Witch Ball - BK 3

by Linda Joy Singleton

  "Out running errands," Manny said casually, like nothing was unusual and I woke up every day to find these two having breakfast at my home.

  "Manny is a great cook," Thorn said after swallowing. "These are the best pancakes I've had in ages.

  "Thanks. It's the blueberries and vanilla."

  "Excellent combo. Yumm!"

  "Would you like more?" Manny said, offering a plate of steaming pancakes. When she shook her head, he turned to me. "How about you, Beany?"

  I stomped over to the table. "Why aren't you at school? What's going on here?"

  "Breakfast," Thorn answered, reaching for a glass of orange juice. She wore a longish pink-andblack wig, black lipstick, and a pink leather dog collar with silver studs. "Are you always this grumpy in the morning?"

  "I am not grumpy. But I smell conspiracy."

  "Not a conspiracy. This is an intervention." Manny eased me into a chair at the table. "Beany, you're under house arrest."

  "Forget it." I tried to stand, only he was stronger. "Move. I'm going to school."

  "No," Manny said firmly. "You're staying here today."

  "Your grandmother agrees it's a good idea," Thorn added.

  "Nona's in on this?" I asked indignantly.

  "Two hundred percent," Thorn said, lifting up two mauve-tipped fingers. "She's buying snacks and renting videos to keep you comfortable. She already called the school to report you sick. And I talked to Dominic, too."

  I groaned. "You didn't!"

  She nodded proudly. "He's keeping an eye on things outside."

  It was a conspiracy! I remembered my cat in my room last night and the glimpse of wings out my window. His animal posse was spying on me.

  I tried to stand up, only Manny kept a firm hold on my shoulders. "Let me go. I can't miss school."

  "I knew she'd be difficult," Thorn said, wiping syrup from her chin.

  "I have a right to be. You can't keep me here like a prisoner."

  "Watch us," Manny said ominously.

  "I'm leaving now!"

  "We'll see about that." Manny reached into his pocket and lunged forward. He grabbed my arm and there was a flash of silver. I heard the sound of metal clinking as he pulled my arm behind my back. Then before I knew what was happening, he slipped a handcuff on my wrist. He fastened the other half to a chair.

  "Take this offl" I shouted, jerking my arm and only managing to move the chair a few inches. The skin around my wrist burned and so did I. "This is not funny! Unlock me now!"

  Manny pursed his lips stubbornly and stepped out of my reach. "Beany, you're not going anywhere until this day is over."

  Thorn stood beside him with her arms folded across her chest. "We're your guards, whether you like it or not."

  I didn't like it. Not one little bit. Especially since I desperately needed to get to school so I could see Josh. I had to talk with him today; tomorrow would be too late. Evan would make sure of that. This was too personal to discuss with Manny or Thorn, so I used every other argument I could think of to convince them to give up their plan.

  But they remained firm. I was so mad, I could hardly think straight. Part of me was also grateful that they cared enough to make me miserable. They were impossible-and wonderful. I hated and loved them.

  Ultimately, I gave in. They made me swear on my grandmother's life that I would not sneak off to school. I'd never go back on that solemn oath-and they knew it. I had lost ... more than they knew.

  All the fight was out of me as Manny unlocked the cuff.

  "That's more like it." He handed me a printed paper. "Now let's get down to business. Here's your schedule."

  "My what?" I asked.

  "Schedule," Manny said.

  Taking the paper, I stared at it with dismay. My life was organized into hours and bodyguards.

  12AM-8AM: Manny

  8AM-1 OAM: Manny/Thorn

  10AM-12PM: Thorn/Nona

  12PM-3PM: Nona

  3PM-7PM: Thorn

  7PM-Midnight: Manny/Nona

  There was also a list of rules. My jailers wouldn't allow me to do anything on my own. "No sharp objects, being near machinery, deep water, eating anything we don't try first, or lifting heavy objects."

  It was worse than being in prison.

  But a solemn swear was unbreakable, so I surrendered to my friends. After cleaning away breakfast dishes, we hung out in the living room. Manny filled Thorn in on last night, making the car chase sound like something out of an action movie and K.C. come off like a tragic hero. Then Manny's shift was over and he headed to school to catch up his newspaper duties.

  "Not fair!" I complained. "Manny gets to go to school and I'm stuck here."

  Thorn busted up laughing."Never knew anyone mad about missing school."

  "No one handcuffs me at school," I said accusingly, rubbing my bruised wrist.

  Before leaving, Manny offered to pick up my assignments and asked if I wanted him to pass on messages to anyone.

  After a long pause, I shook my head.

  Thorn and I sorted through DVDs, debating what to watch. With everything going on, I wasn't in the mood for a thriller or a romance. Finally we chose an adventure flick which kept my mind off Josh. When it ended and I glanced at the clock, I wondered what was keeping Nona.

  "Are you sure she only went to the grocery store?" I asked Thorn.

  "Yeah. She said she wouldn't be gone long."

  "She must have stopped somewhere else." I frowned, trying to imagine what could have kept her for over three hours. "I'll call her. I hope she remembered to take her cell phone."

  She had-but the connection echoed and Nonas voice sounded weird.

  "Sabine, where are you?" she asked, her words echoing.

  "At home."

  "Why aren't you in school?"

  "Nona, you called the school to say I was sick."

  A hesitation, then she said almost accusingly, "You don't sound sick."

  "I'm not ... Don't you remember?"

  "Remember what?" Her voice rose in panic. "Everything is confusing."

  "Where exactly are you?"

  "I-I don't know." Her voice broke. "I'm sitting in my car on a street I've never seen before ... I have no idea how I got here. Sabine, I'm lost."

  My worst fears for my grandmother were coming true-despite her seeming so much better lately. I'd started to believe she could beat her illness even without the remedy. The more she talked, the more confused she sounded. She couldn't tell me where she was, and I didn't recognize nearby streets or businesses.

  Finally, it was Thorn who took charge. She got on the phone and asked Nona questions. While she listened, her eyes glazed over and I knew she was tuning into her finding skill. Her energy swirled, reaching out like a radar to Nona. After a few minutes, she told my grandmother she was on her way. Thorn sounded confident that she could bring my grandmother home.

  But I shared none of her confidence when I found out that Thorn had asked Dominic to watch me while she was gone. When he joined me in the living room, I felt oddly tongue-tied. I sat on the couch, drawing my legs up under me.

  He stood in front of me, making no move to sit down. "So how you holding up?" he asked, shoving his hands in his pockets.

  "Okay." I managed to sound casual.

  "Good." He just stood there as if waiting for me to say more. Even with the TV on, the room seemed unnaturally silent.

  "This is all so unnecessary," I finally said with a frustrated wave of my arm. "The witch ball is locked up and can't cause any more trouble. I do not need a babysitter."

  "Better safe than dead."

  "Nothing is going to happen to me. Manny and Thorn overreacted. I should be at school right now, and you probably have chores to finish."

  He shook his head. "Already done."

  "What about your horseshoe classes?"

  "Not until tomorrow."

  "You must have better things to do than hang around here."

  "Nope."

  "Well I do. This i
s all messed up."

  "It'll be better by tomorrow."

  "For me maybe-but not Nona. I still can't believe she got lost. Little kids get lost, not grown women." The drone of the TV rattled my nerves, so I grasped the remote control and shut off the power. "She's getting worse and we're no closer to finding the remedy book."

  "Not so." He sat down on the other end of the couch. "I heard back from that guy in Arizona. His name and info fits, and he claims to have old family jewelry."

  "Including silver charms?" I asked hopefully.

  "He thinks so, but it's in storage and he can't check till after work. He'll get back to me then, so we may have the remedy soon."

  "That would be so great!" I almost reached out to hug him-until sanity clicked in and I jerked my arms back.

  "Do I make you uncomfortable?" He flashed a wicked smile and scooted close to me-way too close.

  "Of course not. I'm totally at ease. Why would you even ask?"

  "Because you're clawing that pillow."

  I hadn't realized I was holding a pillow. When I looked down and saw the fabric ripping under my fingernails, I tossed the pillow on the floor. "I'm fine."

  "No argument there."

  His gaze fixed on me. Instead of turning away, which would have been the smart thing to do, I met his gaze, and emotions sizzled so sharp and overwhelming, I could hardly breathe. Warmth spread through me and I felt lightheaded. I thought of Josh, who probably hated me by now. I wasn't sure how Dominic felt towards me-except I knew for sure it was definitely not hate.

  He leaned closer ...

  "I-I'd better watch TV," I said, panicked.

  I jumped off the couch, tripping over the pillow I'd tossed on the carpet. I steadied myself, then sat far away from Dominic in the recliner, aiming the remote at the screen. Click, click ... I flipped through channels like a maniac, switching fast if I came to anything romantic. Finally I settled on a documentary about cockroaches.

  Turns out I couldn't have picked a better show for Dominic. Who knew he'd find cockroaches so interesting? Or maybe whatever chemistry flared between us made him as uncomfortable as it made me, and he was relieved to change the mood.

  The documentary was nearly over when Thorn returned with my grandmother. Nona didn't say a word about getting lost, and went directly into the kitchen where she put on a teakettle.

  Thorn was running late and had to leave. Dominic tactfully excused himself, too, so it was just Nona and me.

  "Can I help?" I asked my grandmother, coming to sit beside her at the kitchen table where she was digging through a box of assorted herbal tea bags.

  "Don't coddle me." She lifted her chin defiantly. "I am competent enough to pour my own tea."

  "Of course you are. Can I have a cup, too?"

  "Wild berry, peppermint, or cinnamon spice?"

  "Peppermint. Thanks, Nona," I added, reaching out to put my arm around her slim shoulders. She felt so warm and secure, and I needed her so much. She'd always been the one to protect me from the shadows and spirits I saw at night. I couldn't bear to lose her.

  The teakettle whistled and for a few minutes the only sound was the clicking of our spoons as we stirred our cups. Spice and mint scents warmed the kitchen, and I felt calmer.

  "Sorry for scaring you," Nona told me. "But I'm fine now, so don't worry about me. I'm more worried about you."

  "Don't be."

  "The moment you brought that witch ball into this house, I sensed it meant trouble. I should have made you get rid of it right away."

  "Dominic locked it up, so it can't cause any problems." I didn't add about my encounter with Hortense. That would only cause Nona more concern.

  "Predictions from dark entities must never be taken lightly. Your friends told me about the other three predictions."

  "That was just a fluke." To change the subject, I told her about Dominic's results searching for the remedy book. "He may have tracked down another charm. So we might have the remedy soon."

  "That would be a relief."

  "Then you'll be well."

  "I hope so. But at the moment, I'm more concerned about you." She kissed my cheek. "According to Manny's schedule, it's my shift."

  I rolled my eyes at the mention of the "schedule." But Nona suggested using our time to bake caramel chip cookies, and who was I to argue?

  Being under house arrest never tasted so delicious. Nona kept smacking my hand away from the batter, but I told her it was the best part. We laughed as she shaped dough and inhaled the delicious scent of baking cookies. I was glad to shut off worries and just have fun.

  Around two o'clock, I got a call from Thorn, apologizing because she was running late. "Ask Nona or Dominic to cover for me till I get there," she said in a rushed voice.

  "Why? What's up?"

  "After you told me about K.C., I couldn't stop thinking about him. I've been to homeless shelters with my mom and it's always heartbreaking. So I talked to K.C. and said I'd help find his car."

  "If anyone can, it's you."

  "Can't hurt to try. Although I didn't tell him how I'd look-that's not something I want getting around. Besides, I can't guarantee it'll work."

  I wished her luck, then we hung up.

  I probably should have let Nona know Thorn was delayed, but I didn't. My grandmother was busy in her office, and I saw no reason to disturb her. Besides, the day was already half over and nothing had happened. This confirmed my theory that since the witch ball was locked away, I was safe.

  Finding quiet time alone, I wasn't sure what to do. TV was boring and I couldn't concentrate on computer games. I wandered into my room and pulled out my craft bag, deciding to start a new project. Sorting through my supplies, I pulled out a skein of variegated orange-red yarn perfect for knitting Nona a scarf She appreciated homemade gifts, unlike my mom. After finding a pair of slippers I'd crocheted for Mom in the Goodwill box, I never made her anything again.

  Mom was like a burr that stuck to me, and hard to shake off. Sitting on my bed, I stared out the window, wondering how I could love my mom even though she drove me crazy. Emotions were complicated, I guess. Like how Jill felt about her fa ther. She still suffered because of him, even though he was dead. I think she wanted to hate him, and he definitely deserved it, but she loved him, too. My sisters were dealing with love-hate issues, too. The twin bond that united them now seemed to be ripping them apart. Love and hate were opposites, yet the same.

  How was I supposed to know about my own feelings? Dominic continued to confuse me, shifting from dark to light moods. I was intrigued by him, yet frustrated, too. I couldn't exactly call him a friend, so what kind of relationship did we have? And what about Josh? Did we still have a relationship?

  If only I'd gone to school this morning. Here I was, ready to be totally honest with him, and I lost my chance because of a stupid prediction. That damn witch ball! Nona was right about it causing trouble. That's all it had done since I brought it home. I wanted to go to the shed right now and smash it, destroy it so completely it could never hurt anyone again. But was that even possible? What would happen if I destroyed the ball? Would Hortense seek revenge on me?

  My thoughts chased themselves in a dizzy circle. I just wanted to shut off everything. I unraveled some orange-red yarn and reached for my knitting needles. I was on my third row-when the phone rang.

  Dropping needles and yarn, I grabbed it quickly so it wouldn't disturb Nona.

  "Sabine, have you seen her?" It was my mother and she sounded panicked.

  "Seen who?"

  "Amy. She's-" Mom broke off with a sob. "She's run away."

  Sometime after Mom dropped my sisters off at school, Amy had left. Classmates didn't remember seeing her. Her teacher assumed she was absent. Apparently last night Amy and Ashley had a "minor disagreement" (as Mom put it), and weren't speaking. They had different schedules, so she figured Amy was avoiding her.

  I told Mom I hadn't heard anything and promised to let her know if I did.

 
My first impulse was to rush downstairs and tell Nona. But was that really a good idea? Nona had been so shaken by getting lost, and this could trigger another episode. There wasn't much to tell anyway. Amy would show up soon and then all the worry would be for nothing.

  Where would Amy hide out? I wondered. She loved books, so maybe a bookstore or library. I could easily imagine her huddled between tall shelves, concealed in a public place. Or she might have gone to a museum or the mall. Also, I tried to think of friends who might have heard from Amy. She mentioned a girl named Vanessa in a recent email.

  Email!

  I jumped up, startled by memory. I had heard from Amy last night. She tried to call only I hadn't been home, and she'd left a message. She'd told me to check my email, only I'd been thinking about Josh and had completely forgotten.

  It took only a few minutes to power up my computer, connect online, and start scrolling through my messages. When I found the one from Amy, I clicked on it.

  Hey Fave Sis,

  U won't believe what Ashley did! Totally hateful! I REFUSE TO LIVE WITH HER!! So I'm moving 2 live with U. I got enough $$ for a bus ticket to Lodi. Can U pick me up? Email ASAP! C U tomorrow. Luv Amy

  I read the message one more time, blaming myself for not checking my email sooner. She'd sent this last night and could already be at the bus station, waiting for me. I was a terrible sister! She was so young and vulnerable. If anything bad happened to her, it would be my fault.

  I had to get to her fast!

  Grabbing my purse, which contained a spare set of keys to Nonas car, I raced out of my room and down the stairs. I glanced at Nona's shut office door, tempted to confide in her. But then she'd worry and that might trigger another memory lapse. I couldn't risk her health. It would be much better to bring Amy home, then we'd explain everything to Nona. If I told Nona now, she'd want to drive to the bus station herself and make me stay home. After her driving experience this morning, that was not a good idea.

  After leaving a note explaining where I was, I quietly left the house.

  As I turned the engine of Nonas car I heard a crunch of gravel. Before I could move, someone jerked open my car door. Dominic stood there, scowling, his arms folded across his chest.