picture began coming together on the surface of the water. Bit by bit, a startling portrait came to light: a man with his head and feet locked through holes in a wooden board. His hands were chained behind him. Cassie knew what she was looking atâsheâd seen one of these before. It was a prisoner in colonial-era stocks. Then the water turned to a disquieting black.
Cassie wasnât sure what to make of the strange series of images. It seemed like the spell hadnât worked nearly as well as it had the last time. But Adam looked up at the others with understanding in his eyes. âI canât believe it,â he said. âSheâs so close to New Salem.â
âI know that place.â Nick nodded along. âItâs the old Stockbridge Mission House, just on the other side of the bridge. Itâs supposed to be abandoned, but I guess itâs not anymore.â
âWell, what are we waiting for?â Faye asked. âLetâs go get her.â
âHold on.â Diana blew out all the candles and snuffed out the incense. âFirst we should research what spells would be useful against Scarlett. So weâre at least prepared for a face-off.â
Laurel pulled out a notebook and began jotting down a list. âWe should study our defense spells,â she said. âAnd definitely remote summoning spells. Melanie, can you look into what crystals might be of use?â
Faye flicked Laurelâs pencil from her fingers. âForget all that. Weâve got Cassie.â
Cassie looked down at the tattered throw rug, not wanting to acknowledge Fayeâs comment. Of course Faye was champing at the bit to attack the hunters. All she cared about was breaking her mark, even if it meant Cassie performing dark magic. But what Faye didnât understand was the more Cassie used dark magic, the darker she became. Or maybe Faye did understand that, but she was still willing to sacrifice Cassie to the dark side for their cause.
âCassieâs not using black magic when we go up against Scarlett,â Adam said. âUnder any circumstances. But aside from that, I agree with Faye. We need to act right away, even if we donât have all the research.â
Diana gawked at Adam from across the living room table. âThis isnât something to rush into,â she said. âNeedI remind you how in our last battle with Scarlett, she made you blind with a single wave of her hand?â
Suzan and Deborah, who were sitting side by side on the sofa, chuckled meanly.
âI remember,â Adam said. âAnd it wasnât just me, it was all of us. But thanks for bringing that up.â
Adam turned to Nick for support, assuming they might for once fall on the same side of a dispute. âDonât you think itâs do-or-die time?â Adam said to Nick. âStudy period is over. Am I right?â
Cassieâs insides were seething. She wanted to go after Scarlett and get the Master Tools back more than any of them, but deep down she knew what they were up againstâshe was the only one who really understood what they were up against. It was her responsibility to speak up.
âHaving learned something from the trap I walked into in Cape Cod,â she said, âI donât want to face Scarlett unprepared. Sheâs stronger than all of us put together. We got lucky last timeâwe got her to run away, but we couldnât overpower her. The only way we stand a chance of defeating her now is by outsmarting her.â
Cassie directed her attention to Adam. âThat was a great pep talk and all, but a positive attitude and a whole lot of hope arenât going to cut it. We need to be realistic.We should have an arsenal of spells at our fingertips before we step through the door of that house. One or two more days of preparation is all we need. Itâs not much.â
âIâm with her,â Deborah said. âCassie should be the one
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