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"Not now," Laurel muttered

Diana let out a deep breath "I didn't think you'd be interested," she said "We're going to trace the dark energy"

"Not interested? When all the rest of you are so busy? Of course, I can only speak forthe Circle does What about you, Deborah?"

The biker girl's scowl changed briefly into a rin "I'm interested," she said

"And what about you, Suzan?"

"I'm interested," Suzan chimed in

"And what about you, Chris?"

"I'm-"

"All right," Diana said Her cheeks were flushed; Adaet the point We're better off with a full Circle, anyway-but where's Nick?"

"I have no idea," Faye said coolly "He's not at home"

Diana hesitated, then shrugged "We'll do our best e have," she said "Let's go down to the garage"

She gestured at Melanie and Laurel and they went first, elbowing past Faye's group, who looked as if they wanted to stay and argue soot hi- the Hendersons Deborah and Suzan looked at Faye, then followed the guys

Cassie had been hanging back, hoping for the chance to speak to Diana alone But Diana seeed in a staredoith Faye Finally, head high, she walked past the tall girl as still se the doorway

"Diana" Faye called Diana didn't look back, but her shoulders tensed: she was listening

"You're going to lose them all," Faye said, and she chuckled her lazy chuckle as Diana went on to the staircase

Biting her lip, Cassie stepped forward furiously One good shove in Faye'sBut Faye rounded s the doorway completely

"Oh, no, you don't We need to talk," she said

"I don't want to talk to you"

Faye ignored her "Is it in here?" She moved quickly to the walnut cabinet and pulled at a handle, but the draas locked They all were "Damn But you can find out where she keeps the key I want it as soon as possible, do you understand?"

"Faye, you're not listening toto do it after all"

Faye, who had been prowling around the rooe of this unique opportunity to exas, stopped in her tracks Then she turned slowly to Cassie, and smiled

"Oh, Cassie," she said "You really kill me"

"I'ed ainst the wall and shaking her head Her heavy-lidded golden eyes were gloith amusement, her mane of pitch-black hair fell across her shoulders as her head erous

"Cassie, coed with impatience, like a teacher who's put up with a lot fro," Faye went on, catching Cassie's elbow and dragging her to the"Now, look down there What do you see?"

Cassie stopped fighting and looked She saw the Club, the in-crowd at New Saleh school, the kids ed-and terrorized- students and teachers alike She saw the in the first rays of sunset: Suzan's strawberry blond turned to red, Deborah's dark curls touched with ruby, Laurel's long, light-brown hair and Melanie's short auburn and the Henderson brothers' disheveled yellow all highlighted by the ruddy glow in the sky

And she saw Ada to Ada her protectively, his own hair dark as wine

Faye's voice came from behind Cassie "If you tell her, you'll kill her You'll destroy her faith in everything she's ever believed in And you'll take away the only thing she has to trust, to rely on Is that what you want?"

"Faye" Cassie seethed

"And, incidentally, you'll get yourself banished from the Club You know that, don't you? How do you think Melanie and Laurel are going to feel when they hear that you messed around with Diana's boyfriend? None of theain, not even to make a full Circle The coven will be destroyed too"

Cassie's teeth were clenched She wanted to hit Faye, but it wouldn't do any good Because Faye was right And Cassie thought she could stand being blackballed, being a pariah at school again; she even thought she could stand to destroy the coven But the picture of Diana's face

It would kill Diana By the ti it her way, it would Cassie's fantasy of confessing to Diana and having Diana understand vanished like a pricked soap bubble

"And what I want is so reasonable," Faye was going on, al "I just want to look at the skull for a little while I knohat I'et it for me, won't you, Cassie? Won't you? Today?"

Cassie shut her eyes Against her closed eyelids the light was red as fire