by Lynne Ewing
“I’ve got money,” Tianna lied. She didn’t really have any that she could spare. She needed every dime to run away.
“Yeah, but you need your plata.” Jimena looked at her knowingly. “I can recognize someone who’s on the run.”
She started to protest but stopped. “Thanks. I’ll have a mocha.”
“De nada.” Jimena smiled.
Minutes later the waitress brought back a cup the size of a soup bowl filled with steaming chocolate-flavored coffee and topped with whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Tianna realized she hadn’t eaten anything since the bite of muffin early in the morning.
She sipped the brew, enjoying the rich, sweet taste, and listened to Serena recite a poem about her demon lover. It made Tianna think more than ever that Serena was some kind of witch or worse. How could she know so much about temptation and choosing between good and evil? The words sent chills through Tianna. She glanced around the room. Celebrities in sweats and baseball caps trying to be inconspicuous sat next to punks, goths, gangbangers, and students from UCLA. All of them seemed captivated by Serena’s words.
Tianna liked the artsy vibration. Canvases of new art hung next to poems kids had written on the walls in large letters with Day-Glo felt markers.
Serena started another poem about the moon and hope.
“She’s good, huh?” Jimena whispered.
Tianna started to say yes, but a guy with a safety pin through his eyebrow shot them a warning look, and instead she only nodded and glanced back at the stage.
Finally Serena finished and walked back toward Tianna and Jimena. Kids were shaking her hand and asking for copies of her poetry.
Jimena stood. “Come on, we’ll meet her out front.”
When they got to the door, Jimena opened it and looked cautiously up and down the street.
“Who are you looking for?” Tianna asked, wondering what Jimena had expected to see.
“Just being careful.” Jimena smiled. “My car’s parked a block away.”
They started walking, and soon Serena caught up to them.
“Great game,” she congratulated Tianna.
“Thanks. I loved your poetry.” Tianna returned the compliment, then she looked at Jimena. She had forgotten to ask. “Did we win?”
“Decca never got a goal past Jimena,” Serena announced proudly. “She was incredible.”
“Yeah, but we needed the goal Tianna made,” Jimena added, and then her mood became more serious. “What did you see out here tonight that frightened you, Tianna?”
“Nothing.” Tianna wasn’t in the mood to answer questions. Maybe she should go to the bus station. “Look, I live close by,” she lied. “I think I’ll just walk.”
“It’s safer if you stay with us,” Jimena said as they passed a Laundromat with its smells of bleach and detergent drifting into the air.
“Why?” Tianna asked, wondering what they knew. “What’s so dangerous in this area of town?”
“Just your normal freaks and perverts,” Serena answered with a grin. “They like to hang out here.”
Tianna glanced at her to see if she was teasing. She looked dead serious, but Tianna had a feeling that there was more she wasn’t saying, and then her eyes changed. It was startling the way her pupils opened and dilated. At the same time Tianna felt a black wave rush across her mind, followed by a tingling, as if worms were crawling through her brain. Had Serena done that? Or were Justin and Mason back? She studied the old storefront buildings behind her, lit up by blue, green, and pink neon lights. Nothing looked menacing, and the odd feeling in her head was gone now, anyway. Maybe she was only supertired and hungry.
“Was someone chasing you?” Serena asked unexpectedly.
Tianna looked back at her. “Why would you ask that?”
“Just if you were afraid, I thought maybe someone had been bothering you.” Serena glanced behind them as if she were checking the street for danger.
At the same time Jimena seemed to study the shadows in an odd way.
“What are you looking for?” Tianna asked nervously.
Serena grabbed her arm. She had that same enchantress smile as Jimena. “You know, don’t you? Do you want to talk about it?”
Tianna stopped. What did Serena mean? She felt a rush of confusion, and then anger took over. “I just wish you’d both go away and stop bothering me.”
They looked at her, surprised.
And in an instant she realized she had made a wish. “I don’t mean it,” she added quickly, terrified that her thought might make something happen to them. She hated to think she could actually make people disappear, but she didn’t understand her power yet and she didn’t want to harm them accidentally the way she had hurt Michelle.
Jimena and Serena looked at her oddly, and under the streetlight a gold aura seemed to flutter around them and billow out into the cold night. Then suddenly Jimena stared at her, sightless, as if she were in a trance.
Tianna felt the blood rush from her head, and she had to grab the fender of a parked Toyota to keep from swaying. What had she done this time? Jimena looked bad. She glanced at Serena. She still seemed normal. At least she hadn’t harmed them both.
“I’m so sorry,” Tianna whispered. “I didn’t mean to hurt her. I just didn’t want you to ask me any more questions.”
“Hurt who?” Serena stepped closer, her eyes compassionate.
“Jimena,” Tianna blurted. “Look at her. I didn’t want to do that.”
Serena turned slowly and looked at Jimena. She acted as if she were used to seeing Jimena stare sightless into the night.
“What do you mean?” Serena asked.
“I put Jimena in some kind of stupor,” Tianna confessed with growing panic. “Can’t you see? She’s not moving. Maybe we should get her to the hospital.”
Serena snickered. “She’s fine.” But then she turned back with a swiftness that made Tianna flinch. “But why would you think you had done that to her?”
Tianna leaned over the back of the car, trying to gather her thoughts. The metal felt cold and comforting against her flushed cheek. “I did it. You don’t understand what I can do.”
Serena patted Tianna’s back as if she were trying to comfort her. “Why don’t you tell me what you’re talking about.”
“I broke Michelle’s ankle,” Tianna confessed.
“You couldn’t have,” Serena answered. “I was watching the whole time. You were too far away.”
Tianna pushed herself up, ready to explain everything, but before she could, Jimena shuddered and a smile crossed her face. She glanced at Tianna, then Serena, as if nothing strange had just transpired.
“Did you see something?” Serena asked Jimena in a low voice.
Jimena nodded. Happiness seemed to bubble inside her and spill over into the night air.
“I can’t wait to hear.” Serena’s eagerness matched Jimena’s.
Tianna felt relieved. She hadn’t done anything to Jimena. But then she felt flustered. If she hadn’t put Jimena in a trance, what had just happened? Quickly, new apprehension took hold. Jimena must have been working a spell, trying to divine something, and Serena had known all along what she was doing. Apparently the spell had worked. Jimena had seen something, but what? Tianna had a creepy feeling it involved her.
“Okay, here’s the car.” Jimena pulled out a key on a silver chain and stepped to an ’81 Oldsmobile that sparkled as if it were new.
“Nice car,” Tianna said.
“It belongs to my brother,” Jimena explained. “He lets me drive it when he’s home from San Diego even though I don’t have a license yet.”
“You don’t?” Tianna wondered if it was safe to ride with her.
Jimena smiled and seemed to read her thoughts. “I’m safe. I learned how to drive jacking cars.”
“So it’s true what I heard about you?” Tianna stared at her in disbelief.
“It’s not like she does it anymore,” Serena put in, and then she changed the su
bject. “Tianna was worried she did something to you, Jimena.”
Jimena glanced at Tianna, her eyes laughing. “Why would you think that?”
“You looked odd,” Tianna answered. “That’s all.” She really didn’t want to say any more. She wanted to get away from them.
“I’m sorry you were worried. I’m fine,” Jimena reassured her.
“She thinks she broke Michelle’s ankle.” Serena opened the car door.
“I wished it,” Tianna mumbled. “But I didn’t really want it to happen.”
Then they both laughed.
“You’re so superstitious,” Serena said. “Is that all?”
“Yeah, a wish can’t make something come true,” Jimena added. “If it could, half the people walking around would be dead.”
Tianna didn’t say more. Let them think whatever they wanted. She was never going to see them again after this night, anyway.
If she’d had any doubt before, she was convinced now that Jimena and Serena were witches. She wondered if the guys chasing her could be some kind of warlocks who belonged to the same clan. She didn’t think so. Jimena and Serena seemed too nice, and Justin and Mason had an aura of evil about them.
“Get in,” Jimena said. “I’ll give you a ride home.”
“Come on,” Serena coaxed. “It’s safer with us than on the street.”
Tianna looked back at the night. She wanted to go to the bus station and leave now, but it might take her hours to find it. Besides, she felt too tired to walk, and she definitely didn’t want to run into Justin and Mason again. Reluctantly she opened the car door and slid inside.
Jimena turned the ignition. Music boomed from the speakers, making Tianna’s heart vibrate with the beat.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“DON’T YOU REMEMBER where you live?” Jimena asked after traveling down Wilshire Boulevard between the La Brea Tar Pits and Ralph’s grocery store for the fourth time.
“It’s nearby,” Tianna answered. She could picture the apartment clearly in her mind. She just didn’t know where to find it. “Someplace around here. I just moved in.”
Serena glanced at her watch again. “It’s getting late. I promised my dad I’d be home before eight.”
“I think if you just turn right at the next block.” Tianna wished she hadn’t taken the ride with them. Why had she assumed she would be able to remember enough to find her way back to the apartment building? Los Angeles was huge.
“Serena, would you find out?” Jimena asked impatiently, and shut off the music.
The silence made Tianna’s ears ring.
“How’s she going to know?” Tianna started to ask, but stopped suddenly.
Serena leaned over the car seat. There was something uncanny about the way her eyes dilated, as if some kind of power were building inside her. Tianna wanted to look away, but she felt compelled to stare. It wasn’t frightening, but warm and soothing in a dreamy way, even though she didn’t like the inexplicable feeling of fingers wiggling through her brain.
Then suddenly the feeling was gone and Serena looked at her with fascination. “It’s one of the old apartment buildings over by Ralph’s on Wilshire,” she said to Jimena. “We’ve passed the street already.”
Tianna braced herself as Jimena made a big looping U-turn and started down Wilshire in the opposite direction.
“How did you know?” Tianna asked, amazed. “You saw…did you read my mind? You did.”
Serena laughed, and the sound was magical. “No one can do that.”
“But you did,” Tianna said, dismayed. “I felt something when you looked at me.”
“You couldn’t have,” Serena insisted. “Because I didn’t.”
“Then how did you know where I live?” Tianna didn’t believe her. She wondered what else she might have seen. Did she know she couldn’t remember anything before this morning? Or that she planned to run away?
“That one.” Serena pointed.
Jimena pulled the car over to the side of the road in front of the same apartment building that Tianna had left earlier that day. She pressed the brake hard and turned off the car engine.
“Thanks.” Tianna grabbed her backpack and hurried to get out. She had had enough of these two. They were nice, but way spooky. Before she could open the door, Serena turned back and locked it. She kept her finger on the lock, pressing down.
“Now we need some answers, Tianna.” Serena spoke softly. “What are you running from?”
“That’s a strange thing to ask,” Tianna answered.
“If you knew everything about us, you wouldn’t think it was,” Serena explained. “Jimena and I can help you. Do you know why they want you?”
“No one’s chasing me,” Tianna insisted.
“I’m pretty sure I know who is after you,” Serena said. “But I don’t understand why.”
“Couldn’t you see?” Jimena asked, looking baffled.
“There was nothing to see,” Serena explained to Jimena.
“How can that be?” Jimena jerked around and stared at Tianna in amazement.
Serena shrugged. “Everything was blank. She only has a few memories.”
“You did read my mind.” Tianna accused her angrily.
Serena smiled sheepishly. “Only because we want to help you.”
Tianna used the moment to bat Serena’s hand away, unlock the car, and scramble outside.
“Hey!” Serena called after her. “Come back.”
“No way!” Tianna yelled.
Jimena opened the car door and shouted after her, “You need our help, Tianna.”
“I don’t want you to help me.”
Their offer to help only made her uneasy. How could she trust them after the strange way they had behaved? Besides, all she wanted to do was eat, sleep, and run. Tomorrow at dawn she was going to be on a Greyhound, waving goodbye to L.A. and all its crazy people.
Tianna rushed into the apartment building and slammed the door, half afraid Serena and Jimena would chase after her. She glanced out the side window and watched Jimena’s car pull away from the curb. She let out a sigh. She was starving and hoped there was something good in the refrigerator.
Her excitement was building as she ran up the stairs. Maybe there would be someone waiting for her inside with a big cheese pizza, chocolate-chip cookies, and a huge glass of milk. And if someone were there, then she wouldn’t have to run away. She would have a home and someone who loved and cared for her.
As she reached the landing, Hanna stepped in front of her.
“There you are.” Hanna popped a green olive in her mouth. “I’ve been waiting for you.” The smells coming from inside Hanna’s apartment made Tianna’s stomach grumble. She breathed deeply, inhaling in the warm spicy smells.
“Why?” Tianna asked impatiently. Her stomach felt as if it had acid in it.
“I have a favor to ask.” Hanna smiled.
“Sure,” Tianna said. “Right after dinner. I’ll come back.”
“It’s really quite urgent,” Hanna insisted. “My friends and I need a fourth person for our séance.”
“Séance?” Tianna couldn’t believe what she was hearing. This day wouldn’t get any weirder.
“Won’t you join us?” Hanna pleaded. “We have to have a fourth person to make our circle complete.”
Tianna shook her head. “Sorry.” That was the last thing in the world she wanted to do. With everything else that had happened today, she didn’t need to see a ghost, too. “No, but thanks for asking.”
She started to dart away, but Hanna grabbed her hand.
“I made my beef brisket,” Hanna coaxed. “Everyone says it’s delicious. After dinner we’ll pull out the Ouija board. The séance won’t take longer than an hour. You’ll still have time to study.”
“Another night. I think my mom’s waiting for me,” Tianna said, eager to get away.
“If you change your mind,” Hanna yelled after her, “there’s still time. We won’t start until after we eat
.”
“Okay,” Tianna called over her shoulder.
The door to her apartment was unlocked. She didn’t remember locking it when she ran out that morning. She entered and quickly closed it behind her. The interior still smelled of Pine-Sol and looked the same as when she had left it earlier. She tossed her backpack on the bed and opened the refrigerator. It was empty except for a box of baking soda. She quickly looked through cupboards and drawers. All were barren.
The truth hit her, and she sat on the bed with a heavy sigh. She was a squatter. She didn’t somehow rent the apartment. This had never been her home. She had broken into it.
Now the aromas of onions and coffee coming from Hanna’s apartment were more than she could bear.
CHAPTER TWELVE
HANNA’S APARTMENT WAS larger than the one Tianna had claimed. There was a small kitchen off the living room and a bedroom in the back down a long hallway. Tianna sat at a round dining table, eating off sparkling white china. A small oscillating fan on the sideboard swung lazily back and forth, making the edge of the red tablecloth float up, then down.
“That’s the best brisket I’ve ever made, if I do say so myself,” Hanna announced.
Tianna nodded and scooped more gravy onto her potatoes. “You’re a great cook,” she repeated for perhaps the fourth time. “Everything’s delicious.”
“It doesn’t look like you’re going to have any problem with leftovers.” Hanna’s friend Sylvia smirked. She had red hair like a flame and wore a long gray dress with three strings of pearls.
“I used to eat like that when I was young,” Hanna’s sister, Trudy, put in. She was a short chubby woman with a walker.
Tianna glanced up. They were watching her. Then she realized she was the only one still eating.
“Do you want some more peas, dear?” Hanna asked, and handed her the bowl.
“No, thanks.” Tianna put down her fork.
Hanna slapped the sides of the table, making the silverware jingle. “Let’s get this cleared and into the dishwasher, then we can start.”
Tianna stood. Her stomach felt stuffed, but the feeling was a good one.
After the table was cleared and the dishes neatly stacked in the dishwasher, Hanna placed candles about the room, then arranged more in a circle in the middle of the table around a Ouija board.
