Earth raged, her anger and grief erupting from her soul. Her sister had been killed. Killed by her abusive husband and now Earth only sought what she saw as justice. A life for a life. Air had not fought back, she had not used her powers to save her life, but Earth could and would avenge her death. The pleas of her sister Fire were an annoyance. Yes, she knew the creed, she knew that harm none was more than simple words but a way of life for them. A past way of life, for there was power surging towards Earth, power most satisfying and intoxicating and she wanted more..she wanted his death more than she wanted her own life. She reached willingly for the power tempting her, deaf to the words of her sister, immune to the rational thoughts she was so known for. Now only revenge would satisfy, and once fed she would lose more then a sister…
Deputy Ripley Todd was as down to earth as it was possible to get. She believed firmly in justice and fairness. All of this magic mumbo jumbo that Mia Devlin nagged her about was just that…hocus pocus. No one really believed that three witches had created this island or that according to legend the island would be destroyed if the descendants of the original three sisters did not bind together to save it.
It was great for the tourist trade that the island residents depended upon. The summer people made it possible to survive through the harsh New England winters. Save the magical for them, Ripley wanted no further part of it.
Yes, she had stood with Nell and Mia – but that was a one time need, not to be repeated ever again. Nell was safe and that was all that mattered. Add magic and hocus pocus to all the news reports and rumors about happened that night when Nell’s abusive, now former husband showed up was bad enough. To add further insult was the fact that Mia had allowed some super geek ghost hunter or some such nonsense to rent out the cottage that Ripley had her eye on – that just made her day, and gave Mia far too much satisfaction for Ripley’s comfort.
MacAllister Booke or simply “Mac” was the ultimate example of an absent-minded professor. Most days he barely survived impaling himself on one of his vast number of gadgets and computer parts scattered about. What he lacked in co-ordination he more than made up for in looks, talent and debunking the shams and charlatan out there that preyed on those that searched for knowledge. It was true that he disproved more often than he proved, but when he did find the genuine otherworldly event people took notice.
He had heard the stories, had read the police reports of that night when an abusive husband tracked down his runaway wife. Determined that he would never loose his Helen, Remington would see his wife dead before he would let her go. Thankfully Nell Channing, no it was Nell Todd now, survived as did her now husband Zack Todd. Yet enough speculation in addition to Evan Remington’s mad ravings about witches and things crawling beneath his skin had come to light to spark Mac’s interest. Besides, Mac brought something to the island aside from his knowledge of the paranormal, he had a bargaining chip about the legend should Mia Devlin decide to not be interviewed.
Unfortunately for Mac..he didn’t bargain on Ripley.
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This is an older novel that like many books, has been reprinted. A friend gave me a copy of Dangerous Passions a few months ago. I just got around to reading it a few weeks ago, and have finally finished it. Yes, that’s right – weeks.
I hate to admit to this – I really do, but I am in such a blogging slump lately.
