"Naw. But movement counts sometimes for certain spells. The earth grounded me magically," Meekal said. Distracted by yet another Thyrza, he breathed out, "Where'd you learn that?"

Shayla glared at the noisy witch. "Learn what?"

Meekal grunted, twisting a binding around the last Thyrza. "The gla.s.ses. And lingo."

The witch screamed, writhing in desperate anger, clutching the gla.s.ses still stuck on her face.

Shayla growled, pointed her sgian dhu and hissed, "Alalia. CIARANLEXISS told me."

The Death Knell stopped abruptly. Silence fell, weighing heavily upon Shayla as though it were a phantom of the night. Somewhere deep in her center, she began shaking. Stubbornly, she made her way to Gail through the scattered bodies; the coppery scent of blood choked her.

She knelt. "Gail," she whispered softly, reaching for a motionless wrist on the ground. Gail's pulse gave her the message of life within. A sob of relief erupted, and then mourning for Mrs. Graham roiled up.

Shayla found herself kneeling next to Mrs. Graham. She cried out, keening as though it was the most natural thing to do. Raising her hand, she stared at Mrs. Graham's blood on her fingers. Moonbeams painted it black. Shayla turned her hand to the light coming from torches around them, there it was. Red, glistening more real than anything she had ever seen. Boiling up from her gut, she screamed her mourning again.

Why Mrs. Graham? She was an innocent. Someone who crossed her path by way of a spiritual journey. Why?

"Shayla," Meekal whispered. "Come on, love."

Gail, awake now, held her hands on Shayla's elbows. "Shayla, it isn't your fault."

With reluctance, Shayla rose. "Why? Why did he kill her?"

"She was his mum."

Shayla's head spun. She stared at Gail, disbelief ripping her apart. "What!" she screeched.

"She was his mum. He was angry with her because although she was his mum, she didn't support his some of his choices." Gail's voice trailed off as she looked down ashen faced at Amethyst. "She disapproved that he joined Malvenue," she finished in a soft voice.

Shayla stepped back as she stared at Gail. "You know about Malvenue?"

Gail inclined her head gravely. "Yes, Shayla. Unfortunately, I know about Malvenue." Gail met Meekal's gaze. "I've always known."

Shayla inhaled sharply, the action proved ineffective. The shadows of the night seemed to smother her, robbing the oxygen from her lungs. No words! She screamed inside her head. Nothing could describe the shock at such a revelation.

Gail gave her a sad smile, and then a nod. "I'm an undercover Adjutor. A policewoman-so to speak. It looks like the rest of my team is here now. Excuse me."

Shayla turned, taking in the actions of everyone around them. Joseph Chilkwell was speaking with two men, one blond the other with black hair tied in a long ponytail.

There were other bodies, several Thyrza were bound, and men and women wearing uniforms mingled in.

A sob wracked her.

[9] Joseph of Arimathea's Staff "Shay, Shayla."

Meekal's voice came through her senses. She knew he was attempting to console her. She clutched him, seeking grounding from the roiling emotions within.

"Shhh."

Sob after sob served as a long overdue release. Everything that happened over the last two days spiraled around her head, collided and crumbled down on her shoulders. "Why her?"

"Shayla," he whispered, his voice laced with sadness.

"I get mad at my mom. I don't kill her." She buried her face in his shoulder.

"Hush. I know." Meekal caressed her back.

"Excuse me, Kal."

"James."

Shayla pulled away from Meekal and turned, wiping wet cheeks.

The man with the long black ponytail gave her a sad smile. "Hi. You must be Shayla. Here, you dropped this by Mrs. Graham." He held out CIARANLEXISS.

"Thank you," she said, nodding and taking the sgian dhu. "Who are you?"

"James Alexander." He gave her a dazzling smile and held out his hand. "This is my partner, Leith Branwen."

Shayla shook his hand and quirked a brow at the blond man who approached and stopped next to James.

Tightening his arm around her shoulders, Meekal said, "Shayla, you remember me telling you about James and Leith." He motioned toward the Chalice Well and gardens before continuing. "They're the friends who helped with the wards in ninety-seven."

"I remember." Her voice came out low, sounding strange to her own ears. She tried to shake off a growing sense of gravity overcoming her.

"h.e.l.lo," Leith said. "James, Gail wants us to check the perimeter of the chapel grounds. The spell Zubird didn't complete has pulled up some energy she suspects is Gnomonn."

Lines of worry penetrated Meekal's forehead. "That's not good."

James looked at the edge of the torch light. "I thought I felt them, but was too busy with Dolus at the time." James motioned to Meekal. "We'll see you back at the Manor. There's no need for you to stay." He smiled sadly at Shayla. "I understand you were fond of Mrs. Graham. We all were. I'm sure there will be a memorial for her. Brenna should be here by then unless something else comes up. We had a problem in Province. That's why she isn't here."

Shayla nodded numbly.

"James," Meekal said. "Are you sure, you don't need me to stay? The last time we had Gnomonn here, it took all of us to banish them."

"Gnomonn?" Shayla felt heaviness around her head and shoulders. It enveloped her, tightening and pressing down.

"Yes," Meekal answered.

Shayla tried to frown. Her face would not work properly. She tucked her chin down against her chest to stretch her neck muscles. Tightness pulled. She tried to shake the consuming sensation off as it grew like a shroud, moving down her back and pulling her down.

James scanned her with his wand. He whispered under his breath in a strange language. "You're being affected because of your grief. Meekal, take her back to the Manor." He gave Meekal a poignant look.

"Sure thing."

Hands entwined, they arrived in Meekal's room on a night breeze.

Away from the influence of the Gnomonn, Shayla felt better. She pulled from Meekal and approached the window. Face pressed close to the gla.s.s, she tried to see below into the gardens. "What's a Gnomonn?"

"They're shadows of darkness. Not the kind you're used to. Instead, they come out when summoned by an evil influence. In this case, Zubird. You heard him, didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Well, he was trying to call Malvenue's soul to him, even though he knew Malvenue is in the bezoar stone. He failed. But he opened a portal for the Gnomonn."

"Why would he do that?" Their reflections on the dark gla.s.s, showing battle weariness served only to enhance the previous horror. She blew across the surface, and then pushed a finger through the mist her breath made on the gla.s.s. "Try to call for Malvenue's soul, I mean. And why didn't the spell you used before work?"

"Because he was hoping Malvenue's soul could at least tell him where the stone is. I couldn't silence him because he had worked a protection spell into the collar around his neck." Meekal fanned his hands across her shoulders, moving fingers in soothing spirals. "If Malvenue's soul told Syther where the stone is then they could get to it faster."

"Syther. Did we get him?" She leaned into his comforting aura.

"No."

She groaned, feeling dread around her heart, and stumbled to the chair by the desk. "Kal, what happens now?"

His fisted hands plunged into his jean pockets. "We wait and see what James, Leith and the other Adjutors come up with in their investigations. Darius G.o.dfrey was there too. He serves as a liaison with the local authorities."

"Who's Darius G.o.dfrey?"

"James' cousin, he's a plainclothes policeman." He began pacing from wall to wall.

"Oh." Shayla realized the center of Meekal's floor was empty, expressly for this purpose. She chewed her sore lip.

"Shay," he said and paused, opposite her. "You're going to be all right."

"I'll get it eventually," she said, shaking her head, fidgeting with her fingernails. One of them, broken to the quick from the night's combat, bled around its cuticle. Mrs. Graham's dried blood painting her skin proved a more menacing memory. Her gaze journeyed back to the window, past the gardens below, toward St. Dunstan's Chapel. She gasped and stood abruptly.

Clouds shrouded the low hung moon. Shayla watched them begin to change shape, coalescing into night horrors. Gnomonn. Summoned there by Zubird, their intent wallowed in evil. Instinct told her with deadly certainty. Her breathing quickened.

"It's okay. See, they're dissipating them." Meekal smoothed her tense shoulders. They watched as the Gnomonn lost the battle of dominion over the church grounds. Wands and torches lit to brighten the chapel grounds, synthesized the guardian's efforts.

Shayla could just make out figures battling the semi-blackness. "Look at me, I'm shaking," she whispered, quivering from head to toe. "You must be so disappointed. Some Guardian, huh?"

"I'm not disappointed," he replied, embracing her. "On the contrary, I'm very proud."

The last of the Gnomonn disappeared with an angry howl of wind. The moon now hung brightly over the ravaged area where the battle had occurred, granting atonement through its borrowed light. The sight of newfound peace lifted her spirit pulling up a sigh of relief.

"Kal?"

"Humm?"

"During your fight with Zubird, I saw your magic." She faced him and moved closer. Hands moving in the air around him, she motioned with flexing fingers. "It's purple-so beautiful. Like little stars on fire in purple flames. I saw it consume Zubird's black magic. What was that? I mean-I saw Seamus' aura of fear when I went to Syther's lair, but this was different. It's like everything suddenly became clear to me about us, but even that opens more questions."

"There is a legend," Meekal said huskily. "When G.o.d created souls, each came from a single sphere of fire. I'm amazed and awed that you saw it in action."

"I've never heard that legend. Even with all my reading."

"Aye, well it's because you've been sheltered from magic. That isn't the main point."

Shayla tickled his pulse point with moist lips. "Humm."

He swallowed and leaned away. "Within each sphere of fire resided two souls in polarity-male and female. They are unique in divine design. No one else matches them." He hesitated, allowing her loving gaze to study him. "Some stories refer to such souls as twin flames. Unlike soul mates, they truly have a single origin."

"Twin flames?"

"Aye. To see my purple flames-well," he said, looking at her with an expression of tenderness.

"It confirms what you said about us being bonded. I knew with certainty in that exact moment when I saw them. That's why I said I knew everything, but still have questions. I'm not saying it's going to be easy. But now I understand a bit better and realize this isn't just some s.e.xual fling on my vacation."

"That's true. It's so much more than that," he said. "Violet energy in the form of flames trans.m.u.tes dark magic. That's the only way I could've conquered Zubird. Snapping his neck was an action that occurred in the heat of battle. I would have preferred him imprisoned." Meekal brushed fingertips over a curl escaping down her shoulder, wrapped it around his finger and repositioned it down her breast. "You know, Black Bry and Morna are twin flames. In their case, they bridged the chasm between the human and Fae worlds.

"And us?"

"I haven't figured that out yet. Are you ready to go down now? Mum will be wondering how you are. Gail may be here soon, too."

"Ready as I'll ever be."

They walked down the stairs, through the bookcase, in companionable silence.

"Shayla, my goodness. You should get cleaned up."

"I'm sorry," she said, meeting Chaeli's eyes. Her attention fell to the blood on her hands and blouse sleeves. "I guess I've been a bit distracted."

Chaeli wrapped a friendly arm around her. "Come on." Her voice reflected deep caring. "Meekal, please tell Mari to add some pulsatilla into the spice tea." She led Shayla into a bathroom behind the lobby desk.

"Pulsatilla?"

"Yes, it will help calm you," Chaeli answered, helping her take the vest off that Joseph had insisted she wear.

Shayla realized her hands were shaking once again. She watched the trembles journey down her arms to her fingers, now under the faucet's flowing water. It turned bright red, and then pink before flowing into the drain.

"It's all right. You'll be fine. It was your first time. Amethyst meant so much to all of us."

Shayla's mind took in only part of what Chaeli was saying. This is insane. I can't do this. Why this waffling from strength and understanding to wimpy shaking? She looked at her hands, allowing Chaeli to wash them as though she were a child.

"Yes, you can."

"Huh?"

"You're having doubts that you can do what you have to do." Chaeli gave her a gentle smile and reached to brush a stray strand of Shayla's hair away.

Shayla swallowed the lump in her throat.

Chaeli pulled a towel from the bar next to the sink. "You can do it," she said briskly as she dried Shayla's hands. "The fact that it affects you so deeply is a testament to your character." She paused, giving Shayla a sad smile. "You've never done anything like this before. Fought to defend something good, losing a friend in the process. I realize you've only known Amethyst a short time. You should be aware, protecting the Well from Malvenue was important to her. She would be proud we succeeded in continuing that protection tonight."

"But, for her life?" Shayla looked down at her clean hands. Blood on the hands.