Chapter 25

[seymoure]

Chapter 25
“The Circle”

As the last of the company was invested in a room at the Hospital, Harriett was confronted by a small heavy-set woman in a black pantsuit.

She looked up through her curly black hair and asked, “Dante?”

The detective steeled herself for another possible attack, “Yes?”

“I am Fiona,” the woman smiled, “My friends and I are here to help.” The woman pointed at the cluster of women standing by the lift. They could well have been at a quilting bee in New England and looked completely at home.

Without saying another word the woman took a handful of rock salt and threw it in the air. It crashed down on the group of women without effect. Fiona then held up her palm and used a small dagger to cut it slightly. She bled in the way only real humans could. Dante was convinced.

“And your group is . . .?”

“We are the Sisterhood Circle of the King and His Men,” the woman said formally as she extended her hand. “We were summoned last night and got here as quickly as physically possible.”

Harriett thought about mentioning the Paisley Portal, but thought it might be the wrong time in the relationship.

“We had to gather, prepare and travel from Rollwright to London,” Another lady from the group began to explain, and then when she saw she was standing out, she stopped.

“The hospital is circled. Not with a chalk circle, but by a higher mystical field,” Fiona continued, “And all floors of the building have been cleared of anything that might foster black arts.”

“Who summoned you?” a skeptical Dante asked.

“Baron Vaskania called to us last night, during the first assault. There was a light barrage known as the ‘Fingers of a Higher Hand.’ That promised that it would only be the beginning of attack. We were contacted at once. He was easily able to ward off the spell, initially. But the longer it went on the more he was aware that something very strong was making a siege that would take more and more force to reflect.” Her face became dour, “He feared for the lives of his comrades.”

“Did he mention Kane?” Harriett inquired.

“We do not say his name,” came one of the Sisters’ terrified response.

“Where an I,” Harriett mumbled, “In Hogwarts?”

“We do nothing with such powerful beings that might give the power of invocation.” Fiona explained.

“How good are you at protection?” Harriett asked of Fiona, demanding a serious statement of commitment.

“This place is safe. For now. How long that will be true is going to depend on the persistence of the future siege power used by the enemy.”

“I’m going to go out and take care of that myself,” The P.I. said, picking up her valise full of weaponry.

“We can’t help you if you leave the building!” Several Sisters said, almost in unison.

“Take care of Claus and his crew,” Dante said as she strode to the lift, “I’ll take care of myself.”

Her progress was stopped by a single sight.

A linen draped body was rolled on a gurney out of the room that had been assigned to Jeanne Gary.

She might have cried, but for two things. She didn’t have time and she was too angry to give in to it.

No, she would cry after the bastard paid for this.

© 2005 by C. Wayne Owens