Witch Hollow and the Wrong Spell (Book 1)
Page 15
21. Banshee
The girls were heading to the Old Curiosity Shop to hand Mr. Pickering the cuckoo clocks their Uncle had repaired. They passed the square as fast as they could, and after leaving the clocks in the shop, hurried to return to the West Bank. They walked through a cherry tree garden, passed near a half-finished ice statue, and took a seat on a bench.
“Your bags with herbs seem to help,” Medea said. “The dark creature hasn’t been appearing for the past days.”
“Touch wood!” Cassandra stretched her hand to the bark of the nearest tree. “I can hardly wait till the new moon.”
“Just a few more days,” Electra said. “If you only knew how much I wish to end this nightmare. I have promised to never ever do anything like this again.”
“I hope you haven’t made a promise also on my behalf,” Medea said. “For I am determined to become a great witch, and one mistake won’t keep me away from witchcraft.”
“To be a great witch first you need to develop a sense of responsibility,” Electra chided her.
Medea snorted. “I didn’t want to evoke a Ghost who would be scaring people. But it has happened, and the only thing I can do is wait for the new moon and banish him away.”
“I’m scared to think of what might happen if anyone on the East Bank learns about our spell.” Electra thought she heard a noise behind, but as she turned around, there was no one in the garden. “Did you hear that?”
Both shook their heads.
“There was someone,” she whispered. “Someone heard us!”
“It’s the wind moving the branches,” Medea said.
“Are you sure?” Electra again looked around the garden. She was sure she had heard footsteps.
“Calm down, you’re just too nervous. It’s getting cold, let’s return home.”
“I am meeting Eric today.”
“Isn’t it ironic that of all the fellows in the world, you had to choose the one who lives on the East Bank?” Medea said. “Don’t look at me like that. I know he’s a good fellow, but don’t forget about his neighbors. He’s going to have big problems.”
“I’ve told him. He says he doesn’t care what his neighbors say, but he keeps our meetings a secret because his uncle has forbidden him to cross the river. He is so sweet. And so earnestly surprised when I show him tricks with witchcraft.”
“You shouldn’t be doing that,” Cassandra warned her.
“I know, but he has promised me to keep it a secret, and for some reason I never doubt his words. He’s so—”
“Good looking?” Medea finished instead.
“Honest.”
“And good looking.”
“Sweet.”
“And good looking.”
“Polite.”
“And good looking!”
“Alright. He is good looking. Oh, he is so many things. I wish he wouldn’t have to leave Hollow.”
“Argh, when did you manage to fall in love like that?” Medea feigned disgust. “That’s irritating.”
Electra didn’t say anything. She was counting the minutes when she would meet Eric, and smiling under her breath.