Her mother tossed the dishrag aside. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I didn’t mean to—”
Ivy hugged her mother. “It’s okay. I understand.”
Devlin finally made his way to the kitchen. He stood in the doorway and barked.
Her mother turned toward him. “Well, it’s about time, sleepy-head. I suppose you want your breakfast?” She made a single swoosh with her wrist and Devlin’s bowl floated up onto the counter. Devlin backed up and barked again.
“I think he needs to go out,” her mother said.
Somehow, Ivy doubted that the need to water the roses or chase Midnight was Devlin’s problem. She was betting he’d found Spike.
Her mother glanced at her watch. “Is it seven already? I have to go or I’ll get stuck sitting in the back of the meeting. Don’t forget, I’ve got the girls night out dinner after work. There’s leftovers in the fridge if you want them. I should be home around nine.”
Devlin pawed at the floor. Ivy put a finger to her lips. Devlin whined, but acknowledged the need to wait and be quiet.
Her eyes darted around the room in case Spike had mysteriously shown up at a very inopportune time. Thankfully, it was still Spike-free.
“I’ll be fine, Mom. Shayde and I were planning on studying tonight anyway.”
Her mother moved from the kitchen to the small coat closet in the foyer, pausing with her hand on the door knob. Devlin cocked his head, eyes trained on closet.
“Ivy? Would you mind emptying the dishwasher?”
Ivy held her breath as her mother opened the closet door. Inside, there were only coats, the vacuum cleaner, and a few pairs of boots. “Sure. No problem.”
“You’d better let Devlin out,” her mother said. “He’s acting like he’s going to spring a leak.”
Indeed Devlin did seem rather anxious. He was standing on the sofa thrashing a pillow. Patience wasn’t in a Beezlepup’s nature. The front door had barely closed and her mother was still bustling down the walkway when Ivy snatched the pillow from Devlin’s mouth. He’d managed to tear it. “Repair,” Ivy said, dragging her fingers across the small holes in the fabric.
Devlin was now upside down and wedged between the rest of the cushions. “Narrn, narrr!” he said, staring up at her.
“Okay, okay! What?”
Devlin sprang from the sofa and raced to the cellar door. Ivy didn’t particularly like the cellar. It was damp and smelled of moldy earth. In the summer, it harbored spiders and some of the largest millipedes she had ever seen. Ivy opened the cellar door and Devlin raced ahead of her. Whoever was down there, Devlin knew them. She took a few hesitant steps down. The cellar light glared cold and yellowish against the walls. “Hello?”
No answer, only a distinct rustling followed by a loud crash. It sounded like an entire shelf of who knew what—the cellar was where they stored everything from Christmas decorations to gardening supplies—had careened to the ground.
“Ouch! Oh. Hi Devlin,” came a weak voice.
Ivy hurried down the steps and around the corner. Spike was slumped on the cellar floor, a few clay pots were sprawled next to him, and potting soil was spilled across his legs and lap. Devlin started to dig in a small heap of nearby dirt, sending sprays of soil everywhere.
“Devlin!” Ivy complained. He gave her a look that clearly indicated he thought she wasn’t any fun, and he wandered off to show his displeasure by chewing on a plastic watering jug.
“What are you doing down here?” Ivy asked Spike, who was rubbing the top of his head and wincing.
“Er, um, I thought it’d be a good place to hide,” Spike replied.
“You were fine where you were,” she said, looking around. Several metal shelving systems lined the wall. The one in the middle had a distinct bend in it. At the very top, Ivy noticed the remnants of an old spider web.
Spike followed her gaze. “Kinda dirty down here, isn’t it? I mean, all the old cobwebs and stuff. He forced a small, giddy laugh that sounded both embarrassed and forlorn.
She knelt down next to him. He looked terrible, not just because of the potting soil covering his head, but because it didn’t appear as though he’d slept at all. Spike’s eyes were wild and bloodshot and dark circles had cropped up under them. He ran a dirty, shaking hand through his disheveled hair.
It was hard not to feel some sympathy for him. He was right. Whatever he was going through, it was her fault.
“What’s wrong, Spike?”
“Wrong?” Spike nearly shrieked. He cleared his throat and forced a more normal tone. “Nothing. Everything.” He scanned the cellar in his familiar herky-jerky movement before his eyes met hers.
And then it hit her. Ivy reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. Spike was going through bug withdrawal.
“Why?” he asked, his voice trembling. “What happens to them?”
“Bugs can’t live when it gets cold. I’m sorry Spike. I really am. I can change you back right here, right now if you’d like.”
“But then what? What happens then? The bugs are still... gone.”
“Gareth will buy you bugs from the pet store, just like he always has.”
He lifted his head, a shimmer of hope on his face. “Buy them?”
Spike continued to stare at her with soft brown eyes. “Yes, Spike. You can buy bugs from the pet food store down on Main and Elm.”
He wiped at his nose. “No. I can’t do that.”
“Why?” But she thought she already knew. Spike didn’t want everyone to know he couldn’t get by without eating insects. He didn’t want to be seen purchasing a box the size of Chinese take-out full of crickets.
“If I can’t find bugs on my own, I’m not buying them,” he said with a sniffle.
“I can change you back, Spike.”
“No. Please. Just a few more days. The man I met down by the river—the one who gave me the note—I’ll tell you what he said.”
“I don’t get it, Spike. Why do you want to stay human? You’re not doing very well. You obviously miss your...bugs.”
His eyes found hers. “I’ll never have another chance to be human, will I? And I’m not sure I’d want to. Anyway, it’s not something the average lizard ever gets to do. It’s an amazing adventure. It’s like walking on the moon.”
What could she say? The guilt trip he’d given her had been one thing. This was something else entirely. She didn’t have the heart to turn Spike back. Not yet. Not until he was ready. She’d done enough selfish things lately. Maybe this one act of granting Spike a wish would help remind her that magic could be used for good.
Besides, he looked so darn pathetic.
“Saturday,” she said at last. “Don’t ask for another day past that.” Ivy smiled and offered Spike a hand up from the floor.
“Thank you,” Spike said. “Sorry I made such a mess.”
She dusted herself off, and with a single wave, motioned for a nearby broom and dustpan. With another wave, the pots repositioned themselves back on their shelves, including the watering container Devlin had attempted to bury in the dirt without success.
“Being a witch does have benefits,” she said. “Come on. I’ve got to get ready for school. And you’ve got some cleaning up to do yourself. Then I’ll drop you off by the Wallace farm. Bees are still somewhat active.”
Excitement flickered in Spike’s watery, red-rimmed eyes and a smile slowly etched onto his face. “That’s right! I forgot. Bees are sort of bland and mushy, and their stingers are tough, but they’ll do.”
Ivy couldn’t remember ever getting ready for school so fast—less than forty minutes from shower to dress. It usually took her nearly ten minutes just to dry her hair. This morning, she’d cast more spells in under an hour than she did most entire days. While her brush and hairdryer coiffed her hair, Ivy applied what little makeup she wore. She rushed out of the hall bathroom to her room, dryer and brush flying after her, styling her hair as she went. The closet and drawers flew open, clothing collecting on her bed.
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br /> By the time she gathered her book bag and raced down the stairs, Spike was just coming back inside with Devlin. “I’ve got to do one more thing,” she said as she strode to the kitchen. With a few swishes and swirls of her hand, the dishwasher opened and dishes, glasses, and silverware flew out. Drawers and cabinets opened and closed as everything found its place. The cereal box and sugar bowl took their respective places in the small pantry and cabinet.
“Whew! Ready,” she said. “Let’s get going.” She gave Devlin a hug and a kiss, telling him to be a good boy until she got home, and then she and Spike scrambled out the door to Ivy’s car.
“The man who gave me the note,” Spike said. “I’m smarter every day, but I can’t remember every word he said because they don’t make sense to me. He said he’s been watching you and that you’ve got something the conjured souls will come looking for soon.”
“Where did you meet this man?” Ivy asked.
“He was down by the river, like he usually is in the afternoons.”
The river? She’d have to go down there and see for herself. She’d have to be careful. The man Spike saw could be the same person who was conjuring souls. From there, she could follow him around and then tell her mother she had seen someone acting suspicious. Her mother’s description echoed in her head: irritable, acting out of character. All symptoms she was experiencing. “The things he told you, is that what’s on the note?” she asked.
“No,” Spike said. “He didn’t. He says the note is for later. When it’s time. Not before then. He says I’ll know. I only made up the part about the bargain so I could stay human for a few more days.”
Spike frowned. He looked lost, distant. “I don’t get what he meant. I’ll know? And yet, it feels like something big. Too big for a lizard to work through. But, I promised. And I really didn’t lie to him, Ivy. But, I’ve lied a few times since I’ve been human and it conflicts with the animal part of me. It’s like I don’t know who or what I am then. That’s why I’m willing to let you change me back soon.”
Ivy shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
Spike stared through the windshield. “Because, the longer I stay human, the more I become human. For starters, it means things like lying will come easier to me. Raven asked about ethics. While animal’s ethics aren’t the same as humans, we don’t lie. We’re always honest. Sure, we eat other animals. We kill. But we don’t lie. I don’t want to lose that part of me. I wonder what happens when I go back to being a lizard. Will I retain some of the knowledge I have now? I think I might. It feels that way. It’s probably a hard thing for you to understand.”
But, it wasn’t difficult to wrap her brain around at all. She’d done a few rotten things lately: putting herself, Devlin, and her friends in danger by using The Rise of the Dark Curse. It was as though nothing and no one else mattered right then. She’d been a bit too cruel to Tara. In fact, she’d actually enjoyed it. At the time, all those things had been easy to justify. But, it’d come at a price—trust and the risk of damaging her friendships. And, if she didn’t get rid of the book soon, she’d wind up like Skinner. She’d wind up like her father. The last thing Ivy wanted was to hurt those she loved like her father had hurt her. She had to agree with Shayde—the pain he’d caused had managed to change the way she saw things. It was hurting her still.
If she didn’t get rid of the book soon, if she didn’t find out who was behind all this, then who knew what else she might be capable of doing—of becoming. Ivy didn’t want to risk losing the good in herself.
Yeah, she understood Spike’s fear perfectly.
CHAPTER 25
“You let him go?” Gareth shrieked.
Several nearby students looked his way. His voice had startled a sophomore girl who dropped her purse, and while retrieving it, she spilled her books onto the ground.
“He’s tricking you, Ivy! Why would Spike go on a bee-eating expedition when he’s eaten Chinese food and could be dating the whole cheerleading squad?”
There were times Ivy thought Gareth acted like seasoned teen vampire. This, however, was not one of those moments. “Chill, Gareth. Spike really is at the Wallace farm. In fact, why don’t you go talk to him? I’ve got a stop to make on my way home, so you can keep him company until I pick him up.”
“Whaaat?” Gareth sounded frantic and a bit annoyed. “You mean you’re not coming with me? You’re not changing him back? And what do you mean you’re picking him up? Where are you taking him? Don’t you care about Spike? There’s more than just bees out there Ivy! There’s yellow jackets! Spike might not be used to yellow jackets and they sting pretty hard. What if Mr. Wallace sees him? What if he does something to Spike?”
Gareth was well on his way to a meltdown. His black eyes were bulging and the palest hint of color tinted his cheeks.
Shayde and Raven exchanged all-knowing glances as though psychotic behavior among brothers was to be expected.
Raven pressed three fingers against her brother’s forehead as though she were resetting a computer. “Reboot, Gareth. You’re frying that little processor of yours.”
“He’s my pet!” Gareth complained. “Or, at least, he used to be. What if someone found Devlin and then just let him go?”
Ivy grimaced. Yeah, she hadn’t thought of that. She’d just sort of believed that Spike wouldn’t run off.
“Geez Gareth, quit whining!” Raven said. “I wasn’t supposed to tell you, but Mom and Dad bought you another lizard. Will you calm down now?” She threw her hands up in exasperation. “Immortality with you as a brother is going to be impossible. Grow up!”
Gareth sneered at her. “Very funny. We’re kind of stuck as teens forever, stupid. Or haven’t you figured that out?”
“Whatever, Gareth. Get over it already. You’ve got a new lizard. Can’t you ever be happy?” Raven unlocked the car doors with her remote. “See what I deal with? He’s the only obsessive-compulsive vampire I know. And he’s been going through the same hormone crisis since we were changed.”
Gareth was well accustomed to his sister’s comments, and either he chose to ignore this particular instance, or his mind was set on Spike. Or, maybe it was just another Raven-Gareth sibling thing. Ivy was betting on the latter. Guess sibling rivalry never grew old.
“What kind of lizard?” Gareth asked.
“A Leopard Gecko,” Raven said soothingly. “It’s really pretty—shiny and coppery with black spots.”
Gareth was all smiles again. “A Leopard Gecko? Seriously?”
“Maybe you could show it to Spike,” Shayde suggested. “He’d probably enjoy that. He hasn’t had a lot of lizard company lately.”
“Is Bane going to join us for dinner?” Ivy asked Shayde. She was sure Bane was well rested by now, and he would hardly turn down a Saludo’s pizza with extra meat. Shayde, Raven, and Ivy thought it’d be a good night to see if they could come up with a plan to find out more about the mystery man Spike had met, and if he was the same person who had unleashed Vlad the Impaler and Elizabeth Báthory.
“No, he’s got practice. Last one before the game against the Bristol Bulldogs on Saturday,” Shayde said. “Bane thinks the Bulldogs look a little tougher this year.”
“He’s mistaking looking tough for looking ugly,” Gareth commented. “The Bulldogs don’t stand a chance against the Wildcats.” He tugged on his sister’s coat sleeve. “Can we go now?”
Raven rolled her eyes. “I’ll pick up dessert. See you guys later.” She and her brother got into Raven’s red Saturn and drove away.
“Mind if I tag along?” Shayde asked Ivy.
“No problem. I need to talk to Nick, if that’s okay. I figured I’d pick up pizza for our dinner.”
Ten minutes later, they arrived at Saludo’s. It was a lot more crowded than Ivy thought it’d be for a Wednesday night. Usually, there wasn’t as much traffic most weeknights. The place was filled with more Kindreds than Regulars. Most were picking up orders to take home, and the line stretched out th
e door. Both she and Shayde couldn’t help but listen to the conversations around them.
“Well, they’re shaken, naturally. Can’t blame them. Mrs. Harrison wants them to go to her sisters for a week,” someone said.
“Well, we’d better figure this out before midnight, Halloween.”
“If we don’t find out who’s behind all this before Friday... well, I hate to think—”
“How hard can it be? We’ve got nearly every Kindred in town on the lookout.”
“Who’d do this? Who’d open The Book of Lost Souls?” One of the women said as they walked out with their order.
Mr. Evans sat at the counter, his foot tapping impatiently against the stool’s rung. Why hadn’t anyone ever told him his pants were always too short and that white socks didn’t go with dark slacks? Like Shayde and Ivy, Mr. Evans seemed to be listening to the conversations around him.
“It’s almost impossible, but I think Mr. Evans looks worse than us,” Shayde said as they waited in line at the counter.
Now that Shayde mentioned it, Mr. Evans didn’t seem well at all. He was pale, and his hair, if possible, looked greasier than normal and hung in limp strands across his forehead. He rubbed at his temples as though he had a headache or was seriously stressed. She couldn’t blame him. The whole town was stressed.
“Here’s your order, Mr. Evans,” Nick said, sliding four large boxes of pizza in front of him. “Sorry it took so long. Hope the other teachers aren’t starving.”
“Thanks,” Mr. Evans said distractedly as he collected the pizza boxes and pushed past Ivy and Shayde.
“That’s a lot of pizza,” Shayde mentioned to Nick as Mr. Evans scurried out the door.
“Says he and some of the teachers are working late grading papers. He offered to get dinner.” Nick’s eyes caught Ivy’s. “What can I do for you two?”
“Two large pizzas, half pepperoni, half extra meat,” Shayde said, stepping aside and pushing Ivy closer to the counter.
“Hi, Nick,” Ivy said simply, only mildly aware Shayde had plunked down the money for the pizza on the counter.
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