Quaid's face shone very white in the low light. "Syd," he said, barely a breath of a word. "No."I wasn't focused on him. Sunny watched me like I'd offered her something she wasn't sure was a blessing or a curse. "This is a massive request," she said."I know." I shook from the thought of it and almost wanted the now silent and hovering Quaid to talk me out of it. "But I'm right and we both know it. The family is going to need all the help they can get. And me on the sidelines isn't serving anyone.""Syd, how can you ask me?" Crystal tears welled in her eyes. Sunny actually trembled a little. "Your mother would never forgive me.""You did it before," I said. "And she forgave you for Uncle Frank."Sunny shook her head, backing up a pace as if putting distance between us would make my words go away. "Not like this. It's not the same at all." She stilled visibly, going into creepy undead sculpture mode. "What if we locate your demon after you've been brought over?" She shook her head
Mom and Dad were gone when I made it back, my crazy but powerful grandmother securely warded in her bedroom. Even Meira was out, probably with the coven. And Sassafras was missing too.Probably for the best. I wasn't in the mood to listen to a lecture from a demon boy trapped in a cat's body.It was a long time before I slept.***A soft breeze blows, carrying the scent of honeysuckle and roses. The garden sways around me, bobbing blossoms dipping to the ground as the wind brushes past them.A lock of my blonde hair slips across my face and, as I lift one hand to brush it aside, my eyes lift and meet his. He is watching me, as he always does, his green eyes full of something I feel stirring in my own breast.I turn my head to the side, unable to contain the small smile lifting my lips, bending to breathe in the luscious scent of a large yellow rose swelling beside me.I feel his approach, welcome it. Turn to smile up at him.She stands behind him, glaring at me, her anger s
I pulled on my new blue sweater and jeans and tried to admire my reflection. Alison was right. The color was perfect. I just wished my mood was better so I could appreciate it more.I sulked in my room the rest of the afternoon, ignoring my parents and even Sassy who tried once to get in. I held the door against him and he finally gave up.At five to six, I landed in the kitchen and stood at the door to wait for Alison. She couldn't come soon enough as far as I was concerned. The rumble of an engine spurred me out into the driveway, but it was the wrong kind.Quaid was climbing off his bike, helmet in hand, when I emerged from the house. He looked so surprised to see me I stopped in my tracks."Nice to see you too," I said."Syd." He came toward me, helmet between us almost like a shield. What was up with him? Then again, it wouldn't do to have Alison with her fresh crush on him see us hugging and kissing, I guess, so I was okay with the distance."News?" That had to be it. Why e
The dining room was massive like the rest of the house. We sat at one end of the table that could have seated at least twenty-five. Mrs. Morgan sat on the end while Alison and I were seated across from each other. There were so many forks and spoons and knives and even glasses I had no idea what I was doing.This was shaping up to be a disaster.But Mrs. Morgan was on the bottom of her second glass of wine by the time the appetizers arrived so she was in a much more forgiving state of mind. In fact, she actually smiled and laughed a little which helped me relax, but made Alison all the more tense for some reason.I sat there, eating course after course as Mrs. Morgan told me all about her life as first a beauty queen then a model, traveling all over Europe and the US before meeting Roger."He wasn't much to look at, I'll admit," Mrs. Morgan slurred slightly as she leaned toward me, her refreshed glass of red sloshing to the rim of her glass. "But I could tell he was going to be ric
Even powerless as I was, I could tell something huge was going on the moment I crossed the threshold and entered the kitchen. An immediate shudder traced down my back as I passed through an icy barrier, every hair on my body standing at abrupt attention. I rubbed my arms and caught my breath, stolen by the sudden pressure of so much magic.I guess I wasn't totally blocked off after all. Though the longer I stood there and struggled to get my anger back, the more the protective net in my mind tightened and the less I was affected by the weight of the collective coven.The basement. I saw candlelight shining from the crack under the door and headed right for it. I eased it open and listened. Mom was talking, her voice was so low I missed what she said. My feet made little sound on the steps, and soon I was standing behind the closed circle of family witches.The moment I touched down, I felt a thrill of something I'd felt before. And for a moment, the protective force around my magic
I refused to let it stand there. I think Dad knew it because he was waiting for me just on the other side of the door and reached for me too late. I felt his fingers slide over my arm as I stormed into the house.She wanted wild? I'd give her wild.I found Mom in the basement, naturally. She spun on me as I marched down the stairs and confronted her. "This is stupid," I said. "If you would up the search for Demetrius and the Chosen so I could get my demon back, I could just help you instead of being banished like some bad six year old.""We have been looking." The tightness around her eyes told me she was being honest, but still felt guilty. In other words she'd been looking, all right, just not with any amount of focus.I wanted to tear my hair out."It's been six weeks." I struggled to keep my temper and the bitterness from my voice. That kind of attitude only ever started a fight and I needed her on my side. "You're a powerful witch. It can't be that hard."Yeah, okay. So I
I stand before the court. I see my parents watching over the proceedings, neither willing to help me. Even my truest love, he whom I swore eternal faith, orders my death.And Cydia, raven hair flowing, glowing blue eyes the clarity of flawless crystal, stands with her finger pointed, her beautiful face flushed with fury and hate."Death!"My love, my darling Gwynn, he of the golden hair and emerald eyes, skin as smooth and perfect as any flower petal, he stares at me with that same look of hate as she who is my sister."Death!"Heart shattered into nothing, I allow it, allow him to descend on me, to use his bright, sharp blade, calling the strike of lightning through my heart to end my life.***It couldn't be a coincidence. Not the same dream twice. I shuddered under the covers, most of my quilt and top sheet on the floor in a puddle where I'd thrashed them off in my sleep. My dreaming self took her punishment, but my unconscious body clearly hadn't gone down so easily.I
I was so speechless I stood there for a minute like an idiot while Mom swept to her feet with a strained smile on her face. At first I was sure she'd told Pain everything and was grateful I wouldn't have to do it, only to realize her look and the slight shake of Mom's head meant she hadn't. In fact, was ordering me to keep my mouth shut.Fine. At least while she was in earshot."Thank you, Mrs. Hayle." Pain smiled at me a little, the tension in her face easing somewhat. "I've been getting headaches," she explained to me. "Your Mom gave me an herbal remedy. It seems to be doing the trick."Herbal my butt. More likely Mom used magic and gave her oregano out of the cupboard. But whatever worked."I'll leave you two to talk. Syd," Mom hugged me fast and hard, just long enough to whisper 'Don't' in my ear before vanishing with a swirl of her long skirt down the basement stairs.We'd just see about that."I'm sorry to just drop in like this." Pain shifted in her chair, as if uncomforta