Mom left me there with Meira and Quaid while she started to organize the coven in defense. I briefly considered reaching out to Uncle Frank or Sunny but thought the better of it. I'd had enough out of body for one day, thanks. It was only then I realized I'd gone through a huge magical exchange without a single twinge from my normally touchy stomach.Maybe my body was finally catching up with my need.It wasn't until we were all packed up to go home that Quaid let my hand go and to be honest, the moment his fingers slipped free of mine, I missed them. I watched him climb on his bike and drive off, alone. I had to talk to him, to find out if he felt what I did. But I was too tired to even think about it.I was almost asleep by the time I arrived home and slid into bed. I remembered the soft touch of my mother's lips on my cheek and her whispered, "I love you," followed by another whisper, "Stay with her." Something soft and warm snuggled against my chest, something purring so loud th

At first I wasn't sure there was anyone home when her eyes flew open. It was like the person who used to live there went on permanent vacation and left behind an empty shell. She was totally void, blank, and I caught nothing from her but a whole heap of nada.Until her eyes fixed on mine. Suddenly her whole existence came into sharp focus. There it was, what I dreaded all along, the stench and touch of the thing, the creature, buried inside her so deep it poisoned her slowly as it rose to the surface, taking bits of her as it went.She looked insane as she struggled to sit up and it was only then I noticed the thick leather straps pinning her to the bed. Someone, probably her mother, covered them with a blue wool blanket. But as soon as Suzanne started to struggle the camouflage fell away and Alison and I both gaped at her in horror.Suzanne's wide mouth twisted into a smile so grotesque I wanted to run from the room or at the very least tear my gaze away, but I couldn't. Hello, tra

It was after dark before my mother made it home. As soon as her lights brightened the side of the house I bounded to the door and wrenched it open. She didn't look surprised by the sudden greeting, but I didn't get a chance to say anything to her because Meira squealed and came running.I slung her up into my arms and hugged her, noticing how big she was getting. And heavy."Syd!" She kissed me soundly on the cheek. "We had such a great day! I wish you'd come with us."I glanced at my mother who simply met my gaze with a level look before gliding past me into the kitchen.I set Meira down and followed her inside, trying to suppress my frustration for my sister's sake."What were you two up to?" If Mom wasn't willing to tell me, Meira certainly was."We went to see a bunch of the family," she said, toying with her hair. "Everyone had cookies. Everyone." She giggled and I understood her good mood. Chocolate. She was a hopeless addict. Like Gram. It made Meira super happy, but witho

My first reaction to Pain's house was shock.Followed rather quickly by a serious case of the giggles. Alison couldn't help herself. When she heard me go off, she did too.Not that there was anything wrong with it. Quite the contrary. It's just I expected her place to look something like mine, only way more over the top. Creepsville. With turrets. In bad need of a paint job and a mowing.Imagine my surprise when Alison pulled up at the quaint, gingerbread house painted a cheery yellow. The mailbox at the end of the driveway even matched. Perfectly. Someone built an exact replica and planted it on the top of a brightly painted post. There was even a sign at the gate, proudly proclaiming "The Hammonds Live Here!" All three of them. And their dog.It was so charming I continued to laugh."I know, right?" Alison rolled her eyes, wiping carefully at the corners to keep her tears of hilarity from smearing her mascara. "And you'll never guess what her real name is."Honestly, I'd never

She was waiting for me in the kitchen and I knew instantly by the look on her face this encounter would not end well for either of us.Rather than let her have the first word guaranteed to send us both spiraling down into a battle, its inevitable end soaked in tears and raw from screaming, I dove in with a well placed and sincere, "I'm sorry, Mom."Talk about instant deflation. It was like the words themselves had magic in them. Wow. Good to know for later. Because there would always be a later.Mom's face crumpled and instead of turning me into a toad she rushed forward and hugged me so hard I knew she was only angry because I scared the crap out of her.She wasn't alone in that department.When she leaned back, the stern face returned but it didn't reach her eyes so I knew I was safe."Tell me," she said.For the second time that week I dumped on her. It was developing into a terrible habit. Might be nice to go a whole seven days without some kind of disaster. Too much to ask,