Chapter 29

Anna’s entrapment chilled Fiona to the bone. She didn’t know if it was safe to leave her circle or if the circle was providing protection from Albert. He watched her with glee, his eyes glowing red from the demon inside him. The candle’s flames wavered but didn’t falter.

“We do have a deal for you,” Albert said. “We think you’ll find it accommodating because it will let you help the sweet Anna.”

Looking back at Anna’s ghost, Fiona could see she wasn’t fading but growing brighter. Albert and his demon meant to use Anna. Fiona thought of Maggie and the way the demon had taken her will and made her fight to take Brenna’s power.

Now it was Fiona’s turn. Were her power and control strong enough? She had to play this right because it was all a game to the demon. A horrible game meant to entrap her just as they had Anna.

“What makes you think any bargain you have would interest to me?” Hopefully she sounded bolder than she felt. “Real Connellys don’t make deals with demons.”

This time Albert’s laugh was a low, dark chuckle. “You’re just like all the other Connelly females. You’re selfish and far too pleased about being the holders of power.”

Fiona heard the envy in his voice. No wonder the demon took control of Albert. He craved power that could never be his, and opened him to the darkness.

“Before you decide, maybe you should hear our bargain.” His wide, black grin made Fiona shudder. “In exchange for releasing young Anna’s spirit, all we ask is the gift of your power.”

Though she had expected the request, she was surprised at the panic she felt. She should have told someone she was coming here. She reached out with her magic, hoping to call the coven as she had the day in the cave.

“No, no, no,” Albert said as he wagged his finger at her. “You’re not getting help this time. We’ve learned a few things about your kind’s trickery.”

Fiona forced her whirling thoughts to coalesce. Marcus had taught her to play poker, and this looked like a good time to call a bluff. “You fool. Help is already on the way.”

“I think not,” Albert purred. “Your coven is scattered and torn.”

“You can’t believe I’d just turn my powers over to you so easily. I’m not that gullible.”

Albert said, “That’s too bad!”

The demon jumped out of Albert and crossed the clearing so fast Fiona saw nothing but a black blur. He jumped into Anna and transformed her. Her eyes glowed bright red. Her teeth sharpened to tiny points. She snarled and growled, mouth drooling and snapping like a rabid dog.

Seeing Anna in this state was agony for Fiona. Bailey’s sister could spend eternity as a monster feasting on the souls of the innocent. Unless Fiona complied, she destroyed Bailey’s last chance to know Anna’s forgiveness.

“Oh, yes.” Albert rubbed his hands together. “The thought of his pain hurts you, doesn’t it? Does seeing his sister like this change your mind about making a deal?”

The howling of Anna’s ghost increased, and Fiona turned away. Bailey had trusted her to help him talk to Anna. Now he would never know what Anna wanted to tell him. He would never believe in the wonder and magic of Fiona’s world. His heart would harden against Fiona’s memory while the wild, angry beast that Anna was now would bring havoc to that world.

“What’s it going to be, Miss Connelly Witch?” Albert screamed.

Fiona closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Even as a child, she helped the dead move forward and find peace. She would not turn her back on Bailey’s sister. Fiona loved Bailey too much for that. He might have loved her, too. If there had been time, they might have been happy. Instead, she was a Connelly witch, and with or without the Woman in White, her legacy was heartache.

She pulled her fraying power closer. Surrendering would be difficult. She would fight against this evil with everything she had.

“Come on, Fiona.” Albert’s nasty voice filled the clearing. “If you give yourself freely, that will increase our power tenfold. We will conquer the supernaturals in New Mourne and make it the kind of place it should be.” He paused and gave her a leering grin. “But really, what choice do you have?”

Closing her eyes, Fiona brought calm into herself and found the power to resist his cajoling voice. “You’ll have to take me.”

“All right, we’ll do this the hard way.” Albert raised his arms.

“No!” Bailey’s voice brought Fiona’s head up, and her heart sang with hope.

“Tell him no!” Bailey ran toward Fiona and straight for the circle.

Instead of igniting an explosion, his entry made the circle open and close around them both. The candles fired to bright spears of flame, and Fiona felt her power rise.

Bailey pulled her into his arms and kissed her. White orbs rained down on them like a cleansing rain. Here was love and a strong push of magic.

When they separated, Albert’s face was a mask of evil fury. He beat against the edge of her circle in frantic frustration.

“She’s mine, you stinking human, mine! You can’t change that!”

“They have Anna,” Fiona told Bailey.

“I know,” he said. “I can see them. I can see her.”

“Then you know you have to let me go, or they have her forever.”

There was a flash and Albert held a wand that glowed red with fire at the end. He pointed in toward Anna, who writhed and howled.

Fiona started toward her angry, evil relative. “Stop it. Let Anna go.”

Bailey pulled her tighter against him. “Look at me, Fiona, look at me.” He turned her face, so that she saw only him. “Here, here is where life is. Please, don’t even consider giving this creature what he wants.”

“Bailey,” she said, clutching his shirt in her hand and burying her face against his chest. “You need to know what Anna has to tell you.”

“Anna is dead, Fiona. No matter what I learn, she won’t live again.” His blue eyes compelled her to see the truth. “I know what I feel is real because I’ve never felt anything so powerful and wonderful in my life. I love you, Fiona Burns, with everything in me.”

“Goddess, help me,” she said as her tears wet his shirt. “I love you too. I can’t imagine my life without you.” She looked up at him. “Which is why I can’t surrender Anna yet. Not without a fight.”

“Come on, human,” Albert said and danced a little jig. “Let her do what’s right. She’s a good little Connelly witch.” He hammered against the circle, and Fiona feared he would break through.

She gasped in surprise as new magic flooded her body. She felt her family—Brenna, Eva Grace, her cousins, the elders, even Sarah.

Sarah had broken the enchantment, Goddess be praised.

As Fiona identified each bit of power, she grew stronger, the magic radiating from her center.

“Hold onto me, Bailey. Whatever happens, do not let go and do not step out of this circle. You and I have a little job to do.”

She turned, Bailey put his arms around her, and she raised her hands. The candles flared again, surrounding them with fire.

“Candles bright and love inspired, bring me spirits led by my guide; banish evil and free us three. As I will so mote it be.”

Celia floated into the clearing, her face fierce with anger, and her arms wide. Other spirits arrived in groups of twos and threes, surrounding Albert. They pulled him away from Fiona and Bailey’s circle. With the demon still inside Anna, Albert was not strong enough to fight them.

He screamed in pain and fear, calling to the demon, “Come to me. Save me.”

Fiona turned to the monstrosity who held Bailey’s sister. She called to the powers of earth, wind, sky, and water. “Your playtime is over, demon.”

The demon jumped free of Anna. His form puddled on the ground like oil and struggled to solidify. The black aura around Anna snapped, and she ran toward the other spirits, and Minnie took her hand.

Bailey gasped. He could see his sister as the girl she had been, Fiona realized.

The colorful capes of the coven appeared among the trees, and Albert’s ghost writhed. He struggled against the spirits who held him fast.

A flash of red lit the sky. Willow, in full fairy form, descended in front of Albert. The ghosts hurtled him forward like a sack of sand. He began to weep and plead.

Willow’s red gown glowed. Her ruby crown sparkled. Her nails glittered with fire. In one hand, she waved a tiny, green bottle. With her staff in the other hand, she pelted Albert with light. “Albert Jonas Connelly, mine you were and mine you are. Now get yourself into my tiny jar.”

Albert’s form thinned to a single stream and poured through the container’s neck. Willow pushed a cork into it and waved her staff again. With a flash, the jar was covered with stone, and the stone was covered with a beautifully decorated steel box.

Clutching the package to her chest, Willow rose into the air. She hissed in the direction of the coven, and said, “Damn fool witches. Keep your nosey selves out of my business from now on.” Her wings unfurled, and she shot high in the air and out of sight.

As if one, the ghosts went toward the demon that struggled to pull itself out of the ground. The spirit mass parted before reaching the oily puddle and suddenly ceased motion.

Fiona’s hands fell to her side. The Woman in White walked toward her.