The Dark at the End 7

"It's been two hours, Weez," Eddie said. "We should have heard from him by now."

Eddie was really on her nerves with his constant bugging to start the Ceremony.

"How can we hear from him when our phones say 'no service'?"

"I believe we should get on with it," Glaeken said. "The One has regained his strength."

Weezy looked at him. "You're sure?"

He nodded. "I sense it. He's back in the city and he's damaged, but he is strong again."

"Where in the city?" Eddie said. He looked frightened.

Glaeken shrugged. "I've never been able to pinpoint his location. I know only that he is here."

"Weezy..." Eddie drew out her name. "If he's nearby and he finds out what we've got planned, no telling what he'll do."

"I told Jack we'd wait."

Eddie gave her a look. "Is that really what this is about?" He nodded at the baby. "Or are you just postponing the inevitable?"

Was that it? Was she delaying the Ceremony just because of the baby?

"Jack could be in jail, for all we know," Eddie added. "We've got to get this done."

"I agree," the Lady said. "We have all we need here to perform the Ceremony."

Weezy looked around the room. Looked like she was outvoted.

She sighed. "All right. Let's do it." She looked at the Lady. "What's the first step?"

"According to the Compendium, the baby must be seated on the lap of whoever recites the Ceremony. That would be me."

While Eddie pulled one of the wooden chairs away from the table, Weezy stepped to the playpen and lifted the baby. He loosed one of his ear-piercing shrieks as he lost his grip on his bone. Weezy quickly retrieved it for him and returned to where the Lady was seating herself on the chair. Weezy set the baby on her lap. The Lady faced him outward and wrapped her arms around him.

"Now ... hold the Compendium before me so I can see the words..."