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It see time before Diana drew back, and when she did she stepped away fro to look into the darkness Cassie wiped her cheeks with the back of her hand The old on Diana’s hair

There was absolute silence except for the distant roar and crash of waves on the beach The entire group stoodthat none of them could quite define

At last Diana turned back to theh," she said "I think I understand, , but most of it Listen, everybody, because I don’t want to say this again"

Everyone was quiet, their faces turned toward Diana expectantly Cassie had the distinct feeling that a judgement was about to be rendered Diana looked like a priestess or a princess, tall and pale, but resolute There was a strange dignity about her, an aura of greatness and of certainty that belied the pain in her eyes

I’ht Whatever it was, she deserved it She glanced at Ada too His expression asked no favors, but Cassie knehat heunderneath it They both stood before Diana, connected by their crilad to have it in the open at last

"1 don’t want anybody to discuss what’s happened tonight again," Diana said, her voice soft and distinct "Not ever Once I’ve finished talking we’ll all consider the subject closed" She looked at Ada his eyes "I think," she said slowly, "that I kno it ive you And as for you, Cassie - you’re even less to blame There was no way for you to have known I don’t blame either of you All I ask - "

Cassie drew a shuddering breath and broke in She couldn’t hold back any longer

"Diana," she said, "I want you to know sory and jealous because Adaht But all that’s changed now - truly Now all I want is for you and Ada is more important to me than you - and the promise I made" For an instant it crossed Cassie’s mind to wonder if Adaht away and spoke earnestly, with utter conviction "Adaive us another chance to keep it - just oneher mouth, but Cassie went on before she could speak

"Please, Diana You’ve got to know that you can trust ot to let us prove that"

There was a slight pause, then Diana said, "Yes Yes - you’re right" She took a deep breath and let it out, looking at Adaet all about this for a while? Just - wipe the slate clean?"

A muscle in Adam’s jaw jerked Silently, he took the hand Diana extended toward him

Diana held her other hand out to Cassie Cassie took it and held on tightly to the slih and cry at once Instead she just gave Diana a wobbly s to sh his eyes were dark as storm clouds over the ocean

"And that’s it?" Faye exploded "Everything’s all right now, all sweetness and light? Everybody loves everybody and you’re all going ho her a hard look "As for the last, anyway We’re going home - it’s past tireed The blank helplessness had left her entirely, and although she looked ile than Cassie had ever seen her before, she also looked determined "We all need that"

"And we need to call a doctor - or somebody," Deborah said unexpectedly She inclined her head toward Nurandma"

"Whose side are you on?" Faye snarled Deborah just gave her a cool look

Diana’s fingers tightened on Cassie’s "Yes You’re right, we’ll call Dr Stern - and Cassie can cohter, but nobody laughed with her Even the Henderson brothers were serious, their slanted eyes thoughtful Suzan twisted a lock of strawberry-blond hair around her fingers, looking at Cassie’s and Diana’s intertwined hands Laurel nodded encouragingly when Cassie glanced at her, and Melanie’s cool gray eyes shone with quiet approval Sean chewed his lip, looking uncertainly froroup to another

But it was Nick’s expression that surprised Cassie most His face, usually so unemotional, was clearly strained, as if there were so on beneath the surface

There was no tih No ti uselessly, her plans to fracture the coven in ruins Melanie was speaking

"Do you want to go byafter your mom, and if you want to see her "

Cassie nodded eagerly It seemed like a hundred years since she had seen her mother, since she had been inside that roolassy, eht by now; surely she would be able to tell Cassie what had happened

But when the three of theo of Cassie’s hand on the short drive to Number Four, went into the house, Cassie’s heart sank Melanie’s great-aunt, a thin-lipped wouest rooure on the bed sent chills of dish Cassie’s bloodstrea already there would be no answer

God, her hteningly young, unnaturally so It was as if it weren’t Cassie’s irl with dark hair and big haunted black eyes that vaguely reseer

Not so to be of help to Cassie

"It’s okay, Mo away from Diana to put a hand on her ht You’ll see You’re going to be just fine"

Her throat ached, and then she felt Diana gently leading her away

"You’ve both been through enough," Melanie said once they were outside again "Let us take care of things with the doctor - and the police, if they have to coet so in the street, and they nodded in agreement when Melanie said this Cassie looked at Diana, who nodded too

"Okay," Cassie said It cahtly hoarse and she realized how tired she was - bone-tired At the saht-headed, and the entire scene in front of her was assue to be standing out here in the wee hours of the randmother was dead and her o back to Yet there were no adults on the street, no commotion, only the members of the Circle and an eerie stillness Come to think of it, eren’t there any parents out here? Surely so on

But the houses on Crowhaven Road remained shuttered and silent On the way to Melanie’s house, Cassie thought she’d seen a light go off in Suzan’s house and a curtain whisk back at the Henderson’s If any adults were awake, they weren’t getting involved

We’re on our own, Cassie thought But Diana was beside her, and she could see Adahts of the coven’s parked cars A sort of strength flowed into Cassie just at their nearness

"We’ve got to talk toot to tell you - all of you Things ht beforebefore she died"

"We can an, but Faye’s throaty voice cut her off

"No, we can’t I’s are now, or had you forgotten?"

Faye’s head was thrown back proudly, the silver crescent-ht-black of her hair Diana opened her ht," Adalare of headlights to stand by Faye "You’re the leader So lead Where do we meet?"

Faye’s eyes narrowed "At the old science building But - "

"Fine" Adam didn’t wait for her to finish; he turned his back on her "I’ll drive you home," he said to Diana and Cassie

Faye looked furious, but the three of the away "By the way, Diana - happy birthday," she called spitefully after them

Diana didn’t answer