"Weylin may know a lot about what happened in that week, but I doubt he realizes I was using magic to hide my true appearance. We'll use that same magic to hide yours."
"If he's a sorcerer, won't he sense it?"
"No. The spell will be similar to what he used to get Lenny in the building, but stronger. More hidden."
"So, you change my appearance, then what? I just waltz in there and get Michael back?"
"I wish it was that easy.” She paused again, and unease crawled up Nikki's spine. “For this ceremony to work, he will have to have all the major characters in place."
"How, when it all happened over a hundred years ago? Most of the major players will be dead, won't they?” But even as she said it, the image of the gnarled driver came to mind. She had a vague suspicion at least one of the major players was still alive. Whether he was still human was another matter. Seline blew out a breath. “Yes. But all Weylin really has to do is get living replacements. His magic is strong enough to enforce role-playing."
"So what will I have to do?"
"There are three huge problems.” Seline's voice was grim. “The first being, you must do what you can to disrupt the sequence of events. But we do not know which events Weylin knows about, and which he will deem important for the ceremony. Plus, Michael and I were separated much of the time, and I do not know everything he might have done."
"So tell me everything you remember, and I'll play it by ear."
"Yes.” Seline paused again. “Then there is the sacrifice. Michael and I rescued the women on the night of the new moon. Letting them die is not an option, so you must try and find them before the new moon rises."
"Will that be enough of a change?"
"To be honest, I have no idea. Maybe the mere fact of you going in my place will be enough to break the spell, but you will be playing my role, so it may make no difference. I can't be sure. If I went in and tasted his magic, I might know, but for everyone's sake, that is something I cannot risk."
"I don't suppose we have anything on the people he might have snatched, so I can try and trace them with psychometry?"
"Not a hope. He could have taken them from anywhere, and we haven't the time to try and track them down."
Nikki grimaced. She didn't think it would be that easy, but she had to ask all the same. “So what's the third problem?"
"Weylin has raised a protection barrier around the old town. We can't get anyone in."
"If you can't get anyone in, how am I going to get in?"
"He'll create a door at a specified time. If anyone tries to come in with you, he'll kill everyone in that town, except Michael. Then he'll start killing Circle operatives." Nikki blew out a breath and slumped back in the chair. “He's got all the bases covered."
"He's had a long time to plan this revenge of his. Beating him will not be easy." Beating bad guys never was. “So, how many people are in this town?"
"Hartwood was an old mining town. He'd have to have enough people to cover the main players—barman, saloon girls, general store owner, preacher, people like that. At least a dozen, at a guess. And it is a guess, remember that. I have no idea what path his magic has taken."
"How can he possibly manage all that magic and still control all those people? Surely it would sap his strength?"
"It would, but all he would have to do is perform regular sacrifices, and his strength would be maintained."
"Meaning I might also have to try and stop those sacrifices?"
"Yes."
Great. She worried her lip for a moment then asked, “What about Michael? He has a strong mind and strong shields. How on earth would Weylin force him to play this little game?"
"Weylin tried to kill you. If he could enforce the belief that he had into Michael's mind, then he would put Michael in the same frame of mind that he was in a century ago."
"That doesn't answer my question.” She and Michael had their connection—he would know, deep down, she wasn't dead.
"It would take magic to enforce the role-playing. If what we've discovered on Lenny and Nadia is any indication, you will discover symbols painted on and around his spine."
"Meaning all I have to do is erase those symbols, and he'll be free of Weylin's magic?"
"Again, I fear it is not that simple."