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"To what do I owe this pleasure?" Scarlett asked
"We need to talk," Cassie said
"I knew you’d coestured for Cassie to enter
Cautiously, Cassie stepped over the rickety threshold that reminded her of a barn door Inside, the warehouse looked almost like a movie set, a backdrop to a fil on hooks, helle boots below There eaponry everywhere and an odor of metal and dirt At any ht stor for attention After nearly thirty years of this building being abandoned, standing in it now felt like traveling back in ti that it had never been looted, perhaps because everyone who visited here recognized its rare ti appeared froathered around Cassie, up on the balls of their feet, their fingers spread Cassie steeled herself for whatever spell they were ready to hurl her way
"Leave us alone!" Scarlett co the at the top of the stairwell
They lowered their arms, deflated, and made their way up the steps Cassie checked every shadow and corner There was no sign of Ada--and Diana--to fully disappear before inviting Cassie to join her in arooreen military cots, opposite a metal ammunition box that served as a coffee table Kerosene lanterns propped up on rusted crates provided the only source of light
Cassie looked up and all around the vast mildewed room Old paint chipped from the walls in broken, s were high Cassie felt a damp chill This was a diser than necessary
"I’ll get right to the point," she said, edging forward to the corner of her rank cot "You’ve won, Scarlett I’htly into a smile and her dark eyes widened, but Cassie could see she was doing her best not to reveal too much emotion "Continue," she said "I trust there’s more"
"I’ve colanced at each corner of the warehouse floor to check for spying spirits, but she saw none Still, she couldn’t help but feel like she was being watched
"I’ll trade you Black John’s Book of Shadows," she whispered, "in exchange for your help in exorcising the Circle"
Scarlett’s face brightened, but she still appeared dubious "You "
"I’ve translated most of the book at this point anyway," Cassie continued in a hushed tone "And it’s broughtit to me could unleash hell," Scarlett said "You understand that So what’s the trick?"
"No trick All I want is to save ht," Scarlett said "You’re willing to sell out the entire world for friendship" She uttered the last word like it was a disease
"Yes," Cassie said She knew this was a dangerous deal, but she was desperate And she had a plan to get the book back once her friends were on her side again For now, she had to take it one step at a time
"I just need your help to properly perform the exorcism," Cassie said "I can’t do it without you"
"You’re serious" Scarlett finally allowed herself to laugh out loud "You’re even weaker than I thought"
Cassie rested her hands on the rough green wool of her cot’s blanket Its coarse fibers pinched the surface of her pallass
"No wonder Adam was bored by you," Scarlett said
Cassie ive Scarlett that satisfaction
"You’ve got yourself a deal," Scarlett said finally
Cassie eyed her warily For once it appeared that Scarlett didn’t have an angle It must be in her best interest to be rid of the ancestors
"I said I’ll do it" Scarlett raised her voice "I’ to what you want; the least you can do is say thank you"
"I’ll want to do it right away," Cassie said "The text of the spell called for perforin So we should meet at the caves"
Scarlett shook her head "The point of origin would mean the place the spirits rose from That would be the old cemetery, where many of their bodies were buried And where our father is"
Cassie remained quiet for a few seconds This was another reason she needed Scarlett’s help She was si
For alocation was the reason the spell didn’t work before, but it was already too late to go back on the deal
"I’ll gather the Circle tonight," Scarlett said "At ht, near our father’s crypt We’ll need to harness asto work The crypt is the best place"
"Hoill you get theot one of you to cross over, that we’re perfor spell to conaled for Cassie to do the same
She led Cassie to the door by the arured out the text to the exorcisht"