Adam and Cassie drove in nervous silence over the bridge toward the Mission House.
Small talk felt too trivial, and there was nothing left to be said about the benefits and disadvantages of bringing Scarlett back to New Salem. Better to mutely admire the scenery.
Cassie observed the sugar maples glowing red beneath the sun on both sides of the highway. They were tall, graceful trees, dignified almost - a vast change in landscape from the wharves and rocky beaches on the island. The Mission House wasn't far now. As they drew closer, Cassie clung to an unvoiced hope - that Scarlett wouldn't be at the house when they arrived. The Circle couldn't initiate her until they found her. Prolonging the inevitable wasn't a solution, Cassie knew, but a little more time might help her get used to the whole idea. Just because Cassie had convinced the Circle to take a chance on Scarlett didn't mean she'd succeeded in convincing herself it was the best thing to do.
But Cassie's secret hope deflated the moment the Mission House came into view. Scarlett was right out front, packing up a car, and she looked just about ready to head out on the road. Another hour and she would have been gone.
"We lucked out," Adam said, and Cassie nodded.
Scarlett put her hands on her hips and curled her mouth into a smile when they came into view. The look she gave Cassie was sly and peculiar.
"She doesn't seem very surprised to see us," Cassie said. "Or very intimidated."
They climbed out of Adam's car awkwardly. Cassie had the distinct feeling her every gesture was being examined.
"I thought I might be seeing you again," Scarlett said.
"Why is that?" Adam asked.
Scarlett chuckled in a rich, disturbing way. "Just a hunch." She gestured to the house. "Come on inside."
Cassie and Adam followed Scarlett back into the main room. She pictured Scarlett writhing in pain on the floor during their last encounter and could almost hear her begging for mercy.
Adam glanced at the chair he'd been tied to and chose to sit on the couch instead. Cassie remained standing.
"Strange things have been happening to my powers," Scarlett said. "They've been unpredictable. There one minute, gone the next." She made herself comfortable in the chair Adam was avoiding. "Is it happening to you, too?"
"It's because Suzan died," Cassie said. The moment those words left her mouth the truth behind them became real to her in a whole new way.
"Do you remember Suzan?" Adam asked.
Scarlett nodded. "The natural redhead, of course. How'd she die?"
"The hunters killed her," Cassie said.
"Bummer." Scarlett's voice came out without much emotion. "But what does your friend's death have to do with my powers?"
"Our Circle is now incomplete." Adam inched up to the edge of the couch. "And the bind of the Circle means that you're next in line for Suzan's place."
Scarlett had no reaction for a few seconds. "I don't understand. How could it be me?"
"Your mother was Suzan's aunt," Cassie explained. "But nobody knew about her."
The confusion in Scarlett's eyes gradually progressed to surprise, and then delight. "I don't believe it," she said. "And to think I wasted so much time and energy trying to destroy you, Cassie."
Cassie was stone-faced. "I can hardly believe it myself, but here we are."
"And you're willing to initiate me?" Scarlett asked.
"Our friend is dead," Adam said. "And more of us are sure to die if we don't do something. We'll allow you into our Circle because we need your help to defeat the hunters. That's the only reason."
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Scarlett put her hand to her ear. "I couldn't quite hear you. Did you say you needed me? That you need my help?"
Adam shot up from the couch. "You know what? Forget this. Cassie, let's go."
Scarlett also stood up and blocked Adam's path to the door. "Relax a little. I'm just playing with you. The fact of the matter is you do need me. But I also need you. We all have something to gain from this."
Scarlett directed her next words at Adam. "Undo that restraining spell, and I'm yours for the taking."
Cassie felt the blood rise to her cheeks and went to Adam's side. "First we set up some ground rules."
Scarlett tossed her hair back and laughed. "You all love your rules, don't you?"
"We don't trust you." Adam's back was rigid and his voice was hard. "And we don't like you. I want that to be clear. One wrong move, and we won't hesitate to do worse than banish you from New Salem. You can bet we'll be watching you."
"Oh, I know you will, honey." Scarlett pouted her dark red lips. "You in particular can hardly keep your eyes off me."
Adam flinched and Cassie raised her arm to quiet him. "It's okay," she said. "I expected this."
She stared at Scarlett for a moment with an expression of disgust. A murky voice from the depths of her mind whispered, Kill her. But Cassie knew to ignore it, and she also understood that, for Adam's sake, she had to appear confident they were doing the right thing by bringing Scarlett back to New Salem.
"Let's reverse the spell," she said to him. "That's what we came here to do."
Cassie showed no hesitation or doubt as she placed her hand on Scarlett's forehead and began the process of disabling the restraining spell. But deep down inside she was terrified of what she was about to unleash on the Circle, and on her relationship.
As soon as they arrived back in New Salem, Cassie and Adam escorted Scarlett into the dark woods. Cassie steeled herself against the dull throbbing in her gut, the urge to restrain Scarlett again and banish her not only from New Salem but from Adam, the Circle, and her life. But the rest of the group was already gathered, preparing for Scarlett's initiation. There was no turning back now.
Diana was the first to come into view. She was dressed in her white shift and wore the Master diadem upon her head. In her hand was a dagger.
Scarlett stared at the blade of the dagger and at the moonlight shimmering on it. "I see we're not wasting any time," she said. "The situation must really be dire."
"It is," a husky voice behind her said.
Faye was wearing her black ceremonial shift and the leather garter around her leg. She held the silver bracelet out to Cassie. "Put this on," she said.
Cassie was the only leader dressed in her regular clothes, but they would each wear one of the Master Tools.
Diana squared herself to Scarlett. Her long blond hair hung loose beneath the diadem and reflected the moon in such a way that it cast her face in an ethereal glow. "If you're going to be a member of our Circle," she said, "you have to act like one. This initiation is based on a set of promises."
"You mean rules," Scarlett murmured coolly.
"Yes, rules," Diana replied. "For you and for us to follow."
"Don't even bother trying to talk to her like a human being," Faye said. "She'll never be one of us. Let's just get this over with. Everyone step inside the circle."
Scarlett smiled ingenuously and Cassie led her to her place just outside a gap in the circle that had been drawn into the ground.