Book of Shadows (a thriller) by Alexandra Sokoloff

Author:Alexandra Sokoloff [Sokoloff, Alexandra]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: Murderati Ink
Published: 2011-12-03T00:00:00+00:00

She moved her arms in a sweeping motion, as if catching and gathering something into her fists, then opened her hands and pushed outward. The candles wavered wildly with the force of the motion. Garrett felt a rush through his body, like electricity.

Tanith’s hands dropped limply to her sides and she stood straight and tall in the center of the circle…then her legs buckled and she crumpled to the floor.

Chapter Twenty-five

Garrett stood for a paralyzed moment, realizing he was loath to touch her. He fought down the feeling and sprang forward to kneel by her side. She was breathing, and when he felt for her pulse it was fluttery, but present. He scooped her up and lifted her, rising to his feet, only half-conscious that his driving impulse was to be away from the circle, away from the pentagram.

He left the circle with its candles still burning on the quarters, and carried Tanith from the room, through the door into the inner reading room. Her hair was against his face and she was a sweet, live weight in his arms, breathing shallowly against his chest. His heart was pounding out of control. He started to cross to the outer door, but she moved against him and said, “Here…”

He looked around him and set her carefully down in one of the high-backed leather chairs, then stood by her side as she put her head down on the table, her breathing still labored, but slowing.

Finally she lifted her head and reached for the pitcher of water she’d left on the table. She was too shaky to lift it and Garrett took it from her and poured liquid into the goblet. She clasped it with both hands and drank greedily, draining the whole cup, then she grabbed for the cakes she’d left on the plate. For the next full minute she ate and drank without speaking, as if she were ravenous. Garrett couldn’t keep his eyes off her; his head felt as if it were going to explode. He was overcome by the impulse to get out, to get as far away from there as possible—and the desire to sweep her up again, crush her to him. Finally she leaned back in the chair, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand and closing her eyes.

After what seemed like an eternity, she opened her eyes and looked at him. “Amber is dead,” she said bleakly. Garrett started; he had not given Tanith the name. “He carved three triangles into her body, and the number 333, the sigils of the demon, just as he did with Erin. And there is a third…” She faltered, looking into space. “Not like the others.”

“Not like the others, how?” His voice sounded rough, alien.

“I’m not sure. Not…” she stopped. “I don’t know.” Her face hardened. “He took their heads for his rituals.”

Garrett felt his stomach drop in horror. “What rituals?”

His face must have reflected his disgust, because she made an effort to speak calmly. “Necromancy. It’s a powerful black magic practice.

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