Resurrection by Nancy Holder Page B

climbed down from the bed and padded across the black marble floor. She opened the massive bank of curtains with the silk pull. Weak lavender and cream light poured through the leaded panes of the windows. Another night over, and she was glad about it, even though witches favored the hours when the moon held sway.
    She crossed back to her bed and felt under the pillow for the charm she had placed there. A small dreamcatcher woven with silver threads gleamed in her hand. Pieces of blue and green aventurine dangled from black and silver ribbons. Black and silver were the colors of the ancient Cahors family, the noble French family whose witchblood ran in Amanda’s, Nicole’s, and Holly’s veins. Their branch of the family went by the name of Cathers, and the three cousins had learned of the connection two years before, when Holly Cathers, their cousin, had lost both her parents to drowning.
    We’d thought it was an accident then. We know better now.
    She placed the dream catcher in a small silver box. Blue aventurine was a multipurpose healing stone that increased visionary powers. Green was called the Stone of Heaven, for healing, protection, and guidance on new adventures.
    Then she placed the box under her arm, picked up her flashlight from the nightstand, and tiptoed out of her room. Across the hall Tommy’s door was closed. They weren’t sharing a bedroom yet, which made it easier for her to conduct her research into the nature of her bad dreams.
    We’re in thrall. We should be doing this together, she thought guiltily as she tiptoed past his door and down the hall. Nicole’s door was shut as well. Amanda’s tiny nephew, Owen, would be asleep in his cradle beside Nicole’s bed. Richard, who was Nicole’s father and Owen’s grandfather, slept in an adjoining room.Amanda knew there was an MP5 submachine gun beside his bed, in addition to the many magical charms she, Nicole, and Tommy had filled his bedroom with.
    Ever since moving in a month before, they’d had endless discussions about whether or not they should stay in the house. She, Amanda, had wanted to leave, and Tommy, the lord to her lady, had agreed with her. But Nicole felt Owen would be safest there. Thanks to Lawyer Derek, Nicole had confirmed that spells designed to protect the house against intruders clearly did not apply to her or Owen—or any of those whom Nicole had invited across the threshold.
    But that could be a trap too.
    Nicole had made a good case for staying, at least until they pulled themselves together—after the battle at the London headquarters of the Supreme Coven. They didn’t know what the future held; they couldn’t protect Owen if they were on the run. They had to live somewhere. They had warded and charmed the house with layers and layers of white magic. And yet…
    And yet.
    Amanda wondered if Nicole wanted to stay in the house in case Philippe was trying to come to her. He had left shortly after Owen’s birth, promising to check in daily until he found Holly and the others. They had still been on the run then; he had disappeared before they had moved into James Moore’s mansion. It wouldbe easier for a magic spell to pinpoint their location if they were not a moving target.
    It wasn’t like Philippe to leave Nicole; they were thrallmates, and their first loyalty was to each other. Pablo’s magical distress call had clearly alarmed him. Maybe Pablo’s crisis was directly connected to Nicole’s and Owen’s safety.
    Amanda prayed to the Goddess every hour to keep him safe and to aid him on his quest. But as the days and weeks passed without word from him, she grew increasingly troubled.
    Amanda could reach only two conclusions. Either someone was preventing him from communicating with them or he was dead. She shuddered as she even let the thought enter her mind.
    Powerful magic permeated Moore House, of that, Amanda was certain. And if she