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The Circle
"Martha Hawthorne, I can't say I'm surprised. It appears that the rumors about you are true"
Reid glanced up to see that Detective Drake stood in the background. He'd actually forgotten that the Danvers PD had a representative in the room. In fact, the rest of the team, including JJ seemed just as shocked.
"What rumors?" Blake wanted to know.
"That the Hawthorne women have real magical powers."
The old woman actually winked at him. "Let's just say it runs in the family. I hope that means you'll stop by the shop more often, Detective Drake."
"Yeah, I might just do that."
"Good, because we could use a fine looking man around like yourself, isn't that right, Sera."
"Nana," Sera exclaimed.
"Hey," JJ said. "I don't mean to be rude, but we have a girl to save and I think -"
"This time," Detective Drake interrupted.
They all stared and it was Rossi that broke first and began to laugh.
"I really am sorry," JJ said. "I wish I could say that it wasn't really me, but on some level, it was."
"That's ridiculous," Morgan began.
"No, it's not ridiculous. I'm a profiler and I know what people are capable when their masks are ripped away. It's like this intoxicating freedom. You can finally say all the things you keep back every day. I was there, trapped by this thing inside of me and watching and hearing everything, I did and say. I wanted to stop but I couldn't and part of me didn't want it to stop because I liked it."
Tears shimmered in her eyes. "I'm so sorry."
"I don't know what really happened, but why don't we put it aside and find Amber."
JJ wiped her eyes, but she wasn't looking at Drake. Her eyes were glued on Reid's face. He stared back and something passed between them that made her nod ever so slightly. He didn't smile, but he inclined his head.
"How do we find Amber?"
"I know how to find her," JJ said.
"Where is she?"
JJ faced Hotch. "I don't know if I can get there, now that the other one is gone."
"You can," said Martha, "but there is something you have to know before you try."
Sera handed Martha a large book. It reminded JJ of the photo album she had of Henry at home, only it was larger and had to be real leather.
"This is my family history going back to the 14th century. It tells the story of Abigail Hawthorne and her burning as a witch in Salem, October 2nd 1692."
"There's no record of witch burnings in Salem." Reid insisted. "Even if there were, and it was hidden, Garcia would have found it. No one knows how to get into computer records like she does."
"Son," Martha said very patiently. "You might be brilliant, but you don't know everything. There are many little secrets that aren't included in the official records."
Reid ignored Morgan and Rossi's snort of laughter. Blake caught his eyes and smiled. JJ wouldn't look at him and Hotch had the same scowl that was normal for him.
"Every small town and village has secrets," Reid acquiesced, "But Detective Drake did tell us about her trial. I am surprised there's no official record of it."
Martha turned through the thick book bound in red leather. "This is Abigail Hawthorne."
They gathered around and JJ inhaled sharply and went white. "That's her. I saw her in that place I was in with Amber. Oh, God it was her, but she didn't look like this. She was…" She gripped Morgan's hand. "She looked like something you'd see out of a nightmare.
The others studied the drawing of Abigail that was carefully preserved under plastic. She was incredibly beautiful with long blond hair, eyes like sapphires and a heart shaped face, with a sneer on her lips rather than a smile.
"Her husband drew this," Sera said. "He was very talented."
"It's a family trait. We all have an artistic streak. Anyway, as you know, she murdered Sarah Sanderson. She was caught in the act by the members of the Town Council. The legend is that one of her on coven betrayed her. There was no trial." She looked significantly at Detective Drake. "No matter what you been told by those that gossip about my family.
She was burned without one because the Town Council wanted to make a special example of her. All the girls she has killed are descendents of members of the Town Council. Tracey's ancestor was the Judge that condemned her. It was his child that Abigail killed. I believe that Mary Todd, Amber's 6th great grandmother, was a member of the coven and the one that betrayed her. She mysteriously came into ownership of the original Hawthorne farm after Abigail was burned. It's been in their family ever since."
"So this is all about revenge."
"Yes, and she wants to come back. If she can complete her revenge by midnight, tonight, she'll become immortal."
"That's impossible," Morgan said.
"After all you've seen, you doubt," Martha shot back. "I assure you it's possible, but not without price. To come back from the dead this way will cause a great imbalance in nature. You have to stop her."
"We intend to, but how do we find her?"
"I told you, I can show you, but I don't know if it will work. I think it was the other, which gave me the power." JJ shivered.
"You can do it," Sera said. "You know the way. The power is a part of who you are now. The seven of you together are more powerful than she."
"We don't have any magical power," Reid pointed out. "As much as I'd like to think I could have real power, and there's not seven of us; Garcia isn't here."
"She may not be here, but she's with you, none the less."
"I don't understand what you mean."
"What do you think real power is?"
Reid just stared at Martha and Sera. "I know that magic is all about distraction."
"True power comes from the heart, from love and from trust. You're all family. You've survived pain that would have broken you had you not stood together."
They didn't realize that they had formed a circle around the table. Detective Drake raised his eyebrows at Sera. She smiled back at him. "You have to stay here," she said.
"It's my case," he retorted. "I owe it to Amber's parents. I promised I'd find her."
"I'm sure they'll make sure you get credit for the bust." She whispered.
"Why is this so important?"
Sera took his arm. "It's important because it's their fate."
"How do you know?"
"Trust me."
Martha motioned to Sera, who pulled away from Detective Drake. She went to the cupboard and drew out a large pot. She filled it with water and set it on the table.
"There are many myths about pools of water and mirrors. Some say they are portals to other worlds. If you know how, you can move from one dimension to another."
"She's right," JJ said suddenly. "I remembered something from before, walking into a pool of water and then I was in my hotel room."
Her face went white and she clutched at the edge of the table. "Oh God, I just remembered something. It was the most terrifying thing." She began to shiver. "Something came out of the mirror and grabbed me. It was two black hands. They pulled me in. I don't remember after that."
"You're strong enough to go back there," Martha said. "You have your family here and at home. They will give you strength."
"I'm okay," JJ said to Hotch. "Let's just go."
"How?"
"Join hands, and you," Martha indicated JJ. "The knowledge is within you."
Morgan didn't look convinced but he took JJ's hand. The rest of them joined their hands as JJ reached out and touched the still surface of the pure water.
CMCMCMCMCM
When Reid blinked, he wasn't in Martha's kitchen anymore. He stood in a cavern that reminded him of something out of a movie with wavering golden light and torches set into the stone walls at varying intervals. "Where are we?"
Hotch made a sawing motion across his throat and pointed to a large cave-like opening about twenty yards away. They all drew their guns and moved as one through the carved opening and into a huge room.
At the far end of the room stood a pole and lashed to the pole was a young woman with long blond hair draped over half her face. She was on her feet, but sagged against the ropes. She appeared to be unconscious. JJ started forward into the room, but Hotch stopped her with a look. He gestured silently to an area to the left of the young girl.
Now they could hear chanting from a high-pitched voice. Candles burned wavering shadows into the jagged edges of the stone walls. A shadow rose from the floor and stood up. It was hard to tell, but it looked like a human being, one that stepped toward the young girl tied to the stake.
"Stop," Hotch shouted into the incense-laden room. "FBI, put your hands on your head and turn around, slowly."
The figure stopped but did not turn around.
"I said," Hotch, repeated as they slowly advanced on her in the golden light over stone floors. "Put your hands on your head."
The figure began to turn and they all lifted their guns in unison. "I said," slowly," Hotch repeated.
The face that presented to them was unlike anything Reid had ever seen. It was like something out of a Poe inspired dream or a Lovecraftian nightmare. It was half formed with one perfect blue eye and one eye white with the cataracts of an old woman. The skin was raw in places and perfectly rose and white in others. Smooth bone showed through at one cheek and at the forehead and chin. The figure raised a hand and it was skeletal like the hand of Caron.
"How did you get here?"
Her voice grated like door hinges that desperately wanted oil.
"Put your hands on your head," Hotch said for a third time.
The figure laughed and the one good eye winked at him. "I don't know how you got here, but you will not stop me."
She strode toward JJ, "You dare bring them here. I'll break your neck myself."
"Stay back."
The figure ignored Morgan, so Hotch shot her. She stumbled but continued toward JJ. "You're pathetic weapons are nothing to me."
Rossi and Reid also shot, but the bullets hit without result. Morgan grabbed JJ's hand and pulled her aside as the figure neared. "My name is Abigail Hawthorne, Mistress of Satan. You will join the daughters of my enemies as sacrifices."
She reached out for JJ but something seemed to stop her as she attempted to make contact with JJ's arm. Something sparked and the figure that called itself Abigail Hawthorne stumbled back.
"No," Abigail growled. "How is this possible?
Rossi crossed himself and said something under his breath that Reid couldn't hear. He took Reid's hand and nodded to Blake who took Reid's other hand. They formed a circle around Abigail, the guns holstered and forgotten.
"Remember what Martha said," Rossi remarked. "It's two minutes to midnight. We can to this."
"You have no power here." The thing screamed at them. "I will have my revenge."
She jumped to her feet and reached out for JJ. Once again, she was shocked but also thrown back, but she didn't hit the stone floor. Instead, she floated in mid air as if held there by an invisible tether. "Let me go," she shrieked. "You have no right."
"You have no right," Hotch said in a voice that rang through the room. "Abigail Hawthorne, we condemn you and command you to return to Hell."
She threw her head back and shrieked loud and long, an ululating scream that went on and one until another spark flashed over her cadaverous form. Her black cloak burst into orange and red flames. She writhed in agony as the flames leapt higher.
"Don't break the circle," JJ shouted.
"Master, help me, please."
The flames engulfed her and then there was nothing left but ash on the floor as grey white as storm clouds.
Rossi genuflected again and they all dropped hands. "Is it over?"
"Yes," Morgan said. "I don't know how, but it is over."
"How are we going to get out of here?" Reid wanted to know.
"Over there," JJ said.
She pointed to a large pool of water set in the floor. "That's what I used the last time I was here."
Hotch, Blake and Morgan were untying Amber. "Let's get her out of here," Blake said.
"How are we going to explain all of this?"
Rossi put a hand on Reid's shoulder. "We'll think of something."
Reid watched them take Amber to the pool. Her head lolled to one side and they couldn't wake her, but she seemed to be okay. He wondered how long it would be, before she and JJ felt safe again.