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.Then, I lifted the candle.With a small amount of their mingled blood on the tip of the knife, I began to carve symbols of unity and healing on the candle, beginning the third part of the spell.The building magic pressed in around the bed, creating a connection between the three of us.As I placed the base of the candle on Ricki’s chest, I recited the passage that brought the flame to life on the wick.I brought one of Calder’s hands to clasp it in place, then did the same with Ricki’s.Her eyes were glazed, but focused on me as I worked.For a moment, I felt panic trying to creep up my spine, but I forced it back.Repeating the third and final paragraph in the spell, I put aside the knife and lifted the bowl to Calder’s lips.He sipped it, but I gestured for him to drink a bit more until he took half.Grimacing, he helped me lift Ricki’s head enough to get most of the liquid in her mouth.She winced as she swallowed what had to be a bitter mix of dried herbs, water, and blood.“As I will it, so mote it be.”When I uttered the closing words of the spell, the power increased until I felt as though I would be crushed beneath it.Calder and Ricki both gasped, their bodies becoming rigid as one, and the final link between them snapped into place.It was done.As the magic receded, I heard Ricki make a sound, part cough, part moan.Then she stopped breathing.In horror, I watched as Calder collapsed on the bed next to her, clutching his chest.I couldn’t allow this to happen.I couldn’t sit back and watch someone I loved die, not again.I felt for a pulse in her neck and found nothing.Then, I realized that if I could muster enough energy to stop someone’s heart, then I could use it to restart one as well.Praying to the Goddess that it would work, I placed my hand over Ricki’s heart, focusing on what I wanted to happen.If I could visualize the spark forcing the organ to begin pumping again, it would be more effective.Sucking in a deep breath, I let the power flow down my arm, forming a ball of energy just behind my palm.As I released the air, I released the energy in the form of electricity.Ricki’s body jerked.I checked her neck for a pulse.Nothing.Once more, I laid my hand on her chest, refusing to let a shred of doubt enter my mind.I would save her.I repeated the process, watching as Ricki’s body arched again.When I put my fingertips to her neck, I felt a weak, steady pulse.I started to position her head for mouth-to-mouth, but she took a loud, gasping breath on her own.Terrified that she would stop again, I stood by the bed, trying to ascertain her condition.Within a few minutes, her chest began to rise and fall more steadily and her face was no longer as pale.Calder seemed to be fine as well, although still unconscious.Hesitantly, I lifted the blood-soaked cloth that had covered her wounds.Already, the accelerated healing process had begun, a sign that Calder’s blood had worked and she would begin her first change sometime in the next thirty-six hours or so.Unfortunately, it wasn’t an exact science, so I couldn’t be sure.Suddenly, exhausted, my ass hit the bed beside Ricki and tears of relief trickled down my face.A light touch on my shoulder startled me and I looked over my shoulder to find Finn staring down at me.“I’m glad you were able to save her,” he murmured, using his thumbs to gently wipe my tears away.“Me too.”Unfortunately, it was time to focus on the other woman who needed my help; Belinda.Chapter Twenty-ThreeTwenty minutes later, we were all in the library except for Calder, Ricki, and Donna.Donna was upstairs, removing Ricki’s bloody clothes and washing her skin.Conner and Finn were speaking softly in the corner, while Shannon and I sat on the couch.One of Conner’s men, I wasn’t sure of his name, was attempting to clean and dress Shannon’s injuries.Mostly she was bruised, but her forehead was bleeding and there were several lacerations on her arms and hands.Unfortunately, Shannon wasn’t impressed with his fawning.“I’m fine,” she snapped, trying to dodge his hand.“I’ll wash up in a few minutes.”“Sit still and let me clean your wounds,” he insisted.Her eyes narrowed.“I’ve already killed one vampire tonight, let’s not make it two.”The vampire’s hands froze, hovering over her skin.I had to stifle a laugh at the shocked expression on his face.I doubted any other human woman he knew would have had the gumption to speak to him like that.I reached out and took the cloth from him.“She doesn’t mean it.Blood always makes her a little snippy, especially if it’s her own.I’ll take care of her.”He nodded.“Thanks for your help.” I nudged Shannon with my elbow.She flinched.“Yes, thank you.”I turned to her, using the gauze to wipe away the excess blood on her face.“You should be nicer to the vampires.They’re a lot stronger than humans, you know.”“Strength isn’t everything,” she muttered.The sliver of amusement I felt faded away, replaced by worry.“What happened?” I asked, grabbing a fresh piece of gauze and putting a bit of alcohol on it.Shannon hissed when I went back to cleaning the wound on her forehead.“It seems one of Conner’s men worked for the Faction.He let several other vampires into the house and they tried to kill us.Calder told us to go downstairs in the basement, but we got cut off.We hid in Ricki’s closet, but they found us.” Her breath hitched when I got a fresh piece of gauze and began to clean the blood from her forearms and hands.“I thought we were going to die.He moved so quickly that I could barely see him.I couldn’t get a shot off.It wasn’t until he started….” she swallowed.“It wasn’t until he started…that I could get a clean aim.I shot him in the head.”I nodded as I finished cleaning her cuts.“You did what you needed to do.If you hadn’t killed him, he would have kept coming.”“I just wish I’d stopped him from hurting Ricki.”Finn brought over a glass with an inch of clear liquid in it.I assumed it wasn’t water.I took it and lifted it to Shannon’s lips, urging her to take a sip with the hopes that it would calm her nerves.She coughed a little and took another drink.Then she pushed the glass away.“That’s enough.”Finn set the glass on the heavy coffee table and sat down on it so he was facing us, elbows to knees.“I have news about Belinda and Lachlan.”Something about the way he said Belinda’s name sent a shaft of fear through me and my heart began to pound.“Lachlan was severely injured.” He reached out to take my hand and that’s when I knew what he was going to say.“Belinda didn’t survive.I’m sorry, Kerry, but she’s gone.”I wanted to scream and cry but I felt as though I’d been encased in ice.Since my mother’s death, Belinda was one of the few women that I felt I could turn to.While my friends were wonderful, there were a lot of times I couldn’t confide in them because of what I was.She had always been there, never letting me push her away with my bitchy behavior.Now I understood why she’d been so insistent that we begin my training immediately, despite what was happening around us.She was more than a witch.As a Seer, she had the gift of foresight.Belinda knew she was going to die.I forced myself to breathe and push past the feelings that threatened to overwhelm me.I had to keep it together.There was too much at stake [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]