Drake Sisters 01 - Magic in the Wind

door open to the elements. It was only then that he felt the subtle flow of power entering with the wind. Faintly he could hear, or imagined that he heard, the chanting carried from the direction of the ocean ... or the cliff house.
    He studied Donna's assailant, one of the men who had tortured him. The man who had pressed a gun to Dan's head and pulled the trigger. Why was he simply standing there motion-less? Was it really the threat of Sarah's gun?
    Damon had no doubt that she would shoot, but would that be enough to intimidate a man like this one? He doubted it.
    There was something else in the room, something holding the killer.
    A sense of lightness stole into his heart, carried with it a sense of peace. Sarah was a woman of silk and steel. She was magnificent.
    "Jonas is coming," Inez whispered to Damon. "Sarah's going to have a problem. She'll be weak and sick after this. She won't want anyone to see her like that."
    Damon could see the acceptance of his relationship with Sarah in Inez's expression. It made him feel as if he truly belonged. Inez's approval meant more to him than it should have, made him feel a part of the close-knit community instead of the outsider he always seemed to be wherever he went.
    He nodded his head, pretending to understand, determined to be there for Sarah the way she seemed to be for everyone else.
    Jonas Harrington came through the door first, his eyes hard and unflinching. He had Donna's assailant in handcuffs immediately. Sarah sank back on her haunches, her head bowed.
    She wiped sweat from her brow with the back of a trembling hand. Damon went to her immediately, helping her up, forcing her to lean on him when she didn't want to, when she was worried about his hip and leg.
    Sarah went down the hall with Damon's help, found a chair in the kitchen where she could sit. She looked up at him and smiled her appreciation. That was all. And it was everything.
    He got her a glass of water, helped her steady her hands enough to drink it. She recovered fairly quickly, but she remained pale.

    "Are your sisters feeling the same effects?" he asked.
    Sarah nodded. "It isn't the same as casting. It takes a tremendous amount of our energy to hold someone against his or her will. It wasn't in his nature to be passive." She held out her hand. "I'm doing better. I need to eat something and sleep for a little while." She sighed. "I promised Irene I'd go visit Drew tonight but I don't have any strength left after this, not the kind I'd need to help them." She pressed her fingertips to her temples. "I can't really do anything for Drew and Irene knows that. Extending his life might not be the best thing. If only Libby were here."
    "Sarah." He spoke in his most gentle tone. "Leave it alone for now. Let me take you home; I'll fix you a good meal and you can sleep. I’ll talk to Irene myself. She'll understand."
    "How did you know my sisters were helping me?"
    "I felt them," he replied. "Are you steady enough to talk with the sheriff?"
    She nodded. "And I want to make certain Donna's all right."
    When they returned to the living room, Harrington already had Donna's assailant in the squad car. Donna burst into tears, clinging to Sarah and Inez, making Damon feel helpless and useless but filled with a deep sense of pride in Sarah and her sisters.
    "Why did he attack you, Donna?" Sarah asked.
    "I noticed he had your earring, Sarah. The one Joley made for you. He was wearing it. It's one of a kind and I thought you must have lost it. So I asked him about it. He hit me hard and dragged me out of the store back into my house. He kept asking me questions about you and about Mr. Wilder."
    Sarah pressed her hand against Donna's wound, just for a moment. Damon watched her face carefully, watched her skin grow paler until she swayed slightly with weariness. Sarah leaned down and kissed Donna's cheek. "You'll be fine. Don't worry about the store, we'll lock up for you."
    "I'm going to the hospital with her," Inez said, glaring at the paramedics as if daring them to deny her. She held Donna's hand as they took her out.
    "Sarah?" Jonas Harrington stood waiting against the wall.
    "You have a permit to carry that gun?"
    "You know I do, Jonas," she replied. "You've seen it more than once. Yes, it's up-to-date. And I didn't shoot the man, although I was inclined to with Donna lying on the floor bleed-ing. And he is wearing my earring. I want it back."
    "I'll get it back for you," Jonas was patient. "I know you're