Witch Ball - BK 3 Page 8

  Thorn suggested we talk to her friend, then led us downstairs. Her friend, Kevin, was a skinny black-draped guy with white makeup and enough piercings to set off every metal detector within a mile. He confirmed only the woman and her niece lived in 34C.

  When we finally left the apartment complex, even I was beginning to doubt K.C.'s existence. Maybe Manny was right-the guy was invisible.

  By the time I returned home, I was confused, exhausted, and discouraged.

  But my mood improved when I found out I'd had a phone call.

  From Josh.

  TUESDAY

  "What did he say?" I almost pounced on my grandmother.

  "I wrote it down so I wouldn't forget. Now where did I put that paper?"

  We spent twenty minutes searching for the note, until finally I spotted it propped on the side of the refrigerator with a magnet.

  Nona pushed back her gray-blond curls, her cheeks flushed apologetically. "I don't remember putting it there."

  I told her it didn't matter, but we both knew it did. More evidence that her memory was diminishing. I was losing her by inches.

  Looking down at the pink paper in my hand, I read Joshs message.

  Locker tomorrow. Love josh

  "That's all?" I asked, flipping the note over and hoping for more, like where he'd been all day and why he hadn't called sooner.

  But at least he had called and he wanted to see me in the morning. So I guessed our relationship was okay. It was amazing how much lighter I felt; like my feet soared off the ground and I floated near the ceiling. If Evan had tried to poison josh against me, it had failed. Josh still cared enough to end his message with "Love Josh."

  Under the glow of a heart-shaped night-light, I fell asleep smiling.

  Getting ready for school the next morning took extra time. I tried on a dozen outfits, hated them all, and finally settled on jeans and a yellow T-shirt. Then I spent at least thirty minutes fixing my hair, choosing the perfect pair of earrings, and applying makeup. When I ran into Penny-Love when I reached school the next morning, she said I looked hot.

  Ironically, now that my boyfriend was back at school, hers was gone. Jacques (AKA Jack) hadn't called last night or kept a promise about driving her to school. In her usual dramatic jump of conclusions, she was sure this meant he'd found another girl.

  "I knew it was too good to last," she said, stepping away from the crowds of kids entering the building. "Guys always disappoint me, why should Jacques be any different? I was going to enroll in an art class, so we'd have more in common. He's older and smarter, why would he want to be with me?"

  "Because you're smart, gorgeous, and fun. You're the one who's too good for him. Lots of guys would love a chance with you."

  "I've gone out with a ton of guys and they don't compare to Jacques. But your loyalty is sweet," Penny-Love said with a sad smile.

  "I just want you to be happy."

  "I will be when I find out Jacques has a good reason for being absent-like a severe illness."

  "Mono? The kissing disease?"

  "Not that severe!" She realized I was teasing, then we both laughed.

  We headed in different directions and minutes later I found josh waiting by my locker. He grinned when he saw me and I could tell he liked how I looked.

  "Sabine," was all he said and then his arms were around me and we kissed right there in the school hall. Usually Josh was ultrareserved, but I didn't mind this change.

  "So where were you yesterday?" I tried to sound casual as I spun my locker combination and pulled out my English book.

  "With Evan."

  "Evan!" My grip on my book tightened.

  "Yeah. You know we went fishing Sunday."

  I nodded, unease mounting.

  "Well he left his backpack on his dad's boat, and he needed it for his Biology class. But he had no way to get out to the boat. His parents had already left for work and he doesn't have his own car."

  "So Josh to the rescue?" I tried not to sound sarcastic, and failed.

  "Hey, what else could I do?" He spread out his hands. "If he flunks this makeup test, he won't get back on the team. Besides, I figured we'd be back before school started. But it didn't work out that way."

  "So what did happen?"

  The warning bell rang and we walked down the hall. Josh quickly filled me in on the rest of his story. It was unbelievable, but coming from josh, I knew it must be the truth.

  Josh had driven Evan to the marina where the boat was docked, got on the boat, and found the textbook. But the ropes mooring the boat came loose and they drifted away from the dock, out into the middle of an icy mountain lake. Evan didn't have the ignition keys to the boat (why did this not surprise me?). They couldn't swim back because the water was too cold. Evan had a cell phone, but couldn't get a signal. So they waited all afternoon for another boat to show up and tow them in.

  "By then, school was out and so were you," Josh finished. "Where'd you go?"

  I hesitated. "After a newspaper interview."

  "When'd you start doing interviews? You're a copy editor."

  "Yeah, but Manny was shorthanded."

  "You shouldn't let that guy bulldoze you into doing his work. I don't like how he's always taking advantage of you."

  "Like Evan does with you?"

  "Message received." Josh gave a rueful smile. "I know you're right, it's just hard to refuse Evan. When my brother was alive, he and Evan were my heroes and I was the pesky kid tagging along. Now it's only me and Evan ..."

  He paused, staring into space. The subject of his brother was private and rarely brought up. When he'd first told me about his loss, I'd wondered if his brother would try to send him a message through me. But there hadn't been anything, and I doubted Josh would be open to hearing a message anyway.

  I purposefully switched topics. "That was a long time to be stuck on a boat. What'd you and Evan do to keep busy?"

  "Fished. Studied. Talked."

  "Talked about what?" I tensed. "Did Evan say anything about ... about me?"

  "Nope. Why should he?"

  "No reason. But when girls get together, we talk about guys."

  "You talk about me when I'm not around?"

  "Tons. And it's all good," I linked my fingers through his as we neared our homeroom.

  "So what about that interview?" Josh asked. "How did it go?"

  "Not so good," I admitted, reliving the slam of the door in my face.

  "It'll work out next time. I have faith in you."

  Looking into his handsome face, I wondered if he'd still feel that way when he learned I'd been kicked out of my old school and labeled a freak. I wished I could avoid telling him forever, but if I didn't tell him, Evan would.

  In first period, I tuned out my teacher and wondered how to explain my psychic ability to josh. We'd already had a discussion about magic and he'd made it clear he was a skeptic. He believed magic was an illusion created solely for entertainment. How could I convince him ghosts existed and that my psychic visions foretold the future?

  I was still thinking about it during break when I heard someone call my name. Glancing down the hall, I saw Penny-Love running toward me. She clutched a cell phone in one hand and ran her fingers through her wild curls with the other.

  "Oh, Sabine! I just found out why Jacques is absent."

  "Why?" I asked, immediately concerned by her flushed face and reddened eyes.

  "There was an accident last night! He was in the hospital."

  "An accident?" I inhaled sharply. "What kind?"

  "He fell on the job and fractured his arm."

  "That's terrible!"

  "Even worse-it was his right arm, so he won't be able to paint for weeks. He slipped because he had oil on his shoes and didn't realize it. Poor Jacques."

  "Oil?" I thought of the oily puddles on the pavement where we talked last night. Is that how the oil got on his shoes? Was I somehow responsible?

  "He fell off a board."

  "A board?
Why not just use a ladder?"

  "Not a regular board-it was stretched out like a plank and propped up on the sides. He had a name for it." She paused, her reddish brow knit in concentration.

  My heart skipped. "What?"

  "A sawhorse."

  A horse-a freaking sawhorse! It was all so weird! Jill's visit from her dead father and now Jacques falling from a horse.

  During sixth period, I couldn't concentrate on editing and must have fixed the same misplaced comma a dozen times. I kept glancing across computer consoles to a large wall calendar where dates marked my fate.

  Two days to live?

  I was trying so hard not to believe the prediction could happen, as if believing would make it a reality? My world had been flipped upside down and everything was out of control. This was not how my gift was supposed to work. I'd always been the one who gave predictions. I wasn't supposed to receive them.

  I couldn't pretend the witch ball was harmless anymore-not after two predictions came true. Dangerous powers were at work, and if I didn't figure out how to stop them, I could end up dead.

  If only I'd never taken the witch ball. I should have sent it back up to the attic, I thought as I stared down at blurry papers. Why didn't Opal warn me?

  Would you have listened ifI had?

  I clearly heard her voice as if she were standing beside me.

  She had a valid point. Would I have listened to her? Probably not. I was quick to give advice for other people, but reluctant to take it.

  "But I'm ready to listen now," I thought to her. "What should I do?"

  Face your fear.

  "How do I do that?" I asked, then reddened with embarrassment when I caught a boy sitting in the seat next to me giving me a curious look. Oops! Guess I must have spoken aloud.

  Pressing my lips tightly shut, I picked up the article I'd been proofing, and pretended to work. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the boy shrug and turn away.

  The connection to Opal was gone, so I replayed her advice in my head. Face your fear. Not "fears" but "fear," as in a specific fear. There was only one fear I could think of-the witch ball.

  I'd had some experience with ghosts, who were usually earthbound because they were confused and too frightened to move on. I had mixed feelings about dealing with ghosts, although it always felt good when I helped a lost soul find peace.

  But the ghost around the witch ball was elusive-and frightening. If I confronted it, more trouble could be unleashed. The ghost had already shown uncanny abilities, moving the ball from my closet to Nona's kitchen and switching places with the crystal ball meant for Manny. I didn't want to mess with a ghost with that sort of power.

  But doing nothing wouldn't accomplish anything either.

  So I had to confront my fear like Opal said.

  I hoped I wouldn't regret it.

  After school, I dropped off my backpack in my bedroom, checked in on Nona who was talking on her office phone, then went outside. I headed for the shed behind the barn. I spotted Dominic working in the back pasture, and had a strong urge to ask him to come with me. But if I told him what I planned to do, he might try to stop me. I had to do this alone.

  I clutched the key Dominic had given me, the metal cold against my skin. I felt cold, too. The sky had grown overcast and a chilly wind shivered through my jacket. I wrapped my arms around myself, wondering if I should go back for a heavy coat. I might need an umbrella, too, in case it started to rain.

  Procrastination only moves you backwards, a haughty voice rang in my head.

  "Opal, I'm so glad you're here."

  I know nothing about this earthbound soul you seek and find myself in the unusual situation of uncertainty.

  "That doesn't exactly reassure me."

  Reassurance is not my purpose. Also, you will not require an umbrella, the precipitation will hold off until this evening.

  The toolshed was out behind the barn, half-hidden in a grove of oaks. It was a ten-by-ten wooden structure, the roof sagged in one corner, and the paint was faded with age. As I reached to unhinge the latch, my hand shook. I thought of a dozen reasons why I should turn around and forget this whole idea. But I'd come this far and didn't want to give up now.

  As I began pulling the door open, I heard flapping wings. I looked up to see Dominic's falcon. Dagger swooped down low, squawking as if he was admonishing me. His wings brushed my arm, but I ignored him and finished opening the door.

  A dark, musty smell swirled around me as I entered the shed. Something gauzy flew across my face and I shrieked. Jumping back, I saw fragments of a cobweb clinging to my fingers. I slapped it away, swallowed hard, and stepped deeper into darkness.

  I had to blink a few times before my eyes adjusted and I could recognize the distorted shadows as gardening tools; a rake, broom, and hoe were propped against the wall in one corner. There were also old crates, a rusted push mower, and bags of fertilizer. That would explain the ripe odor.

  A sudden gust of wind roared and shook the building, nearly knocking me over.

  The door banged shut.

  I grabbed onto a shelf to pull myself up, then tried the door. I pushed at the rough wood, but it wouldn't budge. Panic closed in around me like a straight jacket and I felt trapped. Coming here had been a bad idea. I wanted out now-even if it meant breaking down the door.

  Looking around desperately, I started to grab a shovel. But I stopped in mid-reach when I noticed a silvery glint off a large square box. The metal chest. My gaze zeroed in on the heavy metal lock and I lifted the key from my pocket. A perfect fit into the lock. There was a loud click and the lock fell open.

  My hands grew clammy and the urge to flee was stronger than ever. I could sense Opal with me, but no other presence. To be safe, I reached up under my collar and touched the protective satchel Velvet had given me. It as soft, warm, and comforting. I just hoped it had real powers to ward off evil.

  As I lifted the lid of the chest, an unearthly golden glow lit up the darkened room, like a curtain drawing back from the moon. My breath caught as I stared down at the beautiful crystal globe. Inside, tiny glass shards blazed with dazzling rainbow colors. These colors danced across the walls, and I felt as if I moved with them. My fears faded, replaced with the most wonderful sensation-warm, joyful, pure happiness. Without thinking, I reached for the witch ball-

  No! Opal's voice rang out sternly. Don't touch it!

  I lurched back, blinking in confusion. The wonderful feeling died and lovely rainbows eclipsed to black. I was left with a sharp disappointment.

  Sabine, do not lower your guard. She is close and watching.

  "She?" I looked around. "I don't see anyone."

  BANG! The lid on the steel chest clanged shut.

  The witch ball ghost! Like a genie released from a lamp, she was here with me. Yet I still saw nothing.

  "Where is she?" I cried, circling slowly in place on the alert for the slightest movement.

  Close your eyes and concentrate on her image.

  I did as asked, but I only saw Opal-her black upswept hair, heavy, dark brows over intense, black eyes. She floated several feet off the ground and seemed to be watching the steel chest. No witchy ghost.

  So I opened my eyes-then gasped. The witch ball was rising into the air. I knew there had to be a ghost guiding the ball, but I still couldn't see anyone, not even an aura.

  She's blocking you. Concentrate to a meditative state.

  I would have rather smashed open the door and fled from the shed.

  Instead I sat on a crate and closed my eyes tightly. Nona had taught me how to meditate when I was little, explaining that I needed to visualize a place where I go and feel safe. So I shut out all fears and hummed softly, becoming at one with my rapid heartbeat and closing off everything but my thoughts.

  I imagined a peaceful island with a beautiful white gazebo where windows faced the ocean in every direction. I heard the soft lapping of ocean waves and smelled a garden of fragrant flowers sur rounding me with
comfort. I was no longer in a manure rank shed, but secure in my own paradise.

  Watching through a window in this perfect place was like peering outside a fragile glass dome. And for the first time I saw her.

  Two figures faced each other. Opal and a pale woman, tall and bird-like, with narrowed no-color eyes and a bitter scowl. Her hair was braided in a bun; an old-fashioned style that matched her long drab skirt that dragged behind her like a dark veil. She wore a high-necked blouse of heavy brown fabric with long sleeves and tiny pearl buttons. She was all dark energy except for the globe of rainbow light she clutched protectively in her arms. The witch ball.

  I wanted to ask who she was, but in my peaceful sanctuary, I was only a spectator.

  Opal swept towards the woman, her chin lifted high with confidence. I am Opalina Christine Consuela La Cruz, and might I know your name?

  "Hortense." The woman held tightly to the witch ball and regarded Opal with suspicion. "I know what you want, and all the others before you.

  I want nothing from you, instead I can offer you assistance to a better place. Allow me to guide you to-

  "Nay! I will not be fooled. My ball is mine alone and no one will wrench it from me. Be gone or harm will befall you."

  What harm can you do from your dark prison?I am free to go between worlds, while you are trapped in a hell ofyour own making. Freedom is yours ifyou go forward with me and find joy away from this chosen exile.

  "You seek to lure me away from my ball."

  Earthly possessions have no lasting value.

  "Lies! I watched them come, peeking into my home and calling for me to come out, but I would not be fooled. They were tools of the devil and conjured magic against me, only no harm would befall me as long as my witch ball offered protection."

  You need no protection if you go into the light. Come with me-

  "Your feeble attempt at trickery will not work. I recognize you for your sins when you lived on earth."

  My past was a trial on a path leading to wisdom. That was hundreds of earth years ago and has no relevance. I do not fathom how you even know these things.

  "I know that and much more. Leave before I show the full force of my powers."

  Let go of your anger and trust me-