by Ariella Moon
"Nico," Kali said in a loud whisper. "It's me. Open the window."
Her voice reached one ear. I fingered a painful bump near my temple. Beneath it, my ear felt spongy and hot. "One sec," I whispered, staggering to my feet. When I reached for the window, pain jabbed my arm. Teeth gritted, I squeezed the window's release mechanism. It stuck. Maybe the house had been unoccupied for too long. Maybe getting slammed against the van had weakened my grip.
Kali's anxious energy pinged through the glass. Using both hands this time, I squeezed and pushed. It worked. Frigid damp air, slightly colder than the air inside the room, seeped in.
"About time," Kali muttered. "Pop out the screen. I have something for you."
The screen yielded in seconds and Kali placed it on the ground at her feet. "Why didn't you use the bedroom door instead of going outside?" I asked.
"Papo yanked one of the seats out of the van and shoved it in front of the bedroom door. You could get past it, of course, but it would slow you down. I didn't want to mess with it." She handed me a cup of water and a small container of ibuprofen. "Guess he thought you were too hurt to open the window." She peered at my arm through the darkness. "Good. You got some movement and strength back."
I tucked my hair behind my ears. "Yeah. I don't think anything is broken."
"Your ear looks bad."
"It feels worse."
Kali frowned. "What were you thinking, going after Papo?"
"I was thinking he needed to be stopped." I shook my head, igniting fresh bursts of pain. "He's out of control. You could have been killed."
"Thanks for pulling me out of the way."
"No problem." I gulped the water and two painkillers.
"What are we going to do?"
I raised my injured arm, flexed my hand, then fisted it. Another couple of days and I might be able to handle a saw and hammer. "We wait."
"For what?"
"To see what Papo and Magdalena do next." I leaned closer. "Ask yourself. Who brings in the money and food?"
Kali's brows scrunched together. "We do. You with your art, and me with my restaurant money and fortunetelling."
"So who needs whom?"
Kali glanced off to the side. I could tell she was running the numbers, rethinking who had the power. "But Magdalena has magic." She scratched her throat where the hex hive had erupted.
"Yeah. I know. But for some reason she thinks I'm the key to finding the grimoire. And she believes the grimoire will give her more power. So, I have leverage."
Kali picked a dead moth off the windowsill. "They holed up in the kitchen after Papo barricaded your door. They kept their voices low, but I heard them."
"What did they say?"
Kali's glance darted to the bedroom door. "Magdalena was furious. She said her bones tell her time is running out for finding the grimoire. And by injuring you, Papo may have changed Fate."
"Fate?"
Kali nodded. Behind her, the sky lightened. "I don't know what she meant."
I did. Magdalena senses I'll destroy the grimoire. I handed Kali the empty cup and bottle of pain medicine. The wind stirred. Somewhere in the neighborhood, chimes clanged like tiny pewter bells. "It will be dawn soon," I said. "Hand me up the screen, then go back inside."
"I have to work the day shift. Maybe I should call in sick so I can stay here and keep an eye on things."
"Don't jeopardize your job." I jimmied the screen into place. "I'll be fine. Remember, they need me. And Papo is afraid of Magdalena."
"You should be, too."
"Duly noted. Be careful. And if we get separated, remember our plan."
Kali nodded. "Social media. Kali Cooper. Next time I get to a computer, I'll set up an account."
"Likewise." I slid the window closed and watched until she disappeared through the gate leading to the driveway. Seconds later, an ambulance or police siren sounded. I strode to the bedroom door and pressed my good ear against it. What if Kali had just opened the front door? What if the siren woke Papo or Magdalena before Kali slipped inside?
I listened, not breathing. When no voices reached my ears, my muscles relaxed, and my hands unclenched. I released a long breath and slumped to the floor. Papo barricaded the door. I worked the thought over like Salem kneading clay. The van's seats were heavy and bolted to the chassis. Papo must have been good and scared to go to so much trouble. If he had just been worried I would escape, he would have rigged the window. Maybe he thought I was too injured. Or maybe he didn't care if I left through the window because then I would be locked out of the house and couldn't sneak up on him while he slept.
Well. Well. The realization Papo might be afraid shifted something deep within me. Excitement hopscotched through my cells and synapses, as though I had just won the lottery or pulled Excalibur from the stone.
As morning's first light crawled into the bare bedroom, I realized the sword was double-edged. Fear would make Magdalena more vigilant and Papo more dangerous. To stop them, I might have to destroy the spell book before Salem got it translated.
She would never forgive me.
I rested against the wall, despite its embedded bad energy, and closed my eyes.
I will finish high school.
I will go to college.
I will live in a warm house with running water and electricity.
Salem will be my girlfriend.
I will find Bronwyn.
All I had to do was evade two kidnappers, protect Kali and Salem, translate a mysterious text, cure some girl of severe depression, and destroy the grimoire.
Easy peasy.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Despite my vow to turn dog duty over to Amy, I couldn't let Einstein pee on the furniture while Amy slept away the morning. I'd thought since California was three hours behind Massachusetts, she would have been the first one up. She wasn't. Nor was she up by ten-thirty when I took pity on Einstein and grabbed his leash and a poop bag.
At least it wasn't raining. Yet.
We headed up Lucas Drive toward Evie's house. I hadn't dared call her. Evie's mom was an artist and often worked late in her studio over the garage. On weekends she liked to sleep in, so I couldn't call the house. Evie didn't have a cell phone, so forget texting. I settled on sending her an email and trying telepathy. So far, neither appeared to have reached her. Hello. Earth to Evie.
I had decided to give up and head back when Einstein froze, ears pricked. Evie's retriever mix, Baby, rounded the corner at a quick clip. At the other end of Baby's leash, Evie trotted to keep up. She wore her usual uniform, a navy Cal sweatshirt and jeans.
We waved. Baby cast me a doggie smile. Einstein launched into a series of hostile growls and barks. I yanked on the leash. "Einstein, shut up!"
Baby ignored Einstein's bad behavior and followed a scent from the street to a neighbor's wet lawn. Evie assumed her patient expression while I picked up Einstein and threatened to throttle him.
"I got your emails," Evie said when the barking quieted to a low growl. "Rough night, huh?"
"It wasn't pretty. Amy is a mess." We moved within arm's reach of each other and I lowered my voice. "When Aidan was at my house yesterday, Teen Wytche had another meltdown."
Evie clapped her hand over her mouth. "Did he see it?"
"Yes. Kind of unavoidable with the smoke alarm shrieking."
"Does he know about the love spell?
"No, but he asked a lot of questions." I debated telling her his story about the Grey Grimoire, but my intuition warned me against it. At this point, what Evie didn't know couldn't hurt her. Still, I needed help with the translation and if Aidan was right, my timeline was short. "We need to meet with Parvani in some place private. Soon."
"Parvani has piano and Hindi classes today. But she may be able to do a sleepover tonight."
"We can't do it at my house. You know, because of Amy."
"We can have it at my house. Mom's been holed up in her studio every night, so she won't bother us. I think she's trying to for
get the holidays are coming."
"Must be hard without your dad."
Evie's shoulders rose and fell in a huge sigh. Her eyes welled, and guilt engulfed me. Evie would have done anything to have her dad alive again. And here I was wishing Amy away.
Evie cleared her throat. "Will your parents let you come over, or will they want you home with Amy?"
"I'll ask them when they wake up. We didn't get home from the airport until almost two." Just thinking about it made me yawn.
"You must be whipped. I'll ask Mom if you two can come over as soon as Parvani finishes."
I placed Einstein on the ground. "Thanks. Call my cell after you have it figured out."
"Will do." Evie waved, then scooted Baby out of a rain puddle.
When I pivoted to head back home, Einstein dug in and leaned toward Lucas Circle.
"No. We'll get to the top, and it will start raining." I yanked again on his scarlet leash. Either Einstein had a bad case of cabin fever, or he was as reluctant as I was to deal with Amy. He planted himself more firmly and pulled in the opposite direction.
"Fine," I relented. "But if we get soaked, I'm done. Your next walk will be with Amy."
A cloud scudded before the sun, and the temperature dropped another couple of degrees. I tugged my scarf higher on my chin. Rain runoff streamed down the hill and rushed into leaf-clogged storm drains alongside the edge of the road. Einstein, forgetting he was a cockapoo, channeled his inner sled dog and pulled me up the hill. At the summit, cool wind scoured my cheeks and threatened to send my black fedora flying off my head.
The pending storm thickened the air. I quickened my pace, hurrying Einstein past remodeled ranch homes and wet, leaf-strewn lawns. My mind wandered to the love spell Parvani had inflicted on Jordan and how Evie had been able to see the spell link, the vapor trail caused by the magic. Aidan had said Magdalena could smell the grimoire on him after we had held hands. What if she had smelled the spell link? What if she could trace the magical cord back to me?
I knew nothing of Magdalena's appearance, or what kind of car she drove. I also didn't know half the people who lived on Lucas Circle. If a car drove up behind me, I wouldn't know if the driver were Magdalena or an innocent neighbor. I glanced about. The street was deserted. With the houses set back from the road and closed up against the pending storm, no one would notice if I were abducted. No one would hear me scream.
I tightened my grip on Einstein's leash and broke into a run.
Sprinkles pelted me as I reached home and dashed up the sidewalk. I dropped Einstein's leash and jiggled the key in the lock. Einstein frantically scratched the door. As I pushed it open, thunder boomed, and Einstein streaked down the hall.
"Einstein! I need to unhook your leash and wipe your paws!" The dog ignored me and skidded toward my parents' bedroom. "Fine," I muttered. "Unhook yourself." The deadbolt slid with a reassuring click. I relaxed my shoulders and expelled a long breath.
"Toothpick?"
I straightened my spine. "Yeah, Dad?"
He emerged from the kitchen holding the navy blue World's Best Dad coffee cup I had given him for his birthday years ago. With a few long strides he crossed the family room/art gallery. "Nice walk?"
"Great." At least it was until I got spooked. "I ran into Evie. She may host a sleepover tonight. Okay if I go?"
He glanced past me toward the hall.
"Amy up yet?" I unzipped my rain jacket and unwound my scarf.
He blew on his coffee to cool it. "Not yet."
And it is only eleven-thirty. "So can I go?"
"How much homework do you have?"
I shrugged out of my damp jacket and hung it on a dragonfly-shaped hook near the front door. "A bit. I'm headed to my room right now to finish the scene Aidan and I worked on yesterday. I promise I'll get everything done before I go over to Evie's."
Dad gestured with his coffee cup. "I know you had a lot of catching up to do from our trip back east—"
"I'm on top of it. I swear. Besides, Evie has been tutoring me."
"She has?" His brows furrowed as if it had never occurred to him I had been desperate for help, had struggled every day, and had felt like a failure.
I sniffed and pinned him with my gunslinger squint so he wouldn't notice the tears welling in my eyes.
Dad tilted his head to the side and studied me. I sensed him searching past my goth hair and eyebrow stud to see the real me. His lips parted as if he wanted to say something, but wasn't sure what.
I clasped my left arm above the elbow.
Dad stepped up beside me and mushed me with a lengthy, one-armed hug. "Who's your English teacher this year?" he asked in a casual tone I didn't buy for a minute.
"Mrs. Knapp. Why?"
He ended the hug and said over his coffee mug, "And your Drama teacher?"
"Man, Dad. Do you know anything about me? What's the name of my doctor?"
Dad raised his cup as if making a toast. "Doctor Parker! Do you still go to the pediatrician? We should talk to your mother."
"I'm healthy, Dad. About the sleepover?"
"Let's see how far you get with your homework in the next three hours."
"Got it." I headed down the hall before he changed his mind. Once inside my room, I inhaled, searching for telltale signs of brimstone or any scent I could attribute to the spell link. Nothing. I tossed my scarf on my bed and crossed to the wall separating my room from Amy's. No crying. Reassured, I turned on my computer and logged onto my email. Although Aidan had warned me he'd be busy, my heart tightened with disappointment when there were no messages from Snatched2008.
Control what you can. I unzipped my backpack and got to work. Instead of stressing over spelling and grammar, I let the words flow. Later, Evie or Aidan could correct anything the spell checker might miss. The important thing was to finish Blaming the Brew.
Aidan and I had decided to focus on the scene between Kate and Petruchio after they discovered Bianca had given Petruchio the love potion to make him fall in love with Kate. My desire to elicit sympathy for Kate warred with my discomfort over the love potion. My situation is different. I didn't direct my love spell specifically at Aidan. Though if the truth ever came out, I feared Aidan wouldn't see the difference.
As I typed the final piece of dialogue, my stomach growled, and a tentative knock came from my bedroom door. "Enter."
The door inched open. Einstein dashed up to me, still wearing his harness and leash. Amy followed, still dressed in the clothes she had worn on the plane and then had slept in.
"Hey," I said, on guard after our exchange during the wee hours. "Were you about to take Einstein out?"
"Huh?" Amy clutched Flipper. She flicked a quick glance at Einstein, then blinked like she couldn't comprehend why he was dressed for a walk.
Einstein pawed my thigh. I unhooked his leash and freed him from his matching red harness. He licked my hand, threw Amy a Thanks-for-Nothing glance, and then curled up near my Japanese altar.
"How's it going?" I asked, though Amy's gaunt-eyed appearance and foul smell gave me pretty strong clues.
Amy shrugged. "I dreamt I had said some mean things to you. I wanted to apologize just in case it hadn't been a dream."
The iceberg around my heart melted a little. I got up and approached her. "Don't worry about it."
"Are you sure?" She appeared ready to cry again.
"Absolutely." I tried to keep my expression warm and reassuring. My thoughts roiled. Why aren't the meds helping her? Shouldn't they have kicked in by now?
"Good." Amy's expression brightened. She pressed her beloved stuffed animal into my hands. "I want you to have Flipper."
Alarms clanged in my head, and my heart freefell. I swallowed the fear rising in my throat. "Which is so nice of you, but—" I flashed on the puppet shows we had put on as kids. "What?" I put Flipper to my ear. "You want to stay with Amy?"
Amy waved Flipper away, telling the toy, "You need to stay with Sarah now. She can give you a better home th
an I can."
I put Flipper to my ear once more. My voice cracked. "Flipper says you are the best swimmer in the house and his favorite person on the planet." I hooked my arm through Amy's. "Come with me to the kitchen. Flipper wants to watch while we play Beauty Parlor."
"You're crazy. We haven't played Beauty Parlor since you were five."
"I know." I steered her into the hall. "But you and Lilith always got to play the hairdresser."
"How is our cousin? I think she emailed me, but I forgot to respond."
"Lilith is great. She's still in beauty school. She helped my friend Evie get her hair color back to normal."
"Ooh. Maybe I can get her to turn you back into a blonde. It could be my Hanukkah present."
"To whom? Mom and Dad?"
Amy giggled, a surprising sound like water bubbling over stone. I squeezed her arm. "This time I get to wash your hair in the sink. Prepare yourself for kiwi bubbles."
Mom rounded the corner and spotted us as Amy shook her head.
"Why, there she is." I adopted a southern accent to keep the terror out of my voice. "It's my Beauty Parlor Assistant, Janice." Mom flashed me a quizzical look. "Janice, Miss Amy is here for her beauty appointment. Could you please get us a fresh towel and some shampoo and conditioner?"
Mom's gaze darted from me to Amy then back to me. "Yes, ma'am." Mom affected a church-going country western singer's twang. Fatigue and worry shadowed her eyes. She'd been in the trenches with Amy more than any of us. I could tell by the way she clenched her hands together she was willing to try anything.
"Thank you, Janice." Before Amy could protest, I shepherded her to the stainless steel kitchen sink. Maybe if I clean her up she'll feel better. I placed Flipper on the white tile counter. Maybe she'll forget about giving away her beloved stuffed animal. It was a lot to ask of a shampoo. But I had to do something besides checking off another suicide warning sign.
I have to save my sister.
Chapter Twenty-Three
