Circle Of Fire

No matter what happens, I don't want you to move or make a sound. Can you do that?'

'Yes.' Something in her voice suggested it was a charade she'd already played.

'And if you get the chance, I want you to run as fast as you can out of this place and head down the mountain. Okay?' If this was the same place where Hank had stopped earlier, then there'd be a road for the teenager to find and follow. 'A friend of mine should be outside soon, and he'll help you.'

'What's his name?'

'Jon.' Maddie closed her eyes briefly against the sudden ache in her heart. 'Come on, let's get back to the light.'

They shuffled back to the bars. Maddie leaned her forehead against them, trying to ignore another wash of weakness. After several deep breaths, she studied the cavern once more.

It was hard to make out any distinct shapes in the uneven light of the sputtering torch. The breeze shivered past her legs, and the smell of snow, citrus and death was heavy in the air.

Her stomach rolled again. She clung to the bars and licked her dry lips. When the world stopped spinning again, she glanced up at the torch. The flames were bending to her right, following the lead of the wind.

'That's the way to run, Teresa,' she said, pointing to the left of the cavern. 'That's where the breeze is coming from, so there has to be some sort of exit.'

The teenager nodded. 'She never leaves the door unlocked, though.'

'She only needs to get careless once.' And the chances of that happening were greater now that everything seemed to be going Eleanor's way.

The sharp rattle of a stone bouncing across the cavern's floor made them both jump in fright.

'Go,' Maddie whispered.

Teresa scooted across the darkness and disappeared. Maddie dropped to the floor and half closed her eyes, feigning a look of pain. Which wasn't all that hard, given the sick churning in her stomach.

The footsteps drew closer and changed from the click of claws to the sharp tap of boot heels. Maddie opened her eyes slightly.

'How nice. You're awake,' Eleanor drawled as she stopped next the metal bars. 'How are you feeling?'

There was no hint of scarring on Eleanor's right hand, no sign that she's ever been burned. And yet, as she dug into her pocket and produced a key, her movements were awkward and stiff.

Had she healed herself with magic, or was she simply presenting an unscarred front? 'Does it really matter how I feel?'

Eleanor smiled. It might well have been Death smiling at her. 'Of course it matters. Wouldn't want you dying before the boyfriend gets here.'

The hint of malice in Eleanor's sharp features ran dread through Maddie's soul. Sweat broke out across her forehead, despite the chill in the cavern. Something was wrong. Not with the situation, but within herself. She licked her lips again and glared up at Eleanor. 'What have you done to me?'

Eleanor's laugh was high and unstable. 'Let's just say you won't be lighting any funeral pyres for a while— except maybe your own.'

Maddie stared at her and repeated, 'What have you done to me?' The question was little more than a soft croak, her voice almost strangled by fear. Had Eleanor torn away her firestarting abilities, leaving her no weapon to fight with?

Eleanor smirked. 'I've looped your gifts. Try using them on me, and they'll backlash against you.' She stopped and studied Maddie critically. 'And I'd say that is already happening. Feel a little hot, my dear?'

Maddie resisted the temptation to mop her brow. To be killed by her own fires just when she was beginning to understand them had to be one of the great ironies of all time. 'Where's the other teenager?'

'Oh, sleeping close by.' She leaned down and carefully slid the key into the lock, her movements awkward. 'Come along, my dear. We have much to arrange.'

'I'm not going anywhere with you.' It sounded almost childish, but Maddie didn't really care. If she couldn't fight, she had to delay. The more Eleanor concentrated on her, the greater chance Teresa had of escaping.

Eleanor sighed. It was a dramatic sound that didn't fit the evil in her dark eyes. 'I really haven't the time to play right now. Up.'

She made a motion with her right hand, and something whispered across Maddie's neck and jerked tight. She gasped and raised her hands to her neck. There was nothing there but a whisper of icy wind entwining her throat. Panic and terror surged, and sweat dimpled her skin. Maddie briefly closed her eyes and struggled to breathe normally. If she lost control of her gifts, she'd kill herself. And that was one amusement she had no intention of providing the witch.

Eleanor made another pulling motion with her hand, and the wind became a ring of ice that bit deep into Maddie's neck and wrenched her forward.

'Up,' Eleanor repeated.

The leash pulled so tightly against her throat she could barely breathe. She scrambled to her feet and the tightness eased, allowing her to drag in great gulps of air. But the sudden movement made the drummer in her head go crazy. Dizziness hit her. She reached for the wall, trying to steady herself.

Eleanor gave her no time to recover, yanking on the leash again. 'Come, my dear. The day passes us by, and we have bait to lay.'

Her feet felt frozen and half-numb, and her legs were so wobbly they didn't seem strong enough to support her weight. But as she stumbled through the doorway, a fierce sense of elation ran through her.

Eleanor continued to force her forward and didn't stop to re-lock the door.

There was still a chance to fulfil her promise to Evan. All she had to do was keep Eleanor occupied long enough for Teresa to slip away.

Chapter Eighteen

'Is now the right time to admit that I don't really know that much about witchcraft?' Mack hauled his coat collar up around his neck, leaned his hip against the car, and shoved his hands deep into his pockets.

Jon smiled grimly. The FBI agent looked like a man suddenly facing the gates of Hell. And it was probably a fair estimation of what awaited them.

'Eleanor's not really a witch. She's a sorcerer. Next step up the ladder.' He stopped carving the end of the small white-ash branch and held it up to the light. A few more cuts, and his makeshift dagger would be ready.

Mack turned and studied the trees, his face giving little away. But Jon could feel his unease, saw the shadow snaking through the FBI agent's usually confident aura.

'You suddenly don't seem in so much of a hurry,' Mack said.

Jon made a few final cuts along the limb, then put it down to join the other half dozen near his feet.

'That's because I know what Eleanor is capable of, and I have no intention of going up there unarmed.'

Which is why he'd made Mack detour past the cabin they'd found Evan in on their way up here. He needed the supplies locked in the back of his truck.

Mack patted his shoulder. 'I have a gun, you know. And backup is on its way.'

'Eleanor can change shape quicker than you can shoot.' He stood up and flexed his leg. The knife wound throbbed in protest, but he could move around fairly normally, and that was all that mattered. 'As for your backup, they have five minutes, then I'm off.'

'Don't be a fool, Barnett. You can't go after this woman alone if you want the kid or your Maddie to survive.'

Your Maddie.The phrase whispered through his mind, soothing the lonely ache in his soul. Only she wasn't his Maddie and never could be. He angrily snatched up the white ash daggers near his feet.

'Take these and keep them safe,' he said, handing Mack four of the weapons. 'They'll protect you from Eleanor when all else fails.'