Cassie's mom gave her a quick, loving squeeze on her tight shoulders, and then she ushered the book out of sight. Anymore witchcraft work would be like digging their graves and no one knew that better than her.
When she returned with an armful of gauze and ointment, Cassie's mind was racing with new questions and concern for her friends who'd been marked by the hunters. "Fave and Laurel's lives might depend on me opening that book," Cassie said. "I have to try again."
Her mother sat beside her looking forlorn. "Faye and Laurel are in grave danger." She reached for Cassie's hands and began dressing got wounds. "But there are steps to the process of witch hunters killing a witch. They catch you doing magic and you're marked, and only then, can they perform the killing curse. If we can stop the witch hunters from performing the second step, your friends will be safe.
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The killing curse. Cassie remembered the hunter's mark, the aftermath of the curse on Melanie's aunt Constance's forehead the day she died. The Circle hadn't even known the hunters had marked her until it was too late.
"Why don't the hunters just perform the killing curse immediately after marking someone?" Cassie asked. "Why wait?"
This is a continuation free write prompt which would eventually turn into a short story novel. Perhaps, not so short anymore; anyhow hope you enjoy it. Maybe as I go along I will decide which title is suitable The Circle or Book of Shadows
