"Simon and Eric were outside-they're gone, Annie. And we can't depend on their help." She raised her left hand, let Annie see the scribbled message. Nodding, Annie swallowed, stuck the backup shotgun in the duffle and picked it up. "Regina, I want you and Hillary to stay here, inside the circle. No matter what you hear, I don't want you to leave its protection."

Regina nodded, Hillary pressed into her side. Stepping to the edge of the circle, Claire smiled down at her. "He won't hurt you, sweetheart. He gave his word, and he is bound by it now."

Hillary pushed away from her mother. "Then why do we have to stay here? I want to help."

"Because I will feel better, knowing you're here. And there are things we have to do, to keep ourselves safe. Things I don't want you to be part of. Do you understand?"

"Yeah. You're doing magic."

Claire glanced over at her mother. Arms crossed, Regina frowned at Hillary. "You are one smart girl," Claire said. "I bet your mom didn't expect you to know. Yes, we are going to do a spell that will help us get out of here. And it is a scary one."

"Even for you?"

Claire smiled. "Especially for me. Because I don't like to do this kind of magic. The kind that forces someone else to do what they don't want to do. It makes me feel-icky, right here." She pressed one hand to her stomach. "You know that feeling?"

"Yeah. You don't want me to feel it, do you?"

"I would never wish icky on anyone. We'll get out of here before you know it. I promise, Hillary, nothing will happen to you or your mom."

"Okay." The trust Claire saw in those big brown eyes humbled her. With a nod, she headed for the door. "Claire?" She paused, glanced back at Hillary. "Be careful."

Tears stung her eyes. "Thank you, sweetheart."

Before she could make a fool of herself she strode out of the bedroom, and into the bathroom across the hall. She scrubbed at the ink on her palm, careful not to get water on the leather band hiding her scarred tattoo. The weight of Hillary's belief in her squeezed her heart. If anything happened to that girl because she screwed up- "Claire!" Annie poked her head in the bathroom. "What are you doing? That b.a.s.t.a.r.d could just-"

"Annie. He can hear you."

Letting out an impatient breath, she opened her mouth to make what Claire knew would be a smarta.s.s comment. When Claire shook her head, Annie huffed, stomping out of the bathroom. With a sigh, Claire followed her, into the small corner bedroom she planned to use for the spell.

Closing the door, she leaned against it. "You can't throw out your usual sarcasm, not here. He won't understand it." She pointed to the pad and pen Annie dropped on the side table, started writing when Annie handed it over, still talking. "I want out of here as much as you do, but we have to play by his rules."

Turning the pad, she let Annie read it.

Can you do the binding spell if I write it down for you?

Annie nodded, her sudden fear smacking Claire. "What does he want from us?"

Taking the pad, Annie scribbled, pa.s.sed it back to her.

Afraid I'll screw up.

"I wish I knew, Annie, beyond what he told us, about wanting his life back. And we can't help him with that, whatever he may threaten." She mouthed three words. You'll be fine.

Annie swallowed, nodded, fear in the warm brown eyes. And she started putting out the tools they would need to bind Zach, to try and keep him from doing them or himself any harm. Claire wasn't certain it would even work. But she had to try.

SEVEN.

"What the h.e.l.l were you thinking?"

Eric slammed the door of the Jag and stalked toward Simon. They had driven around the block after limping away from the Victorian. With the house on a rise, it was still in sight, while they were safely hidden by the house behind it.

Standing next to his van, Simon waited for Eric to do-whatever he felt he needed to do. When the fist came at him he caught it with his left hand, grabbed the front of Eric's shirt with his right.

"I saw the power of whatever is with them in that house." Simon waited until Eric relaxed, and let go, running one hand over his hair. "In a word, it was awesome. And I can't take the chance of p.i.s.sing it off with them trapped inside."

"Right-I know you're right. But, d.a.m.n it, I didn't want to leave them like that."

"You and me both." His cell chimed. Digging it out of his pocket, he turned to face the back of the Victorian as he recognized the number. "Theresa-I want you to stay out of-"

"Too late, Simon. I'm here." He heard a car engine in the background. "In fact, I'm driving past the house now-"

"Keep moving. Don't slow down, don't look at the house." He forced down the panic clawing at him. "Just keep going, and turn right when you get to the corner. You'll find us." Ending the call, he swore under his breath and headed for the corner.

"You should have told her to leave," Eric said, catching up to him.

"She's even more stubborn than her father." Grief at Bertram's death, along with the guilt that he helped cause it still dragged at Simon, kept him awake nights. Along with all the other blame he carried. "I'll send her on an errand-one that'll keep her well out of danger."

The sedan inched around the corner, then darted forward, screeching to a halt inches from the Jag. They both flinched. Theresa burst out of the car, running straight at Simon. He wrapped his arms around her when she hugged him, happy to see her, and wanting her gone as quick as he could get her out of town.

"Hey, Eric." She flashed him a shy smile. "So-what's happening?"

"Sorry to disappoint, sweetheart, but there's no ghost." When she opened her mouth he held up one hand. "You can do both of us a big favor, and gather up some supplies. Claire is doing cleanup work at the house, and will need some herbs to finish the job."

"Cleanup, like-witchcraft? I thought-"

"She can perform simple cleansing rituals. I'm going to hang around, in case she wants a more spiritual cleansing. And he," Simon pointed at Eric, "just won't go away."

"Not without Annie. We have a date," he said to Theresa, flashing a smile. "She'd skin me and hang what was left on the wall as a trophy if I left without her."

"Okay." She crossed her arms. "What's really going on?"

EIGHT.

Claire held the rag doll while Annie attached the hair Claire literally pulled off Zach, tying a physical part of him to what would be their poppet for the binding.

When she finished, Annie wiped both hands on her jeans, and cast a circle around the makeshift altar set up on the small side table before picking up the paper with the spell. Claire had written it step by step, knowing Annie would be overwhelmed if she had to work the spell in one go. It was bad enough that she had to work something so manipulative to begin with; Claire wanted to make it as easy as possible for her.

"I'm ready-I think."

"Are you certain-"

"Don't give me the no option, please. I might take it." Annie blew out her breath. "Okay-how fast am I going to have to be?"

"I can," Claire mimed winding the red embroidery thread in her hand around the doll. "Say it low and fast-and be sure. You won't be able to stop. And there is no guarantee this will even be effective."

"And isn't that excellent news." Annie flashed a weak smile. "Okay, enough stalling." She spread out the paper, lit the white candle-the only candle they could find on short notice-and whispered, so low Claire had to strain to hear her.

"Blessed be, thou creature made of art.

By art made, by art changed.

Thou art not cloth But flesh and blood.

I name thee Zach Thou art he, between the worlds, in all the worlds, So mote it be."

Claire started wrapping the doll with the red thread, working quickly as Annie continued.

"By air and earth, by water and fire, So be you bound, as I desire.

Your power is found, your power I bind.

By moon and sun, my will be done.

Sky and sea keep harm from me.

Cord go round, power be bound, Light revealed, now be sealed-"

A furious roar cut her off. She looked over at Claire-and before Claire could stop her she sprinted for the door.

"Annie-" Zach appeared, so sudden Annie skidded to avoid running into him. Rage coiled around him, white hot.

"What have you done?"

Before Claire could reach them, Zach caught Annie's arm and they both disappeared.

"Annie!" She ran to the stairs. Hillary appeared in the bedroom doorway. "Get back inside the circle. Now." She would deal with the hurt in the girl's face later. Limping down the stairs, she heard Annie before she saw her.

"You are going to regret every breath you take if you hurt them-"

"Free me."

Zach's rage smacked her when she hit the bottom of the stairs. She held on to the banister, breathed through the pain that blasted through her. A reminder she was not one of the protected.

"You scared a little girl half to death." Annie nearly spat the words at him, fury swirling around her. "Trapped us in here when we only wanted to help, and you're asking for a favor now. That takes nerve, a.s.shole."

G.o.d above, Annie. Claire waited for retaliation. She knew her own kind, and guardians were simply a step below angels in pride and temper. Zach didn't disappoint.

With a shout he flung one hand up. Claire pushed off the banister, tried to get there first. But the flame of gold shot straight at Annie. She let out a surprised cry and dropped to the floor, the denim over her left hip smoking. Claire skidded to a halt in front of her, ready to take the next volley-and watched as Zach collapsed, clutching his hip. The same hip Annie curled over, cursing like a sailor.

Furious blue eyes stared up at her. "I will harm, whatever the cost to me, until you release me from whatever heathen curse you laid on me." He flinched, pressing his hand harder against his hip. Blood glistened as it slid down the black fabric of his trousers. "And I will continue to harm," he raised his gaze to the ceiling. "Until I am free."

Annie clapped her hands over her ears as his voice thundered around them. Swallowing, Claire approached him, reached out to touch him, willing to give herself away in order to be sure what she feared wasn't true. Zach rolled to his feet and backed away from her. When she started to follow he threw a gold streak that burned a line across the wood floor. Inches from her feet.

"Help your friend," he said, his voice low and calm. A voice someone in pain would respond to, believe in. Trust. "I am-sorry-"

"You should be." Instead of placating, Claire let her temper take control. She crouched beside Annie, laid a hand on her shoulder. Annie glanced up at her, nodded. "What the h.e.l.l kind of guardian are you, hurting people like that? People you are sworn to protect, at whatever cost."

Remorse crossed the angular face, quickly followed by suspicion. "How do you-"

"How long before they punish you? Why haven't they punished you? It should have been immediate-the moment you threatened, never mind actually hurting a mortal."

"Who are you?"

Heat flared in her amethyst. Ignoring it, and the warning, she stood, kept herself between Annie and Zach. "Your worst enemy, if you do not-"

Before she could finish he sprang forward. Pain tore through her the moment he made contact. His arms caught her in an embrace-and Annie's scream cut off as he thrust them both into breathless darkness.

They tumbled to the floor. Claire cried out, her bad leg slamming into bare hardwood. Strong hands lifted her, settled her against the wall.

"Forgive me," Zach whispered. He brushed hair off her face, lifted her chin until she met the fierce blue eyes. Shame and anger fought each other in their depths. "I will not step back, or give in to your demands. I mean to stay, to live. Whatever it takes to have this, I will do."

He laid his hand on her leg. Claire couldn't stop him, prayed he couldn't see, couldn't feel her power through the widening cracks in Azazel's wall. Warmth spread from his hand, through her skin and into bone. She had no idea guardians could heal physical wounds-their realm had always been healing the spirit. The pain ebbed, faded, and she let out her breath.

"Thank you."

"I am not a monster."

"Someone looking in from the outside would think differently."

He stood, temper flaring around him like an angry storm. "They will not have the chance. This must end today. I will have my life today."

He disappeared. Claire waited, until she was certain, and got to her feet. Her leg felt-wonderful. No nagging ache, no stiffness. The euphoria of that carried her to the door, and died when she found it was locked. With no keyhole on her side of the latch.

"Claire-" Annie started to push herself up when her friend disappeared with that b.a.s.t.a.r.d. Pain roared across her hip, dropped her. "d.a.m.n it-"

"Annie!" The panicked cry snapped her head up. Hillary scrambled down the stairs, dark hair flying around her. "Annie, are you okay? Where's Claire?"

"I've been better. Zach took her."

"No-this is my fault-we have to-"

"Not your fault, honey. Claire would be the first to tell you not to blame yourself. Hey," she took Hillary's hand when she saw tears filling the girl's eyes. "She'll be okay." Or I'll kill the b.a.s.t.a.r.d myself. I don't care what he is. "Look at my ring. It's powerful protection, and lets me know when there's trouble. See how it's glowing? That means Claire's okay. If it starts sparking, then we'll have something to worry about. That, or I'm really mad." She smiled. "It's also my own personal mood ring."