Page 61 of Sinistram
“No spell is powerful enough to work its effects worldwide,” Sorren replied. “Look for an indication of the magic’s reach. It’s going to take enough out of the caster to affect a limited area close by.”
“How many people are part of the Sinistram? Do you think they’ll all show up to fight?” Brent asked.
Travis did some mental calculations and grimaced. “When I was still part of the group, there were seven elders, possibly two dozen lower-level priests like me, and probably five or six Keepers, who never left the library.
“As for whether they’ll all show up, I can’t imagine the Keepers coming, but then again, I didn’t expect one to appear on my doorstep,” Travis said. “As for the others, we worked in small strike groups. Even for large threats, that was usually sufficient.”
“Would the regular priests fight to defend vampires?” Brent put into words something Travis had wondered.
“Under regular circumstances, no. But clearly things have changed. I don’t think the elders could have turned all of the priests, or there would be no one left to say the Sacraments and handle the types of missions we undertook.” Travis grimaced when he realized he had included himself with “we.”
“I don’t know how far their loyalty goes,” Travis admitted. “I’m hoping that the Precepts spell can be limited to affecting just vampires, not everyone with abilities.”
“We’ve also got the Logonje and Occulatum on our side,” Brent pointed out. “And possibly CHARON.”
“Can we trust CHARON?” Sorren asked.
“Hell, no,” Brent said. “But if the ‘enemy of my enemy is my friend’ and the Sinistram ordered Shane’s murder, then I think they could play a role. I still wouldn’t tell them anything until the last minute, just in case. But they’d be an asset if they came.”
Sorren paused. “Do you understand the cost?”
“Probably not completely,” Travis admitted, and Brent glared at him. “I figured I have a lot of studying ahead of me tonight.”
“I will see what Donnelly knows, and I would suggest you work closely with Jacinski and Leo,” Sorren told him. “At the least, I’d expect the spell to draw from your energy, maybe even your soul. You’ll need to make sure that you have witches nearby who can replenish you and tether your soul to your body. This is big magic, but don’t assume it requires you to sacrifice your life to save the world.”
“We’ll also have Dr. Peters with us, if it comes to keeping soul and body together,” Travis replied, reminding Sorren of their necromancer friend.
“As well as Rowan and Archibald Donnelly,” Sorren added. “Although it’s probably best I remain in Charleston, for obvious reasons.”
Travis didn’t mention the visions he had seen over the last twelve hours, watching the different possibilities play out. Sometimes they won, defeating the elders and stopping Sinistram. In others, the whole park went up in a fireball and them with it. No version seemed more likely than another, which is why he hadn’t told Brent about the dreams.
The longer Travis studied the Precepts, the more he felt its drain on his energy. He understood the concept of an unholy bargain, and while he was willing to sacrifice himself,if necessary, to stop the Sinistram apocalypse, he desperately hoped there would be a way that didn’t drain him dry in the process.
“Thank you,” Travis replied, although he knew he wouldn’t be completely reassured until they had figured out how the final battle would go down. “I’d like to stick around.”
CHAPTER TEN
“Covens,take the lake shore, and make sure you cover the cemeteries and the spots near where the towns were flooded,” Brent told the witches. “Do your best to keep anyone from exploding the oil and gas wells. You’ll also be protecting Travis and lending him whatever power you can spare.
“Pre-cogs and mediums, stay back from the front lines but keep your phones on and let me know if anything changes,” he added. “The ghosts are our eyes and ears. Use them as scouts to keep from getting surprised.”
Rowan and Aricella had gathered and briefed the witches earlier that day, ensuring everyone knew the needed spells and understood their role of keeping supernatural attackers at bay. The two more powerful witches intended to stay with Travis and Brent, as did Archibald Donnelly and Dr. Peters, figuring that necromancy would be the most help in keeping the restless dead at bay.
Jacinski and the half-dozen Logonje priests chose to cover the most haunted spots, the ones that might pose the greatest threat as the lake’s dark magic powered up. Father Leo and the six Occulatum priests went with them. They were already in position.
“I don’t like doing this at night,” Travis grumbled. “Vampires sleep during the day.”
“We weren’t going to get far in daylight, not with park visitors and security,” Brent reminded him.
“I know. But I don’t have to like it.”
Brent stayed with Travis, backing him up with guns and his limited ability to see ghosts. They had chosen the spot closest to where the town of Mayne had been flooded, marked by stone pillars, railroad tracks that led nowhere, and an overgrown cemetery.
Some of the allied covens were on alert for attack, protecting the ritual area as best they could, given the large size of the park. Others laid down suppressing magic to avoid having the old gas and oil wells explode.
“Do you think the elders know we’re here?” Travis asked as he got the final elements ready for the ritual.
“If they don’t yet, they will soon,” Brent said.
