you sure?” Anthony asked.

Samantha hit him. “Don’t give him a chance to change his mind.”

The two slid out of the booth and Ed gave them a short wave as he reached for his wallet. Samantha scooped Freaky up and followed Anthony out to the car.

Exhaustion was starting to hit her hard. In the car she did all she could to fight going to sleep. Freaky was no help, curling up on her lap and beginning to snore before Anthony had even put the car in drive.

When they arrived back at the house, Anthony walked her inside. “You might want to think about relocating. I think there’re more rooms at the hotel we’re at,” he noted.

“I should move, but I don’t want to draw more attention to you and Ed,” she admitted, setting Freaky down on the floor. He headed off upstairs, clearly ready for bed.

“I get that, but we can also watch out for one another easier.”

She didn’t want to tell him that it felt too much like putting all their eggs in one basket.

She put her arms around him. “Thank you for coming to rescue me,” she whispered.

“Not a problem,” he said, rubbing her back.

It felt so good to have him hold her. She had been alone for so long, truly alone the last several months. And even before that, really, if she was honest with herself.

“You want to hear something weird?” she said, her words muffled against his shoulder.

“Always.”

“You’re the closest thing I’ve ever had to a real boyfriend,” she admitted.

His arms tightened around her. “Really?” he asked.

“Yeah. Isn’t that strange?”

“No. You don’t let people in easily.”

She pulled away so she could see his expression, full of tenderness and understanding.

“Let me guess,” she said, her breath catching in her throat. “You’re in the same boat?”

“Obsessed with finding and destroying my mother’s killer is surprisingly a turnoff as a pickup line.”

“Doesn’t work so well on those online dating profiles, either, I’m guessing,” she joked.

“Surprisingly, no. I mean, sure, you’ve got the odd nut job volunteering to be said killer, or your mother, not sure which is actually creepier, but not so much anyone you’d ever want to meet.”

“We are two peas in a pod,” she said with a tired smile.

“Careful, you might be close to admitting you actually like me,” he teased.

She smiled. “In the interest of full disclosure, I think I do like you.”

“Imagine that. Well, if we’re being that honest with each other, I think I like you, too.”

For just a moment Samantha felt as if she were living someone else’s life, someone who could have a life with a boyfriend and romance and time to just stare into each other’s eyes without worrying about killer witches and an entire town full of people at risk of being destroyed. She had to admit it felt good.