Free Spectral by Shannon Duffy

away. “Leave? And why can’t you tell me?”
    “Some things are better left unsaid until the right time. But we don’t have much time. I need to get you someplace safe.”
    I opened my mouth, then shut it. I didn’t like that he was holding back like I wasn’t able to take it or I was too stupid to understand. Just like my parents.
    I found my words. “The right time? And let me guess— you decide the right time? About me. About my life? You’re pretty cocky aren’t you? And you’re not the only one who knows things, Roman.” I stood but kept my voice low, “I’ve been doing a little investigating myself.”
    Roman pounced to his feet. “Investigating? How?”
    Good. I’d gotten his attention. Maybe he’d take me seriously for a change. “Been reading up on stuff,” I shrugged. “Putting pieces together like a puzzle.” I stared down at my feet and then back up at him. “Something about a Spectral…”
    Roman’s face grew ashen. “You’re in more danger than I first thought. You have to stop reading those things. You’re not supposed to know those things yet. It can only bring more trouble. What else do you know?”
    “I’ll tell you what I know if you tell me what you know.” I cocked my head to one side and folded my arms across my chest.
    “This isn’t a game, Jewel.” He took me by the shoulders startling me. “Tell me what you know.”
    I shrugged out of his grasp. “All right, already. Something about witches and covens and the millennium Spectral witch who bears a mark…and on her seventeenth birthday goes all supernova…and well…I think I’m it. Is that about right?”
    Roman looked like he was about to heave and suddenly I felt bad for him. “Well, yeah…something like that…but how did you find out? You know too much already. Please don’t dwell on those things or check into it anymore.” His voice sounded pleading as he pulled me into a tight embrace.
    He felt so warm. My head rested against his chest, his heart pounding below my ear. Warm breath fanned against my hair and Roman’s arms around me trembled. All of that, along with his shaky voice, and the way he hugged me as if I were the most precious thing ever, made me realize something.
    He really cares. About me . But why?
    I inhaled his scent and gazed up into his troubled eyes that now stared intensely down at me. I stood on my tip-toes so that I was closer to his lips, heart fluttering. Roman palmed either side of my face in his hands. My eyes wandered to his lips, imagining them on mine.
    “Jewel?” My father’s voice came from outside my bedroom door. Instantly, Roman let me go, and held his hand up to the door. He dashed to the window.
    “You’ve got one minute before the spell breaks,” he warned as he climbed out onto the ladder.
    I leapt into bed, and tugged the blankets up around my neck. I concentrated on making my breathing even. I heard the door creak open but kept my eyes closed. “Jewel?” I heard again, but ignored it. After a moment, the door closed. I released a long breath.
    I glanced over to the window but Roman was gone. I held my hands to my face and inhaled. His distinct scent lingered, tickling my nose. I glanced at the clock. It was 3:52. My body screamed for sleep, but my mind screamed for answers. A number of deep, twisting fears invaded me. And after talking to Roman, my becoming the Spectral was the one that scared me the least.

Chapter Ten
     
    I was running late for school Monday morning having overslept. Horrible thoughts raced through my mind at night and the few moments I managed to steal for sleep were haunted by horrifying nightmares. I forced myself to not open the Ancient Witchcraft book on Sunday or think of anything to do with it or my crazy life. I told myself I would take one day of a mental holiday. Just one. I deserved that, I reasoned.
    Roman came back to my window the next night but I wouldn’t let him in. I had a migraine that pounded relentlessly and I knew