The tradition Erin follows requires nudity only for major workings, when the god and goddess are called rather than simply included in the rite. This was a spell, not an act of worship—though the two are not entirely distinct with Wicca—so she and I kept our clothes on. Michael sat up on the couch with the blanket providing a modesty drape. Not that he had any, from what I'd seen. Modesty, that is. He was well provided with what the blanket was there to conceal.
Erin took out her athame, a glass vial, a black candle, a little pouch, and two silver bowls, each smaller than a cupped hand. "Stand to the south," she said, nodding at me. "No, a little more to your right. That's good. Michael—you have no objection to that name?"
"I'm content with it."
"I've set wards outside Molly's home for protection, and will cast a circle around the three of us to contain the spell. It's vital that you not break the circle once I've set it. You break the circle by stepping outside."
He looked insulted. "Actually it is a sphere, not a circle, but I understand you are using the accustomed term. What type of spell will you be casting?"
"A basic truth spell. It will urge but not compel the truth from you. If you knowingly speak false, I'll see it. With your permission, after a few questions I'll take the spell deeper. That can feel uncomfortable, intrusive. I'll be trying to bring truth up from wherever it's hiding inside you."
He considered that, then nodded. "A great many things have hurt since I woke and saw Molly. I can abide a little discomfort in order to learn what I am and whether I brought danger here with me."
"Also who you are, I hope."
"I am now Michael. As I said, I am content with that."
He looked at me then, and his smile burst over me with the pungent sweetness of summer berries.
I was going to have to be very careful.
Erin doesn't use a compass. The direction of the cardinal points is as obvious to her as sunlight is to others. She put her bag on the floor and knelt beside it, then removed her portable altar—a hand-cut, hand-polished square of oak about ten inches on a side and one inch thick. It went on the floor between myself and Michael. On it she set her tools. The two silver bowls were filled with water and salt—salt for the earth, and the north; water for the west. She put a stick of incense in the altar's east quadrant for air, and a candle in the south for fire. Then she waved her hand.
Like a faucet springing a drip, the candle's wick acquired a flame. A thread of smoke drifted up from the incense. She took up her athame and turned in a slow circle, her lips moving, pointing outward.
Michael's eyes followed, not Erin or the athame, but the direction she pointed. I knew he must be looking at the energies she roused, and envied him. I've always wanted to see the colors of magic.
Erin circled three times, then put her athame on the altar with the knife's tip pointing at Michael. She opened the vial, dampened her finger with the contents and touched each of her eyelids. Then she stepped forward and did the same with each of Michael's lips. "As I will, so mote it be."
His eyes widened, though whether he was startled by her touch or some other sensation I couldn't tell.
She nodded, satisfied. "Molly, you ask the questions."
"All right." I licked my own lips, nervous for no good reason. "Michael, do you remember anything of your life from before you arrived here?"
"The first thing I remember is your face. Your skin looked very soft and your eyes were sad. I couldn't see what color they were, and that was strange to me—I think I'm not used to losing colors in the dark. There was a pucker between your eyebrows. I like your eyebrows," he added. "They have a pretty curve."
The eyebrows he'd complimented shot up. Those weren't the curves most men noticed. "You don't know your name from before?"
"No."
"Where do you come from?"
"I don't know. I don't remember it, but it was different from this place. But I do know about this place."
"What do you know?"
"Languages. Facts. Not always the most useful facts," he said ruefully. "And I don't always know that I know until something floats up."
I exchanged a glance with Erin. She nodded, telling me what I was already sure of. He wasn't lying.
She spoke, her voice cool and soothing. "I'm going to take the spell deeper now, Michael. Molly will continue asking questions, but I'll be helping you find the answers."
He nodded fractionally. His eyes never left mine.
"Who gave you those wounds?" I asked.
"I…" He licked his lips. "She? Yes, I think… I was escaping. That made her angry."
"What is she?"
"I don't… that's not coming. But I have the idea she's strong. Very strong."
"Who is she?"
A fine dew of sweat sheened his forehead. "I don't know."
"What do you know about how you got here?"
"They were… someone was… they want to catch me. Keep me."
"Not to kill you?"
"No, they want to—want to—" His head swiveled towards Erin. "Don't!" And he heaved himself sideways, one arm outstretched like a drowning swimmer reaching desperately for rescue.
The circle broke.
Chapter 4
THE pop! was like clearing your ears during an airplane's descent with a jaw-cracking yawn, except that it happened under my solar plexus. It should have been similar for Erin, though with more of a sting.
It should not have made her eyes roll back in her head as she sank to the floor in a faint.
I jumped and managed to keep her from hitting her head, ending with both of us on the floor with her head in my lap. Michael rolled off the couch so awkwardly I thought something had happened to him, too. But no, he'd simply made an odd dismount, for he fetched up on the other side of Erin's lax body and sat, staring at her in appalled fascination. "I didn't do it," he said. "I didn't mean to do it."
"Breaking the circle shouldn't have harmed her." I checked her pulse. It was strong and steady, thank goodness.
"No, it wasn't that. But it wasn't me, either—at least, it came through me, but I didn't will it. Maybe…" He put his hands on either side of her face and focused intently on her.
I looked at him sharply. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to fix her. Be quiet."
Should I let him try to repair whatever he'd inadvertently damaged? Or prevent him from doing more harm? Before I could decide, Erin blinked herself back to us. "What… Molly?" She put a hand to her temple. "I have such a headache. What happened?"
"I don't know. Michael broke the circle, and you collapsed."
"Michael? Who's Michael? And what," she demanded, "am I doing lying on the floor with my head in your lap?"
"You don't remember?"
She shook her head.
I considered going back to bed.
"The amnesia should be temporary," Michael said. "I think."
"You probably can't remember."
"I believe that's sarcasm."
"Good call."
Erin sat up, pushing her hair out of her face. Her headband had come off. "The last I remember, you'd woken me up at a godawful hour to ask for help. How did—"
Someone knocked on my door. We all jolted.
"Michael, get on the couch and look like an invalid," I said, scrambling to my feet.
"What does an invalid look like?"
"Pale. You've got that part down, so just lie still and pull the blanket up over you. Make sure your wounds and genitals are hidden. Erin—"
"Not wearing a stitch, is he?" She watched Michael's beautiful backside as he moved to the couch. I couldn't blame her for finding the sight distracting. "But I'm clothed, so we weren't performing a ceremony."
"No, we—" The knocking came again, louder. "Be right there!" I called. "Erin, I know you need answers, but for now pretend you're here to help me with my nephew Michael, who's recovering from a mysterious fever. I thought he'd been cursed, which is why I called you." I headed for the door.