In Shadows of Magic

by Alison F. Prince

  In Shadows of Magic

  by Alison F. Prince

  Published by Astraea Press

  www.astraeapress.com

  This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and events are fictitious in every regard. Any similarities to actual events and persons, living or dead, are purely coincidental. Any trademarks, service marks, product names, or named features are assumed to be the property of their respective owners, and are used only for reference. There is no implied endorsement if any of these terms are used. Except for review purposes, the reproduction of this book in whole or part, electronically or mechanically, constitutes a copyright violation.

  IN SHADOWS OF MAGIC

  Copyright © 2013 ALISON F. PRINCE

  ISBN 978-1-62135-182-5

  Cover Art Designed by BOOK BEAUTIFUL

  To my mother, for being so giving of her time and love, the endless hours spent on the phone poring over sentences, and for always believing in my dreams.

  Chapter One

  Sorry, Bri, but—

  Brianna shut off her cell phone and blinked tears out of her eyes. She didn't have to read the rest of the text message. It was always the same. At first, guys would do all the right things—take her to the movies, hold her hand, ask about her band. As stupid as it was, Brianna would allow herself to enjoy the moment, to believe it might be real.

  It wouldn't last long. Within a week, Brianna would start to pick up on clues. Like the vague, glassy look in their eyes when Mandy and her entourage paraded past in the hallway. By the time every guy she had ever dated began to ask, "Where does Mandy hang out?" and "What does Mandy like to do?" the end was imminent. Yesterday, she’d figured it was over with Ryan when she'd heard herself respond, "I don't know."

  Even though she'd expected it, the sting of dismissal never seemed to lessen. And Brianna knew the reason she'd been tossed out like yesterday's trash: Mandy. Pretty, perfect, talented Mandy.

  At least it was Friday. Brianna pushed aside the skull-print curtains covering her large picture window. A kept front yard and flower garden preceded a thicket of woods. Tendrils of sunlight peeked through millions of tiny crevices between leaves and trees, as if glitter had been dusted over the dense forest. The racket of a revving lawn mower drowned out the songs of morning birds as the northern New Jersey backdrop filled with pink and yellow light.

  Glass shattered, followed by a heavy thump. Oh, no. Mom. Brianna raced down the stairs.

  Sabrina McKinney lay sprawled on the kitchen floor, arms overhead, legs bent in an odd position. Shards of glass and pieces of blue ceramic were scattered throughout the room. Among the mess, a half-eaten English muffin soaked in a pool of orange juice.

  Brianna crouched beside her mother, eyeing the broken pieces. The shredded black denim across Brianna's knees and thighs provided little protection. "Mom, are you okay?"

  Sabrina turned her head, eyes half shut. Blood escaped from a slash across her forehead and dripped down her small nose. Seeing the wound, Brianna stood and raced to the counter, her palms slick with cold sweat as she pulled a half-dozen paper towels off the roll.

  Back at her mother's side, Brianna pressed the sheets against the wound. Veins were visible beneath her mother's pale, translucent skin. Gray bags hung below her bloodshot eyes.

  "I'm fine." Sabrina took hold of the wad against her forehead. Within moments, a deep red circle stained through the white. As Sabrina began to rise, Brianna pressed one of her hands against her mother's back, the other on her collarbone. Brianna's hands never broke contact with her mother's body as she slid them beneath her mother's armpits.

  "I got you, Mom." With Brianna's assistance, Sabrina struggled to her feet. Brianna's arm was steady around her mother's waist, but inside she trembled and her heart throbbed in her chest. How many times would these incidents happen? Which time would be the last?

  Her mother's legs shook as they shuffled forward. Pieces of glassware crunched beneath her white sneakers. "I'm okay, Bri." Sabrina brushed her daughter's hands away from her middle. Brianna stayed as close as she could, arms outstretched, and watched her mother's movements like a hawk.

  "What's going on here?" Andrew McKinney stood beneath the kitchen archway. He glared at his wife, his fists clenched by his sides. Short blades of grass and weeds clung to his hair and clothing. "What did you do, Sabrina? What is wrong with you?"

  "Dad, chill." Brianna felt her face flush with anger. "I'm sure she only did what she thought was right."

  "I don't care anymore! What about what's right for her family?"

  "Dad, stop it! She's bleeding!" The paper towels were saturated. Blood streamed down her mother's chin, over her neck and stained her blue scrubs. Shaking, Brianna tore another clump from the roll.

  "Mom? Not again!" Her sister appeared in the kitchen, clothed in pink lacy pajamas. She stepped barefoot over the broken glass.

  "Do you need these, Mandy?" Brianna held out the soft paper. Mandy brushed greasy blonde strands off of her face, revealing a crop of acne across her forehead. Dark circles surrounded her lusterless eyes.

  "No. It's too early for this crap." Mandy placed her hand on Sabrina's forehead. Within moments, the bleeding ceased. Then, Mandy swept her mother into her arms like a child and carried her upstairs, her sister and father in tow.

  Sabrina fell asleep the instant Mandy placed her in bed. Brianna slid two pillows beneath her head and opened the window a crack, just the way her mother liked. The three remaining members of the McKinney family returned downstairs. Brianna had just removed the broom from the closet when a honk sounded out front.

  "Oh, no! I lost track of time. Giselle is here to pick me up!" Mandy spun around and jetted up the stairs.

  "Bri, why don't you ride with Giselle?" Her father asked as he bent to retrieve his wife's breakfast from the floor.

  "Nah, I'd rather take the bus." Brianna stared as each broken piece slid down the dustpan and into the trash. "Speaking of which, I've gotta go. Bye, Dad." She placed the broom and dustpan in the closet and slung her leopard print backpack over her shoulder. Brianna ran down the winding driveway just in time to catch the school bus.

  Chapter Two

  In her bedroom, Mandy sat on an upholstered bench facing a Venetian mirror. She scowled at her blemished skin and rat's nest of hair.

  Mandy closed her eyes and channeled in on her magic. It was so easy to find the power. Always inside her, it simmered like water over a low flame. Her mind wrapped around the energy. It was as if she had cranked up the fire under the burner. The boiling power flowed hot and fast through her veins. She imagined herself with flawless, glowing skin, rosy cheeks, pink eye shadow, and long, curled eyelashes coated with mascara. In her vision, her hair was shiny, full, and cascaded down her back like waves of golden silk.

  Mandy opened her eyes and beamed at her reflection. Her appearance was exactly as she had envisioned, with not a hair out of place. After slipping into a denim miniskirt, trendy pink top, and baby blue flats, she skipped downstairs and into Giselle's blue convertible.

  Mandy and Giselle pulled into a parking spot in front of Montmorrow High School. Before they could even exit the vehicle, admirers surrounded the girls.

  "Hi, Mandy!" Penelope Perry ran over to her friends. "Your hair looks great today, like every day. How do you get it so perfect?"

  The left corner of Mandy's lips rose into a half smile. "It's magic." Mandy and her friend giggled.

  A group of boys whistled as Giselle stepped out of her car. Her glossy chocolate-brown hair fell halfway down her back. With her tall, slender frame and large chest, she resembled every teenage boy's dreams. She lifted her small, straight nose and pouted her full lips as she strutted through the high school parking lot
like it was her own personal catwalk.

  Mandy was pretty, but she was not beautiful. Yet there was something extraordinary about her that stopped everyone in their tracks. It was as if a spotlight followed her everywhere. When she walked, the air around her had a subtle glimmer. When she smiled, everything around her faded into the background. Her nearness seemed to make boys feel excited and a little imbalanced, as if the earth's axis had been misaligned.

  "Hi, girls!" Sharon Miller said. Her high-pitched tone grated on Mandy's ears. "I'm so excited about the game tonight. I know it's a tough team, but we are definitely going to win. You are by far the best pitcher in the state."

  "I'm ready. We will win. Easy."

  Sharon stared at her teammate in awe. She began to speak, but was interrupted by a boy named Josh Goodwin.

  "Um, h-hi Mandy." He fidgeted with the strings that dangled from his hoodie. "Do you have plans for this weekend? I'm, um, um, having a party, and I'd really like it if you could make it."

  As she studied the boy, it was difficult to recall who he was and if he mattered. As a handsome sophomore but not an athlete, he was on the lower end of the social hierarchy and none of her concern. Penny nudged Mandy, caught her eye, and then rolled hers dramatically.

  "Whatev. I'm busy this weekend." Mandy waved her hand in dismissal as she walked away.

  "What’s up?" Logan Archer fell into step with Mandy. He was tall, gawky and a bit awkward. His pencil thin arms swayed too fast, out of rhythm with her saunter. "I've been thinking about some ideas for our project. Are you free tonight? We really should get started." Logan’s bright smile was contagious. Mandy felt the corners of her mouth lifting in response to his infectious warmth.

  "We have softball tonight," Penny said.

  "Mandy has a very busy schedule. Logan, maybe you should just get started on your own," Giselle said.

  Mandy gritted her teeth and almost flashed Giselle a dirty look. Instead, she averted her gaze. "How about tomorrow night? Your place?"

  "Yep, that sounds great. See you tomorrow." Logan's hazel eyes shone behind his thick glasses. As he walked away, he glanced over his shoulder, a goofy grin still spread across his face.

  Penny's mouth gaped open. "You're going to hang out with Logan Archer on a Saturday night? Are you for real?"

  "Well, I mean, I have to work on this project."

  "On a Saturday?"

  "Yeah, whatev. I'm sure it won't take all night."

  As Mandy approached the school building, friends and acquaintances surrounded her, as well as people she didn't even know. She was showered with compliments, invitations, and guys’ requests for dates. Encompassed by the popular crew made up exclusively of attractive and athletic people, she strode through the double doors and down the hallway toward her locker.

  As expected, her boyfriend Chad Reynolds waited for her. The strong boy lifted her up in his muscular arms, fingers entangled in her hair, and pressed his mouth against hers. When they separated, her lips stung.

  "Good morning, beautiful." Chad smiled. Dimples indented his cheeks, making him look even cuter.

  "Hey, great game last night, man!" A guy wearing a Panthers jersey slapped Chad's shoulder. A pretty redhead twisted her neck to stare as she passed, but Chad didn't notice. Transfixed, his attention did not waver from Mandy's face. His lips brushed hers again.

  "I love you," her boyfriend whispered.

  The knot in the pit of Mandy's stomach tightened, and the voices in the recesses of her mind reached their crescendo. If only Chad knew what she really was—a big fat phony!

  Chapter Three

  Once Brianna got off the bus, she scanned the front of the school. There were two security guards. One was looking in the opposite direction, and the other was distracted by a student complaining that someone had stolen his backpack. It was the perfect opportunity for escape. Bri took a sharp left, ran past the school building, cut through the baseball field, and disappeared into the woods. She trudged down a dirt path surrounded by blossoming trees until she reached a small wooden bridge.

  A tall guy leaned against the side of the bridge, his arm around a small, skinny girl. Her face was framed by side-swept purple bangs that covered one eye. Her visible brown eye was accented by an eyebrow piercing. The boy's green-and-blue-striped Mohawk stood up six inches. They smiled when Brianna came into view.

  "Hey, Bri!" The girl almost tripped over her clunky lace-up boots as she ran over to greet her. Brianna embraced her best friend.

  "Hey, Eva. Hey, Dave."

  "What's wrong?" Eva's eyes widened with concern.

  It always amazed Brianna the way Eva could sense her mood within moments of being in her presence. Brianna sucked in a deep breath, overcome with emotions from the morning, along with a profound sense of gratitude that she'd had the same best friend since pre-school. They knew each other inside and out. Eva knew all of her faults, but loved her just the same.

  "Oh, where do I start? My mom was sick again this morning. She passed out in the kitchen."

  "Oh, no! Is she okay?"

  "Yes, this time, but I worry about her. Oh, and Ryan broke up with me. Via text message."

  "What a jerk! He wasn't good enough for you anyway."

  "Whatever." Brianna shrugged. "He was probably just using me to try to get closer to Mandy. Just like Brad Sullivan, Chris Horn, and Vinny Perillo admitted after they dropped me."

  "You don't need a boyfriend anyway. You're a strong, independent young woman. We don't need men!" Eva threw her fist in the air.

  "Oh, really?" Dave raised his eyebrows and crossed his arms.

  "I don't need you, babe. I want you. There is a difference." Eva pecked Dave on the cheek. "You're a great guy. Ryan is a typical dirt bag."

  Dave nodded. "I never liked that kid. Want me to beat him up? I'll do it for you, Bri."

  "Me, too," a male voice called from the end of the path. Pat puffed out his puny chest as he approached the group.

  "What are you going to do? Attack him with your hair?" Dave laughed.

  Pat frowned and smoothed his unruly crop of orange hair.

  "Not a bad idea." Brianna greeted her friend with a hug. "Using your hair as a weapon could be very manly."

  Pat's whole face lit up.

  "There will be no fighting." Eva's voice had an authoritarian tone. She glared at Dave. "The principal already warned you. One more fight and you will be expelled."

  "Eva's right," Brianna said. "I need you guys here for my sanity. It's hard enough living with Princess Perfect. Sometimes I can't believe we're related, let alone identical twins."

  "You're identical?" Pat's jaw dropped.

  "Yes, one-hundred percent, except I dye my hair black."

  "It's not just the hair. I don't think you look the same. Ow!" Pat howled as Eva kicked him in the shin. "Hey, don't get me wrong! I think you're gorgeous. I just don't think you look like Mandy."

  "You can just say it. She's prettier than me." Or she appears to be, because of her magic. It's so unfair.

  "You're more beautiful on the inside than Mandy will ever be. And that's what counts." Eva handed her best friend a sheet of notebook paper. "Read it. I have been working on lyrics for our new song."

  Brianna held the paper and Pat leaned in to read over her shoulder. Unruly orange frizz blocked Brianna's view. She laughed as she brushed Pat's hair out of her face. "These are awesome, Eva."

  "Oh yeah, definitely. Solid," Pat said.

  "Band practice tonight. Five o'clock. Don't be late," Eva said.

  Brianna checked her watch. "We have to get back to school. Starting bell is going to ring in five minutes."

  Eva draped her arm over Brianna’s shoulder and the four friends headed back to school together. When they entered the building, a surly security guard named Lou looked up from his post and stood. As he waddled towards them, his protruding belly jiggled over his belt. He ran his hand through his receding hairline, grimaced, and signaled for them to stop.

  "Mi
ss Hernandez, do you think that apparel is appropriate for school?" the security guard asked.

  Eva examined the black letters on her purple T-shirt—Women belong in the House… and the Senate.

  "I think it's very appropriate," Eva said, hands on her hips. "Women are highly underrepresented in the government. In my opinion, this is the direct cause of many of our country's problems today."

  Lou sighed. "We are all entitled to our opinions, Ms. Hernandez. However, that doesn't mean we can broadcast them on our shirts at school."

  "Why, Lou? Does a young woman with an opinion intimidate you? Don't I have a right to express myself like everyone else?"

  "Writing and logos on T-shirts are against the dress code for both boys and girls, Ms. Hernandez. You know that. We have been over this quite a few times before."

  "Well, that's just ridiculous! Haven't you ever heard of the First Amendment? It was passed in 1791, and it gives all Americans the right to freedom of speech. Look it up."

  "Eva, walk with me to Principal Meyers's office. Now."

  "Fine, I'll go, and I'll tell Principal Meyers exactly where he can put his dress code."

  As Lou escorted Eva to the principal's office, Dave, Pat, and Brianna griped about the way the authorities running the school imposed their conformist standards on the students.

  Chapter Four

  "Ready to win?" Giselle asked.

  Mandy nodded. "I was born ready."

  The home team took their positions on the field. Mandy stood at the pitcher's mound, pushing the dirt with her mud-stained cleats.

  "Do you want to warm up?" Sara Jones, the catcher, asked her.

  Mandy shook her head. "No need." Coach Nelson had once chided her star player for refusing to warm up. Now she kept her mouth shut. Mandy preferred to reserve her powers for the game.

  Penny, a dedicated fan, sat in the bleachers. "Go Panthers!"