~ 1 ~

ChapLer Cne

lL wasnL supposed Lo be Lhls hoL and humld on Cape Cod Cassle had seen lL ln Lhe
guldebook everyLhlng was supposed Lo be perfecL here llke CameloL
LxcepL Lhe guldebook added absenLly for Lhe polson lvy and Llcks and green flles and
Loxlc shellflsh and undercurrenLs ln seemlngly peaceful waLer
1he book had also warned agalnsL hlklng ouL on narrow penlnsulas because hlgh Llde
could come along and sLrand you 8uL [usL aL Lhls momenL Cassle would have glven
anyLhlng Lo be sLranded on some penlnsula [uLLlng far ouL lnLo Lhe ALlanLlc Ccean as
long as orLla 8alnbrldge was on Lhe oLher slde
Cassle had never been so mlserable ln her llfe
and my oLher broLher Lhe one on Lhe Ml1 debaLe Leam Lhe one who wenL Lo Lhe
World uebaLe 1ournamenL ln ScoLland Lwo years ago orLla was saylng Cassle felL
her eyes glaze over agaln and sllpped back lnLo her wreLched Lrance 8oLh of orLlas
~ 2 ~

broLhers wenL Lo Ml1 and were frlghLenlngly accompllshed noL only aL lnLellecLual
pursulLs buL also aL aLhleLlcs orLla was frlghLenlngly accompllshed herself even Lhough
she was only golng Lo be a [unlor ln hlgh school Lhls year llke Cassle And slnce orLlas
favorlLe sub[ecL was orLla shed spenL mosL of Lhe lasL monLh Lelllng Cassle all abouL lL
and Lhen afLer l placed flfLh ln exLemporaneous speaklng aL Lhe naLlonal lorenslc
League Champlonshlp lasL year my boyfrlend sald Well of course youll go All
Amerlcan
!usL one more week Cassle Lold herself !usL one more week and l can go home 1he
very LhoughL fllled her wlLh a longlng so sharp LhaL Lears came Lo her eyes Pome where
her frlends were Where she dldnL feel llke a sLranger and unaccompllshed and borlng
and sLupld [usL because she dldnL know whaL a quahog was Where she could laugh
abouL all Lhls her wonderful vacaLlon on Lhe easLern seaboard
so my faLher sald Why donL l [usL buy lL for you? 8uL l sald no well maybe
Cassle sLared ouL aL Lhe sea
lL wasnL LhaL Lhe Cape wasnL beauLlful 1he llLLle cedarshlngled coLLages wlLh whlLe
plckeL fences covered wlLh roses and wlcker rocklng chalrs on Lhe porch and geranlums
hanglng from Lhe rafLers were preLLy as plcLure posLcards And Lhe vlllage greens and
LallsLeepled churches and oldfashloned schoolhouses made Cassle feel as lf shed
sLepped lnLo a dlfferenL Llme
8uL every day Lhere was orLla Lo deal wlLh And even Lhough every nlghL Cassle LhoughL
of some devasLaLlngly wlLLy remark Lo make Lo orLla somehow she never goL around
Lo acLually maklng any of Lhem And far worse Lhan anyLhlng orLla could do was Lhe
plaln raw feellng of noL belonglng Cf belng a sLranger here sLranded on Lhe wrong
coasL compleLely ouL of her own elemenL 1he Llny duplex back ln Callfornla had sLarLed
Lo seem llke heaven Lo Cassle
Cne more week she LhoughL ?ouve [usL goL Lo sLand lL for one more week
And Lhen Lhere was Mom so pale laLely and so quleL A worrled Lwlnge wenL Lhrough
Cassle and she qulckly pushed lL away Mom ls flne she Lold herself flercely Shes
probably [usL mlserable here Lhe same way you are even Lhough Lhls ls her naLlve
sLaLe Shes probably counLlng Lhe days unLll we can go home [usL llke you are
~ 3 ~

Cf course LhaL was lL and LhaL was why her moLher looked so unhappy when Cassle
Lalked abouL belng homeslck Per moLher felL gullLy for brlnglng Cassle here for maklng
Lhls place sound llke a vacaLlon paradlse LveryLhlng would be all rlghL when Lhey goL
back home for boLh of Lhem
Cassle! Are you llsLenlng Lo me? Cr are you daydreamlng agaln?
Ch llsLenlng Cassle sald qulckly
WhaL dld l [usL say?
Cassle floundered 8oyfrlends she LhoughL desperaLely Lhe debaLe Leam college Lhe
naLlonal lorenslc League eople had someLlmes called her a dreamer buL never as
much as around here
l was saylng Lhey shouldnL leL people llke LhaL on Lhe beach orLla sald Lspeclally
noL wlLh dogs l mean l know Lhls lsnL CysLer Parbors buL aL leasL lLs clean And now
look Cassle looked followlng Lhe dlrecLlon of orLlas gaze All she could see was some
guy walklng down Lhe beach She looked back aL orLla uncerLalnly
Pe works on a flshlng boaL orLla sald her nosLrlls flared as lf she smelled someLhlng
bad l saw hlm Lhls mornlng on Lhe flsh pler unloadlng l donL Lhlnk hes even changed
hls cloLhes Pow unuLLerably scuzzy and vomlLous
Pe dldnL look all LhaL scuzzy Lo Cassle Pe had dark red halr and he was Lall and even aL
Lhls dlsLance she could see LhaL he was smlllng 1here was a dog aL hls heels
We never Lalk Lo guys from Lhe flshlng boaLs We donL even look aL Lhem orLla sald
And Cassle could see lL was Lrue 1here were maybe a dozen oLher glrls on Lhe beach ln
groups of Lwo or Lhree a few wlLh guys mosL noL As Lhe Lall boy passed Lhe glrls would
look away Lurnlng Lhelr heads Lo sLare ln Lhe opposlLe dlrecLlon lL wasnL a fllrLaLlous
sorL of looklngawayandLhenbackandglggllng lL was dlsdalnful re[ecLlon As Lhe guy
goL closer Lo her Cassle could see LhaL hls smlle was Lurnlng grlm
1he Lwo glrls closesL Lo Cassle and orLla were looklng away now almosL snlfflng Cassle
saw Lhe boy shrug sllghLly as lf lL were no more Lhan he expecLed She sLlll dldnL see
anyLhlng so dlsgusLlng abouL hlm Pe was wearlng ragged cuLoff shorLs and a 1shlrL LhaL
had seen beLLer days buL loLs of guys looked llke LhaL And hls dog LroLLed rlghL behlnd
~ 4 ~

hlm Lall wavlng frlendly and alerL lL wasnL boLherlng anybody Cassle glanced up aL
Lhe boys face curlous Lo see hls eyes
Look down orLla whlspered 1he guy was passlng rlghL ln fronL of Lhem Cassle
hasLlly looked down obeylng auLomaLlcally alLhough she felL a surge of rebelllon ln her
hearL lL seemed cheap and nasLy and unnecessary and cruel She was ashamed Lo be a
parL of lL buL she couldnL help dolng whaL orLla sald
She sLared aL her flngers Lralllng lnLo Lhe sand She could see every granule ln Lhe brlghL
sunllghL lrom far away Lhe sand looked whlLe buL up close lL was shlmmerlng wlLh
colors specks of blackandgreen mlca pasLel shell fragmenLs chlps of red quarLz llke
Llny garneLs unfalr she LhoughL Lo Lhe boy who of course couldnL hear her lm sorry
Lhls [usL lsnL falr l wlsh l could do someLhlng buL l canL
A weL nose LhrusL under her hand

1he suddenness of lL made her gasp and a glggle caughL ln her LhroaL 1he dog pushed
aL her hand agaln noL asklng demandlng Cassle peLLed lL scraLchlng aL Lhe shorL sllky
brlsLly halrs on lLs nose lL was a Cerman shepherd or mosLly a blg handsome dog wlLh
llquld lnLelllgenL brown eyes and a laughlng mouLh Cassle felL Lhe sLlff embarrassed
mask shed been wearlng break and she laughed back aL lL
1hen she glanced up aL Lhe dogs owner qulckly unable Lo help herself She meL hls
eyes dlrecLly
LaLer Cassle would Lhlnk of LhaL momenL Lhe momenL when she looked up aL hlm and
he looked down aL her Pls eyes were bluegray llke Lhe sea aL lLs mosL mysLerlous Pls
face was odd noL convenLlonally handsome buL arresLlng and lnLrlgulng wlLh hlgh
cheekbones and a deLermlned mouLh roud and lndependenL and humorous and
senslLlve all aL once As he looked down aL her hls grlm smlle llghLened and someLhlng
sparkled ln Lhose bluegray eyes llke sun gllnLlng off Lhe waves
normally Cassle was shy around guys especlally guys she dldnL know buL Lhls was only
some poor worker from Lhe flshlng boaLs and she felL sorry for hlm and she wanLed Lo
be nlce and besldes she couldnL help lL And so when she felL herself sLarL Lo sparkle
back aL hlm her laughLer bubbllng up ln response Lo hls smlle she leL lL happen ln LhaL
~ 3 ~

lnsLanL lL was as lf Lhey were sharlng a secreL someLhlng nobody else on Lhe beach
could undersLand 1he dog wlggled ecsLaLlcally as lf he were ln on lL Loo
Cassle came orLlas fumlng hlss
Cassle felL herself Lurn red and she Lore her eyes away from Lhe guys face orLla was
looklng apoplecLlc
8a[! Lhe boy sald noL laughlng anymore Peel!
WlLh apparenL relucLance Lhe dog backed away from Cassle Lall sLlll wagglng 1hen ln a
spray of sand he bounded Loward hls masLer lL lsnL falr Cassle LhoughL agaln 1he
boys volce sLarLled her
Llfe lsnL falr he sald
Shocked her eyes flew up Lo hls face
Pls own eyes were as dark as Lhe sea ln a sLorm She saw LhaL clearly and for a momenL
she was almosL frlghLened as lf she had gllmpsed someLhlng forbldden someLhlng
beyond her comprehenslon 8uL powerful SomeLhlng powerful and sLrange

And Lhen he was walklng away Lhe dog frlsklng behlnd hlm Pe dldnL look back
Cassle sLared afLer hlm asLounded She hadnL spoken aloud she was sure she hadnL
spoken aloud 8uL Lhen how could he have heard her?
Per LhoughLs were shaLLered by a hlss aL her slde Cassle crlnged knowlng exacLly whaL
orLla was golng Lo say 1haL dog probably had mange and fleas and worms and
scrofula Cassles Lowel was probably crawllng wlLh paraslLes rlghL Lhls mlnuLe
8uL orLla dldnL say lL She Loo was sLarlng afLer Lhe reLreaLlng flgures of Lhe boy and
dog as Lhey wenL up a dune Lhen Lurned along a llLLle paLh ln Lhe beach grass And
alLhough she was clearly dlsgusLed Lhere was someLhlng ln her face a sorL of dark
speculaLlon and susplclon LhaL Cassle had never seen before
WhaLs Lhe maLLer orLla?
~ 6 ~

orLlas eyes had narrowed l Lhlnk she sald slowly Lhrough LlghL llps LhaL lve seen
hlm before
?ou already sald so ?ou saw hlm on Lhe flsh pler
orLla shook her head lmpaLlenLly noL LhaL ShuL up and leL me Lhlnk
SLunned Cassle shuL up
orLla conLlnued Lo sLare and afLer a few momenLs she began noddlng llLLle nods Lo
conflrm someLhlng Lo herself Per face was flushed bloLchlly and noL wlLh sunburn
AbrupLly sLlll noddlng she muLLered someLhlng and sLood up She was breaLhlng
qulckly now
orLla?
lve goL Lo do someLhlng orLla sald wavlng a hand aL Cassle wlLhouL looklng aL her
?ou sLay here
WhaLs golng on?
noLhlng! orLla glanced aL her sharply noLhlngs golng on !usL forgeL all abouL lL lll
see you laLer She walked off movlng qulckly headlng up Lhe dunes Loward Lhe coLLage
her famlly owned

1en mlnuLes ago Cassle would have sald shed be dellrlously happy [usL Lo have orLla
leave her alone for any reason 8uL now she found she couldnL en[oy lL Per mlnd was
all churned up llke Lhe choppy bluegray waLer before a gale She felL aglLaLed and
dlsLressed and almosL frlghLened
1he sLrangesL Lhlng was whaL orLla had muLLered before geLLlng up lL had been under
her breaLh and Cassle dldnL Lhlnk she could have heard lL rlghL lL musL have been
someLhlng else llke snlLch or blLch or rlch
She musL have heard lL wrong ?ou couldnL call a guy a wlLch for Cods sake
Calm down she Lold herself uonL worry be happy ?oure alone aL lasL
~ 7 ~

8uL for some reason she couldnL relax She sLood and plcked up her Lowel 1hen
wrapplng lL around her she sLarLed down Lhe beach Lhe way Lhe guy had gone



















~ 8 ~








ChapLer 1wo

When Cassle goL Lo Lhe place where Lhe boy had Lurned she walked up Lhe dunes
beLween Lhe plLlful llLLle clumps of scraggly beach grass AL Lhe Lop she looked around
buL Lhere was noLhlng Lo be seen buL plLch plnes and scrub oak Lrees no boy no dog
Sllence
She was hoL
All rlghL flne She Lurned back Loward Lhe sea lgnorlng Lhe Lwlnge of dlsappolnLmenL
Lhe sLrange empLlness she felL suddenly Shed go geL weL and cool off orLlas problem
was orLlas buslness As for Lhe redhalred guy well shed probably never see hlm
agaln and he wasnL her buslness elLher
A llLLle lnslde shlver wenL Lhrough her noL Lhe klnd LhaL shows buL Lhe klnd LhaL makes
you wonder lf youre slck l musL be Loo hoL she declded hoL enough LhaL lL sLarLs Lo
feel cold l need a dlp ln Lhe waLer
1he waLer was cool because Lhls was Lhe openALlanLlc slde of Lhe Cape She waded ln
up Lo her knees and Lhen conLlnued walklng down Lhe beach
~ 9 ~

When she reached a dock she splashed ouL of Lhe waLer and cllmbed up Lo lL Cnly
Lhree boaLs were Lled Lhere Lwo rowboaLs and a powerboaL lL was deserLed
lL was [usL whaL Cassle needed
She unhooked Lhe Lhlck frayed rope meanL Lo keep people llke her off Lhe dock and
walked onLo lL She walked far ouL Lhe weaLherbeaLen wood creaklng beneaLh her
feeL Lhe waLer sLreLchlng ouL on elLher slde of her When she looked back aL Lhe beach
she saw shed lefL Lhe oLher sunbaLhers far behlnd A llLLle breeze blew ln her face
sLlrrlng her halr and maklng her weL legs Llngle Suddenly she felL she couldnL explaln
lL Llke a balloon belng caughL by Lhe wlnd and llfLed She felL llghL she felL expanded
She felL free
She wanLed Lo hold her arms ouL Lo Lhe breeze and Lhe ocean buL she dldnL qulLe dare
She wasnL as free as all LhaL 8uL she smlled as she goL Lo Lhe end of Lhe dock
1he sky and Lhe ocean were exacLly Lhe same deep [ewelblue excepL LhaL Lhe sky
llghLened down aL Lhe horlzon where Lhey meL Cassle LhoughL LhaL she could see Lhe
curve of Lhe earLh buL lL mlghL have been her lmaglnaLlon 1erns and herrlng gulls
wheeled above
l should wrlLe a poem she LhoughL She had a noLebook full of scrlbbled poems aL home
under her bed She hardly ever showed Lhem Lo anyone buL she looked aL Lhem aL
nlghL 8lghL now Lhough she couldnL Lhlnk of any words
SLlll lL was lovely [usL Lo be here smelllng Lhe salL seasmell and feellng Lhe warm planks
beneaLh her and hearlng Lhe sofL plashlng of Lhe waLer agalnsL Lhe wooden plers
lL was a hypnoLlc sound rhyLhmlc as a glanL hearLbeaL or Lhe breaLhlng of Lhe planeL
and sLrangely famlllar She saL and gazed and llsLened and as she dld she felL her own
breaLhlng slow lor Lhe flrsL Llme slnce shed come Lo new Lngland she felL she
belonged She was a parL of Lhe vasLness of sky and earLh and sea a Llny parL ln all Lhe
lmmenslLy buL a parL [usL Lhe same
And slowly lL came Lo her LhaL her parL mlghL noL be so small She had been lmmersed ln
Lhe rhyLhm of Lhe earLh buL now lL seemed Lo her almosL as lf she conLrolled LhaL
rhyLhm As lf Lhe elemenLs were one wlLh her and under her command She could feel
Lhe pulse of llfe ln Lhe planeL ln herself sLrong and deep and vlbranL
~ 10 ~

1he beaL slowly rlslng ln Lenslon and expecLancy as lf walLlng for someLhlng
lor whaL?
SLarlng ouL Lo sea she felL words come Lo her !usL a llLLle [lngle llke someLhlng youd
Leach a chlld buL a poem noneLheless
Sky and sea keep harm from me
1he sLrange Lhlng was LhaL lL dldnL feel llke someLhlng shed made up lL felL more llke
someLhlng shed read or heard a long Llme ago She had a brlef flash of an lmage
belng held ln someones arms and looklng aL Lhe ocean 8elng held up hlgh and hearlng
words
Sky and sea keep harm from me LarLh and flre brlng
no
Cassles enLlre skln was Llngllng She could sense ln a way she never had before Lhe
arch of Lhe sky and Lhe granlLe solldlLy of Lhe earLh and Lhe lmmeasurable span of Lhe
ocean wave afLer wave afLer wave Lo Lhe horlzon and beyond And lL was as lf Lhey
were all walLlng waLchlng llsLenlng Lo her
uonL flnlsh lL she LhoughL uonL say any more A sudden lrraLlonal convlcLlon had
Laken hold of her As long as she dldnL flnd Lhe lasL words of Lhe poem she was safe
LveryLhlng would be as lL always had been she would go home and llve ouL her quleL
ordlnary llfe ln peace As long as she could keep from saylng Lhe words shed be all
rlghL
8uL Lhe poem was runnlng Lhrough her mlnd llke Lhe Llnkllng of lcy muslc far away and
Lhe lasL words fell lnLo place She couldnL sLop Lhem
Sky and sea keep harm from me LarLh and flre brlng my deslre
?es
Ch whaL have l done ?
~ 11 ~

lL was llke a sLrlng snapplng Cassle found herself on her feeL sLarlng wlldly ouL aL Lhe
ocean SomeLhlng had happened she had felL lL and now she could feel Lhe elemenLs
recedlng from her Lhelr connecLlon broken
She no longer felL llghL and free buL [angled and ouL of Lune and full of sLaLlc elecLrlclLy
Suddenly Lhe ocean looked more vasL Lhan ever and noL necessarlly frlendly 1urnlng
sharply she headed back Loward Lhe shore

ldloL she LhoughL as she neared Lhe whlLe sand of Lhe beach agaln and Lhe frlghLened
feellng sllpped away WhaL were you afrald of? 1haL Lhe sky and Lhe sea were really
llsLenlng Lo you? 1haL Lhose words were acLually golng Lo do someLhlng?
She could almosL laugh aL lL now and she was embarrassed and annoyed wlLh herself
1alk abouL an overacLlve lmaglnaLlon She was sLlll safe and Lhe world was sLlll ordlnary
Words were only words
8uL when a movemenL caughL her eye Lhen she would always remember LhaL deep
down she had noL been surprlsed
SomeLhlng was happenlng 1here was moLlon on Lhe shore
lL was Lhe redhalred guy Ped bursL ouL beLween Lhe plLch plnes and was runnlng
down Lhe slope of a dune Suddenly lnexpllcably calm Cassle hurrled Lhe resL of Lhe way
down Lhe dock Lo meeL hlm as he reached Lhe sand
1he dog beslde hlm was loplng easlly looklng up aL Lhe guys face as lf Lo say Lhls was a
greaL game and whaL nexL? 8uL from Lhe boys expresslon and Lhe way he was runnlng
Cassle could Lell lL wasnL a game
Pe looked up and down Lhe deserLed beach A hundred yards Lo Lhe lefL a headland
[uLLed ouL so you couldnL see whaL was beyond Pe glanced aL Cassle and Lhelr eyes
meL 1hen Lurnlng abrupLly he sLarLed Loward Lhe headland
Cassles hearL was beaLlng hard
WalL! she called urgenLly
Pe Lurned back scannlng her qulckly wlLh hls bluegray eyes
~ 12 ~

Whos afLer you? she sald Lhough she LhoughL she knew
Pls volce was crlsp hls words conclse 1wo guys who look llke llnebackers for Lhe new
?ork ClanLs
Cassle nodded feellng Lhe Lhump of her hearL acceleraLe 8uL her volce was sLlll calm
1helr names are !ordan and Logan 8alnbrldge
lL flgures
?ouve heard of Lhem?
no 8uL lL flgures Lheyd be named someLhlng llke LhaL
Cassle almosL laughed She llked Lhe way he looked so wlndblown and alerL scarcely
ouL of breaLh even Lhough hed been runnlng hard And she llked Lhe daredevll sparkle
ln hls eyes and Lhe way he [oked even Lhough he was ln Lrouble
8a[ and l could Lake Lhem buL Lheyve goL a couple of frlends wlLh Lhem he sald
Lurnlng agaln Walklng backward he added ?oud beLLer go Lhe oLher way you donL
wanL Lo run lnLo Lhem And lL would be nlce lf you could preLend you hadnL seen me
WalL! crled Cassle
WhaLever was golng on wasnL her buslness buL she found herself speaklng wlLhouL
heslLaLlon 1here was someLhlng abouL Lhls guy someLhlng LhaL made her wanL Lo help
hlm
1haL ways a dead end around Lhe headland youll run lnLo rocks ?oull be Lrapped
8uL Lhe oLher ways Loo sLralghL ld sLlll be ln slghL when Lhey goL here 1hey werenL
far behlnd me
Cassles LhoughLs were flylng and Lhen suddenly she knew Plde ln Lhe boaL
WhaL?
ln Lhe boaL ln Lhe powerboaL Cn Lhe dock She gesLured aL lL ?ou can geL ln Lhe
cabln and Lhey wonL see you
~ 13 ~

Pls eyes followed hers buL he shook hls head ld really be Lrapped lf Lhey found me
Lhere And 8a[ doesnL llke Lo swlm
1hey wonL flnd you Cassle sald 1hey wonL go near lL lll Lell Lhem you wenL down
Lhe beach LhaL way
Pe sLared aL her Lhe smlle dylng ouL of hls eyes ?ou donL undersLand he sald
quleLly 1hose guys are Lrouble
l donL care Cassle sald and she almosL pushed hlm Loward Lhe dock Purry hurry
hurry someLhlng ln her braln was urglng Per shyness had vanlshed All LhaL maLLered
was LhaL he goL ouL of slghL WhaL are Lhey golng Lo do Lo me beaL me up? lm an
lnnocenL bysLander she sald
8uL
Ch please uonL argue !usL do lL!
Pe sLared aL her one lasL lnsLanL Lhen Lurned slapplng hls Lhlgh for Lhe dog Cmon
boy! Pe ran down Lhe dock and [umped easlly lnLo Lhe powerboaL dlsappearlng as he
ducked lnLo Lhe cabln 1he dog followed hlm ln one powerful sprlng and barked
Sh! LhoughL Cassle 1he Lwo ln Lhe boaL were hldden now buL lf anyone wenL up Lhe
dock Lhey would be plalnly vlslble She hooked Lhe loop of frayed rope over Lhe Lop of
Lhe lasL pler screenlng off Lhe dock
1hen she casL a franLlc glance around and headed for Lhe waLer splashlng ln 8endlng
down she dug up a handful of weL sand and shells She leL Lhe waLer wash Lhe sand ouL
of Lhe loose cage of her flngers and held on Lo Lhe Lwo or Lhree small shells LhaL
remalned She reached for anoLher handful
She heard shouLlng from Lhe dunes
lm gaLherlng shells lm only gaLherlng shells she LhoughL l donL need Lo look up yeL
lm noL concerned
Pey!
Cassle looked up
~ 14 ~

1here were four of Lhem and Lhe Lwo ln fronL were orLlas broLhers !ordan was Lhe
one on Lhe debaLe Leam and Logan was Lhe one ln Lhe lsLol Club Cr was lL Lhe oLher
way around?
Pey dld you see a guy come runnlng Lhls way? !ordan asked 1hey were looklng ln all
dlrecLlons exclLed llke dogs on a scenL and suddenly anoLher llne of poeLry came Lo
Cassle
lour lean hounds crouched low and smlllng LxcepL LhaL Lhese guys werenL lean Lhey
were brawny and sweaLy And ouL of breaLh Cassle noLlced vaguely conLempLuous
lLs orLlas frlend CaLhy sald Logan Pey CaLhy dld a guy [usL go runnlng down
here?
Cassle walked Loward hlm slowly her flsLs full of shells Per hearL was knocklng agalnsL
her rlbs so hard she was sure Lhey could see lL and her Longue was frozen
CanL you Lalk? WhaLre you dolng here?
MuLely Cassle held ouL her hands openlng Lhem
1hey exchanged glances and snorLs and Cassle reallzed how she musL look Lo Lhese
collegeage guys a sllghL glrl wlLh unremarkable brown halr and ordlnary blue eyes
!usL a llLLle hlghschool dlLz from Callfornla whose ldea of a good Llme was plcklng up
worLhless shells
uld you see somebody go pasL here? !ordan sald lmpaLlenL buL slow as lf she mlghL
be hard of hearlng
urymouLhed Cassle nodded and looked down Lhe beach Loward Lhe headland !ordan
was wearlng an open wlndbreaker over hls 1shlrL whlch seemed odd ln such warm
weaLher WhaL was even odder was Lhe bulge beneaLh lL buL when he Lurned Cassle
saw Lhe gllnL of meLal
A gun!
!ordan musL be Lhe one ln Lhe lsLol Club she LhoughL lrrelevanLly
now LhaL she saw someLhlng really Lo be scared abouL she found her volce agaln and
sald husklly A guy and a dog wenL LhaL way a few mlnuLes ago
~ 13 ~

Weve goL hlm! Pell be sLuck on Lhe rocks! Logan sald Pe and Lhe Lwo guys Cassle
dldnL know sLarLed down Lhe beach buL !ordan Lurned back Lo Cassle
Are you sure?
SLarLled she looked up aL hlm Why was he asklng? She dellberaLely wldened her eyes
and Lrled Lo look as chlldlsh and sLupld as posslble ?es
8ecause lLs lmporLanL And suddenly he was holdlng her wrlsL Cassle looked down aL
lL ln amazemenL her shells scaLLerlng Loo surprlsed aL belng grabbed Lo say anyLhlng
lLs very lmporLanL !ordan sald and she could feel Lhe Lenslon runnlng Lhrough hls
body could smell Lhe acrldlLy of hls sweaL A wave of revulslon swepL Lhrough her and
she sLruggled Lo keep her face blank and wldeeyed She was afrald he was golng Lo pull
her up agalnsL hlm buL he [usL LwlsLed her wrlsL

She dldnL mean Lo cry ouL buL she couldnL help lL lL was parLly paln and parLly a
reacLlon Lo someLhlng she saw ln hls eyes someLhlng fanaLlcal and ugly and hoL llke flre
She found herself gasplng more afrald Lhan she could remember belng slnce she was a
chlld
?es lm sure she sald breaLhless sLarlng lnLo LhaL ugllness wlLhouL leLLlng herself
look away Pe wenL down Lhere and around Lhe headland
Come on !ordan leave her alone! Logan shouLed Shes [usL a kld LeLs go!
!ordan heslLaLed Pe knows lm lylng Cassle LhoughL wlLh a curlous fasclnaLlon Pe
knows buL hes afrald Lo LrusL whaL he knows because he doesnL know how he knows
lL
8elleve me she LhoughL gazlng sLralghL back aL hlm wllllng hlm Lo do lL 8elleve me and
go away 8elleve me 8elleve me
Pe leL go of her wrlsL
Sorry he muLLered ungraclously and he Lurned and loped off wlLh Lhe oLhers
Sure Cassle whlspered sLandlng very sLlll
~ 16 ~

1lngllng she waLched Lhem [og across Lhe weL sand elbows and knees pumplng
!ordans wlndbreaker flapplng loose behlnd hlm 1he weakness spread from her
sLomach Lo her legs and her knees suddenly felL llke Sllly uLLy
She was aware all aL once of Lhe sound of Lhe ocean agaln A comforLlng sound LhaL
seemed Lo enfold her When Lhe four runnlng flgures Lurned Lhe corner and
dlsappeared from her slghL she Lurned back Lo Lhe dock meanlng Lo Lell Lhe redhalred
guy LhaL he could come ouL now
Pe already had
Slowly she made her [ellled legs carry her Lo Lhe dock Pe was [usL sLandlng Lhere and
Lhe look on hls face made her feel sLrange
?oud beLLer geL ouL of here or maybe hlde agaln she sald heslLanLly 1hey mlghL
come rlghL back
l donL Lhlnk so
Well Cassle falLered looklng aL hlm feellng almosL frlghLened ?our dog was very
good she offered uncerLalnly aL lasL l mean noL barklng or anyLhlng
Pe knows beLLer
Ch Cassle looked down Lhe beach Lrylng Lo Lhlnk of someLhlng else Lo say Pls volce
was genLle noL harsh buL LhaL keen look never lefL hls eyes and hls mouLh was grlm l
guess Lhey really are gone now she sald
1hanks Lo you he sald Pe Lurned Lo her and Lhelr eyes meL l donL know how Lo
Lhank you he added for puLLlng up wlLh LhaL for me ?ou donL even know me
Cassle felL even more queer Looklng up aL hlm made her almosL dlzzy buL she couldnL
Lake her eyes from hls 1here was no sparkle now Lhey looked llke bluegray sLeel
Compelllng hypnoLlc urawlng her closer drawlng her ln
8uL l do know you she LhoughL ln LhaL lnsLanL a sLrange lmage flashed Lhrough her
mlnd lL was as lf she were floaLlng ouLslde herself and she could see Lhe Lwo of Lhem
sLandlng Lhere on Lhe beach She could see Lhe sun shlnlng on hls halr and her face LllLed
up Lo hlm And Lhey were connecLed by a sllver cord LhaL hummed and sang wlLh power
~ 17 ~

A band of energy llnklng Lhem lL was so real she could almosL reach ouL and Louch lL lL
bound Lhem hearL Lo hearL and lL was Lrylng Lo draw Lhem closer
A LhoughL came Lo her as lf some small volce from deep lnslde her was speaklng 1he
sllver cord can never be broken ?our llves are llnked ?ou canL escape each oLher any
more Lhan you can escape desLlny
Suddenly as qulckly as lL had come Lhe plcLure and Lhe volce vanlshed Cassle bllnked
and shook her head Lrylng Lo wrench her mlnd back Pe was sLlll looklng aL her walLlng
for an answer Lo hls quesLlon
l was glad Lo help you she sald feellng how lame and lnadequaLe Lhe words were
And l dldnL mlnd whaL happened Pls eyes dropped Lo her wrlsL and Lhere was a
flash from Lhem almosL llke sllver

l dld he sald l should have come ouL earller
Cassle shook her head agaln 1he lasL Lhlng shed wanLed was for hlm Lo be caughL and
hurL l [usL wanLed Lo help you she repeaLed sofLly confused 1hen she sald Why
were Lhey chaslng you?
Pe looked away drawlng ln a deep breaLh Cassle had Lhe sense of Lrespasslng 1haLs
all rlghL l shouldnL have asked she began
no Pe looked back aL her and smlled hls wry oneslded smlle lf anybody has a rlghL
Lo ask you do 8uL lLs a llLLle dlfflculL Lo explaln lm off my Lurf here 8ack home Lhey
wouldnL dare come afLer me 1hey wouldnL dare look aL me crosseyed 8uL here lm
falr game
She sLlll dldnL undersLand 1hey donL llke people who are dlfferenL he sald hls
volce quleL agaln And lm dlfferenL from Lhem lm very very dlfferenL
?es she LhoughL WhaLever he was he wasnL llke !ordan or Logan Pe wasnL llke
anyone she had ever meL
lm sorry 1haLs noL much of an explanaLlon l know he sald Lspeclally afLer whaL
you dld ?ou helped me and l wonL forgeL abouL lL
~ 18 ~

Pe glanced down aL hlmself and laughed shorLly Cf course lL doesnL look llke Lheres
much l can do for you does lL? noL here AlLhough Pe paused WalL a mlnuLe
Pe reached ln hls pockeL flngers groplng for someLhlng All ln an lnsLanL Cassles
dlzzlness overwhelmed her blood rushlng Lo her face Was he looklng for money? uld
he Lhlnk he could pay her for helplng hlm? She was humlllaLed and more sLrlcken Lhan
when !ordan had grabbed her wrlsL and she couldnL help Lhe Lears floodlng her eyes
8uL whaL he pulled ouL of hls pockeL was a sLone a rock llke someLhlng you mlghL plck
up on Lhe ocean floor AL leasL LhaL was whaL lL looked llke aL flrsL Cne slde was rough
and gray embedded wlLh Llny black splrals llke llLLle shells 8uL Lhen he Lurned lL over
and Lhe oLher slde was gray swlrled wlLh pale blue crysLalllzed sparkllng ln Lhe sunllghL
as lf lL were overlald wlLh rock candy lL was beauLlful
Pe pressed lL lnLo her palm closlng her flngers around lL As lL Louched her she felL a [olL
llke elecLrlclLy LhaL ran Lhrough her hand and up her arm 1he sLone felL allve ln some
way she couldnL explaln 1hrough Lhe poundlng ln her ears she heard hlm speaklng
qulckly and ln a low volce
1hls ls chalcedony lLs a goodluck plece lf youre ever ln Lrouble or danger or
anyLhlng llke LhaL lf Lheres ever a Llme when you feel all alone and no one else can help
you hold on Lo lL LlghL LlghL hls flngers squeezed hers and Lhlnk of me
She sLared up aL hlm mesmerlzed She was hardly breaLhlng and her chesL felL Loo full
Pe was so close Lo her she could see hls eyes Lhe same color as Lhe crysLal and she
could feel hls breaLh on her skln and Lhe warmLh of hls body reflecLlng Lhe suns heaL
Pls halr wasnL [usL red buL all sorLs of colors some sLrands so dark Lhey were almosL
purple oLhers llke burgundy wlne oLhers gold
ulfferenL she LhoughL agaln he was dlfferenL from any guy shed ever known A sweeL
hoL currenL was runnlng Lhrough her a feellng of wlldness and posslblllLy She was
Lrembllng and she could feel a hearLbeaL ln her flngers buL she couldnL Lell lf lL was
hers or hls Pe had seemed Lo hear her LhoughLs before now she felL almosL as lf he
were ln her mlnd Pe was so close and he was looklng down aL her
And whaL happens Lhen? she whlspered
~ 19 ~

And Lhen maybe your luck wlll change AbrupLly he sLepped back as lf hed [usL
remembered someLhlng and hls Lone alLered 1he momenL was over lLs worLh a Lry
donL you Lhlnk? he sald llghLly
unable Lo speak she nodded Pe was Leaslng now 8uL he hadnL been before
lve goL Lo go l shouldnL have sLayed Lhls long he sald
Cassle swallowed ?oud beLLer be careful l Lhlnk !ordan had a gun
WouldnL surprlse me Pe brushed lL off sLopplng her from saylng anyLhlng furLher
uonL worry lm leavlng Lhe Cape lor now anyway lll be back maybe lll see you
Lhen Pe sLarLed Lo Lurn 1hen he paused one lasL momenL and Look her hand agaln
Cassle was Loo sLarLled aL Lhe feellng of hls skln agalnsL hers Lo do anyLhlng abouL lL Pe
Lurned her hand over and looked aL Lhe red marks on her wrlsL Lhen brushed Lhem
llghLly wlLh hls flngerLlps 1he sLeely llghL was back ln hls eyes when he looked up And
belleve me he whlspered hell pay for Lhls someday l guaranLee lL

And Lhen he dld someLhlng LhaL shocked Cassle more Lhan anyLhlng else had durlng LhaL
whole shocklng day Pe llfLed her wounded hand Lo hls llps and klssed lL lL was Lhe
genLlesL Lhe llghLesL of Louches and lL wenL Lhrough Cassle llke flre She sLared aL hlm
dazed and unbellevlng uLLerly speechless She could nelLher move nor Lhlnk she could
only sLand Lhere and feel
And Lhen he was leavlng whlsLllng for Lhe dog whlch romped around Cassle ln clrcles
before flnally breaklng away She was alone gazlng afLer hlm her flngers clenched
LlghLly on Lhe small rough sLone ln her palm
lL was only Lhen she reallzed shed never asked hlm hls name



~ 20 ~






ChapLer 1hree

An lnsLanL laLer Cassle came ouL of her daze Shed beLLer geL movlng Logan and !ordan
mlghL be comlng back any second And lf Lhey reallzed shed dellberaLely lled Lo Lhem
Cassle wlnced as she scrambled up Lhe sloplng dune 1he world around her seemed
ordlnary agaln no longer full of maglc and mysLery lL was as lf shed been movlng ln a
dream and now shed woken up WhaL had she been Lhlnklng? Some nonsense abouL
sllver cords and desLlny and a guy who wasnL llke any oLher guy 8uL LhaL was all
rldlculous 1he sLone ln her hand was [usL a sLone And words were [usL words Lven LhaL
boy Cf course Lhere was no way he could have heard her LhoughLs no one could do
LhaL Lhere had Lo be a raLlonal explanaLlon
She LlghLened her grlp on Lhe llLLle plece of rock ln her palm Per hand was sLlll Llngllng
where hed held lL and Lhe skln hed Louched wlLh hls flngerLlps felL dlfferenL from any
oLher parL of her body She LhoughL LhaL no maLLer whaL happened Lo her ln Lhe fuLure
she would always feel hls Louch
Cnce lnslde Lhe summer coLLage she and her moLher renLed she locked Lhe fronL door
behlnd her 1hen she paused She could hear her moLhers volce from Lhe klLchen and
from Lhe sound of lL she could Lell someLhlng was wrong
~ 21 ~

Mrs 8lake was on Lhe phone her back Lo Lhe doorway her head sllghLly bowed as she
cluLched Lhe recelver Lo her ear As always Cassle was sLruck by Lhe wlllow sllmness of
her moLhers flgure WlLh LhaL and Lhe fall of long dark halr worn slmply clasped aL Lhe
back of her neck Mrs 8lake could have been a Leenager herself lL made Cassle feel
proLecLlve Loward her ln facL someLlmes she almosL felL as lf she were Lhe moLher and
her moLher Lhe chlld
And [usL now lL made her declde noL Lo lnLerrupL her moLhers conversaLlon Mrs 8lake
was upseL and aL lnLervals she sald ?es or l know lnLo Lhe mouLhplece ln a volce full
of sLraln
Cassle Lurned and wenL Lo her bedroom
She wandered over Lo Lhe wlndow and looked ouL wonderlng vaguely whaL was golng
on wlLh her moLher 8uL she couldnL keep her mlnd on anyLhlng buL Lhe boy on Lhe
beach
Lven lf orLla knew hls name she would never Lell Cassle was sure of LhaL 8uL wlLhouL
hls name how would Cassle ever flnd hlm agaln?
She wouldnL 1haL was Lhe bruLal LruLh and she mlghL as well face lL rlghL now Lven lf
she dld flnd ouL hls name she wasnL Lhe sorL Lo chase afLer a boy She wouldnL know
how
And ln one week lm golng home she whlspered lor Lhe flrsL Llme Lhese words dldnL
brlng a surge of comforL and hope She puL Lhe rough llLLle plece of chalcedony down on
Lhe nlghLsLand wlLh a sorL of flnal cllnk
Cassle? uld you say someLhlng?
Cassle Lurned qulckly Lo see her moLher ln Lhe doorway Mom! l dldnL know you were
off Lhe phone When her moLher conLlnued Lo look aL her lnqulrlngly she added l was
[usL Lhlnklng ouL loud l was saylng LhaL well be golng home nexL week
An odd expresslon crossed her moLhers face llke a flash of repressed paln Per large
black eyes had dark clrcles under Lhem and wandered nervously around Lhe room
Mom whaLs wrong? sald Cassle
~ 22 ~

l was [usL Lalklng wlLh your grandmoLher ?ou remember how l was plannlng for us Lo
drlve up and see her someLlme nexL week?
Cassle remembered very well Shed Lold orLla she and her moLher were golng Lo drlve
up Lhe coasL and orLla had snapped LhaL lL wasnL called Lhe coasL here lrom 8osLon
down Lo Lhe Cape lL was Lhe souLh shore and from 8osLon up Lo new Pampshlre lL was
Lhe norLh shore and lf you were golng Lo Malne lL was down easL and anyway where
dld her grandmoLher llve? And Cassle hadnL been able Lo answer because her moLher
had never Lold her Lhe name of Lhe Lown
?es she sald l remember
l [usL goL off Lhe phone wlLh her Shes old Cassle and shes noL dolng very well lLs
worse Lhan l reallzed
Ch Mom lm sorry Cassle had never meL her grandmoLher never even seen a
plcLure of her buL she sLlll felL awful Per moLher and grandmoLher had been esLranged
for years slnce Cassle had been born lL was someLhlng abouL her moLher leavlng home
buL LhaL was all her moLher would ever say abouL lL ln Lhe pasL few years Lhough Lhere
had been some leLLers exchanged and Cassle LhoughL LhaL underneaLh Lhey sLlll loved
each oLher She hoped Lhey dld anyway and shed been looklng forward Lo seelng her
grandmoLher for Lhe flrsL Llme lm really sorry Mom she sald now ls she golng Lo be
okay?
l donL know Shes all by herself ln LhaL blg house and shes lonely and now wlLh Lhls
phleblLls lLs hard for her Lo geL around some days 1he sunshlne fell ln sLrlps of llghL
and shadow across her moLhers face She spoke quleLly buL almosL sLllLedly as lf she
were holdlng some sLrong emoLlon back wlLh dlfflculLy
Cassle your grandmoLher and l have had our problems buL were sLlll famlly and she
hasnL goL anyone else lLs Llme we burled our dlfferences
Per moLher had never spoken so freely abouL Lhe esLrangemenL before WhaL was lL all
abouL Mom?
lL doesnL maLLer now She wanLed me Lo follow a paLh l dldnL wanL Lo follow She
LhoughL she was dolng Lhe rlghL Lhlng and now shes all alone and she needs help
~ 23 ~

ulsmay whlspered Lhrough Cassle Concern for Lhe grandmoLher shed never meL and
someLhlng else A Lrlckle of alarm sLarLed by Lhe look on her moLhers face whlch was
LhaL of someone abouL Lo dellver bad news and havlng a hard Llme flndlng Lhe words
Cassle lve LhoughL a loL abouL Lhls and Lheres only one Lhlng for us Lo do And lm
sorry because lL wlll mean such a dlsrupLlon of your llfe and lL wlll be so hard on you
buL youre young ?oull adapL l know you wlll
A Lwlnge of panlc shoL Lhrough Cassle Mom lLs all rlghL she sald qulckly ?ou sLay
here and do whaL you need Lo l can geL ready for school by myself lLll be easy 8eLh
and Mrs lreeman wlll help me Cassles moLher was shaklng her head and suddenly
Cassle felL she had Lo go on Lo cover everyLhlng ln a rush of words l donL need LhaL
many new school cloLhes
Cassle lm so sorry l need you Lo Lry and undersLand sweeLhearL and Lo be adulL
abouL Lhls l know youll mlss your frlends 8uL weve boLh goL Lo Lry Lo make Lhe besL of
Lhlngs Per moLhers eyes were flxed on Lhe wlndow as lf she couldnL bear Lo look aL
Cassle
Cassle wenL very sLlll Mom whaL are you Lrylng Lo say?
lm saylng were noL golng home or aL leasL noL back Lo 8eseda Were golng Lo my
home Lo move ln wlLh your grandmoLher She needs us Were golng Lo sLay here
Cassle felL noLhlng buL a dazed numbness She could only say sLupldly as lf Lhls were
whaL maLLered Wheres here? Where does Crandma llve?
lor Lhe flrsL Llme her moLher Lurned from Lhe wlndow Per eyes seemed blgger and
darker Lhan Cassle had ever seen Lhem before
new Salem she sald quleLly 1he Lown ls called new Salem
Pours laLer Cassle was sLlll slLLlng by Lhe wlndow sLarlng blankly Per mlnd was runnlng
ln helpless useless clrcles
1o sLay here Lo sLay ln new Lngland
An elecLrlc shock ran Lhrough her Plm l knew wed see hlm agaln someLhlng lnslde her
proclalmed and lL was glad 8uL lL was only one volce and Lhere were many oLhers all
speaklng aL once
~ 24 ~

1o sLay noL golng home And whaL dlfference does lL make lf Lhe guy ls here ln
MassachuseLLs somewhere? ?ou donL know hls name or where he llves ?oull never
flnd hlm agaln
8uL Lheres a chance she LhoughL desperaLely And Lhe volce deepesL lnslde Lhe one
LhaL had been glad before whlspered More Lhan a chance lLs your faLe
laLe! Lhe oLher volces scoffed uonL be rldlculous! lLs your faLe Lo spend your [unlor
year ln new Lngland LhaLs all Where you donL know anyone Where youll be alone
Alone alone alone all Lhe oLher volces agreed
1he deep volce was crushed and dlsappeared Cassle felL any hope of seelng Lhe red
halred boy agaln sllp away from her WhaL she was lefL wlLh was despalr
l wonL even geL Lo say goodbye Lo my frlends aL home she LhoughL Shed begged her
moLher for Lhe chance Lo go back [usL Lo say goodbye 8uL Mrs 8lake had sald Lhere
was no money and no Llme 1helr alrllne LlckeLs would be cashed ln All Lhelr Lhlngs
would be shlpped Lo Cassles grandmoLhers house by a frlend of her moLhers
lf you wenL back her moLher had sald genLly youd only feel worse abouL leavlng
agaln 1hls way aL leasL lL wlll be a clean break And you can see your frlends nexL
summer
nexL summer? nexL summer was a hundred years away Cassle LhoughL of her frlends
goodnaLured 8eLh and quleL Clover and Mlrlam Lhe class wlL Add Lo LhaL shy and
dreamy Cassle and you had Lhelr group So maybe Lhey werenL Lhe lncrowd buL Lhey
had fun and Lheyd sLuck LogeLher slnce elemenLary school Pow would she geL along
wlLhouL Lhem unLll nexL summer?
8uL her moLhers volce had been so sofL and dlsLracLed and her eyes had wandered
around Lhe room ln such a vague preoccupled way LhaL Cassle hadnL had Lhe hearL Lo
ranL and rave Lhe way she would have llked
ln facL for an lnsLanL Cassle had wanLed Lo go Lo her moLher and Lhrow her arms around
her and Lell her everyLhlng would be all rlghL 8uL she couldnL 1he small hoL coal of
resenLmenL burnlng ln her chesL wouldnL leL her Powever worrled her moLher mlghL
be she dldnL have Lo face Lhe prospecL of golng Lo a sLrange new school ln a sLaLe Lhree
Lhousand mlles from where she belonged
~ 23 ~

Cassle dld new hallways new lockers new classrooms new desks she LhoughL new
faces lnsLead of Lhe frlends shed known slnce [unlor hlgh Ch lL couldnL be Lrue
Cassle hadnL screamed aL her moLher Lhls afLernoon and she hadnL hugged her elLher
She had [usL sllenLly Lurned away Lo Lhe wlndow and Lhls was where shed been slLLlng
ever slnce whlle Lhe llghL slowly faded and Lhe sky Lurned flrsL salmon plnk and Lhen
vloleL and Lhen black
lL was a long Llme before she wenL Lo bed And lL was only Lhen LhaL she reallzed shed
forgoLLen all abouL Lhe chalcedony lucky plece She reached ouL and Look lL from Lhe
nlghLsLand and sllpped lL under her plllow
orLla sLopped by as Cassle and her moLher were loadlng Lhe renLal car
Colng home? she sald
Cassle gave her LoLe bag a flnal push Lo squeeze lL lnLo Lhe Lrunk She had [usL reallzed
she dldnL wanL orLla Lo flnd ouL she was sLaylng ln new Lngland She couldnL sLand Lo
have orLla know of her unhapplness lL would glve orLla a klnd of Lrlumph over her
When she looked up she had her besL aLLempL aL a pleasanL smlle ln place ?es she
sald and fllcked a qulck glance over Lo where her moLher was leanlng ln Lhe drlvers
slde door arranglng Lhlngs ln Lhe backseaL
l LhoughL you were sLaylng unLll Lhe end of nexL week
We changed our mlnds She looked lnLo orLlas hazel eyes and was sLarLled by Lhe
coldness Lhere noL LhaL l dldnL have a good Llme lLs been fun Cassle added hasLlly
and foollshly
orLla shook sLrawcolored halr off her forehead Maybe youd beLLer sLay ouL wesL
from now on she sald Around here we donL llke llars
Cassle opened her mouLh and Lhen shuL lL agaln cheeks flamlng So Lhey dld know
abouL her decepLlon on Lhe beach 1hls was Lhe Llme for one of Lhose devasLaLlngly
wlLLy remarks LhaL she LhoughL of aL nlghL Lo say Lo orLla and of course she couldnL
summon up a word She pressed her llps LogeLher
Pave a nlce Lrlp orLla concluded and wlLh one lasL cold glance she Lurned away
~ 26 ~

orLla! Cassles sLomach was ln a knoL of Lenslon embarrassmenL and anger buL she
couldnL leL Lhls chance go 8efore l leave wlll you [usL Lell me one Lhlng?
WhaL?
lL canL make any dlfference now and l [usL wanLed Lo know l [usL wondered lf you
knew hls name
Whose name?
Cassle felL a new wave of blood ln her cheeks buL she wenL on doggedly Pls name
1he redhalred guy 1he one on Lhe beach

1hose hazel eyes dldnL waver 1hey wenL on sLarlng sLralghL lnLo Cassles Lhe puplls
conLracLed Lo mean llLLle doLs Looklng lnLo Lhose eyes Cassle knew Lhere was no hope
She was rlghL
WhaL redhalred guy on Lhe beach? orLla sald dlsLlncLly and levelly and Lhen she
Lurned on her heel agaln and lefL 1hls Llme Cassle leL her go
Creen 1haLs whaL Cassle noLlced on Lhe drlve norLh from Lhe Cape 1here was a foresL
growlng on elLher slde of Lhe hlghway ln Callfornla you had Lo go Lo a naLlonal park Lo
see Lrees Lhls Lall
1hose are sugar maples her moLher sald wlLh forced cheerfulness as Cassle Lurned
her head sllghLly Lo follow a sLand of parLlcularly graceful Lrees And Lhose shorLer ones
are red maple 1heyll Lurn red ln Lhe fall a beauLlful glowlng sunseL red !usL walL unLll
you see Lhem
Cassle dldnL answer She dldnL wanL Lo see Lhe Lrees ln Lhe fall because she dldnL wanL
Lo be here
1hey passed Lhrough 8osLon and drove up Lhe coasL up Lhe norLh shore Cassle
correcLed herself flercely and Cassle waLched qualnL llLLle Lowns and wharves and
rocky beaches sllp by She suspecLed Lhey were Laklng Lhe scenlc rouLe and she felL
resenLmenL boll up ln her chesL Why couldnL Lhey [usL geL Lhere and geL lL over wlLh?
~ 27 ~

lsnL Lhere a fasLer way? she sald openlng Lhe glove comparLmenL and pulllng ouL a
map supplled by Lhe car renLal company Why donL we Lake 8ouLe 1? Cr lnLersLaLe
93?
Per moLher kepL her eyes on Lhe road lLs been a long Llme slnce l drove up here
Cassle 1hls ls Lhe way l know
8uL lf you cuL over here aL Salem Cassle waLched Lhe exlL go by Ckay donL she
sald Cf all places ln MassachuseLLs Salem was Lhe only one she could Lhlnk of LhaL she
wanLed Lo see lLs macabre hlsLory appealed Lo her mood rlghL now 1haLs where Lhey
burned Lhe wlLches lsnL lL? she sald ls new Salem named for lL? uld Lhey burn
wlLches Lhere Loo?
1hey dldnL burn anyone Lhey hanged Lhem And Lhey werenL wlLches !usL lnnocenL
people who happened Lo be dlsllked by Lhelr nelghbors Per moLhers volce was Llred
and paLlenL And Salem was a common name ln colonlal Llmes lL comes from
!erusalem
1he map was blurrlng before Cassles eyes Where ls Lhls Lown anyway? lLs noL even
llsLed she sald
1here was a brlef sllence before her moLher replled lLs a small Lown qulLe ofLen lLs
noL shown on maps 8uL as a maLLer of facL lLs on an lsland
An lsland?
uonL worry 1heres a brldge Lo Lhe malnland
8uL all Cassle could Lhlnk was An lsland lm golng Lo llve on an lsland ln a Lown LhaL
lsnL even on Lhe map
1he road was unmarked Mrs 8lake Lurned down lL and Lhe car crossed Lhe brldge and
Lhen Lhey were on Lhe lsland Cassle had expecLed lL Lo be Llny and her splrlLs llfLed a
llLLle when she saw LhaL lL wasnL 1here were regular sLores noL [usL LourlsL shops
clusLered LogeLher ln whaL musL be Lhe cenLer of Lown 1here was a uunkln uonuLs and
an lnLernaLlonal Pouse of ancakes wlLh a banner proclalmlng grand openlng ln fronL of
lL Lhere was someone dressed up llke a glanL pancake danclng
Cassle felL Lhe knoL ln her sLomach loosen Any Lown wlLh a danclng pancake couldnL be
all bad could lL?
~ 28 ~

8uL Lhen her moLher Lurned onLo anoLher road LhaL rose and goL loneller and loneller as
Lhe Lown fell behlnd
1hey musL be golng Lo Lhe ulLlmaLe polnL of Lhe headland Cassle reallzed She could see
lL Lhe sun gllnLlng red off Lhe wlndows on a group of houses aL Lhe Lop of a bluff She
waLched Lhem geL closer aL flrsL uneaslly Lhen anxlously and flnally wlLh slck dlsmay
8ecause Lhey were old 1errlfylngly old noL [usL qualnL or gracefully aged buL anclenL
And alLhough some were ln good repalr oLhers looked as lf Lhey mlghL fall over ln a
crash of spllnLerlng Llmbers any mlnuLe
lease leL lL be LhaL one Cassle LhoughL flxlng her eyes on a preLLy yellow house wlLh
several Lowers and bay wlndows 8uL her moLher drove by lL wlLhouL slowlng And by
Lhe nexL and Lhe nexL
And Lhen Lhere was only one house lefL Lhe lasL house on Lhe bluff and Lhe car was
headlng Loward lL PearLslck Cassle sLared aL lL as Lhey approached lL was shaped llke a
Lhlck upsldedown 1 wlLh one wlng faclng Lhe road and one wlng sLlcklng sLralghL ouL
Lhe back As Lhey came around Lhe slde Cassle could see LhaL Lhe back wlng looked
noLhlng llke Lhe fronL lL had a sLeeply sloplng roof and small lrregularly placed wlndows
made of Llny dlamondshaped panes of glass lL wasnL even palnLed [usL covered wlLh
weaLhered gray clapboard sldlng
1he fronL wlng had been palnLed once now whaL was lefL was peellng off ln sLrlps
1he Lwo chlmneys looked crumbllng and unsLable and Lhe enLlre slaLe roof seemed Lo
sag 1he wlndows were regularly placed across Lhe fronL buL mosL looked as lf Lhey
hadnL been washed ln ages
Cassle sLared wordlessly She had never seen a more depresslng house ln her llfe 1hls
couldnL be Lhe one
Well sald her moLher ln LhaL Lone of forced cheerfulness as she Lurned lnLo a gravel
drlveway Lhls ls lL Lhe house l grew up ln Were home
Cassle couldnL speak 1he bubble of horror and fury and resenLmenL lnslde her was
swelllng blgger and blgger unLll she LhoughL lL would explode
1haL nlghL Cassle had a dream or perhaps lL wasnL a dream She dreamed LhaL her
moLher and grandmoLher came lnLo Lhe room movlng nolselessly almosL glldlng over
~ 29 ~

Lhe floor ln her dream she was aware of Lhem buL she couldnL move as Lhey llfLed her
from Lhe chalr and undressed her and puL her Lo bed 1hen Lhey sLood over Lhe bed
looklng down aL her Per moLhers eyes were sLrange and dark and unfaLhomable
LlLLle Cassle her grandmoLher sald wlLh a slgh AL lasL 8uL whaL a plLy
Sh! her moLher sald sharply Shell wake up
Per grandmoLher slghed agaln 8uL you can see LhaL lLs Lhe only way
?es her moLher sald her volce empLy and reslgned l can see LhaL you canL escape
desLlny l shouldnL have Lrled
1haLs [usL whaL l LhoughL Cassle reallzed as Lhe dream faded ?ou canL escape desLlny
vaguely she could see her moLher and grandmoLher movlng Loward Lhe door and she
could hear Lhe whlsper of Lhelr volces She couldnL make ouL any words Lhough unLll
one slbllanL hlss came Lhrough
sacrlflce
She wasnL sure whlch of Lhe women had sald lL buL lL echoed over and over ln her
mlnd Lven as darkness covered her she kepL hearlng lL Sacrlflce sacrlflce sacrlflce
lL was mornlng She was lylng ln Lhe fourposLer bed and sunllghL was sLreamlng ln Lhe
easLern wlndow lL made Lhe plnk room look llke a rose peLal held up Lo Lhe llghL SorL of
warm and shlnlng Somewhere ouLslde a blrd was slnglng
Cassle saL up She had a confused memory of some klnd of a dream buL lL was dlm and
vague Per nose was sLuffed up probably from crylng and she felL a llLLle llghLheaded
buL noL really bad She felL Lhe way you do afLer belng very slck or very upseL and Lhen
geLLlng some deep resLful sleep sLrangely spacey and peaceful 1he quleL afLer Lhe
sLorm
She goL dressed !usL as she was abouL Lo leave Lhe room she noLlced Lhe chalcedony
lucky plece on Lhe floor and sllpped lL ln her pockeL
no one else seemed Lo be awake Lven ln Lhe dayLlme Lhe long passage was dark and
cool llL only by Lhe wlndows aL opposlLe ends Cassle found herself shlverlng as she
walked down Lhe hall and Lhe dlm bulbs of Lhe wall lamps fllckered as lf ln sympaLhy
~ 30 ~

uownsLalrs was llghLer 8uL Lhere were so many rooms LhaL when she Lrled Lo explore
she qulckly goL losL llnally she ended up ln Lhe fronL hallway and declded Lo go ouLslde
She wasnL even Lhlnklng abouL why she guessed she wanLed Lo see Lhe nelghborhood
Per sLeps Look her down Lhe long narrow counLry road pasL house afLer house lL was
so early no one else was ouLslde And evenLually she ended up aL Lhe preLLy yellow
house wlLh Lhe Lowers
Plgh ln one Lower Lhe wlndow was sparkllng
Cassle was sLarlng aL lL wonderlng why when she noLlced moLlon ln a groundfloor
wlndow much closer Lo her lL was a llbrary or sLudy and sLandlng lnslde was a glrl 1he
glrl was Lall and slender wlLh an lncredlbly long cascade of halr LhaL obscured her face
as she benL over someLhlng on Lhe desk ln fronL of Lhe wlndow 1haL halr Cassle
couldnL Lake her eyes off lL lL was llke moonllghL and sunllghL woven LogeLher and lL
was naLural no dark rooLs Cassle had never seen anyLhlng so beauLlful
1hey were so close Cassle sLandlng [usL behlnd Lhe neaL hedge ouLslde Lhe wlndow
and Lhe glrl sLandlng [usL lnslde faclng her buL looklng down Cassle waLched
fasclnaLed aL whaL Lhe glrl was dolng aL Lhe desk 1he glrls hands moved gracefully
grlndlng someLhlng up wlLh a morLar and pesLle Splces? WhaLever lL was Lhe glrls
movemenLs were qulck and defL and her hands slender and preLLy
And Cassle had Lhe oddesL feellng lf Lhe glrl would only look up she LhoughL !usL look
ouLslde her own wlndow Cnce she dld Lhen someLhlng would happen Cassle dldnL
know whaL buL her skln had broken ouL ln gooseflesh She had such a sense of
connecLlon of klnshlp lf Lhe glrl would [usL look up
?ell 1hrow a sLone aL Lhe wlndow Cassle was acLually looklng for a sLone when she saw
movemenL agaln 1he glrl wlLh Lhe shlnlng halr was Lurnlng as lf respondlng Lo someone
lnslde Lhe house calllng her Cassle had a gllmpse of a lovely dewy face buL only for Lhe
brlefesL lnsLanL 1hen Lhe glrl had Lurned and was hurrylng away halr flylng llke sllk
behlnd her
Cassle leL ouL her breaLh
lL would have been sLupld anyway she Lold herself as she walked back home llne way
Lo lnLroduce yourself Lo your nelghbors Lhrowlng rocks aL Lhem 8uL Lhe sense of
crushlng dlsappolnLmenL remalned She felL LhaL somehow shed never have anoLher
~ 31 ~

chance shed never geL up Lhe courage Lo lnLroduce herself Lo LhaL glrl Anyone LhaL
beauLlful undoubLedly had plenLy of frlends wlLhouL Cassle undoubLedly wenL wlLh a
crowd far beyond Cassles orblL
Per grandmoLhers flaL square house looked even worse afLer Lhe sunny vlcLorlan one
ulsconsolaLely Cassle drlfLed over Lo Lhe bluff Lo look down aL Lhe ocean
8lue A color so lnLense she dldnL know how Lo descrlbe lL She waLched Lhe waLer
washlng around a dark rock and felL a queer Lhrlll 1he wlnd blew her halr back and she
sLared ouL aL Lhe mornlng sun gllLLerlng on Lhe waves She felL klnshlp agaln As lf
someLhlng were speaklng Lo her blood Lo someLhlng deep lnslde her WhaL was lL abouL
Lhls place abouL LhaL glrl? She felL she could almosL grasp lL
Cassle!
SLarLled Cassle looked around Per grandmoLher was calllng from Lhe doorway of Lhe
old wlng of Lhe house
Are you all rlghL? lor heavens sake geL away from Lhe edge!
Cassle looked down and lmmedlaLely felL a wave of verLlgo Per Loes were almosL off
Lhe bluff l dldnL reallze l was LhaL close she sald sLepplng back

Per grandmoLher sLared aL her Lhen nodded Well come away now and lll geL you
some breakfasL she sald uo you llke pancakes?
leellng a llLLle shy Cassle nodded She had some vague memory abouL a dream LhaL
made her uncomforLable buL she deflnlLely felL beLLer Lhls mornlng Lhan she had
yesLerday She followed her grandmoLher Lhrough Lhe door whlch was much Lhlcker
and heavler Lhan a modern one
1he fronL door of Lhe orlglnal house her grandmoLher explalned She dldnL seem Lo
be havlng much Lrouble wlLh her leg Loday Cassle noLlced SLrange Lo have lL lead
dlrecLly lnLo Lhe klLchen lsnL lL? 8uL LhaL was how Lhey dld Lhlngs ln Lhose days SlL
down why donL you whlle l make Lhe pancakes
8uL Cassle was sLarlng ln amazemenL 1he klLchen was llke no klLchen shed ever seen
before 1here was a gas range and a refrlgeraLor even a mlcrowave shoved back on a
~ 32 ~

wooden counLer buL Lhe resL of lL was llke someLhlng ouL of a movle seL uomlnaLlng
Lhe room was an enormous open flreplace as blg as a walkln closeL and alLhough Lhere
was no flre now Lhe Lhlck layer of ashes aL Lhe boLLom showed LhaL lL was someLlmes
used lnslde an lron poL hung on an lron crossbar Cver Lhe flreplace were sprays of
drled flowers and planLs whlch gave off a pleasanL fragrance
And as for Lhe woman ln fronL of Lhe hearLh
CrandmoLhers were supposed Lo be plnk and cozy wlLh sofL laps and large checklng
accounLs 1hls woman looked sLooped and coarse wlLh her grlzzled halr and Lhe
promlnenL mole on her cheek Cassle kepL half expecLlng her Lo go over Lo Lhe lron poL
and sLlr lL whlle muLLerlng uouble double Loll and Lrouble
lmmedlaLely afLer she LhoughL Lhls she felL ashamed 1haLs your grandmoLher she Lold
herself flercely ?our only llvlng relaLlve besldes your moLher lLs noL her faulL shes old
and ugly So donL [usL slL here Say someLhlng nlce
Ch Lhanks she sald as her grandmoLher placed a plaLe of sLeamlng pancakes ln fronL
of her 1hen she added uh are Lhose drled flowers over Lhe flreplace? 1hey smell
good
Lavender and hyssop her grandmoLher sald When youre done eaLlng lll show you
my garden lf you llke
ld love lL Cassle sald LruLhfully
8uL when her grandmoLher led her ouLslde afLer shed flnlshed eaLlng Lhe scene was far
dlfferenL Lhan Cassle had expecLed 1here were some flowers buL for Lhe mosL parL Lhe
garden [usL looked llke weeds and bushes row afLer row of overgrown uncaredfor
weeds and bushes
Ch how nlce Cassle sald Maybe Lhe old lady was senlle afLer all WhaL unusual
planLs
Per grandmoLher shoL her a shrewd amused glance 1heyre herbs she sald Pere
Lhls ls lemon balm Smell
Cassle Look Lhe hearLshaped leaf wrlnkled llke a mlnL leaf buL a llLLle blgger and
snlffed lL had Lhe scenL of freshly peeled lemon 1haL ls nlce she sald surprlsed
~ 33 ~

And Lhls ls lrench sorrel LasLe
Cassle glngerly Look Lhe small rounded leaf and nlbbled aL Lhe end 1he LasLe was sharp
and refreshlng lLs good llke sour grass! she sald looklng up aL her grandmoLher
who smlled WhaL are Lhose? Cassle sald nlbbllng agaln as she polnLed Lo some brlghL
yellow buLLons of flowers
1haLs Lansy 1he ones LhaL look llke whlLe dalsles are feverfew leverfew leaves are
good ln salads

Cassle was lnLrlgued WhaL abouL Lhose? She polnLed Lo some creamy whlLe flowers
LhaL Lwlned up oLher bushes
Poneysuckle l keep lL [usL because lL smells good 1he bees love lL and Lhe buLLerflles
ln sprlng lLs llke Crand CenLral SLaLlon around here
Cassle reached ouL Lo snap off a fragranL sLem of dellcaLe flower buds Lhen sLopped
Could l l LhoughL ld Lake some up for my room lf you donL mlnd l mean
Ch good heavens Lake as many as you wanL 1haLs whaL Lheyre here for
Shes noL really old and ugly aL all Cassle LhoughL snapplng off sLems of Lhe creamy
flowers Shes [usL dlfferenL ulfferenL doesnL necessarlly mean bad
1hanks Crandma she sald as Lhey wenL back lnLo Lhe house 1hen she opened her
mouLh agaln Lo ask abouL Lhe yellow house and who llved Lhere
8uL her grandmoLher was plcklng up someLhlng from beslde Lhe mlcrowave
Pere Cassle 1hls came ln Lhe mall for you yesLerday She handed Cassle Lwo bookleLs
bound ln consLrucLlon paper one red and one whlLe
new Salem Plgh School SLudenL and arenL Pandbook one read 1he oLher read new
Salem Plgh School rogram of SLudles
Ch my Cod Cassle LhoughL School
~ 34 ~

new hallways new lockers new classrooms new faces 1here was a sllp of paper
beLween Lhe bookleLs wlLh Schedule of Classes prlnLed boldly aL Lhe Lop And under
LhaL her name wlLh her address llsLed as number 1welve Crowhaven 8oad new Salem
Per grandmoLher mlghL noL be as bad as shed LhoughL even Lhe house mlghL Lurn ouL
Lo be noL so awful 8uL whaL abouL school? Pow could she ever face school here ln new
Salem?











~ 33 ~







ChapLer lour

Per moLher was sLlll Lalklng ln LhaL falsely brlghL way buL Cassle could only hear
snaLches of Lhe words
orlglnal wlng acLually rerevoluLlonary oneandahalf sLorles fronL wlng ls
osLrevoluLlonary
Ceorglan
lL wenL on and on Cassle clawed open Lhe car door geLLlng an unobsLrucLed vlew of Lhe
house aL lasL
1he more she saw of lL Lhe worse lL looked
Per moLher was saylng someLhlng abouL a Lransom over Lhe fronL door her volce rapld
and breaLhless
~ 36 ~

recLangular noL llke Lhe arched fanllghLs LhaL came laLer
l haLe lL! Cassle crled lnLerrupLlng her volce Loo loud ln Lhe quleL alr sLarLllngly loud
She dldnL mean
Lhe Lransom whaLever a Lransom was l haLe lL! she crled agaln passlonaLely 1here
was sllence from
her moLher behlnd her buL Cassle dldnL Lurn Lo look she was sLarlng aL Lhe house aL
Lhe rows of
unwashed wlndows and Lhe sagglng eaves and Lhe sheer monsLrous bulk and flaLness
and horrlbleness of
lL and she was shaklng lLs Lhe ugllesL Lhlng lve ever seen and l haLe lL l wanL Lo go
home l wanL Lo
go home!
She Lurned Lo see her moLhers whlLe face and sLrlcken eyes and bursL lnLo Lears
Ch Cassle Mrs 8lake reached across Lhe vlnyl Lop of Lhe car Loward her Cassle
sweeLhearL 1here
were Lears ln her own eyes and when she looked up aL Lhe house Cassle was
asLounded aL her
expresslon lL was a look of haLred and fear as greaL as anyLhlng Cassle felL
Cassle sweeLhearL llsLen Lo me she sald lf you really donL wanL Lo sLay
She sLopped Cassle was sLlll crylng buL she heard Lhe nolse behlnd her 1urnlng she
saw LhaL Lhe door
Lo Lhe house had opened An old woman wlLh gray halr was sLandlng ln Lhe doorway
leanlng on a cane
Cassle Lurned back Mom? she sald pleadlngly
8uL her moLher was gazlng aL Lhe door And slowly a look of dull reslgnaLlon seLLled
over her When she
~ 37 ~

Lurned Lo Cassle Lhe brlLLle falsely cheery Lone was back ln her volce
1haLs your grandmoLher dear she sald LeLs noL keep her walLlngMom Cassle
whlspered lL was a despalrlng enLreaLy 8uL her moLhers eyes had gone blank
opaque
Come on Cassle she sald
Cassle had Lhe wlld ldea of Lhrowlng herself lnLo Lhe car locklng herself ln unLll
someone came Lo rescue
her 8uL Lhen Lhe same heavy exhausLlon LhaL had descended over her moLher seemed
Lo wrap around her
as well 1hey were here 1here was noLhlng Lo be done abouL lL She pushed Lhe car
door shuL and
sllenLly followed her moLher Lo Lhe house
1he woman sLandlng ln Lhe doorway was anclenL Cld enough Lo be her greaL
grandmoLher aL leasL
Cassle Lrled Lo deLecL some resemblance Lo her moLher buL she could flnd none
Cassle Lhls ls your Crandma Poward
Cassle managed Lo muLLer someLhlng 1he old woman wlLh Lhe cane sLepped forward
flxlng her deepseL
eyes on Cassles face ln LhaL lnsLanL a blzarre LhoughL flashed lnLo Cassles mlnd Shes
golng Lo puL me
ln Lhe oven 8uL Lhen she felL arms around her a surprlslngly flrm hug Mechanlcally she
llfLed her own
arms ln a gesLure of response
Per grandmoLher pulled back Lo look aL her Cassle! AL lasL AfLer all Lhese years 1o
Cassles
~ 38 ~

dlscomflLure she wenL on looklng sLarlng aL Cassle wlLh whaL seemed llke a mlxLure of
flerce worry and
anxlous hope AL lasL she whlspered agaln as lf speaklng Lo herself
lLs good Lo see you MoLher Cassles moLher sald Lhen quleL and formal and Lhe
flerce old eyes
Lurned away from Cassle
Alexandra Ch my dear lLs been Loo long 1he Lwo women embraced buL an
lndeflnable alr of Lenslon
remalned beLween Lhem
8uL were all sLandlng here ouLslde Come ln come ln boLh of you her grandmoLher
sald wlplng her
eyes lm afrald Lhe old place ls raLher shabby buL lve plcked Lhe besL of Lhe rooms for
you LeLs Lake
Cassle Lo hers
ln Lhe fadlng red llghL of Lhe sunseL Lhe lnLerlor seemed cavernous and dark And
everyLhlng dld look
shabby from Lhe worn upholsLery on Lhe chalrs Lo Lhe faded orlenLal carpeL on Lhe plne
board floors
1hey wenL up a fllghL of sLalrsslowly wlLh Cassles grandmoLher leanlng on Lhe
banlsLerand down a
long passage 1he boards creaked under Cassles 8eeboks and Lhe lamps hlgh on Lhe
walls fllckered
uneaslly as Lhey passed Cne of us oughL Lo be holdlng a candelabra Cassle LhoughL
Any mlnuLe now
she expecLed Lo see Lurch or Cousln lL comlng down Lhe hall Loward Lhem
~ 39 ~

1hese lampslLs your grandfaLhers wlrlng her grandmoLher apologlzed Pe lnslsLed
on dolng so
much of lL hlmself Peres your room Cassle l hope you llke plnk
Cassle felL her eyes wlden as her grandmoLher opened Lhe door lL was llke a bedroom
seLLlng ln a
museum 1here was a fourposLer bed wlLh hanglngs cascadlng from Lhe head and fooL
and a canopy all
made of Lhe same dusLyrose flowered fabrlc 1here were chalrs wlLh hlgh carved backs
upholsLered ln a
maLchlng rose damask Cn a flreplace wlLh a hlgh manLel resLed a pewLer candlesLlck
and a chlna clock
and Lhere were several pleces of masslve rlchly glowlng furnlLure 1he whole Lhlng was
beauLlful buL so
grand
?ou can puL your cloLhes hereLhls chesL ls solld mahogany Cassles grandmoLher
was saylng 1he
deslgn ls called bombe and lL was made rlghL here ln MassachuseLLsLhls ls Lhe only
area ln all Lhecolonles LhaL produced lL
1he colonles? Cassle LhoughL wlldly sLarlng aL Lhe decoraLlve scroll Lop of Lhe chesL
And Lhls ls your dresslng Lable and your wardrobe Pave you looked ouL Lhe wlndows?
l LhoughL you
mlghL llke a corner room because you can see boLh souLh and easL
Cassle looked 1hrough one wlndow she could see Lhe road 1he oLher faced Lhe ocean
!usL now lL was
a sullen lead gray under Lhe darkenlng sky exacLly maLchlng Cassles mood
~ 40 ~

lll leave you here Lo geL seLLled ln Cassles grandmoLher sald Alexandra lve glven
you Lhe green
room aL Lhe opposlLe end of Lhe hallway
Cassles moLher gave her shoulder a qulck almosL Llmld squeeze And Lhen Cassle was
alone Alone wlLh
Lhe masslve ruddy furnlLure and Lhe cold flreplace and Lhe heavy draperles She saL
glngerly on a chalr
because she was afrald of Lhe bed
She LhoughL abouL her bedroom aL home wlLh her whlLe pressedwood furnlLure and
her hanLom of
Lhe Cpera posLers and Lhe new Cu player shed boughL wlLh her babyslLLlng money
Shed palnLed Lhe
bookcase pale blue Lo show off her unlcorn collecLlon She collecLed every klnd of
unlcorn Lhere was
sLuffed blown glass ceramlc pewLer 8ack home Clover had sald once LhaL Cassle was
llke a unlcorn
herself blue eyed shy and dlfferenL from everyone else All LhaL seemed Lo belong Lo a
former llfe now
She dldnL know how long she saL Lhere buL someLlme laLer she found Lhe plece of
chalcedony ln her
hand She musL have Laken lL ouL of her pockeL and now she was cllnglng Lo lL
lf youre ever ln Lrouble or danger she LhoughL and a wave of longlng swepL over her lL
was followed
by a wave of fury uonL be sLupld she Lold herself sharply ?oure noL ln danger And no
rock ls golng
~ 41 ~

Lo help you She had an lmpulse Lo Lhrow lL away buL lnsLead she [usL rubbed lL agalnsL
her cheek feellng
Lhe cool [agged smooLhness of Lhe crysLals lL made her remember hls Louchhow
genLle lL had been
Lhe way lL had plerced her Lo Lhe soul uarlngly she rubbed Lhe crysLal over her llps and
felL a sudden
Lhrob from all Lhe places on her skln he had Louched 1he hand he had heldshe could
sLlll feel hls
flngers prlnLed on her palm Per wrlsLshe felL Lhe llghL brush of cool flngerLlps ralslng
Lhe halrs Lhere
And Lhe back of lL She shuL her eyes and her breaLh caughL as she remembered LhaL
klss WhaL would
lL have felL llke she wondered lf hls llps had Louched where Lhe crysLal Louched now?
She leL her head
fall back drawlng Lhe cool sLone from her own llps down her LhroaL Lo resL ln Lhe hollow
where her pulse
beaL She could almosL feel hlm klsslng her as no boy ever had she could almosL
lmaglne LhaL lL really
was hls llps Lhere l would leL you she LhoughL even Lhough l wouldnL leL anyone else
l would LrusL
you
8uL hed lefL her Suddenly wlLh a shock she remembered LhaL Ped lefL her and gone
away [usL as Lhe
oLher mosL lmporLanL man ln Cassles llfe had
Cassle seldom LhoughL abouL her faLher She seldom allowed herself Lo Ped gone away
when she was
~ 42 ~

only a llLLle glrl lefL her moLher and her alone Lo Lake care of Lhemselves Cassles
moLher Lold people he
had dled buL Lo Cassle she admlLLed Lhe LruLh hed slmply lefL Maybe he was dead by
now or maybe he
was somewhere else wlLh anoLher famlly anoLher daughLer She and her moLher would
never know And
alLhough her moLher never spoke abouL hlm unless someone asked Cassle knew LhaL
hed broken her
moLhers hearL
Men always leave Cassle LhoughL her LhroaL achlng 1hey boLh lefL me And now lm
alone here lf
only l had somebody else Lo Lalk Lo a slsLer somebodyLyes sLlll shuL she leL Lhe hand
wlLh Lhe crysLal Lrall down and fall lnLo her lap She was so exhausLed wlLh
emoLlon LhaL she couldnL even geL up Lo go Lo Lhe bed She slmply saL Lhere drlfLlng ln
Lhe lonely dlmness
unLll her breaLhlng slowed and she fell asleep
1haL nlghL Cassle had a dreamor perhaps lL wasnL a dream She dreamed LhaL her
moLher and
grandmoLher came lnLo Lhe room movlng nolselessly almosL glldlng over Lhe floor ln
her dream she was
aware of Lhem buL she couldnL move as Lhey llfLed her from Lhe chalr and undressed
her and puL her Lo
bed 1hen Lhey sLood over Lhe bed looklng down aL her Per moLhers eyes were
sLrange and dark and
unfaLhomable
LlLLle Cassle her grandmoLher sald wlLh a slgh AL lasL 8uL whaL a plLy
~ 43 ~

Sh! her moLher sald sharply Shell wake up
Per grandmoLher slghed agaln 8uL you can see LhaL lLs Lhe only way
?es her moLher sald her volce empLy and reslgned l can see LhaL you canL escape
desLlny l
shouldnL have Lrled
1haLs [usL whaL l LhoughL Cassle reallzed as Lhe dream faded ?ou canL escape desLlny
vaguely she
could see her moLher and grandmoLher movlng Loward Lhe door and she could hear Lhe
whlsper of Lhelr
volces She couldnL make ouL any words Lhough unLll one slbllanL hlss came Lhrough
sacrlflce
She wasnL sure whlch of Lhe women had sald lL buL lL echoed over and over ln her
mlnd Lven as
darkness covered her she kepL hearlng lL Sacrlflce sacrlflce sacrlflce
lL was mornlng She was lylng ln Lhe fourposLer bed and sunllghL was sLreamlng ln Lhe
easLern wlndow lL
made Lhe plnk room look llke a rose peLal held up Lo Lhe llghL SorL of warm and shlnlng
Somewhere
ouLslde a blrd was slnglng
Cassle saL up She had a confused memory of some klnd of a dream buL lL was dlm and
vague Per nose
was sLuffed upprobably from crylngand she felL a llLLle llghLheaded buL noL really
bad She felL Lhe
way you do afLer belng very slck or very upseL and Lhen geLLlng some deep resLful
sleep sLrangely
~ 44 ~

spacey and peaceful 1he quleL afLer Lhe sLorm
She goL dressed !usL as she was abouL Lo leave Lhe room she noLlced Lhe chalcedony
lucky plece on Lhe
floor and sllpped lL ln her pockeL
no one else seemed Lo be awake Lven ln Lhe dayLlme Lhe long passage was dark and
cool llL only by
Lhe wlndows aL opposlLe ends Cassle found herself shlverlng as she walked down Lhe
hall and Lhe dlm
bulbs of Lhe wall lamps fllckered as lf ln sympaLhy
uownsLalrs was llghLer 8uL Lhere were so many rooms LhaL when she Lrled Lo explore
she qulckly goL
losL llnally she ended up ln Lhe fronL hallway and declded Lo go ouLslde
She wasnL even Lhlnklng abouL whyshe guessed she wanLed Lo see Lhe nelghborhood
Per sLeps Look
her down Lhe long narrow counLry road pasL house afLer house lL was so early no one
else was
ouLslde And evenLually she ended up aL Lhe preLLy yellow house wlLh Lhe LowersPlgh ln
one Lower Lhe wlndow was sparkllng
Cassle was sLarlng aL lL wonderlng why when she noLlced moLlon ln a groundfloor
wlndow much closer
Lo her lL was a llbrary or sLudy and sLandlng lnslde was a glrl 1he glrl was Lall and
slender wlLh an
lncredlbly long cascade of halr LhaL obscured her face as she benL over someLhlng on Lhe
desk ln fronL of
Lhe wlndow 1haL halrCassle couldnL Lake her eyes off lL lL was llke moonllghL and
sunllghL woven
~ 43 ~

LogeLherand lL was naLural no dark rooLs Cassle had never seen anyLhlng so
beauLlful
1hey were so closeCassle sLandlng [usL behlnd Lhe neaL hedge ouLslde Lhe wlndow
and Lhe glrl
sLandlng [usL lnslde faclng her buL looklng down Cassle waLched fasclnaLed aL whaL
Lhe glrl was dolng
aL Lhe desk 1he glrls hands moved gracefully grlndlng someLhlng up wlLh a morLar and
pesLle Splces?
WhaLever lL was Lhe glrls movemenLs were qulck and defL and her hands slender and
preLLy
And Cassle had Lhe oddesL feellng lf Lhe glrl would only look up she LhoughL !usL look
ouLslde her
own wlndow Cnce she dld Lhen someLhlng would happen Cassle dldnL know whaL
buL her skln had
broken ouL ln gooseflesh She had such a sense of connecLlon of klnshlp lf Lhe glrl
would [usL look up

?ell 1hrow a sLone aL Lhe wlndow Cassle was acLually looklng for a sLone when she saw
movemenL
agaln 1he glrl wlLh Lhe shlnlng halr was Lurnlng as lf respondlng Lo someone lnslde Lhe
house calllng her
Cassle had a gllmpse of a lovely dewy facebuL only for Lhe brlefesL lnsLanL 1hen Lhe
glrl had Lurned
and was hurrylng away halr flylng llke sllk behlnd her
Cassle leL ouL her breaLh
~ 46 ~

lL would have been sLupld anyway she Lold herself as she walked back home llne way
Lo lnLroduce
yourself Lo your nelghborsLhrowlng rocks aL Lhem 8uL Lhe sense of crushlng
dlsappolnLmenL remalned
She felL LhaL somehow shed never have anoLher chanceshed never geL up Lhe
courage Lo lnLroduce
herself Lo LhaL glrl Anyone LhaL beauLlful undoubLedly had plenLy of frlends wlLhouL
Cassle undoubLedly
wenL wlLh a crowd far beyond Cassles orblL
Per grandmoLhers flaL square house looked even worse afLer Lhe sunny vlcLorlan one
ulsconsolaLely
Cassle drlfLed over Lo Lhe bluff Lo look down aL Lhe ocean
8lue A color so lnLense she dldnL know how Lo descrlbe lL She waLched Lhe waLer
washlng around a
dark rock and felL a queer Lhrlll 1he wlnd blew her halr back and she sLared ouL aL Lhe
mornlng sun
gllLLerlng on Lhe waves She felL klnshlp agaln As lf someLhlng were speaklng Lo her
blood Lo
someLhlng deep lnslde her WhaL was lL abouL Lhls placeabouL LhaL glrl? She felL she
could almosL grasp
lL
Cassle!
SLarLled Cassle looked around Per grandmoLher was calllng from Lhe doorway of Lhe
old wlng of Lhe
house
Are you all rlghL? lor heavens sake geL away from Lhe edge!
~ 47 ~

Cassle looked down and lmmedlaLely felL a wave of verLlgo Per Loes were almosL off
Lhe bluff l dldnL
reallze l was LhaL close she sald sLepplng back
Per grandmoLher sLared aL her Lhen nodded Well come away now and lll geL you
some breakfasL
she sald uo you llke pancakes?
leellng a llLLle shy Cassle nodded She had some vague memory abouL a dream LhaL
made heruncomforLable buL she deflnlLely felL beLLer Lhls mornlng Lhan she had
yesLerday She followed her
grandmoLher Lhrough Lhe door whlch was much Lhlcker and heavler Lhan a modern
one
1he fronL door of Lhe orlglnal house her grandmoLher explalned She dldnL seem Lo
be havlng much
Lrouble wlLh her leg Loday Cassle noLlced SLrange Lo have lL lead dlrecLly lnLo Lhe
klLchen lsnL lL? 8uL
LhaL was how Lhey dld Lhlngs ln Lhose days SlL down why donL you whlle l make Lhe
pancakes
8uL Cassle was sLarlng ln amazemenL 1he klLchen was llke no klLchen shed ever seen
before 1here was
a gas range and a refrlgeraLoreven a mlcrowave shoved back on a wooden counLer
buL Lhe resL of lL
was llke someLhlng ouL of a movle seL uomlnaLlng Lhe room was an enormous open
flreplace as blg as a
walkln closeL and alLhough Lhere was no flre now Lhe Lhlck layer of ashes aL Lhe
boLLom showed LhaL lL
was someLlmes used lnslde an lron poL hung on an lron crossbar Cver Lhe flreplace
were sprays of
~ 48 ~

drled flowers and planLs whlch gave off a pleasanL fragrance
And as for Lhe woman ln fronL of Lhe hearLh
CrandmoLhers were supposed Lo be plnk and cozy wlLh sofL laps and large checklng
accounLs 1hls
woman looked sLooped and coarse wlLh her grlzzled halr and Lhe promlnenL mole on
her cheek Cassle
kepL half expecLlng her Lo go over Lo Lhe lron poL and sLlr lL whlle muLLerlng uouble
double Loll and
Lrouble
lmmedlaLely afLer she LhoughL Lhls she felL ashamed 1haLs your grandmoLher she Lold
herself flercely
?our only llvlng relaLlve besldes your moLher lLs noL her faulL shes old and ugly So
donL [usL slL here
Say someLhlng nlce
Ch Lhanks she sald as her grandmoLher placed a plaLe of sLeamlng pancakes ln fronL
of her 1hen she
added uh are Lhose drled flowers over Lhe flreplace? 1hey smell good
Lavender and hyssop her grandmoLher sald When youre done eaLlng lll show you
my garden lf you
llke
ld love lL Cassle sald LruLhfully
8uL when her grandmoLher led her ouLslde afLer shed flnlshed eaLlng Lhe scene was far
dlfferenL Lhan
Cassle had expecLed 1here were some flowers buL for Lhe mosL parL Lhe garden [usL
looked llke
~ 49 ~

weeds and bushesrow afLer row of overgrown uncaredfor weeds and bushes
Chhow nlce Cassle sald Maybe Lhe old lady was senlle afLer all WhaL unusual
planLs
Per grandmoLher shoL her a shrewd amused glance 1heyre herbs she sald Pere
Lhls ls lemon balm
Smell
Cassle Look Lhe hearLshaped leaf wrlnkled llke a mlnL leaf buL a llLLle blgger and
snlffed lL had Lhe scenL
of freshly peeled lemon 1haL ls nlce she sald surprlsed
And Lhls ls lrench sorrelLasLe
Cassle glngerly Look Lhe small rounded leaf and nlbbled aL Lhe end 1he LasLe was sharp
and refreshlng
lLs goodllke sour grass! she sald looklng up aL her grandmoLher who smlled WhaL
are Lhose?
Cassle sald nlbbllng agaln as she polnLed Lo some brlghL yellow buLLons of flowers
1haLs Lansy 1he ones LhaL look llke whlLe dalsles are feverfew leverfew leaves are
good ln salads
Cassle was lnLrlgued WhaL abouL Lhose? She polnLed Lo some creamy whlLe flowers
LhaL Lwlned upoLher bushes
Poneysuckle l keep lL [usL because lL smells good 1he bees love lL and Lhe buLLerflles
ln sprlng lLs llke
Crand CenLral SLaLlon around here
Cassle reached ouL Lo snap off a fragranL sLem of dellcaLe flower buds Lhen sLopped
Could ll LhoughL
ld Lake some up for my room lf you donL mlnd l mean
~ 30 ~

Ch good heavens Lake as many as you wanL 1haLs whaL Lheyre here for
Shes noL really old and ugly aL all Cassle LhoughL snapplng off sLems of Lhe creamy
flowers Shes [usL
dlfferenL ulfferenL doesnL necessarlly mean bad
1hanksCrandma she sald as Lhey wenL back lnLo Lhe house 1hen she opened her
mouLh agaln Lo
ask abouL Lhe yellow house and who llved Lhere
8uL her grandmoLher was plcklng up someLhlng from beslde Lhe mlcrowave
Pere Cassle 1hls came ln Lhe mall for you yesLerday She handed Cassle Lwo bookleLs
bound ln
consLrucLlon paper one red and one whlLe
new Salem Plgh School SLudenL and arenL Pandbook one read 1he oLher read new
Salem Plgh
School rogram of SLudles
Ch my Cod Cassle LhoughL School
new hallways new lockers new classrooms new faces 1here was a sllp of paper
beLween Lhe
bookleLs wlLh Schedule of Classes prlnLed boldly aL Lhe Lop And under LhaL her name
wlLh her address
llsLed as number 1welve Crowhaven 8oad new Salem
Per grandmoLher mlghL noL be as bad as shed LhoughL even Lhe house mlghL Lurn ouL
Lo be noL so awful
8uL whaL abouL school? Pow could she ever face school here ln new Salem?

~ 31 ~







ChapLer llve

1he gray cashmere sweaLer or Lhe blueandwhlLe lalr lsle cardlgan LhaL was Lhe
quesLlon Cassle sLood ln fronL of Lhe gllLframed mlrror holdlng flrsL one and Lhen Lhe
oLher ln fronL of her 1he blue cardlgan she declded blue was her favorlLe color and lL
broughL ouL Lhe blue of her eyes 1he plump cherubs on Lop of Lhe oldfashloned
looklng glass seemed Lo agree smlllng aL her approvlngly
now LhaL Lhe flrsL day of school had acLually come Cassle found LhaL she was exclLed
Cf course she was nervous Loo buL lL wasnL Lhe sLark and hopeless dread shed
expecLed Lo feel 1here was someLhlng lnLeresLlng abouL beglnnlng school ln a new
place lL was llke sLarLlng her llfe over Maybe shed adopL a whole new personallLy 8ack
home her frlends would probably descrlbe her as nlce buL shy or fun buL klnd of
quleL 8uL no one here knew LhaL Maybe Lhls year shed be Cassle Lhe LxLroverL or
even Cassle Lhe arLy Clrl Maybe shed even be good enough for Lhe glrl wlLh Lhe
shlnlng halr Cassles hearL beaL more qulckly aL Lhe LhoughL
~ 32 ~

lL all depended on flrsL lmpresslons lL was vlLal she geL off Lo a good sLarL Cassle pulled
on Lhe blue sweaLer and anxlously checked her reflecLlon agaln ln Lhe mlrror
She wlshed Lhere were someLhlng more Lo do wlLh her own halr lL was sofL and lL
waved sllghLly wlLh preLLy hlghllghLs buL she wlshed she could do someLhlng more
dramaLlc wlLh lL Llke Lhe glrl ln Lhls ad she glanced aL Lhe magazlne open on Lhe
dresslng Lable Shed boughL lL speclally when shed drlven lnLo Lown lasL week so she
could see Lhe backLoschool fashlons Shed never goLLen Lhe courage Lo walk up Lo Lhe
yellow vlcLorlan house agaln alLhough shed crulsed by lL slowly ln her grandmoLhers
volkswagen 8abblL hoplng valnly Lo bump lnLo Lhe glrl accldenLally
?es Lomorrow shed pull her halr back llke Lhe model ln Lhe ad she declded
!usL as she was abouL Lo sLep away someLhlng on Lhe opposlLe page of Lhe magazlne
caughL her eye A horoscope column Per blrLh slgn Cancer seemed Lo be sLarlng ouL aL
her AuLomaLlcally her eyes followed Lhe words afLer lL
1haL daggy lnsecure feellng has goL you agaln lLs Llme for poslLlve Lhlnklng! lf LhaL
doesnL work remember LhaL noLhlng lasLs forever 1ry noL Lo make waves ln your
personal relaLlonshlps Lhls monLh ?ouve goL enough Lo cope wlLh already
Poroscopes are such garbage Cassle LhoughL closlng Lhe magazlne wlLh a slap Per
moLher had always sald so and lL was Lrue 1haL daggy lnsecure feellng [usL Lelllng
someone Lhey felL lnsecure was enough Lo make Lhem feel lL! 1here was noLhlng
supernaLural abouL LhaL
8uL lf she dldnL belleve ln Lhe supernaLural whaL was Lhe chalcedony lucky plece dolng
ln Lhe zlpper comparLmenL of her backpack? SeLLlng her [aw she Look lL ouL and puL lL ln
her [ewelry box Lhen wenL downsLalrs Lo say goodbye
1he school was an lmpresslve LhreesLory red brlck bulldlng So lmpresslve LhaL afLer
Cassle had parked Lhe 8abblL she was almosL afrald Lo go any closer 1here were several
narrow paLhs LhaL led up Lhe hlll and she flnally nerved herself Lo Lake one AL Lhe Lop
her LhroaL closed and she slmply sLared
Cod lL looked llke a college or someLhlng Llke a hlsLorlcal landmark 1he bold sLone
faclng on Lhe fronL read nLW SALLM PlCP SCPCCL and below was a sorL of cresL wlLh
Lhe words 1own of new Salem lncorporaLed 1693 Was LhaL how old Lhls Lown was?
~ 33 ~

1hree hundred years? 8ack ln 8eseda Lhe oldesL bulldlngs around had been Lhere for
maybe flfLy years
l am noL shy Cassle Lold herself forclng herself Lo walk forward l am Cassle Lhe
ConfldenL
An lncredlbly loud roar made her head [erk around and sheer lnsLlncL senL her [umplng
Lo Lhe slde [usL ln Llme Lo avold belng run over PearL poundlng she sLood and gawked
aL whaL had almosL hlL her lL was a moLorcycle on Lhe blke paLh 8uL even more
asLonlshlng was lLs rlder a glrl She was wearlng LlghL black [eans and a moLorcycle
[ackeL and her Lrlm aLhleLlc body looked Lough 8uL when she Lurned around afLer
parklng Lhe moLorcycle by a blke rack Cassle saw LhaL her face was ravlshlngly preLLy lL
was small and femlnlne framed by Lumbllng dark curls and marred only by a sullen
belllgerenL expresslon
WhaL are you sLarlng aL? Lhe glrl demanded suddenly
Cassle sLarLed She supposed she had been sLarlng 1he glrl Look a sLep forward and
Cassle found herself sLepplng back
lm sorry l dldnL mean Lo She Lrled Lo Lear her eyes away buL lL was hard 1he glrl
was wearlng a sklmpy black mldrlff Lop under Lhe [ackeL and Cassle gllmpsed whaL
looked llke a small LaLLoo [usL above Lhe maLerlal A LaLLoo of a crescenL moon lm
sorry Cassle sald agaln helplessly
?ou beLLer be ?ou keep ouL of my face geL lL?
?ou were Lhe one who almosL ran me over Cassle LhoughL 8uL she nodded hasLlly and
Lo her vasL rellef Lhe glrl Lurned away
Cod whaL a horrlble way Lo sLarL Lhe flrsL day of school Cassle LhoughL hurrylng Loward
Lhe enLrance WhaL a horrlble person Lo be Lhe flrsL one you spoke Lo Well aL leasL
afLer a beglnnlng llke LhaL Lhlngs could only geL beLLer
All around her Leenagers were greeLlng one anoLher shouLlng hello Lhe glrls glggllng
and hugglng Lhe boys horslng around lL was an exclLed busLle and everybody seemed
Lo know everybody else
~ 34 ~

LxcepL Cassle She sLood looklng aL Lhe fresh halrcuLs of Lhe guys Lhe brandnew cloLhes
of Lhe glrls smelllng Lhe scenLs of Loo much perfume and unnecessary afLershave and
feellng more alone Lhan she ever had ln her llfe
keep movlng she Lold herself sLernly uonL sLand around looklng for LhaL glrl flnd your
flrsL class Maybe youll see somebody Lhere whos alone and you can Lalk Lo Lhem
?ouve goL Lo look exLroverLed lf you wanL people Lo Lhlnk you are
Per flrsL class was wrlLlng for publlcaLlon an Lngllsh elecLlve and Cassle was glad she
had lL She llked creaLlve wrlLlng and Lhe rogram of SLudles had sald LhaL Lhe class
would offer opporLunlLles for publlcaLlon ln Lhe school llLerary magazlne and
newspaper Shed worked on Lhe newspaper ln her old school maybe she could here
Loo
Cf course Lhe rogram also sald you had Lo slgn up for wrlLlng for publlcaLlon Lhe
prevlous sprlng and Cassle sLlll couldnL qulLe undersLand how her grandmoLher had
goLLen her enrolled [usL before school sLarLed Maybe her grandmoLher had speclal pull
wlLh Lhe admlnlsLraLlon or someLhlng
She found Lhe class wlLhouL much Lrouble and Look an lnconsplcuous desk near Lhe
back 1he room was fllllng up and everyone seemed Lo have someone Lo Lalk Lo
nobody Look Lhe sllghLesL noLlce of Cassle
She began doodllng feroclously on Lhe fronL of her noLebook Lrylng Lo look LoLally
lnvolved ln lL Lrylng Lo look as lf she werenL Lhe only one ln class slLLlng alone
?oure new arenL you?
1he boy ln fronL of her had Lurned around Pls smlle was genulnely frlendly buL lL was
also dazzllng and she had a feellng he knew exacLly how dazzllng lL was Pls halr was
auburn and curly and lL was clear LhaL when he sLood hed be very Lall
?oure new he sald agaln
?es sald Cassle and was furlous Lo hear her volce shake 8uL Lhls guy was so good
looklng lm Cassle 8lake l [usL moved here from Callfornla
lm !effrey Love[oy he sald
~ 33 ~

Ch Cassle sald Lrylng Lo make lL sound as lf shed heard of hlm before slnce Lhls
seemed Lo be whaL he expecLed
CenLer on Lhe baskeLball Leam he sald Also capLaln
Ch how greaL Ch how sLupld She had Lo do beLLer Lhan Lhls She sounded bralnless
l mean LhaL musL be really lnLeresLlng
Are you lnLeresLed ln baskeLball? Maybe we could Lalk abouL lL someLlme Suddenly
Cassle felL very graLeful Lo hlm Pe was lgnorlng her blunderlng her lameness Ckay so
maybe he llked Lo be admlred buL whaL dlfference dld LhaL make? Pe was nlce and lL
would deflnlLely lmprove her sLaLus Lo be seen around Lhe campus wlLh hlm

1haL would be greaL she sald wlshlng she could Lhlnk of anoLher ad[ecLlve Maybe
maybe aL lunch
A shadow fell over her Cr aL leasL LhaL was how lL felL ln any case she was aware all aL
once of a presence aL her slde a presence LhaL made her volce Lrall off blankly as she
looked up wldeeyed
A glrl was sLandlng Lhere Lhe mosL sLrlklng glrl Cassle had ever seen A blg beauLlful glrl
boLh Lall and volupLuous She had a mane of plLchblack halr and her pale skln was
Louched wlLh Lhe glow of confldence and power
Pello !effrey she sald Per volce was low for a glrls vlbranL and almosL husky
laye !effreys volce by conLrasL was noLlceably unenLhuslasLlc Pe looked Lense
Pl
1he glrl leaned over hlm one hand on Lhe back of hls chalr and Cassle caughL Lhe scenL
of some heady perfume l dldnL see much of you over summer vacaLlon she sald
Whereve you been?
Around !effrey sald llghLly 8uL hls smlle was forced and hls enLlre body was LauL
now
?ou shouldnL keep yourself hldden away llke LhaL naughLy boy laye leaned ln closer
yeL She was wearlng an offLheshoulder Lop compleLely off boLh shoulders lL lefL a
~ 36 ~

greaL deal of skln exposed [usL aL !effreys eye level 8uL lL was her face Cassle couldnL
help sLarlng aL She had a sensuous sulky mouLh and exLraordlnary honeycolored eyes
1hey seemed almosL Lo glow wlLh a sLrange golden llghL ?ou know Lheres a new
horror movle aL Lhe Caprl Lhls week she sald l llke horror movles !effrey
l can Lake Lhem or leave Lhem myself !effrey sald
laye chuckled a rlch dlsLurblng sound Maybe you [usL havenL seen Lhem wlLh Lhe
rlghL glrl she murmured under Lhe proper clrcumsLances l Lhlnk Lhey can be very
sLlmulaLlng
Cassle felL embarrassed blood rlse Lo her cheeks Lhough she scarcely knew why !effrey
weL hls llps looklng fasclnaLed ln splLe of hlmself buL also scared Llke a rabblL ln a Lrap

l was golng Lo Lake Sally down Lo CloucesLer Lhls weekend he began volce sLralned
Well youll [usL have Lo Lell Sally LhaL someLhlng came up laye sald raklng hlm wlLh
her eyes ?ou can come geL me SaLurday nlghL aL seven
laye l
Ch and donL be laLe all rlghL? l haLe lL when boys are laLe
All Lhls Llme Lhe blackhalred glrl had noL even glanced aL Cassle 8uL now as she
sLralghLened up Lo leave she dld 1he look she Lurned on Cassle was sly and secreLlve
as lf she were perfecLly aware LhaL Cassle had been llsLenlng and she llked lL 1hen she
Lurned back Lo !effrey
Ch and by Lhe way she sald llfLlng one hand ln a languld gesLure LhaL showed off her
long red nalls shes from Crowhaven 8oad Loo
!effreys [aw dropped Pe sLared aL Cassle a momenL wlLh an expresslon of shock and
dlsLasLe and Lhen he qulckly Lurned around Lo face Lhe fronL of Lhe room laye was
chuckllng as she walked away Lo Lake a seaL aL Lhe very back
WhaL ls golng on? Cassle LhoughL wlldly WhaL dlfference dld lL make where she llved?
1he only Lhlng she could see now of !effreyofLhedazzllngsmlle was hls rlgld back
~ 37 ~

She had no Llme Lo Lhlnk anyLhlng more because Lhe Leacher was Lalklng Pe was a
mlldlooklng man wlLh a graylng beard and glasses Pe lnLroduced hlmself as Mr
Pumphrles
And slnce youve all had a chance Lo Lalk durlng your summer vacaLlon now lll glve you
a chance Lo wrlLe he sald l wanL each of you Lo wrlLe a poem rlghL now
sponLaneously Well read some of Lhem aloud afLerward 1he poem can be abouL
anyLhlng buL lf you have Lrouble Lhlnklng of a sub[ecL wrlLe abouL your dreams
1here were groans from Lhe class whlch gradually dled lnLo sllence and pen chewlng
8uL Cassle benL over her noLebook wlLh her hearL beaLlng rapldly A vague memory of
her dream of lasL week lnLruded Lhe one where her moLher and grandmoLher had
sLood over her 8uL she dldnL wanL Lo wrlLe abouL LhaL She wanLed Lo wrlLe abouL hlm
AfLer a few mlnuLes she scrlbbled down a llne When Mr Pumphrles announced LhaL
Lhe Llme was up she had a poem and readlng lL over she felL a Lhln chlll of exclLemenL
lL was good or aL leasL she LhoughL so
WhaL lf Lhe Leacher called on her Lo read lL ouL loud? She dldnL wanL hlm Lo of course
buL whaL lf he made her and whaL lf somebody else ln class LhoughL lL was good and
wanLed Lo Lalk Lo her afLerward? Maybe Lheyd ask her abouL Lhe guy ln Lhe poem and
Lhen she could Lell Lhem Lhe mysLerlous and romanLlc sLory abouL hlm Maybe shed geL
a repuLaLlon for belng klnd of mysLerlous and romanLlc herself Maybe Lhe glrl ln Lhe
vlcLorlan house would hear abouL her
Mr Pumphrles was calllng for volunLeers redlcLably no hands were ralsed unLll one
wenL up ln Lhe back
1he Leacher heslLaLed Cassle Lurned Lo see LhaL Lhe ralsed hand had long red nalls
laye Chamberlaln Mr Pumphrles sald aL lasL
Pe saL on Lhe edge of hls desk as Lhe Lall sLrlklng glrl came Lo sLand beslde hlm buL
Cassle had Lhe oddesL feellng LhaL he would have moved away lf he could An almosL
palpable alr of Lenslon had fllled Lhe room and all eyes were on laye
She Lossed her glorlous mane of black halr back and shrugged causlng her offLhe
shoulder Lop Lo sllp down a llLLle lower 1llLlng her head back she smlled slowly aL Lhe
class and held up a plece of paper
~ 38 ~

1hls ls my poem she sald ln her lazy husky volce lLs abouL flre
Shocked Cassle looked down aL Lhe poem on her own desk 1hen layes volce caughL
her aLLenLlon
l dream abouL flre
1ongues of flame llcklng me
My halr burns llke a Lorch
My body burns for you
1ouch my skln and your flngers wlll sLlck
?oull blacken llke a clnder
8uL youll dle smlllng
1hen youll be parL of Lhe flre Loo
As Lhe enLlre class waLched rlveLed laye produced a maLch and somehow Cassle
dldnL qulLe see how managed Lo llghL lL She Louched lL Lo Lhe paper and Lhe paper
caughL flre 1hen walklng slowly she moved Lo sLand dlrecLly ln fronL of !effrey Love[oy
wavlng Lhe burnlng paper genLly before hls eyes
Powls whlsLles and desk banglng from Lhe audlence Many of Lhem looked scared buL
mosL of Lhe guys looked exclLed Loo Some of Lhe glrls looked as lf Lhey wlshed Lhey
dared Lo do someLhlng llke LhaL
volces called ouL See !effrey LhaLs whaL you geL for belng so cuLe! Co for lL man!
WaLch ouL !eff Sallys gonna hear abouL Lhls!
!effrey [usL saL Lhere Lhe back of hls neck slowly flushlng dull red
As Lhe paper was abouL Lo burn her flngers laye sashayed away from !effrey agaln and
dropped lL ln Lhe meLal wasLebaskeL by Lhe Leachers desk Mr Pumphrles dldnL fllnch
when someLhlng ln Lhe wasLebaskeL flared up and Cassle admlred hlm for LhaL
~ 39 ~

1hank you laye he sald evenly Class l Lhlnk we can call whaL weve [usL seen an
example of concreLe poeLry 1omorrow well sLudy some more LradlLlonal meLhods
Class dlsmlssed
laye walked ouL Lhe door 1here was an lnsLanLs pause Lhen as lf everyone had been
released by a sprlng a sudden mass exodus !effrey grabbed hls noLebook and was
gone
Cassle looked aL her own poem llre She and laye had boLh wrlLLen abouL Lhe same
Lhlng
Suddenly she Lore Lhe sheeL ouL and crumpllng lL lnLo a ball LhrusL lL lnLo her backpack
So much for her dreams of belng romanLlc and mysLerlous WlLh a glrl llke LhaL around
who was ever golng Lo noLlce Cassle?
And yeL Lhey all seemed almosL afrald of her she LhoughL Lven Lhe Leacher Why dldnL
he glve her a deLenLlon or someLhlng? Cr ls llghLlng flres ln Lrash cans normal ln new
Salem?
And why dld !effrey leL her hlL on hlm LhaL way? And why dld he care where l llve for
Cods sake?
ln Lhe hall she nerved herself Lo sLop someone and ask where room C310 was
lLs on Lhe Lhlrd floor Lhe glrl sald All Lhe maLh classes are Co up LhaL sLalrway
?o! Look ouL! Peads up everybody! a shouLlng volce lnLerrupLed SomeLhlng was
whlzzlng down Lhe hall scaLLerlng sLudenLs rlghL and lefL from lLs paLh 1wo someLhlngs
uumbfounded Cassle saw LhaL lL was Lwo guys on roller blades laughlng and bellowlng
as Lhey Lore Lhrough Lhe crowd Cassle had a gllmpse of dlsheveled shoulderlengLh
blond halr and almondshaped sllghLly LllLed bluegreen eyes as one passed and Lhen
she saw lL all agaln as Lhe second one sLreaked by 1he boys were ldenLlcal excepL LhaL
one was wearlng a MegadeLh 1shlrL and Lhe oLhers sald MoLley Cre
1hey were creaLlng chaos as Lhey wenL knocklng books ouL of peoples arms and
grabblng aL glrls cloLhes As Lhey reached Lhe end of Lhe hallway one of Lhem caughL a
preLLy redheads mlnlsklrL and defLly fllpped lL up Lo walsL level 1he glrl shrleked and
dropped her backpack Lo push lL down
~ 60 ~

Why doesnL somebody do someLhlng? Cassle blurLed ouL Was everybody ln Lhls
school crazy? Why doesnL somebody sLop Lhem or reporL Lhem or someLhlng
Are you klddlng? 1hose are Lhe Penderson broLhers Lhe glrl sald and she walked
away [olnlng anoLher glrl Cassle heard a fragmenL of a senLence floaL back doesnL
even know abouL Lhe Club and boLh glrls glanced back aL her Lhen walked on
WhaL Club? 1haL glrl had sald lL as lf lL had caplLal leLLers WhaL dld a club have Lo do
wlLh breaklng school rules? WhaL klnd of place was Lhls?
AnoLher bell rang and Cassle reallzed LhaL she was now laLe for class She slung her
backpack over her shoulder and ran for Lhe sLalrs
8y lunchLlme she sLlll hadnL exchanged more Lhan a hl or hello wlLh anyone no
maLLer how she Lrled And she hadnL seen Lhe glrl wlLh Lhe shlnlng halr anywhere noL
LhaL LhaL was really surprlslng conslderlng Lhe many floors and corrldors of Lhls school
ln her presenL sLaLe of lnsecurlLy Cassle wouldnL have dared Lo approach Lhe glrl lf she
had seen her A leaden mlserable feellng had seLLled ln her sLomach
And one glance aL Lhe glasswalled cafeLerla Leemlng wlLh laughlng sLudenLs made her
knees go weak
She couldnL face lL She [usL dldnL have Lhe nerve
Arms wrapped around herself she walked away and kepL walklng She walked rlghL
Lhrough Lhe maln enLrance and ouL Lhe door She dldnL know where she was golng
maybe she was golng home 8uL Lhen she saw Lhe lush green grass of Lhe hlll
no she declded lll [usL eaL here arLway down Lhe hlll Lhere were several craggy
ouLcrops of naLural rock and she found she could slL comforLably ln a llLLle hollow below
one shaded by a Lree She was shlelded by Lhe rock from Lhe school lL was almosL as lf
Lhe school dldnL exlsL She could look down a fllghL of meanderlng sLeps Lo Lhe boLLom
of Lhe hlll and Lhe road beyond buL no one from above could see her
As she saL looklng aL Lhe dandellons doLLlng Lhe grass Lhe Lenslon gradually dralned ouL
of her So whaL lf Lhe mornlng hadnL been Lhe greaLesL? 1hlngs would be beLLer Lhls
afLernoon 1he clear blue sky seemed Lo Lell her LhaL
And Lhe rock aL her back Lhe famous red granlLe of new Lngland gave her a feellng of
securlLy lL was sLrange buL she almosL felL she could hear a buzzlng ln Lhe rock llke a
~ 61 ~

hearLbeaL Lremendously speeded up A buzzlng of llfe lf l puL my cheek Lo lL l wonder
whaL would happen? she LhoughL wlLh a curlous exclLemenL
volces dlsLracLed her ulsmayed Cassle knelL up Lo look over Lhe Lop of Lhe rock and
Lensed
lL was LhaL glrl laye 1here were Lwo oLher glrls wlLh her and one of Lhem was Lhe blker
whod nearly run Cassle over LhaL mornlng 1he oLher was a sLrawberry blond wlLh a Llny
walsL and Lhe mosL welldeveloped chesL Cassle had ever seen on a Leenager 1hey were
laughlng and saunLerlng down Lhe sLeps rlghL Loward Cassle
lll [usL sLand up and say hl Cassle LhoughL buL she dldnL 1he memory of Lhose
dlsLurblng honeycolored eyes was sLlll wlLh her She kepL quleL and hoped Lheyd pass
her by go all Lhe way down Lhe hlll and off campus
lnsLead Lhey sLopped on Lhe landlng [usL above Cassle slLLlng wlLh Lhelr feeL on Lhe
sLeps below and pulllng ouL paper lunch bags
1hey were so close LhaL Cassle could see Lhe red sLone blazlng aL layes LhroaL AlLhough
she was ln shadow now lf she moved Lhey wouldnL be able Lo mlss her She was
Lrapped
uld anybody follow us ueborah? laye asked lazlly as she rummaged Lhrough her
backpack
1he blker glrl snorLed nobodys sLupld enough Lo Lry
Cood 8ecause Lhls ls Lop secreL l donL wanL youknowwho Lo hear anyLhlng abouL
lL laye sald She Look ouL a sLenographers noLebook wlLh a red cover and lald lL on her
knee now leL me see whaL shall we do Lo sLarL Lhls year off? l feel llke someLhlng
really wlcked




~ 62 ~










ChapLer Slx

Well Lheres !effrey Lhe sLrawberry blond sald
Already begun laye sald smlllng l work fasL Suzan
Suzan laughed When she dld her exLraordlnary chesL [lggled ln a way LhaL made Cassle
cerLaln she wasnL wearlng anyLhlng underneaLh her aprlcoLcolored sweaLer
l sLlll donL see Lhe polnL of !effrey Love[oy Lhe blker glrl sald scowllng
?ou donL see Lhe polnL of any guy ueborah LhaLs your problem sald Suzan
And your problem ls LhaL you canL see Lhe polnL of anyLhlng else ueborah reLorLed
8uL !effreys worse Lhan mosL Pes goL more LeeLh Lhan braln cells
lL lsnL hls LeeLh lm lnLeresLed ln sald laye LhoughLfully Who are you golng Lo sLarL
wlLh Suzan?
~ 63 ~

Ch l donL know lLs so hard Lo declde 1heres Mark llemmlng and 8ranL Pegerwood
and uavld uowney hes ln my remedlal Lngllsh class and hes developed Lhls klller
body over Lhe summer And Lhen Lheres always nlck
ueborah hooLed Cur nlck? 1he only way hed look aL you ls lf you had four wheels and
a cluLch
And besldes hes Laken laye sald and her smlle remlnded Cassle of a crouchlng
[ungle caL
?ou [usL sald you wanLed !effrey
1hey boLh have Lhelr uses CeL Lhls sLralghL Suzan nlck and l have an arrangemenL
So you [usL back off and plck yourself a nlce ouLslder all rlghL?
1here was a momenL of Lenslon and Lhen Lhe sLrawberry blond shrugged Ckay lll
Lake uavld uowney l dldnL really wanL nlck anyway Pes an lguana
ueborah looked up Pes my cousln!

Pes sLlll an lguana Pe klssed me aL Lhe [unlor prom and lL was llke klsslng a repLlle
Can we geL back Lo buslness? laye sald Whos on Lhe haLe llsL?
Sally WalLman Suzan sald lmmedlaLely
She already Lhlnks because shes class presldenL she can sLand up Lo us and lf you Lake
!effrey shes golng Lo be really mad
Sally lay mused ?es well have Lo come up wlLh someLhlng Lruly speclal for dear
old Sally WhaLs wrong ueborah?
ueborah had sLlffened looklng up Lhe hlll Loward Lhe school enLrance lnLruder alerL
she sald ln facL lL looks llke a whole delegaLlon
Cassle had seen lL Loo a group of guys and glrls comlng Lhrough Lhe maln enLrance
down Lhe hlll She felL a surge of hope Maybe whlle laye and Lhe oLher Lwo were
~ 64 ~

occupled wlLh Lhem she herself could sllp away unnoLlced PearL beaLlng qulckly she
waLched Lhe new group approach
A broadshouldered boy ln fronL who seemed Lo be Lhe leader spoke up
Look laye Lhe cafeLerlas crowded So were golng Lo eaL ouL here okay? Pls volce
sLarLed ouL belllgerenL buL lL wavered Loward Lhe end becomlng more of a quesLlon
Lhan a sLaLemenL
laye looked up aL hlm wlLhouL hasLe Lhen smlled her slow beauLlful smlle no she
sald brlefly and sweeLly lL lsnL okay 1hen she Lurned back Lo her lunch
Pow come? Lhe boy bursL ouL sLlll Lrylng Lo sound Lough ?ou dldnL sLop us lasL
year
LasL year laye sald we were only [unlors 1hls year were senlors and were wlcked
As wlcked as we wanna be
ueborah and Suzan smlled

lrusLraLed Cassle shlfLed her welghL So far Lhere had never been a momenL when all
Lhree of Lhe glrls were looklng away Come on Lurn around she LhoughL pleadlngly
1he group of guys and glrls wenL on sLandlng Lhere for a mlnuLe or Lwo exchanglng
angry glances 8uL flnally Lhey Lurned and walked back Loward Lhe school bulldlng all
excepL one
uh laye? uld you mean l had Lo go Loo? she sald She was a preLLy flushed glrl and
young robably a sophomore Cassle guessed Cassle expecLed her Lo geL packed off
llke Lhe oLhers buL Lo her surprlse laye ralsed her eyebrows and Lhen paLLed Lhe
landlng lnvlLlngly
Why korl she sald of course you can sLay We [usL lmaglned youd be eaLlng ln Lhe
cafeLerla wlLh Lhe rlncess of urlLy and Lhe resL of Lhe goodygoodles
korl saL down 1oo much goodness can geL borlng she sald
~ 63 ~

laye LllLed her head and smlled And Lhere l LhoughL you were a nambypamby llLLle
urlLan Sllly me she sald Well you know youre always welcome here ?oure almosL
one of us arenL you?
korl ducked her head lll be flfLeen ln Lwo weeks
1here you see laye sald Lo Lhe oLhers Shes almosL ellglble now whaL were we
Lalklng abouL? 1haL new slasher movle wasnL lL?
1haLs rlghL ueborah sald showlng her LeeLh 1he one where Lhe guy chops people
up and makes Lhem lnLo condlmenLs aL hls salad bar
Suzan was unwrapplng a 1wlnkle Ch ueborah donL ?oure maklng me slck
Well you make me slck wlLh Lhose Lhlngs ueborah sald ?ou never sLop eaLlng Lhem
1haLs whaL Lhose are you know she Lold korl polnLlng aL Suzans chesL 1wo glanL
1wlnkles lf PosLess wenL ouL of buslness shed be wearlng a double A
laye laughed her sleepy LhroaLy laugh and even Suzan glggled korl was smlllng Loo
buL looklng uncomforLable
korl! Were noL embarrasslng you are we? laye exclalmed openlng her golden eyes
wlde
uonL be sllly l donL embarrass easlly korl sald
Well wlLh broLhers llke yours l should Lhlnk noL SLlll laye wenL on you seem so
young you know almosL vlrglnal 8uL LhaLs probably [usL a false lmpresslon rlghL?
korl was blushlng now All Lhree senlor glrls were looklng aL her wlLh lnslnuaLlng smlles
Well sure l mean lL ls a false lmpresslon lm noL all LhaL young korl swallowed
looklng confused l wenL ouL wlLh !lmmy Clark all lasL summer she ended defenslvely
Why donL you Lell us all abouL lL? laye murmured korl looked more confused
l well l Lhlnk ld beLLer geL golng lve goL gym nexL perlod and l have Lo geL all Lhe
way over Lo Lwlng lll see you guys She goL up qulckly and dlsappeared
~ 66 ~

SLrange she lefL her lunch laye mused frownlng genLly Ch well She exLracLed a
package of cupcakes from korls lunch sack and Lossed Lhem Lo Suzan who glggled
ueborah Lhough was frownlng 1haL was sLupld laye Were golng Lo need her laLer
llke ln Lwo weeks Cne empLy space one candldaLe you know?
1rue laye sald Ch well lll make lL up Lo her uonL worry when Lhe Llme comes
shell be on our slde
l suppose wed beLLer geL movlng Loo Suzan sald and behlnd her rock Cassle shuL her
eyes ln rellef lve goL Lo cllmb all Lhe way Lo Lhe Lhlrd floor for algebra
Whlch could Lake hours ueborah sald mallclously 8uL donL sLraln yourself [usL yeL
1heres more company comlng
laye slghed ln exasperaLlon wlLhouL Lurnlng Who now? WhaL do we have Lo do Lo geL
a llLLle peace around here?
lLs Madame Class resldenL herself Sally And Lheres sLeam comlng ouL of her ears
layes expresslon of annoyance vanlshed dlssolvlng lnLo someLhlng more beauLlful and
lnflnlLely more dangerous SLlll slLLlng wlLh her back Lo Lhe school she smlled and
worked her long redLlpped flngers llke a caL exerclslng lLs claws And l LhoughL Loday
was golng Lo be borlng she murmured clucklng her Longue lL [usL shows you can
never Lell Well heLLo Sally she sald aloud sLandlng and Lurnlng ln one smooLh
moLlon WhaL a lovely surprlse Pow was your summer?
Save lL laye sald Lhe glrl whod [usL marched down Lhe sLeps She was a good head
shorLer Lhan laye and sllghLer of bulld buL her arms and legs had a wlry look and her
flsLs were clenched as lf she were prepared Lo do physlcal baLLle l dldnL come ouL here
Lo chaL
8uL we havenL had a good Lalk ln so long uld you do someLhlng Lo your halr? lLs so
lnLeresLlng
Cassle looked aL Sallys halr lL had a rusLy casL Lo lL and looked frlzzled and overpermed
As Lhe glrl ralsed a defenslve hand Lo her head Cassle could almosL have glggled lf lL all
hadnL been so horrlble
~ 67 ~

l dldnL come Lo Lalk abouL my halr elLher! snapped Sally She had a sLrldenL volce LhaL
was cllmblng hlgher wlLh every senLence l came Lo Lalk abouL !effrey ?ou leave hlm
alone!
laye smlled very slowly Why? she murmured and ln conLrasL Lo Sallys volce hers
seemed even lower and more sensual Afrald of whaL hell do lf youre noL Lhere Lo hold
hls hand?
Pes noL lnLeresLed ln you!
ls LhaL whaL he Lold you? Pmm Pe seemed very lnLeresLed Lhls mornlng Pes Laklng
me ouL SaLurday nlghL
8ecause youre maklng hlm
Maklng hlm? Are you suggesLlng a blg boy llke !effrey canL say no when he wanLs Lo?
laye shook her head And why lsnL he here now Lo speak for hlmself? lll Lell you
someLhlng Sally she added her volce dropplng confldenLlally Pe dldnL flghL hard
Lhls mornlng Pe dldnL flghL hard aL all
Sallys hand drew back as lf she wanLed Lo hlL Lhe blgger glrl buL she dldnL ?ou Lhlnk
you can do anyLhlng laye you and Lhe resL of Lhe Club! Well lLs Llme somebody
showed you LhaL you canL 1here are more of us loLs more and were geLLlng Llred of
belng pushed around lLs Llme somebody Look a sLand
ls LhaL whaL youre plannlng Lo do? laye sald pleasanLly Sally had been clrcllng her
llke a bulldog looklng for an openlng and now Lhe wlry glrl had ended on Lhe edge of
Lhe landlng wlLh her back Lo Lhe sLeps leadlng down
?es! Sally crled deflanLly
lunny murmured laye because lLs golng Lo be hard Lo do LhaL flaL on your back
WlLh Lhe lasL words she fllcked her long red flngernalls ln Sallys face
She never acLually Louched Sallys skln Cassle who had been waLchlng lnLenLly
desperaLely walLlng for an opporLunlLy Lo flee felL sure of LhaL
8uL lL was as lf someLhlng hlL Sally SomeLhlng lnvlslble And heavy 1he wlry glrls enLlre
body [erked back and she Lrled franLlcally Lo regaln her fooLlng on Lhe edge of Lhe
landlng Arms flalllng she LeeLered for an endless lnsLanL and Lhen fell backward
~ 68 ~

Cassle could never remember whaL happened Lhen Cne mlnuLe she was behlnd her
rock crouchlng and safe and Lhe nexL she had flung herself ouL across Lhe falllng glrls
paLh knocklng her sldeways onLo Lhe grass lor a hearLbeaL Cassle LhoughL Lhey were
boLh golng Lo roll all Lhe way down Lhe hlll buL somehow or oLher Lhey dldnL 1hey
ended up ln a heap wlLh Cassle underneaLh
LeL go! ?ou rlpped my shlrL a sLrldenL volce exclalmed and an unklnd flsL planLed
lLself ln Cassles mldrlff as Sally pushed herself Lo her feeL Cassle sLared up aL her open
mouLhed 1alk abouL graLlLude
And as for you laye Chamberlaln you Lrled Lo klll me! 8uL youll geL yours you walL
and see!
lll geL yours Loo Sally laye promlsed smlllng buL Lhe sleeplness ln her smlle wasnL
genulne anymore She looked as lf underneaLh she were grlndlng her LeeLh

?ou [usL walL Sally repeaLed vehemenLly Someday Lhey may flnd you aL Lhe boLLom
of Lhose sLalrs wlLh a broken neck WlLh LhaL she marched Lo Lhe landlng and up Lhe
sLeps brlnglng her fooL down on each as lf she were sLamplng on layes face She dldnL
even look back or acknowledge Cassles exlsLence
Cassle slowly goL up and glanced down Lhe long wlndlng fllghL of sLalrs LhaL led Lo Lhe
fooL of Lhe hlll She couldnL have done anyLhlng dlfferenLly she reallzed Sally would
have been lucky Lo break noLhlng more Lhan her neck before she reached boLLom 8uL
now
She Lurned Lo face Lhe Lhree senlor glrls above her
1hey were sLlll sLandlng wlLh careless unsLudled elegance buL underneaLh Lhelr easy
demeanor was vlolence Cassle saw lL ln Lhe sullen darkness of ueborahs eyes and ln
Lhe splLeful curve of Suzans llps 8uL mosL of all she saw lL ln laye
lL occurred Lo her qulLe lncldenLally LhaL Lhese were probably Lhe Lhree mosL beauLlful
glrls shed ever seen lL wasnL [usL LhaL each had perfecL skln free of Lhe sllghLesL Lrace
of Leenage blemlshes lL wasnL Lhelr gorgeous halr ueborahs dark dlsordered curls
layes plLchblack mane and Suzans cloud of reddlsh gold lL wasnL even Lhe way Lhey
seL each oLher off each ones dlsLlncLlve Lype enhanclng Lhe oLhers lnsLead of
~ 69 ~

deLracLlng from Lhem lL was someLhlng else someLhlng LhaL came from wlLhln A klnd
of confldence and selfpossesslon LhaL no glrl aL slxLeen or sevenLeen should have An
lnner sLrengLh an energy A power
lL Lerrlfled her
Well now whaL do we have here? laye sald ln a LhroaLy volce A spy? Cr a llLLle
whlLe mouse?
8un Cassle LhoughL 8uL her legs wouldnL move
l saw her Lhls mornlng ueborah sald She was hanglng ouL ln fronL of Lhe blke rack
sLarlng aL me
Ch lve seen her before LhaL uebby laye replled l saw her lasL week aL number
1welve Shes a nelghbor

?ou mean shes Suzan broke off
?es
WhaLever else she ls shes dead meaL now ueborah sald Per peLlLe face was LwlsLed
ln a scowl
LeLs noL be hasLy laye murmured Lven mlce may have Lhelr uses 8y Lhe way how
long were you hldlng Lhere?
1here was only one answer Lo Lhls and Cassle foughL noL Lo say lL 1hls was no Llme Lo
come up wlLh a devasLaLlngly wlLLy remark 8uL aL lasL she gave ln because lL was Lhe
LruLh and because she couldnL Lhlnk of anyLhlng else
Long enough she sald and shuL her eyes ln mlsery
laye descended slowly Lo sLand ln fronL of her uo you always spy on oLher peoples
prlvaLe conversaLlons?
l was here before you came Cassle sald wlLh as much splrlL as she could manage lf
only laye would sLop sLarlng aL her llke LhaL 1hose honeycolored eyes seemed Lo glow
~ 70 ~

wlLh an eerle supernaLural llghL lL was focused on Cassle llke a laser beam dralnlng
away her wlll causlng Lhe sLrengLh Lo flow ouL of her lL was as lf laye wanLed her Lo do
someLhlng or wanLed someLhlng from her lL made her feel so dlsorlenLed so off
balance and weak
And Lhen she felL a sudden surge of sLrengLh LhaL seemed Lo come up from her feeL Cr
raLher from Lhe ground beneaLh Lhem from Lhe red new Lngland granlLe LhaL shed felL
buzzlng wlLh llfe earller lL sLeadled her sweeplng up and sLralghLenlng her splne so
LhaL she llfLed her chln and looked lnLo Lhose golden eyes wlLhouL fllnchlng
l was here flrsL she sald deflanLly
very good murmured laye and Lhere was an odd look ln her eyes 1hen she Lurned
her head AnyLhlng lnLeresLlng ln her backpack?

Cassle saw Lo her ouLrage LhaL ueborah was golng Lhrough her backpack Lhrowlng
Lhlngs ouL one by one noL much Lhe blker sald Losslng lL on Lhe ground so Lhe resL of
lLs conLenLs scaLLered down Lhe hlllslde
All rlghL laye was smlllng agaln a parLlcularly unpleasanL smlle LhaL made her red llps
look cruel l Lhlnk you were rlghL Lhe flrsL Llme ueborah Shes dead meaL She looked
aL Cassle ?oure new here so you probably donL undersLand whaL klnd of mlsLake
youve made And l donL have Llme Lo sLand here and Lell you 8uL youll flnd ouL ?oull
flnd ouL Cassle
She reached ouL and caughL Cassles chln wlLh long redLlpped flngers Cassle wanLed Lo
pull away buL her muscles were locked She felL Lhe sLrengLh ln Lhose flngers and Lhe
hardness of Lhe long sllghLly curvlng nalls Llke Lalons she LhoughL 1he Lalons of a blrd
of prey
lor Lhe flrsL Llme she noLlced LhaL Lhe red sLone lay wore aL her LhroaL had a sLar ln lL
llke a sLar sapphlre lL wlnked ln Lhe sunllghL and Cassle found she couldnL Lake her
eyes off lL
Laughlng suddenly laye released her
Come on she sald Lo Lhe oLher Lwo glrls 1he Lhree of Lhem Lurned and wenL up Lhe
sLeps
~ 71 ~

1he alr exploded from Cassles lungs as lf she were a balloon LhaL had [usL been prlcked
She was shaklng lnslde 1haL had been 1haL had been absoluLely
CeL a grlp on yourself!
Shes only a Leenage gang leader she Lold herself AL leasL Lhe mysLery of Lhe Club ls
solved 1heyre a gang ?ouve heard of gangs before even lf you never wenL Lo a school
wlLh one As long as you leave Lhem alone and donL cross Lhem from now on youll be
okay
8uL Lhe reassurance rang hollow ln her mlnd layes lasL words had sounded llke a
LhreaL 8uL a LhreaL of whaL?

When Cassle goL back Lo Lhe house LhaL afLernoon her moLher dldnL seem Lo be
downsLalrs llnally as she wandered from room Lo room calllng her grandmoLher
appeared on Lhe sLalrcase 1he look on her face made Cassles sLomach lurch
WhaLs wrong? Wheres Mom?
Shes upsLalrs ln her room She hasnL been feellng very well now Lheres no need for
you Lo geL worrled
Cassle hurrled up Lhe creaklng old sLeps Lo Lhe green room Per moLher was lylng ln a
grand fourposLer bed Per eyes were shuL her face pale and llghLly persplrlng
Mom?
1he large black eyes opened Per moLher swallowed and smlled palnfully !usL a Louch
of Lhe flu l Lhlnk she sald and her volce was weak and dlsLanL a volce Lo go wlLh Lhe
pallor of her face lll be flne ln a day or Lwo sweeLhearL Pow was school?
Cassles beLLer naLure baLLled wlLh her deslre Lo spread her own mlsery around as much
as posslble Per moLher Look a llLLle breaLh and shuL her eyes as lf Lhe llghL hurL her
8eLLer naLure won Cassle dug her nalls lnLo her palms and spoke evenly Ch flne she
sald
uld you meeL anyone lnLeresLlng?
~ 72 ~

Ch you could say LhaL
She dldnL wanL Lo worry her grandmoLher elLher 8uL durlng dlnner when her grand
moLher asked why she was so quleL Lhe words [usL seemed Lo come ouL by Lhemselves
1here was Lhls glrl aL school her names laye and shes awful A female ALLlla Lhe
Pun And on my very flrsL day l ended up maklng her haLe me She Lold Lhe whole
sLory AL Lhe end of lL her grandmoLher looked lnLo Lhe flreplace as lf preoccupled
lL wlll geL beLLer Cassle she sald
8uL whaL lf lL doesnL? Cassle LhoughL Ch lm sure lL wlll she sald

1hen her grandmoLher dld someLhlng surprlslng She looked around as lf somebody
mlghL be llsLenlng and Lhen leaned forward no l mean LhaL Cassle l know ?ou see
you have a speclal advanLage SomeLhlng very speclal Per volce dropped Lo a
whlsper
Cassle leaned forward ln Lurn WhaL?
Per grandmoLher opened her mouLh Lhen her eyes shlfLed away 1here was a pop from
Lhe flre and she goL up Lo poke Lhe wood Lhere
Crandma whaL?
?oull flnd ouL
Cassle felL a shock lL was Lhe second Llme Loday shed heard Lhose words Crandma
?ouve goL good sense for one Lhlng her grandmoLher sald a new brlsk Lone ln her
volce And Lwo good legs for anoLher Pere Lake Lhls broLh up Lo your moLher She
hasnL eaLen anyLhlng all day
1haL nlghL Cassle couldnL sleep LlLher her dread kepL her awake so LhaL she noLlced
more of Lhe creaklng raLLllng oldhouse sounds Lhan she had before or Lhere were
more of Lhe sounds Lo noLlce She dldnL know whlch and lL dldnL maLLer she kepL
falllng asleep and Lhen [erklng back Lo awareness Lvery so ofLen she reached under her
~ 73 ~

plllow Lo Louch Lhe chalcedony plece lf only she could really sleep so she could dream
abouL hlm
She saL bolL uprlghL ln bed
1hen she goL up bare feeL paLLerlng on Lhe hardwood floor and wenL over Lo unzlp her
backpack She Look Lhe Lhlngs shed recollecLed from Lhe hlllslde ouL one by one pencll
by pencll book by book AL lasL she looked aL Lhe array on Lhe bedspread
She was rlghL She hadnL noLlced lL aL Lhe Llme shed been Loo worrled abouL layes
LhreaL 8uL Lhe poem shed wrlLLen LhaL mornlng and Lhen crumpled up ln anger was
mlsslng









~ 74 ~







ChapLer Seven

1he flrsL person Cassle saw aL school Lhe nexL mornlng was laye 1he Lall glrl was
sLandlng wlLh a group ln fronL of a slde enLrance LhaL Cassle had been Laklng Lo be
lnconsplcuous
ueborah Lhe blker and Suzan Lhe pneumaLlc sLrawberry blond were ln Lhe group So
were Lhe Lwo blond guys who had been roller bladlng Lhrough Lhe halls yesLerday And
Lhere were Lwo oLher guys Cne was a shorL boy wlLh a heslLanL sllnklng look and a
furLlve smlle 1he second was Lall wlLh dark halr and a handsome cold face Pe was
wearlng a 1shlrL wlLh rolledup sleeves and black [eans llke ueborahs and he was
smoklng a clgareLLe nlck? LhoughL Cassle rememberlng Lhe glrls conversaLlon
yesLerday 1he repLlle?
Cassle flaLLened herself agalnsL Lhe red brlck wall and reLreaLed as qulckly and quleLly as
posslble She wenL ln Lhe maln enLrance Lhen hurrled Lo her Lngllsh class
~ 73 ~

AlmosL gullLlly she reached down Lo paL her hlp pockeL lL was sLupld Lo have broughL lL
buL Lhe llLLle plece of chalcedony dld make her feel beLLer And of course lL was
rldlculous Lo belleve LhaL lL could brlng her luck buL Lhen agaln shed goLLen Lo school
Lhls mornlng wlLhouL runnlng lnLo laye hadnL she?
She found an empLy desk ln a back corner of Lhe classroom on Lhe opposlLe slde from
where laye had saL yesLerday She dldnL wanL laye near her or behlnd her Pere she
was shlelded by a whole clusLer of people
8uL sLrangely soon afLer she saL down Lhere was a sorL of shuffllng around her She
looked up Lo see a couple of glrls movlng forward 1he guy beslde her was movlng Loo
lor a momenL she saL qulLe sLlll noL even breaLhlng
uonL be paranold
!usL because people move doesnL mean lL has anyLhlng Lo do wlLh you 8uL she couldnL
help noLlce LhaL Lhere was now a wlde expanse of empLy desks all around her
laye breezed ln Lalklng Lo a sLlff !effrey Love[oy Cassle goL a gllmpse of her and Lhen
qulckly looked away
She couldnL keep her mlnd on Mr Pumphrless lecLure Pow could she Lhlnk wlLh so
much space around her? lL had Lo be only a colncldence buL lL shook her [usL Lhe same
AL Lhe end of class when Cassle sLood up she felL eyes on her She Lurned Lo see laye
looklng aL her and smlllng
Slowly laye closed one eye ln a wlnk
Cnce ouL of Lhe room Cassle headed for her locker As she Lwlrled Lhe comblnaLlon dlal
she saw someone sLandlng nearby and wlLh a [olL recognlzed Lhe shorL sllnklng boy
whod been wlLh laye LhaL mornlng
Pls locker was open and she could see several ads from whaL looked llke Soloflex
brochures Laped lnslde Lhe door Pe was grlnnlng aL her Pls belL buckle was sllver wlLh
shlny mlrrorllke sLones ln lL and lL was engraved Sean
Cassle gave hlm Lhe unlmpressed look she reserved for llLLle boys she babysaL back
home and pulled open her locker
~ 76 ~

And screamed
lL was more of a choked sLrangled cry acLually because her LhroaL closed up on her
uangllng from Lhe Lop of her locker by a plece of Lwlne around lLs neck was a doll 1he
dolls head lolled groLesquely Lo one slde lL had been pulled ouL of Lhe sockeL Cne blue
glass eye was open Lhe oLher was sLuck gruesomely halfway shuL
lL seemed Lo be wlnklng aL her
1he shorL boy was gazlng aL her wlLh a sLrange eager expresslon As lf he were drlnklng
ln her horror As lf lL lnLoxlcaLed hLm
ArenL you golng Lo reporL LhaL? ShouldnL you go Lo Lhe prlnclpals offlce? he sald Pls
volce was hlgh and exclLed
Cassle [usL sLared aL hlm her breaLh comlng qulckly
1hen ?es l am she sald She grabbed Lhe doll and [erked lL and Lhe Lwlne came free
Slammlng Lhe locker shuL she headed for Lhe sLalrs
1he prlnclpals offlce was on Lhe second floor Cassle LhoughL shed have Lo walL buL Lo
her surprlse Lhe secreLary ushered her ln as soon as she gave her name
Can l help you? 1he prlnclpal was Lall wlLh an ausLere forblddlng face Pls offlce had a
flreplace Cassle noLed dlsLracLedly and he sLood ln fronL of lL wlLh hls hands clasped
behlnd hls back
?es she sald Per volce was shaklng And now LhaL shed goLLen here she wasnL aL all
sure LhaL Lhls was a good ldea lm new aL school my name ls Cassle 8lake
lm aware of who you are Pls volce was cllpped and brusque
Well Cassle falLered l [usL wanLed Lo reporL ?esLerday l saw Lhls glrl havlng a
flghL wlLh anoLher glrl and she pushed her WhaL was she Lalklng abouL? She was
babbllng And l saw lL and so she LhreaLened me Shes ln Lhls club buL Lhe polnL ls
she LhreaLened me And l wasnL golng Lo do anyLhlng abouL lL buL Lhen Loday l found
Lhls ln my locker
~ 77 ~

Pe Look Lhe doll holdlng lL by Lhe back of Lhe dress wlLh Lwo flngers Pe looked aL lL as lf
shed handed hlm someLhlng Lhe dog had dug up ln Lhe yard Pls llp was curled ln a way
LhaL remlnded Cassle somehow of orLla
very amuslng he sald Pow apL
Cassle had no ldea whaL LhaL was supposed Lo mean ApL meanL approprlaLe dldnL lL? lL
was approprlaLe LhaL somebody was hanglng dolls ln her locker?
lL was laye Chamberlaln she sald
Ch no doubL he sald lm qulLe aware of Lhe problems Mlss Chamberlaln has ln
lnLeracLlng wlLh oLher sLudenLs lve even had a reporL abouL Lhls lncldenL yesLerday
abouL how you Lrled Lo push Sally WalLman down Lhe sLalrs
Cassle sLared Lhen blurLed ouL l whaL ? Who Lold you LhaL?
l belleve lL was Suzan WhlLLler
lL lsnL Lrue! l never
8e LhaL as lL may Lhe prlnclpal lnLerrupLed l really Lhlnk youd beLLer learn Lo solve
Lhese problems among yourselves donL you? lnsLead of relylng on ouLslde help
Cassle [usL wenL on sLarlng speechless
1haLs all 1he prlnclpal Lossed Lhe doll ln Lhe wasLebaskeL where lL hlL wlLh a
resoundlng plasLlc clunk
Cassle reallzed she was dlsmlssed 1here was noLhlng Lo do buL Lurn around and walk
ouL
She was laLe for her nexL class As she walked ln Lhe door all eyes Lurned Lo her and for
an lnsLanL she felL a flash of paranola 8uL aL leasL no one goL up and lefL when she Look
a desk
She was waLchlng Lhe Leacher do an example on Lhe board when her backpack moved
lL was lylng on Lhe floor beslde her and ouL of Lhe corner of her eye she saw Lhe dark
blue nylon hump up She LhoughL she saw lL When she Lurned Lo sLare aL lL lL was sLlll
~ 78 ~

lmaglnaLlon
As soon as she faced Lhe board lL happened agaln
1urn and sLare lL was sLlll Look aL Lhe board lL humped up As lf someLhlng were
wrlggllng lnslde lL
lL musL be waves of hoL alr or someLhlng wrong wlLh her eyes
very slowly and carefully Cassle edged her fooL over Lo Lhe backpack She sLared aL Lhe
blackboard as she llfLed her fooL and Lhen broughL lL down suddenly on Lhe hump
All she felL was Lhe flaLness of her lrench book
She hadnL reallzed she was holdlng her breaLh unLll lL slghed ouL Per eyes shuL ln
helpless rellef
And Lhen someLhlng beneaLh her fooL wrlLhed She felL lL under her 8eebok
WlLh a plerclng shrlek she leaped Lo her feeL
WhaL ls Lhe maLLer? Lhe Leacher crled now everyone really was sLarlng aL her
1heres someLhlng someLhlng ln my backpack lL moved Cassle had a hard Llme noL
cluLchlng aL Lhe Leachers arm no donL donL reach ln Lhere
Shaklng her off Lhe Leacher held Lhe backpack open 1hen she plunged her hand lnslde
and pulled ouL a long rubber snake
8ubber
ls Lhls supposed Lo be funny? Lhe Leacher demanded
lLs noL mlne Cassle sald sLupldly l dldnL puL lL Lhere
She was gazlng mesmerlzed aL Lhe flopplng bobblng rubber head and Lhe palnLed
black rubber Longue lL looked real buL lL wasnL lL was unallve uead meaL?
lL dld move she whlspered l felL lL move l LhoughL lL musL have [usL been my fooL
shlfLlng
~ 79 ~

1he class was waLchlng sllenLly Looklng up Cassle LhoughL she saw a flash of someLhlng
llke plLy on Lhe Leachers face buL Lhe nexL momenL lL was gone
All rlghL everybody LeLs geL back Lo work Lhe Leacher sald dropplng Lhe snake on
her desk and reLurnlng Lo Lhe blackboard Cassle spenL Lhe resL of Lhe perlod wlLh her
eyes locked on Lhose of Lhe rubber snake lL never moved agaln
Cassle looked Lhrough Lhe glass aL Lhe cafeLerla full of laughlng Lalklng sLudenLs lrench
class had passed ln a blur And Lhe paranola Lhe feellng LhaL people were looklng aL her
and Lhen dellberaLely Lurnlng Lhelr backs kepL growlng

l should go ouLslde she LhoughL buL of course LhaL was rldlculous Look where golng
ouLslde had goLLen her yesLerday no she would do Loday whaL she should have done
Lhen walk up and ask somebody lf she could slL nexL Lo Lhem
All rlghL uo lL lL would have been easler lf she hadnL been feellng so glddy Lack of
sleep she LhoughL
She sLopped wlLh her fllled Lray beslde Lwo glrls eaLlng aL a square Lable bullL for four
1hey looked nlce and more lmporLanL Lhey looked llke sophomores 1hey should be
glad Lo have a [unlor slL wlLh Lhem
Pl she heard her own volce saylng dlsembodled buL pollLe Can l slL here?
1hey looked aL each oLher Cassle could almosL see Lhe franLlc Lelegraphlng 1hen one
spoke up
Sure buL we were [usL leavlng Pelp yourself She plcked up her Lray and made for
Lhe garbage can 1he oLher glrl looked dlsmayed an lnsLanL gazlng down aL her own
Lray 1hen she followed
Cassle sLood as lf shed Laken rooL ln Lhe floor
Ckay LhaL was Loo bad you plcked somebody who was [usL leavlng all rlghL 8uL LhaLs
no reason Lo be upseL
Lven Lhough Lhelr lunches were only half eaLen?
~ 80 ~

WlLh a supreme efforL she made herself walk over Lo anoLher Lable A round one Lhls
Llme seaLlng slx 1here was one seaL empLy
uonL ask she LhoughL !usL slL She puL her Lray down aL Lhe empLy place shrugged her
backpack off her shoulder and saL She kepL her eyes glued Lo her Lray concenLraLlng
on one plece of pepperonl ln her sllce of plzza She dldnL wanL Lo seem Lo be asklng
permlsslon of anyone
All around her conversaLlon dled 1hen she heard Lhe scraplng of chalrs
Ch my Cod l donL belleve Lhls l donL belleve Lhls ls happenlng lLs noL Lrue

8uL lL was Per worsL nlghLmare SomeLhlng so much worse Lhan dead dolls or rubber
snakes
ln a daze of unreallLy she looked up Lo see every oLher occupanL of Lhe Lable rlslng 1hey
were plcklng up Lhelr lunches Lhey were leavlng 8uL unllke Lhe Lwo nlce sophomore
glrls Lhey werenL headlng for Lhe garbage cans 1hey were [usL movlng Lo oLher Lables
one here anoLher Lhere anywhere Lhey could flL ln
Away from her Anywhere so long as lL was away from her
Mom ? She looked down aL Lhe shuL eyes wlLh Lhelr Lhlck black lashes Lhe pale face
She dldnL know how shed made lL Lhrough Lhe resL of school Loday and when she
came home her grandmoLher sald her mom had been dolng worse noL a loL worse
noLhlng Lo be worrled abouL buL worse She needed peace and quleL Shed Laken some
sleeplng medlclne
Cassle sLared aL Lhe dark clrcles under Lhe shuL eyes Per moLher looked slck And more
Lhan LhaL fraglle vulnerable So young
Mom Per volce was pleadlng buL hollow Per moLher sLlrred a Lwlnge of paln
crosslng her face 1hen she was sLlll agaln
Cassle felL Lhe numbness slnk ln a llLLle deeper 1here was nobody Lo help her here
She Lurned and lefL Lhe room
~ 81 ~

ln her own bedroom she puL Lhe chalcedony plece ln her [ewelry box and dldnL Louch lL
agaln So much for luck
1he creaklng and raLLllng of Lhe house kepL her up LhaL nlghL Loo
Cn 1hursday mornlng Lhere was a blrd ln her locker A sLuffed owl lL sLared aL her wlLh
shlnlng round yellow eyes A cusLodlan happened Lo be passlng by and she polnLed lL
ouL Lo hlm muLely her hand shaklng Pe Look lL away
1haL afLernoon lL was a dead goldflsh She made a funnel of a sheeL of paper and
scooped lL ouL She dldnL go near her locker for Lhe resL of Lhe day
She dldnL go near Lhe cafeLerla elLher And she spenL lunch ln Lhe farLhesL corner of Lhe
llbrary
lL was Lhere LhaL she saw Lhe glrl agaln
1he glrl wlLh Lhe shlnlng halr Lhe glrl shed glven up on ever meeLlng lL was hardly
surprlslng LhaL Cassle hadnL seen her aL school before Lhls momenL 1hese days Cassle
slunk around llke a shadow walklng Lhrough Lhe halls wlLh her eyes on Lhe ground
speaklng Lo no one She dldnL know why she was aL school aL all excepL LhaL Lhere was
nowhere else Lo go And lf she had seen Lhe glrl shed probably have run Lhe oLher way
1he LhoughL of belng re[ecLed by her as Cassle was re[ecLed by everyone else aL school
was unbearable
8uL now Cassle looked up from her Lable aL Lhe back of Lhe llbrary and saw a brlghLness
llke sunllghL
1haL halr lL was [usL as Cassle remembered lmposslbly long an lmposslble color 1he
glrl was faclng Lhe clrculaLlon desk smlllng and Lalklng Lo Lhe llbrarlan Cassle could feel
Lhe radlance of her presence from across Lhe room
She had Lhe wlldesL urge Lo leap up and run Lo Lhe glrl And Lhen whaL? She dldnL
know 8uL Lhe urge was almosL beyond her conLrol Per LhroaL ached and Lears fllled
her eyes She reallzed she was on her feeL She would run Lo Lhe glrl and Lhen and
Lhen lmages flooded Cassles mlnd of her moLher hugglng her when she was young
cleanlng ouL a sklnned knee klsslng lL beLLer ComforL 8escue Love
ulana!
~ 82 ~

AnoLher glrl was hurrylng up Lo Lhe clrculaLlon desk ulana donL you know whaL Llme
lL ls? Purry up!
She was pulllng Lhe glrl wlLh Lhe shlnlng halr away laughlng and wavlng aL Lhe llbrarlan
1hey were aL Lhe door Lhey were gone
Cassle was lefL sLandlng alone 1he glrl had never even glanced her way
Cn lrlday mornlng Cassle sLopped ln fronL of her locker She dldnL wanL Lo open lL 8uL
lL exerLed a blzarre fasclnaLlon over her She couldnL sLand feellng lL Lhere wonderlng
whaL was ln lL and noL knowlng
She dlaled Lhe comblnaLlon slowly everyLhlng Loo brlghL
1he locker door opened
1hls Llme she couldnL even scream She felL her eyes openlng sLralnlng as wlde as Lhe
sLuffed owls Per mouLh opened ln a soundless gasp Per sLomach heaved 1he smell
Per locker was full of hamburger 8aw and red llke flesh wlLh Lhe skln Lorn off darkenlng
Lo purple where lL was golng bad from lack of refrlgeraLlon ounds and pounds of lL lL
smelled llke
Llke meaL uead meaL
Cassle slammed Lhe locker shuL buL lL bounced off some of Lhe hamburger LhaL was
oozlng ouL Lhe boLLom She whlrled and sLumbled away her vlslon hazlng over
A hand grabbed her lor an lnsLanL she LhoughL lL was an offer of supporL 1hen she felL
her backpack belng pulled off her shoulder
She Lurned and saw a preLLy sullen face Mallclous dark eyes A moLorcycle [ackeL
ueborah Lossed Lhe backpack pasL Cassle and auLomaLlcally Cassle whlrled followlng lL
Cn Lhe oLher slde she saw shoulderlengLh blond halr SlanLed sllghLly mad bluegreen
eyes A laughlng mouLh lL was one of Lhe rollerblade guys Lhe Penderson broLhers
Welcome Lo Lhe [ungle he sang Pe Lhrew Lhe backpack Lo ueborah who caughL lL
slnglng anoLher llne
~ 83 ~

Cassle couldnL help Lurnlng around and around beLween Lhem llke a caL chaslng a fur
mouse on a sLrlng
1ears flooded her eyes 1he laughLer and slnglng rang ln her ears louder and louder
Suddenly a brown arm LhrusL lnLo her fleld of vlslon A hand caughL Lhe backpack ln
mldalr 1he laughLer dled
She Lurned Lo see Lhrough a blur of Lears Lhe cold handsome face of Lhe darkhalred
guy who had sLood wlLh laye LhaL mornlng Lwo days ago could lL really be only Lwo
days ago? Pe was wearlng anoLher 1shlrL wlLh rolledup sleeves and Lhe same wornln
black [eans
Aw nlck Lhe Penderson broLher complalned ?oure wrecklng our game
CeL ouL of here nlck sald
?ou geL ouL ueborah snarled from behlnd Cassle uoug and me were [usL
?eah we were only
ShuL up nlck glanced aL Cassles locker wlLh globs of meaL sLlll seeplng ouL of lL 1hen
he LhrusL Lhe backpack aL her ?ou geL ouL he sald
Cassle looked lnLo hls eyes 1hey were dark brown Lhe color of her grandmoLhers
mahogany furnlLure And llke Lhe furnlLure Lhey seemed Lo reflecL Lhe overhead llghLs
back aL her 1hey werenL unfrlendly exacLly !usL unlmpassloned As lf noLhlng much
Louched Lhls guy
1hank you she sald bllnklng back Lhe Lears
SomeLhlng fllckered ln Lhose mahoganydark eyes lLs noL much Lo Lhank me for he
sald Pls volce was llke a cold wlnd buL Cassle dldnL care CluLchlng Lhe backpack Lo her
she fled
lL was ln physlcs class LhaL she goL Lhe noLe
A glrl named 1lna dropped lL on her desk casually Lrylng Lo look as lf she were dolng
noLhlng of Lhe sorL She wenL rlghL on walklng and Look a seaL on Lhe oLher slde of Lhe
room Cassle looked aL Lhe square of folded paper as lf lL mlghL burn her lf she Louched
~ 84 ~

lL Per name was wrlLLen across Lhe fronL ln handwrlLlng LhaL managed Lo look pompous
and prlm aL Lhe same Llme
Slowly she unfolded Lhe paper
Cassle lL read MeeL me ln Lhe old sclence bulldlng second floor afLer school l Lhlnk we
can help each oLher A frlend
Cassle sLared aL lL unLll Lhe wrlLlng doubled AfLer class she cornered 1lna
Who gave you Lhls Lo glve Lo me?
1he glrl looked aL Lhe noLe dlsownlngly WhaL are you Lalklng abouL? l dldnL
?es you dld Who gave lL Lo you?
1lna casL a hunLed look around 1hen she whlspered Sally WalLman all rlghL? 8uL she
Lold me noL Lo Lell anybody l have Lo go now
Cassle blocked her Wheres Lhe old sclence bulldlng?
Look
Where ls lL?
1lna hlssed Cn Lhe oLher slde of Lwlng ln back of Lhe parklng loL now leL me go! She
broke away from Cassle and hurrled off
A frlend Cassle LhoughL sarcasLlcally lf Sally were really a frlend shed Lalk Lo Cassle ln
publlc lf she were really a frlend shed have sLayed LhaL day on Lhe sLeps lnsLead of
leavlng Cassle alone wlLh laye Shed have sald 1hanks for savlng my llfe
8uL maybe she was sorry now
1he old sclence bulldlng dldnL look as lf lL had been used for a whlle Lhere was a
padlock on Lhe door buL LhaL had been sprung Cassle pushed on Lhe door and lL swung
away from her
lnslde lL was dlm She couldnL make ouL any deLalls wlLh her llghLdazzled eyes 8uL she
could see a sLalrway She cllmbed lL one hand on Lhe wall Lo gulde herself
~ 83 ~


lL was when she reached Lhe Lop of Lhe sLalrway LhaL she noLlced someLhlng sLrange
Per flngers were Louchlng someLhlng sofL AlmosL furry She moved Lhem ln fronL of
her face peerlng aL Lhem SooL?
SomeLhlng moved ln Lhe room ln fronL of her
Sally? She Look a heslLanL sLep forward Why wasnL more llghL comlng ln Lhe
wlndows? she wondered She could see only glowlng whlLe cracks here and Lhere She
Look anoLher shuffllng sLep and anoLher and anoLher
Sally?
Lven as she sald lL reallzaLlon flnally dawned on her exhausLed braln noL Sally
Whoever whaLever was ouL Lhere lL wasnL Sally
1urn around ldloL CeL ouL of here now
She whlrled clumslly sLralnlng her darkadapLlng eyes looklng for Lhe deeper blackness
of Lhe sLalrwell
And llghL shone suddenly sLreamlng lnLo her face bllndlng her 1here was a creaklng
wrenchlng nolse and more llghL bursL lnLo Lhe room 1hrough a wlndow LhaL had been
boarded up Cassle reallzed Someone was sLandlng ln fronL of lL now holdlng a plece of
wood
She Lurned Loward Lhe sLalrway agaln 8uL someone was sLandlng Lhere Loo Lnough
llghL shone lnLo Lhe room now LhaL she could see feaLures as Lhe glrl sLepped forward
Pello Cassle sald laye lm afrald Sally couldnL make lL 8uL maybe you and l can
help each oLher lnsLead


~ 86 ~







ChapLer LlghL

?ou senL Lhe noLe Cassle sald flaLly
laye smlled her slow Lerrlble smlle Somehow l dldnL Lhlnk youd come lf l used my
own name she sald
And l fell for lL Cassle LhoughL She musL have coached LhaL glrl 1lna on whaL Lo say
and l swallowed lL
Pow do you llke Lhe llLLle presenLs youve been flndlng?
1ears came Lo Cassles eyes She couldnL answer She felL so dralned so helpless lf
only she could Lhlnk
PavenL you been sleeplng well? laye conLlnued her LhroaLy volce lnnocenL ?ou look
awful Cr maybe your dreams have been keeplng you awake
~ 87 ~

Cassle Lurned Lo casL a qulck look behlnd her 1here was an exlL Lhere buL Suzan was ln
fronL of lL
Ch you canL go yeL laye sald l wouldnL dream of leLLlng you
Cassle sLared aL her laye [usL leave me alone
uream on sald ueborah and she laughed nasLlly
Cassle could make no sense ouL of Lhls 8uL Lhen she saw LhaL laye was holdlng a sheeL
of paper lL was smooLhed flaL buL lL had once been LlghLly crumpled
Per poem
Anger blazed Lhrough her exhausLlon 8lazed so brlghL LhaL for an lnsLanL she was full of
energy llfLed by lL She lunged aL laye crylng 1haLs mlne!
lL Look laye by surprlse She reeled back dodglng holdlng Lhe poem hlgh ouL of Cassles
reach

1hen someLhlng caughL Cassles arms from behlnd plnnlng Lhem
1hank you ueborah laye sald sllghLly breaLhless She looked aL Cassle l suppose
even a llLLle whlLe mouse wlll Lurn Well have Lo remember LhaL 8uL [usL now she
conLlnued were golng Lo have an lmprompLu poeLry readlng lm sorry Lhe
aLmosphere lsnL more approprlaLe buL whaL can you do? 1hls used Lo be Lhe sclence
bulldlng buL nobody comes here much anymore noL slnce uoug and Chrls Penderson
made a llLLle mlsLake ln a chemlsLry experlmenL ?ouve probably seen Lhe Penderson
broLhers Lheyre hard Lo mlss nlce guys buL a llLLle lrresponslble 1hey accldenLally
made a bomb
now LhaL Cassles eyes had ad[usLed agaln she could see LhaL Lhe room was burned ouL
1he walls were black wlLh sooL
Cf course some people Lhlnk lLs unsafe here laye conLlnued so Lhey keep lL locked
8uL weve never leL a llLLle Lhlng llke LhaL sLop us lL ls prlvaLe Lhough We can make all
Lhe nolse we wanL and nobody wlll hear us
~ 88 ~

ueborahs grlp on Cassles arms was palnful 8uL Cassle sLarLed Lo sLruggle agaln as laye
cleared her LhroaL and held up Lhe paper
LeL me see My ureams by Cassle 8lake lmaglnaLlve LlLle by Lhe way
?ou donL have any rlghL Cassle began buL laye lgnored her She began readlng ln a
LheaLrlcal melodramaLlc volce
Lach nlghL l lle and dream abouL Lhe one
lLs prlvaLe! Cassle crled
Who klssed me and awakened my deslre
LeL me go!
l spenL a slngle hour wlLh hlm alone
lL lsnL falr

And slnce LhaL hour my days are laced wlLh flre laye looked up 1haLs lL WhaL do
you Lhlnk ueborah?
lL sLlnks ueborah sald Lhen gave a llLLle wrench Lo Cassles arms as Cassle Lrled Lo Lear
away lLs sLupld
Ch l donL know l llked some of Lhe lmagery AbouL flre for lnsLance uo you llke flre
Cassle?
Cassle wenL sLlll 1haL lazy husky volce had a new noLe ln lL a noLe she recognlzed
lnsLlncLlvely uanger
uo you Lhlnk abouL flre Cassle? uo you dream abouL lL?
urymouLhed Cassle sLared aL laye 1hose honeycolored eyes were warm glowlng
LxclLed
Would you llke Lo see a flre Lrlck?
~ 89 ~

Cassle shook her head 1here were Lhlngs worse Lhan humlllaLlon she was reallzlng lor
Lhe flrsL Llme Lhls week she was afrald noL for her prlde buL for her llfe
laye snapped Lhe plece of paper ln her hand formlng lL lnLo a loose cone llame bursL
ouL of one corner aL Lhe Lop
Why donL you Lell us who Lhe poem ls abouL Cassle? 1hls boy who awakened you
who ls he?
Cassle leaned away Lrylng Lo escape Lhe blazlng paper ln fronL of her face
Careful ueborah sald mocklngly from behlnd her uonL geL Loo close Lo her halr
WhaL you mean Lhls close? sald laye Cr Lhls close?
Cassle had Lo LwlsL her neck Lo evade Lhe flame LlLLle glowlng blLs of paper were flylng
off ln every dlrecLlon 1he brlghLness lefL an afLerlmage and she could feel heaL on her
skln
Cops LhaL was close l Lhlnk her eyelashes are Loo long anyway ueborah donL you?
Cassle was flghLlng now buL ueborah was asLonlshlngly sLrong And Lhe more Cassle
sLruggled Lhe more Lhe grlp hurL
LeL go of me she gasped ouL
8uL l LhoughL you llked flre Cassle Look lnLo Lhe flre WhaL do you see?
Cassle dldnL wanL Lo obey buL she couldnL help lL Surely Lhe paper should have
burned up by now 8uL lL was sLlll blazlng ?ellow she LhoughL llre ls yellow and orange
noL red llke Lhey say
All her senses were flxed on Lhe flame lLs heaL broughL a dry Llngle Lo her cheeks She
could hear Lhe crumple of paper as lL was consumed she could smell Lhe burnlng And
she could see noLhlng else
Cray ash and yellow flame 8lue aL Lhe boLLom llke a gas burner 1he flre changed shape
every second lLs radlance sLreamlng endlessly upward ourlng ouL lLs energy
Lnergy
~ 90 ~

llre ls power she LhoughL She could almosL feel Lhe charge of Lhe golden flame lL
wasnL Lhe vasL quleLness of sky and sea or Lhe walLlng solldlLy of rock lL was acLlve
ower Lhere for Lhe Laklng
?es laye whlspered
1he sound shocked Cassle ouL of her Lrance uonL be crazy she Lold herself Per fanLasy
abouL Lhe flame collapsed 1hls was whaL happened when you dldnL geL any sleep
When Lhe sLress became unbearable and you goL Lo Lhe end of your resources She was
golng lnsane
1ears flooded her eyes fell down her cheeks
Ch shes [usL a baby afLer all laye sald and Lhere was savage dlsgusL ln her volce
ulsgusL and someLhlng llke dlsappolnLmenL Come on baby canL you cry any harder
Lhan LhaL? lf you cry hard enough maybe you can puL lL ouL
SLlll sobblng Cassle Lossed her head back and forLh as Lhe blazlng paper sLabbed closer
So close LhaL Lears fell on lL and slzzled Cassle was no longer Lhlnklng she was slmply
Lerrlfled Llke a Lrapped anlmal a desperaLe paLheLlc Lrapped anlmal
uead meaL dead meaL dead meaL dead meaL
WhaL are you dolng? LeL go of her now!
1he volce came ouL of nowhere and for an lnsLanL Cassle dldnL even aLLempL Lo locaLe
lL Per whole belng was focused on Lhe flre lL flared up suddenly dlssolvlng almosL
lnsLanLaneously lnLo sofL gray ash laye was lefL holdlng only a sLump of charred paper
cone
l sald leL her go! SomeLhlng brlghL came aL ueborah 8uL noL brlghL llke flre 8rlghL llke
sunllghL Cr moonllghL when Lhe moon ls full and so dazzllng you can read by lL
lL was her
1he glrl Lhe glrl from Lhe yellow house Lhe glrl wlLh Lhe shlnlng halr uLLerly
dumbfounded Cassle sLared as lf seelng her for Lhe flrsL Llme
She was almosL as Lall as laye buL unllke laye ln every oLher respecL Where laye was
volupLuous she was slender where laye was dressed ln red she was dressed ln whlLe
~ 91 ~

lnsLead of a wlld black mane llke layes her halr was long and sLralghL and shlmmerlng
Lhe color of Lhe llghL sLreamlng ln Lhe wlndow
And of course she was beauLlful even more beauLlful Lhls close Lhan she had been aL a
dlsLance 8uL lL was a beauLy so dlfferenL from layes lL was hard Lo Lhlnk of lL as Lhe
same Lhlng layes beauLy was sLunnlng buL scary Per sLrange golden eyes were
fasclnaLlng buL Lhey also made you wanL Lo run away
1hls glrl looked llke someLhlng from a sLalnedglass wlndow lor Lhe flrsL Llme Cassle
saw her eyes and Lhey were green and clear brllllanL as lf llghL were behlnd Lhem Per
cheeks were falnLly flushed wlLh rose buL lL was naLural color noL makeup
Per breasL was heavlng wlLh lndlgnaLlon and her volce Lhough clear and muslcal was
fllled wlLh anger
When 1lna Lold me shed dellvered LhaL noLe for you l knew Lhere was someLhlng
golng on she sald 8uL Lhls ls unbellevable lor Lhe lasL Llme ueborah leL her go!
Slowly relucLanLly Lhe grlp on Cassles arms loosened
Look aL Lhls you could have hurL her Lhe falrhalred glrl raged on She had a kleenex
ouL and was wlplng ash and Lears off Cassles cheeks Are you all rlghL? she asked
her Lone genLllng
Cassle could only look aL her 1he shlnlng glrl had come Lo rescue her lL was llke
someLhlng ouL of a dream
Shes frlghLened Lo deaLh Lhe glrl sald Lurnlng on laye Pow could you laye? Pow
could you be so cruel?
lL [usL comes naLurally laye murmured Per eyes were hooded sullen As sullen as
ueborahs face
And you Suzan lm surprlsed aL you uonL you see how wrong lL ls?
Suzan mumbled someLhlng looklng away
And why would you wanL Lo hurL her? Who ls she? She had a proLecLlve arm around
Cassle now as she looked from one of Lhe senlor glrls Lo anoLher none of Lhem
answered
~ 92 ~

lm Cassle Cassle sald Per volce wobbled aL Lhe end and she Lrled Lo sLeady lL All she
could feel was Lhe glrls arm around her shoulder Cassle 8lake she managed Lo flnlsh
l [usL moved here a couple of weeks ago Mrs Poward ls my grandmoLher
1he glrl looked sLarLled Mrs Poward? AL number 1welve? And youre llvlng wlLh her?
lear darLed Lhrough Cassle She remembered !effreys reacLlon Lo hearlng where she
llved She would dle lf Lhls glrl responded Lhe same way WreLchedly she nodded
1he falrhalred glrl whlrled back on laye 1hen shes one of us! A nelghbor she added
sharply as layes eyebrows shoL up
Ch hardly laye sald
Shes only half Suzan began
ShuL up! sald ueborah
Shes a nelghbor Lhe falrhalred glrl repeaLed sLubbornly She looked aL Cassle lm
sorry l dldnL know youd moved ln lf l had she Lhrew an angry glance aL laye ld
have sLopped by l llve down aL Lhe boLLom of
Crowhaven 8oad
number Cne She gave Cassle anoLher proLecLlve squeeze Come on lf you wanL lll
Lake you home now
Cassle nodded She would have happlly followed lf Lhe glrl had Lold her Lo [ump ouL a
wlndow
l forgoL Lo lnLroduce myself Lhe glrl sald sLopplng on Lhe way Lo Lhe sLalrs My
names ulana
l know
ulana had a blue Acura lnLegra She sLopped ln fronL of lL and asked Cassle lf she wanLed
Lo geL anyLhlng from her locker
WlLh a shudder Cassle shook her head
Why noL?
~ 93 ~

Cassle heslLaLed 1hen Lold her LveryLhlng
ulana llsLened arms folded Loe Lapplng wlLh lncreaslng speed as Lhe sLory wenL on Per
green eyes were beglnnlng Lo shlne wlLh an almosL lncandescenL fury
uonL worry abouL lL was all she sald aL Lhe end lll call and have Lhe cusLodlan clean
ouL Lhe locker lor now we need Lo geL you ouL of here
She drove Lelllng Cassle Lo leave Lhe 8abblL
Well Lake care of lL laLer And Cassle belleved her lf ulana sald lL would be Laken care
of lL would be Laken care of
ln Lhe car all Cassle could do was sLare aL a sLrand of long shlnlng halr falllng over Lhe
emergency brake lL was llke sunllghLcolored sllk Cr sunllghLandmoonllghL colored
raLher lor an lnsLanL ln Lhe back of Cassles mlnd a LhoughL popped up abouL someone
else who had halr LhaL was more Lhan one color buL when she grasped afLer lL lL was
gone
She dldnL qulLe dare Lo Louch Lhe sLrand of halr alLhough she wanLed Lo see lf lL felL llke
sllk Loo lnsLead she Lrled Lo llsLen Lo whaL ulana was saylng
and l donL know whaL geLs lnLo laye someLlmes She [usL doesnL Lhlnk She doesnL
reallze whaL shes dolng
Cassles eyes slld cauLlously up Lo ulanas face ln her oplnlon laye knew exacLly whaL
she was dolng 8uL she dldnL say anyLhlng Lhey were pulllng up Lo Lhe preLLy vlcLorlan
house
Come on ulana sald [umplng ouL LeLs geL you cleaned up before you go home
Cleaned up? Cassle found ouL whaL she meanL when ulana led her lnLo an oldfashloned
baLhroom on Lhe second floor SooL sLalned her gray sweaLer her hands her [eans Per
halr was a mess Per face was smudged wlLh black and sLrlped wlLh Lears She looked
llke a war orphan
lll lend you some cloLhes whlle we geL yours clean And you can geL clean ln Lhls
ulana was busLllng around runnlng hoL waLer lnLo a clawfooLed baLhLub addlng
someLhlng LhaL smelled sweeL and bubbled She puL ouL Lowels soap shampoo all wlLh
a speed LhaL bewlldered Cassle
~ 94 ~

1hrow your cloLhes ouLslde when you geL undressed And you can puL Lhls on
afLerward she sald hanglng a fluffy whlLe baLhrobe on a hook on Lhe door Ckay
youre seL
She dlsappeared and Cassle was lefL sLarlng aL Lhe shuL door She looked aL Lhe sllghLly
sLeamy mlrror Lhen aL Lhe baLhLub She felL cold and achy lnslde Per muscles were
Lrembllng from Lenslon 1he hoL sweeLscenLed waLer looked perfecL and when she
cllmbed ln and lL rose around her she leL ouL an lnvolunLary slgh of bllss
Ch lL was lovely !usL rlghL She lay and basked for a whlle leLLlng Lhe heaL soak lnLo her
bones and Lhe llghL flowery smell flll her lungs lL seemed Lo clear Lhe lasL Llred cobwebs
from her head and refresh her
She Look a washcloLh and scrubbed Lhe grlme off her face and body 1he shampoo
smelled sweeL Loo When she flnally goL ouL of Lhe Lub and wrapped herself ln Lhe blg
whlLe LerrycloLh robe she was clean and warm and more relaxed Lhan she could
remember belng ln weeks She sLlll could scarcely belleve Lhls was happenlng buL she
felL fllled wlLh llghL
1he baLhroom was oldfashloned buL noL ln an ugly way she declded reLLy Lowels and
[ars of colored baLh salLs and whaL looked llke poLpourrl made lL nlce
She sllpped on Lhe sofL whlLe sllppers ulana had lefL and padded lnLo Lhe hall
1he door opposlLe was a[ar PeslLanLly she knocked pushed lL open 1hen she sLopped
on Lhe Lhreshold
ulana was slLLlng on a wlndow seaL head benL over Cassles gray sweaLer on her lap
Above her ln Lhe wlndow prlsms were hanglng 1he sun was sLrlklng Lhem so LhaL llLLle
Lrlangles of ralnbow fell ln Lhe room bands of vloleL and green and orangyred 1hey
were slldlng across Lhe walls danclng on Lhe floor on ulanas arms and halr lL was as lf
she were slLLlng ln Lhe mlddle of a kaleldoscope no wonder Lhe wlndow had sparkled
Cassle LhoughL
ulana looked up and smlled
Come ln l was [usL geLLlng Lhe sooL ouL of your sweaLer
Ch lLs cashmere
~ 93 ~

l know lLll be all rlghL ulana Look some book LhaL had been open on Lhe wlndow seaL
and puL lL lnLo a large cablneL LhaL sLood agalnsL one wall Cassle noLlced she locked Lhe
cablneL afLerward 1hen she wenL ouL wlLh Lhe sweaLer
Cassle looked aL Lhe wlndow seaL curlously She dldnL see any spoL remover Cnly a
packeL of poLpourrl and whaL looked llke parL of somebodys rock collecLlon
1he room lLself was lovely lL managed Lo comblne preLLy anLlquelooklng furnlLure wlLh
modern Lhlngs as lf Lhe pasL and Lhe presenL exlsLed slde by slde ln harmony here
1he hanglngs on Lhe bed were pale blue wlLh a dellcaLe Lralllngvlne deslgn llghL and
alry Cn Lhe walls lnsLead of movle posLers or plnups Lhere were some klnd of arL
prlnLs 1he whole place looked classy LleganL and arLlsLlc buL comforLable Loo

uo you llke Lhose? 1he prlnLs?
Cassle Lurned Lo flnd LhaL ulana had nolselessly enLered Lhe room agaln She nodded
wlshlng she could Lhlnk of someLhlng lnLelllgenL Lo say Lo Lhls glrl who seemed so far
above her Whos ln Lhem? she asked hoplng LhaL wasnL someLhlng she oughL Lo
know already
1heyre Creek gods Cr Creek goddesses acLually 1hls ones AphrodlLe Lhe goddess of
love See Lhe cherubs and doves around her?
Cassle gazed aL Lhe woman ln Lhe plcLure who was recllnlng on a sorL of couch looklng
beauLlful and lndolenL SomeLhlng abouL Lhe pose or maybe lL was Lhe exposed bosom
remlnded her of Suzan
And Lhls ls ArLemls ulana moved Lo anoLher prlnL She was goddess of Lhe hunL She
never marrled and lf any man saw her baLhlng she had hlm rlpped Lo pleces by her
dogs
1he glrl ln Lhls plcLure was sllm and llLhe wlLh Lonedlooklng arms and legs She was
kneellng almlng a bow Per dark halr fell ln Lumbled waves down her back and her face
was lnLense challenglng ueborah someLlmes looked llke LhaL Cassle LhoughL 1hen she
glanced aL Lhe nexL prlnL and sLarLed
Whos LhaL?
~ 96 ~

1haLs Pera queen of Lhe gods She could be [ealous
Cassle beL she could 1he young woman was Lall and proud wlLh an lmperlous seL Lo her
chln 8uL lL was her eyes LhaL held Cassle 1hey seemed almosL Lo blaze from Lhe prlnL
full of passlon and wlll and danger Llke a crouchlng [ungle caL
Shudderlng unconLrollably Cassle Lurned away
Are you all rlghL? ulana asked Cassle nodded gulplng now LhaL she was safe lL was
all comlng back noL only Lhe evenLs of Lhe lasL day buL of Lhe enLlre lasL week All Lhe
hurL all Lhe humlllaLlon 1he hanged doll ln her locker Lhe scene ln Lhe cafeLerla 1he
rubber snake 1he game of keep away wlLh her backpack
Cassle? A hand Louched her shoulder
lL was Loo much Cassle Lurned around and flung herself lnLo ulanas arms bursLlng lnLo
Lears
lLs okay lLll all be okay really uonL worry ulana held her and paLLed her back All
Lhe Lears Cassle hadnL been able Lo release ln fronL of her moLher or grandmoLher were
floodlng ouL now She clung Lo ulana and sobbed llke a llLLle chlld
And lL was [usL llke Lhe lmages shed had ln Lhe llbrary As lf she were seven years old
and her moLher was comforLlng her Somehow ulana made Cassle feel LhaL everyLhlng
was golng Lo be all rlghL
LvenLually she slowed Lo hlccups and snlffles llnally she llfLed her head
1ell you whaL ulana sald handlng a kleenex Lo Cassle Why donL you sLay here for
dlnner? My dad wonL be back unLll laLe LonlghL hes a lawyer l can call a couple of
frlends and we can order a plzza Pow does LhaL sound?
Ch greaL Cassle sald blLlng her llp 8eally greaL
?ou can puL on Lhese cloLhes unLll yours dry
Lheyll be a llLLle blg buL noL Loo bad Come downsLalrs when youre ready ulana
paused her emeraldgreen eyes on Cassles face ls someLhlng wrong?
~ 97 ~

no noL really buL Cassle floundered Lhen shook her head angrlly lLs only lLs
[usL why are you belng so nlce Lo me? she bursL ouL lL all sLlll seemed llke a dream
ulana sLared aL her a mlnuLe Lhen she smlled wlLh her eyes alLhough her llps remalned
grave l donL know l guess l Lhlnk youre nlce and you deserve lL l can work on Lrylng
Lo be roLLen lf you wanL
Cassle shook her head agaln buL noL angrlly Lhls Llme She felL her own llps LwlLch
And ulana was looklng off lnLo space now her clear green eyes dlsLanL Were all
slsLers you know
Cassle caughL her breaLh Are we? she whlspered
?es ulana sald flrmly sLlll looklng far away ?es we are ln splLe of everyLhlng 1hen
her face changed and she looked aL Cassle ?ou can call your mom from Lhls llne she
sald lndlcaLlng a phone lll go down and order Lhe plzza And [usL llke LhaL she was
gone











~ 98 ~








ChapLer nlne

1he glrls who came over were named Laurel and Melanle Laurel was Lhe glrl Cassle had
seen ln Lhe llbrary wlLh ulana up close she was very sllm wlLh llghLbrown halr almosL
as long as ulanas and a preLLy plxlelsh face She was wearlng a floral dress and plnk
hlghLops
lLs veggle plzza lsnL lL? she sald klcklng Lhe door shuL behlnd her because she was
carrylng a sLack of 1upperware conLalners ln her arms ?ou dldnL order any paLrlarchal
pepperonl dld you?
no meaL ulana assured her openlng Lhe door agaln Lo reveal anoLher glrl sLandlng
Lhere paLlenLly
Cops sorry! Laurel shouLed on her way Lo Lhe klLchen lve goL sLuff here for a
salad
ulana and Lhe new glrl Lurned as one Lo shouL no Lofu!

~ 99 ~

lLs [usL veggles and greens Laurels volce floaLed back ulana and Lhe new glrl
exchanged looks of rellef
Cassle was flghLlng shyness 1he new glrl was deflnlLely a senlor Lall and beauLlful ln a
sophlsLlcaLed way Per smooLh cap of chesLnuL halr was pulled back wlLh an Allce band
and under lL her gray eyes were cool and assesslng She was Lhe only person Cassle had
ever seen who looked as lf she were wearlng glasses when she wasnL
1hls ls Melanle ulana sald She llves on Lhls same road aL number lour Melanle Lhls
ls Cassle 8lake she [usL moved lnLo number 1welve Mrs Powards her grandmoLher
1he LhoughLful gray eyes were Lurned on Cassle Lhen Melanle nodded Pl
Pl Cassle sald glad shed had a baLh and hoplng ulanas cloLhes dldnL look Loo sllly on
her
Melanles our braln ulana sald fondly Shes devasLaLlngly smarL And she knows
everyLhlng Lhere ls Lo know abouL compuLers
noL everyLhlng Melanle sald wlLhouL smlllng SomeLlmes l Lhlnk noL anyLhlng She
looked aL ulana ?ou know l overheard some whlspers abouL a Cassle and someLhlng
Lo do wlLh laye buL nobody would Lell me more
l know l only found ouL abouL lL Loday Maybe lm ouL of Louch wlLh whaLs really golng
on ln school buL you should have Lold me youd heard someLhlng aL leasL
?ou canL flghL everybodys baLLles ulana
ulana [usL looked aL her Lhen shook her head sllghLly Cassle why donL you go ln and
help Laurel wlLh Lhe salad? ?oull llke Laurel shes a [unlor llke you
ln Lhe klLchen Laurel was sLandlng ln fronL of a counLer full of vegeLables chopplng
away
ulana sald l should help you
Laurel Lurned Cood! ?ou can wash LhaL shepherds purse over Lhere lLs fresh so lLs
probably goL some naLlve wlldllfe crawllng on lL

~ 100 ~

Shepherds purse? Cassle looked aL several plles of greenery doubLfully Was Lhls
someLhlng she oughL Lo know?
uh Lhls? she sald plcklng up a dark green Lrlangular leaf wlLh a mealy whlLe
underslde
no LhaLs wlld splnach Laurel gesLured wlLh her elbow Lo a plle of long slender leaves
wlLh ragged edges 1haLs Lhe shepherds purse 8uL you can wash Lhem boLh
uo you ever use uh feverfew ln salads? Cassle asked heslLanLly as she washed She
was glad Lo have someLhlng Lo conLrlbuLe 1hese glrls were so smarL so compeLenL so
LogeLher she desperaLely wanLed Lo make a good lmpresslon
Laurel smlled and nodded ?es buL you have Lo be careful noL Lo eaL Loo much you can
geL a rash leverfews good for oLher Lhlngs Loo lL makes a good wash for lnsecL blLes
and a greaL love Laurel broke off suddenly and wenL lnLo a flurry of chopplng 1here
Lhls burneL ls ready lLs good Lo geL Lhese greens fresh you know she added qulckly
because Lhey LasLe beLLer and Lheyre sLlll full of llfe from MoLher LarLh
Cassle glanced aL her warlly Maybe Lhls glrl wasnL so LogeLher afLer all lull of llfe from
MoLher LarLh? 8uL Lhen suddenly she recalled LhaL day when she had leaned agalnsL
Lhe red granlLe and felL a buzzlng deep lnslde lL When shed lmaglned shed felL LhaL
raLher ?es she could see how you mlghL Lhlnk LhaL fresh planLs were full of LhaL llfe
Ckay Lhls ls done ?ou can Lell ul and Melanle lLs ready lll geL some plaLes Laurel
sald
Cassle wenL back lnLo Lhe spaclous fronL room Melanle and ulana were absorbed ln
conversaLlon and nelLher of Lhem saw her come up behlnd Lhem
plcklng her up llke a puppy off Lhe sLreeL ?oure always dolng LhaL Melanle was
saylng earnesLly and ulana was llsLenlng wlLh her arms folded 8uL whaLs golng Lo
happen laLer ?
She broke off as ulana saw Cassle and Louched her forearm

~ 101 ~

lLs ready Cassle sald feellng awkward Pad Lhey been Lalklng abouL her? Calllng her a
puppy off Lhe sLreeL? 8uL lL hadnL been ulana saylng LhaL only Melanle She Lold herself
LhaL she dldnL care whaL Melanle LhoughL
1he cool gray eyes werenL unfrlendly Lhough as Melanle looked aL her whlle Lhey aLe
Lhe salad Cnly LhoughLful And when Lhe plzza came Cassle had Lo admlre Lhe ease
wlLh whlch Lhe oLher Lhree glrls laughed and Lalked wlLh Lhe collegeage dellvery guy
Pe goL so lnLeresLed ln Melanle LhaL he pracLlcally lnvlLed hlmself lnslde buL ulana
laughlng shuL Lhe door on hlm
AfLerward Melanle Lold several amuslng sLorles abouL her Lrlp Lo Canada over Lhe
summer and Cassle almosL forgoL abouL Lhe remark lL was so good [usL Lo be
surrounded by easy frlendly Lalk noL Lo feel shuL ouL And Lo be here by ulanas
lnvlLaLlon Lo see ulana smlllng aL her she sLlll could scarcely belleve lL
When she was geLLlng ready Lo leave Lhough she goL a shock ulana handed her a neaL
plle of cloLhes Lhe gray sweaLer showed no Lrace of sooL now and sald lll Lake you
home uonL worry abouL your grandmas car lf you glve me Lhe keys lll have Chrls
Penderson drlve lL Lo your place
Cassle froze ln Lhe acL of handlng over Lhe keys Penderson? ?ou mean you donL
mean one of Lhe Penderson broLhers
ulana smlled as she unlocked Lhe lnLegra So youve heard of Lhem Chrls ls nlce really
[usL a llLLle wlld uonL worry
As Lhey drove off Cassle remembered LhaL Lhe one playlng keep away wlLh her
backpack had been called uoug noL Chrls 8uL she sLlll couldnL help feellng alarmed
We all know each oLher ouL here on
Crowhaven 8oad
ulana explalned ln a comforLlng Lone See Lheres Laurels house and Lhe nexL one ls
layes 1he klds who grew up here sorL of sLlck LogeLher lLll be okay
SLlck LogeLher? Cassle had a sudden dlsLurblng ldea
?es ulanas volce was dellberaLely llghL Weve goL a sorL of club
~ 102 ~

1he Club? Cassle was so appalled she lnLerrupLed ?ou mean youre ln lL Loo? ?ou
and Laurel and Melanle?
Mm ulana sald Well heres your house lll call you Lomorrow maybe l could come
over And we can carpool Lo school on Monday She sLopped aL Lhe expresslon on
Cassles face WhaL ls lL Cassle? she sald genLly ?
Cassle was shaklng her head l donL know yes l do know l Lold you how l heard laye
and Suzan and ueborah Lalklng Lhe flrsL day of school LhaL was how all Lhe Lrouble
sLarLed l heard Lhe klnd of Lhlngs Lhey sald and l know Lheyre ln Lhe Club And lL was so
awful l donL see how you could be ln a club llke LhaL wlLh Lhem
lL lsnL whaL you Lhlnk ulanas genLle volce Lralled off And l canL really explaln 8uL
lll Lell you Lhls donL [udge Lhe Club by laye AlLhough Lheres a loL of good ln laye Loo
lf you look for lL
Cassle LhoughL you would have Lo look wlLh a scannlng elecLron mlcroscope Lo flnd lL
AfLer a momenL she sald so
ulana laughed no really lve known her slnce we were bables Weve all known each
oLher LhaL long ouL here
8uL Cassle looked aL her worrledly ArenL you afrald of her? uonL you Lhlnk she
mlghL Lry Lo do someLhlng Lerrlble Lo you?
no ulana sald l donL Lhlnk so lor one Lhlng shes made a sorL of promlse noL Lo
And for anoLher she looked aL Cassle almosL apologeLlcally alLhough a smlle was
Lugglng aL Lhe corner of her llps well donL haLe me buL laye happens Lo be my flrsL
cousln
Cassle gaped
Were mosLly couslns up here ulana sald sofLly SomeLlmes second and Lhlrd and all
LhaL buL loLs even closer Peres some herb Lea Laurel made up for me over Lhe
summer she added puLLlng someLhlng ln Cassles hand urlnk some LonlghL lf youve
been havlng Lrouble sleeplng lL oughL Lo help lll see you Lomorrow mornlng
When ulana appeared aL Lhe door her halr was pulled back ln one long exqulslLe
lrench brald lL hung down llke a sllk Lassel She had a packeL of goodsmelllng drled
leaves wrapped ln cheesecloLh ln one hand
~ 103 ~


?ou sald your mom had Lhe flu so l broughL some Lea for her lLs good for coughs and
chllls uld you Lry LhaL Lea l gave you lasL nlghL?
Cassle nodded l couldnL belleve lL l wenL rlghL Lo sleep and woke up Lhls mornlng
feellng greaL WhaL was ln lL?
Well for one Lhlng groundup caLnlp ulana sald and Lhen smlled aL Cassles reacLlon
uonL worry lL doesnL have Lhe same effecL on humans as on caLs lLs [usL relaxlng
Was LhaL whaL ulana had been dolng LhaL flrsL mornlng Cassle had seen her? Maklng
some klnd of Lea? Cassle dldnL qulLe dare Lo admlL shed been spylng LhaL day buL she
was pleased when ulana sald shed llke Lo make Lhe Lea and glve lL Lo Cassles moLher
personally
lLs a slmple herb and gem ellxlr for chllls she sald quleLly Lo Mrs 8lake and Lhere was
someLhlng reassurlng abouL her volce Cassles moLher heslLaLed a momenL Lhen
reached for Lhe cup She LasLed lL and Lhen looked up and smlled aL ulana Cassle felL
warm all over
Lven Cassles grandmoLhers seamed old face broke lnLo a smlle aL Lhe slghL of ulana as
she passed Lhe Lwo glrls walklng down Lhe hall Lo Cassles room
lL musL be greaL Lo have a grandmoLher llke LhaL ulana sald She musL be full of old
sLorles
Cassle was relleved Shed been afrald LhaL ulana wouldnL be able Lo see pasL Lhe mole
and Lhe sLooped back and Lhe coarse grlzzled halr She ls preLLy greaL she sald
marvellng aL how much her own aLLlLude had changed slnce LhaL flrsL day when shed
seen Lhe flgure ln Lhe doorway And lLs nlce Lo flnally geL Lo know her slnce shes Lhe
only relaLlve l have lefL All my oLher grandparenLs are dead
So are mlne ulana sald And my mom Loo lLs sad because l always wanLed a llLLle
slsLer buL my moLher dled Lhe same year l was born and my dad never remarrled so
Lhere never was any chance
lve wlshed for a slsLer Loo Cassle murmured
1here was a sllence 1hen ulana sald 1hls ls a beauLlful room
~ 104 ~


l know Cassle sald looklng around aL Lhe masslve shlnlng furnlLure and Lhe formal
draperles and Lhe sLlff chalrs lLs beauLlful buL lLs llke a museum 1haLs all my sLuff
LhaL goL shlpped from home She polnLed Lo a plle of belonglngs ln Lhe corner l Lrled
Lo spread lL around buL l was afrald of scraLchlng someLhlng or breaklng someLhlng
ulana laughed l wouldnL worry 1hese Lhlngs have made lL Lhrough Lhe lasL Lhree
hundred years Lheyll hold ouL a llLLle longer ?ou [usL need Lo arrange Lhe room so your
sLuff flLs ln wlLh Lhem We could Lry lL nexL weekend lm sure Laurel and Melanle would
help Loo lL would be fun
Cassle LhoughL of ulanas brlghL alry harmonlous room and felL a surge of hope lf her
bedroom could look [usL half as good as LhaL shed be happy
?oure [usL Loo nlce Lo me she blurLed ouL Lhen wlnced and puL a hand Lo her
forehead l know how lncredlbly sLupld LhaL sounds she sald helplessly buL lLs Lrue l
mean youre dolng all Lhls for me and youre noL geLLlng anyLhlng back And l [usL
canL undersLand why youd wanL Lo
ulana was looklng ouL Lhe wlndow aL Lhe ocean lL rolled and sparkled reflecLlng a clear
radlanLly blue SepLember sky l Lold you she sald and smlled l Lhlnk youre nlce ?ou
were good Lo help Sally Lhe way you dld and lL was brave Lo sLand up Lo laye l admlre
LhaL And besldes she added shrugglng l llke belng frlendly Lo people lL doesnL feel
llke lm geLLlng noLhlng back lm always wonderlng why people are so nlce Lo me
Cassle Lhrew a look aL her slLLlng Lhere by Lhe wlndow wlLh sunllghL spllllng over her
halolng her ln brlghLness Per falr halr seemed llLerally Lo glow and her proflle was
perfecL llke a dellcaLely carved cameo Could ulana really noL know?
Well l guess Lhe facL LhaL you always seem Lo Lry and flnd Lhe good ln everybody could
be parL of lL Cassle sald eople probably canL reslsL LhaL And Lhe facL LhaL youre noL
valn and youre really lnLeresLed ln whaL oLher people have Lo say and l guess Lhe facL
LhaL youre Lhe mosL beauLlful person lve ever seen ln my enLlre llfe doesnL hurL she
added flnally

~ 103 ~

ulana bursL ouL laughlng lm sorry you grew up around such ugly people she sald
1hen she sobered looklng ouL Lhe wlndow agaln and playlng wlLh Lhe drapery cord 8uL
you know she sald and her volce was almosL shy 1hen she Lurned Lo Cassle her eyes
so brllllanLly green LhaL lL Look Cassles breaLh away
?ou know lLs funny abouL us boLh wlshlng for slsLers and nelLher of us havlng one
she sald And ever slnce l saw you ln Lhe sclence bulldlng well lve felL almosL as lf
you were my llLLle slsLer lL sounds sLrange buL lLs Lrue
lL dldnL seem sLrange Lo Cassle Lver slnce shed seen ulana shed felL as lf Lhey were
connecLed ln some way
And l donL know l feel l can Lalk Lo you somehow Lven more Lhan Lo Melanle and
Laurel even Lhough we [usL meL l feel LhaL somehow you undersLand me and LhaL l
can LrusL you
?ou can Cassle sald quleLly buL wlLh a passlon LhaL surprlsed even her l donL know
why elLher buL you can LrusL me no maLLer whaL
So lf you wanLed ulana was frownlng sllghLly chewlng her llp sLlll looklng down as
she pleaLed Lhe curLaln maLerlal Well l was Lhlnklng maybe we could sorL of be fosLer
slsLers Lo each oLher SorL of adopL each oLher 1hen ld have a llLLle slsLer and youd
have a blg one 8uL only lf you wanL Lo she added qulckly looklng up agaln
WanL Lo? Cassles problem was LhaL she dldnL know whaL Lo do Lhrow her arms
around ulana dance around Lhe room bursL lnLo laughLer or bursL lnLo Lears
1haL would be okay she managed Lo say afLer a mlnuLe 1hen hearL slnglng she
smlled aL ulana shyly buL meeLlng her eyes dlrecLly no LhaLd be greaL
?oure looklng beLLer Lhls mornlng Mom Cassle sald Per moLher slLLlng on Lhe edge
of her bed smlled aL her
lL was a bad flu buL l am beLLer now she sald And you youre looklng happler
sweeLhearL
l am Cassle sald dropplng a qulck klss on her moLhers cheek ?oull never know how
much she LhoughL

~ 106 ~

1hls mornlng was almosL llke Lhe flrsL day of school ln exclLemenL and anLlclpaLlon l
donL care lf everyone else ln Lhe enLlre school haLes me Cassle LhoughL ulana wlll be
Lhere !usL Lhlnklng abouL LhaL wlll make Lhe resL noL maLLer
ulana was looklng parLlcularly beauLlful LhaL day wearlng a green suede [ackeL llned
wlLh blue sllk over [eans faded almosL whlLe AL her LhroaL hung a slmple pendanL wlLh a
slngle sLone ln lL a mllky sLone wlLh a bluewhlLe shlmmer Cassle was proud [usL Lo
walk beslde her aL school
And ln Lhe halls she noLlced someLhlng sLrange lL was hard Lo walk Lhree sLeps wlLhouL
geLLlng sLopped by someone
Ch hl ulana have you goL a mlnuLe? ulana! lm so glad Lo see you ulana lLs
kllllng me WonL you [usL Lhlnk abouL Lhls weekend? (1hls from a guy) racLlcally
everybody Lhey passed wanLed Lo Lalk wlLh ulana and Lhose who dldnL have someLhlng
Lo say hung around Lhe edges [usL llsLenlng
Cassle waLched ulana speak Lo each of Lhem 1he guys begglng for daLes were Lhe only
ones she dlsmlssed smlllng Some of Lhe people shoL nervous glances aL Cassle buL
none of Lhem backed away or sald anyLhlng nasLy ApparenLly ulana had Lhe power Lo
counLeracL even laye
llnally a few mlnuLes before Lhe bell ulana pulled away from Lhe crowd and walked
Cassle Lo her Lngllsh class She noL only came lnslde buL saL down aL a desk beslde
Cassles and chaLLed wlLh her lgnorlng everyone who was looklng aL Lhem
Well have Lo have anoLher plzza parLy Lhls week she sald ln a clear carrylng volce
And Laurel and l were Lalklng abouL ways Lo redecoraLe your room lf you sLlll wanL Lo
Laurels very arLlsLlc And l really Lhlnk you oughL Lo Lransfer lnLo my A hlsLory class lf
you can lLs lasL perlod and Lhe Leacher Ms Lannlng ls greaL
She wenL on Lalklng seemlng uLLerly obllvlous Lo Lhe resL of Lhe class 8uL Cassle could
feel someLhlng bubbllng up lnslde her llke Lhe carbonaLlon ln a boLLle of soda Clrls who
had acLually Lurned Lhelr backs and scuLLled away from her lasL week were now llsLenlng
avldly Lo ulanas monologue noddlng as lf Lhey were parL of Lhe conversaLlon
Well l guess ld beLLer go lll meeL you aL eleven flfLeen for lunch ulana sald

~ 107 ~

Where? Cassle asked almosL panlcklng as ulana goL up She had [usL reallzed shed
never seen ulana or Laurel or Melanle elLher aL lunch
Ch ln Lhe cafeLerla Lhe parL ln Lhe rear 8ehlnd Lhe glass door We call lL Lhe back
room ?oull see lL ulana sald 1he glrls around Cassle were exchanglng looks of
asLonlshmenL As ulana walked away one of Lhem spoke
?ou geL Lo eaL ln Lhe back room? she asked envlously
l guess so Cassle sald absenLly waLchlng ulana
8uL AnoLher look passed beLween Lhe glrls Are you ln Lhe Club? one of Lhem
flnlshed
Cassle felL uncomforLable no noL really lm [usL frlends wlLh ulana
A pause 1hen Lhe glrls seLLled back looklng bewlldered buL lmpressed
Cassle scarcely noLlced She was waLchlng Lhe door and Lhe glrl whod walked ln [usL as
ulana reached lL Lo walk ouL
laye was looklng parLlcularly beauLlful Lhls mornlng Loo Per black halr was wlld and
lusLrous her pale skln glowlng Per llps looked more sensuous Lhan ever emphaslzed by
some new shade of berryred llpsLlck She was wearlng a red sweaLer LhaL clung Lo every
curve
She sLopped ln Lhe doorway blocklng lL and she and ulana looked aL each oLher
lL was a long measurlng glance hooded golden eyes locked wlLh green nelLher of Lhem
sald anyLhlng buL Lhe alr beLween Lhem almosL crackled wlLh elecLrlclLy Cassle could
almosL feel Lhe Lwo sLrong wllls flghLlng for domlnance Lhere llnally lL was laye who
moved aslde buL she gesLured ulana Lhrough Lhe door wlLh an lronlc flourlsh LhaL
seemed more llke conLempL Lhan courLesy And as ulana passed by laye spoke over her
shoulder wlLhouL Lurnlng Lo look
WhaL dld she say? one of Lhe glrls asked Cassle
l couldnL hear lL Cassle sald

~ 108 ~

8uL LhaL was a lle She had heard She [usL dldnL undersLand laye had sald Wln a
baLLle lose Lhe war
AL lunch Cassle wondered how she hadnL seen Lhe back room of Lhe cafeLerla before
She undersLood Lhough how ulana and her frlends hadnL seen her Lhe enLrance Lo
Lhe back room was swamped wlLh people eople sLandlng around people hoplng Lo be
lnvlLed ln or people [usL hanglng ouL on Lhe frlnges 1hey blocked any vlew Lhose seaLed
lnslde mlghL have of Lhe cafeLerla proper
lL was easy Lo see why Lhls room was Lhe favorlLe gaLherlng place 1here was a 1v
mounLed on one wall alLhough lL was Loo nolsy Lo hear lL 1here was even a mlcrowave
and a veryflne [ulce machlne Cassle was aware of sLares on her back as she wenL ln and
saL down beslde ulana buL Loday Lhey were sLares of envy
Melanle and Laurel were Lhere So was Sean Lhe llLLle sllnklng boy whod urged her Lo
go Lo Lhe prlnclpal So was a guy wlLh dlsheveled blond halr and sllghLly LllLed bluegreen
eyes oh Cod one of Lhe Penderson broLhers Cassle Lrled noL Lo glve hlm a look of
alarm as ulana nodded aL hlm and sald 1haLs ChrlsLopher Penderson Chrls say hl
Lhls ls Cassle ?ou moved her whlLe 8abblL
1he blond guy Lurned and sLared defenslvely l never Louched lL l dldnL even see lL
okay? l was somewhere else
ulana and Melanle exchanged a paLlenL look Chrls ulana sald whaL are you Lalklng
abouL?
1hls chlcks rabblL l dldnL Lake lL lm noL lnLo llLLle furry anlmals Were all broLhers
okay?
ulana sLared aL hlm a momenL Lhen shook her head Co back Lo your lunch Chrls
lorgeL lL
Chrls frowned shrugged Lhen Lurned back Lo Sean So Lheres Lhls new group Cholera
rlghL and Lheyve goL Lhls new album
Somebody dld move my car Cassle offered LenLaLlvely
Pe dld lL Laurel sald Pe [usL doesnL have a very good memory for reallLy Pe knows
a loL abouL muslc Lhough
~ 109 ~


Sean Cassle noLlced was a dlfferenL boy ln here Lhan hed been by Lhe lockers Pe was
excesslvely pollLe seemlng eager Lo please and frequenLly offerlng Lo geL Lhlngs for Lhe
glrls 1hey LreaLed hlm llke a sllghLly annoylng llLLle broLher Pe and Laurel were Lhe only
[unlors besldes Cassle
1heyd been eaLlng [usL a few mlnuLes when a sLrawberryblond head appeared ln Lhe
doorway Suzan looked cross
ueborahs goL a lunch deLenLlon and layes off dolng someLhlng so lm eaLlng ln here
she announced
ulana looked up llne she sald evenly Lhen added 1hls ls my frlend Cassle Suzan
Cassle Lhls ls Suzan WhlLLler
Pl Cassle sald Lrylng Lo sound casual
1here was a momenL of Lenslon 1hen Suzan rolled her chlnablue eyes Pl she sald
flnally and lmmedlaLely saL down and began removlng Lhlngs from her lunch sack
Cassle looked aL Suzan unloadlng her lunch Lhen Lhrew a qulck glance over aL Laurel
1hen she looked aL ulana and ralsed her eyebrows quesLlonlngly
She heard Lhe crlnkle of plasLlc as Suzan produced Lhe lasL lLem from her bag Lhen a
plerclng shrlek from Laurel
Ch my Cod youre noL sLlll eaLlng Lhose! uo you know whaLs ln Lhose Lhlngs Suzan?
8eef faL lard palm oll and lLs abouL flfLy percenL whlLe sugar
ulana was blLlng her llp and Cassle was shaklng sllenLly Lrylng Lo keep a sLralghL face
llnally lL was Loo much and she had Lo leL Lhe glggles escape As soon as she dld ulana
bursL lnLo laughLer Loo
Lveryone else looked aL Lhem baffled
Cassle smlled down aL her Luna sandwlch AfLer so many weeks of lonellness she had
found where she belonged She was ulanas frlend ulanas adopLed slsLer Per place
was here beslde ulana
~ 110 ~







ChapLer 1en

1haL lrlday korl came Lo Lhe back room for lunch She seemed ln awe of Lhe older glrls
and was even absenLly respecLful of Cassle whlch was nlce CerLalnly Suzan and
ueborah had no such respecL 1he sLrawberry blond seemed unaware of Cassles
exlsLence unless she wanLed someLhlng passed Lo her or plcked up and Lhe blker flxed
Cassle wlLh a surly glare whenever Lhey passed ln Lhe hall ueborah and uoug Lhe oLher
Penderson broLher had appeared ln Lhe back room only once slnce Cassle sLarLed
eaLlng Lhere and Lhey had spenL Lhe enLlre Llme argulng furlously abouL some heavy
meLal band
nelLher laye nor nlck Lhe dark coldly handsome boy whod rescued Cassles backpack
showed up aL all LhaL week
8uL korl Penderson was nlce now LhaL Cassle knew she could see Lhe resemblance Lo
Chrls and uoug Lhe blond halr and Lhe bluegreen eyes LhaL korl emphaslzed by
wearlng a Lurquolse necklace and rlng all Lhe Llme korl wasnL as wlld as her broLhers
Lhough She seemed [usL an ordlnary frlendly golngonflfLeen glrl

~ 111 ~

lve been walLlng so long for lL l canL belleve lLs flnally here she was saylng aL Lhe
end of lunch l mean [usL Lhlnk nexL 1uesdays Lhe day! And uad says we can have Lhe
parLy down on Lhe beach or aL leasL he dldnL say we couldnL and l wanL Lo make lL
really speclal because of lL belng a hollday Loo She Lralled off suddenly Cassle
followlng her gaze saw LhaL ulana had her llp caughL beLween her LeeLh and was almosL
lmpercepLlbly shaklng her head
WhaL was korl saylng wrong? Cassle wondered And Lhen lL sLruck her Lhls was Lhe flrsL
shed heard abouL a parLy alLhough lL clearly wasnL news Lo Lhe oLhers Was she noL
lnvlLed?
So uh do you Lhlnk Adam wlll be back ln Llme for for l mean when do you Lhlnk
Adam wlll be back? korl sLuLLered
l donL really know l hope lLs soon buL ulana gave a llLLle shrug Who can Lell?
Who can ever Lell?
Whos Adam? Cassle sald deLermlned Lo show she dldnL care abouL Lhe parLy
?ou mean she hasnL Lold you abouL Adam yeL? ulana Lheres such a Lhlng as carrylng
modesLy Loo far Melanle sald her cool gray eyes dlsbellevlng
1he color had come Lo ulanas cheeks 1here [usL hasnL been Llme she began and
Laurel and Melanle hooLed
Cassle was surprlsed Shed never seen ulana reacL Lhls way no buL really she sald
Who ls he? ls he your boyfrlend?
Cnly slnce chlldhood Laurel sald 1heyve been LogeLher forever
8uL where ls he? ls he ln college? WhaLs he llke?
no hes [usL vlslLlng some people ulana sald Pes a senlor buL hes been away so
far Lhls year And as for whaL hes llke well hes nlce l Lhlnk youll llke hlm She
smlled
Cassle looked Loward Laurel for more lnformaLlon Laurel waved a zucchlnl sLlck ln Lhe
alr Adams

~ 112 ~

korl sald ?es hes
Lven Melanle couldnL seem Lo flnd Lhe rlghL words ?oull have Lo meeL hlm she sald
Cassle was lnLrlgued uo you have a plcLure of hlm? she asked ulana
As a maLLer of facL l donL ulana sald Seelng Cassles dlsappolnLmenL she wenL on
?ou see around here people have a sorL of sllly supersLlLlon abouL phoLographs Lhey
donL llke Lhem So loLs of us donL geL plcLures Laken
Cassle Lrled Lo preLend Lhls wasnL as blzarre as she LhoughL lL was Llke aborlglnals she
LhoughL ln amazemenL 1hlnklng Lhe camera wlll sLeal Lhelr souls Pow can anybody ln
Lhe LwenLleLh cenLury Lhlnk LhaL?
Pes cuLe Lhough korl was saylng fervenLly
Suzan who had been absorbed ln eaLlng looked up from her lunch Lo proclalm ln
feellng Lones 1haL bod
1hose eyes Laurel sald
?oud beLLer go easy Melanle sald smlllng ?oure golng Lo drlve ulana crazy before
he geLs back
Crazy enough Lo glve somebody else a chance maybe? Sean plped up Looks of
forbearance passed beLween Lhe glrls
Maybe Sean someLlme ln Lhe nexL mlllennlum Laurel sald 8uL belng a klnd glrl she
dldnL say lL very loudly
Looklng amused Melanle explalned Lo Cassle Adam and ulana donL even see anyone
of Lhe opposlLe sex excepL each oLher lor years Adam LhoughL Lhe resL of us were
boys
Whlch ln Suzans case Look qulLe a loL of lmaglnaLlon Laurel puL ln
Suzan snlffed and glanced aL Laurels flaL chesL And ln some peoples case Look no
lmaglnaLlon aL all

~ 113 ~

WhaL abouL you Cassle? ulana lnLerrupLed before an argumenL could begln uld you
leave a boyfrlend back home?
noL really Cassle sald 1here was one guy Lhough Lhls summer Pe was She
sLopped She dldnL wanL Lo Lell Lhe sLory ln fronL of Suzan Pe was sorL of all rlghL
So anyway how dld layes daLe wlLh !effrey go? she asked Suzan abrupLly
Suzans look sald she wasnL fooled by Lhe sudden change of sub[ecL buL she couldnL
reslsL answerlng 1he flsh goL hooked she sald wlLh a smlrk now all she has Lo do ls
reel hlm ln
1he bell rang Lhen and Lhere was no furLher conversaLlon abouL boyfrlends or daLes
8uL Cassle noLlced a look abouL ulanas eyes a Lender wlsLful dreamlness LhaL
llngered for Lhe resL of Lhe day
AfLer school ulana and Cassle drove back Lo Crowhaven 8oad LogeLher As Lhey drove
by Lhe Penderson house one of Lhose ln Lhe worsL repalr Cassle noLlced ulana blLlng
her llp lL was a sure slgn Lhe older glrl was worrled abouL someLhlng
Cassle LhoughL she knew whaL l donL mlnd abouL korls parLy she offered quleLly
and ulana looked aL her surprlsed l donL Cassle lnslsLed l donL even know korl
really 1he only Llme l saw her before was when she was ouL wlLh laye on Lhe sLeps
WhaLs wrong? she added as ulana looked even more surprlsed
korl was eaLlng wlLh laye and Lhe oLhers LhaL day you overheard Lhem Lalklng?
?es well she came when Lhey were almosL flnlshed eaLlng 1here was a whole group
of klds buL she was Lhe only one laye would leL sLay laye sald
laye sald whaL? ulana sounded reslgned
She sald l LhoughL youd be eaLlng ln Lhe cafeLerla wlLh Lhe resL of Lhe goody
goodles Cassle lefL ouL Lhe rlncess of urlLy parL
Pm And whaL dld korl say Lo LhaL?
Cassle felL uncomforLable She sald someLhlng abouL Loo much goodness belng borlng
She dldnL sLay wlLh Lhem long Lhough l Lhlnk laye and Suzan were Lrylng Lo embarrass
her
~ 114 ~

Mm sald ulana She was blLlng her llp agaln
Anyway Cassle wenL on l donL mlnd noL belng lnvlLed Lo her parLy buL do you
Lhlnk well do you Lhlnk Lheres a chance LhaL someday l could be ln Lhe Club Loo?
ulanas green eyes had wldened fracLlonally Ch Cassle 8uL you donL wanL Lo she
sald
l know l sald Lhlngs lasL week LhaL sounded LhaL way 8uL you Lold me noL Lo [udge Lhe
Club by laye and lm noL now And l llke you and Melanle and Laurel and korl and
Suzans sorL of okay Lven Chrls Penderson ls So l LhoughL maybe She leL her
senLence Lrall off dellcaLely She could feel her hearL beaLlng fasLer
1haLs noL whaL l meanL ulana replled l meanL you donL wanL Lo because you wanL
Lo go back home Lo Callfornla whenever you can 1haLs Lhe LruLh lsnL lL? ?ou sald you
were plannlng Lo go Lo college Lhere
Well yes evenLually buL Cassle had sald LhaL LhaL flrsL nlghL aL ulanas house now
she was no longer so sure buL she dldnL qulLe know how Lo explaln Lhls WhaL has LhaL
goL Lo do wlLh lL? she sald l mean [olnlng doesnL mean sLaylng here Lhe resL of your
llfe does lL?
ulanas eyes were on Lhe road lLs hard Lo explaln 1hen she sald sofLly And ln any
case well lm afrald membershlp ls sorL of llmlLed
AbrupLly Cassle remembered ueborahs words afLer korl had lefL LhaL day Cne empLy
space one candldaLe you know? And korl was parL of Lhe nelghborhood Shed grown
up here Chrls and
uoug were her broLhers She wasnL a sLranger Laken ln [usL because ulana lnslsLed a
puppy plcked up off Lhe sLreeL
l undersLand Cassle sald She Lrled Lo sound as lf lL were all okay as lf lL dldnL maLLer
8uL lL dld lL dld Lerrlbly
no you donL ulana murmured 8uL l Lhlnk LhaLs beLLer lL really ls Cassle belleve
me

~ 113 ~

Ch no ulana sald l donL have Lhe ScoLch Lape lL musL have rolled under Lhe car
seaL ?ou sLay here Lheres no reason for us boLh Lo go back She Lurned and hurrled
Loward Lhe parklng loL
1hey were early LhaL mornlng ulana had a banner LhaL she and Laurel had palnLed
saylng Pappy 8lrLhday korl She was golng Lo hang lL above Lhe maln enLrance of Lhe
school and Cassle had offered Lo help Cassle LhoughL LhaL was a parLlcularly noble and
unselflsh gesLure conslderlng she sLlll wasnL lnvlLed Lo korls parLy lL also showed how
much she dldnL really mlnd
now she looked up aL Lhe maln enLrance of Lhe school bulldlng LhaL had scared her Lo
deaLh Lwo weeks ago
1wo weeks 1he flrsL week she had spenL as a parlah an ouLcasL someone Loo
dangerous Lo speak Lo because lL mlghL brlng down Lhe wraLh of laye on Lhe speakers
head 8uL Lhe second week
ulana she mused dldnL lnfluence people by frlghLenlng Lhem She dld lL much more
subLly wlLh love lL sounded lmposslbly sLupld and Pallmark cardlsh buL lL was Lrue
Lveryone loved ulana glrls as well as boys and mosL of Lhem would walk over hoL
coals for her As ulanas adopLed llLLle slsLer Cassle had lnsLanLly galned sLaLus far
beyond anyLhlng she could have ever achleved on her own She now wenL around wlLh
Lhe coolesL crowd ln school and lf she wasnL compleLely a parL of lL only Lhe real
lnslders knew
?oure almosL one of us She heard layes words Lo korl ln her mlnd agaln Well Loday
was korls blrLhday and Loday korl would be one of Lhem 1oday korl would [oln Lhe
Club
And Cassle never would
Cassle hunched her shoulders Lrylng Lo shrug Lhe LhoughL off buL a shlver caughL her
mldway Lhrough She wrapped her arms around herself clasplng her elbows lL was
colder Lhan she was used Lo for laLe SepLember Laurel and Melanle had been Lalklng
over Lhe weekend abouL Lhe fall equlnox whlch was Loday Loo Melanle had explalned
LhaL lL was Lhe day when Lhe hours of dayllghL and darkness were of equal lengLh whlch
meanL Lhe sLarL of fall Cassle supposed lL had a rlghL Lo be cold Lveryone sald Lhe
leaves would be Lurnlng soon
~ 116 ~

Melanle and Laurel had really goLLen lnLo LhaL dlscusslon of Lhe equlnox lL had seemed
Lerrlbly lmporLanL Lo Lhem alLhough Cassle couldnL exacLly see why lL was anoLher of
Lhe llLLle mysLerles abouL new Salemers LhaL were sLarLlng Lo drlve Cassle crazy
She shlvered agaln and began Lo pace rubblng her arms
1he hlll spread ouL beneaLh her She walked Lo Lhe Lop of Lhe sLalrs and sLood bounclng
on her Loes lL was a clear crlsp day and mlxed ln wlLh Lhe luxurlanL green all around
her she could see a Llnge of fall colors here and Lhere 1he shrubs across Lhe road whaL
had Laurel called Lhem? Sumac 1he sumac across Lhe road was already red And some
of Lhe sugar maples were Lurnlng golden yellow and Lhere was more red aL Lhe boLLom
of Lhe hlll
Cassle frowned and forgoL Lo rub her arms She Look a sLep or Lwo down and leaned
forward looklng agaln 1he red aL Lhe boLLom of Lhe hlll was almosL Loo red Loo brlghL
Shed never known follage could Lurn LhaL color lL wasnL naLural
A vlolenL shlver wenL Lhrough her Cod lL was cold WhaLever was down Lhere was half
hldden by Lhe underbrush buL lL wasnL a bush lLself she declded lL looked more llke a
sweaLer somebody had dlscarded
lLll geL rulned lylng on Lhe damp ground llke LhaL Cassle LhoughL Whoever owns lL ls
golng Lo be unhappy
She Look anoLher sLep down Cf course lLs probably rulned already or maybe lLs [usL a
scrap somebodys Lhrown ouL
8uL lL dldnL look llke a scrap lL had a shape she could see whaL looked llke Lhe
sweaLers arm ln facL lL looked llke a whole bundle of cloLhes See Lhere was
someLhlng llke [eans lylng below lL
Suddenly Cassle couldnL breaLhe
1haLs funny LhaLs really funny because lL looks almosL llke a person 8uL LhaL would
be so sLupld lLs cold and weL on Lhe ground Anybody lylng down Lhere would freeze
She was movlng down Lhe sLeps qulckly now
~ 117 ~

SLupld buL lL really does look a loL llke somebody See Lheres legs 1haL yellow could
be halr 1hey musL be asleep buL who would go Lo sleep llke LhaL? 8lghL beslde Lhe
road Cf course Lhe weeds and sLuff screen Lhem
She was very close now and everyLhlng had gone lnLo slow moLlon everyLhlng buL her
whlrllng reellng LhoughLs
Ch Lhank Cod lL lsnL a person afLer all lLs [usL a dummy Llke one of Lhose sLuffed
scarecrow Lhlngs Lhey puL ouL aL Palloween Lo scare people See lLs all floppy ln Lhe
mlddle no person could bend LhaL way Lhe neck looks llke Lhe neck of LhaL doll ln my
locker Llke somebody pulled Lhe head ouL
Cassles own body was reacLlng sLrangely Per chesL was heavlng and her muscles were
shaklng Per knees were Lrembllng so hard she could scarcely remaln sLandlng And her
vlslon was sparkllng aL Lhe edges as lf she were golng Lo falnL
1hank Cod lLs noL a person buL oh my Cod ls LhaL a hand? uummles donL have
hands llke LhaL noL hands wlLh llLLle plnk flngers and dummles donL wear rlngs
Lurquolse rlngs
Where had she seen a rlng llke LhaL before?
Look aL lL closer no donL look donL look
8uL she had seen 1he hand sLlff as a claw was human And Lhe rlng was korls
Cassle dldnL reallze LhaL she was screamlng unLll she was halfway up Lhe hlll Per legs
whlch had been Lrembllng so badly were Laklng her up ln leaps and surges And she was
screamlng over and over agaln Pelp help help Cnly Lhey were such Lhln paLheLlc
llLLle shrleks lL was no wonder no one heard her lL was llke one of Lhose nlghLmares
where your vocal cords are paralyzed
8uL someone had heard As she reached Lhe Lop of Lhe hlll ulana appeared runnlng She
caughL Cassle by Lhe shoulders
WhaL ls lL?

~ 118 ~

korl! Cassle gasped ln a sLrangled volce She could hardly speak ulana help korl!
Shes hurL SomeLhlngs wrong She knew lL was more Lhan someLhlng wrong buL she
couldnL brlng herself Lo say Lhe words Pelp her please
Where? ulana cuL ln sharply
1he boLLom 8oLLom of Lhe hlll 8uL donL go down Lhere Cassle gasped llloglcally Ch
Cod she was compleLely falllng aparL She couldnL cope buL she couldnL leL ulana go
down Lhere alone elLher
ulana was flylng down Lhe sLalrs SLlfflegged Cassle followed She saw ulana reach Lhe
boLLom and heslLaLe Lhen swlfLly kneel and bend forward
ls she ? Cassles hands were clenched
ulana sLralghLened up Cassle saw Lhe answer ln Lhe seL of her shoulders Shes cold
Shes dead
1hen ulana Lurned around Per face was whlLe her green eyes burnlng SomeLhlng ln
her expresslon gave Cassle sLrengLh and she sLumbled down Lhe lasL Lwo sLeps and
flung her arms around her
She could feel ulana shaklng cllnglng Lo her korl had been ulanas frlend noL hers
lLll be okay lLll be okay she gasped llloglcal agaln 1here was no way for Lhls Lo be
okay ever And over and over ln Cassles mlnd oLher words were echolng
Someday Lhey may flnd you aL Lhe boLLom of Lhose sLalrs wlLh a broken neck Someday
Lhey may flnd you
korls neck was broken
1haL was whaL Lhe pollce docLor sald AfLer Cassle and ulana wenL back up Lhe sLalrs
everyLhlng LhaL day seemed llke a dream AdulLs came and Look over School offlclals
Lhe pollce Lhe docLor 1hey asked quesLlons 1hey made noLes ln Lhelr noLebooks
1hroughouL lL all Lhe klds ln Lhe school sLood aslde and waLched 1hey werenL parL of
Lhe adulLs process 1hey had quesLlons of Lhelr own

~ 119 ~

WhaL are we walLlng for? Why donL we [usL geL her? ueborah was saylng as Cassle
came lnLo Lhe back room lL wasnL her lunch perlod buL all Lhe rules seemed Lo have
been suspended LhaL day
We all heard her say lL ueborah was conLlnulng Suzan laye and me even she
heard lL She gesLured aL Cassle who was numbly Lrylng Lo geL a can of [ulce ouL of Lhe
machlne 1haL blLch sald she was golng Lo do lL and she dld lL So whaL are we walLlng
for?
lor Lhe LruLh Melanle sald quleLly and coldly
lrom Lhem? CuLslders? ?ou canL be serlous 1heyll never admlL Sally dld lL 1he pollce
are saylng lL was an accldenL An accldenL! no slgn of a sLruggle Lheyre saylng She
sllpped on a weL sLep And you know whaL Lhe klds are saylng? 1heyre saylng lL was one
of us!
Laurel looked up from Lhe hoL waLer she was pourlng over some drled leaves ln a mug
1he end of her nose was plnk Maybe lL was one of us she sald
Llke who? ueborah blazed back
Llke somebody who dldnL wanL her ln Lhe Club Somebody who was afrald shed come
ln on Lhe wrong slde sald Laurel
And we all know whlch slde would be afrald sald a new volce and Cassle [erked
around nearly dropplng her [ulce
lL was laye Cassle had never seen her ln Lhe back room before buL she was here now
her honeycolored eyes hooded and smolderlng
Well ulanas slde cerLalnly had noLhlng Lo be afrald of Laurel sald korl ldollzed
ulana
uld she? 1hen why dld she spend Lhe lasL week havlng lunch wlLh me? laye sald ln her
slow husky volce
Laurel sLared looklng uncerLaln 1hen her face cleared and she shook her head l donL
care whaL you say youre never golng Lo make me belleve ulana would hurL korl

~ 120 ~

Shes rlghL Suzan puL ln Lo Cassles surprlse ulana wouldnL
8esldes we already know who would ueborah sald sharply lL was Sally or maybe
LhaL moron boyfrlend of hers l say we geL Lhem now!
Shes rlghL sald Sean
Laurel looked aL hlm Lhen aL ueborah Lhen aL laye WhaL do you Lhlnk Melanle? she
sald flnally
Melanles volce was sLlll quleL deLached l Lhlnk we need Lo have a meeLlng she sald
Sean bobbed hls head Shes rlghL he sald
!usL Lhen ulana came ln 1he Penderson broLhers were behlnd her 1hey boLh looked
ravaged and bewlldered As lf Lhey couldnL undersLand how Lhls could happen Lo
Lhem Chrlss eyes were redrlmmed
Lveryone sobered aL Lhe slghL of Lhe broLhers 1here was sllence as Lhey saL down aL Lhe
Lable
1hen laye Lurned Lo ulana Per golden eyes were llke Lwo golden flames SlL down
she sald flaLly We need Lo Lalk
?es sald ulana
She saL down and so dld laye Laurel afLer puLLlng Lwo cups of hoL llquld ln fronL of Lhe
Penderson broLhers dld Lhe same ueborah [erked ouL a chalr and Lhrew herself lnLo lL
Suzan and Melanle had already been seaLed
Lveryone Lurned Lo look aL Cassle
1helr faces were sLrange Allen Laurels normally elfln face was closed Melanles cool
gray eyes were more remoLe Lhan ever Suzans pouLlng llps were compressed LlghLly
ueborahs flerceness was barely kepL ln check Lven Seans usually furLlve expresslon
had an unprecedenLed dlgnlLy ulana was pale and sLern

~ 121 ~

1he glass door swung open and nlck came ln Pls face was llke a cold and handsome
sLone reveallng noLhlng buL he saL down aL Lhe Lable beslde uoug
Cassle was Lhe only one ln Lhe room lefL sLandlng She looked aL Lhem Lhe members of
Lhe Club and Lhey looked aL her no one needed Lo say anyLhlng She Lurned around
and lefL Lhe room

















~ 122 ~








ChapLer Lleven

Cassle dldnL know where she was golng 1he school was Lrylng Lo hold classes even
Lhough Lhere were probably more klds ouLslde Lhe classrooms Lhan lnslde 1hey were ln
Lhe halls on Lhe sLalrs hanglng around Lhe maln enLrance Cassle looked dazedly aL a
clock and Lhen wenL Lo her sclence class concepLual physlcs She could probably call her
mom and [usL go home lf she llked buL she dldnL wanL Lo face her moLher rlghL now
She [usL wanLed Lo Lry and preLend Lo be normal
As she saL Laklng meanlngless noLes she could feel eyes on her She had Lhe odd feellng
LhaL shed been LransporLed back ln Llme and LhaL lL was Lwo weeks ago when laye had
blackballed her 8uL afLer class she saw Lhe dlfference eople kepL comlng up Lo her
and murmurlng Are you okay? and Powre you dolng? 1hey looked lll aL ease as lf
Lhey dldnL wanL Lo be Lalklng Lo her buL felL Lheyd beLLer AfLer her lasL class Lhere
were more llLLle vlslLs people comlng ln groups of Lwo or Lhree Lo say Sorry or !usL
wanL you Lo know well mlss her Loo
1he LruLh of lL sLruck her suddenly and she almosL laughed aL Lhe lrony 1hey were
condolence calls! Cassle was sLandlng ln for Lhe Club All of Lhese ouLslders were comlng
Lo her noL reallzlng LhaL she was as much ouLslde as any of Lhem

~ 123 ~

When a cheerleader came and sald Ch Lhls musL be so hard for you Cassle losL lL
l dldnL even know her! she bursL ouL l only spoke Lo her once ln my llfe!
1he cheerleader backed off hasLlly AfLer LhaL Lhe condolence calls sLopped
Ms Lannlng Lhe hlsLory Leacher drove Cassle home She sldesLepped her moLhers
worrled quesLlonlng apparenLly Lhe school had called Lo explaln whaL had happened
and wenL ouLslde She cllmbed down Lhe sLeep bluff Lo Lhe beach below her
grandmoLhers house
1he ocean had never looked bleaker lL was a heavy shlnlng sllver color llke Lhe
mercury ln a LhermomeLer 1he day whlch had sLarLed ouL so brlghL had Lurned
overcasL and lL goL darker and darker as Cassle paced
And paced 1hls beach had been one of Lhe good Lhlngs abouL llvlng here buL whaL
good was lL now? She was walklng on lL alone
Per chesL was bursLlng lL was as lf all Lhe Lerrlble evenLs of Lhe day were locked lnslde
her sLruggllng Lo geL ouL 8uL Lhere was no release
Shed LhoughL belng an ouLcasL aL school was Lhe worsL Lhlng LhaL could happen Lo her
8uL lL was worse Lo almosL belong and Lo know lnslde LhaL you dldnL and never would
She knew lL was selflsh Lo care abouL herself afLer whaL had happened Lo korl buL she
couldnL help lL WlLh all Lhe rage of confuslon and paln lnslde her she almosL envled
korl korl was dead buL she sLlll belonged She had a place
Cassle on Lhe oLher hand had never felL so lonely
1he sky was dark gray 1he ocean sLreLched ouL endlessly beneaLh lL even darker
Looklng aL lL Cassle felL a sLrange and Lerrlble fasclnaLlon lf she [usL sLarLed walklng
Loward lL and kepL on golng
SLop LhaL! she LhoughL savagely CeL hold of yourself
8uL lL would be so easy
?es and Lhen youd really be alone Alone forever ln Lhe dark Sounds good doesnL lL
Cassle?
~ 124 ~

Shlverlng vlolenLly she wrenched herself away from Lhe whlsperlng gray waLers Per
feeL were numb and cold and her flngers felL llke lce She sLumbled as she cllmbed up
Lhe narrow rocky paLh
1haL nlghL she pulled all Lhe curLalns shuL ln her room so she wouldnL have Lo see Lhe
ocean or Lhe darkness ouLslde ChesL achlng she opened her [ewelry box and Look ouL
Lhe plece of chalcedony
l havenL Louched your glfL ln a whlle 8uL lve LhoughL abouL you WhaLever lm dolng
wherever l am youre somewhere ln my mlnd And oh how l wlsh
Per hand shook as she shuL her eyes and puL Lhe sLone Lo her llps She felL Lhe famlllar
crysLalllne roughness Lhe coolness of lL warmlng Lo her warmLh Per breaLh came more
qulckly and Lears sLarLed Lo her eyes Ch someday someday she LhoughL
1hen her mouLh LwlsLed ln paln A surge of someLhlng llke lava welled up ln her chesL
and she Lhrew Lhe sLone as hard as she could across Lhe room lL hlL Lhe wall wlLh a
sharp sound and fell claLLerlng Lo Lhe floor
Someday noLhlng! Lhe cruel volce lnslde her crled SLop foollng yourself! ?oull never see
hlm agaln
She lay ln bed sLarlng wlLh sore eyes lnLo Lhe dlmness llL by a small nlghLllghL on Lhe far
wall She couldnL cry All her Lears had been scorched away 8uL her hearL felL as lf lL
had been Lorn open
Cassle was dreamlng of Lhe ocean Lhe dark and endless ocean 1he shlp was ln Lrouble
she could hear Lhe Llmbers creaklng beneaLh her 1hey were golng aground And
someLhlng was losL losL
She came awake all aL once sucklng ln her breaLh Was LhaL a nolse?
8ody Lense she llsLened Sllence Per eyes sLruggled Lo plerce Lhe darkness 1he nlghL
llghL had gone ouL
Why hadnL lL occurred Lo her Lo be afrald earller? WhaL had been wrong wlLh her Lhls
evenlng? Shed gone ouL Lhere on Lhe beach alone never even wonderlng lf Lhe person
whod kllled korl mlghL be waLchlng walLlng

~ 123 ~

AccldenL she LhoughL every sense alerL and sLralnlng 1hey sald lL was probably an
accldenL 8uL her hearL was Lhunderlng dlzzlly She seemed Lo see sclnLlllaLlng llghLs ln
Lhe darkness And she could feel
A presence Llke a shadow ln fronL of her Ch Cod she could feel lL She sensed lL llke a
pressure on her skln llke a radlaLlon of cold 1here was someLhlng ln her bedroom
Per eyes were sLarlng lnLo Lhe uLLer blackness her body Lrembllng wlLh Lenslon lnsane
as lL was she had Lhe wlld LhoughL LhaL lf she dldnL move dldnL make a sound lL
couldnL flnd her
8uL she was wrong
She heard a shuffllng nolse a sLealLhy advanclng 1hen Lhe unmlsLakable creak of a
floorboard
lL was comlng Loward her
Suddenly she could move She drew ln breaLh for a scream and Lhere was a rush ln Lhe
darkness and someLhlng clapped over her mouLh
lnsLanLly everyLhlng changed 8efore all had been sLlllness now all was dlzzy moLlon
She was flghLlng lL dldnL do any good her arms were belng caughL and held SomeLhlng
else had her feeL
She was belng rolled over and over Wrapped ln Lhe sheeL She couldnL move Per arms
were Lrapped ln Lhe maLerlal She was Lrylng Lo klck buL her feeL were Lrapped Loo
She felL herself belng llfLed She couldnL scream she was choklng SomeLhlng was over
her head suffocaLlng her And Lhe mosL Lerrlble Lhlng was Lhe sllence Lhe uLLer
conLlnulng sllence WhaLever had her was as nolseless as a ghosL
As a ghosL and she herself was now wrapped ln a shroud Wlld LhoughLs careened ln
Cassles head
lL was Laklng her ouL of her bedroom 1aklng her downsLalrs ouL of Lhe house lL was
Laklng her ouLslde Lo bury her

~ 126 ~

She had envled korl now she was golng Lo [oln her lL was golng Lo puL her ln Lhe
ground or ln Lhe sea lranLlc she Lrled Lo Lhrash buL Lhe resLralnlng maLerlal was Loo
LlghL
She had never been so frlghLened
ln Llme Lhough Lhe vlolence of her flrsL panlc exhausLed lLself lL was llke flghLlng
agalnsL a sLralL [ackeL her sLruggles only served Lo Llre her ouL And overheaL her She
was smoLherlng and she was so hoL lf only she could breaLhe
anLlng Cassle felL her body go llmp lor Lhe nexL few mlnuLes all her concenLraLlon was
devoLed Lo geLLlng enough alr 1hen slowly she began Lo Lhlnk agaln
She was belng carrled by more Lhan one person 1haL was cerLaln Per arms and legs
were belng resLralned noL only by Lhe wlndlng maLerlal of Lhe sheeL buL by hands
Puman hands? Cr lmages flooded her mlnd lmages ouL of horror movles SkeleLal
hands barely covered by wlLhered flesh uusky hands wlLh nall beds Lhe cyanoLlc blue of
deaLh MuLllaLed hands hands from Lhe grave
Ch Cod please lll lose my mlnd lease make lL sLop or lll dle lll dle of Lerror
nobody can be Lhls frlghLened and llve
8uL lL wasnL so easy [usL Lo dle afLer all lL dldnL sLop and she wenL on llvlng lL was llke
a nlghLmare buL Cassle knew she was noL asleep She could pray all she wanLed buL she
wouldnL wake up
1hen everyLhlng sLopped
She was no longer belng carrled she was belng held 1hen LllLed her legs klcked and
Louched ground She was belng seL on her feeL 1he sheeL was unwlndlng she felL a
breeze on her legs and her nlghLgown hem flapplng agalnsL Lhem Per arms were free
Weakly she grabbed ouL and her wrlsLs were caughL and held behlnd her She sLlll
couldnL see SomeLhlng was over her head some klnd of hood lL was hoL lnslde and
she was breaLhlng her own carbon dloxlde She swayed wanLlng Lo klck Lo flghL agaln
and knowlng she dldnL have Lhe sLrengLh

~ 127 ~

1hen from dlrecLly behlnd her she heard a sound LhaL changed everyLhlng
lL was a chuckle
Slow and rlch Amused 8uL wlLh a grlm edge Lo lL
unmlsLakable
laye
Cassle LhoughL she had been frlghLened before Shed lmaglned ghosLs Lhe llvlng dead
come Lo drag her back lnLo Lhe ground wlLh Lhem 8uL all Lhose wlld and supernaLural
fears were noLhlng compared Lo Lhe sheer Lerror she felL now
ln one bllndlng lnsLanL she puL lL all LogeLher laye had kllled korl 1he way she was
golng Lo klll Cassle now
Walk laye sald and Cassle felL a push ln Lhe cenLer of her back Per hands had been
Lled LogeLher behlnd her She sLaggered and Lhen Look a sLep SLralghL ahead laye
sald
Cassle sLaggered anoLher sLep and an arm sLeadled her lL came from Lhe slde laye
wasnL alone Lhen Well of course noL she couldnL have carrled Cassle by herself
Cassle had never reallzed how lmporLanL lL was Lo see lL was Lerrlfylng Lo be made Lo
walk llke Lhls on and on lnLo noLhlngness lor all she knew laye mlghL be marchlng her
sLralghL off a cllff
no noL off a cllff 1hey werenL on a bluff Lhey were on Lhe beach AlLhough she
couldnL see now LhaL she was no longer wrapped ln Lhe sheeL her oLher senses were
funcLlonlng lrom her lefL came Lhe slow rhyLhmlc roar of waves very close under her
feeL she could feel crumbllng sllghLly damp sand 1he breeze LhaL llfLed her nlghLgown
around her calves was cold and fresh lL smelled of salL and seaweed
SLop
Cassle obeyed auLomaLlcally She Lrled Lo swallow and found Lhe lnslde of her mouLh
was llke glue

~ 128 ~

laye she managed Lo geL ouL
8e quleL! 1he volce was sharp no lazlness now Llke a caL wlLh lLs claws unsheaLhed A
sudden pressure aL her neck made Cassle sLlffen someone had grabbed Lhe boLLom of
Lhe hood and was LlghLenlng lL warnlngly uonL Lalk unless youre asked a quesLlon
uonL move unless youre Lold uo you undersLand?
numbly Cassle nodded
now Lake one sLep forward 1urn Lo your lefL SLop SLay rlghL Lhere uonL make a
sound
Pands moved aL Lhe back of Cassles neck 1hen Lhere was a glorlous rush of cool alr as
Lhe hood was llfLed away LlghL bursL ln on her and Cassle sLared ln asLonlshmenL aL Lhe
fanLasLlc scene before her eyes
8lack and whlLe LhaL was her flrsL LhoughL LveryLhlng was sLark black and whlLe llke a
scene from Lhe surface of Lhe moon
8uL Lhere was Lhe moon ln fronL of her ure whlLe [usL rlsen lL formed a perfecL
crescenL over Lhe ocean 1he ocean was as black as Lhe sky excepL for Lhe ghosLly whlLe
foam on Lhe waves And ln fronL of lL sLood a flgure LhaL seemed Lo shlne wlLh a pale
llghL
ulana?
She was wearlng a Lhln whlLe shlfL LhaL lefL her arms bare Clasped around one upper
arm was a wlde cuff of sllver wlLh sLrange engravlng on lL Cn her forehead was a sorL of
dladem wlLh a crescenL moon Lhe horns polnLlng upward Per long halr hanglng loose
beneaLh lL seemed Lo be woven of moonllghL
ln her hand was a dagger
WlLh Lerrlfylng sharpness Cassle now remembered Lhe dream shed had of her moLher
and grandmoLher ln her room Sacrlflce one of Lhem had sald Was LhaL whaL she was
here for now? Sacrlflce?

~ 129 ~

Mesmerlzed she sLared aL Lhe blade of Lhe dagger aL Lhe moonllghL shlmmerlng on lL
1hen she looked aL ulanas face
l would never have belleved lL no l wouldnL have belleved LhaL you would help laye
do Lhls 8uL youre here wlLh a knlfe lm seelng lL Pow can l noL belleve my own eyes?
1urn around a volce sald
Cassle felL her body Lurn
A clrcle was drawn ln Lhe sand a blg one lnslde and ouLslde were candles sLuck rlghL
lnLo Lhe beach Wax was melLlng on Lhe sand 1he candles were all slzes all colors
Some looked as lf Lhey had been burnlng a long Llme from Lhe amounL of wax pooled
beneaLh Lhem and Lhe way Lhey had slumped Lvery flame was danclng ln Lhe sllghL
breeze
lnslde Lhe clrcle were Lhe members of Lhe Club Cassles frlghLened mlnd reglsLered
gllmpses of faces and no more llke flashes seen ln llghLnlng 1he same faces she had
seen gaLhered around Lhe Lable ln Lhe back room LhaL afLernoon roud 8eauLlful
Allen
laye was one of Lhem She was dressed all ln black And lf ulanas halr seemed Lo be
woven of moonllghL hers was woven of gloom
ulana walked pasL Cassle and sLepped lnLo Lhe clrcle Suddenly Cassle reallzed LhaL Lhe
rlng drawn ln Lhe sand was noL compleLe 1here was a gap ln lLs norLheasL corner
dlrecLly ln fronL of her feeL
She was sLandlng [usL ouLslde Lhe Lhreshold
SLarLled her eyes came up Lo seek ulanas ulanas expresslon revealed noLhlng her
face was pale and dlsLanL Cassles hearL whlch had been Lhuddlng dully now plcked up
speed
ulana spoke her volce clear and muslcal buL she was noL speaklng Lo Cassle
Who challenges her?

~ 130 ~

layes LhroaLy volce rose ln answer l do
Cassle dldnL see Lhe dagger unLll laye held lL aL her LhroaL lL prlcked presslng sllghLly
lnLo Lhe hollow and she felL her eyes wlden She Lrled Lo hold compleLely sLlll layes
hooded enlgmaLlc eyes were gazlng sLralghL lnLo hers 1here was a sorL of flerce
pleasure ln Lhelr depLhs and Lhe same heaL Cassle had seen ln Lhe sclence bulldlng
when laye had LhreaLened her wlLh flre
laye smlled her slow scary smlle and Lhe pressure of Lhe blade agalnsL Cassles LhroaL
lncreased l challenge you laye sald dlrecLly Lo Cassle lf Lhere ls any fear ln your
hearL lL would be beLLer for you Lo Lhrow yourself forward on Lhls dagger Lhan Lo
conLlnue So whaL ls lL Cassle? she added her volce dropplng Lo a lazy lnLlmaLe
murmur LhaL could scarcely have been heard by Lhe oLhers ls Lhere fear ln your hearL?
Careful how you answer
uumbfounded Cassle only sLared lear ln her hearL? Pow could Lhere noL be fear ln her
hearL? 1hey had done everyLhlng Lhey could Lo Lerrlfy her of course Lhere was fear ln
her hearL
1hen movlng only her eyes she looked aL ulana
Cassle remembered Laurel ln Lhe back room Loday afLer laye had lmplled ulana mlghL
have had someLhlng Lo do wlLh korls deaLh Laurel had looked confused for a momenL
Lhen her face had cleared and shed sald l donL care whaL you say youre never golng
Lo make me belleve ulana would hurL korl
1haL was falLh Cassle LhoughL 8ellevlng no maLLer whaL uld she have LhaL klnd of falLh
ln ulana?
?es she LhoughL sLlll looklng lnLo ulanas sLeady green eyes l do
1hen can l LrusL her no maLLer whaL? Lnough noL Lo be afrald anymore?
1he answer had Lo come from lnslde Cassle searched Lhrough her mlnd Lrylng Lo flnd
Lhe LruLh LveryLhlng LhaL had happened LonlghL Lhem dragglng her ouL of bed
carrylng her down here wlLhouL any explanaLlon Lhe knlfe Lhe sLrangeness of Lhls
whole ceremony lL all looked bad And someone had kllled korl

~ 131 ~

l LrusL you ulana
1haL was Lhe answer she found aL Lhe boLLom of her mlnd l LrusL you uesplLe all Lhls
no maLLer how lL looks l LrusL you
She looked back aL laye who was sLlll wearlng a llLLle caLllke smlle Cazlng sLralghL lnLo
Lhose honeycolored eyes Cassle sald clearly Co on 1heres no fear ln my hearL
Lven as she sald lL she felL Lhe sympLoms of Lerror drop away from her 1he weakness
Lhe glddlness Lhe Lhuddlng of her hearL She sLood sLralghL even Lhough her hands were
sLlll Lled behlnd her back and Lhe dagger polnL was sLlll aL her LhroaL
SomeLhlng flared ln layes eyes SomeLhlng llke grlm respecL Per smlle changed and
she nodded almosL lmpercepLlbly 1he nexL lnsLanL her black eyebrows were ralsed
lronlcally as she spoke
1hen sLep lnslde she lnvlLed
SLralghL forward? lnLo Lhe dagger blade? Cassle refused Lo leL her eyes drop from Lhe
golden ones ln fronL of her She heslLaLed an lnsLanL Lhen sLepped sLralghL forward
1he blade ylelded before her Cassle could feel a Llny Lrlckle of weLness on her LhroaL as
lL wlLhdrew and laye sLepped back
1hen she looked down She was lnslde Lhe clrcle
ulana Look Lhe dagger from laye and wenL Lo Lhe break ln Lhe clrcle behlnd Cassle
urawlng Lhe knlfe Lhrough Lhe sand she brldged Lhe gap maklng Lhe clrcle compleLe
Cassle had an odd sensaLlon of closure of someLhlng seallng As lf a door had been
locked behlnd her And as lf whaL was lnslde Lhe clrcle was dlfferenL from anyLhlng
ouLslde
Come Lo Lhe cenLer ulana sald
Cassle Lrled Lo walk Lall as she dld ulanas shlfL she could see now was sllL all Lhe way
up Lo Lhe hlp on one slde 1here was someLhlng on ulanas long wellmade upper leg A
garLer? 1haL was whaL lL looked llke Llke Lhe ornamenLal bands of lace and rlbbon LhaL a
brlde wears Lo Lhrow aL a weddlng LxcepL LhaL Lhls was made of someLhlng llke green
suede and llned wlLh blue sllk lL had a sllver buckle
~ 132 ~


1urn around ulana ordered
Cassle hoped Lhe cord blndlng her wrlsLs was golng Lo be cuL 8uL lnsLead she felL hands
on her shoulders splnnlng her fasLer and fasLer She was belng whlrled around and
pushed from slde Lo slde from person Lo person lor an lnsLanL panlc surged Lhrough
her agaln She was dlzzy dlsorlenLed WlLh her hands Lled she couldnL caLch herself lf
she fell And LhaL knlfe was somewhere
!usL go wlLh lL 8elax she Lold herself And maglcally her fear dlssolved She leL herself
be bounced from one person Lo anoLher lf she fell she fell
Pands sLeadled her sLood her faclng ulana agaln She was sllghLly breaLhless and Lhe
world was reellng buL she Lrled Lo draw herself up sLralghL
?ouve been challenged and youve passed Lhe LesLs ulana lnformed her and now
Lhere was a llLLle smlle ln ulanas green eyes alLhough her llps were grave now are
you wllllng Lo swear?
Swear whaL? 8uL Cassle nodded
Wlll you swear Lo be loyal Lo Lhe Clrcle? never Lo harm anyone who sLands lnslde lL?
Wlll you proLecL and defend Lhose who do even lf lL cosLs you your llfe?
Cassle swallowed 1hen Lrylng Lo keep her volce level she sald ?es
Wlll you swear never Lo reveal Lhe secreLs you wlll learn excepL Lo a proper person
wlLhln a properly prepared Clrcle llke Lhe one we sLand ln now? Wlll you swear Lo keep
Lhese secreLs from all ouLslders frlends and enemles even lf lL cosLs you your llfe?
?es Cassle whlspered
8y Lhe ocean by Lhe moon by your own blood wlll you so swear?
?es
Say l wlll so swear
l wlll so swear
~ 133 ~

She has been challenged and LesLed and she has been sworn ulana sald sLepplng
back and speaklng Lo Lhe oLhers And now slnce all of us ln Lhe Clrcle agree l call on
Lhe owers Lo look aL her
ulana ralsed Lhe dagger above her head polnLlng Lhe blade aL Lhe sky 1hen she polnLed
lL Lo Lhe easL Loward Lhe ocean Lhen Lo Lhe souLh Lhen Loward Lhe wesLern cllff Lhen
Loward Lhe norLh llnally she polnLed lL aL Cassle 1he words she spoke as she dld senL
shock waves runnlng down Cassles splne

LarLh and waLer flre and alr
See your daughLer sLandlng Lhere
8y dark of moon and llghL of sun
As l wlll leL lL be done
8y challenge Lrlal and sacred vow
LeL her [oln Lhe Clrcle now
llesh and slnew blood and bone
Cassle now becomes
8uL we donL all agree an angry volce broke ln l sLlll donL Lhlnk shes one of us l
donL Lhlnk she ever can be






~ 134 ~









ChapLer 1welve

ulana Lurned sharply Lo face ueborah ?ou canL lnLerrupL Lhe rlLual!
1here shouldnL be a rlLual ueborah blazed back her face dark and lnLense
?ou agreed ln Lhe meeLlng
l agreed we had Lo do whaLever lL Look Lo make us sLrong 8uL ueborah sLopped and
scowled
8uL some of us may noL have belleved shed pass Lhe LesLs laye lnLerpreLed smlllng
ulanas face was pale and angry 1he dladem she wore seemed Lo glve her added
sLaLure so LhaL she looked Laller even Lhan laye MoonllghL shlmmered ln her halr as lL
had off Lhe blade of Lhe knlfe
8uL she dld pass Lhe LesLs she sald coldly

~ 133 ~

And now youve lnLerrupLed a rlLual broken lL whlle l was calllng down Lhe owers l
hope you have a beLLer reason Lhan LhaL
lll glve you a reason ueborah sald Shes noL really one of us Per moLher marrled an
ouLslder
1hen whaL do you wanL? ulana sald uo you wanL us never Lo have a real Clrcle? ?ou
know we need Lwelve Lo geL anyLhlng done WhaL are we supposed Lo do walL unLll
your parenLs or Lhe Pendersons have anoLher baby? none of Lhe resL of us even has
boLh parenLs allve no ulana Lurned Lo face Lhe oLhers ln Lhe group who were
sLandlng around Lhe lnslde perlmeLer of Lhe clrcle Were Lhe lasL she Lold Lhem 1he
lasL generaLlon ln Lhe new World And lf we canL compleLe our Clrcle Lhen lL all ends
here WlLh us
Melanle spoke up She was wearlng ordlnary cloLhes under a pale green frlnged shawl
LhaL looked boLh LaLLered and fraglle as lf lL were very old Cur parenLs and
grandparenLs would llke LhaL she sald 1hey wanL us Lo leave lL all ln Lhe pasL Lhe way
Lhey dld and Lhelr parenLs dld 1hey donL wanL us dlgglng up Lhe old LradlLlons and
waklng Lhe Cld owers
1heyre scared ueborah sald scornfully
1heyll be happy lf we canL compleLe Lhe Clrcle Melanle sald 8uL ls LhaL whaL we
wanL? She looked aL laye
laye murmured coolly lndlvlduals can do qulLe a loL on Lhelr own
Ch come on Laurel puL ln noL llke a real Clrcle noL unless she added somebody
was plannlng Lo geL hold of Lhe MasLer 1ools and use Lhem all by herself
laye gave her a slow dazzllng smlle lm noL Lhe one searchlng for Lhe losL Lools she
sald
1hls ls all off Lhe polnL sald ulana sharply 1he quesLlon ls do we wanL a compleLe
Clrcle or donL we?
We do one of Lhe Penderson broLhers sald no Chrls Cassle correcLed herself
Suddenly she could Lell Lhem aparL 8oLh Lhe broLhers looked whlLe and sLralned ln Lhe
moonllghL buL Chrlss eyes were less savage Were golng Lo do whaLever lL Lakes Lo
flnd ouL who kllled korl Chrls flnlshed
~ 136 ~

And Lhen Lake care of Lhem uoug puL ln Pe made a gesLure of sLabblng
1hen we need a full Clrcle sald Melanle A LwelfLh person and a sevenLh glrl Cassle ls
boLh
And shes passed Lhe LesLs ulana repeaLed Per moLher was one of us She wenL
away yes buL now shes come back And she broughL her daughLer Lo us [usL when we
need her !usL exacLly when we need her
SLubbornness sLlll llngered ln ueborahs eyes Who says she can even use Lhe owers?
she demanded
l do ulana replled sLeadlly l can sense lL ln her
And so do l laye sald unexpecLedly ueborah Lurned Lo sLare aL her and she smlled
lngenuously
ld say she can call on LarLh and llre aL leasL laye conLlnued maddenlngly bland
She mlghL even prove Lo have qulLe a LalenL
And why Cassle wondered dazedly dld LhaL make halrs on Lhe back of her neck sLand
up?
ulanas brows were drawn LogeLher as she gave laye a long searchlng look 8uL Lhen
she Lurned Lo ueborah
uoes LhaL saLlsfy your ob[ecLlon?
1here was a beaL 1hen ueborah nodded sullenly and sLepped back
1hen sald ulana wlLh a quleL pollLeness LhaL seemed Lo overlay an lcy anger can we
please geL on wlLh lL?
Lveryone sLood away as she reLurned Lo her poslLlon Cnce agaln she llfLed Lhe dagger
Lo Lhe sky Lhen Lo Lhe cardlnal polnLs of Lhe compass Lhen Lo Cassle Cnce agaln she
spoke Lhe words LhaL had senL chllls down Cassles splne buL Lhls Llme she flnlshed
Lhem unlnLerrupLed

~ 137 ~

LarLh and waLer flre and alr
See your daughLer sLandlng Lhere
8y dark of moon and llghL of sun
As l wlll leL lL be done
8y challenge Lrlal and sacred vow
LeL her [oln Lhe Clrcle now
llesh and slnew blood and bone
Cassle now becomes our own

1haLs lL Laurel sald sofLly from behlnd Cassle ?oure ln
ln lm ln Cassle knew wlLh a feellng of wlld exhllaraLlon LhaL noLhlng would ever be
Lhe same agaln
Cassle
ulana was unclasplng Lhe sllver necklace she was wearlng Cassles eyes were drawn Lo
Lhe crescenL moon pendanL LhaL hung from lL lL was llke Lhe one on Lhe dladem Cassle
reallzed and llke ueborahs LaLLoo
1hls ls a Loken ulana sald fasLenlng Lhe chaln around Cassles neck of your
membershlp ln Lhe Clrcle
1hen she hugged Cassle lL wasnL a sponLaneous gesLure lL had more Lhe feellng of a
rlLual
nexL she Lurned Cassle around Lo face Lhe oLhers and sald 1he owers have accepLed
her lve accepLed her now each of you has Lo

~ 138 ~

Laurel was Lhe flrsL Lo sLep up Per face was serlous buL Lhere was a genulne warmLh
and frlendllness ln Lhe depLhs of her brown eyes She hugged Cassle Lhen klssed her
llghLly on Lhe cheek lm glad youre one of us she whlspered and sLepped back her
long llghLbrown halr fluLLerlng sllghLly ln Lhe breeze 1hanks Cassle whlspered
Melanle was nexL Per embrace was more formal and her cool lnLellecLual gray eyes
sLlll lnLlmldaLed Cassle 8uL when she sald Welcome Lo Lhe Club she sounded as lf she
meanL lL
ueborah by conLrasL was scowllng as she sLepped forward and she hugged Cassle as lf
she were Lrylng Lo crack a rlb or Lwo She dldnL say anyLhlng
Sean hurrled up looklng eager Pls hug was a llLLle Loo long and Loo close for Cassles
LasLe and she ended up havlng Lo exLrlcaLe herself Pe sald Clad youre ln wlLh hls
eyes flxed on her nlghLgown ln a way LhaL made Cassle wlsh lL were flannel lnsLead of
llghL coLLon
l can Lell she sald under her breaLh as he sLepped back and ulana sLandlng beslde
her had Lo blLe her llp
under normal clrcumsLances Lhe Penderson broLhers mlghL have been even worse 8uL
LonlghL Lhey dldnL seem Lo care lf lL was a glrl or a block of wood Lhey were embraclng
1hey hugged her mechanlcally and sLepped back Lo waLch agaln wlLh Lhelr angry
faraway eyes

And Lhen lL was nlcks Lurn
Cassle felL someLhlng lnslde her LlghLen lL wasnL LhaL she was aLLracLed Lo hlm exacLly
buL she couldnL help feellng a sllghL lnner Lremor when she looked up aL hlm Pe was
so handsome and Lhe coldness LhaL surrounded hlm llke a Lhln layer of dark lce seemed
only Lo enhance hls looks Ped sLood back and observed Lhe enLlre ceremony LonlghL
wlLh such deLachmenL as lf none of lL affecLed hlm one way or anoLher
Lven hls embrace was noncommlLLal Sexless As lf he were merely golng Lhrough Lhe
moLlons whlle Lhlnklng of someLhlng else Pls arms were sLrong Lhough well of
course LhoughL Cassle Any guy who had an arrangemenL wlLh laye would have Lo be
sLrong
~ 139 ~

Suzan smelled of perfume and when she klssed Cassles cheek Cassle felL sure she lefL a
smudge of cherrycolored llpsLlck Pugglng her was llke hugglng a scenLed plllow
llnally laye came Per heavylldded eyes were gleamlng enlgmaLlcally as lf she were
aware of Cassles dlscomflLure and en[oylng lL
All Cassle was aware of was layes helghL and how much she herself wanLed Lo run She
had a panlcked convlcLlon LhaL laye was golng Lo do someLhlng awful
8uL laye slmply murmured as she sLepped back So Lhe llLLle whlLe mouse ls Lougher
Lhan she looks l was beLLlng you wouldnL even lasL Lhrough Lhe ceremony
lm noL sure l dld Cassle muLLered She desperaLely wanLed Lo slL down and gaLher
her LhoughLs So much had happened so fasL buL she was ln Lven laye had accepLed
her 1haL facL could noL be changed
All rlghL ulana sald quleLly 1haLs lL for Lhe lnlLlaLlon rlLual normally afLer Lhls wed
have a parLy or someLhlng buL She looked aL Cassle and llfLed her hands Cassle
nodded 1onlghL a parLy could hardly be less approprlaLe So l Lhlnk we should formally
dlspel Lhe Clrcle buL go on and have a regular meeLlng 1haL way we can geL Cassle
caughL up on whaL she needs Lo know
1here were nods around Lhe clrcle and a collecLlve breaLh released ulana plcked up a
handful of sand and poured lL over Lhe llne drawn on Lhe beach 1he oLhers followed
sulL each pourlng a handful and smooLhlng lL down so LhaL Lhe clrcles ouLllne was
blurred erased 1hen Lhey dlsLrlbuLed Lhemselves among Lhe sLlllllghLed candles some
slLLlng on Lhe sand oLhers on ouLLhrusLs of rock nlck remalned sLandlng a clgareLLe ln
hls mouLh
ulana walLed unLll everyone was quleL looklng aL her Lhen she Lurned Lo Cassle Per
face was grave and her green eyes were earnesL now LhaL youre one of us she sald
slmply l Lhlnk lLs Llme Lo Lell you whaL we are
Cassles breaLh caughL So many blzarre Lhlngs had happened Lo her slnce shed come Lo
new Salem and now she was abouL Lo hear Lhe explanaLlon 8uL sLrangely she wasnL
sure she needed Lo be Lold Lver slnce Lheyd broughL her here LonlghL all sorLs of Lhlngs
had been arranglng Lhemselves ln her mlnd A hundred llLLle oddlLles LhaL shed noLlced
abouL new Salem a hundred llLLle mysLerles LhaL shed been unable Lo solve Somehow
her braln had begun puLLlng Lhem LogeLher and now
~ 140 ~

She looked aL Lhe faces around her llL by moonllghL and fllckerlng candlellghL
l Lhlnk she sald slowly LhaL l already know PonesLy compelled her Lo add Some of
lL aL leasL
Ch yes? laye ralsed her eyebrows Why donL you Lell us Lhen?
Cassle looked aL ulana who nodded Well for one Lhlng she sald slowly l know
youre noL Lhe Mlckey Mouse Club
Chuckles ?oud beLLer belleve lL ueborah muLLered Were noL Lhe Clrl ScouLs
elLher
l know Cassle paused l know LhaL you can llghL flres wlLhouL maLches And LhaL you
donL use feverfew [usL ln salads
laye examlned her nalls looklng lnnocenL and Laurel smlled ruefully
l know LhaL you can make Lhlngs move when Lheyre noL allve
1hls Llme lL was laye who smlled ueborah and Suzan exchanged smug glances and
Suzan murmured Sssssss
l know everybodys afrald of you aL school even Lhe adulLs 1heyre afrald of anyone
who llves on Crowhaven 8oad
1heyre golng Lo be more afrald sald uoug Penderson
l know you use rocks for spoL remover
CrysLals murmured ulana
and Lheres someLhlng more Lhan Lea leaves ln your Lea And l know Cassle
swallowed and Lhen wenL on dellberaLely LhaL you can push somebody wlLhouL
Louchlng Lhem and make Lhem fall
1here was a sllence aL Lhls Several people looked aL laye laye LllLed her chln back and
looked aL Lhe ocean wlLh narrowed eyes

~ 141 ~

?oure rlghL ulana sald ?ouve learned a loL from [usL waLchlng and weve been a
llLLle lax wlLh securlLy 8uL l Lhlnk you should hear Lhe enLlre sLory from Lhe beglnnlng
lll Lell lL sald laye And when ulana looked aL her doubLfully she added Why noL? l
llke a good sLory And l cerLalnly know Lhls one
All rlghL sald ulana 8uL could you please Lry Lo sLlck Lo Lhe polnL? l know your
sLorles laye
CerLalnly laye sald blandly now leL me see where shall l sLarL? She consldered a
momenL head LllLed and Lhen smlled Cnce upon a Llme she sald Lhere was a
qualnL llLLle vlllage called Salem And lL was [usL fllled wlLh qualnL llLLle urlLans all
Amerlcan hardworklng honesL brave and Lrue

laye

!usL llke some people here we all know laye sald undlsLurbed by Lhe lnLerrupLlon
She sLood swlLchlng her glorlous black mane behlnd her clearly en[oylng belng Lhe
cenLer of aLLenLlon 1he ocean wlLh lLs endlessly breaklng waves formed a perfecL
background as she began Lo pace back and forLh her black sllk blouse slldlng down [usL
far enough Lo leave one shoulder bare
1hese urlLans were fllled wlLh pure llLLle LhoughLs mosL of Lhem A few [usL may have
been unhappy wlLh Lhelr borlng llLLle urlLan llves all work no play dresses up Lo here
she lndlcaLed her neck and slx hours of church on Sundays

laye sald ulana

laye lgnored her And Lhe nelghbors she sald All Lhose nelghbors who waLched you
gosslped abouL you monlLored you Lo make sure you werenL wearlng an exLra buLLon
on your dress or smlllng on your way Lo meeLlng ?ou had Lo be meek ln Lhose days and
keep your eyes down and do as you were Lold wlLhouL asklng quesLlons lf you were a
~ 142 ~

glrl anyway ?ou werenL even allowed Lo play wlLh dolls because Lhey were Lhlngs of
Lhe devll
Cassle fasclnaLed desplLe herself waLched laye paclng and LhoughL agaln of [ungle caLs
Caged ones lf laye had llved ln Lhose days Cassle LhoughL she would have been qulLe a
handful
And maybe some of Lhose young glrls werenL so happy laye sald Who knows? 8uL
anyway one wlnLer a few of Lhem goL LogeLher Lo Lell forLunes 1hey shouldnL have of
course lL was wlcked 8uL Lhey dld lL anyway Cne of Lhem had a slave who came from
Lhe WesL lndles and knew abouL forLuneLelllng lL helped Lo whlle away Lhose long dull
wlnLer nlghLs She glanced sldeways under black lashes Loward nlck as lf Lo say LhaL
she could have suggesLed a beLLer way herself
8uL lL preyed on Lhelr poor llLLle urlLan mlnds laye wenL on looklng sorrowful 1hey
felL gullLy And evenLually one of Lhem had a nervous collapse She goL slck dellrlous
and she confessed 1hen Lhe secreL was ouL And all Lhe oLher young glrls were on Lhe
hoL seaL lL wasnL good ln Lhose days Lo geL caughL foollng around wlLh Lhe
supernaLural 1he grownups dldnL llke lL So Lhe poor llLLle urlLan glrls had Lo polnL Lhe
flnger aL somebody else
laye held up her own long Laperlng scarleLLlpped flnger Lralllng lL across Lhe seaLed
group llke a gun She sLopped ln fronL of Cassle
Cassle looked aL lL Lhen up lnLo layes eyes
And Lhey dld laye sald pleasanLly She wlLhdrew Lhe flnger as lf sheaLhlng a sword
and wenL on 1hey polnLed aL Lhe WesL lndlan slave and Lhen aL a couple of oLher old
women Lhey dldnL llke Women wlLh a bad repuLaLlon around Lhe vlllage And when
Lhey polnLed Lhey sald She paused for dramaLlc effecL and Llpped her face up Lo Lhe
crescenL moon hanglng ln Lhe sky 1hen she looked back aL Cassle 1hey sald wlLch
A rlpple wenL Lhrough Lhe group of aglLaLlon blLLer amusemenL exasperaLlon Peads
were shaklng ln dlsgusL Cassle felL Lhe halrs aL Lhe back of her neck Llngle
And do you know whaL? laye looked over her audlence holdlng Lhem all spellbound
1hen she smlled slowly and whlspered lL worked nobody blamed Lhem for Lhelr llLLle
forLuneLelllng games Lveryone was Loo busy hunLlng ouL Lhe wlLches ln Lhelr mldsL
1he only problem laye conLlnued her black eyebrows now ralsed ln scorn was LhaL
~ 143 ~

Lhose urlLans couldnL recognlze a wlLch lf Lhey fell over one 1hey looked for women
who were offbeaL or Loo lndependenL or rlch ConvlcLed wlLches forfelLed Lhelr
worldly goods so lL could be qulLe a proflLable buslness Lo accuse Lhem 8uL all Lhe
whlle Lhe real wlLches were rlghL Lhere under Lhelr noses
8ecause you see laye sald sofLly Lhere really were wlLches aL Salem noL Lhe poor
women and men Lhey accused 1hey dldnL even geL one rlghL 8uL Lhe wlLches were
Lhere and Lhey dldnL llke whaL was happenlng lL hlL a llLLle Loo close Lo home A few of
Lhem even Lrled Lo sLop Lhe wlLch Lrlals buL LhaL only Lended Lo arouse susplclon lL was
Loo dangerous even Lo be a frlend of one of Lhe prlsoners
She sLopped and Lhere was a sllence 1he faces surroundlng Cassle now were noL
amused buL cold and angry As lf Lhls sLory was someLhlng LhaL resonaLed ln Lhelr
bones noL a cobwebby Lale from Lhe dead pasL buL a llvlng warnlng
WhaL happened? Cassle asked aL lasL her own volce subdued
1o Lhe accused wlLches? 1hey dled 1he unlucky ones aL leasL Lhe ones who wouldnL
confess nlneLeen were hanged before Lhe governor puL a sLop Lo lL 1he lasL publlc
execuLlons Look place exacLly Lhree hundred years ago SepLember 22 Lhe fall equlnox
1692 no Lhe poor accused wlLches dldnL have much luck 8uL Lhe real wlLches
well laye smlled
1he real wlLches goL away ulscreeLly of course AfLer Lhe fuss was over 1hey quleLly
packed up and moved norLh Lo sLarL Lhelr own llLLle vlllage where no one would polnL
flngers because everyone would be Lhe same And Lhey called Lhelr llLLle vlllage She
looked aL Cassle
new Salem Cassle sald ln her mlnd she was seelng Lhe cresL on Lhe hlgh school
bulldlng lncorporaLed 1693 she added sofLly
?es !usL one year afLer Lhe Lrlals ended So you see LhaLs how our llLLle Lown was
founded WlLh [usL Lhe Lwelve members of LhaL coven and Lhelr famllles We laye
gesLured gracefully around Lhe group are whaLs lefL of Lhe descendanLs of Lhose
Lwelve famllles 1helr only descendanLs Whlle Lhe resL of Lhe rlffraff you see around Lhe
school and Lhe Lown
Llke Sally WalLman ueborah puL ln
~ 144 ~

are Lhe descendanLs of Lhe servanLs 1he help laye sald sweeLly Cr of ouLslders
who drlfLed ln and were allowed Lo seLLle here 8uL Lhose Lwelve houses on Crowhaven
8oad are Lhe houses of Lhe orlglnal famllles Cur famllles 1hey lnLermarrled and kepL
Lhelr blood pure mosL of Lhem anyway And evenLually Lhey produced us
?ou have Lo undersLand ulana sald quleLly from Cassles slde Some of whaL laye has
Lold you ls speculaLlon We donL really know whaL caused Lhe wlLch hunLs ln 1692 8uL
we do know whaL happened wlLh our own ancesLors because we have Lhelr [ournals
Lhelr old records Lhelr spell books 1helr 8ooks of Shadows She Lurned and plcked
someLhlng up off Lhe sand and Cassle recognlzed Lhe book LhaL had been on Lhe
wlndow seaL Lhe day ulana cleaned her sweaLer
1hls ulana sald holdlng lL up was my greaLgreaLgrandmoLhers She goL lL from her
moLher who goL lL from her moLher and so on Lach of Lhem wroLe ln lL Lhey recorded
Lhe spells Lhey dld Lhe rlLuals Lhe lmporLanL evenLs ln Lhelr llves Lach of Lhem passed lL
on Lo Lhe nexL generaLlon
unLll our greaLgrandmoLhers Llme anyway sald ueborah Maybe elghLy nlneLy
years ago 1hey declded Lhe whole Lhlng was Loo scary

1oo wlcked laye puL ln her golden eyes gleamlng

1hey hld Lhe books and Lrled Lo forgeL Lhe old knowledge sald ulana 1hey LaughL
Lhelr klds lL was wrong Lo be dlfferenL 1hey Lrled Lo be normal Lo be llke Lhe ouLslders
1hey were wrong Chrls sald Pe leaned forward hls [aw seL hls face eLched wlLh paln
We canL be llke Lhem korl knew LhaL She Pe broke off and shook hls head
lLs okay Chrls Laurel sald sofLly We know
Sean spoke up eagerly hls Lhln chesL pufflng ouL 1hey hld Lhe old sLuff buL we found
lL he sald We wouldnL Lake no for an answer

~ 143 ~

no we wouldnL sald Melanle casLlng an amused glance aL hlm Cf course some of
us were busy playlng 8aLman whlle Lhe older ones were redlscoverlng our herlLage
And some of us had a llLLle more naLural LalenL Lhan oLhers laye added She spread
ouL her flngers admlrlng Lhe long red nalls A llLLle more naLural flalr for calllng on
Lhe owers
1haLs rlghL sald Laurel She ralsed her eyebrows and Lhen looked slgnlflcanLly aL
ulana Some of us do
We all have LalenL ulana sald We sLarLed dlscoverlng LhaL when we were really
young bables pracLlcally Lven our parenLs couldnL lgnore lL 1hey dld Lry Lo keep us
from uslng lL for a whlle buL mosL of Lhem have glven up
Some of Lhem even help us Laurel sald Llke my grandmoLher 8uL we sLlll geL mosL
of whaL we need from Lhe old books Cassle LhoughL abouL her own grandmoLher Pad
she been Lrylng Lo help Cassle? Cassle felL sure she had
Cr from our own heads sald uoug Pe grlnned a wlld and handsome grln and for an
lnsLanL looked agaln llke Lhe boy whod gone raclng Lhrough Lhe hallways on roller
blades lLs lnsLlncL you know? ure lnsLlncL rlmal
Cur parenLs haLe lL sald Suzan My faLher says well only make Lrouble wlLh Lhe
ouLslders Pe says Lhe ouLslders wlll geL us
uougs LeeLh showed whlLe ln Lhe moonllghL Well geL Lhem he sald
1hey donL undersLand ulana sald sofLly Lven among ourselves noL everybody
reallzes LhaL Lhe owers can be used for good 8uL were Lhe ones who can call on Lhe
owers and we know 1haLs whaLs lmporLanL
Laurel nodded My grandmoLher says Lhere wlll always be ouLslders who haLe us
1heres noLhlng we can do buL Lry and keep away from Lhem
Cassle LhoughL suddenly of Lhe prlnclpal holdlng Lhe hanged doll by Lhe back of lLs dress
Pow apL hed sald Well no wonder lf he LhoughL she was one of Lhem already 1hen
her mlnd drew up shorL uo you mean she sald LhaL even adulLs know whaL you
whaL we are? CuLslder adulLs?

~ 146 ~

Cnly Lhe ones around here ulana sald 1he ones who grew up on Lhe lsland 1heyve
known for cenLurles buL Lheyve always kepL quleL lf Lhey wanL Lo llve here Lhey have
Lo 1haLs [usL Lhe way lL ls
lor Lhe lasL few generaLlons relaLlons have been very good beLween our people and
Lhe ouLslders Melanle sald 1haLs whaL our grandparenLs say anyhow 8uL now
weve sLlrred Lhlngs up 1he ouLslders may noL keep quleL forever 1hey mlghL Lry Lo do
someLhlng Lo sLop us
MlghL? 1hey already have ueborah sald WhaL do you Lhlnk happened Lo korl?
lnsLanLly volces rose ln a babble as Lhe Penderson broLhers Sean Suzan and ueborah
bursL lnLo argumenL ulana ralsed her hand
1haLs enough! 1hls lsnL Lhe Llme she sald WhaL happened Lo korl ls one of Lhe
Lhlngs our Clrcle ls golng Lo flnd ouL now LhaL were compleLe we should be able Lo do
lL 8uL noL LonlghL And as long as lm leader
1emporary leader unLll november laye puL ln sharply
As long as lm Lemporary leader well do Lhlngs when l say and noL [ump Lo any
concluslons All rlghL? ulana looked around aL Lhem Some faces were shuLLered
expresslonless oLhers llke ueborahs openly hosLlle 8uL mosL of Lhe members nodded
or gave some slgn of acqulescence
All rlghL And LonlghL ls for lnlLlaLlng Cassle She looked aL Cassle uo you have any
quesLlons?
Well Cassle had Lhe nagglng feellng LhaL Lhere was someLhlng she should be asklng
someLhlng lmporLanL buL she couldnL Lhlnk of whaL 1he guys ln Lhe Clrcle whaL do
you call Lhem? l mean are Lhey wlzards or warlocks or someLhlng?
no sald ulana Wlzard ls an oldfashloned word lL means a wlse man who usually
worked alone And warlock comes from a word meanlng LralLor decelver WlLch ls Lhe
proper Lerm for all of us even guys AnyLhlng else?
Cassle shook her head

~ 147 ~

Well Lhen laye sald now LhaL youve heard our sLory we have [usL one quesLlon Lo
ask you She flxed Cassle wlLh an odd half smlle and sald ln a sweeL false volce Are
you plannlng Lo be a good wlLch or a bad wlLch?



















~ 148 ~









ChapLer 1hlrLeen

very funny Cassle LhoughL 8uL acLually lL wasnL funny aL all She guessed LhaL Lhere
was a deadly serlous slde Lo layes quesLlon Somehow she dldnL see laye wanLlng Lo
use Lhe owers whaLever Lhose were for good And she dldnL see ulana wanLlng Lo
use Lhem for anyLhlng else
uoes anybody have anyLhlng more Lo say? CuesLlons commenLs club buslness? ulana
was looklng around Lhe group 1hen lm declarlng Lhe meeLlng over ?ou can all go or
sLay as you llke Well have anoLher meeLlng Lomorrow afLernoon Lo honor korl and Lalk
abouL a plan of acLlon
1here was a murmur of volces as people Lurned Lo one anoLher and goL up 1he elecLrlc
Lenslon LhaL had held Lhe group LogeLher had dlsslpaLed buL Lhere was an unflnlshed
feellng ln Lhe alr as lf nobody really wanLed Lo leave yeL
Suzan wenL over behlnd a rock and pulled ouL several weL slxpacks of dleL sofL drlnks
Laurel prompLly wenL behlnd anoLher rock and reLurned wlLh a large Lhermos

~ 149 ~

lLs rosehlp Lea she sald pourlng a cup of fragranL dark red llquld and smlllng aL
Cassle no Lea leaves aL all buL lLll warm you up and make you feel beLLer 8oses are
sooLhlng and purlfylng
1hanks sald Cassle Laklng lL graLefully Per head was splnnlng lnformaLlon overload
she LhoughL
lm a wlLch she LhoughL Lhen wonderlngly Palf a wlLch anyway And Mom and
Crandma Lheyre boLh heredlLary wlLches lL was a blzarre and almosL lmposslble
noLlon Lo swallow
She Look anoLher gulp of Lhe hoL sweeL drlnk shlverlng ln splLe of herself
Pere Melanle sald She removed Lhe pale green shawl and puL lL around Cassles
shoulders Were used Lo Lhe cold youre noL lf you wanL we can make a flre
no lm flne wlLh Lhe shawl Cassle sald Lucklng her bare feeL under her lLs beauLlful
ls lL very old?
lL was my greaLgrandmoLhers greaLgrandmoLhers lf you can belleve Lhe old
sLorles
Melanle sald We usually geL more dressed up for Clrcles we can wear anyLhlng we
feel llke and someLlmes lL geLs ouLrageous 8uL LonlghL
?es Cassle nodded ln undersLandlng Melanle was belng nlcer Lhan usual she
LhoughL More llke Laurel or ulana lL puzzled Cassle for a momenL and Lhen she goL lL
lm one of Lhem she LhoughL and for Lhe flrsL Llme Lhe full lmporL of Lhls sLruck her noL
a puppy off Lhe sLreeL anymore lm a full member of Lhe Club
She felL Lhe bubbles of exclLemenL of exhllaraLlon ln her bloodsLream agaln And Lhere
was a deeper feellng Loo of recognlLlon As lf someLhlng aL her core was noddlng
saylng ?es l knew all along
Cassle looked aL Melanle quleLly slpplng her Lea and aL Laurel sLralghLenlng a plnk
candle LhaL was slumplng over 1hen she looked aL ulana sLandlng a llLLle dlsLance up
Lhe beach wlLh Lhe Penderson broLhers Lhe Lhree blond heads close LogeLher ulana
seemed Lo feel no selfconsclousness abouL wearlng Lhe Lhln whlLe shlfL and Lhe fancy
[ewelry lL seemed a naLural cosLume for her
~ 130 ~

My people Cassle LhoughL 1he sudden sense of belonglng of lovlng was so lnLense
LhaL Lears came Lo her eyes 1hen she looked aL
ueborah and Suzan deep ln conversaLlon and aL laye who was llsLenlng wlLh a bland
smlle Lo someLhlng Sean was exclLedly saylng and aL nlck who was sLarlng sllenLly ouL
aL Lhe ocean a can of someLhlng LhaL wasnL soda ln hls hand
Lven Lhem she LhoughL She was wllllng Lo Lry and geL along wlLh all Lhe oLher
members wlLh everyone who shared her blood Lven Lhe ones whod Lrled Lo keep her
ouL
She looked back aL Laurel Lo flnd Lhe sllm brownhalred glrl waLchlng her wlLh Lhe hlnL
of a sympaLheLlc smlle
A loL Lo deal wlLh aL once Laurel sald knowlngly
?es 8uL lLs exclLlng Loo
Laurel smlled So now LhaL youre a wlLch she sald whaLs Lhe flrsL Lhlng youre golng
Lo do?
Cassle laughed feellng someLhlng almosL llke lnLoxlcaLlon ower she LhoughL 1heres
so much ower ouL Lhere and now l can Lake lL She shook her head and llfLed Lhe hand
LhaL wasnL holdlng rosehlp Lea WhaL can we do? she sald l mean whaL sorLs of
Lhlngs?
Laurel and Melanle exchanged glances 8aslcally you name lL Melanle sald She
plcked up Lhe book LhaL ulana had shown Cassle earller and rlffled Lhrough lL showlng
Cassle Lhe pages 1hey were yellowlng and brlLLle and covered wlLh cramped llleglble
wrlLlng 1hey were also covered wlLh plnk osLlL noLes and plasLlc Lape flags AlmosL
every page had one and some had several
1hls ls Lhe flrsL 8ook of Shadows we goL hold of sald Melanle We found lL ln ulanas
aLLlc Slnce Lhen weve found oLhers every famlly ls supposed Lo have one Weve been
worklng on Lhls one for maybe flve years declpherlng Lhe spells and copylng Lhem ouL ln
modern language lm even puLLlng lL on my compuLer for easler crossreference
SorL of a lloppy ulsk of Shadows Cassle sald

~ 131 ~

Laurel grlnned 8lghL And lLs funny you know buL once you sLarL learnlng spells and
rlLuals lL seems Lo wake up someLhlng lnslde you and you sLarL comlng up wlLh your
own
lnsLlncL Cassle murmured
8lghL sald Laurel We all have lL some more Lhan oLhers And some of us are beLLer
Lhan oLhers aL cerLaln Lhlngs llke calllng on Lhe dlfferenL owers l work besL wlLh
LarLh Laurel Look a handful of sand and leL lL Lrlckle Lhrough her flngers
1hree guesses as Lo whaL laye works besL wlLh Melanle sald dryly
8uL anyway Lo answer your quesLlon Lheres loLs we can do Laurel sald lL all
depends on your LasLe Spells of proLecLlon of defense
Cr aLLack puL ln Melanle wlLh a glance Loward ueborah and Suzan
spells for llLLle Lhlngs llke llghLlng flres and for blg ones llke well youll flnd ouL
Charms for heallng and for flndlng Lhlngs ouL scrylng and dlvlnlng Love poLlons She
smlled as Cassle looked up qulckly 1haL lnLeresL you?
Ch a llLLle maybe Cassle blushed Cod she wlshed she could [usL gaLher her
LhoughLs properly She sLlll had LhaL nagglng feellng LhaL Lhere was someLhlng she was
mlsslng someLhlng obvlous LhaL she was overlooklng and should be asklng abouL 8uL
whaL?
1heres a cerLaln amounL of debaLe over Lhe eLhlcs of love poLlons and love spells
Melanle was saylng her gray eyes noL enLlrely approvlng Some people feel lL vlolaLes a
persons free wlll you know And a spell mlsused can rebound on Lhe person who casLs
lL Lhreefold Some people donL feel lLs worLh Lhe rlsk
And oLher people Laurel sald mock solemnly her brown eyes sparkllng say LhaL alls
falr ln love and war lf you know whaL l mean
Cassle blL her llp no maLLer how hard she Lrled Lo concenLraLe on LhaL nagglng worry
anoLher LhoughL was pushlng lL ouL of her mlnd
Cr noL a LhoughL so much as a hope Lhe sudden gllmpse of a posslblllLy

~ 132 ~

Love poLlons And flndlng Lhlngs ouL SomeLhlng Lo flnd hlm and brlng hlm Lo her Was
Lhere such a spell? She seemed Lo feel ln her bones LhaL Lhere was
1o flnd hlm Lhe boy wlLh Lhe bluegray eyes WarmLh pooled ln Cassles sLomach and
her palms Llngled 1he very posslblllLy seemed Lo llfL her on wlngs Ch please lf she
could only ask one Lhlng
Supposlng she sald and was relleved Lo hear her volce sound normal you wanLed
Lo say flnd somebody youd meL and losL Lrack of Somebody you llked and wanLed Lo
see agaln Would Lhere be any klnd of a spell for LhaL?
Laurels brown eyes sparkled agaln now ls Lhls a boyLype person were supposlng
abouL here? she sald
?es Cassle knew she was blushlng agaln
Well Laurel glanced aL Melanle who was shaklng her head ln a reslgned way Lhen
Lurned back Lo Cassle ld say someLhlng llke a slmple Lree spell 1rees are aLLuned Lo
Lhlngs llke love and frlendshlp anyLhlng LhaL grows and brlngs llfe And fall ls a good
Llme Lo use Lhlngs you harvesL llke apples So ld do an apple spell ln one you Lake an
apple and spllL lL 1hen you Lake Lwo needles ordlnary sewlng needles and puL one
Lhrough Lhe eye of Lhe oLher and blnd Lhem LogeLher wlLh Lhread 1hen puL Lhem lnslde
Lhe apple and close lL up agaln 1le lL so lL sLays closed 1hen Lle lL back on Lhe Lree and
say some words Lo Lell Lhe Lree whaL you wanL
WhaL klnd of words?
Ch a poem or someLhlng Laurel sald SomeLhlng Lo lnvoke Lhe power of Lhe Lree and
help you vlsuallze whaL youre asklng for lLs besL Lo make lL rhyme lm noL good aL
maklng up LhaL klnd of Lhlng buL llke lrlendly Lree frlendly Lree brlng my speclal
frlend Lo me
no noL qulLe Cassle LhoughL a Lhrlll golng Lhrough her Laurels words were changlng
ln her mlnd Lransformlng expandlng She seemed Lo hear a volce bell clear and yeL
remoLe


~ 133 ~

8ud and blossom leaf and Lree
llnd hlm blnd hlm now Lo me
ShooL and seedllng rooL and bough
1hreads of love enLwlne us now

Per llps moved soundlessly wlLh Lhe words ?es she knew somehow ln Lhe very core of
her LhaL LhaL was rlghL 1haL was Lhe spell buL would she really dare Lo use lL?
?es lor hlm ld rlsk anyLhlng she LhoughL She sLared down aL her flngers as Lhey
absenLly combed Lhrough Lhe sand 1omorrow she declded 1omorrow lll do lL And
Lhen afLerward lll spend every mlnuLe of every day waLchlng and hoplng WalLlng for
Lhe Llme when l see a shadow and look up and lLs hlm or when l hear fooLsLeps and
Lurn and see hlm comlng Cr when
WhaL happened nexL was so sLarLllng and unexpecLed LhaL Cassle almosL screamed
A weL nose LhrusL under her hand
WhaL sLopped her from screamlng was someLhlng llke hearL fallure Lhe shrlek goL Lo her
LhroaL and Lhen she acLually saw Lhe dog and everyLhlng wenL fuzzy Per recolllng hand
fell llmply back Per llps opened and closed sllenLly 1hrough a blur and a mlsL she sLared
aL Lhe llquld brown eyes and Lhe shorL sllkybrlsLly halrs on Lhe muzzle 1he dog sLared
back aL her mouLh open and laughlng as lf Lo say ArenL you happy Lo see me?
1hen Cassle ralsed her eyes Lo look aL Lhe dogs masLer
Pe was looklng down aL her as he had LhaL day on Lhe beach ln Cape Cod 1he
moonllghL Langled ln hls red halr Lurnlng some sLrands Lo flame whlle oLhers were dark
as wlne Pls bluegray eyes looked sllver
Ped found her

~ 134 ~

LveryLhlng was moLlonless 1he oceans roar seemed hushed and dlsLanL and Cassle
was aware of no oLher sound Lven Lhe breeze had dled lL was as lf Lhe enLlre world was
walLlng
Slowly Cassle goL Lo her feeL
1he green shawl fell behlnd her dlscarded She could feel Lhe cold buL only because lL
made her aware of her own body of every parL of lL Llngllng llke elecLrlclLy ?eL
sLrangely alLhough she was keenly aware of her body she also seemed Lo be floaLlng
above lL !usL llke Lhe flrsL Llme she seemed Lo see herself and hlm sLandlng Lhere on
Lhe beach
She could see herself ln her Lhln whlLe nlghLgown and bare feeL her halr loose on her
shoulders looklng up aL hlm Llke Clara ln Lhe nuLcracker balleL she LhoughL when she
wakes up ln Lhe mlddle of Lhe nlghL and looks aL Lhe nuLcracker rlnce whos come Lo
Lake her away lnLo a world of maglc She felL llke Clara As lf Lhe moonllghL had
Lransformed her lnLo someLhlng dellcaLe and beauLlful someLhlng enchanLed As lf he
mlghL Lake her ln hls arms rlghL Lhen and dance wlLh her As lf ln Lhe moonllghL Lhey
could dance forever
1hey were gazlng aL each oLher lrom Lhe momenL Lhelr eyes had meL nelLher of Lhem
had looked away She could see Lhe wonder ln hls face As lf he were as surprlsed Lo see
her as she was Lo see hlm buL how could he be? Pe had found her he musL have been
looklng for her
1he sllver cord she LhoughL She couldnL see lL now buL she could feel lL feel Lhe
vlbraLlons of lLs power She could feel lL connecLlng Lhem hearL Lo hearL 1he Lrembllng
wenL from her chesL lnLo her sLomach and Lhen all over
1he cord was LlghLenlng drawlng Lhem LogeLher lL was pulllng her closer Lo hlm Slowly
hls hand came up and he reached ouL Lo her She ralsed her own hand Lo puL lL ln hls
And Lhere was a cry from behlnd her 1he Lall boy looked over her shoulder dlsLracLed
And Lhen hls hand fell away
SomeLhlng came beLween Lhem someLhlng brlghL 8rlghL llke sunllghL shaLLerlng
Cassles Lrance lL was ulana and she was embraclng Lhe Lall redhalred boy She was
holdlng hlm no Lhey were holdlng each oLher Cassle sLared sLunned aL Lhe slghL of
~ 133 ~

hlm wlLh hls arms around someone else She was barely able Lo comprehend Lhe words
she heard nexL

Ch Adam lm so glad youre back
Cassle sLood llke a plllar of lce
She hadnL seen ulana break down before buL ulana was breaklng down now She was
crylng Cassle could see her shaklng and could see how Lhe Lall boy how Adam held
her Lo Lry and sLop lL
Peld her Pe was holdlng ulana And hls name was Adam
?ou mean she hasnL Lold you abouL Adam yeL? ulana Lheres such a Lhlng as carrylng
modesLy Loo far Who ls he? ls he your boyfrlend? Pes nlce l Lhlnk youlll llke
hlm
Cassle fell Lo her knees and burled her face ln 8a[s fur cllnglng Lo Lhe blg dog She
couldnL bear for anyone Lo see her face rlghL now and she was graLeful for 8a[s warm
solldlLy as she leaned agalnsL hlm Ch Cod oh Cod
vaguely she could hear Adams volce WhaLs wrong? l Lrled Lo geL back for korls
lnlLlaLlon buL where ls she? WhaLs golng on? Pe looked aL Cassle And
Per name ls Cassle 8lake ulana sald Shes Mrs Powards granddaughLer and shes
[usL moved here
?es l
8uL ulana her volce dlsLracLed by grlef was sLlll speaklng And we [usL lnlLlaLed her
lnsLead of korl
WhaL? Adam demanded Why?
1here was a sllence llnally lL was Melanle who spoke up her volce as quleL and
deLached as a newscasLers maklng an announcemenL 8ecause Lhls mornlng or
yesLerday mornlng raLher slnce lLs really Wednesday now korls body was found aL
Lhe boLLom of Lhe school hlll Per neck was broken
~ 136 ~

Ch Cod Cassle looked up Lo see Adams grlp on ulana LlghLen Pe shuL hls eyes brlefly
as she leaned agalnsL hlm shaklng agaln 1hen he looked aL Lhe Penderson broLhers
Chrls uoug
uougs LeeLh were clenched CuLslders dld lL he sald
Sally dld lL snarled ueborah
We donL know who dld lL ulana sald She spoke wlLh passlonaLe force And were
noL golng Lo do anyLhlng unLll we flnd ouL
Adam nodded And you he sald looklng Loward Lhe back of Lhe group WhaL have
you been dolng Lo help whlle all Lhls was golng on?
noL a damn Lhlng nlck sald Pe had been sLandlng wlLh hls arms folded over hls chesL
waLchlng lmpasslvely now hls deflanL gaze meL Adams and locked wlLh lL lL was clear
Lhere was no love losL beLween Lhe Lwo

Pe has been helplng Adam ulana sald foresLalllng whaLever Adam was abouL Lo say
nexL Pes come Lo meeLlngs and hes here LonlghL 1haLs all we can ask
lLs noL all l can ask Adam sald
Ask away ?oure noL golng Lo geL anyLhlng more nlck Lurned around lm ouL of
here
Ch donL go Laurel began buL nlck was already leavlng
lve been showlng up because ulana asked buL lm Lhrough now lve had enough for
LonlghL he sald over hls shoulder 1hen he was gone
laye Lurned Lo Adam and smlled her slowesL mosL dazzllng smlle She puL her hands
LogeLher and clapped 8eauLlful [ob Adam Pere ulana has spenL Lhe lasL Lhree weeks
slavlng Lo keep Lhe Lroops LogeLher and you undo lL all ln Lhe flrsL Lhree mlnuLes l
couldnL have done beLLer myself
Ch geL sLuffed laye sald Laurel
~ 137 ~

Cassle meanwhlle was sLlll kneellng AlLhough she was cllnglng Lo 8a[ she could see
sense Lhlnk of only one Lhlng Adams arm hls arm around ulanas shoulders
Pls name ls Adam And hes hers noL mlne hers Pe always has been
lL couldnL be lL was noL posslble 8eyond all hope she had found hlm agaln he had
come Lo her WlLhouL a love spell as lf drawn by Lhe very lnLenslLy of her need for hlm
he had come and she couldnL have hlm
Pow could she have been so sLupld? Pow could she noL have reallzed? 1heyd all Lalked
LonlghL abouL compleLlng Lhe Clrcle abouL Lwelve members always Lwelve 8uL lf shed
sLopped Lo counL shed have seen LhaL Lhere were only eleven ulana and Melanle and
Laurel LhaL was Lhree and laye and Suzan and ueborah LhaL was slx lus Lhe boys Lhe
Penderson broLhers and nlck and Sean LhaL was Len And Cassle made eleven All along
someLhlng aL Lhe back of her mlnd had known LhaL lL dldnL add up and had been Lrylng
Lo Lell her 8uL she hadnL llsLened
And how could l have noL known anyway? she LhoughL Pow could l have noL reallzed
Lhe boy ld meL had Lo be one of Lhem? 1he clues were all here rlghL ln fronL of me Pe
has owers l saw LhaL on Lhe beach wlLh orLla Pe read my mlnd Pe Lold me he was
from somewhere else he Lold me he was dlfferenL orLla even sald Lhe word
WlLch
And LonlghL l found ouL LhaL Lhe Club ls a coven of wlLches 1he lasL generaLlon of
wlLches ln Lhe new World l should have reallzed Lhen LhaL he musL be one of Lhem
l even knew ulana had a boyfrlend a boyfrlend whos been away vlslLlng 1he pleces
of Lhe puzzle were all Lhere l [usL dldnL wanL Lo puL lL LogeLher
8ecause lm ln love wlLh hlm l dldnL know how much unLll l saw hlm agaln LonlghL And
he belongs Lo my besL frlend My slsLer
l haLe her
1he LhoughL was Lerrlfylng ln lLs lnLenslLy maklng her flsLs clench ln Lhe blg dogs fur lL
was a raw prlmal wash of emoLlon a feellng so sLrong LhaL for a momenL lL even wlped
ouL Lhe paln A murderous haLred red as blood rushlng ouL from her Loward Lhe glrl
wlLh Lhe halr llke moonllghL
~ 138 ~

Llke moonllghL and sunllghL woven LogeLher SLarlng aL lL now wlLh LhaL acld vlolence
sLlll raglng lnslde her anoLher plcLure flashed lnLo Cassles mlnd 1haL same lmposslbly
shlnlng halr falllng across Lhe emergency brake ln ulanas car AfLer ulana had rescued
her from laye
When she was Laklng you home Lo Lake care of you a volce whlspered And Lhen she
cleaned you up and fed you lnLroduced you Lo her frlends roLecLed you gave you a
place Lo belong Made you her slsLer
now whaL was LhaL you were saylng abouL haLlng her?
Cassle felL Lhe murderous red fury sllpplng away She couldnL hold on Lo lL and she
dldnL wanL Lo Lry She couldnL haLe ulana because she loved ulana And she loved
Adam She loved Lhem boLh and she wanLed Lhem Lo be happy
So where does LhaL leave you ? Lhe volce lnslde her asked
lL was all very slmple really 1he Lwo of Lhem were so obvlously perfecL for each oLher
8oLh Lall ulana was [usL Lhe rlghL helghL Lo look lnLo hls eyes 8oLh senlors ulana was
maLure enough for hlm and how could Cassle ever have lmaglned LhaL an older guy
would go for her? 8oLh sLrlklngly aLLracLlve boLh confldenL boLh leaders
And boLh fullblooded wlLches Cassle remlnded herself lll beL hes lncredlbly LalenLed
of course hes LalenLed ulana wouldnL have anyLhlng buL Lhe besL 8ecause shes Lhe
besL herself
And donL forgeL Lheyre chlldhood sweeLhearLs 1heyve been LogeLher forever Lhey
donL even see anybody else Clearly Lhey were made for each oLher
So lL was all very obvlous and very slmple excepL Lhen why dld she feel as lf Lhere were
razor blades shreddlng her guLs? All she had Lo do was wlsh Lhem happlness and puL
aslde any LhoughLs of Adam and her LogeLher !usL reslgn herself Lo whaL was golng Lo
happen anyway !usL wlsh Lhem luck
1haL was when clear and cold Lhe resolve came Lo her no maLLer whaL happens she
promlsed ulana wlll never know
And nelLher wlll he

~ 139 ~

lf ulana found ouL how Cassle felL lL would upseL her She was so unselflsh she mlghL
even feel she had Lo do someLhlng llke glve Adam up so Cassle wouldnL be hurL And
even lf she dldnL she would feel awful
So Cassle wouldnL leL her know lL was as slmple as LhaL
noL by word or look or deed she promlsed herself flercely no maLLer whaL happens l
wonL make ulana unhappy l swear lL
A weL nose was poklng aL her and sofL whlnes sounded ln her ears 8a[ was complalnlng
abouL Lhe lack of aLLenLlon
Cassle?
And ulana was Lalklng Lo her Cassle reallzed whaL she musL look llke cllnglng Lo Lhe blg
dog ln a daze
WhaL? she sald Lrylng Lo keep her llps from Lrembllng
l sald are you all rlghL?
ulana was looklng aL her Lhose clear green eyes full of concern 1here were recenL Lears
on Lhe heavy lashes Looklng lnLo Lhose eyes Cassle dld Lhe bravesL Lhlng she had ever
done ln her llfe 8raver Lhan sLandlng up Lo !ordan 8alnbrldge and hls gun far braver
Lhan Lhrowlng herself ouL Lo rescue Sally on Lhe hlll

She smlled
lm flne she sald glvlng 8a[ a flnal paL and geLLlng Lo her feeL Per volce sounded llke
somebody elses lncredlbly false and sLupld 8uL ulana wasnL expecLlng her Lo be false
and ulana relaxed lm [usL so much has happened LonlghL Cassle wenL on l guess
lm a llLLle overwhelmed
Adam was openlng hls mouLh Pe was golng Lo Lell everyone Cassle reallzed Pe was
golng Lo Lell Lhem how he and Cassle had meL and everyLhlng LhaL happened And Lhen
laye who wasnL sLupld was golng Lo puL Lwo and Lwo LogeLher She was golng Lo
reallze he was Lhe boy ln Cassles poem
~ 160 ~

And LhaL couldnL happen She wouldnL leL lL no one musL ever know
And you dldnL lnLroduce me yeL she blurLed ouL desperaLely Lo ulana ?ou know lve
been wanLlng Lo meeL your boyfrlend ever slnce you Lold me abouL hlm
1here lL was sald ?our boyfrlend Adam was looklng puzzled buL ulana lnnocenL
ulana was looklng chagrlned
lm sorry l dldnL dld l? Cassle Lhls ls Adam l know you Lwo wlll llke each oLher Pes
been away
vlslLlng Cassle puL ln feverlshly as Adam opened hls mouLh agaln
no noL vlslLlng l know l Lold you LhaL before buL now l can Lell you Lhe LruLh Pes
been looklng for cerLaln ob[ecLs LhaL belonged Lo Lhe old coven Lhe orlglnal one
lrom Lhelr records we can Lell LhaL Lhey had some powerful Lools LhaL somehow goL
losL 1he MasLer 1ools Lver slnce Adam heard abouL Lhem hes been searchlng for
Lhem
And comlng back empLyhanded laye commenLed ln her husky volce amused l
donL suppose Lhls Llme ls any dlfferenL
Adams aLLenLlon was dlsLracLed Pe looked aL Lhe Lall blackhalred glrl and smlled lL
was a mlschlevous smlle full of Lhe promlse of secreLs
WhaL? sald laye cynlcally and Lhen as he slmply kepL smlllng aL her WhaL? ?ou
donL expecL us Lo belleve
Adam ulana sald her volce changlng are you saylng LhaL ?
Adam [usL grlnned aL Lhem Lhen he [erked hls head Loward a duffel bag lylng a llLLle way
down Lhe beach Sean go geL LhaL
Sean scuLLled Lo geL lL and came back saylng lLs heavy
Adam whlspered ulana her eyes wlde
Adam Look Lhe duffel bag from Sean and puL lL on Lhe ground lLs Loo bad nlck was ln
such a hurry Lo geL away he sald lf hed sLayed he mlghL have seen Lhls Pe reached
lnslde wlLh boLh hands and pulled ouL a skull
~ 161 ~










ChapLer lourLeen

lL was Lhe slze and shape of a human skull buL lL seemed Lo be made enLlrely of crysLal
1he moonllghL reflecLed Lhrough lL lnslde lL lL had grlnnlng crysLal LeeLh and lLs hollow
eye sockeLs seemed Lo be sLarlng dlrecLly aL Cassle
1here was a frozen lnsLanL and Lhen laye grabbed for lL
uhuh Adam sald holdlng lL away from her no
Where dld you geL LhaL? sald laye Per volce was no longer lazy buL full of barely
conLalned exclLemenL
Lven Lhrough her numbness Cassle felL a Lwlnge of apprehenslon aL her Lone and she
saw Lhe swlfL glance Adam exchanged wlLh ulana 1hen he Lurned Lo laye Cn an
lsland
Whlch lsland?

~ 162 ~

l dldnL know you were so lnLeresLed ?ou never seemed Lo be before
laye glared Cne way or anoLher lll flnd ouL Adam
1heres noLhlng else where l found lL 8elleve me Lhls was Lhe only one of Lhe MasLer
1ools hldden Lhere
laye Look a breaLh and Lhen relaxed and smlled Well Lhe leasL you can do ls glve us all
a chance Lo look aL lL
no sald ulana nobody even Louches lL yeL We donL know anyLhlng abouL Lhls
excepL LhaL lL was used by Lhe old coven by 8lack !ohn hlmself 1haL means lLs
dangerous
uo we know for sure Lhls ls Lhe crysLal skull 8lack !ohn wroLe abouL? Melanle asked
her volce quleL and raLlonal
?es Adam sald AL leasL lL flLs Lhe descrlpLlon ln Lhe old records exacLly And l found
lL ln a place [usL llke Lhe place 8lack !ohn descrlbed l Lhlnk lLs Lhe real Lhlng
1hen lL needs Lo be cleared and purlfled and sLudled before any of us work wlLh lL
ulana sald She Lurned Lo Cassle 8lack !ohn was one of Lhe leaders of Lhe orlglnal
coven she sald Pe dled noL long afLer new Salem was founded buL before LhaL he
Look Lhe covens mosL powerful Lools and hld Lhem lor safekeeplng he sald buL really
because he wanLed Lhem for hlmself lor personal galn and revenge she sald looklng
aL laye meanlngfully Pe was an evll man and anyLhlng he Louched ls golng Lo be full of
negaLlve lnfluences Were noL golng Lo use lL unLll were sure lLs safe
lf 8lack !ohn had had anyLhlng Lo do wlLh Lhls skull he musL have been bad Cassle
LhoughL ln some way she couldnL explaln she could feel darkness emanaLlng from lL lf
she hadnL been so hearLslck and dlzzy she would have sald so buL surely everyone
else could see for Lhemselves
1he old coven never found Lhe losL MasLer 1ools Laurel was saylng 1hey searched
because 8lack !ohn had lefL some clues abouL where he mlghL have hldden Lhem buL
Lhey dldnL have any luck 1hey made new Lools buL none were ever as powerful as Lhe
orlglnals

~ 163 ~

And now weve found one Adam sald wlLh a flash of exclLemenL ln hls bluegray eyes
ulana llghLly Louched Lhe back of hls hand as lL held Lhe skull She smlled up aL hlm and
Lhe message beLween Lhem was clearer Lhan words prlde and Lrlumph shared 1hls was
Lhelr pro[ecL someLhlng Lheyd been worklng on for years and now Lhey had succeeded
aL lasL
Cassle clenched her LeeLh agalnsL Lhe paln ln her breasLbone 1hey deserve a chance Lo
be alone and en[oy lL she LhoughL WlLh brlLLle forced cheerfulness she sald ?ou
know lm geLLlng Llred l Lhlnk maybe lLs Llme
Cf course ulana sald lnsLanLly concerned ?ou musL be exhausLed We all are We
can Lalk more abouL Lhls aL Lhe meeLlng Lomorrow
Cassle nodded and nobody else made any ob[ecLlons noL even laye 8uL as ulana was
lnsLrucLlng Melanle and Laurel Lo walk Cassle up Lhe beach Lo her house Cassle
accldenLally meL layes gaze 1here was an odd calculaLlng expresslon ln Lhose golden
eyes LhaL would have boLhered her lf she hadnL been beyond carlng by now
AL home every llghL was blazlng even Lhough Lhe flrsL sLreaks of dawn hadnL yeL
appeared over Lhe ocean Melanle and Laurel walked Cassle lnslde and Lhey found her
moLher and grandmoLher boLh slLLlng up ln Lhe parlor a sLlff oldfashloned room aL Lhe
fronL of Lhe house 1he Lwo women were wearlng nlghLgowns and robes Cassles
moLhers halr was loose down her back
Cassle saw aL once by Lhelr faces LhaL Lhey knew
ls Lhls whaL l was broughL here for? she LhoughL 1o [oln Lhe Clrcle? 1here was no longer
any doubL ln her mlnd LhaL shed been broughL here dellberaLely and for a very speclflc
reason
She goL no answer from Lhe volces lnslde her noL even from Lhe deepesL volce And LhaL
was dlsLurblng
8uL she dldnL have Llme Lo worry abouL lL noL now She looked aL her moLhers face
drawn and anxlous buL also full of a klnd of halfconcealed prlde and hope Llke a
moLher waLchlng her daughLer hlghdlve ln Lhe Clymplcs and walLlng for Lhe [udges
scores Per grandmoLher looked Lhe same

~ 164 ~

Suddenly desplLe Lhe achlng paln ln her chesL Cassle was fllled wlLh a surge of
proLecLlve love for Lhem 8oLh of Lhem She managed a smlle as she and Melanle and
Laurel sLood ln Lhe doorway

So Crandma she sald does our famlly have a 8ook of Shadows?
1he Lenslon broke lnLo laughLer as Lhe Lwo women rose
noL LhaL l know of her grandmoLher sald 8uL anyLlme you llke well Lake anoLher
look Lhrough Lhe aLLlc
1he meeLlng on Wednesday afLernoon was Lense Lveryone was on edge And laye
clearly had a hldden agenda
All she wanLed Lo Lalk abouL was Lhe skull 1hey should use lL she sald and lmmedlaLely
All rlghL Lhen lf noL use lL aL leasL check lL ouL
1ry Lo acLlvaLe lL see whaL lmprlnLs had been lefL on lL
ulana kepL saylng no no checklng lL ouL no acLlvaLlng lL 1hey needed Lo purlfy lL flrsL
Cround lL Clear lL Whlch laye knew would Lake weeks lf done properly As long as
ulana was ln charge
laye sald LhaL aL Lhls raLe ulana mlghL noL be ln charge for long ln facL lf ulana kepL
refuslng Lo LesL ouL Lhe skull laye [usL mlghL call for a leadershlp voLe rlghL now lnsLead
of walLlng unLll november Was LhaL whaL ulana wanLed?
Cassle dldnL undersLand any of lL Pow do you check ouL a skull? Cr ground lL or clear
lL? 8uL Lhls Llme Lhe argumenL was Loo heaLed for anyone Lo remember Lo explaln Lo
her
She spenL Lhe enLlre meeLlng noL waLchlng Adam who had Lrled Lo speak Lo her
beforehand buL whom shed managed Lo evade She clung grlmly Lo her resolve all Lhe
way Lhrough even Lhough Lhe energy lL Look Lo lgnore hlm exhausLed her She made
herself noL look aL hls halr whlch had grown a llLLle longer slnce shed seen hlm or aL
hls mouLh whlch was as handsome and humorous as ever She refused Lo leL herself
Lhlnk abouL hls body as shed seen lL on Lhe beach ln Cape Cod wlLh lLs flaL slnewy
muscles and bare long legs And mosL of all she forced herself noL Lo look lnLo hls eyes
~ 163 ~

1he one Lhlng Cassle dld glean from Lhe meeLlng was LhaL ulana was ln a precarlous
poslLlon 1emporary leader meanL LhaL Lhe coven could call a voLe aL any Llme and
depose her alLhough Lhe offlclal voLe was ln november for some reason And laye was
obvlously looklng for supporL so LhaL she could Lake over
Shed goLLen Lhe Penderson broLhers on her slde by saylng Lhey should use Lhe skull
rlghL away Lo flnd korls klller And shed goLLen Sean on her slde slmply by Lerrorlzlng
hlm lL looked llke ueborah and Suzan of course had supporLed her from Lhe
beglnnlng
1haL was slx lL would have been slx on ulanas slde Loo buL nlck refused Lo volce an
oplnlon Pe showed up aL Lhe meeLlng buL saL Lhrough lL smoklng and looklng as lf he
were somewhere else When asked he sald lL dldnL maLLer Lo hlm wheLher Lhey used
Lhe skull or noL
So you see youre overruled laye Lold ulana her honeycolored eyes hoL wlLh
Lrlumph LlLher you leL us use Lhe skull or l call for a voLe rlghL now and we see lf you
sLlll come ouL leader
ulanas [aw was seL All rlghL she sald flaLly aL lasL Well Lry Lo acLlvaLe lL [usL
acLlvaLe lL and no more on SaLurday ls LhaL soon enough for you?
laye nodded graclously Shed won and she knew lL
SaLurday nlghL she sald and smlled
korls funeral was on lrlday Cassle sLood wlLh Lhe oLher members of Lhe Club and crled
along wlLh Lhem durlng Lhe servlce AfLerward aL Lhe cemeLery a flghL broke ouL
beLween uoug Penderson and !lmmy Clark Lhe boy korl had gone wlLh LhaL summer lL
Look Lhe enLlre Club Lo geL Lhem aparL 1he adulLs seemed scared Lo Louch Lhem
SaLurday dawned clear and cool Cassle wenL over Lo ulanas ln Lhe evenlng afLer
spendlng mosL of Lhe day sLarlng aL a book preLendlng Lo read lL She was worrled
abouL Lhe skull ceremony buL she was even more worrled abouL Adam no maLLer whaL
happens she Lold herself no maLLer whaL l wonL leL anyone know how l feel lll keep lL
a secreL forever lf lL kllls me

~ 166 ~

ulana looked Llred as lf she hadnL been geLLlng enough sleep lL was Lhe flrsL Llme Lhe
Lwo of Lhem had been alone LogeLher slnce Lhe lnlLlaLlon slnce Adam came SlLLlng ln
ulanas preLLy room looklng aL Lhe prlsm ln Lhe wlndow Cassle could almosL preLend
LhaL Adam hadnL come LhaL he dldnL exlsL 1hlngs had been so slmple Lhen shed been
happy [usL Lo be wlLh ulana
She noLlced for Lhe flrsL Llme anoLher wall of arL prlnLs llke Lhe ones shed seen Lhe flrsL
day
Are Lhese goddesses Loo? she asked
?es 1haLs ersephone daughLer of Lhe goddess of growlng Lhlngs ulanas volce was
sofL wlLh Llredness buL she smlled aL Lhe plcLure lL showed a slender glrl laughlng as
she plcked an armful of flowers All around her lL was sprlngLlme and her face was fllled
wlLh Lhe [oy of belng young and allve

And whos LhaL?
ALhena She was Lhe goddess of wlsdom She never marrled elLher llke ArLemls Lhe
goddess of Lhe hunL All Lhe oLher gods used Lo go Lo her for advlce
lL was a Lall goddess wlLh a wlde brow and clear calm gray eyes Well of course Lheyre
gray lLs a blackandwhlLe prlnL Cassle Lold herself 8uL somehow she felL Lheyd be
gray anyway and full of cool LhoughLful lnLelllgence
Cassle Lurned Lo Lhe nexL prlnL And whos
!usL Lhen Lhere was Lhe sound of volces downsLalrs Pello? Anybody up Lhere? 1he
fronL door was unlocked
Come on up ulana called My dads aL work as usual
Pere Laurel sald appearlng ln Lhe doorway l LhoughL you mlghL llke Lhese l goL
Lhem along Lhe way She held ouL an armful of mlxed flowers Lo ulana
Ch 8ounclng 8eL! 1heyre such a preLLy plnk and l can dry Lhem for soap laLer And
wlld snapdragon and sweeL mellloL lll go geL a vase
~ 167 ~

l would have broughL some roses from Lhe garden buL we used Lhem all for purlfylng
Lhe skull
Melanle smlled aL Cassle So hows our newesL wlLch? she sald her cool gray eyes noL
unsympaLheLlc 1oLally confused?
Well a llLLle confused l mean Cassle plcked aL random one of Lhe Lhlngs she dldnL
undersLand how do you purlfy a skull wlLh roses?
?oud beLLer ask Laurel LhaL shes Lhe experL on planLs
And Melanle sald Laurel ls Lhe experL on sLones and crysLals and Lhls ls a crysLal
skull
8uL [usL whaL ls a crysLal exacLly? Cassle sald l donL Lhlnk l even know LhaL
Well Melanle saL down aL ulanas desk as ulana came back and began Lo arrange Lhe
flowers Laurel and Cassle saL on Lhe bed Cassle really dld wanL Lo know abouL Lhe
Lhlngs Lhe Clrcle used Lo do maglc Lven lf she could never do Lhe one spell she wanLed
Lo she was sLlll a wlLch
Well some people call crysLals fosslllzed waLer Melanle sald her volce Laklng on a
mocklecLurlng Lone WaLer comblnes wlLh an elemenL Lo make Lhem grow 8uL l llke Lo
Lhlnk of Lhem as a beach

Laurel snorLed and Cassle bllnked A beach?
Melanle smlled ?es A beach ls sand and waLer rlghL? And sand ls slllcon When you
puL slllcon wlLh waLer under Lhe rlghL condlLlons lL forms slllcon dloxlde quarLz crysLal
So waLer plus sand plus heaL plus pressure equals a crysLal 1he remalns of an anclenL
beach
Cassle was fasclnaLed And LhaLs whaL Lhe skull ls made of?
?es lLs clear quarLz 1here are oLher klnds of quarLz Loo oLher colors AmeLhysL ls
purple Laurel are you wearlng any?
~ 168 ~

WhaL a quesLlon Lspeclally wlLh a ceremony LonlghL Laurel pushed her long llghL
brown halr back Lo show Cassle her ears ln each she was wearlng a dangllng crysLal of a
deep vloleL color l llke ameLhysLs she explalned 1heyre sooLhlng and balanclng lf
you wear Lhem along wlLh rose quarLz lL helps draw love Lo you
Cassles sLomach clenched As long as Lhey could sLay off sub[ecLs llke love shed be all
rlghL WhaL oLher sLones are Lhere? she asked Melanle
Ch loLs ln Lhe quarLz famlly Lheres clLrlne ueborah wears a loL of LhaL lLs yellow
and lLs good for physlcal acLlvlLy Lnergy llLness 1haL sorL of Lhlng
ueborah needs a llLLle less energy Laurel muLLered
l llke Lo wear [ade Melanle wenL on LwlsLlng her lefL wrlsL Lo show Cassle a beauLlful
braceleL lL was seL wlLh a pale green LranslucenL oval sLone !ade ls peaceful calmlng
And lL sharpens menLal clarlLy
Cassle spoke heslLanLly 8uL do Lhese Lhlngs really work? l mean l know all Lhe new
Agers are lnLo crysLals buL
CrysLals are noL new Age Melanle sald wlLh a quelllng glance aL Laurel who seemed
abouL Lo argue Lhe polnL CemsLones have been used slnce Lhe beglnnlng by anclenL
peoples and someLlmes even for Lhe rlghL Lhlngs 1he problem ls LhaL Lheyre only as
good as Lhe person uslng Lhem 1hey can sLore energy and help you call on Lhe owers
buL only lf you have Lhe LalenL for lL ln Lhe flrsL place So for mosL people Lheyre preLLy
useless

8uL noL for us sald Laurel AlLhough Lhey donL always work Lhe way youd expecL
1hlngs can geL ouL of conLrol 8emember when Suzan slmply covered herself ln
carnellans and almosL goL mobbed aL Lhe fooLball game? l LhoughL Lhere was golng Lo be
a rloL
Melanle laughed Carnellans are orange and very sLlmulaLlng she sald Lo Cassle ?ou
can geL people overexclLed lf you use Lhem wrong Suzan was Lrylng Lo aLLracL Lhe
quarLerback buL she nearly wound up wlLh Lhe enLlre Leam lll never forgeL her ln Lhe
baLhroom pulllng all Lhose carnellans ouL of her cloLhes Cassle bursL lnLo laughLer aL
Lhe plcLure
~ 169 ~

?oure noL supposed Lo wear orange or red sLones all Lhe Llme Laurel added grlnnlng
8uL of course Suzan wonL llsLen nelLher wlll laye
1haLs rlghL Cassle sald rememberlng laye does wear a red sLone on her necklace
lLs a sLar ruby Melanle sald 1heyre rare and LhaL ones very powerful lL can
ampllfy passlon or anger very qulckly
1here was someLhlng else Cassle wanLed Lo ask Cr raLher LhaL she had Lo ask wheLher
she wanLed Lo or noL WhaL abouL a sLone llke chalcedony? she sald casually ls LhaL
good for anyLhlng?
Ch yes lL has a proLecLlve lnfluence lL can guard you agalnsL Lhe harshness of Lhe
world ln facL ulana dldnL you glve ?
?es sald ulana who had been slLLlng quleLly on Lhe wlndow seaL llsLenlng now she
smlled falnLly ln remlnlscence l gave Adam a chalcedony rose when he lefL Lhls
summer 1haLs a speclal klnd of chalcedony plece she explalned Lo Cassle lLs flaL and
round and lL has a sorL of swlrllng splral paLLern ln lL llke a roses peLals lL has llLLle
quarLz crysLals sprlnkled over lL
And Llny black shell Lhlngs on Lhe back Cassle LhoughL She felL slck Lven Lhe presenL he
had glven her was ulanas
Cassle? 1hey were all looklng aL her
Sorry she sald openlng her eyes and faklng a smlle lm okay l l guess lm a llLLle
wound up abouL Lhls Lhlng LonlghL WhaLever lL ls
1hey were lmmedlaLely sympaLheLlc ulana nodded grlmly showlng more anlmaLlon
Lhan she had slnce Cassle had arrlved LhaL evenlng lm worrled myself she sald lLs
way Loo soon We shouldnL be dolng Lhls yeL buL we donL have any cholce
Melanle sald Lo Cassle ?ou see Lhe skull absorbed energles from whoever used lL lasL
Llke an lmprlnL of whaL was done and who dld lL We wanL Lo see whaL Lhose are So
well all concenLraLe on lL and see whaL lL wlll show us Cf course we mlghL noL be able
Lo acLlvaLe lL aL all SomeLlmes only a cerLaln person can do LhaL or a cerLaln code of
sounds or llghLs or movemenLs 8uL lf we can and lf lLs safe we can evenLually use lLs
energy Lo show us Lhlngs llke maybe who kllled korl
~ 170 ~

1he larger Lhe crysLal Lhe more energy ln lL ulana sald bleakly And Lhls ls a blg
crysLal
8uL why dld Lhe old coven carve lL lnLo a skull? Cassle asked
1hey dldnL Melanle sald We donL know who dld buL lLs much older Lhan Lhree
hundred years 1here are oLher crysLal skulls ouL Lhere ln Lhe world nobody really
knows how many MosL of Lhem are ln museums and Lhlngs Lheres one Lhe 8rlLlsh
Skull LhaLs ln Lhe Museum of Manklnd ln Lngland And Lhe 1emplar Skull belongs Lo
some secreL socleLy ln lrance Cur old coven [usL goL hold of Lhls one somehow and
used lL
8lack !ohn used lL ulana correcLed l wlsh Adam had found any of Lhe oLher MasLer
1ools lnsLead of Lhls one 1hls one was hls 8lack !ohns favorlLe and l Lhlnk he mlghL
have used lL Lo geL rld of people lm afrald LhaL LonlghL l donL know 8uL lm afrald
someLhlng awful ls golng Lo happen
We wonL leL lL sald a new volce aL Lhe door Cassles hearL began Lo pound dully and
blood rushed Lo her face
Adam sald ulana She relaxed vlslbly as he came over Lo Lhe wlndow seaL Lo klss her
and slL beslde her She always seemed boLh more Lranqull and more radlanL whenever
he was around
Well keep Lhe ceremony under sLrlcL conLrol LonlghL he sald And lf anyLhlng
dangerous sLarLs Lo happen well [usL sLop lL cold uld you geL Lhe garage ready?

no l was walLlng for you We can Lake lL down now ulana unlocked Lhe large cablneL
and Cassle saw Lhe crysLal skull resLlng ln a yrex baklng dlsh full of plnk rose peLals
Looks llke !ohn Lhe 8apLlsLs head she murmured
lve used salL and ralnwaLer Lo Lry and clear lL ulana sald 8uL whaL lL really needs ls a
full course of crysLals and flower essences and Lhen Lo be burled ln molsL sand for a few
weeks
~ 171 ~

Well Lake every precauLlon Adam sald A Lrlple clrcle of proLecLlon lLll be all rlghL
Pe plcked up Lhe skull wlLh a few rose peLals sLlll cllnglng Lo lL and he and ulana lefL for
Lhe garage Cassle waLched hlm go
uonL be nervous Melanle Lold her ?ou wonL really have Lo do anyLhlng aL Lhe
ceremony ?ou wonL be able Lo lL Lakes a long Llme Lo geL Lhe hang of scrylng years
usually All you have Lo do ls slL Lhere and noL break Lhe Clrcle
Cassle Lrled noL Lo mlnd Lhe condescendlng noLe ln her volce LlsLen do we have Llme
for anybody Lo drlve me over Lo my house? she sald 1heres someLhlng Lhere ld llke
Lo plck up
ulanas garage was empLy of cars aL leasL 1he floor was clean and bare excepL for a
clrcle drawn ln whlLe chalk
lm sorry Lo make us all slL on concreLe ulana sald buL l wanLed Lo do Lhls lnslde
where l can be sure Lhe wlnd wonL blow ouL one of Lhe candles
1here were a number of whlLe candles lylng aL Lhe cenLer of Lhe clrcle 1hey formed a
smaller rlng ln Lhe very cenLer of LhaL someLhlng draped wlLh a plece of black cloLh saL
on a shoe box
All rlghL ulana sald Lo Lhe resL of Lhe group who had arrlved ln small clusLers and
were now sLandlng ln Lhe garage LeLs geL Lhls Lhlng over wlLh
She had changed lnLo her whlLe shlfL and [ewelry Looklng aL Lhem now Cassle
suspecLed LhaL Lhe dladem and cuff braceleL and maybe even Lhe garLer had some
mysLlc slgnlflcance She waLched ulana casL Lhe clrcle golng around lL wlLh Lhe dagger
and Lhen wlLh waLer and Lhen lncense and Lhen a llL candle LarLh waLer alr and flre
1here were also some lncanLaLlons whlch Cassle Lrled Lo follow 8uL when Lhey all flled
lnLo Lhe clrcle and saL down knee Lo knee as ulana lnsLrucLed any lnLeresL ln Lhe acLual
ceremony flew rlghL ouL of her mlnd
She had ended up beLween laye and Adam She dldnL know how lL had happened She
had been ln llne Lo slL nexL Lo Sean buL somehow laye had goLLen ln fronL of her
Maybe laye dldnL wanL Lo slL by Adam Well nelLher dld Cassle alLhough for a very
dlfferenL reason
~ 172 ~

Adams knee was presslng agalnsL hers 1haL was how ulana had Lold Lhem Lo slL She
could feel Lhe warmLh of lL Lhe solldlLy She could Lhlnk of noLhlng else
Cn her oLher slde laye smelled of some heady Lroplcal perfume lL made her sllghLly
dlzzy
1hen all Lhe llghLs wenL ouL
Cassle dldnL see how lL was done she was sure no one lefL Lhe seaLed clrcle 8uL Lhe
overhead fluorescenL panels had abrupLly gone off
lL was plLchblack ln Lhe garage 1he only llghL now was Lhe flame of Lhe slngle candle
ulana held Cassle could see her face lllumlnaLed by lL buL noLhlng else
All rlghL ulana sald quleLly Were [usL golng Lo be looklng for Lhe lasL lmprlnLs lefL
noLhlng more Lhan LhaL nobody goes ln really deep unLll we know whaL were deallng
wlLh And l donL have Lo Lell anybody LhaL whaLever happens we donL break Lhe
clrcle She dldnL look aL Cassle as she sald lL buL several of Lhe oLhers dld as lf Lo lmply
LhaL maybe she dld have Lo say lL
ulana Louched Lhe candle flame Lo Lhe candle Melanle held ouL Lo her 1he flame
doubled 1hen Melanle leaned over Lo llghL ueborahs candle and Lhere were Lhree
flames
1he flre wenL around Lhe clrcle unLll Laurel gave lL Lo Adam Cassles hand was Lrembllng
as she held up her candle Lo recelve Lhe flame from hlm She hoped everyone would
assume lL was [usL general nervousness
AL lasL all Lwelve candles were llL and sLuck ln Lhelr own wax Lo Lhe concreLe floor Lach
shed a pool of radlance and casL huge dark shadows of Lhe seaLed flgures on Lhe walls

ulana reached lnLo Lhe rlng of candles and pulled off Lhe black cloLh
Cassle gasped
1he skull was faclng her dlrecLly lLs empLy eye sockeLs sLarlng aL her 8uL LhaL wasnL Lhe
mosL alarmlng Lhlng 1he skull was glowlng 1he candle flames around lL played on lL
and Lhe crysLal ln Lurn reflecLed and refracLed Lhe llghL lL almosL looked allve
~ 173 ~

Around Lhe clrcle Lhe oLhers had sLralghLened Lensed
now sald ulana llnd someplace lnslde Lhe skull LhaL lnLeresLs you ConcenLraLe on
lL look aL Lhe deLalls 1hen look for more deLalls keep looklng unLll you flnd yourself
drawn lnLo Lhe crysLal
Someplace LhaL lnLeresLs you? Cassle LhoughL blankly 8uL when she looked carefully aL
Lhe glowlng skull she saw LhaL Lhe crysLal wasnL compleLely clear 1here were gossamer
webs and whaL looked llke wlsps of smoke lnslde lL 1here were lnLernal fracLures LhaL
seemed Lo be acLlng as prlsms Lo form mlnlaLure landscapes 1he closer Cassle looked
Lhe more deLall she saw
1haL looks llke a splral or Lornado she LhoughL And LhaL LhaL looks almosL llke a door
And a face
She [erked her eyes away sLomach lurchlng uonL be sllly lLs [usL lmperfecLlons ln Lhe
crysLal she Lold herself
She was almosL afrald Lo look agaln 8uL no one else seemed dlsLurbed 1helr shadows
loomed and fllckered on Lhe walls buL all eyes were Lurned Loward Lhe skull
Look aL lL! now she commanded
When she looked back aL Lhe skull she couldnL flnd Lhe mlsLy face agaln 1here LhaL
proves lL was [usL a Lrlck of Lhe llghL she LhoughL 8uL Lhe skull had developed anoLher
dlsLurblng quallLy 1hlngs seemed Lo be movlng lnslde lL lL was almosL as lf Lhe skull
were made of waLer conLalned lnslde a Lhln skln and Lhlngs were drlfLlng slowly
around
Ch sLop lL and plck one deLall Lo focus on she ordered herself 1he doorway look aL
LhaL lL lsnL movlng
She sLared aL Lhe llLLle prlsmaLlc fracLure ln Lhe lefL eye sockeL [usL where Lhe pupll of a
real eye would be lL looked llke a halfopen door wlLh llghL spllllng ouL
Look aL lL noLlce Lhe deLall
ulzzlness from layes perfume swepL over her She was looklng [usL looklng She could
see Lhe door 1he more carefully she looked Lhe larger lL seemed Cr perhaps she was
comlng closer
~ 174 ~

?es closer closer She was loslng her sense of space 1he skull was so large now lL
seemed Lo have no boundarles no shape lL was all around her lL had become Lhe
world 1he door was rlghL ln fronL of her
She was lnslde Lhe skull


















~ 173 ~









ChapLer llfLeen

1he door was no longer Llny buL llfeslze large enough Lo go ln lL was a[ar and colored
llghL sLreamed from Lhe oLher slde
lnslde Lhe skull Cassle gazed aL Lhe door her scalp Llngllng lf lL opened could l go
lnslde? she wondered 8uL how could lL open?
Maybe lf she [usL lmaglned lL openlng buL LhaL dldnL seem Lo do any good WhaL had
Melanle sald? CrysLals help us call on Lhe owers WhaL owers would be connecLed
wlLh clear quarLz? LarLh and waLer? lor sand and sea?
1haL sounded almosL llke Lhe beglnnlng of a poem
LarLh and waLer sand and sea
As l wlll so leL lL be

~ 176 ~

She concenLraLed on Lhe door wllllng lL Lo open And as she sLared lL dld seem LhaL
Lhere was more ralnbow llghL spllllng ouL More and more keep lL openlng LeL lL draw
you closer She was floaLlng ln fronL of Lhe door now lL was huge llke Lhe door Lo a
caLhedral Cpenlng openlng She was drownlng ln ralnbow llghL
now! Co ln!
8uL aL LhaL lnsLanL a scream Lore Lhrough Lhe room
lL was a scream of Lerror hlgh and wlld and lL lanced Lhrough Lhe uLLer sllence 1he
door sLopped openlng and Cassle felL herself belng pulled backward 1he door was
recedlng fasLer fasLer 1hen [usL before she found herself ouLslde Lhe skull a face
flashed before her eyes 1he same face shed seen before 8uL lL wasnL recedlng lL was
Lravellng Loward her CeLLlng blgger 8lgger and blgger so fasL lL would bursL Lhe
crysLal lL would
no! crled ulana
Cassle felL lL aL Lhe same lnsLanL an overwhelmlng sense of evll Cf someLhlng rushlng
Loward Lhem aL lncredlble speed SomeLhlng LhaL had Lo be sLopped
She never qulLe knew whaL happened nexL Sean was slLLlng on Lhe oLher slde of laye
Maybe he was Lhe one who moved flrsL maybe he panlcked and Lrled Lo bolL ln any
case Lhere was a commoLlon laye seemed Lo be Lrylng Lo do someLhlng and Sean Lo
sLop her or maybe lL was Lhe oLher way around 1hey were sLruggllng ulana was crylng
no no! Cassle dldnL know whaL Lo do
She Lrled Lo check her lnsLlncLlve fllnchlng away from laye buL lL dldnL maLLer laye
lurched forward and Cassle felL Lhe pressure of layes knee leave hers 1he clrcle was
broken and layes candle wenL ouL
lnsLanLly all Lhe oLher candles were snuffed ouL Loo as lf by a blasL of wlnd ln Lhe same
lnsLanL Cassle felL Lhe rushlng Lhlng reach Lhe llmlLs of Lhe crysLal lL bursL ouL of Lhe
skull and pasL Lhe dark smoklng candles Cassle dldnL know how she could Lell Lhls
everyLhlng was plLchblack 8uL she felL lL She could sense Lhe rushlng Lhlng llke an
lnkler blackness lL exploded pasL her blowlng her halr sLralghL up and Lo Lhe slde She
Lhrew ouL an arm Lo proLecL her face buL by LhaL Llme lL was gone

~ 177 ~

1here was a falnL cry ln Lhe darkness
1hen everyLhlng was quleL agaln
1urn on Lhe llhLs somebody gasped
Suddenly Cassle could see Adam was sLandlng by Lhe llghL swlLch ulana was sLandlng
Loo her face whlLe and frlghLened Around Lhe clrcle every face reflecLed alarm and
consLernaLlon excepL nlcks Pls was lmpasslve as usual
laye was [usL slLLlng up She looked as lf shed been blown backward by some
Lremendous force lury blazlng ln her eyes she Lurned on Sean ?ou pushed me!
no l dldnL! Sean looked around Lhe room for help She was Lrylng Lo geL Lo Lhe skull!
She was lunglng for lL!

?ou lylng llLLle worm! ?ou were Lrylng Lo geL away ?ou were golng Lo break Lhe clrcle
She
no l dldnL!
All rlghL! shouLed ulana
Adam came up beslde her lL doesnL maLLer who dld whaL he sald hls volce Lense
WhaL maLLers ls LhaL energy LhaL escaped
WhaL energy? laye sald sullenly examlnlng her elbow for brulses
1he energy LhaL knocked you flaL on your back ulana sald grlmly
l fell 8ecause Lhls llLLle snoL pushed me
no sald Cassle before she could sLop herself She was beglnnlng Lo shake ln delayed
reacLlon l felL lL Loo SomeLhlng came ouL
Ch you felL lL 1he experL laye gave her a glance of scorn and dlsdaln Cassle looked
around aL Lhe oLhers who were sLlll slLLlng and was surprlsed Lo see uncerLalnLy ln Lhelr
expresslons Surely Lhey had felL lL Loo?
~ 178 ~

l felL someLhlng Melanle sald SomeLhlng dark lnslde Lhe skull Some negaLlve
energy
WhaLever lL was lL was released when we broke Lhe clrcle Adam sald Pe looked aL
ulana lLs my faulL l shouldnL have leL Lhls happen
?ou mean you should have kepL Lhe skull a secreL from Lhe resL of us laye sald
sharply lor your own personal use
WhaL dlfference does lL make? Laurel crled from Lhe oLher slde of Lhe clrcle lf
someLhlng was released from Lhe skull lLs ouL Lhere rlghL now uolng Cod knows
whaL
lLs bad Cassle sald WhaL she wanLed Lo say was evll buL LhaL seemed such a
melodramaLlc word ?eL LhaL was whaL she had sensed ln Lhe dark rushlng Lhlng Lvll
1he lnLenL Lo desLroy Lo harm
Weve goL Lo sLop lL Adam sald
Suzan was flddllng wlLh a buLLon on her blouse Pow?

1hls sllence was long and uncomforLable Adam and ulana were looklng aL each oLher
seemlng Lo have some grlm unspoken conversaLlon 1he Penderson broLhers were also
Lelegraphlng someLhlng Lo each oLher buL Lhey dldnL look as lf Lhey mlnded havlng
someLhlng murderous and evll loose ln Lhe lmmedlaLe communlLy ln facL on Lhe whole
Lhey looked pleased
Maybe lLll geL whoever goL korl Chrls offered aL lasL
ulana sLared aL hlm ls LhaL whaL you Lhlnk? 1hen her face changed ls LhaL whaL you
were Lhlnklng when we were reachlng lnLo lL? ls LhaL whaL you were wllllng?
We were supposed Lo [usL Lry and read Lhe lasL lmprlnLs Melanle sald her volce as
angry as Cassle had ever heard lL
1he Penderson broLhers looked aL each oLher and shrugged ueborahs expresslon was
somewhere beLween a scowl and a grln Suzan was sLlll flddllng nlck face
expresslonless sLood up
~ 179 ~

Looks llke LhaLs all for LonlghL he sald
ulana exploded
?oure damn rlghL lL ls! she crled asLoundlng Cassle She snaLched up Lhe skull ln her
Lwo hands now Lhls ls golng Lo a safe place where lL belongs Where lL should have
gone ln Lhe flrsL place l should have known you were all Loo lrresponslble Lo deal wlLh
lL Pugglng Lhe skull Lo her she sLrode ouL of Lhe garage
laye was lnsLanLly alerL llke a caL who sees Lhe fllcker of a mouses Lall l donL Lhlnk
LhaL was a very nlce way Lo Lalk Lo us she sald LhroaLlly l donL Lhlnk she LrusLs us do
you? Pands up how many people here wanL Lo be led by someone who doesnL LrusL
Lhem?
lf looks could malm Lhe one Melanle Lhrew laye would have lefL her a baskeL case Ch
geL sLuffed laye she sald ln her classy accenL Come on Laurel she added and goL
up Lo follow ulana Loward Lhe house
Cassle noL knowlng whaL else Lo do followed Lhem 8ehlnd her she heard Adam saylng
Lo laye ln a low LlghLly conLrolled volce l wlsh you were a guy

And layes laughlng husky answer Why Adam l dldnL know your LasLes ran LhaL
way!
ulana was puLLlng Lhe skull back ln Lhe yrex dlsh when Adam came ln behlnd Cassle Pe
wenL Lo ulana and puL hls arms around her
She leaned agalnsL hlm a momenL eyes shuL buL dldnL hold hlm ln reLurn And afLer
LhaL momenL she moved away
lm all rlghL lm [usL angry wlLh Lhem and lve goL Lo Lhlnk
Adam saL on Lhe bed runnlng a hand Lhrough hls halr l should have kepL lL a secreL
from Lhem he sald lL was my own sLupld prlde
uonL sald ulana lL would have been wrong Lo keep someLhlng from Lhe Clrcle LhaL
belongs Lo Lhem
~ 180 ~

More wrong Lhan Lo leL Lhem use lL for sLupld mallclous reasons?
ulana Lurned away and leaned agalnsL Lhe cablneL
SomeLlmes Adam sald quleLly l wonder abouL whaL were dolng Maybe Lhe Cld
owers should [usL be lefL asleep Maybe were wrong Lo Lhlnk we can handle Lhem
ower ls only ower ulana sald Llredly noL Lurnlng lLs noL good or bad Cnly Lhe
way we use lL ls good or bad
8uL maybe nobody can use lL wlLhouL endlng up uslng lL badly
Cassle sLood and llsLened wlshlng she were anywhere else She was aware LhaL ln some
Lerrlbly clvlllzed way ulana and Adam were havlng a flghL She meL Laurels eyes and
saw LhaL Lhe oLher glrl was [usL as uncomforLable
l donL belleve LhaL ulana sald flnally sofLly l donL belleve LhaL people are LhaL
hopeless 1haL evll
Adams expresslon was bleak and longlng as lf he wlshed he could share her bellef

Cassle waLchlng hls face felL a sLab of paln and Lhen a wave of dlzzlness She shlfLed
looklng for a place Lo slL down
ulana lmmedlaLely Lurned around Are you all rlghL? ?oure whlLe as a ghosL
Cassle nodded and shrugged !usL a llLLle dlzzy l guess maybe l should go home
1he anger had dralned ouL of ulanas eyes All rlghL she sald 8uL l donL wanL you
ouL Lhere by yourself Adam would you walk her back? 1he beach way ls fasLer
Cassle opened her mouLh ln reflexlve horror 8uL Adam nodded qulckly
Sure he sald AlLhough l donL wanL Lo leave you alone
l wanL Melanle and Laurel Lo sLay ulana sald l wanL Lo sLarL Lo purlfy Lhls skull
properly wlLh flower essences she looked aL Laurel and oLher crysLals She looked
aL Melanle l donL care lf lL Lakes all nlghL l wanL Lo geL lL seL up And l wanL Lo sLarL
now 1hls mlnuLe
~ 181 ~

1he Lwo glrls nodded So dld Adam All rlghL he sald
And Cassle who had been sLandlng wlLh her mouLh open suddenly LhoughL of
someLhlng and nodded Loo Per hand auLomaLlcally paLLed her fronL [eans pockeL Lo feel
Lhe hard llLLle lump Lhere
So LhaL was how she found herself walklng on Lhe beach alone wlLh Adam
1here was no moon LhaL nlghL 1he sLars shone wlLh a flerce lcy brllllance 1he waves
roared and hlssed on Lhe shore
noL romanLlc 8aw rlmlLlve LxcepL for Lhe falnL llghLs of houses above on Lhe cllff
Lhey mlghL have been a Lhousand mlles from clvlllzaLlon
1hey were almosL all Lhe way Lo Lhe narrow paLh up Lhe bluff Lo number 1welve when
he asked her Shed known ln her hearL LhaL she couldnL avold lL forever
Why dldnL you wanL anyone Lo know LhaL wed meL before? he sald slmply

Cassle Look a deep breaLh now was Lhe Llme Lo see whaL klnd of acLress she was She
was very calm she knew whaL had Lo be done and somehow she would do lL She had
Lo do lL for ulanas sake and hls
Ch l donL know she sald and marveled Lo hear how casual her volce sounded l [usL
dldnL wanL anybody llke Suzan or laye Lo geL Lhe wrong lmpresslon ?ou donL mlnd
do you? lL dldnL seem very lmporLanL
Adam was looklng aL her ln an odd way heslLaLlng buL Lhen he nodded lf LhaLs whaL
you wanL l wonL menLlon lL he sald
8ellef washed over Cassle buL she kepL her volce llghL Ckay Lhanks Ch by Lhe way
she wenL on flshlng ln her pockeL lve been meanlng Lo glve Lhls back Lo you Pere lL
was sLrange how her flngers seemed Lo cllng Lo Lhe chalcedony rose buL she managed
Lo open Lhem and drop lL lnLo hls hand lL lay on hls palm Lhe quarLz crysLals seemlng Lo
capLure a llLLle of Lhe sLarllghL
~ 182 ~

1hanks for loanlng lL Lo me she sald 8uL now LhaL lm an offlclal wlLch lll probably
be flndlng my own sLones Lo work wlLh And besldes she curved her llps ln a Leaslng
smlle we donL wanL anybody Lo geL Lhe wrong lmpresslon abouL LhaL elLher do we?
She had never ln her llfe acLed llke Lhls wlLh a boy Leaslng and carefree and confldenL
AlmosL fllrLaLlous whlle maklng lL clear LhaL she meanL noLhlng by lL And lL was so easy
shed never lmaglned lL could be Lhls easy lL came she supposed from Lhe facL LhaL she
was playlng a role lL wasnL Cassle sLandlng here lL was someone else someone who
wasnL afrald because Lhe worsL had already happened and Lhere was noLhlng lefL Lo
fear anymore
A wry smlle had Louched Adams llps as lf he were respondlng auLomaLlcally Lo her
Lone buL lL dlsappeared almosL lnsLanLly Pe was looklng aL her hard and she forced
herself Lo reLurn hls gaze blandly and lnnocenLly Lhe way she had reLurned !ordans on
Lhe beach LhaL day ln AugusL 8elleve me she LhoughL and Lhls Llme she knew Lhe
power of her own LhoughLs Lhe power she could draw on Lo enforce her wlll Sky and
waLer sand and sea As l wlll so leL lL be 8elleve me Adam 8elleve me 8elleve me
Pe looked away from her suddenly Lurnlng sharply Loward Lhe ocean lL remlnded
Cassle Lo her surprlse of Lhe way she had broken free of layes mesmerlzlng gaze

?ouve changed he sald and Lhere was wonder ln hls volce 1hen he Lurned back Lo
look aL her wlLh LhaL hard unrelenLlng gaze agaln ?ouve really changed
Cf course lm a wlLch now she sald reasonably ?ou should have Lold me LhaL ln Lhe
beglnnlng lL would have saved a loL of Lrouble she added ln a scoldlng Lone
l dldnL know l could sense someLhlng ln you buL l never LhoughL of you belng one
of us
Ch well lL all Lurned ouL okay Cassle sald qulckly She dldnL llke hlm Lalklng abouL
whaL he sensed ln her lL was Loo dangerous Anyway Lhanks for walklng me home
1hls ls where l go up
WlLh a flnal smlle she Lurned away and qulckly cllmbed Lhe narrow paLh She couldnL
belleve lL Shed pulled lL off! 1he rellef LhaL flooded her was acLually palnful and when
~ 183 ~

she reached Lhe Lop of Lhe paLh and saw her house her knees felL weak Ch Lhank you
she LhoughL and sLarLed for lL
WalL a rlnglng auLhorlLaLlve volce behlnd her sald
l should have known lL wouldnL be LhaL easy Cassle LhoughL Slowly keeplng her face
expresslonless she swlveled Lo look aL hlm
1he falnL llghL from above reflecLed off Lhe planes of hls face as he sLood on Lhe bluff
wlLh Lhe ocean behlnd hlm 1hose hlgh cheekbones Lhose humorous expresslve llps
1here was no humor now Pls eyes were as keen and plerclng as when he had sLared
afLer !ordan and Logan LhaL day on Lhe beach radlaLlng a power she dldnL undersLand
frlghLenlng her 1hey frlghLened her now
?oure good he sald 8uL lm noL compleLely sLupld 1heres someLhlng youre noL
Lelllng me and l wanL Lo know whaL lL ls
no you donL 1he words escaped her llps before she could sLop Lhem buL Lhelr flaL
slncerlLy was unmlsLakable l mean Lheres noLhlng lm noL Lelllng you
LlsLen Lo me he sald and Lo her dlsmay he sLepped closer When l flrsL meL you he
sald l had no ldea you were one of us Pow could l? 8uL l knew LhaL you were dlfferenL
Lhan LhaL phony frlend of yours noL [usL anoLher preLLy glrl buL somebody speclal

reLLy? Pe LhoughL l was preLLy? Cassle was Lhlnklng wlldly 1he clear despalrlng calm
was leavlng her and she clung Lo lL desperaLely Look cool and blank she ordered
herself ollLely lnqulrlng LeL noLhlng show
Adams bluegray eyes were flashlng now hls odd proud face clearly reveallng hls
anger 8uL lL was Lhe hurL ln Lhe depLhs of Lhose eyes LhaL confused Cassle mosL
?ou werenL llke any glrl ld meL on Lhe ouLslde you could accepL mysLerlous Lhlngs
even mysLlcal Lhlngs wlLhouL belng afrald of Lhem or Lrylng Lo desLroy Lhem on slghL
?ou were open 1oleranL ?ou dldnL auLomaLlcally haLe and re[ecL anyLhlng dlfferenL
noL as LoleranL as ulana ulanas Lhe mosL
~ 184 ~

1hls hasnL goL anyLhlng Lo do wlLh ulana! he sald and Cassle reallzed LhaL he meanL
lL Pe was so compleLely honesL and sLralghLforward LhaL beLrayal had never even
enLered hls mlnd
l LhoughL he wenL on LhaL you were someone l could LrusL WlLh my llfe even And
when l saw you hold ouL agalnsL !ordan a guy pracLlcally Lwlce your slze l knew l was
rlghL lL was one of Lhe bravesL Lhlngs ld ever seen and all for a sLranger ?ou leL hlm
hurL you for my sake and you dldnL even know me
Show noLhlng Cassle LhoughL noLhlng
And afLerward l felL someLhlng speclal wlLh you A speclal undersLandlng l canL
explaln lL 8uL lve LhoughL abouL lL ever slnce lve LhoughL abouL you a loL Cassle and l
was [usL walLlng Lo Lell ulana abouL you l wanLed her Lo know LhaL she was rlghL LhaL
Lhere were some ouLslders who could deal wlLh us who could be LrusLed Who mlghL be
frlends of maglc Shes been Lrylng for a long Llme Lo geL Lhe Club Lo belleve LhaL l
wanLed Lo Lell her LhaL youd opened my eyes ln a loL of ways AfLer l lefL you l even
seemed Lo see more when l wenL ouL on flshlng boaLs looklng for Lhe MasLer 1ools ld
look for lslands whlle we were ouL laylng Lhe llnes and all of a sudden l felL llke l could
see clearer or as lf Lhe ocean was reveallng Lhlngs Pelplng me l wanLed Lo Lell ulana
LhaL Loo and see lf she could explaln lL
And ln all LhaL Llme Adam flnlshed Lurnlng Lhe full power of hls bluegray gaze on
Cassle l was never sorry ld glven you Lhe chalcedony rose even Lhough we never do
LhaL wlLh ouLslders l hoped youd never be ln enough Lrouble Lo need lL buL l wanLed Lo
be Lhere for you lf you were lf youd ever done whaL l Lold you held lL LlghL ln your flsL
and LhoughL of me ld have known and ld have Lracked lL down no maLLer where you
were l LhoughL you were LhaL speclal
Was lL Lrue? Cassle wondered dlzzlly All Lhose Llmes shed held Lhe sLone buL shed
never held lL clenched ln her flsL and LhoughL only of hlm Shed never followed hls
lnsLrucLlons because shed never belleved ln maglc
And now l geL back and flnd youre noL an ouLslder afLer all Cr only half l was glad Lo
see you here and Lo hear youd [olned Lhe Clrcle And from whaL ulanas sald she saw
how speclal you were rlghL away Loo 8uL l couldnL Lell her l knew you because for
some reason you dldnL wanL people Lo know l respecLed LhaL l kepL my mouLh shuL
and flgured youd explaln when you could And lnsLead Pe gesLured alllncluslvely
1hls ?ouve been glvlng me Lhe brushoff all week and now you acL as lf noLhlng ever
~ 183 ~

happened beLween us ?ou even call on Lhe owers agalnsL me Lo make me belleve a
lle And now l wanL Lo know why
1here was a sllence Cassle could hear Lhe waves below llke sofL rhyLhmlc Lhunder She
could smell Lhe clear cold nlghL alr And flnally as lf compelled she ralsed her eyes Lo
hls face Pe was rlghL she couldnL lle Lo hlm Lven lf he laughed aL her even lf he plLled
her she had Lo glve hlm Lhe LruLh
8ecause lm ln love wlLh you she sald slmply and quleLly And Lhen she wouldnL leL
herself look away
Pe dldnL laugh
Pe was sLarlng Lhough as lf ln dlsbellef noL undersLandlng whaL he LhoughL hed heard
her say
1haL day on Lhe beach l felL someLhlng speclal Loo she sald 8uL l felL more l felL as
lf we were connecLed somehow As lf we were belng pulled LogeLher As lf we
belonged LogeLher
She could see Lhe confuslon ln Adams eyes llke Lhe whlrllng splnnlng confuslon shed
felL when shed dlscovered korls body
l know lL sounds sLupld she sald l canL even belleve lm saylng Lhls Lo you buL you
asked for Lhe LruLh LveryLhlng l felL LhaL day on Lhe beach was wrong l know LhaL now
?ouve goL ulana nobody ln Lhelr rlghL mlnd would wanL anyLhlng more 8uL LhaL day l
had all sorLs of sLupld ldeas l acLually LhoughL l could see someLhlng connecLlng us llke
a sllver cord And l felL so close Lo you as lf we undersLood each oLher As lf we were
born for each oLher and Lhere was no polnL reslsLlng lL
Cassle he sald Pls eyes were black wlLh emoLlon A look of whaL? uLLer dlsbellef?
8evulslon?
l know lLs noL Lrue now she sald helplessly 8uL Lhen l dldnL reallze And when you
were sLandlng so close Lo me looklng down aL me l LhoughL you were golng Lo
Cassle
lL was as lf her words had con[ured someLhlng maglcal ouL of Lhe alr or as lf her own
percepLlons had been sharpened Per breaLh caughL ln her LhroaL as she saw lL agaln
~ 186 ~

1he sllver cord lL hummed and shlmmered more powerful and vlbranL Lhan ever
llnklng Lhem lL was as lf her hearL was dlrecLly connecLed Lo hls Per breaLh was comlng
fasLer and fasLer and she llfLed her eyes Lo hls face ln bewlldermenL
1helr gaze held And ln LhaL lnsLanL Cassle recognlzed Lhe emoLlon LhaL had darkened
Lhose bluegray eyes before
noL dlsbellef buL reallzaLlon A dawnlng undersLandlng and a wonder LhaL made
Cassles knees feel weak
Pe was rememberlng she LhoughL And seelng whaL had happened beLween Lhem ln
a new llghL 8eallzlng on a consclous level [usL whaL he had acLually felL LhaL day
She knew Lhls as clearly as lf he had Lold her ln words She knew hlm She could feel
every beaL of hls hearL she could sense Lhe world Lhrough hls eyes She could even see
herself as he saw her A fraglle shy creaLure of halfhldden beauLy llke a wlldflower ln
Lhe shadow of a Lree buL wlLh a core of shlnlng sLeel And [usL as she could see herself
she could feel hls feellngs abouL her
Ch whaL was happenlng ? 1he world had gone sLlll and lL conLalned only Lhe Lwo of
Lhem Adams eyes were wlde and dazed Lhe puplls enormous and she felL she was
falllng lnLo Lhem as he looked down aL her A lock of hls halr had fallen onLo hls
forehead LhaL marvelous Langled wavy halr LhaL was all Lhe colors of auLumn ln new
Lngland Pe was llke some woodland god whod come ouL ln Lhe sLarllghL Lo courL a shy
Lree nymph and he was lrreslsLlble

Adam she sald We
8uL she never goL Lo flnlsh Pe was Loo close Lo her now she could feel hls warmLh feel
Lhelr elecLrlcal flelds merglng She felL hls hands cupplng Lhe backs of her elbows 1hen
slowly slowly she felL herself belng drawn Loward hlm unLll hls arms were around her
embraclng her fully 1he sllver cord could noL be denled any longer



~ 187 ~










ChapLer SlxLeen

Cassle should have pushed hlm away should have run from hlm lnsLead wlLh a gasp
she burled her head ln hls shoulder ln Lhe comforL of hls Lhlck lrlsh sweaLer She could
feel hls warmLh all around her now anchorlng her keeplng her safe roLecLlng her Pe
smelled so good llke auLumn leaves and wood flres and ocean wlnd Per hearL was
poundlng
lL was Lhen LhaL Cassle knew whaL forbldden love meanL lL meanL Lhls wanLlng Lhls
much and feellng Lhls wonderful and knowlng lL was wrong She felL Adam pull away
from her sllghLly She looked up aL hlm and knew LhaL he was as overwhelmed as she
was
We canL he sald ln a Lhlck volce We canL
Cazlng up aL hlm seelng only hls eyes Lhe color of Lhe ocean LhaL nlghL when lL had
whlspered Lo her Lo drown ln lL Cassles llps moved Lo form a soundless no 1haL was
when he klssed her
~ 188 ~

And ln LhaL lnsLanL all coherenL LhoughL was losL She was swepL away by a salLy wave of
sheer feellng lL was llke belng caughL ln a rlpLlde sucked under Lumbllng helplessly
head over heels wlLh no way Lo sLop She was dylng buL so sweeLly
She was Lrembllng boneless lf he hadnL been holdlng her she would have fallen no
boy had ever made her feel Lhls way ln Lhe wlld and raglng confuslon Lhere was noLhlng
Lo do buL surrender Lo glve herself up Lo lL enLlrely
Lach shock of sweeLness was greaLer Lhan Lhe lasL She was almosL senseless wlLh
dellghL and she no longer even wanLed Lo reslsL uesplLe Lhe wlldness Lhe abandon of
lL she wasnL afrald 8ecause she could LrusL hlm Pe was leadlng her wldeeyed and
wonderlng lnLo a world shed never known exlsLed
And sLlll he was klsslng her and klsslng her Lhey were boLh lnLoxlcaLed dlzzy wlLh Lhe
madness of Lhls She knew her cheeks and LhroaL were wlldly flushed she could feel Lhe
heaL Lhey made LogeLher
She never knew how long Lhey sLood LhaL way locked ln an embrace LhaL should have
melLed Lhe rock around Lhem She only knew someLlme laLer LhaL wlLhouL leLLlng go of
her he was guldlng her Lo slL on a granlLe ouLcrop Per breaLh slowlng she burled her
face agaln ln hls shoulder
And found peace Lhere 1he unconLrollable passlon had glven way aL lasL Lo a warm and
languorous drowslness She was safe she belonged And lL was so slmple so beauLlful
Cassle he sald ln a volce shed never heard hlm use before and aL Lhe sound of lL her
hearL dlssolved and wenL ouL of her body evaporaLlng Lhrough Lhe soles of her feeL and
her palms and her flngerLlps She would never be Lhe same agaln
l love you he sald
She shuL her eyes wlLhouL speaklng She could feel hlm resL hls parLed llps agalnsL her
halr
1he sllver cord had wrapped Lhem ln a shlnlng cocoon llke sLlll moonllL waLer all
around Lhem 1he wlldness was over LveryLhlng was so peaceful so hushed Cassle felL
LhaL she could floaL here forever
~ 189 ~

My desLlny she LhoughL Shed found lL aL lasL Lvery momenL of her llfe had been
leadlng Lo Lhls Why had she been so afrald of lL why had she ever wanLed Lo escape lL?
1here was noLhlng here buL [oy She would never have Lo feel afrald agaln
And Lhen she remembered
A shock of pure horror lashed Lhrough her Ch Cod whaL have we done ? she LhoughL
She pulled away so sharply LhaL he had Lo caLch her Lo keep her from falllng backward
Ch Cod she sald feellng Lhe horror sweep away everyLhlng else lnslde her Ch Cod
Adam how could we? she whlspered
lor a momenL hls eyes were unfocused open buL unseelng as lf he dldnL undersLand
why she had broken lnLo Lhelr beauLlful Lrance 8uL Lhen she saw reallzaLlon come and
hls sllverblue gaze shaLLered 8aw angulsh shone ouL of hls eyes
SLlll ln hls arms sLlll looklng up aL hlm Cassle began Lo cry

Pow could Lhey have leL Lhls happen? Pow could she have done Lhls Lo ulana? ulana
who had rescued her who had befrlended her who LrusLed her ulana whom she
loved
Adam belonged Lo ulana Cassle knew LhaL ulana had never LhoughL of llfe wlLhouL
Adam LhaL all ulanas plans and hopes and dreams lnvolved hlm ulana and Adam were
meanL Lo be LogeLher
She LhoughL suddenly of Lhe way ulanas haunLlng green eyes brlghLened when she saw
Adam of Lhe Lender radlanL look ulana goL even Lalklng abouL hlm
And Adam loved ulana Loo Cassle knew LhaL as surely as she knew her own feellngs
Adam ldollzed ulana he adored her wlLh a love as pure and sLrong and lndesLrucLlble as
ulanas for hlm
8uL Cassle knew now LhaL Adam loved her as well Pow could you love Lwo people? Pow
could you be ln love wlLh Lwo aL Lhe same Llme? SLlll Lhere was no way Lo deny lL 1he
chemlsLry beLween herself and Adam Lhe empaLhy Lhe bond LhaL drew Lhem LogeLher
couldnL be lgnored Clearly lL was posslble Lo love Lwo dlfferenL people aL once
~ 190 ~

And ulana had Lhe flrsL clalm
?ou sLlll love her Cassle whlspered needlng Lo conflrm lL An ache was beglnnlng
deep lnslde her
Pe shuL hls eyes ?es Pls volce was ragged Cod Cassle lm sorry
no LhaLs good she sald She knew Lhe ache now lL was Lhe paln of loss of
empLlness and lL was growlng 8ecause l do Loo And l donL wanL Lo hurL her l never
wanLed Lo hurL her 1haLs why l promlsed myself ld never leL elLher of you know
lLs my faulL he sald and she could hear Lhe selfcondemnaLlon ln hls volce l should
have reallzed sooner l should have recognlzed how l felL and dealL wlLh lL lnsLead l
forced you lnLo exacLly whaL you were Lrylng Lo prevenL
?ou dldnL force me Cassle sald sofLly honesLly Per volce was quleL and sLeady
everyLhlng was slmple and clear agaln and she knew whaL she had Lo do lL was boLh
our faulLs 8uL LhaL doesnL maLLer Lhe only Lhlng LhaL maLLers ls LhaL lL can never
happen agaln We have Lo make sure of LhaL somehow

8uL how? he sald bleakly We can be sorry all we wanL l can haLe myself buL lf
were ever alone agaln l donL know whaL wlll happen
1hen we canL be alone Lver And we canL slL near each oLher or Louch or even leL
ourselves Lhlnk abouL lL She was Lelllng hlm whaL Lo do buL she wasnL afrald She felL
only Lhe cerLalnLy of whaL she was saylng
Pls eyes were dark l admlre your selfconLrol he sald even more bleakly
Adam she sald and she felL Lhe melLlng lnslde her [usL aL saylng hls name We have
Lo When you came back 1uesday nlghL afLer my lnlLlaLlon when l reallzed LhaL you and
ulana Well LhaL nlghL l swore l would never leL ulana be hurL because of how l felL
abouL you l swore ld never beLray her uo you wanL Lo beLray her?
1here was a sllence and she felL Lhe lnvolunLary heave of hls lungs And wlLh her lnner
senses she felL hls agony 1hen he leL hls breaLh ouL and shuL hls eyes agaln When he
opened Lhem she saw hls answer before he spoke lL and felL lL as hls arms released her
and he saL back Lhe cold alr rushlng ln beLween Lhelr bodles separaLlng Lhem aL lasL
~ 191 ~

no he sald and Lhere was new sLrengLh ln hls volce And ln hls face a new resoluLlon
1hey looked aL each oLher Lhen noL llke lovers buL llke soldlers Llke comradeslnarms
uLLerly deLermlned Lo reach some common goal 1helr passlon held down and locked
away so deep LhaL no one else would ever see lL lL was a new closeness maybe even
more lnLlmaLe Lhan Lhe LrusL of boyfrlend and glrlfrlend WhaLever happened whaLever
lL cosL Lhem Lhey would noL beLray Lhe glrl Lhey boLh loved
Looklng rlghL lnLo her eyes he sald WhaL oaLh was lL you swore LhaL nlghL? Was lL one
you goL from somebodys 8ook of Shadows?
no Cassle sald and Lhen she sLopped l donL know she quallfled l LhoughL l was
maklng lL up buL now lL seems llke lL mlghL have come from someLhlng longer lL [usL
wenL noL by word or look or deed

Pe was noddlng lve read one wlLh Lhose llnes lLs old and lLs powerful ?ou call on
Lhe four owers Lo wlLness you and lf you ever break Lhe oaLh Lheyre free Lo rlse
agalnsL you uo you wanL Lo swear lL agaln now? WlLh me?
1he abrupLness of hls quesLlon Look her breaLh away 8uL she was eLernally proud of
herself LhaL wlLh scarcely any heslLaLlon she spoke clearly ?es
We need blood Pe sLood and Look a knlfe ouL of hls back pockeL Cassle LhoughL she
was surprlsed Lhen declded she wasnL Powever nlce a guy Adam mlghL be he was
used Lo Laklng care of hlmself
WlLhouL any parLlcular flourlsh he cuL hls palm 1he blood showed black ln Lhe dlm
sllvery llghL 1hen he handed Lhe knlfe Lo her
Cassle sucked ln her breaLh She wasnL brave she haLed paln 8uL she grlLLed her LeeLh
and puL Lhe knlfe agalnsL her palm !usL Lhlnk of Lhe paln you could have caused ulana
she LhoughL and wlLh a qulck moLlon she broughL Lhe knlfe downward lL hurL buL she
dldnL make any nolse
She looked up aL Adam
now say afLer me he sald Pe held hls palm up Lo Lhe sLarfllled sky llre Alr LarLh
WaLer
~ 192 ~

llre Alr LarLh WaLer
LlsLen and wlLness
LlsLen and wlLness uesplLe Lhe slmple words Cassle felL LhaL Lhe elemenLs had lndeed
been evoked and were llsLenlng 1he nlghL had a sudden feellng of elecLrlclLy and Lhe
sLars overhead seemed Lo burn colder and brlghLer Cooseflesh broke ouL on her skln
Adam Lurned hls hand sldeways so LhaL Lhe black drops fell onLo Lhe scraggly beach
grass and Lhe sandy earLh Cassle waLched mesmerlzed l Adam swear noL Lo beLray
my LrusL noL Lo beLray ulana he sald
l Cassle swear noL Lo beLray my LrusL she whlspered and waLched her own blood
Lrlckle off Lhe slde of her hand

noL by word or look or deed waklng or sleeplng by speech or by sllence
She repeaLed lL ln a whlsper
ln Lhls land or any oLher lf l do may flre burn me alr smoLher me earLh swallow
me and waLer cover my grave
She repeaLed lL As she spoke Lhe lasL words and waLer cover my grave she felL a
snapplng as lf someLhlng had been seL ln moLlon As lf Lhe fabrlc of space and Llme rlghL
here had been plucked once and was resonaLlng back lnLo place 8reaLh held she
llsLened Lo lL a momenL
1hen she looked aL Adam lLs over she whlspered and she dldnL [usL mean Lhe oaLh
Pls eyes were llke sllveredged darkness lLs over he sald and reached hls
bloodsLalned palm ouL Lo her She heslLaLed Lhen Look hls hand wlLh her own She felL
or lmaglned she felL Lhelr blood mlngllng falllng Lo Lhe ground LogeLher A symbol of
whaL could never be
1hen slowly he released her
?oull glve Lhe rose back Lo ulana? she asked sLeadlly
~ 193 ~

Pe Look Lhe chalcedony plece ouL of hls pockeL held lL ln Lhe palm LhaL was sLlll weL lll
glve lL Lo her
Cassle nodded She couldnL say whaL she meanL whlch was LhaL where Lhe sLone
belonged Adam belonged
Cood nlghL Adam she sald sofLly lnsLead looklng aL hlm sLandlng Lhere on Lhe bluff
wlLh Lhe nlghL sky behlnd hlm 1hen she Lurned and walked Loward Lhe llghLed wlndows
of her grandmoLhers house And Lhls Llme he dldnL call her back
Ch yes Cassles grandmoLher sald 1hls was ln Lhe fronL hall Lhls mornlng Someone
musL have puL lL Lhrough Lhe leLLer sloL She handed Cassle an envelope
1hey were slLLlng aL Lhe breakfasL Lable Lhe Sunday mornlng sun shlnlng Lhrough Lhe
wlndows Cassle was asLonlshed aL how normal everyLhlng was

8uL one look aL Lhe envelope and her hearL plummeLed Per name was wrlLLen on Lhe
fronL ln a large careless hand 1he lnk was red
She Lore lL open and sLared aL Lhe noLe lnslde whlle her 8alsln 8ran goL soggy lL read
Cassle ?ou see lm uslng my own name Lhls Llme Come over Lo my house (number Slx)
someLlme Loday l have someLhlng speclal l wanL Lo Lalk Lo you abouL 8elleve me you
donL wanL Lo mlss Lhls
Love and klsses laye
S uonL Lell anyone ln Lhe Club youre comlng Lo see me ?oull undersLand when you
geL here
Cassle was Llngllng wlLh alarm Per flrsL lmpulse was Lo call ulana buL lf ulana had been
up all nlghL purlfylng Lhe skull she was probably exhausLed laye was Lhe lasL Lhlng she
needed Lo deal wlLh
All rlghL l wonL dlsLurb her Cassle LhoughL grlmly lll go and see whaL layes up Lo flrsL
SomeLhlng abouL Lhe ceremony lll beL Cr maybe shes golng Lo call for a leadershlp
voLe
~ 194 ~

layes house was one of Lhe nlcesL on Lhe sLreeL A housekeeper leL Cassle ln and she
remembered ulana saylng LhaL layes moLher was dead 1here were a loL of slngle
parenL famllles on Crowhaven 8oad
layes room was a rlch glrls room Cordless phone C 1v and vC8 Lons of Cus Puge
lush sprawllng flowers paLLerned everyLhlng lncludlng a bed heaped wlLh sofL cushlons
and embroldered plllows Cassle saL down on Lhe wlndow seaL walLlng for laye Lo
appear 1here were red candles noL llL on Lhe nlghLsLand
Suddenly Lhe dusL ruffle on Lhe bed sLlrred and ouL poked Lhe face of a llLLle orange
klLLen lL was followed almosL lmmedlaLely by a llLLle gray one
Ch you darllng Cassle sald enchanLed ln splLe of herself She would never have
guessed laye was Lhe Lype Lo keep klLLens She saL very sLlll and Lo her dellghL Lhe Lwo
llLLle creaLures came all Lhe way ouL 1hey [umped up on Lhe wlndow seaL and ranged
over her purrlng llke moLorboaLs

Cassle glggled and squlrmed as one cllmbed her sweaLer and perched precarlously on
her shoulder 1hey were adorable klLLens Lhe orange fluffy and splky wlLh baby fur Lhe
gray sleek and Lldy 1helr Llny needle claws prlcked her as Lhey cllmbed all over her 1he
orange one goL ln her halr and poked blunLly behlnd her ear and she laughed agaln
Pe was Lrylng Lo nurse kneadlng hls llLLle paws agalnsL her neck She could feel hls cold
llLLle nose 1he gray one was dolng Lhe same Lhlng from Lhe oLher slde Ch whaL darllng
darllng llLLle
Cuch! she crled Cw oh donL! CeL off you! CeL off!
She pulled aL Lhe Llny bodles Lrylng Lo deLach Lhem 1hey were Langled ln her halr and
Lhey hung on wlLh claws and LeeLh When Cassle flnally managed Lo pry Lhem away
she almosL Lhrew Lhem Lo Lhe ground 1hen her hands flew Lo her neck
Per flngers came away weL She sLared ln shock aL Lhe redness
1heyd blLLen her Lhe llLLle monsLers And now Lhey were slLLlng on Lhe floor and
composedly llcklng Lhe blood off Lhelr chops A surge of vlolenL revulslon passed
Lhrough Cassle
~ 193 ~

lrom Lhe doorway laye chuckled
Maybe Lheyre noL geLLlng all Lhelr vlLamlns and mlnerals from Lhe klLLen chow she
sald
She was looklng sLunnlng Lhls mornlng Per Langled plLchblack halr was sLlll weL and
cascaded down ln yards of naLural curls Per skln was damp and glowlng agalnsL her
burgundy robe
l shouldnL have come Cassle LhoughL feellng a wave of lrraLlonal fear 8uL laye
wouldnL dare Lo hurL her now ulana would flnd ouL Lhe Clrcle would flnd ouL laye
musL know she couldnL geL away wlLh lL
laye seaLed herself on Lhe bed So how dld you llke Lhe ceremony lasL nlghL? she
asked casually

l knew lL lL was flne unLll someLhlng wenL wrong sald Cassle 1hen she [usL looked aL
laye agaln
laye laughed her rlch slow laugh Ch Cassle l llke you l really do l saw LhaL Lhere was
someLhlng speclal abouL you from Lhe beglnnlng l know we dldnL exacLly geL Lhe besL
sLarL buL l Lhlnk LhaLs golng Lo change now l Lhlnk were golng Lo be good frlends
Cassle was speechless a momenL 1hen she managed Lo say l donL Lhlnk so laye
8uL l Lhlnk so Cassle And LhaLs whaL counLs
laye Somehow afLer lasL nlghL Cassle found she had Lhe courage Lo say Lhlngs she
wouldnL even have dreamed of saylng before laye l donL Lhlnk you and l have much
ln common And l donL Lhlnk l even wanL Lo be good frlends wlLh you
laye only smlled
1haLs Loo bad she sald 8ecause you see l know someLhlng Cassle And l Lhlnk lLs
Lhe sorL of Lhlng youd wanL only a very good frlend Lo know
1he world rocked under Cassles feeL
~ 196 ~

laye couldnL be saylng oh she couldnL be saylng whaL Cassle LhoughL she was Cassle
sLared aL Lhe older glrl feellng someLhlng llke lce congeal ln her sLomach
?ou see laye wenL on l happen Lo have a loL of oLher frlends And Lhey Lell me
Lhlngs lnLeresLlng Lhlngs Lhey see and hear around Lhe nelghborhood And you know
whaL? LasL nlghL one of Lhose frlends saw someLhlng very very lnLeresLlng on Lhe bluff
Cassle saL her vlslon blurrlng
1hey saw Lwo people on Lhe bluff ouL near number 1welve And Lhose Lwo people
were well shall we say Lhey were geLLlng very frlendly Lhemselves? very frlendly lL
was preLLy hoL Lhe way l heard lL
Cassle Lrled Lo speak buL noLhlng came ouL
And youll never belleve who Lhose Lwo people were! l wouldnL have belleved lL
myself excepL LhaL lL remlnded me of a poem ld read somewhere now how dld lL go?
Lach nlghL l lle and dream abouL Lhe one
laye! Cassle was on her feeL
laye smlled l Lhlnk you geL Lhe polnL ulana hasnL read LhaL parLlcular llLLle poem has
she? l dldnL Lhlnk so Well Cassle lf you donL wanL her Lo hear lL or Lo know abouL
whaL happened on Lhe bluff lasL nlghL ld say youd beLLer sLarL belng my frlend and
fasL donL you Lhlnk?
lL wasnL llke LhaL Cassle sald She was hoL and shaklng wlLh fury wlLh fear ?ou donL
undersLand aL all
Cf course l undersLand Adam ls very aLLracLlve And l always suspecLed LhaL eLernal
fldellLy rouLlne of Lhelrs was [usL an acL l donL blame you Cassle lLs very naLural
1haL lsnL whaL happened 1heres noLhlng beLween us
laye smlrked lrom whaL l hear Lhere was very llLLle beLween you lasL nlghL sorry
no really ld llke Lo belleve you Cassle buL l wonder lf ulana wlll see lL Lhe same way
Lspeclally afLer she learns how you convenlenLly forgoL Lo menLlon LhaL youd meL her
boyfrlend over Lhe summer when he awakened you l belleve Pow dld LhaL poem go
agaln?
~ 197 ~

no Cassle whlspered
And Lhen Lhe way you looked aL hlm when he appeared afLer Lhe lnlLlaLlon ceremony
well ulana dldnL see LhaL buL l musL admlL LhaL my susplclons were aroused 1he llLLle
scene on Lhe bluff only cllnched lL When l Lell ulana
?ou canL Cassle sald desperaLely ?ou canL Lell her lease laye She wonL
undersLand lLs noL LhaL way aL all buL she wonL undersLand
laye clucked her Longue 8uL Cassle ulana ls my cousln My blood relaLlon l have Lo
Lell her
Cassle felL llke a raL runnlng franLlcally ln a maze searchlng for a way ouL LhaL dldnL
exlsL anlc was poundlng ln her ears laye couldnL Lell ulana lL couldnL happen 1he
LhoughL of how ulana would look of how she would look aL Cassle
And aL Adam 1haL was almosL worse She would Lhlnk Lhey had beLrayed her LhaL
Cassle and Adam had Lruly beLrayed her And how she would look Lhen how Adam
would look
Cassle could sLand anyLhlng buL LhaL
?ou canL she whlspered ?ou canL
Well Cassle l Lold you before lf we were frlends really good frlends l mlghL be able Lo
keep your secreL ulana and l may be couslns buL ld do anyLhlng for my frlends And
laye sald dellberaLely her honeycolored eyes never leavlng Cassles face l expecL
Lhem Lo do anyLhlng for me
lL was Lhen aL lasL LhaL Cassle reallzed whaL Lhls was all abouL LveryLhlng wenL sLlll
around her Loo sLlll Per hearL gave one greaL Lhump and seemed Lo slnk llke lead
uown and down and down
lrom Lhe boLLom of a plL she asked laye empLlly WhaL klnd of Lhlng?
laye smlled She leaned back agalnsL Lhe bed relaxed Lhe robe parLlng Lo reveal one
bare shapely leg
~ 198 ~

Well leL me see she sald slowly drawlng Lhe momenL ouL rellshlng lL l know Lhere
was someLhlng oh yes ld really llke Lo have LhaL crysLal skull Adam found lm sure
you know where ulanas keeplng lL And lf noL lm sure you could flnd ouL
no Cassle sald horrlfled
?es laye sald and smlled agaln 1haLs whaL l wanL Cassle 1o show whaL a good
frlend you are noLhlng else wlll do
laye you saw whaL happened lasL nlghL 1haL skull ls evll 1heres already someLhlng
awful on Lhe loose because of lL lf you use lL agaln who knows whaL mlghL happen?
And Cassles numbed mlnd suddenly suggesLed who knew whaL laye mlghL be
plannlng Lo use lL for? Why do you wanL lL? she blurLed ouL
laye shook her head LoleranLly 1haLs my llLLle secreL Maybe lf we become good
enough frlends lll show you laLer
l wonL do lL l canL l canL laye
Well LhaLs Loo bad layes eyebrows llfLed and she pursed her full llps 8ecause LhaL
means lm golng Lo have Lo call ulana l Lhlnk my cousln has a rlghL Lo know whaL her
boyfrlend ls dolng

She reached for Lhe phone and pushed buLLons wlLh an eleganL scarleLLlpped flnger
Pello ulana? ls LhaL you?
no! Cassle crled and grabbed layes arm laye pushed Lhe muLe buLLon
uoes Lhls mean she sald Lo Cassle LhaL we have a deal?
Cassle couldnL form a yes or no
laye reached ouL and caughL Cassles chln ln her hand as she had LhaL flrsL day on Lhe
school sLeps Cassle could feel Lhe hardness of long nalls Lhe coolness and sLrengLh of
layes flngers laye was sLarlng aL her wlLh Lhose eyes Lhose sLrange honeycolored
eyes lalcons have yellow eyes Cassle LhoughL suddenly wlldly And layes flngers
~ 199 ~

grlpped her llke Lalons 1here was no escape She was Lrapped caughL llke a whlLe
mouse caughL by a blrd of prey
1he golden eyes were sLlll sLarlng aL her lnLo her She was so llghLheaded so afrald
And Lhls Llme Lhere was no rock beneaLh her feeL Lo sLeady her She was ln layes
secondfloor bedroom Lrapped away from any help
uo we have a deal? laye sald agaln
no escape no hope Cassles vlslon was blurrlng golng dlm she could barely hear laye
over Lhe rushlng ln her ears
She felL Lhe lasL drops of reslsLance of wlll draln ouL of her
Well? sald laye ln her LhroaLy mocklng volce
8llndly scarcely knowlng whaL she was dolng Cassle nodded
laye released her
1hen she pushed Lhe muLe buLLon agaln Sorry ulana l goL Lhe wrong number l meanL
Lo call Lhe MayLag repalrman 8ye now! And wlLh LhaL she hung up
She sLreLched llke a glanL caL replaclng Lhe phone on Lhe nlghLsLand as she lay back
1hen she puL her arms behlnd her head and looked aL Cassle smlllng

All rlghL she sald 1he flrsL Lhlng ls you geL me LhaL skull And afLer LhaL well afLer
LhaL lll Lhlnk of whaL else l wanL ?ou reallze LhaL from now on l own you Cassle
l LhoughL Cassle whlspered sLlll unable Lo see for Lhe gray mlsL LhaL we were
frlends
1haL was [usL a euphemlsm 1he LruLh ls LhaL youre my capLlve from now on l own you
now Cassle 8lake l own you body and soul


~ 200 ~