Page 158 of The Curse Breakers

I pointed to the south. “The sound is just on the other side of that brush.”

“So that’s our escape plan. Pathetic as it is.” He spun in a circle. “There doesn’t seem to be a high place around here like the lighthouse.”

“Well, there is,” I corrected. “The tents are worthless but the roof of the blacksmith’s building is a good two stories tall. It just isn’t easily accessible.”

He disappeared into a tent and dragged-out a round table into the middle of the clearing. “This isn’t much, but it’s better than nothing. Climb on top of it after you finish marking your symbols.”

“What are you talking about? We aren’t going to try to get up on the blacksmith’s building?”

“Ellie, look at it. Even if you get up there, you’re liable to break your neck if you fall off. Besides, you need to be more tempting to them. So, lower it is.” He walked over to the woods and grabbed a long stick, then handed it to me. “You work on the markings, and I’ll get started with the candles.”

I nodded and reached for the stick. Our hands brushed, and I looked into his eyes.

He smiled softly and leaned down to give me a gentle kiss. “You can do this, Ellie. Just stick to the plan, as arse over tits as it seems.”

I started giggling, relieved that he’d broken some of the tension. “Arse over tits?”

He grinned. “I have so much to teach you.”

I began marking symbols in a big circle in the dirt, using the same ones I used on the doors, while David set up candles around the perimeter and lit them. When I finished the outer circle, I started on an inner circle of markings while David pulled a container of salt from his bag and poured a thin line around the candles.

When I finished the second circle, I stood up.

“According to Cherokee and Algonquian tradition, we either need seven circles or four,” he said. “Nothing in between. We have four now, counting the salt and the candles. How’s your palm?”

I lifted my hand. “It’s fine. It doesn’t itch or burn.”

“Then make another circle and I’ll make two more salt circles.”

“Okay.” My job was easier since I had a smaller circle to mark and I finished just as he ran out of salt, halfway through his next to last line.

“Remember to stay up there on the table unless they break through. If they do, run for the water.” He pulled another salt carton from his bag and began to pour. “When both of them are in view, start the chant. Read it. I know you probably have it memorized, but in the Cherokee belief system, the wording has to be exact to make a spell work. We’re not sure what we’re dealing with here, so it’s safer to hedge our bets. Read it slowly anddon’t stop. If you do, start over again.” He looked up at the sky, then back at me. “Use your torch even if you can read the text by moonlight. It may be cloudless now, but you know how quickly the wind gods can summon a storm.”

I dug the book out of my bag along with a flashlight and set them on the table, leaving the bag on the ground. “I’m scared.”

He looked up, his determination written across his face. “I’m past scared, love. I moved into scared shitless about an hour ago while we were waiting for Marino’s guy to show up. But just stick to the plan. You can do this.”

I nodded. “Yeah, you’re right.” Why else would Daddy have told me it had to be tonight? I had to trust my instincts, but I had to admit that something about this didn’t feel right.

I climbed on the table as he continued with the line.

“I’m going to be up in the tree right here.” He pointed to a large oak tree next to my planned escape route.

“I’d feel better if you were in here with me.”

“Ellie, we’ve discussed this already. The temples were considered sacred and only priests and conjurers were allowed inside. We just made you a temple. If I went in there with you, I’ll dull or negate your power. Then all of this would be for naught.”

I climbed on top of the table and picked up the book and flashlight. “Make sure that you’re high enough in that tree so that they can’t jump up and claw you. One of them got to the top of the lighthouse roof.”

When he was halfway finished pouring the salt circle, my palm started to burn. A low growl rumbled in the woods, and my heart took off like a racehorse. “David, get in the tree.”

He turned to look into the trees behind me and then continued to pour salt. “I’m almost done.”

“David, get your ass into that tree now, or I’ll come over there and push you into it.”

“I’m not done—”

“If you think I’m lying, you don’t know me very well.” I moved to the edge of the table, ready to leap off.

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