by Rachel James
Brianna’s head shot up. Banish!?
“Mother, I . . .”
Her mother held up her hand.
“The vote has been decided, and it cannot be undone. You must leave the coven.”
Devlin hopped to his feet.
“It’s my fault, Mrs. Sage. I knew what Brianna was set on doing and I didn’t stop her. In fact, I helped her construct the circle. If anyone needs to be banished from the coven, it’s me.”
Her words were clipped.
“You are being banished.” Shocked, Devlin fell back in his chair, listening to her further recriminations. “Your behavior in all this has been disappointing . . . reprehensible, really. The Council is in agreement that you can no longer be trusted. You will pack your suitcases and leave the coven immediately.” Her gaze darted back to Brianna, and for the first time, her voice broke miserably. “Your father and I l-l-love you very much, and we shall always wonder where you are and what you’re doing. Though we will be forever apart, we will send our loving thoughts to you, and pray for you each and every d-d-day.” She broke off speaking, seeking a hankie from her skirt pocket, and blowing her nose with it. Composing herself, she gave Brianna one final glance. “Blessed be, dear.” She whirled around, and then unable to stop herself, she re-whirled and met Brianna as she hopped from her chair and flung herself into her mother’s arms.
“I love you, Mother,” she bawled. “I love you!” Her sobs shattered the room and, hearing them, her father encased her and her mother in a tight bear hug. Brianna’s face tucked into his chest. “I love you, Papa.”
“And I you, daughter. Blessed be!”
The pair released Brianna and then joined the somber group waiting at the door. En masse, they exited the room, leaving an anguished silence behind them. Bereft, Brianna backed up and dropped into a chair, losing herself to a dark despair.
Beside her, Devlin stirred.
“We’ll go together. I’ll get a job; I’ll protect you . . .”
Appalled by his words, Brianna sprang to her feet and rounded on him.
“Leave together?! I’d rather eat a bag of dirt than go anywhere with you!”
He ignored her insult.
“Your parents will marry us. I’m eighteen, you’re seventeen . . .”
Revolted by such a horrid thought, she responded sharply.
“Marry you?! I wouldn’t marry you if you were the only man left on Earth! I’d rather rot in hell! No,” she railed, “I’d rather you rot in hell!”
She whirled on her toes, determined to put as much distance between her and Devlin. Marry him? Not if her life depended on it! Skirting the open doorway, she marched down the hallway. Get married and spend the rest of her life with Devlin. He was a slime ball for even suggesting such a thing.
CHAPTER ONE
PRESENT DAY—WASHINGTON D.C.
Hacking coughs split the air, followed by a series of raspy moans. A second later, a loud sneeze bounced off the green walls of the room. Fumbling in her jacket pocket, Brianna pulled a tissue out, and swiped her runny nose. This cold was getting the best of her, and she wished with every fiber of her being that her spirit guides would whisk her away to some tropical island where they never heard of burning lungs and clogged nasal passages.
She dropped her forehead to the desk, and gave into a second set of coughs. If she ever learned who had given her this nasty virus, she would place a curse on their head that couldn’t be reversed. Her office door creaked and Brianna realized her assistant, Janet, was responding to her lacerated coughs. She took a deep breath, willing herself to shore up her energy. A strange rattling in her lungs made her clutch her chest again, and all thoughts of making conversation fled into a graveyard of dead sentences. She hated being sick. It was a tremendous drain on her system. And to make matters worse, she was becoming light-headed. If she didn’t know better, she’d think something bad was in the wind.
“That cough could use a little Wiccan magic, blue eyes.”
The voice was raspy and deep, and Brianna’s head snapped up at the statement. She studied the chubby figure crossing the door frame, and voiced her surprise.
“Good heavens, Tommy, who told you I was sick?”
“I have my sources.” He approached her desk, studying her cracked lips and ruby-red nose. “I warned you not to travel at this time of year. Perhaps now, you’ll listen to me.” Her laugh turned into spastic coughs, as Tommy dropped into a chair across the desk from her. He plopped his briefcase on the edge of her desk, and slid back in his chair. “Well, let’s get to the point while you still have breath to speak with. Do we have a deal or not?”
Brianna dabbed at her dripping nose.
“Not—and he wouldn’t say why, damn him!”
“Probably doesn’t like doing business with witches.” Tommy teased.
Brianna frowned at his words.
“Don’t make me sorry I told you about my background when we became partners, Tommy. And for your information, the coven I grew up in frowns on using magic to manipulate people for one’s personal gain.”
“Too bad. You could use a magical make-over right now. Your hair is a mess, your mascara is flaking, and your tall frame is hunched over like Quasimodo.”
Brianna raised a hand to her hair, brushing a stray tendril behind her ear.
“Don’t be shy, Tommy. Tell me what you really think.”
“Don’t make jokes. When you’re unwell, I take it very seriously.”
“That’s because I’m rarely ill.” She stifled a pressing sniffle, and tossed her tissue into the trash can under her desk. A light chuckle sounded as Tommy crossed his legs, and fidgeted with the seam of his trousers.
“I warned you to take your time with this buyout. There is no hurry to liquidate all of your assets at once just because you’ve decided to make major changes in your lifestyle. Hurried choices can be disastrous, you know.”
Hearing his words, Brianna shivered. A moment later, the air around her head stirred, and she glanced up. There it was again—the feeling that something was brewing in the wind. Was spirit attempting to warn her she should be on her guard? Or was she being warned it was much too late to worry? She heard the loud mewl of a cat’s cry in her ears, and drew in her breath. There. That disturbance was definitely a ripple of something sinister. Where had the cry come from? Janet’s office?
Strong hands gripped her fingers, startling her.
“Here now, what’s wrong? You’ve gone completely white.”
“Did you hear it?” Brianna queried.
“Hear what?”
“A cat crying. It sounds hungry—or in pain.”
“I didn’t hear anything. Are you sure you heard a cat?”
“I heard a cat, dammit!”
A hand waved in front of her face.
“Hey, don’t bite my head off. I’m no warlock with super-sonic hearing, you know.”
Brianna grimaced, clutching his hand.
“Don’t humor me, Tommy. I have a feeling something’s wrong.”
His expression turned serious.
“I’ll have Janet call maintenance to check the nearby offices.”
He sprang from his chair and exited the room, leaving Brianna to bite her lip in frustration. Why had she snapped at Tommy? He was her best friend, and his friendship meant everything to her. Besides, cat cries just didn’t dance on the wind, no matter how real they sounded. She was ill, and the cries were just figments of her sick body.
Tossing back her shoulders, she made a face at the painting on her wall. She may have heard a cat crying, but without knowing the source, there wasn’t a thing she could do about it. She felt a light touch on the side of her cheek, and jumped.
“You’re spicy hot,” Tommy stated. “That’s not a good sign. Fevers often cause hallucinations.”
“I am not hallucinating, Tommy, I heard a cat . . . no, don’t say anymore. I know it sounds crazy.”
“Damned crazy,” he muttered.
“Well, i
t wouldn’t be the first time I’ve been called crazy, so sit down, and stop worrying about me.”
“I can’t help it. You’re the most rational person I know—next to me—and if you’re hearing cats that aren’t there, there is great cause for worry.”
“It’s more than being sick, Tommy.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
“It means that I have this feeling of dread that I can’t shake—as if someone has just died.”
Tommy angled around the desk, and retook his former seat.
“You’re on overload—too much work, and too little sleep, and for what? Why are you pushing things at such a breakneck speed?”
Brianna didn’t answer right away. She could tell Tommy the truth—that she had been feeling a disturbance somewhere in the fabric of time for months, and was worried by it. He would understand her fears. After all, they had no secrets from one another. He might be a man of art and science, but he had added the power of magic to his vocabulary since meeting her.
Still, she didn’t want to involve him in her childish fears unless she had to. If only she didn’t sense that the disturbance concerned him in some way. She could feel it pulling both of them towards the past, instead of the future. And worse, she felt herself being dragged back—towards old relationships that she had vowed to keep buried forever. Besides, she shouldn’t be able to gauge energy levels anymore. Yet, she could feel the energy in the room around her as if she had conjured up a cone of power, complete with the Guardians of the Watch Tower. No, she stopped her thoughts. She had no intention of revisiting that kind of pain ever again. Not for anyone. She gave a tired sigh.
“Have you ever made a decision you wish you could take back, Tommy?”
“Only every time I sit across the bargaining table with you.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.” He heard her sigh again, and threw out his hand. “Okay. Are we talking a complete do-over here? Or just a small, magical tweaking?”
“I’m talking a total re-do, a chance to relive a moment over again, and make a different decision.”
“My God, woman, you own two foundations and a wildlife habitat. What else do you want?”
“Mind-blowing sex would be nice.”
She heard a busted chuckle.
“Surely you can conjure up a willing partner with some simple romance spell you know.” He saw her frown and held up a finger. “None of that matters now. What matters is your damn decision to alter your life.”
“Don’t get me wrong.” Brianna stated. “I am genuinely proud of what I’ve accomplished with the foundations. But somewhere along the way, the dream became so twisted that it no longer resembles the dream I started out with. Now, I just want to find my roots again and start over—preferably with a quiet, respectful man who loves children.”
Tommy scooted his chair forward, and then settled back.
“You need a strong-willed husband, blue eyes. Any other kind, and you’d run rough-shod over him.” He switched thoughts rapidly. “Now that you’re revamping your life with mind-blowing sex instead of business, I guess a merger of Sage Industries is out of the question, huh?”
“I haven’t sunk that low yet.” Brianna snatched a tissue from its holder and blew her nose. “Well, you’ve heard my bad news; how did it go in Texas?”
“Damn charlatans. They let me fly all the way out there, and then just as we hit the bargaining table, they sent word they were passing on the buyout.”
“Did they give a reason?”
“They said they’re looking to liquidate their holdings, not acquire more.”
“It was a good deal, Tommy.”
“For you, it was. But let’s face facts. Big corporations bypass great deals all the time. It’s not personal. It’s just business. We’ll find another buyer. D.J. Corp isn’t the only game in town.”
“No, but he’s the best. His projects are always environmentally sound. He doesn’t drill the hell out of the land or the sea, and his wildlife habitat in Wyoming has an ecosystem to die for.”
Another sigh emanated.
“I did my best in Texas, Brianna. I hope you believe that.”
Brianna gave a matching sigh.
“I know you did your best.” She squared her shoulders. “Let’s start making phone queries again. Perhaps D.J. could recommend another corporation that might serve as well. What do you think?”
“I’ll call Jake Rogers and find out.” He reached in his coat pocket and withdrew his Blackberry. He began making notes on the pad, and Brianna took a moment to study her calendar.
A second later, the phone jangled on the desk, startling them both. Annoyed, Brianna snatched up the receiver, and held it to her ear.
“What is it, Janet?”
“Brianna?”
The voice was low and unfamiliar, and Brianna tucked the receiver closer to her ear.
“Who’s this? Can you speak up? The connection’s bad.”
The voice came online again, steady and loud this time.
“Brianna?
Her pulse skittered.
“Papa?” She clutched the front of her blouse. “Am I dreaming your voice? How in the world did you find me?”
“I’ve always known where you were, Brianna—right from the day you left my side. I’ve followed your career closely over the years, too. I’m extremely proud of who you’ve become.”
Brianna’s chest tightened. Déjà vu, Brianna, her inner voice nudged, déjà vu.
“What’s wrong, Papa? Why are you calling?”
“There’s been an accident.”
Brianna squeezed the front of her blouse, his words freezing her brain. Sudden tears welled up, followed by another heaviness centered in her heart.
“Its mother, isn’t it? I felt something in the wind—a hint of something bad. How s-serious is it?” she asked.
“Very serious. The entire congregation has fallen ill.”
“Good heavens! What from? Have you determined the cause?”
“Our best guess is a busted ritual.”
A shadow of alarm touched Brianna’s face, and a warning voice whispered in her head again. Déja vu, Brianna, déja vu. To her dismay, her voice broke slightly.
“And m-mother?”
“She’s gravely ill. I don’t think she’s going to make it. That’s why I’m calling.”
Brianna bit her lip to control a sob.
“Can she be moved to a critical care unit in Tucson for treatment?”
“No. She collapsed while performing a ritual, and until we determine what occurred prior to her collapse, we can’t let outsiders get involved. We attempted to intercede on her behalf, and well, I don’t need to tell you what can happen when an intercession fails.”
Brianna’s eyes bordered with tears again.
“You must call 9-1-1 immediately. Mother needs to be airlifted as soon as possible. I can meet you in Tucson some time tomorrow afternoon.” She glanced at her calendar. “I can catch the red-eye flight out tonight.”
A weary sigh emanated in her ear.
“That won’t do, Brianna. I’m suffering from the energy sickness, along with the members. I am unable to travel at the moment.”
Brianna heard a raspy cough and winced.
“You must let me come home, Papa. I can help.”
“I wish you could, but when you left, all ties to the coven were broken.”
An unexpected surge of anger had Brianna lashing out.
“That was fifteen years ago. It has no bearing on this incident. I have read the Book of Shadows, and I know what’s written in terms of who succeeds whom in a crisis. There’s no doubt in my mind, I have to come home and assess the situation.”
Her father’s cough came through the line again.
“It took a long time to put the Dark Time behind us, Brianna. Please don’t make a mockery of our laws by going against them again. I only called you . . . in case this is goodbye.”
Silence descended on t
he other end of the line, and Brianna suppressed a sob.
“Papa . . .”
The line went dead, and Brianna’s hand shot to her mouth. He had hung up on her. Her hand suddenly fell away. It was clear the Dark Time had descended again without warning, and this time, her mother’s essence had taken the hit. She replaced the receiver slowly, wishing she could replay her father’s words in slow motion. Her mother had been performing a ritual when it tanked. No, her mother didn’t make mistakes like that. Then what? A clever attempt at murder? Her inner voice threw up. She shunned the thought, but then thought better of it. Why would the Elders attempt to alter a ritual if they didn’t suspect foul play?
She banished that thought, too. She wasn’t going to start suspecting that a sinner had entered the clearing and attacked her mother. Her mother’s collapse had been an accident caused by spirit, and her father had let the Council try to reverse the outcome—with disastrous results. What had made him do such a foolish thing? She wouldn’t know until she asked him in person. Or saw her mother.
Snatching up the phone again, she punched in Janet’s extension.
“Ready for the next dose of Nyquil?” Janet teased.
“No, I need you to call the airport and book the earliest flight to Tucson for me. And book a rental car.”
“Will do.” The line went dead and Brianna replaced the receiver.
“Do you want me to fly home with you?”
Brianna glanced up, suddenly remembering she wasn’t alone in the room. She covered her mouth with shaking fingers.
“Thank you, Tommy, but no. You’ve got to stay here and find a buyer for my company. It’s more important than ever now. I’ll sign the power of attorney over to you before I leave.”
He leaned forward in his chair.
“Are you sure this is what you want to do?”
Her voice drifted to a whisper.
“I’ll conjure a protection spell for the pilot and passengers before we take off,” she replied.
“That’s not what I meant, and you know it. We’re talking about you walking back into the lion’s den when you’ve vowed to never go into the den again. Bad blood doesn’t dissipate over the years, you know; sometimes it just hibernates.”