The Emerald Key by Vicky Burkholder Read Free Book Online Page B

go. Just accept what is.”
    “But who is he?”
    “All you need to know is that he will keep you safe. You don’t need to worry over him. Now sleep, my child. Sleep.”
    Cass yawned widely. She put her stones on the nightstand and lay down.
    “Sleep.”
    Her eyes closed and muscles relaxed.
    “Sleep.”
    * * * *
    Minerva passed her hand over the scrying bowl. Cass would sleep the rest of the night through. The same technique that worked on eight-year-old Cassandra with too many questions also worked on the twenty-eight-year old. She passed her hand over the bowl once more. “Show me.”
    Nic’s face swam into view. He lay stretched out on the sofa, hands laced behind his head, eyes closed. To Minerva’s surprise, she sensed him seeking her. But not this Nic. The older one. The one who should not be there, but was. She grinned. It seemed the spirit of Nicodemus was stronger than any knew.
    “Who are you?”
    Though his lips hadn’t moved, Minerva heard his words as clearly as if he stood next to her.
    “I am Minerva, Protector of Cassandra.”
    “You may be the guardian, but I am the Protector. Who threatens her from the shadows?”
    “I don’t know,” Minerva answered. “I am working to find out.”
    “Just remember, she is mine to protect.”
    Minerva grinned. “That will be up to her. But know this, Protector. Fail her and you will answer to me.”
    “Your threats are worthless, Witch. Should I fail her, my fate is already sealed.”
    “Sleep.”
    “I’ll sleep when I wish, Witch. Not when you say.”
    Minerva’s grin widened into a laugh. “You will set her a challenging contest, Protector. Good luck to you.” She passed her hand over the bowl then covered it with a cloth. “It’s about time,” she said to the cat purring at her feet. “I was beginning to think he’d never get here.”
    “Meow.”
    “I know, Wunjo. I know. I can’t interfere more than I already have. It is nearly time for us to leave. The rest will be up to him. And her. But first, we must deal with the other problem. He thinks he can threaten me. He has sworn to protect my kind from the beginning of time. To go back on his vows does more than he realizes. His powers and vows are connected. Without them, he is like any other human in this world.”
    “Meow.”
    Minerva chuckled and scratched the cat behind his ears. “I agree, Wunjo. I agree. But we must see to Cassandra’s safety first, and the security of the others as well. The time of revelation draws near. Come. We have much to do.”

Chapter 5
    Cass stared at the shambles of their store, her aunt at her back. Books, candles, and herbs lay scattered among smashed counters and toppled shelves. The holiday window display that had taken her an entire weekend to set up now lay in an unrecognizable mess. Pieces of fake snow, balsam greens, and red ribbons mingled with crushed crystals.
    She took two steps in, her feet crunching on the broken glass from the front door. She froze, listening to the sounds, then relaxed. Her instincts told her whoever had done this had gone. And she’d learned very early to trust her instincts.
    “Who would do this, Aunt Minerva? Why?” Cass asked. Not a single shelf had been spared. She bent to pick up a book of spells and saw a symbol burned into the floor. It looked like a pyramid with a diamond in the center and surrounded by a maze. She grasped her necklace. The design appeared too similar for her comfort. “Aunt Minerva?”
    “Don’t touch anything.” Her aunt drew her away from the symbol. “Especially that. I will take care of that. We need to wait for the police. And the insurance company.”
    She barely noticed her aunt’s strong hands as Minerva drew Cass away from the destruction. “Come, Cassandra.”
    Cass allowed Minerva to lead her outside to the protected patio they kept for al fresco dining. The cold air bit at her as she huddled in her heavy coat. Cass heard her aunt calling the police.
    “Sit. Drink.” One of