Blaise was back, little bells ringing. She had a pewter chalice in one hand and a bottle in the other.
Just seeing the bottle sent a shiver through Thea. The glass was so dark with age she couldn't tell what color it had been originally, and so misshapen it was hard to know if it was meant to be round or square. There was wax over the cork and all sorts of seals and ribbons.
Gran broke through the seals, pulled off the ribbons. She tried to twist the cork out of the wax, but Blaise had to help.
Then she tipped the bottle above the cup Blaise held.
Brownish liquid ran out. Gran poured until the cup was half full.
"When you drink this," Gran said to Thea, "you'll
forget me. You won't know anyone here. But we won't forget you." She spoke formally, an announcement before the Circle. "Thea Sophia Harman, let the record show that you are a true daughter of Hellewise."
She shuffled forward and kissed Thea's cheek.
Thea hugged her, feeling the fragile old body for the last time. "Good-bye, Gran. I love you."
Then Blaise came, offering the cup in both hands. She looked wild and beautiful, her hair a cataract of black tumbling around her, her hands pale around the chalice.
"Good-bye," Thea said, and took it from her.
Blaise smiled.
Now, Thea told herself. Don't hesitate. Don't think about it.
She lifted the cup to her lips and drank.
And choked slightly on the first swallow. It was- it tasted like...
Her eyes went to Blaise's.
Which were large and gray and luminous. They looked at her steadily. So steadily that it was a warning.
Thea kept drinking.
Tea. Watered-down iced tea. That was what the Cup of Lethe tasted like.
That bottle was sealed-she didn't have time- there was wax on the cork...
Thea's mind was churning. But she had enough sense to do one thing-she drank a lot of whatever was in the cup, so there wouldn't be any left over for the Circle to examine when Eric was done.
And she kept her face blank as Blaise took the chalice from her and gave it to Eric.
Eric drank, looked slightly surprised, and kept drinking.
"Finish it allll," Blaise said. Her eyes were still on Thea's.
And that was when Thea knew for sure.
You did it before, when you were first talking about giving human boys the Cup of Lethe after spilling their blood at the Homecoming dance. You poured it out and stashed it somewhere and put in tea and redid all those seals-of course you could reproduce them with molds. And now... and now...
As Blaise took the chalice back from Eric, it hit Thea in a wave that almost made her hysterical.
This is never going to work. They're never going to believe it. But...
Thea took Eric's hand and sank her nails into his palm. She didn't dare say a word to him, didn't dare even look at him. But she was thinking, don't speak, don't do anything, just follow my lead.
She made her face as blank as a wax doll.
Eric was just standing there. He didn't know what to expect, but he obviously felt Thea's nails. And he proved how smart he was by not speaking.
"We stand adjourned," Gran said tersely. "Blaise, take them out while they're still confused. They should be able to get home on their own." She turned away without looking at Thea.
"No problem," Blaise said.
Aradia said, "I'll go with you."
Chapter 17
They walked out to Eric's jeep. The night air was very cold and there was no moon.
Thea kept her hand on Eric's back, ready to press if he hesitated. But he never did.
At the door of the jeep, Thea looked at Blaise. She was afraid to show any expression. Could Aradia see them? She wanted desperately to give Blaise a last hug.
Aradia said, "Is there a window from the shop onto this street?"
Thea looked at Blaise. Blaise said, "No."
"Then you can say good-bye. After this you're going to have to pretend not to know each other."
Thea stared at her, then felt a wild choked giggle well up. "Now I know why you're Maiden," she said, in a bare whisper. "But-does anyone else realize?"
"l don't think so. Some may wonder, but I think they'll keep their mouths shut. Say good-bye quick."
Thea hugged Blaise, couldn't make herself let go. "Thank you. Oh, Eileithyia, Blaise, I'll miss you."
"Now I'm the last of the Harman line," Blaise said in a bad imitation of a smirking voice. "I'll have a bedroom to myself," she added in more believable tones. "And I'm going to get Sheena good."
"Who?"
"That's right, you didn't hear. She was the one who turned us in. She's one of Tobias's little girlfriends, Circle Midnight. It seems he's been spying on us. He told her enough that she understood we were doing forbidden spells, and she told Gran."
"It doesn't matter now."
"Are you kidding? I'm getting sent to the Convent. I'm going to kill her." The bells rang as Blaise tossed her head.
Then she tightened her grip on Thea. "I don't know why you want to be with a human," she whispered. "But I hope you keep on wanting it now that you have it."
"Blaise, when you get back-please don't hurt them anymore. They're people. Really."
Blaise sighed noncommittally; Thea could feel it. But all she said, almost too softly for Thea to hear, was, "I'll miss you-sister."
Then Thea could let go.
When she was in the jeep, Aradia leaned into the open door.
"Two things," she said rapidly. "And they're all the help I can give you. Mother Cybele mentioned Circle Daybreak. I've heard rumors that there axe witches somewhere who are starting it up again.
Witches who want to forget the Burning Times, and who don't hold to Night World law. I don't know if it's true. But if it is, maybe you can find it."