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Cassie disappeared to the kitchen and returned with some snacks to liven the mood She set down a plate of cookies and a bowl of popcorn that nobody touched, and then sat beside Adaic isn’t strong enough against them," she said "How are we supposed to rescue Faye?"

Sean widened his eyes "We should burn down the warehouse"

Chris approved, but Doug shook his head "That’ll never work"

"We only need to distract the ancestors long enough to give Faye a chance to escape," Diana said "Maybe a fire would do the trick"

"I have a better idea" Laurel stood up "So at Diana "Sleep powder"

"Seriously?" Chris laughed out loud "You think a little pixie dust can take down the most powerful witches of all time?"

"For about two or three minutes," Laurel said defensively "And that’s all we need to get Faye out of there"

She turned to Cassie "I was up all night studying the ingredients All we have to do is get it into their eyes and they’ll go right down"

Cassie tried to sound appreciative "That sounds great, Laurel, but I don’t think any potion or poork on a deular potion won’t," Laurel said "But if I spell it, and mix in the proper herbs, it will"

Diana’s face broke into a half-smile It was the first of its kind all day "You really think you can do it?"

"Of course she can," Melanie said "Laurel’s a genius!"

Laurel pulled a slip of paper out of her pocket and began reading off ingredients "We’ll need lavender, chalove,for?" Adaarden"

Cassie followed the group outside It was a long shot, one she wasn’t even sure she believed would work But seeing her Circle hopeful orth going along with the idea

As soon as it grew dark outside, the Circle left for the warehouse They’d collected all the ingredients from Laurel’s list, crushed theic They each held a small felt sack of that powder now, to be tossed into the eyes of their enehtforward: stun the ancestors, put them to sleep, rescue Faye Every Circle et Cassie would pursue Scarlett

Nick checked the loose pane in the warehouse’s back"These ancestors are so cocky," he whispered, "they still haven’t bothered to cast a guarding spell to keep us out"

They hadn’t even secured the broken , Cassie realized They obviously revered themselves as too powerful to take such precautions

Nick pulled aside the loose pane, and the Circle clih, catlike, one at a time The ancestors didn’t hear the a discussion, totally unguarded Cassie squeezed her fistful of powder in her right hand and located Scarlett leaning on a crate, off to the side of the group

"Let’s go," Nick said, and the Circle descended upon the into battle

Adam was the first to hurl his fistful of dust into Absolom’s eyes

Absolom blinked rapidly and hobbled on his feet for a few seconds, then covered his face and screamed He fell over onto the floor as an acidic srueso

Laurel was horrified, but she still ed to hurl her dust into Charlotte’s face

Diana took out Alice Deborah handled Beatrix It eing the ancestors’ eyes and faces so badly that an acrid cloud of s, one by one

Cassie locked eyes with Faye, standing with her hands down at her sides in the middle of all the action She didn’t ht on her behalf--that she was the prize

Scarlett raised her hands in defense, to stop Cassie’s approach with a spell, but it only took one second to heave her handful of toxic dust into Scarlett’s eyes She went down, the sa on the floor between Sa The Circle asseet you out of here"

"Quickly," Melanie added "Weaway "What makes you so sure I want to leave?"

The ancestors were already cli up to their feet, but they still cradled their faces and covered their burning eyes

"Faye," Diana said, reaching out to her, but Faye batted Diana away "No," she said "I like it here They understand me And they have power, real power"

"We don’t have ti with you," Faye said

Deborah grabbed her by the arms "Yes, you are" She tried to wrestle Faye toward the , but Faye pushed her off, filled with rage She splayed her fingernails, which were long and painted bloodred

"I’ve learned a fe spells since I’ve been here," she threatened "Don’t y Faye left her with no choice but to use h to haul Faye out of here

But before Cassie could get the words out, Laurel screaroan and shook his head froed, the skin around them pink and raw, but he could see

Cassie shot Faye with her spell, but Faye blocked it with a deflection

Then Alice lurched forward

"Retreat!" Diana yelled out

Faye still had her hands set and ready to defend herself against any spell hurled her way

Cassie gave Diana a nod "Retreat," she repeated, and everyone fled to the open

Cassie was the last to juh By the tirue The s in the air

Cassie ran with the others toward Chris’s rusted Jeep Sean gripped the leather steering wheel, ready to gun the accelerator as Cassie cliht