Part 22 (2/2)

That bottle was sealed-she didn't have time- there was wax on the cork . . .

Thea's mind was churning. But she had enough sense to do one thing-she dran k a lot of whatever was in the cup, so there wouldn't be any left over for the Circle to examine when Eric was done.

And she kept her face blank as Blaise took the chalice from her and gave it t o Eric.

Eric drank, looked slightly surprised, and kept drinking.

”Finish it allll,” Blaise said. Her eyes were still on Thea's.

And that was when Thea knew for sure.

You did it before, when you were first talking about giving human boys the Cup of Lethe after spilling their blood at the Homecoming dance. You pour ed it out and stashed it somewhere and put in tea and redid all those seal s-of course you could reproduce them with molds. And now ... and now ...

As Blaise took the chalice back from Eric, it hit Thea in a wave that almost made her hysterical.

This is never going to work. They're never going to believe it. But ...

Thea took Eric's hand and sank her nails into his palm. She didn't dare say a word to him, didn't dare even look at him. But she was thinking, don't speak , don't do anything, just follow my lead.

She made her face as blank as a wax doll.

Eric was just standing there. He didn't know what to expect, but he obvious ly felt Thea's nails. And he proved how smart he was by not speaking.

”We stand adjourned,” Gran said tersely. ”Blaise, take them out while they'

re still confused. They should be able to get home on their own.” She turne d away without looking at Thea.

”No problem,” Blaise said.

Aradia said, ”I'll go with you.”

CHAPTER 17.

They walked out to Eric's jeep. The night air was very cold and there was n o moon.

Thea kept her hand on Eric's back, ready to press if he hesitated. But he neve r did.

At the door of the jeep, Thea looked at Blaise. She was afraid to show any expression. Could Aradia see them? She wanted desperately to give Blaise a last hug.

Aradia said, ”Is there a window from the shop onto this street?”Thea looked at Blaise. Blaise said, ”No.”

”Then you can say good-bye. After this you're going to have to pretend not to know each other.”

Thea stared at her, then felt a wild choked giggle well up. ”Now I know why you're Maiden,” she said, in a bare whisper. ”But-does anyone else realize ?”.

”l don't think so. Some may wonder, but I think they'll keep their mouths sh ut. Say good-bye quick.”

Thea hugged Blaise, couldn't make herself let go. ”Thank you. Oh, Eileithyia, Blaise, I'll miss you.”

”Now I'm the last of the Harman line,” Blaise said in a bad imitation of a smirking voice. ”I'll have a bedroom to myself,” she added in more believab le tones. ”And I'm going to get Sheena good.”

”Who?”

”That's right, you didn't hear. She was the one who turned us in. She's one of Tobias's little girlfriends, Circle Midnight. It seems he's been spying o n us. He told her enough that she understood we were doing forbidden spells, and she told Gran.”

”It doesn't matter now.”

”Are you kidding? I'm getting sent to the Convent. I'm going to kill her.” Th e bells rang as Blaise tossed her head.

Then she tightened her grip on Thea. ”I don't know why you want to be with a human,” she whispered. ”But I hope you keep on wanting it now that you have it.”

”Blaise, when you get back-please don't hurt them anymore. They're people.

Really.”

Blaise sighed noncommittally; Thea could feel it. But all she said, almost too softly for Thea to hear, was, ”I'll miss you-sister.”

Then Thea could let go.

When she was in the jeep, Aradia leaned into the open door.

”Two things,” she said rapidly. ”And they're all the help I can give you. M other Cybele mentioned Circle Daybreak. I've heard rumors that there axe wi tches somewhere who are starting it up again.

Witches who want to forget the Burning Times, and who don't hold to Night Wo rld law. I don't know if it's true. But if it is, maybe you can find it.”

Thea's breath was taken away. The possibility leaped inside her like some u nimagined joy.

”And the other thing,” Aradia said, with a rare smile-almost a brief grin. ”

Word is that some of your Redfern cousins have started going peculiar. I've even heard that they're talking about finding human soulmates, just like you . You might try and contact them and see what the story is.”

Thea's breath came back, and with it, tears. ”Oh, Aradia. Thank you.””Good luck, Thea. And Eric. Both of you, wherever you go.”

Eric, who had been sitting quietly behind the wheel, reached out to touch he r hand lightly. ”And you, too.” Thea could tell by his voice that he was puz zled and dazed, but he was trying not to show it.

Then they drove away. Thea turned around to watch Blaise getting smaller a nd smaller. A little wind blew Blaise's hair, and she looked like a dark a nd mysterious Aphrodite, a G.o.ddess who always did what you least expected.

Eric drove fast until they were a good distance from the shop, then pulled t o the curb on a tiny residential street. He looked at Thea and said cautious ly, ”Am I immune to this stuff? Because I'm not forgetting anything. Or is i t going to kick in any minute now?”

Thea kissed him.

Then she began to laugh hysterically.

”No. No.”

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