The Divide Page 0,57

summoning spell, but her Book of Shadows said this spell could track down the energy of an object rather than simply the physical object itself.

For this spell Cassie had to focus extra hard. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply until she'd centered herself to a meditative state. It took a few minutes, but soon her breathing took on a rhythm like a heartbeat. She let herself become immersed in this rhythm until she was overcome with the feeling that she controlled it, as if the pulse of life itself were under her command. When the words came, they started from deep within her belly.

Guiding Spirits, I ask your charity Lend me your focus and your clarity Ancient garter, I summon thee Black to white, dark to light Show me your precious energy Cassie opened her eyes to find a glowing aquamarine light in front of her. It hovered, waiting for her to observe it, and then soared forward through the air, leaving a trail in its wake like a comet tail.

Now this was what Cassie always imagined magic to look and feel like. She followed the aquamarine trail around the basement until it led her to the storage space beneath the stairs.

Cassie was elated. This had to be the place.

And then she heard something - footsteps above her head. She lost her breath and felt her whole body stiffen while she listened for the footsteps again. She stood perfectly still, scoping the basement's corners for possible hiding spots. Then she heard the sound again and realized it was only the wind from outside blowing against the wooden door. It was just a false alarm, thank goodness, but it was enough to break her concentration. The aquamarine light flickered.

The space under the stairs was low and narrow and packed full with boxes. Cassie brushed her hands over a few of their damp surfaces to see if she felt any vibes coming from one over another. Careful not to make too much noise, she sorted through them until she noticed one box with a faint design on its side - a swirl similar to a Celtic knot. Hurriedly, Cassie lifted its flap and looked inside. There she found another box. A steel document box.

In her excitement, she reached for it without thinking. It sparked at her touch, singeing the skin of her fingers.

Of course Faye had it guarded. Cassie dug into her pocket and retrieved the obsidian crystal she'd brought from home. Black like lava with sharp edges, the rock was the size of her hand and could easily be used as a weapon.

But Cassie brought it for its ability to purify dark matter. She glided the crystal over and around the steel box to disable Faye's spell while whispering the words she'd memorized:

"Darkness be gone, no shields are needed, purity enters and leaves here unhindered."

And it worked. When Cassie tapped the box with her fingertip a second time to see if it drew a spark, it was cool and quiet to her touch. Confidently now, she popped the lid off the top of the metal box.

But she didn't find the garter inside. Instead she found a note scrawled in bloodred ink that said, Nice try.

Cassie slammed the box closed, furious. Typical Faye.

Cassie was going to have to get crafty if she were to pull this off. She had to think like Faye.

Faye was . . . what? Faye was . . . possessive, to say the least. She would only trust herself as the garter's security system. She must be keeping it close by. In fact, it probably never left her sight.

Suddenly Cassie knew, beyond any shadow of a doubt, what she had to do next. She had to go to Faye's room, where she was sleeping, and find the garter there. That was the only place it could be, where Faye could protect it even as she slept.

Now Cassie wished Faye had snuck out tonight, leaving her room empty. But Cassie knew it was time to act, not think. A silence spell would help with getting upstairs.

"From my chin to my toes, a mute silence grows." Cassie slid her fingers from her mouth down the length of her torso, across her arms and legs, all the way to her feet, feeling every inch of her go soundless beneath her touch. When she stepped forward, the feeling of her shoe touching the floor remained the same, but not a single hint of noise accompanied it. Even when she jumped up