They fell asleep spooned against each other almost immediately.
Their reprieve didn’t last long. A sudden brightness jolted Channie out of the sweetest dream. She sat up and squinted, disoriented and confused by what sounded like the roar of an angry bear.
“Daddy?”
“What the hell is going on in here!”
Channie didn’t have a chance to raise her shield before Momma’s curse hit her.
Momma had used magic to discipline Channie before. A clean-speech, no-speak, or even a mild stinging spell wouldn’t have surprised her, but this was no ordinary reprimand. Channie felt as if she were dying. She couldn’t breathe, she couldn’t move, she couldn’t think. Her body convulsed with pain until Josh rolled on top of her. His shield blocked every curse Momma and Daddy hurled at them, until Daddy grabbed Josh’s arms and yanked him out of bed. By then, Channie had her own shield in place.
Momma said, “What have you done, Chastity? Why is the boy immune to magic? And how is it possible for you to lie with him?”
Channie’s heart leapt into her throat. Her stomach tied itself into a Gordian knot and sweat trickled down the back of her neck. She said, “We weren't doing anything wrong. We were just sleeping.” Her voice wavered like a frightened child’s.
Josh lifted his chin and said, “As long as our thoughts are pure, the curse isn’t active.” It wasn’t true, but it was quick thinking.
Daddy still had hold of Josh’s arms. He shook him till his teeth rattled and said, “You expect me to believe you can lie next to my daughter and do nothing but sleep?”
Josh said, “You can believe what ever you want—”
Daddy let go with his right hand and drove his fist into Josh’s belly. Air blasted out of his lungs with a whoosh as he doubled over. His face turned red, then blanched grey-white. He turned to look at Channie before he dropped to his knees.
She snapped out of her scared-little-girl mind-set and hit Daddy with a curse that knocked him against the opposite wall. He clutched his chest and groaned. Momma ran to his side and sank to the floor beside him.
Channie grabbed the back of Josh’s shirt and dragged him into the hall. “Come on, let’s get out of here before Daddy recovers.”
Josh wrapped an arm around Channie’s shoulder and leaned on her as they hobbled down the stairs. She scanned him for internal injuries. He was bruised and shaken up, but at least there was no internal bleeding or damage to vital organs.
She wanted to get him out of the house as soon as possible, but they couldn’t leave without the Book of the Dead. Channie could protect Josh from Daddy, but not from the dark magic of the book. And it wasn’t done with them yet. She made him wait in the parlor and ran back upstairs. Daddy was still on the floor, but he was coming around. Momma was still hovering over him, but they both ignored her. They didn’t say a word as she jammed two handfuls of underwear, a couple of shirts, a pair of jeans and her journal into her backpack on top of the Book of the Dead. It wasn’t radiating any magic but that could change at any moment. Besides, Momma was going to figure out that Channie had taken her book as soon as she saw the chaos in her room. Channie didn’t want to deal with Momma until Josh was safe. She ran back downstairs and said, “Okay, let’s get out of here.”
The doorknob felt like a chunk of ice in her hand but it did not prepare her for the blast of arctic air that sucked the breath out of her lungs when she opened the front door.
~***~
Channie was already shivering, so even a gentle breeze would have made her miserable. But the howling north wind was no gentle breeze. Josh was in too much pain to ride so they pushed their bikes into Heritage Park.
Channie said, “Josh, where are we going?”
“My house.”
“I can’t go to your house. Your momma hates me.”
“She doesn’t hate you, but even if she did, she’d never turn you away when you’re in danger.”
“I’m not the one in danger. You are.”
Josh pressed his fingers against his belly. “I can’t believe your Dad sucker punched me.”
“I wonder why they came back so early?”
“With the amount of money they’ve been winning?” Josh cocked an eyebrow and smirked at her. I’m sure they’ve been banned from the casinos.”
“You think they got caught cheating?”
Josh shook his head and licked his lips. “If they’d been caught cheating, they’d be in jail. The casinos are private property, they can ban anyone they want without explanation.”
Josh swung his leg over his bike and grimaced. “Come on, let’s go home.”
“What are we gonna tell your momma?”
“We’ll just tell her your parents came home early and caught us in bed.”
“She’s gonna think we were … you know …”
“She already thinks we’re having sex. It’s not going to shock her.”
Hot tears stung Channie’s frozen cheeks. “I can’t face her.”
“With a little luck, you won’t have to. Mom’s a sound sleeper. But we need to go. It’s too cold to stand around and argue.”
“You go on to your house, I’ll go back and try to smooth things over with Momma and Daddy—”
“The hell you will.” The wind yowled like a cat in heat, so Josh had to shout to be heard. “I don’t trust your Dad, or your Mom either for that matter. They’ll just wait until you’re asleep and disable you with another curse so they can beat you or something.”
“They know I’ll retaliate.”
“I won’t let you go back there by yourself, and I really don’t want your Dad to turn me into a punching bag.”
“Josh—”
“I mean it.”
Channie wasn’t about to let Josh anywhere near Daddy, so she gave in.
~***~
When they got to Josh’s house, they were both shivering uncontrollably. Josh fumbled with his keys as he unlocked the side door into the garage. “The fifth stair from the top squeaks. Try to avoid it. Mom’s a sound sleeper. But Elijah isn’t.”
The door creaked as Josh nudged it open, one inch, then two. A tumultuous noise made Channie instinctively cover her ears with her hands.
Josh said, “What the hell?” and flipped on the overhead light. It looked like someone had upset the canned vegetable display at the grocery store. He nudged several cans of green beans and stewed tomatoes out of his way and held the door open for Channie.
Joshua’s momma was on the sofa, propped up on her elbows. She was wearing men’s flannel pajamas and her hair was a mess. A bed pillow at one end still held the shape of her head. She blinked and squinted her eyes, “What’s Channie doing here?”
“What’s three weeks of groceries doing on the floor?”
“Poor man’s security system. I got tired of you sneaking in like a thief in the middle of the night.” She tossed the blanket onto the floor and stood up. “Channie? What’s wrong, sweetheart?”
Channie hadn’t even realized she was crying.
Josh slipped his hand around her waist. “Her parents came home early and were a little surprised to find me there.”
Mrs. Abrim said a very bad word. “What happened?”
Josh shrugged his shoulders. “They freaked out. Channie needs a place to stay until they cool off.”
“Of course.” Mrs. Abrim stood up, wove her way past the canned goods and wrapped her arms around Channie. Her compassion was so unexpected it broke down the last of Channie’s self-control. She dissolved into tears, and sobbed on her shoulder.
“Josh, go put clean sheets on your bed.”
“Got it.” Josh took the stairs three at a time.
“And bring down a set for yourself. You’re sleeping on the couch.”
“But, Channie needs me. I promise we’ll—”
“No buts, Josh.”
Elijah peeked over the stair railing and said, “If Channie’s scared, she can sleep with me.”
“Channie’s a
big girl, Elijah. She’ll be just fine sleeping by herself.” She gripped Channie’s shoulders and held her at arms length. Her eyes moved back and forth as she scanned Channie’s face. “Right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. I know I can count on you.” She gave Channie’s arms a quick squeeze then let go and went upstairs.
Josh came back a few minutes later — without any sheets, blankets or pillows — and flopped sideways in the chair across from Channie. One leg angled out in front of him, the other draped over the armrest.
“Mom has a migraine. She said to tell you she’s sorry for not helping you settle in, but she needed to take something and go to bed. And get this, she said I’m supposed to be sure you have everything you need.” He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and grinned at her.
Channie bit her lip to keep from smiling back at him. “I’ll be fine.”
“The stuff Mom takes for migraines makes her extra drowsy. Don’t lock the door when you go to bed, I’ll give her half an hour to be sure she’s out, then—”
“No. You aren’t sleeping with me tonight.”
“Oh, come on, Channie.” Josh reached out and picked up a strand of her hair, sliding it between his fingers. “I’ll behave, I promise.” He bit his lip and pulled it through his teeth.
“No. She trusts me.”
“Are you kidding me?”
“I couldn’t be more serious.”
Josh continued to pout as he followed Channie upstairs. “Don’t you want some company, just until you get sleepy?”
“Goodnight Josh, I’ll see you in the morning.” She blew him a kiss then closed, and locked, his bedroom door.
~***~
Momma and Daddy started calling Channie just after sunrise on Sunday morning. She refused to answer her phone, but she listened to their messages. The first five were from Momma, blatant threats of physical violence if Channie didn’t return the Book of the Dead immediately. The next dozen or so calls were from Daddy — death-threats directed at Josh for ruining his baby girl.
The last few messages had been respectful requests that Channie come home so they could work things out. She had no intention of talking to either one of them until they both apologized. And she wasn’t going home until she had their binding promise that they wouldn’t harm Josh or try to take the Book of the Dead away from her. Channie grabbed her backpack from under Josh’s bed and checked to be sure the book was still there. It was.
Momma would have no problem tracing the magic of such a powerful artifact. The only way for Channie to keep the book safely in her possession, was to keep it with her at all times.
She crept downstairs and borrowed a paring knife from the kitchen then locked herself in Josh’s room. She nicked her left index finger and dribbled a few drops of blood into the plastic buckle that fastened the pack then cast a touch-me-not spell. No one could open her pack but her without getting burned.
~***~
Channie was on edge all day Sunday. Josh kept trying to lure her into his room or the basement and Mrs. Abrim kept finding excuses to check on them. Channie didn’t mind the cookies and other treats, but the suspicious glances were insulting, especially since she’d done nothing to deserve them.
Later that night, when Channie refused to let Josh sneak into her room, he threw a regular hissy fit and stomped downstairs without kissing her head or saying goodnight.
Monday morning was a disaster. Josh’s Momma yelled at him for dragging his feet and refusing to get up.
He rolled his head from side to side and rubbed the back of his neck, sighing and groaning like an old man. “It’s not my fault. I can’t sleep on this damn couch.”
Guilt twisted Channie’s stomach. She wanted to trade places with Josh, but if she slept on the couch, there’d be no way to keep him from paying her a visit in the middle of the night. She doubted she’d have the will power to send him away.
Everyone was running late, so Mrs. Abrim insisted on driving them all to school, even though it would make her late for work. Josh pitched a fit worthy of Zeal, yelling about how humiliating it was to be dropped off at school by his mommy, but she didn’t back down.
As soon as they got out of the car, Channie knew the rest of the day was going to be pure hell. Girls came from all directions to crowd around Josh.
In all the rush, she’d forgotten to activate the itches-for-bitches curse on his shield. Previous experience with the curse kept most girls from touching him, but it didn’t stop them from flirting.
It wouldn’t have been so bad if Josh hadn’t flirted back. He was still pouting because Channie locked him out of his room but that was no excuse for the way he was acting.
She would have zapped him on the spot if his shield weren’t immune to Chastity’s punitive magic. The last thing she wanted to do was super-charge him and make him even more attractive to his drooling audience.
The only magic Channie could safely use to send the appropriate message was Enchantment’s, but she’d never used Enchantment’s power to fuel an actual curse.
The thought startled Channie and gave her a moment’s pause. She’d cursed more people in the past two months than she had in her entire life.
Well, her life was different now. Persuasive magic wouldn’t do her much good against a member of the Veyjivik clan. She’d need Chastity’s raw power if she wanted to survive a confrontation with a dark mage.
But Josh wasn’t a dark mage. He wasn’t even a mage. He was a stubborn, arrogant, self-centered boyfriend that needed a gentle reminder that his girlfriend was watching his every move. She’d used Chastity’s magic to fuel a healing spell, there was no reason she couldn’t force Enchantment’s magic to cast a minor curse.
Except Enchantment resisted the misuse of its power more vehemently than Chastity ever had. The mild stinging spell she finally managed to cast wasn’t strong enough to be painful, but Josh flinched and jerked his head up when it zinged him. Channie slumped against the lockers with her hand over her heart. The spell obviously hurt her more than it had Josh, but the kicked-puppy look on his face nicked her conscience.
Josh was not a child that needed to be reprimanded. If they had a problem, they needed to talk it out like adults.
Channie tapped into Chastity’s power for the strength to catch up with Josh and ran after him. But when she grabbed his arm, he spun around and yanked free from her grasp. His jaw muscles twitched as he spoke through clenched teeth. “What the hell is your problem?”
How dare he talk to her in that tone of voice. She poked his chest with her index finger, emphasizing each word. “My problem, mister, is you! What do you think you’re doing? I could feel your lustful energy all the way from the other end of the hall.”
Josh pushed her hand away from his chest without touching her bare skin, but his rejection was more hurtful than any curse. He narrowed his eyes and said, “Whatever, Channie,” then shoved his fists into his pockets and stormed into Old Lady Windsor’s classroom.
English Literature was the only class they had together and they were wasting it by being mad at each other. Channie held her phone under her desk and texted Josh. If there were one good thing about Old Lady Windsor, it was that she couldn’t hear the high-pitched mosquito ringtones everyone used for text alerts.
Channie was ridiculously proud of herself for remembering to use “2” instead of “to.”
Josh refused to even look at his phone. Channie knew he could hear it, everybody except Old Lady Windsor could hear it, but he stubbornly ignored it — and Channie.
As soon as the bell rang, she jumped up from her desk and headed straight for Josh. Unfortunately, Eric’s girlfriend, Kassie, was blocking her path.
Channie had to grit her teeth to keep from cursing the both of them when Josh put his hands on Kassie's shoulders. Neither of them were generating any lust and all he said was, “Let me know when you find out,” but it destroyed any inclination Channie had to apologize.
>
By the time lunch hour rolled around, Channie felt like she was going to explode with hostile energy. Not only was Josh constantly surrounded by girls every time Channie caught a glimpse of him in the halls, but he refused to look at her. He made no effort whatsoever to apologize. And to top it all off, Channie was hungry. No one had time to pack lunches this morning, but even if she’d had any money with her, she wouldn’t waste it on the overpriced food in the cafeteria.
“Screw this. I’m going home.” Channie wasn’t ready to forgive Momma and Daddy, but she needed a place to stay. She started walking down the bike path towards her house, but she didn’t get very far. A large, warm hand settled lightly on her shoulder.
“Hey, you wanna get out of here?”
Channie spun around and wrapped her arms around Josh’s waist, hugging him to her and burying her face in his chest. “Do I ever!”
“Kassie loaned me her car until fifth period. What do you say we go get something to eat. I’m starving.”
~***~
Channie wasn’t thrilled about the fact that Kassie had loaned her car to Josh. You didn’t loan a vehicle to just anyone, unless you liked them an awful lot. Channie didn’t think she’d get much information if she confronted Josh head-on, so she waited until the hostess at Chili’s led them to a booth in the back of the restaurant. As soon as they were alone, Channie unwrapped her utensils, put her napkin in her lap and focused on keeping her voice nonchalant and friendly.
“What were you and Kassie talking about this morning after Old Lady Windsor’s class?”
Josh deflated. He slumped down in the corner of the booth, slid his hands to his lap, and exhaled loudly. “I can’t tell you.”
“Why not?”
“It’s private.”
Channie picked at a loose thread on the corner of her napkin. “I see.”
“No. You don’t. But I’m going to ask you to trust me on this one. Can you do that?”
Trust didn’t come easy for Channie, the people she loved had a habit of betraying or deserting her, but she didn’t want to fight with Josh anymore. She nodded her head.
Enchantment Page 22
