Part 8 (1/2)

”The lunar eclipse didn't cause this,” she said. ”This was created by magick.”

”Yeah, but whose?”

”I didn't exactly finish the course on all the alternate magicks.”

”Whoa, snappish much?”

Stasi winced. ”Just feeling unsettled.”

”Aren't we all.” Blair stared at the rock as they finished the walk and ended up where they began.

Stasi walked slowly toward the barrier again, but this time licks of fire appeared along the bottom edge, slowly sliding upward until a wall of flame covered the barrier. She couldn't feel any heat coming from it, but she knew it could hurt her as easily as real fire could and probably even worse, since it was created by magick.

”That's not good.” Blair tugged on her arm, pulling her backwards.

”No kidding.” Stasi gulped. ”I think we need some help with this.”

”What in h.e.l.l is that?”

Both spun around as the dog lowered his head and growled.

Trev stood at the edge of the trees, dressed warmly even if his hair was unruly. He looked as though he had thrown on his clothes, not caring that pillow creases marred his cheek, his face was slightly puffy from sleep, and his hair was going in all directions. He stood there staring at the flame-covered wall.

”What do you see?” Stasi asked, not bothering to wonder why he was there.

He didn't reply right away, but looked intently at the barrier. ”A barrier created by magick to keep certain types of magick out. Namely you. The flames are a warning. Normally you can't see anything.”

”Which is why we literally ran into it,” Blair said. ”So, Counselor, any reason why you're out here in the middle of the night on our property?”

He grinned at her. ”You know the drill. Magick calls to magick. Any idea what it is?”

”None,” Stasi replied, determined to ignore the red hearts over his head even as she noted with dismay they seemed to have grown larger and bolder in color since the last time she saw him. ”What about you? Do you have any thoughts on it?”

Trev walked forward, his hands held up high, palms out. He ignored the Border collie, who appeared to consider him an interloper and was staying on the wizard's heels as if to keep a close eye on him.

”Don't get too close,” Stasi warned him. ”Blair tried finding out what it was and it practically threw her against a tree.”

”Someone put a lot of power into this,” he murmured, studying it as if it was a complicated problem. ”First to erect the obstacle, then to protect it from intruders. It's nothing I'm familiar with, but there are many forms of magick out there that I've never had to deal with before. A spell this strong could only have been done with blood to bind it.”

The witches s.h.i.+vered in fear. Spells requiring blood were dangerous and powerful. Ones they wouldn't even consider.

”You never answered Blair's question. Why are you out here?” Stasi asked, noting that his eyes seemed to have a glow of their own in the dark, along with the hearts' glimmer.

”I woke up and felt something odd floating through the air. I felt drawn to here, and when I saw strange lights over this way I thought I'd investigate.”

”Why don't you run along, Counselor,” Blair suggested with a bite in her voice. ”I'm sure you wouldn't want Carrie to see you with us. Don't worry. We witches are used to cleaning up messes and we'll do just fine here.” She looked down at the dog, who'd grabbed hold of her sleeve with his teeth and was gently pulling on it. ”Hey! I'm talking here.”

The dog whined and pulled again.

”What's his name?” Trev asked, grinning at the dog's persistence and silently thanking him for his aid. He was hoping to have a chance to be alone with Stasi.

”Pain in the a.s.s,” Blair snapped.

The dog snorted on her sleeve.

”He doesn't have a name?” He realized she was joking ... sort of.

”He's not my dog.”

”He's been a lucky stray in that he looks well groomed and well fed and ...” Trev looked downward, ”hasn't been neutered.”

This time the dog's growls were more canine snarky.

”It seems that's a medical procedure he intends to avoid,” Blair said, trying to get the dog to release her sleeve, but he only tightened his hold.

”I think he wants you to go with him,” Stasi said, wanting the same. She was curious about why Trev was here, and she didn't want an audience when she got her answers.

Blair looked from the dog to Stasi to Trev. ”Okay, but if he tries anything, zap him a good one,” she told Stasi before she allowed the dog to lead her back through the trees toward home. ”Fine, I'm coming! If you tear this jacket, I'll use your fur to make myself a new one.”

Trev chuckled. ”You'd think she doesn't like him.”

”He isn't hers,” Stasi said. ”He shows up on our doorstep every so often for food. I think Blair considers him occasional entertainment.”

”You mean she doesn't-?”

”Doesn't what?”

Trev chuckled. ”Nothing. I'm sure it will all work out.”

Stasi studied him, liking this more vulnerable side of him. She could see his s.h.i.+rt half tucked into his jeans under his jacket and b.u.t.tons in the wrong order. ”Why do I think you know something we don't?”

”I think the two of you do know, but for some reason you prefer to keep it tucked away.” He glanced back at the barrier. The flames were gone with no sign they'd ever been there. With the barrier invisible, no one could tell the lake was protected. The question was, why did someone or something feel that need? And who or what was that someone? The lights over the water flickered in and out until one by one they winked out of sight.

”I can tell you that no wizard created this.”

”And no witch had his or her hand in it either,” Stasi said. ”This couldn't be caused by Mercury retrograde or the lunar eclipse. This is all pure magick. We just don't know what kind.”

Trev took her arm to steer her back to the house. ”It has to be someone who lives locally. They'd have to be able to return to feed the power on a regular basis.”

Stasi pulled back. ”There's no sense of an avoidance spell here. We can't allow just anyone to stumble out here. We can provide some sort of protection for ourselves, but a mortal could be in danger.” She stared at the lake, racking her brain for just the right spell.

”I think I have something that would work,” Trev offered. ”If you don't mind?”

”You'd help?”

”Of course.” He rubbed his palms together. ”I'm a little out of practice, but this should do it.”