Nikki touched a hand to his arm, squeezing lightly to stop his protest, and asked, “How? I might not have met you, Seline, but I know you and I look nothing alike. Besides, it's very likely that Weylin tried to kill me. He knows what I look like."
"Weylin may know a lot about what happened in that week, but I doubt he realizes I was using magic to hide my true appearance. We'll use that same magic to hide yours."
"If he's a sorcerer, won't he sense it?"
"No. The spell will be similar to what he used to get Lenny in the building, but stronger. More hidden."
"So, you change my appearance, then what? I just waltz in there and get Michael back?"
"I wish it was that easy.” She paused again, and unease crawled up Nikki's spine. “For this ceremony to work, he will have to have all the major characters in place."
"How, when it all happened over a hundred years ago? Most of the major players will be dead, won't they?” But even as she said it, the image of the gnarled driver came to mind. She had a vague suspicion at least one of the major players was still alive. Whether he was still human was another matter. Seline blew out a breath. “Yes. But all Weylin really has to do is get living replacements. His magic is strong enough to enforce role-playing."
"So what will I have to do?"
"There are three huge problems.” Seline's voice was grim. “The first being, you must do what you can to disrupt the sequence of events. But we do not know which events Weylin knows about, and which he will deem important for the ceremony. Plus, Michael and I were separated much of the time, and I do not know everything he might have done."
"So tell me everything you remember, and I'll play it by ear."
"Yes.” Seline paused again. “Then there is the sacrifice. Michael and I rescued the women on the night of the new moon. Letting them die is not an option, so you must try and find them before the new moon rises."
"Will that be enough of a change?"
"To be honest, I have no idea. Maybe the mere fact of you going in my place will be enough to break the spell, but you will be playing my role, so it may make no difference. I can't be sure. If I went in and tasted his magic, I might know, but for everyone's sake, that is something I cannot risk."
"I don't suppose we have anything on the people he might have snatched, so I can try and trace them with psychometry?"
"Not a hope. He could have taken them from anywhere, and we haven't the time to try and track them down."
Nikki grimaced. She didn't think it would be that easy, but she had to ask all the same. “So what's the third problem?"
"Weylin has raised a protection barrier around the old town. We can't get anyone in."
"If you can't get anyone in, how am I going to get in?"
"He'll create a door at a specified time. If anyone tries to come in with you, he'll kill everyone in that town, except Michael. Then he'll start killing Circle operatives." Nikki blew out a breath and slumped back in the chair. “He's got all the bases covered."
"He's had a long time to plan this revenge of his. Beating him will not be easy." Beating bad guys never was. “So, how many people are in this town?">When awareness returned again, it was to darkness. She opened her eyes, staring upwards, seeing the white ceiling and wondering where the hell she was.
Then memory hit.
"Ohmigod,” she said, jerking upright. “Michael!"
Hands grabbed her. She fought their grip blindly, desperate to get free, to go to him. God, he needed her. Badly.
"Nikki!” Jake's voice cut through the haze of fear. “Calm down. It'll be all right." Her strength left in a whoosh, and she collapsed into his arms. “No,” she sobbed. “It won't.” He was hurt—not so much physically as spiritually, and the ache of it pounded through her veins. Jake hugged her tight. “Seline has put everyone who's free or on leave onto finding him." It wouldn't help. She was the only one who could find him. The only one who could rescue him. Whether that was intuition or just plain old fear, she couldn't say. She sniffed, then asked, “Are you all right?"
"Bruised, but fine.” He kissed her forehead and pulled back. “How are you feeling?"
"A little achy.” She shrugged and swiped a hand at the tears on her cheeks. “Where are we?"
"The Circle's private hospital."
"Why?"
His gaze searched hers. “You don't remember?"
She frowned. “I remember the car."