The Initiation Page 0,49

in. He made a gesture of stabbing.

"Then we need a full Circle," said Melanie. "A twelfth person and a seventh girl. Cassie is both."

"And she's passed the tests," Diana repeated. "Her mother was one of us. She went away, yes, but now she's come back. And she brought her daughter to us just when we need her. Just exactly when we need her."

Stubbornness still lingered in Deborah's eyes. "Who says she can even use the Powers?" she demanded.

"I do," Diana replied steadily. "I can sense it in her."

"And so do I," Faye said unexpectedly. Deborah turned to stare at her, and she smiled ingenuously.

"I'd say she can call on Earth and Fire, at least," Faye continued, maddeningly bland. "She might even prove to have quite a talent."

And why, Cassie wondered dazedly, did that make hairs on the back of her neck stand up?

Diana's brows were drawn together as she gave Faye a long, searching look. But then she turned to Deborah.

"Does that satisfy your objection?"

There was a beat. Then Deborah nodded, sullenly, and stepped back.

"Then," said Diana, with a quiet politeness that seemed to overlay an icy anger, "can we please get on with it?"

Everyone stood away as she returned to her position. Once again she lifted the dagger to the sky, then to the cardinal points of the compass, then to Cassie. Once again she spoke the words that had sent chills down Cassie's spine, but this time she finished them uninterrupted.

Earth and water, fire and air,

See your daughter standing there.

By dark of moon and light of sun,

As I will, let it be done.

By challenge, trial, and sacred vow,

Let her join the Circle now.

Flesh and sinew, blood and bone,

Cassie now becomes our own.

"That's it," Laurel said softly from behind Cassie. "You're in."

In. I'm in. Cassie knew, with a feeling of wild exhilaration, that nothing would ever be the same again.

"Cassie."

Diana was unclasping the silver necklace she was wearing. Cassie's eyes were drawn to the crescent moon pendant that hung from it. It was like the one on the diadem, Cassie realized - and like Deborah's tattoo.

"This is a token," Diana said, fastening the chain around Cassie's neck, "of your membership in the Circle."

Then she hugged Cassie. It wasn't a spontaneous gesture; it had more the feeling of a ritual.

Next she turned Cassie around to face the others and said, "The Powers have accepted her. I've accepted her. Now each of you has to."

Laurel was the first to step up. Her face was serious, but there was a genuine warmth and friendliness in the depths of her brown eyes. She hugged Cassie, then kissed her lightly on the cheek. "I'm glad you're one of us," she whispered, and stepped back, her long, light-brown hair fluttering slightly in the breeze. "Thanks," Cassie whispered.

Melanie was next. Her embrace was more formal, and her cool, intellectual gray eyes still intimidated Cassie. But when she said, "Welcome to the Club," she sounded as if she meant it.

Deborah, by contrast, was scowling as she stepped forward, and she hugged Cassie as if she were trying to crack a rib or two. She didn't say anything.

Sean hurried up, looking eager. His hug was a little too long and too close for Cassie's taste, and she ended up having to extricate herself. He said, "Glad you're in," with his eyes fixed on her nightgown in a way that made Cassie wish it were flannel instead of light cotton.

"I can tell," she said under her breath as he stepped back, and Diana, standing beside her, had to bite her lip.

Under normal circumstances the Henderson brothers might have been even worse. But tonight they didn't seem to care if it was a girl or a block of wood they were embracing. They hugged her mechanically and stepped back to watch again with their angry, faraway eyes.

And then it was Nick's turn.

Cassie felt something inside her tighten. It wasn't that she was attracted to him, exactly, but... she couldn't help feeling a slight inner tremor when she looked up at him. He was so handsome, and the coldness that surrounded him like a thin layer of dark ice seemed only to enhance his looks. He'd stood back and observed the entire ceremony tonight with such detachment, as if none of it affected him one way or another.

Even his embrace was noncommittal. Sexless. As if he were merely going through the motions while thinking of something else. His arms were strong, though - well, of course, thought Cassie. Any guy who