21
Under a sky, no one sees,
Waiting, watching it happening.
Don't hurry give it time,
Things are the way they have to be.
Slow down, give it time,
Still life, you know I'm listening.
The moment that you want is coming if you give it time
Still Life, Lyrics by The Horrors
The empty house echoed around her as Cassie paced back and forth on an already worn wooden floor. It creaked under her slight weight as she walked back and forth from the kitchen to the sun porch, where she fingered Grandma's precious orchids and wondered if they'd drop dead under her care. She touched the desiccated soil and realized they hadn't been tended to in weeks. With a lump in her throat, she watered the plants carefully until just before the liquid spilled over the edge. Some of these plants had been hybridized by her grandmother, and could be found nowhere else.
With tears burning her eyes and shaking hands, Cassie set down the watering can and sat in her Grandmother's favorite wicker chair. When Jane wasn't ensconced in the kitchen, she was out here reading gardening books by the cartload, absorbing everything she could get her hands on. And it showed in the award winning gardens that surrounded the house, from her sacred herb garden to her formal English rose garden. The only magic used was that born of long practice and innate wisdom. People were always coming to Jane for gardening advice, or just to swap perennials when they were newly divided.
Cassie looked out at the bright day and wondered what the hell she was supposed to do. With her mother gone, and her grandmother's mind hanging by a thread, she seemed to be out of options. For a time, she'd believed the Circle was behind her, but she couldn't say that now. It was bad enough that Charles and Dawn had fucked up a spell, but now she knew that her best friend's father had murdered her mother. How was she supposed to live with that, knowing what he'd done every time she talked to or visited with Diana? And now her friend knew too, and there was no telling what the fallout would be.
Everything was falling apart, and she had to find a way to shore it up. If that involved using dark magic, then so be it. She wasn't afraid to face her demons anymore, and she'd take down anyone who tried to stop her. Without thinking, she unfolded the sketch of the symbol that someone had carved into her door, and knew she had seen it somewhere before. She scoured her mind, trying to place where she'd seen it, but nothing was coming through. Her stomach rumbled, and that's when she realized she hadn't eaten all day. With that, she stepped back into the kitchen, and her hand was reaching for the refrigerator handle when the doorbell rang.
It was probably Adam, coming to check on her and bring her food. With an inward smile, Cassie felt a spring in her step as she moved swiftly to the front door. She pulled it open, and felt dread when she saw Jake standing there, his periwinkle eyes pleading her forgiveness. A million conflicting thoughts warred within her, and it was a full minute before she said, "How can you even be here?"
Adam pulled up in his truck just as Jake was stepping through the door. "Frikkin hell," he muttered, jumping out before remembering that his engine was still running. Without blinking, he put his hand on the hood and stilled it to silence. He strode up the walk like a man with a mission, and knocked loudly on the door.
A moment later, Cassie peeked out from behind the partly open door. "Jake is back."
He looked beyond her to see Jake hovering in the background. "I know. Karin warned me. Can I come in?"
She stepped to one side and opened the door. "Sure. I was just cooking up some burgers. You game?"
Hell yeah, he was so there. As long as Jake was here, he was right in the guy's face. "What are you doing here?" Adam gave Jake a hard stare and it was returned in full measure.
"I'm here to help Cassie."
Adam stepped closer and was nearly eye to eye with the blonde. "With what? We've got it covered."
Jake narrowed his eyes. "We, as in you?"
"What's your point, Jake? You don't belong here," Adam said, anger radiating off him in waves. He was itching to strike at Jake, and choke the living crap out of him for hurting Cassie.
Jake retorted, "It's not up to you. Cassie invited me in."
Adam was fuming, and he felt magic tingling at his fingertips. Looking over at Cassie, he forced a semblance of calm into his tone. "Do you want him here?"
Her blue eyes were wide with indecision. "He knows things, Adam. We need to understand what's going on."
Much as he hated to admit it, Adam knew she had a point. "And when that's finished?"
Cassie looked over at Jake before turning back to Adam. "Then he'll rejoin the Circle, and help us learn more about magic."
"Really? After nearly getting us all killed by the witch hunters, you're welcoming him back with open arms?"
Jake folded his arms and Adam caught a flash of smugness in his eyes. "After I've proven myself, of course."
Cassie wedged her way between them and pushed them aside. "It's not that simple, and you both know that. Can we please call a truce? I'm starving, and I'd like to eat dinner sometime this century."
Adam glared at Jake, who stared back in triumph. "Sure. But after dinner, all bets are off."