Shannon tensed as she heard the main door open below, and waited as the voices and footsteps passed by on their way upstairs. Normally, she liked hearing the comings and goings of her neighbours. It made her feel safe to be surrounded by people, but since Leila’s death, she’d jumped every time the buzzer had sounded and viewed all approaching footsteps as a possible threat.
Tonight, she’d turned on the news at ten only to discover Leila’s face staring out at her. Unnerved before, she’d crumpled in shock. Despite being adamant when speaking to the policeman that Leila would never have committed suicide, Shannon had secretly wished that might be the explanation, however unlikely, because the alternative was so much worse.
Plus I lied to the policeman when he asked about the dolls.
It had been the preservation instinct that had provoked her reaction. The first rule was to tell no one what they really were. So she’d blurted out that Leila was a New Age believer.
How stupid was that?
The news item had given details of the man Leila had left the pub with, which was of course the description Shannon had given to the police. So, she reasoned, the man who had killed Leila would know that she, Shannon, was able to identify him.
Which puts me in danger too.
That fearful thought had driven her through to the bedroom.
Unrolling the circular mat, she spread it out on the floor at the foot of the bed.
Having cast a circle around her and lit the four candles, setting them at north, south, east and west as required, Shannon felt a little better, but not safe enough. Leila had always been the strong one, the sure one. The one who had faith in all the rituals.
I was only a follower.
The insistent ringing of her mobile eventually forced her to break the circle. The number was withheld but she knew who it would be.
‘You didn’t tell them, did you?’
‘No.’
‘If you do, I’ll know.’
‘I won’t, I promise,’ she insisted, but the caller had already gone.
Shannon dropped the mobile and crawled back inside the circle, chanting the words to help reseal it. Hugging her knees, she watched as the dark shadows cast by the candle flames danced about her.