Part 3
"Are you sure it's such a good idea to leave the Century's Star in the hands of an untrained witch?" Melanie asked.
Diana nodded. She'd questioned herself repeatedly. She paced around Melanie's dorm room, trying to reassure herself she had made the right decision. The Century Star belonged in that family, it was only right, now Jessica was gone, that Cody should have the star.
"Yes. The gem belongs to their women, it's Cody's duty to guard it." She sat on Melanie's bed, toying with the rug thrown over the bed spread. "What else could I have done with it?"
Melanie turned to face her, turning away from her computer. "We should have sent it to New Salem. Cassie and Laurel could have protected it. And then there's this Dagan character Suzan mentioned to worry about."
Diana frowned. She hadn't really thought that Black John was the only evil warlock, it would have been nice to think that after they'd defeated him they had vanquished their only threat. She should have known. According to Suzan, Dagan had been super-hot and really rich, not the type of guy you would have expected to be an evil witch. It was always the one you least suspected.
"And we're not going to tell Cody *anything*? Not even what the Century Star is for?"
Diana smiled faintly, opening a window, letting a cool breeze flow into the room, caressing her face with a gentle kiss. "We can't tell her that because *we* don't know. How's your research coming?"
Melanie sighed and shook her head. "I've found nothing conclusive yet. Do we know if anyone else knows about this thing?"
"Only us, Suzan and Deborah know."
Melanie was frowning. "Does Faye know?"
"I don't think so. Why?"
"Faye and powerful gems tend to spell disaster in capital letters," Melanie answered dryly.
As much as she hated to admit it, Diana knew Melanie had a point. Diana knew her cousin loved to explore any sort of magic, dark or white, especially with an object of unknown properties.
"Apparently Cody's known for sticking her nose in where it's not her business," Melanie added. "She's already suspicious Jessica's death might not be a suicide. She'll find out the truth sooner or later."
Diana had known there was a time to come when all would have to be explained to Cody. They had waited for Cassie, they would wait for Cody. They didn't seem to scare her unnecessarily.
"We'll tell her when we have to. We'll just stay out of it until then."
Melanie opened her mouth, then shut it. Diana could tell she wasn't too impressed with the choice, but didn't object. "I'll ask Nick to keep an eye on her," Diana said thoughtfully. "That way she'll have some protection."
She wasn't all that happy herself with the situation, especially with all these people at the university, and only half the coven. It had been easier to handle on the island, it had almost seemed like their own little world. Maybe they didn't have the best relationship with the Outsiders, but they'd gotten along. Larger groups of people would be very difficult to handle.
They were just going to have to take things one at a time.
* * *
"Are you sure it's such a good idea to leave the Century's Star in the hands of an untrained witch?" Melanie asked.
Diana nodded. She'd questioned herself repeatedly. She paced around Melanie's dorm room, trying to reassure herself she had made the right decision. The Century Star belonged in that family, it was only right, now Jessica was gone, that Cody should have the star.
"Yes. The gem belongs to their women, it's Cody's duty to guard it." She sat on Melanie's bed, toying with the rug thrown over the bed spread. "What else could I have done with it?"
Melanie turned to face her, turning away from her computer. "We should have sent it to New Salem. Cassie and Laurel could have protected it. And then there's this Dagan character Suzan mentioned to worry about."
Diana frowned. She hadn't really thought that Black John was the only evil warlock, it would have been nice to think that after they'd defeated him they had vanquished their only threat. She should have known. According to Suzan, Dagan had been super-hot and really rich, not the type of guy you would have expected to be an evil witch. It was always the one you least suspected.
"And we're not going to tell Cody *anything*? Not even what the Century Star is for?"
Diana smiled faintly, opening a window, letting a cool breeze flow into the room, caressing her face with a gentle kiss. "We can't tell her that because *we* don't know. How's your research coming?"
Melanie sighed and shook her head. "I've found nothing conclusive yet. Do we know if anyone else knows about this thing?"
"Only us, Suzan and Deborah know."
Melanie was frowning. "Does Faye know?"
"I don't think so. Why?"
"Faye and powerful gems tend to spell disaster in capital letters," Melanie answered dryly.
As much as she hated to admit it, Diana knew Melanie had a point. Diana knew her cousin loved to explore any sort of magic, dark or white, especially with an object of unknown properties.
"Apparently Cody's known for sticking her nose in where it's not her business," Melanie added. "She's already suspicious Jessica's death might not be a suicide. She'll find out the truth sooner or later."
Diana had known there was a time to come when all would have to be explained to Cody. They had waited for Cassie, they would wait for Cody. They didn't seem to scare her unnecessarily.
"We'll tell her when we have to. We'll just stay out of it until then."
Melanie opened her mouth, then shut it. Diana could tell she wasn't too impressed with the choice, but didn't object. "I'll ask Nick to keep an eye on her," Diana said thoughtfully. "That way she'll have some protection."
She wasn't all that happy herself with the situation, especially with all these people at the university, and only half the coven. It had been easier to handle on the island, it had almost seemed like their own little world. Maybe they didn't have the best relationship with the Outsiders, but they'd gotten along. Larger groups of people would be very difficult to handle.
They were just going to have to take things one at a time.
* * *