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5

CALLIE

Since morning had just broken over the horizon when we got to the cave, we opt to wait for nightfall before returning to the stone circle. Everything inside of me wants to go there now, to see what will happen if I try to connect with the earth in such a magical place, but I force myself to be patient. The guys are being overly protective, but I guess they have a right to be. Though, after seeing what I did to Benedict, they should know I have the power to defend myself when I need to, even if I don't want to hurt people.

A bell dings in the cavern, waking those sleeping on the bunk beds. There's a lot of shuffling as people get out of their beds, only to be replaced by those who have been up all night. It's a lot of movement but goes surprisingly smoothly. No doubt that's Fran's doing. She seems to be in her element, organizing and looking after so many people.

I need to remember that. It's the kind of skill that will come in handy if I manage to defeat my uncle.

No. When. When I defeat my uncle. If I don't believe I can do it, then that means other people can decide I'm not going to. Doubt is as much my enemy as he is, and I can't let that stop me.

"I've found you a set of bunks," Fran says from beside me, then gestures us over. "They're nothing fancy, but you'll be able to get some rest."

"Thanks." I smile at her, hoping she can tell how much I appreciate her help.

After my grandmother died, Fran could’ve chosen to blame me. Instead, she's here, helping at every turn. It feels like just the kind of thing my family might have done, but I guess I'll never get a chance to know. She's doing so much for me by simply being.

"If you need more blankets, there's a store at the far end of the cavern. Talk to Bryce and tell him I said it's okay."

I let out a chuckle. "Won't everyone try that?"

"They don't dare," Fran jokes. "I'll leave you to it. I have a few things to do before I turn in myself.

She leaves the four of us standing in front of the three bunks.

"I guess I'm sharing with someone, then," I quip, though in truth, I'm looking forward to it. I've been on my own for so long that a chance to be close to them is all I want.

"I'm not feeling too tired; I'll go see if Fran wants help," Hank says.

Should I convince him to stay? I'm sure part of the reason he doesn’t want to sleep after our long night is that he’s worried about his mom. I almost tell him to stay but close my eyes. It doesn’t matter that I want him here with us. That’s not what he needs right now. I can see from the look in his eyes that he either wants to be alone or with his family.

"I'm going to go find my mom," Will mutters. "She's here somewhere."

I nod, then turn to James. "I guess it's me and you, then."

"We can have a bunk each if these two aren't sleeping," he suggests, though I can hear the reluctance in his voice.

"Oh no, you don't. I'm not sleeping alone unless I have to." I don't bother getting undressed. It'd be weird with all the strangers in the room; instead, I just slip under the blankets.

It only takes James a couple of moments more to slide in next to me. His arms pull me close, and I snuggle into his warmth. I take a deep breath, taking comfort in the scent of him.

Neither of us says anything as we fall into sleep. It's been a long day. Or rather, night. I'm not sure how I'm supposed to categorize it at this point.

Despite that, I can't shake some of my worries. Am I a murderer for what happened to those men? In my mind, I keep picturing the way they were dragged beneath the earth. I shiver and try to push the thought aside. If I hadn’t acted, my men or Fran could’ve been hurt. I did the right thing, even if it doesn’t feel like it.

And then I think of Theresa, my mom’s best friend. I think of her men and the way they loved Theresa so much. I didn’t want to think she was capable of betraying us. But if Theresa isn't a traitor, then where the hell is she? And is she alright?

Sleep blends with my worries, and odd dreams blur through my mind. Most of them revolve around the solstice and what will happen. It's all still so unclear that I'm not sure what to expect. And then there's the chance of everything going wrong. It's best if I don't think about that.

At last, after what feels like an eternity, my dreams fade away, and I’m left in the peacefulness of the darkness that only sleep can bring.

The next thing I know, I'm being shaken awake, and someone is saying my name.

"Callie, it's time to get up," the voice says. "It's going to be dark soon."

I mumble sleepily. The bunk bed is surprisingly warm and comfortable; either that, or I'm too tired to think any differently. Whatever the reason, I'm not ready to leave it.

"Not yet," I murmur, the words only half forming.

"Callie..." the voice warns. James. He's the one waking me up before I'm ready. If he's not careful, I'll punish him by taking myself off his menu.

Memories of the night before and him taking me up against a tree enter my mind. Hmm. Maybe that's punishing me as much as him. That doesn't seem fair. And he must be waking me for a good reason. What was it he said? It's nearly dark? We're going to do something when it's dark.

"All right, I'm waking up," I mumble. Stretching, I press my body against his. "Did that weird alarm go off?" I ask once I'm a little more awake.

He chuckles and hugs me close. "It did. You slept through it."

"Using all that magic is draining."

"Yes, duels tend to be exhausting. It's a very raw way to use your magic. You can take your magic much further and longer on any given day than a day with a duel."

I understand what he means. My power connected with Benedict's in a way that felt primal. "Do you think Benedict is on his way back to England?"

"After the way you kicked his ass, I wouldn't be surprised if he found a way to make a portal to get him there faster." Amusement shines through his tone. He doesn't seem too bothered that I defeated his friend so soundly.

"Hey, you two," Will says. I roll over and press my butt into James, realizing he's got a massive hard-on. Will, oblivious to James's predicament, continues. "We made you some breakfast."

My gaze connects with Will’s startling green eyes.

His gaze darkens. “Unless you’re in the mood for something else?”

My libido thunders to life. “Do we have time?”

I swear Will’s about to jump right into the bunk with us. But, I’m pretty sure James knows exactly what Will is thinking because he sighs behind me. “No, we don’t have time. And we also happen to be in a room full of people…”

“If we’re quiet…” Will begins.

I laugh and tell myself not to give in to his hot firefighter eyes. “Rain check?”

He grumbles. “I guess…”

We eat and tell Will and Hank to lie down, but they down a few cups of coffee and decline. "No way we'd let you go to the stones alone." Will puts his arm around me and squeezes me close. "We're in this together now, to the very end."

I appreciate the sentiment. But we all know when it comes down to it, I'll have to face my uncle alone. I just hope to keep them from being hurt in the process.

* * *

I 'm glad we're making our way to the stones together. I know it may be less obvious if we travel there in pairs, but I like having the comfort of everyone around me. Because, what started as optimism when we left the caves has soured, and now I'm apprehensive about what I'm going to find when I get there. Fran says that if I'm strong enough, the magic will find me again. But is it really as simple as that?

I wish I knew more about magic. How it works. What it wants. Perhaps then I'd be more certain about what I'm going to find when we get there.

And the closer we get, the more dread I feel. It's weighing me down as if it wants to stop me from taking another step. I try to convince myself that I can ignore it, but I'm not so sure.

The stones are almost upon us when I realize I can't take it anymore. If I don't voice how I'm feeling, then it's only going to get worse.

"Guys," I whisper.

The three of them stop instantly, no doubt they've all been on the lookout for me having a moment of doubt like this. But this isn't about me. There's something not right here, and we're only seconds away from stepping into the grassy clearing.

"Something is very, very wrong here." My voice shakes, but I'm determined in my words.

"What do you mean?" Will asks as he and James step in front of me simultaneously.

My heart fills with affection for them, but I push it to the side. Now isn't the best time for moments like that.

"No, wait." I cast out my magic, searching for life. "There's nobody here."

I take a steadying breath and step out of the woods, but take it slow. With how I'm feeling, it'll pay off to approach the circle carefully. I'm sure of it.

A foreboding fills me the closer I get, almost as if there's something evil emanating from this special, sacred place. This isn't right. It can't be. But I both want to move closer and further away at the same time. A smell permeates the air, but I can't put my finger on what it is. I step closer, and it hits me what it is. It's metallic. Oh, no.

It can't be.

I refuse to believe it.

"How can this be?" I cast a wider net for any human life, and when I find none, I throw up several balls of light. Fran taught me how to do that right before we left. She figured we'd need some. It's a more complex spell, but she was delighted when I picked it up easily.

The light illuminates the ground in the circle, and it looks totally different from the last time I was here. The smell hits me even harder once I see the grass soaked in deep, dark brown.

If I touched it with my hands, they'd be bright red.

The ground is covered in blood.

I drop to my knees on the outside of the circle, barely aware of Will rushing to search around us. I can't decide if the anger or disgust is stronger within me. I want to rage, scream, and destroy things, but at the same time, I want to cry. And potentially hurl. But I can't do either. There are questions we need the answers to, and I owe it to whoever's blood this is to find them.

And then make my uncle pay . I don't need to do any digging to know he's behind this.

"It's everywhere," he calls. "From one end to the other and back."

Even though the ground is still wet from the blood, I have to go in there. It's not easy, though. I can hear the earth crying even outside the stones. Once I step in, it's going to consume me.

Somehow, I have to do it. "Where are the bodies?" I whisper.

"Taken away, maybe," Hank replies. "Buried somewhere." His voice sounds dead like he's lost all of his emotions, but I know that's not true.

"She might not have been with them," Will says. I look up at both of them, and Will has his hand on Hank's shoulder, gripping hard.

"I know." Hank's wooden voice breaks my heart. I rise from my knees, hoping that I'll be able to tell more inside the circle.

"This is likely half his prisoners," James said. "I've seen this before. It's an ancient ritual to boost power. The earth magic chose him as the catalyst, so when he brings a sacrifice, the earth responds, whether it wants to or not."

"Half?" Hank asks.

"It's a two-part ritual. He'll do the other half at the Solstice if I'm right. It’ll make him very powerful. I'm thinking he probably hopes for enough power to kill you before the Solstice begins its choosing."

I close my eyes against the guilt. Fran did get through to me. This isn't my fault. It's Robert's. But that doesn't stop my heart from feeling guilty about the dead.

Bending down, I pull off my sneakers and socks, setting them to the side. After rolling up my jeans, I push one foot out, then force myself to step onto the blood-soaked grass.

My feet squish into the blood that either was so plentiful it can't soak in yet, or this happened so recently it hasn't had time.

The magic of the earth doesn't respond to me the way it did before, but I'm filled with a deep sense of mourning. My soul aches as the world cries for the senseless massacre.

Tears splash down my cheeks, and I can't stay on my feet. Heedless to the mess my clothes will be in, I drop to my knees again and bury my hands in the grass, seeking the dirt beneath.

As soon as my hands touch the earth, the screams and cries of the massacred fill my mind.

I wail my anguish, the earth using me as its mouthpiece to verbalize how injured it is by the actions of my uncle.

Hands surround me, comforting, supporting. My men help me to my feet and out of the circle as I continue to sob. Sitting again, weak with grief, I lean over the stones and touch the earth again. I don't want to feel that grief anymore, but she's hurting all alone. I can't leave the circle until she knows I mourn with her.

James gasps behind me, his hands on my back.

"Would you look at that?" Hank taps my shoulder. I wouldn't have known it was him if he hadn't spoken.

I open my eyes and look over as my cat, the other half of me, walks across the grass toward me. When she's closer, and the lights hovering above us illuminate her better, I see she's still covered in blood, fur matted, and gross, but it's definitely her.

How I know it's her will bug me for the rest of my life. I've never seen her before, outside of the occasional time she'd pass by a mirror. The king had held her up for me, and I was sure it was her, but it could've been any tabby cat when it came right down to it.

She climbs into my lap and puts her front paws on my chest as I hold my hands out in hesitation. Should I touch her?

A strong purr erupts from her chest. She head-butts me in the chin as if giving me permission to touch her. I bury my bloody hands in her fur and pull her close as I sob. The grief of the earth pours out of me, and somehow she absorbs it. "I missed you," I say into her fur.

When she wiggles, I lift my head from nuzzling hers and study her. She looks me directly in the eyes, and an overwhelming sense of right washes over me.

This will pass, and the world will heal. We will grieve, avenge our dead, and grow.

A tentative smile pulls my lips up. "Thank you," I whisper.

She wiggles again, so I loosen my grip on her, and then she jumps down. Raising her tail, she studies James, Will, and Hank. With the tip of her tail twitching, she walks away. We watch her disappear into the woods before anyone says anything.

"She's just going to leave?" Hank asks. "How'd she get free?"

"I have no idea." I climb to my feet and look down at the stains all over me. Using the magic Benedict taught me about water, I apply it to the blood and gather it off of my feet, clothes, hands, everywhere. Doing the same for the guys whose legs and shoes are covered, I gather the blood in a ball and float it into the middle of the circle, then release it to soak into the earth.

The magic of the land will accept the sacrifice of the blood. It will be soaked up and become part of the power of the world. A magical circle of life.

And I'll kill my uncle.

Vengeance is mine.