Part 44 (2/2)

”Before we start, I want you to know that I really want this to work. It's possible, though, that I might not have the power or the experience to do it properly. If it seems to fail, I'll keep trying, but-”

”It's okay,” she said. ”I'll know you tried. Thanks, Paige. For doing this, I mean. I know it's not what you had in mind for me.”

”It's what your mother wanted. That's good enough for me.”

I laid my notes before me.

”Okay, first the elements. If anything sounds wrong, stop me. Even if you aren't sure, don't be afraid to speak up. Better to restart partway through than repeat the whole thing later.”

She nodded.

”Here we go then. Air.”

I slashed each athame through the air.

”Earth.”

I poured the grave dirt from the baggie into each shallow clay pot.

”Water.”

I uncapped the Evian bottle and filled both chalices.

”Fire.”

I struck a match and lit the candles.

I paused then, closing my eyes and clearing my mind. When I opened my eyes, I focused straight ahead, seeing nothing. With a brief Latin invocation, I called on the power of the elements to heed my will. Then I blinked, allowing myself to see again, and motioned for Savannah to watch carefully, since she'd need to repeat the next steps.

”Air to the north,” I said, taking my athame and placing it before me.

”Earth to the east.” I put my clay pot to my right.

”Water to the west.” I moved my chalice to my left.

”Fire to the south.” Taking the blue candle, I twisted, being careful not to fall, and laid it behind me.

I touched each in turn, the athame, the dirt, the water, and the flame. When it came to the last, panic darted through me and I hesitated, then gritted my teeth and forced my finger into the flame.

”Air, earth, water, fire. At their center, I sit in balance. All nature in harmony.”

I turned to Savannah and motioned for her to copy me.

She did, intoning each phrase without faltering. When she'd finished, we repeated the last part together. Then Savannah s.h.i.+fted onto her knees, lighting the candles as I resumed my place. Fingers trembling, I held the juniper branch over my candle's flame.

”With this offering, I beg protection,” I said in Latin. ”Hecate, Selene, Artemis, G.o.ddesses three, hear my plea. We ask this in your name. Grant this, your child, all the powers you can bestow.”

I looked Savannah in the eyes, lifting my hands and voice.

”Grant her power without bounds. Give her the strength to wreak vengeance on her enemies.”

The ground beneath me rumbled, but I held Savannah's gaze and kept going.

”Give her the power to overcome and the wisdom to do right by this gift. Give her all that you have to give.”

The earth quaked, toppling the candles and igniting the cloth beneath. I raised my hands to the sky and stood, closing my eyes and pouring everything into the last few words.

”Hecate, Selene, Artemis! Hear my plea!”

For a split second, all went still. Preternaturally still and silent. I could hear nothing, feel nothing. No, I did feel something. I felt peace. Complete peace.

”It worked!” Savannah said, launching herself across the s.p.a.ce between and falling into my arms. ”Can you feel that, Paige? It worked! You did it!”

”Yes,” I said, smiling. ”We did it.”

About the Author.

Kelley Armstrong lives in Ontario, Canada, with her family. Visit her Web site at .

<script>