Night World : Spellbinder Chapter 8

A sharp, acrid scent assaulted her nostrils. She had to blink a port tears as she held the bottle over the kick up and very carefully tipped it.One drop, two drops, three.The fire flared, intense blue.It was ready. The balefire that was the tot wholey agency to get a ticker from the otherwisewise side-apart from crossing the veil and fetching it h mature upward yourself.Thea took Phoebes amulet in both(prenominal) hands and snapped it, cracking the clay and breaking the seal. so, holding the wiped out(p) amulet over the fire, she give tongue to the talking to of power shed hear the elders speaking lastly Samhain.May I be given the Power of the Words of Hecate.Instantly, she set up words coming to her, rolling off her tongue. She heard them as if it were some(prenominal) body else intercourseing.From beyond the veil I send for you back Through the befog of years I c each you back From the airy void I deal you back Through the narrow path I call you back To the he art of the flame I call you back issue forth speedily, conveniently, and without delayShe felt a rumbling vibration exchangeable an temblor rock the floor. Above the ordinary fire different flames square upmed to burn cold, religious flames that were pale blue and violet and rose to lick at her knuckles.She started to clear-cut her hands, to let the amulet fall into the magical flame. notwithstanding retributive as she was about to do it, on that point was a bang.The door to her bedroom swung open, and for the sp illumine spot time in twelve hours she found herself horrified to see Blaise.The entirely place is shaking-what are you doing?Blaise-just stay backBlaise stared. Her jaw dropped and she lunged forward. What are you doing?Its intimately finished-Youre crazy Blaise grabbed at the amulet in Theas hands, and then, when Thea snatched her hands back, at the smooth-spoken box.Leave it al ane Thea grabbed the other side of the box. They were struggling with it, each nerve-racking to pull it from the other. Fire scorched Theas hands.Let go Blaise shouted, attempt to crease the box away. Im warning you-Theas fingerbreadths breadths were damp with sweat. The box slipped.That was when it happened.The silver box flipped in Blaises hands, sending a spray of amulets perpetuallyywhere. Locks of gray whisker, black hair, red hair, all f fictionalization. Most of them hit the floor- nevertheless superstar landed directly in the balefire.Thea heard a crack as the clay seal broke.For integrity second she was frozen, then she plunged her hand into the fire. But the clay was already burning-not red hot, but white hot. She couldnt close her fingers just about it. For just an instant she seemed to see a symbol etched in blue flames, and then a flash lamp care sheet lightning exploded from the fire. It knocked her into Blaises bed and Blaise into the wall.The lightning formed a chromatography column and something shot out.Thea didnt so much see it a s sense it. A wraith shape that tore around the room standardised a blast of arctic wind. It sent books and articles of clothing flying. When it reached the window, it seemed to pause for an instant, as if concourse itself, and then it shot through as if the glass didnt exist.It was gone.Great bring forth of life, Blaise whispered from against the wall. She was staring at the window with huge luminous eyes-and she was scared. Blaise was scared.That was when Thea neck how liberal things were.What have we done? she whispered.What have we done-what have you done, thats the question, Blaise snapped, sitting up and looking more like her ordinary self. What was that thing?Defensively, Thea gestured at the fragmented amulets. What do you esteem? A magnetise. ,But who?How should I k straightaway? Thea some yelled, fear giving way to anger. This is the one I was going to call back. She snatched up the auburn hair and cracked amulet of Phoebe Garner. That one was just whichever one fell out when you grabbed the box.Dont try to make this my defacement. Youre the one doing forbidden plays. Youre the one summoning ancestors. And whatever happens with that one- Blaise pointed at the window-youre the one responsible.She got up and shook out her hair, rest tall. And thats what you get for trying to coiffe the spirits on me She turned and stalked out the door.I wasnt trying to sic the spirits on you Thea shouted-but the door had already slammed shut.Theas anger collapsed. view numb, she looked at the overturned silver box, where she had temporarily stored the tissue with Erics blood.I was just trying to find a protector for him. Somebody whod table service him brook off your spells, whod understand that hes a person even though hes a human.She looked forlornly around the room. Then, haveing older than gran, she struggled to her feet and started mechanically cleaning up the mess.When she dumped the ashes out of the scene of action sh e found some sort of residue gummy to the bottom. She couldnt wash it off and she couldnt pry it offwith a steak knife. She stashed the entire bowl under her bed.All the while she cleaned, her mind kept churning.Who got out? No way to cognize. Process of elimination wouldnt help, not with all those unmarked amulets.What to do now? She didnt have it off that either.If I testify anyone-even grandma-theyll command to know wherefore I was trying to summon the deadened. But if they find out the truth, it performer death for me and Eric.Around sunset, a limousine pulled up in the back alley. Thea saw it from her window and rushed downstairs in alarm.Grandma was creation helped out of the car by two politely expressionless vampires. Servants of Thierrys.Gran, what happened? zilch happened. I had a little weak spell, thats all She whacked at one of the vampires with her rousee. I keister help myself, sonMaam, said the vampire-who exponent have been three or four times Grandmas age. To Thea, he said, Your naan fainted-she was pretty sick there for a while.And that goodish-for-nothing apprentice of mine never showed up, Gran said, making her way to the back door.Thea nodded good-bye to the vampires. Gran-it was my fault about Tobias. I let him have the day off. Her stomach, which had been clenched like a fist all day, seemed to draw even tighter now. Are you rattling sick?Im good for a fewer years yet. She began laboriously working her way up the stairs. Vampires just dont understand old age.What did you go there for?Gran chequeped to cough. None of your business, but I had to settle some arrangements with Thierry. Hes agreed to let the Inner Circle use his land on Samhain.Upstairs, Thea made some herb tea in the tiny kitchenette. And then, when Gran was in bed with the tea, she gathered her courage.Gran, when the elders call up the spirits on Samhain-how do they send them back? wherefore should you want to know? Gran said crossly. But when Thea just looked at her, she went on. There are accredited spells that are used for summoning-and dont you ask me what they are-and you say those backwards to send them back. The enchantress who calls a spirit has to be the one to dismiss it.So simply I can do it. And thats all? Thea asked.Oh, of course not. Its a dogged process of changeling the fire and strewing the herbs-but if you do it all right, you can draw the spirit down from between the standing stones and send it back where it came from. Grandma went on muttering, but Thea had snagged on a earlier phrase.From between-the standing stones ? she got out.The standing stones that encircle the spirits. Well, debate, Thea If you didnt have a circle of some variant to hold them in, theyd just-voom. Gran made a gesture. Theyd zip out and how would you ever find them again? Thats why I went to Thierry today/ she added, taking a noisy sip of tea. We need a place where the sandstone forms a inwrought circle and naturally its up to me to arrange everything. She went on grumbling softly.Thea felt faint.You have to be-physically close to them-to send them back?Of course. You have to be in spite of appearance spitting distance, And dont think I dont know why youre asking.Thea stopped breathing.Youre plan something for Samhain- and its probably all Blaises idea. You two are like Maya and Hellewise. But you can forget about it right now- those spells are for the elders, not for girls. She stopped to cough. I dont understand why you want to be crones before youre done being maidens. You ought to enjoy your youth while you have it.Thea left her still grumbling.She hadnt cast any pleasing of a circle before calling the spirit. She hadnt realize she was supposed to.And now how could she ever get close enough to the spirit to send it back?Well-itll just have to stay out in the world, she told herself bravely. Too bad but its not as if there arent other spirits floating around out there. possibly if it doesnt like roa ming around, itll get on with back.But she was sick with guilt and disheartened. Not to mention worried-if only a little-about Grans fainting spell.Blaise didnt come to bed. She stayed downstairs and worked on her necklace long into the night.On Monday, everyone at instruct was talking about Randy Marik and the ruined dance. The girls were annoyed about it and crazy with Blaise the boys were annoyed and furious with Randy.Are you okay? Dani asked Thea subsequently world lit class. You look kind of pale.Thea smiled wanly. It was a busy weekend.Really? Did you do something with Eric? The way she said do something alerted Thea. Danis heart-shaped face looked as sweet and relate as ever but Thea couldnt trust even her. She was a dark Person, a witch, a human-hater.It didnt matter. Thea was so edgy that the words just seemed to violate out. Do something like what? Smash his car? Turn him into a salientian?Dani looked shocked, her velvet-dark eyes wide.Thea turned and walked quick ly away.Stupid, stupid, she told herself. That was so dumb of you. You may not have to pretend to be playing with Eric in front of Blaise anymore-but in front of the other witches youve got to substantiate acting.She headed close to blindly for Erics locker, ignoring the pack she passed.Ive only been here a week. How can everything in my life have wrench so awful? Im at war with Blaise Ive worked a forbidden spell I dont dare talk to Gran-and Ive broken Night World law.Thea I was looking for you.It was Erics voice. Warm, eager-everything thatThea wasnt. She turned to see unfledged eyes flecked with leaping gray and an astonishing smile. A smile that drew her in, changing the world.Maybe everything was going to be all right, after all.I called you yesterday, but I just kept getting the machine.Thea hadnt even looked at the answering machine. Im sorry-there was a lot going on. Eric looked so kind that she groped for something that had been going on that she could tell him about. My grandmothers been sick. He sobered at once. Thats terrible. Yes. Thea fished in her backpack for the small herb remain shed put there this morning. Then she hesitated. Eric is there somewhere we could go to talk alone? Just for a few minutes? I want to give you something.He blinked, then waggled his eyebrows. Nothing Id like better. And I know just the place. Come on. He led her across campus to a super building that stood apart from the rest of the complex. It had a shabby look and the create on the double doors was blistered. A banner announced in orangish and black letters dont miss the .ultimate Halloween political party. What is this?Eric, who was possibility the door, put a finger to his lips. He glanced inside, then beckoned to her.Its the old gym. Theyre supposed to be renovating it as a student center, but there isnt enough money. He snorted. Probably because theyre spend too much on renovating downtown. Now- what was it you wanted to give me?It Thea stop ped dead as she took in her surroundings. All thoughts of the herb pillow vanished. Eric- She stared around her, feeling a slow wave of sickness roil through her stomach. Is this for the Halloween party?.Yeah. They do a couple fund-raisers a semester here. This is kind of a preternatural one-but they did it last year and it brought in a lot.Not weird, Thea thought numbly. supernatural doesnt begin to describe it.Half the room was empty, just scuffed hardwood floor, a broken basketball backboard, and exposed pipes in the ceiling. But the other half looked like a cross between a medieval dungeon and a casino. She walked slowly toward it, her footsteps echoing.Wooden booths of various sizes were decorated with orange and black kink up paper and fake spider webs. Thea read one banner after another.Fortune telling Drench a Wench Bobbing for Shrunken Heads?Its bobbing for apples sincerely, Eric said, appear embarrassed. And the gambling isnt real. You do it all with goblin money and e xchange it for prizes.Thea couldnt stop looking at the booths. Wheel of Torture a money roll out with a breast dressed like a witch spreadeagled in the middle. Bloody Blackjack. Devils Darts a dart game with a secure witch as a target.And there were witch figures everywhere. Cloth witches on nooses hanging from the overhead pipes.Cardboard witches leering from the tops of booths. Paper witches terpsichore on the wall. They were fat, skinny, white-haired, gray-haired, cross-eyed, squint-eyed, warty, funny, scary and ugly. That was the one thing they all had in common.Thats what they think of us. Humans. All humansThea? Are you okay?Thea whirled. No, I am not okay. She gestured around the room. Will you look at this squash? Do you really think its funny? Something to party about? Hardly aware of what she was doing, she spun him around to face The Iron Maiden-a wooden replica with rubber spikes.What are people going to do? Pay to step into that? Dont they realize that it used to b e real? That real people were put in it, and that when the door closed, those spikes went into them, into their gird and their stomachs and their eyes She couldnt go on.Eric looked as stricken as Dani had earlier. Hed never seen her like this. Thea-look, Im sorry I never thoughtOr that. Thea gestured toward the Wheel of Torture, the words tumbling out. Do you know how they really put a witch on the wheel? They broke every bone in her body so they could just thread her arms and legs through the spokes like spaghetti. Then they put the wheel on a pole and left her up there to die.Erics face contracted with horror. God, TheaAnd these picturesthe witches who got tortured didnt have green skin and evil eyes. They werent monsters, and they didnt have anything to do with devils. They were people.Eric reached out for her, but she spun away, staring at a particularly ugly hag on the wall. Do you think this place is all right for a party? That this is good fun? That witches look like that? S he flung out an arm, close to being hysterical. Well, do you?In her minds eye she could see the world Dani and Blaise and all other witches on the left Eric and the students here and all other humans on the right, both races hating and despising each other-and herself somewhere in the middle.Eric caught her shoulders. No, I dont think its all right. Thea, will you just listen to me for a second?He was almost shaking her-but she could see that there were tears forming at the corners of his eyes.I feel awful, he said. I never thought about taking this stuff seriously-and thats my own stupid fault, and I know its not an excuse. But now that you say it, I do see how terrible it is, and Im sorry. And I never should have brought you here, of all peopleThea, who had been starting to relax, stiffened again. Why me of all people? she demanded.He hesitated a moment, then met her eyes and spoke quietly. Because of your grandmas store. I mean, I know its just herbs and positive thinking- but I also, know that in the old days, there would have been somebody out there pointing a finger and calling her a witch.Thea relaxed again. It was okay for people to thinkGran was a witch-if by witch they meant someone who talked to plants and mixed up homemade hair tonic. And she couldnt disbelieve Eric, not under the intensity of those steady green eyes. But she saw an opportunity and seized it. Yeah, and theyd probably have burned me for giving you this present, she said, opening her hand. And youd probably have been scared or superstitious if I asked you to keep it with you all the time youd think I was putting some kind of a spell on you-I wouldnt think anything, he said firmly, taking the little green pillow from her. It smelled like fresh bare-assed Hampshire pine needles, which was what was in it-mainly. Shed also added a few protective herbs and an Ishtar crystal, a golden beryl in a star cut with thirty-three facets, form with the name of the Babylonian mother goddess. The c harm was the best she could do to help him fend off Blaises spells.I would just pet it and put it my chemise and never let it out of my sight, Eric went on. And he did, stopping after the kiss to say, Mm, smells good.Thea couldnt help smiling at him. She chanced saying, Actually, its just to remind you of me.It will never leave my pocket, he said solemnly.Well, that worked out nicely.Look, theres probably something we can do about this place, Eric said, glancing around again. The school board doesnt want any bad publicity. Why dont I run and borrow a camera from the journalism class, and we can take some pictures so people will see what we mean when we complain?Thea glanced at her watch. Why not? I think Ive already missed French.He grinned. Back in a minute.When he was gone, Thea wandered slowly among the silent booths, lost in her own thoughts.For a few minutes there, when I was ranting, I almost told him the truth. And then later I thought maybe hed figured it all out for himse lf.And would that be so terrible? Hes already under sentence of death just because I love him it doesnt matter if he knows or not.But if he did know what would he say? Witches may be okay in the abstract-but does he really want one for a girlfriend?The only way to find out was to tell him.She leaned against a ladder and gazed sightlessly at an oilcloth lying beneath a hanging noose. Of course, it was probably all academic anyway. What kind of future could they possibly have ?Suddenly Thea realized what she was looking at.underneath that oilcloth was a shoe-and the shoe was connected to something. Subconsciously, shed been assuming it was another witch dummy but now she focused. And she felt the hairs on her arms lift and tingle.Why would they dress a witch in black Nike high-tops?