Page 28 of Haunted Eclipse

“We have to get his address,” Astra said. “Surely, Devon has to have his address since they’ve been involved for a while. Then we go after him.”

“How are we going to arrest him?” Crystal asked. “He’s stronger than us?—”

“Not true,” Astra said. “I’m far stronger magically than most psychic vampires. Not only that, but I’ve also called for backup. Reese is coming over.”

“Who’s Reese?” I asked.

“Reese Saremay is one of the members of the Dark Moon Society. He’s not exactly a witch, but he’s…let’s put itthisway. He’s what we call aproblem solver. Most of the Order of the Moon societies have at least one around. Reese works with the police, unofficially.Officially, he’s branded as being on the wrong side of the law. But he steps in where the actual authorities can’t take a stand. I called him, and he’s on his way over.”

I still didn’t understand, but if my aunt said he would help us, I believed her.

“When Devon gets here, we’ll get Marcus’s information from her. Then, Reese will escort her to the Safe House. After that, we go after Marcus.”

In a matter of moments, my aunt had gone from being a firm, but sweet older woman to a take-no-prisoners official. I flashed back to when I was young. Astra had always been one of those women who kept under the radar until she was needed, then she burst forth like a dazzling ray of light. Now, she was practically glowing.

A car pulled up outside—its sounds muffled by the snow. Crystal peeked through the window. “It’s Devon. I’ll go get her.” She threw on her jacket, then vanished out the door.

“How long till Reese gets here?” I asked.

“Not long,” Astra said. “He should be here within ten minutes.”

Crystal escorted Devon in, locking the door behind her. I led her into the living room and my aunt approached her.

“Look into my eyes, child,” she said.

Devon obliged. A moment later, my aunt let out a sigh.

“He doesn’t have his full hooks into you yet. Or, at least, he hasn’t tried. The cords are there, and we’ll take care of those before the evening’s done.” Without a beat, she added, “Maisy, can you get the door?”

“But I didn’t hear—” I had no sooner started to speak when the bell rang.

I hurried to the door and opened it. A talk man stood there, husky and muscled, with pale hair against his tanned skin. He looked weathered, as though he’d seen too much anger in his life. He handed me his wallet, and I scanned it, seeing that he was who he said he was. I handed it back and motioned for him to enter the house.

Astra glanced at him as he entered the living room. “Hey, Reese. I was about to do some cord cutting. As soon as I’m done, you need to get her to the safe house.”

“Can do,” he said, sitting on the edge of the sofa.

Turning back to Devon, my aunt said, “I’ll need your phone.”

Devon handed it to her.

Astra gave it to Reese. “Wipe Marcus’s information from it, after taking down the number.” To Devon, she said, “Marcus can track you through it, thanks to the app here.” She pointed to one of the apps on the home screen. “If we can’t catch him, you’ll have to stay at the Safe House until we make certain he’s been neutralized. Do you have his address?”

“I understand, and yes, I do.” Devon said.

“Then sit down. Maisy, fetch me my athame and wand from the ritual room.”

I nodded, hurrying down the hall.

The ritual room had been a den until my aunts changed it into a personal temple. I’d joined them many a weekend afternoon, meditating and learning magic at their feet. Oh, the Academy taught me well, but my aunts had taught me all the shortcuts. In front of the altar, where Astra kept her magical gear, I gave a respectful bow, then picked up her dagger and wand. I kept my own ritual gear on a small altar in my room.

I hurried back with the tools. “Did you need anything else?” I asked. “war water? Begone potion?”

“No, I don’t think so. He’s probably not expecting someone to free her from his cording, so it shouldn’t be difficult. If he was prepared for the attack, then it might be a different matter.”

She motioned for Devon to sit on a chair in the center of the living room. After casting a circle, which magnified all the emotions and energy in the room, Astra began to slowly chant. I couldn’t understand what she was saying—she spoke so softly—but the energy felt like waves, caught in a glass, sloshing from side to side.

The words seemed to take a power of their own, circling Devon like autumn leaves caught up in a gust of wind. I could see the cords that Marcus had tethered into Devon. They were sickly vines, pulsing with energy as they siphoned it off of her. They reminded me of leeches, almost making me gag.

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