"Hil-"

"Wait, Regina. Keep her in sight, but let her do this on her own." The woman nodded, darted out of the room. "They're holding up better than I expected. Especially Hillary."

"She's one tough kid." Annie sat next to her on the bed. "I bet you were like that."

"Me?" Claire looked over at her. "I was cold, withdrawn." She spoke quietly, so Annie had to lean in to hear. "I had been a demon for centuries, reigning in h.e.l.l beside Azazel, and centuries more wandering the earth as an exile, alone. I had to learn compa.s.sion, learn how to show emotion, until I understood, as a human, I could actually feel it."

"G.o.d-Claire, I'm sorry, I didn't think-"

"Don't apologize. Just another facet in the life of Claire."

"I thought you were thrown out of-you know-because of your compa.s.sion."

A smile tugged at her mouth. "I lost everything. That killed it pretty quickly. Ah, look at this," she said as Hillary dashed into the room. "What a lovely doll she is, as well."

"Her name is Sophie." Hillary clutched the rag doll, touching the mop of black hair. After a long hesitation, she held it out. "I hope she's good enough."

Claire accepted the doll, tucking it in the crook of her arm. "She is more than good enough. Thank you, Hillary. I will take the best care with her."

"Okay." Regina wrapped one arm around her shoulders. "I'm okay, Mom. It's just a doll."

"Your favorite. I am proud of you, honey." Hillary blushed, staring at her feet. Running a soothing hand up and down her daughter's arm, she looked at Claire. "I a.s.sume you need other-ingredients."

"As a matter of fact," Claire mimed writing to Annie. She started to shake her head-then remembered the pad and pen Claire kept in the duffle. Pulling them out, she handed them over. "I would be thrilled if I could get a gla.s.s of water." Scribbling as she talked, Claire finished, gave the pad to Regina. "And I think I need to lie down for a bit."

With a groan, she lowered herself to the bed. Annie knelt next to her, fear leaping as she watched the color drain from Claire's face.

"Are you okay?" Hillary beat her to the question, pulling away from her mom to crawl on the bed and take Claire's hand. "Did he hurt you?"

"No, sweetheart." Claire opened her eyes, and the pain that flared in the blue depths told Annie the truth. "It's an old injury. I just need a little rest, and I'll be fine. Thank you, for caring, and for Sophie. Annie-I think it's time for that circle. Regina, if you could-" She waved at the pad.

"As fast as I can. Stay here, Hillary. Do what Claire says." With a last look at her daughter, she strode through the doorway.

"Annie-"

"Stay put. Hillary-can you get the salt out of the duffle for me?" Once she was out of earshot Annie leaned in. "And next time you lie to me about being okay, I'm going to cart you to the nearest hospital myself." Knowing how much Claire hated them, she considered it a threat that might get through the stubborn. "Are we clear?"

"Crystal." Groaning, she closed her eyes. "Thank you for casting the circle."

"Right-got the hint."

Checking on Claire pretty much every other minute, Annie composed a chant specific to what they were trying to protect themselves from-a guardian angel, of all things. Looking at Claire yet again, she understood, for the first time since coming back from Huntsville, that her friend was no longer indestructible.

Accepting the salt from Hillary, she used it to make a physical circle, chanting under her breath, well aware of her audience.

"I want you to stay inside the ring of salt, no matter what you hear." Crouching down, she looked at Hillary. "Your mom is scared, and worried about you. It would make her, and me, feel a whole lot better if you stayed here, where we know you're safe."

"Will Mom be here with me?" Hillary's panic-edged voice reminded Annie that she was just a little girl, caught up in a situation even adults would have issues dealing with.

"Every minute, and me or Claire, when we can. You won't be alone again, honey. I promise you."

"Okay."

The tears in her eyes shot straight through Annie, and she pulled the girl into her arms, running one hand over her long hair while she cried. Claire watched her, a smile Annie didn't like on her face. It was as close to smug as her friend got.

Sniffling, Hillary pulled away from her, wiping at her face. "I'm okay. Thanks," she whispered, smiling shyly up at Annie.

"I didn't have everything. I hope this will be enough." Regina strode in, carrying a plastic grocery bag, and halted at the sight of her daughter huddled on the floor. "Hil-are you all right?"

"I'm fine, Mom. I was helping Annie." She gestured to the circle of salt.

"Is that-" Regina looked at it, then at Annie. "Will that really protect us?"

"What the salt represents will." Annie felt like she was lying through her teeth. She had no idea what would work against a raging guardian angel. Or if anything would. "It's a physical barrier-the circle is invisible, but you'll feel it when you step through. The salt just shows you where the protection ends."

"So we stay inside the circle, and we'll be safe?"

"As safe as I can-"

"Yes," Claire said, interrupting her. "Annie is good at what she does. I trust her with my life." She looked at Annie, and the confidence Annie desperately needed filled her blue eyes. "The circle will protect you and your daughter, if Zach manages to get past us. I don't plan on that happening, but this is a precaution that will make me feel better." Pushing herself up, she hid the stiffness from them. Annie recognized the careful movements; she'd seen them too much in the past months. "Ready, Annie?"

Wiping both hands on her jeans, she pushed her hair back. "I don't know if I'd ever be ready for something like this. But let's do it."

SIX.

Simon got lost. Twice. Cursing under his breath, he checked the map again, wished he had GPS, and made a U-turn, heading back the way he came. This time he turned left instead of right, ignoring the computer generated directions, and found the street. He slowed, reading the addresses, and saw both Claire's and Annie's cars in front of the Victorian on the corner.

Sitting back from the street, a wide lawn sloped down from the huge three story house. Mansion would be a better real estate description. As he was getting out of the van, a sleek black Jag pulled up behind him. Ignoring the bite of envy, he slung the duffle over his shoulder and headed toward the still purring machine.

Eric stepped out, looking as surprised as Simon felt. "What brings you here?"

"Same as you, I bet." He waved at the cars. "Claire stopped by the rectory for her ghost hunting kit. When I couldn't get through to her cell-"

"You came to check it out in person. All I got from Annie's cell was static, and," he ran one hand through his hair, let out his breath. "h.e.l.l-it sounded like words, in-"

"Latin."

Eric looked at him, eyes troubled. "Yeah. Looks like my girl stepped in it again."

"Ready to go get them out?"

"They won't thank you for it," Eric said. After scanning the street for witnesses, Simon pa.s.sed him a shotgun. He faced the car to keep it out of sight, and checked it with the ease of experience, smiling at Simon's raised eyebrow. "Best friend is a former Marine. Rock salt rounds?" Simon nodded. "h.e.l.l, my life used to be so simple."

"Claire can complicate in a hurry."

"Yeah." Eric gestured to the house. "You go first-Annie will be less likely to yell at a priest."

Simon laughed. He agreed, but he wasn't about to say so. Annie intimidated him, and at the same time he admired her straight up way of talking.

Heading up the cracked sidewalk, he slipped a second shotgun out of his duffle, locked and loaded, aiming at the door. Eric started to outpace him, obviously deciding to get the door so he had no choice but go in first. The heat spark of warning burst through him-and he grabbed Eric before he could touch the glowing handle.

"What the-" Eric's protest cut off. "What do you see?"

"Power-like nothing I've ever come across. Stay back, until I-"

Before he could shout a warning the fierce, alien power that surrounded the house exploded.

It slammed into them with the force of a wall and picked them up. Simon felt the grip, the rage that dug in with breath-robbing force.

Helpless to stop it, he braced himself for pain as it tossed him through the air.

Claire froze, heat flaring from her amethyst.

"Annie, keep them inside the-"

A furious scream blasted them, bouncing off every wall. She felt power gather itself in, and understood what Zach meant to do.

G.o.d above- The house shuddered, knocking them all off balance. Claire grabbed the wall, Zach's rage pounding at her. She knew it was a fraction of his real power, and understood the rage was not directed at her.

Using the wall, she made her way to the nearest window-and saw two figures sprawled on the sloping lawn, weapons and the contents of a familiar duffle spread over the gra.s.s like discarded toys. Only the fact that it was the middle of a workday saved them from shocked witnesses.

"Simon," she whispered. "What are you-stay here, Annie."

She limped out of the bedroom. Zach appeared before she reached the stairs.

"You will order them to leave." He trapped her against the wall, his rage swirling around him. She saw exhaustion slice through the rage, and his attempt to hide it. "They cannot be here-I will not have them here-"

"I will do it, if you do something for me."

"You dare-"

"Yes." She looked into the furious eyes, prayed what she remembered about guardians still held true. "I can ask for protection, even if that protection is from the guardian. And you are bound to grant the request. So I ask that you not harm the people you've trapped in this house, and that you let me help you. If you can let them go, it would-"

"They stay." His flat, quiet voice scared her far more than if he shouted. "Do not ask for their freedom again." With a sigh he stepped back, ran one hand through the thick, golden brown hair. "I never intended harm. I just need-" He swung away from her, but she could still see the anguish. It cloaked him, left her heart aching with the weight of it. "Tell the men to leave. I will give you the time to do so. If they do not-"

"I will make certain they leave." She turned back to the bedroom, saw Annie in the doorway, Regina and Hillary huddled behind her. "Stay there. I won't be long."

"Eric is-"

"They're leaving, Annie. I made a promise." While she spoke she mimed writing with a pen.

"Got it," Annie said. She disappeared, returning moments later with the ballpoint. "What are you-"

"Get back inside. I'll join you in a few minutes."

"Claire-"

"Now."

Anger snapped off Annie, but she obeyed, herding mother and daughter back inside. Claire expected her to slam the door, but it closed quietly. Which told her Annie was beyond p.i.s.sed. Bracing herself for more arguing, she paused long enough to use the pen before she made her way down the stairs. Zach waited for her, opened the door as she approached. So much for direct warnings.

In the middle of the sloping lawn, Simon crouched over Eric. His head snapped around, and he pushed to his feet when he spotted Claire, his movements stiff. "Are you okay?"

"We're fine. It's a-bit more complicated than I first thought, but Annie and I can handle things-"

"Like h.e.l.l." Anger sparked in the clear green eyes. "Whatever threw us across the lawn, whatever's emitting power I've never seen before is more than a bit complicated. I'm not-"

"Simon." She raised her left hand, kept it close to her side, where Zach couldn't see it. "Please." He glanced down at her hand, then back up to her face. She knew by the look on his face he saw the words she scribbled on her palm. Leave-stay close-need you. She hoped he understood what she tried to convey with the cryptic message. "Do you-"

"Got it." His anger stung. And the fact she could see that anger still shocked her. "You don't need my help, don't want my help. We'll clear out."

"Simon-"

"I got it, Claire. No need to repeat yourself." He nodded, once, backed across the lawn. Understanding broke through the anger. Relief made her knees weak. "Eric-we're done here."

"What the h.e.l.l are you . . ." His voice faded when he saw Claire. She knew she looked-less than her best. Simon caught his arm, stopped him before he could rush the door, whispered to him. Eric stared at him, ran one hand through his sun streaked hair. "Hey, Claire." She admired the casual tone, knew he used it to hide the fear she saw. "Can you tell Annie I'll be with Simon?"

"I can do that. Thank you for checking on us." She could feel Zach's impatience pressing at her. "I'll see you later."

Closing the door, she leaned against it, heart pounding, and slipped her marked hand in her pocket before she turned to him. "Is that satisfactory?"

He moved to the window. She knew Simon and Eric would make a show of leaving, and if Simon understood what she meant, they wouldn't go far. Not that they could do anything to help; but having them close made her feel-safer.

"They are leaving." Zach sounded surprised, and relieved. With his guard down, Claire saw the fear edging his anger. She knew being stuck Between had its bad points, but his almost frantic need to be free of it had her wondering just how much things had changed.

"I gave my word, Zach." He looked at her, and for a moment something familiar flashed behind his eyes. It disappeared before she could be certain. She prayed she had been mistaken. "I'd like to see to my friends."

"No tricks. I know what you are." Claire stilled, her breath frozen in her throat. "I can see the power of the witch radiating from you and your companion. Do anything, and I will harm-"

He clutched his throat as his voice choked off.

"It's good to know the rules still work. Protection, Zach. I asked for it. You can't threaten them."

She left him standing in the living room, still speechless. And hoped he didn't try to test the protection with her. She asked for the people trapped in the house. And she wasn't one of them-not completely. Even with a soul.

Annie waited just inside the doorway, inches from smacking Claire with a shotgun when she stepped inside the bedroom.

"Holy h.e.l.l-" Lowering the weapon, she stepped forward, eyes narrowed as she studied Claire. "You look terrible. What happened down there?"