When the school closed and the other students transferred, it was clear the other half of the exchange wasn’t going to happen. It was for the best, as I couldn’t imagine the looks on their faces when they’d discovered we were the oldest students in our school.
For a few blissful moments, we thought we’d be free for fun. Instead, Mr. Morrows and Ms. Dreeble set a killer agenda, and we had to cram science and Viking exhibits into the last days, which left us almost no free time at all. Still, it was hard to complain.
Funny, when I’d first arrived I’d missed home terribly, but now all I could think about was how sad I was to leave.
*
“Goodbye, dear Cat,” my aunt said at the airport. She handed me Sookie’s suitcase. “I’ve spent a good deal of time with your little sister, and she’s been calmed by the animals. Remember that. Perhaps you could ask your mother for a pet?”
That wouldn’t be an easy sell; Buddy the hamster seemed to stretch Mom’s limits. But I promised I’d try.
“Watch over her.” My aunt hugged me again.
“Adjö,” I said, waving goodbye.
I’d do my best with my sister, but would it be good enough? I ushered an uncannily quiet Sookie onto the plane.
“Sit with me, Cat,” Zach pointed to the seat beside him. We all had assigned seats, but as soon as we boarded the plane it was a free-for-all.
Clive glowered at Zach and with a sneer sat alone in a row at the back of the plane. I turned and whispered to Jasper, “What’s Clive’s problem? Zach’s always nice to him, so how come Clive is so rude?”
Jasper explained, “Because Clive doesn’t like the fact that Zach likes you.”
“He does?” I said in surprise.
Jasper shook his head at my woeful ignorance, which was a little harsh considering I’d had other things on my mind these past few weeks.
Now I was faced with two boys with empty seats beside them, both waiting to see who I would choose …
I had dreamed of Zach noticing me since my first day at Darkmont; he was the coolest boy at school. Clive was irritable, impatient, and argumentative, but he’d also jumped off a bridge to save my life.
What happens when your dream becomes reality, and you suddenly aren’t sure if it’s what you want anymore?
Instead of sitting with either boy, I crammed next to Sookie in the center aisle with Jasper and Amarjeet.
I had become leery of my dreams coming true.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Linda DeMeulemeester has worked in the fields of literacy and education for many years as a teacher and program adviser. She credits her grandmother, a natural storyteller who was born over a hundred years ago, for her love of mystery and suspense. Linda is a graduate of the Clarion West Workshop for writers of science fiction and fantasy, and her short stories have been published in several magazines. The Secret of Grim Hill was her first novel. Fans can connect with Linda at www.grimhill.com.
Discover the entire award-winning
“Grim Hill” Series
Grim Hill, Book 1
The Secret of Grim Hill
978-0-09920923-0-6
Uncover the secret that started it all! This suspenseful tale pits Cat Peters and her friends against diabolical fairies and their powerful spells in a Halloween sho
Grim Hill, Book 2
The Secret Deepens
978-0-9920923-1-3
Sookie’s dabbling in magic unleashes a brutal winter and a strange sickness, and forces Cat to return to the last place she wants to go – Grim Hill!
Grim Hill, Book 3
The Forgotten Secret
978-1-897550-13-7
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, so it seems only natural that Cat’s friends, her sister, and even her soccer coaches have all been captivated by romance. But even romance has a sinister side in a town with Grim Hill at its center.
Grim Hill, Book 5
Forest of Secrets
978-0-9920923-4-4
In the most chilling “Grim Hill” book yet, Cat and her friends are in terrible danger. Sookie may be able to use her magic to save them, but is it worth the risk to bargain with the beings in Fairy?
Coming Soon, Grim Hill Book 6
Carnival of Secrets
978-0-9920923-5-1
Cat has lost the things she holds dear. A sinister carnival holds her town in a thrall, and her sister has gone over to dark magic. Cat will do whatever it takes to set things right even, if that means setting out on the most dangerous adventure of all.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Reviews
Title
rights
dedication
CHAPTER 1 - A Shocking Announcement
CHAPTER 2 - Second Sight
CHAPTER 3 - A Desperate Attempt
CHAPTER 4 - At All Costs
CHAPTER 5 - An Eerie Prediction
CHAPTER 6 - A Dreadful Deal
CHAPTER 7 - Always be Prepared
CHAPTER 8 - Journey into the Unknown
CHAPTER 9 - Land of the Midnight Sun
CHAPTER 10 - Bewitched
CHAPTER 11 - Dark Amusement
CHAPTER 12 - The Journey Darkens
CHAPTER 13 - A Chilly Greeting
CHAPTER 14 - A Mysterious Visitor
CHAPTER 15 - An Eerie Incident
CHAPTER 16 - A Logical Explanation
CHAPTER 17 - The Witching Years
CHAPTER 18 - A Perilous Plague
CHAPTER 19 - A Little Witchcraft
CHAPTER 20 - Walpurgis Night
CHAPTER 21 - The Disappeared
CHAPTER 22 - The Family Secret
CHAPTER 23 - The Bridge
CHAPTER 24 - Gnawer of The Moon
CHAPTER 25 - The Witches’ Revenge
CHAPTER 26 - Bell, Book, and Candle
CHAPTER 27 - Escape from Blakulla
CHAPTER 28 - Sámi Magic
CHAPTER 29 - An Uncertain Future
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
“Grim Hill” Series
Grim Hill: The Family Secret Page 14
