Devil's Shore by Bernadette Walsh

will get this thing out of our lives. For good. Now give me your left hand.”
    I took her left hand in mine and placed it in the center of the book’s cover, in the middle of the ring of thorns. The embossed thorns glowed and a faint hum of magic traveled up my arm. Caroline felt it too, and her eyes widened. Without a word, I slid her hand to the corner of the Book, said a small prayer, and then together the two of us opened it. We opened the Book.
    A cold wind blew through my small kitchen and the pages flipped until they stopped midway through the Book. The top of the page said simply Ar ais . Return to me.
    Caroline, her voice rough from tears, asked, “What now?”
    “Now we take back the Devlin power.”
     

 
    Chapter 9
     
    It was easy enough to lure Simon, Claire and Shari to the beach. I didn’t dare call them in case Simon somehow sensed the lie from my voice, so I texted them.
    I’ve found a book of spells written by my grandmother among my cousin’s belongings. There is a special Samhain levitation spell I’d like to practice with you. I’m afraid Declan might find it in my house so I want to give the book to Simon for safekeeping.
    I knew those thieving bastards, Simon especially, couldn’t resist such a tempting source of familial witchcraft.
    Caroline and I arrived early. Being American, I expected her to stumble over the Irish words of the spells, but she was an apt pupil. The thin strain of the shared blood must have awakened within her, for while she didn’t understand what it was she said, her pronunciation was pitch perfect, with the unique intonation of the Five Families.
    I tried to warn her about Simon’s power, about how I couldn’t assure her of her safety. With a courage I didn’t expect from my meek sister-in-law, Caroline stopped me mid-sentence. “I don’t need to know, Orla. I’m here for you. I’m ready for whatever comes.”
    The three of them arrived together in Simon’s Mercedes. Claire’s face was flushed and Shari’s hair curled in wet tendrils as if she’d just got out of the shower. Her heavy lidded eyes belied what I suspected was another session in Simon’s marble shower. I plastered a bright smile on my lips and forced it to reach my eyes.
    “Hiya! I’m so excited. You’re not going to believe what my cousin found!”
    Simon’s mouth was grim. “Why is she here? We don’t allow outsiders to observe.”
    I flipped my hair and made my voice light. “Oh, we can trust Caroline. Besides, I read through the book and it requires two women to say the spells, in Irish. None of you can speak Irish, can you?”
    “No. We cannot.” Simon stared into Caroline’s face, and she affected her meekest, mildest expression. He nodded. “Fine, she can stay.” His black eyes locked onto mine. “Show us what you’ve got.”
    “Okay, the three of you join hands while I draw a circle in the sand around you.” I forced myself to squeeze Claire’s arm. “This is going to be fun!”
    Claire smiled into my eyes and I felt a small pang as I returned her smile. I drew a circle around them with a scarred oak branch that had appeared in the basement portal. The circle they thought would protect them. The circle I knew would imprison them.
    “Okay. Ready?”
    “Yes,” Simon said. Sudden unease flickered in his eyes. I decided to dial down the bubbly routine. I returned to Caroline and the two of us held the Book in our hands.
    “ Mna dorcha. Raven-haired Women of the Mountain, we call you. Your children call you to this circle, ” we chanted.
    A cold wind ripped down from the dunes, the air infused with the smells of the earth. The wind was followed by a line of five women, their black locks trailing behind them in the powerful breeze, their scarlet cloaks glowing with their energy. But Caroline did not appear to see them, neither did Claire or Shari. Simon felt something. He dropped Claire and Shari’s hands. “I want you to stop now.”
    But Caroline and I continued