Silent Circle

by Cassandra Larsen

  He turns away from me to look at his reflection, forcing me to step back.

  “You did a good job.” I beam under his praise. “Now we need to get to the office before Mr. Davidson comes looking for us.”

  “I really am sorry about this, Caiden.”

  He turns to face me again. “This wasn’t your fault.”

  “I know, but you were just trying to help me. You didn’t deserve to get dragged into my mess... I feel terrible. What if you get suspended?”

  He smiles at me, his cut lip giving him a sexy, roguish look. “Well, I knew you’d ruin my reputation sooner or later.”

  We get to the office just as Sebastian is leaving it. The glower he gives us has me backing up until Caiden places a hand on my lower back. Sebastian’s eyes flash at this and he looks like he might explode again, but luckily Josh comes out and drags him away.

  When we’re called in, I let Caiden do most of the talking. Davidson eyes me suspiciously, but doesn’t challenge Caiden’s story. He lets us off with detention next week.

  By the time we leave the office, English is already ending. Caiden walks me to my last class of the day, Chemistry, and tells me he’ll pick me up for the circle after school. I stare after him as he walks away, unable to take my eyes off him.

  By now, word of the fight has spread all over the school. But the gossip and taunts don’t faze me. I’m too preoccupied with daydreaming about the scene in the bathroom. I imagine what it would have felt like to press myself into Caiden a little harder... to grab a hold of his dark hair and force his mouth to meet mine... to run my hands up his strong back and shoulders…

  I drift through the rest of class, my imagination getting more and more wild. I rush to my car as soon as the bell rings, anxious to see Caiden again.

  Chapter 2

  When I get home, I dash upstairs to brush out my hair and touch up my makeup, adding a few purple dabs of eye shadow to bring out my irises. I debate changing into a different outfit, but before I can decide what else to wear, I feel Caiden pull up. I don’t know how I can tell it’s him, but a heated energy fills me and I just know. I practically sprint down the stairs, hopping into his car in record time.

  “Hi,” I say breathlessly.

  My skin feels too tight; my whole body is on fire.

  Caiden stares at me warily, appearing uncomfortable. I can’t help myself, I lean forward. I need to get closer to him.

  “Emerson, stop.” Caiden puts a hand out to keep me in my seat.

  “What’s wrong?” My voice is soft, seductive. I shift myself forward again, leaning into his hand.

  “No, Emerson.” He drops his hand away from me. My chest feels cold now. I want him to put his hand back on me.

  “This isn’t going to happen. Me and you, I mean,” he says more forcibly. “Snap out of it.”

  “Snap out of what?”

  I’m having trouble focusing on what he’s saying. My eyes caress the hard planes of his chest, the way his jeans hug his thighs... I reach out and put my hand on his knee, sliding it upwards. He jumps like he’s been burned and grabs my wrist to halt it.

  “Goddamnit, Emerson! Listen to me – This isn’t you. You don’t want this.”

  “You have no idea what I want.” I give him my sexiest smile, squeezing his thigh to drive home my point. I lean in and bite him right where his shoulder meets him throat, flicking my tongue out to taste him.

  He gives a slight groan, but pushes me off him, removing my hand.

  “You remember earlier, at lunch today? You were upset and I told you I could calm you down? That’s what you’re feeling right now. You don’t want me. It’s just my energy still buzzing around in your system.”

  “I don’t understand... Are you saying you don’t want me?” I pout at him and bat my lashes. Deep inside my foggy brain, I know this isn’t like me. I try to fight through the cobwebs in my mind.

  Caiden gives a pained laugh. “I don’t know a man alive who wouldn’t want you. But it’s still not going to happen. We’re friends, Emerson. And we’re going to keep it that way.”

  “But...”

  “No. I was hoping it would have faded from you by now, but when you healed me so soon afterward, it must have intensified the effect...”

  I shake my head slowly, trying to snap out of it. “You think that what I’m feeling right now is just a part of the spell you did on me?”

  “Yes. Don’t worry, it’ll go away.” He lowers his head so I can’t see his expression. “I didn’t mean for it to have this strong of an effect on you. I just meant to distract you from him long enough to calm you down. I’m sorry.”

  I focus my energy on wiping the rest of the fuzziness from my brain. I close my eyes and picture a bright white light burning through me, burning away the thin filaments. After a few minutes of concentration, I feel a bit more clear headed.

  I study Caiden’s bent head, admiring his strong profile. He’s still attractive, but I no longer feel that overwhelming urge to crawl on top of him.

  On the heels of that thought, humiliation creeps in, sure and strong. I just threw myself at a guy, at Caiden, and he rejected me. My cheeks burn and resentment surges up.

  But as I examine Caiden’s face, the shame and guilt written all over it, some of my pique drains away. He looks so miserable that I can’t help but feel sorry for him. All he’s done this past week is to try and help me. It’s not his fault I threw myself at him. I’m still embarrassed, but I decide to play it off like it’s no big deal.

  “Damn,” I say playfully, trying to keep my voice steady despite my still pounding heart. “With that trick up your sleeve, you could have any girl you want.”

  “It’s not funny.”

  “It’s a little funny...” I answer, trying to lighten his mood.

  “I don’t like messing with other people’s minds.” I wince at the self-hatred lacing his voice.

  I touch his shoulder to get his attention but he flinches away. “It’s alright Caiden; I’m not trying to jump your bones anymore. Just look at me.” I force a small smile to my lips. “I asked for you to mess with my mind, remember? If you hadn’t, I would have humiliated myself in front of the whole school. Instead, I only embarrassed myself in front of you. It was a fair trade, if you ask me.” I try to get him to smile, but his face remains carefully blank.

  Humor isn’t working, so I change tactics and go with bluntness.

  “You helped me when I asked you to, so stop beating yourself up about it. Sebastian did enough of that for the both of you.” I aim at his male pride, expecting to anger him, but his expression doesn’t change. He just turns away from me and starts the car.

  Caiden remains distant the entire way to Caroline’s. I don’t know what to say to break him out of his funk, so I give up and let the silence drag out.

  When we pull up to the house, the sun is just setting. I look out the window, biting my lip, suddenly nervous. I’m about to walk into a room full of witches. I don’t know what to expect, and Caiden’s aloofness right now isn’t helping.

  He leads the way up to the door and enters without knocking. All the lights are off, but a gentle glow envelopes us. The furniture in the living room has all been pushed off to the side, leaving the center clear. A low fire smolders and candles are set up around the room, casting soft shadows over the group.

  There are twenty or so people crammed into the small room – more than I expected. Among them are some familiar faces: Ethan, Arianna, and Lydia are standing together off near the kitchen.

  Arianna’s light brown hair shimmers in the flickering candlelight, her round face lighting up with a smile when she spots us. Lydia looks over as well, but her expression is less enthusiastic. She’s taller than Arianna by almost a full head, her slender body in direct contrast to Arianna’s curvier one. Ethan, Lydia’s cousin, has his arm draped across Arianna’s shoulders, his hair the exact same honey blond as Lydia’s.

  Standing with them is the very last person I’d expect
to see in a house full of witches. Landon looks up sharply, meeting my surprised gaze with a fierce one of his own, his golden hair sweeping across his brow, partially obscuring his eyes.

  Landon’s a witch? Sarah’s boyfriend, Mr. Football Star himself? I couldn’t have been more shocked if Davidson suddenly strolled in sporting a pointy black hat and green face paint. As it is, Mr. Mirowski, my chemistry teacher, standing across the room dressed casually in jeans and a flannel shirt, is enough to unsettle me. I feel like I’ve just entered the twilight zone.

  Caiden, oblivious to my discomfort, walks right up to Lydia’s group, not even glancing in my direction.

  I weigh Landon’s animosity towards me against the awkwardness of standing in the middle of the room by myself, and decide to follow Caiden.

  Lydia smiles shyly at me, but there’s something in the set of her mouth that makes me believe she’s not terribly happy to see me. After one malevolent look, Landon turns his head away and pretends I don’t exist. I suppose I deserve this, after almost killing his girlfriend, but it still chafes. Standing next to him, Arianna and Ethan at least try to put me at ease, including me in the conversation.

  At our small school, everyone knows everyone else, but I’ve never actually talked to either of them, even though Arianna and I have History together. We run in very different circles. But as I stand here making meaningless small talk with them, I feel myself loosening up.

  “You probably expected us all to be wearing long dark robes and fancy masks or something, right?” Arianna grins at me, gently poking fun at my awed expression. “Don’t worry, that doesn’t happen until Halloween.”

  Trying to appear less like a gawking imbecile, I give her an exaggerated pout. “You wear robes for Halloween? Does that mean I don’t get to dance around naked under the full moon?”

  Ethan looks down, fighting a smile, and Caiden glances at me for the first time since walking in.

  Arianna laughs. “Oh, some of us dance naked alright, but that’s only after a few cauldrons of Ethan’s special witch’s brew.” She playfully nudges him with her shoulder. “What do you put in that, anyway? Battery acid?”

  “Pickled toad,” he replies, deadpan.

  I smile at them, surprised to be enjoying myself. Then Caroline walks to the center of the room, ready to begin.

  “Welcome everyone; I’m glad most of us could make it. As you all know, we have a new addition joining our ranks tonight. Emerson, would you please step over here for me?”

  I walk up to her, my shoulders thrown back with more confidence than I feel.

  “Now, many of you may remember her mother from years ago.”

  I glance at Caroline sharply. Surely she isn’t going to discuss my mom’s death with everyone watching on. She wouldn’t be that cruel, would she? Noticing my scowl, she smiles gently at me, her voice ringing out around the room.

  “Elizabeth was a strong witch, and her daughter will be stronger yet. At long last, she has been awakened, and we will welcome her into our fold. She is meant for miraculous things.”

  At this, the coven members standing in a ring around us step forward one by one to welcome me. They each rest their hands on my shoulders and kiss my right cheek, before stepping back for the next person. Many of them have friendly smiles for me, but there are plenty of others whose expressions range from uninterested to distrustful. Some even glare openly at me, Landon among them.

  When it’s his turn, he takes my shoulders in a bruising grip while he touches his cheek to my own. *You’d better watch yourself.*

  I’m startled by the rage in his voice. Apparently he knows about my telepathic abilities. He smiles at me, baring his teeth.

  I react without thinking, letting my temper slip its leash just a little. He jolts away from me like he’s been electrocuted. His shocked expression helps to smooth the worst of my ire, and he moves away from me quickly.

  Arianna is next, and whispers, “Welcome to the club” as she hugs me.

  Caiden walks up after her, his black eye and split lip just barely visible in the dim light. My palms begin to sweat and my heart rate picks up. His warm hands envelope my upper arms as I breathe in his sharp, spicy scent. His cheek brushes against mine, his soft lips just grazing my skin. Then he steps back, the heat from his hands fading rapidly.

  After everyone greets me, we all fall back into a loose circle. I almost begin to relax, the flickering candlelight and sandalwood incense soothing the worst of my nerves, until Caroline’s voice breaks the serene atmosphere.

  “What happened to Elizabeth three years ago was a tragedy. One that I will not allow to be repeated. Our coven needs to stay strong, now more than ever. Samhain is almost upon us. A time for us to reflect on those who went before us, and to protect those within our circle now.”

  She takes the hands of Mirowski and an older, brunette woman to her left.

  “Let us join hands.”

  Caiden grasps my left hand, Arianna my right. I’m glad I’m not next to Landon. He continues to flick angry glances at me from his place a few people over.

  Caroline begins walking us counterclockwise around the living room, her voice calling out:

  “Morrigan, Great Queen of the battlefield,

  Your warriors are here for you to wield.”

  Twenty voices merge, repeating this. I join in with the rest, confused, but moving around and around in the circle, following along with the others.

  “Protect us this night and in our darkest hour,

  Grant us your strength, your might, your power.

  Morrigan, Morrigan, Lady of Prophecy,

  Safeguard your children, guide us to victory.

  Slay our enemies where they sleep,

  Exterminate them, leave none to weep.

  Protect us and keep us in the palm of your hand,

  Lady of the Dark, we are yours to command.”

  We repeat every line after Caroline, chanting it over and over again, our voices growing louder, our movements around the circle faster and faster. The words, at first disturbing, begin to lose their meaning as I focus on the sound of the invocation, the rise and fall of the voices around me. I get lost is the rhythmic chanting, the warm glow of candlelight, the scent of sandalwood surrounding us.

  A pressure begins building behind my eyes, the room before me wavering like a heat mirage. A faint white light appears, emanating from our circle, glowing brighter. The pressure intensifies, spreading down to my chest, getting stronger and stronger the faster we rotate, until finally, it becomes too much to bear.

  Everyone comes to a halt at the same time, throwing their arms out from their bodies. The light flares bright for a moment, temporarily blinding me before spiraling up into the center of the circle, then extinguishing along with all the candles.

  I stand there for a moment, catching my breath, my hair sticking to the back of my damp neck. The low fire glows dimly in the otherwise dark room.

  Caroline steps back into the center, looking just as winded as the rest of us, a wild excitement shining in her eyes. “The circle is open but never broken. Merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.”

  Everyone repeats this final line before breaking apart to bring cushions and pillows out for the group to sit on. As I follow Arianna and the others to the side of the room, I think about the words of the ritual. Slay our enemies where they sleep, Exterminate them all, leave none to weep...

  *Caroline wants to talk to us once everyone leaves.* Caiden’s worried voice sounds in my mind.

  My heart leaps into my throat. Has the pack found us already?

  Acknowledgments

  I would like to thank my husband for all of his support and encouragement, my beta readers, Nikki, Danielle, and Phil, for reading and critiquing the early drafts of my novel, Kat Squibb Photography, for her amazing cover art, and all my friends and family for their love and support.

  About the Author

  Cassandra Larsen graduated from The College of New Jersey with a degree i
n English Education. An avid reader of urban fantasy and paranormal romance, she has been dreaming up stories from a very early age. Silent Circle is her first novel. She lives near Baltimore with her husband and newborn son, and is at work on the sequel, Deceitful Circle.

  For all the latest news and updates, visit her webpage at http://cassandralarsen.blogspot.com/ or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/CassandraLarsenBooks