Free Twisted Magic by Holly Hood Page B

you mean?”
    Lynette looked curiously between them and Nona, she ran her hand up and down Dad’s back trying to calm him down.
    “There was this old school gore flick on TV last weekend, a bunch of blood- thirsty witches running around slaughtering people, the head witch wore a pentagram.” Elliot told everyone.
    “Not to mention all the hot chicks running around in skimpy bikinis,” Easton pointed out. That fell on deaf ears. I swallowed down the panic coursing through me.
    Dad scratched his head confused. “What would this be doing on our floor then? Did you guys have something to do with this?”
    Elliot and Easton collectively shook their heads. All eyes fell on me now .
    “I was in bed. They woke me up and told me to get out of the house.” I gaped, shaking my head violently to get my point across that I had nothing to do with this.
    “Maybe it was just some kids in the area or something,” Ly nette suggested, she watched me. S he smiled with concern at me.
    “Why are you smiling at me like that? I didn’t have anything to do with this.” I snapped.
    Dad shot me a warning glare.
     
    Nona clapped her hands together gaining everyone’s attention. “Let’s not fight. I’m sure it can all be explained. W e all know witches don’t exist, u nless of course, you count Sheila.”
    Everyone stared at Nona. She waved a hand. “I’m only kidding. She's not a witch. She's just a big bitch.”
     
    I eyed the pentagram again. The image of that tall man raced through my mind . It all made perfect sense, but why? I was sure this were some sort of warning for me.
     
    Claude cut through the mass and held his phone out. Damn technology I thought to myself. Dad took the phone.
    “Says here this is an inverted pentagram, known to be used by Satanist in the 20 th century, i t was adopted as their personal symbol.” Dad read to everyone.
    “Cool,” Elliot said in awe. They snapped pictures of it with their cell phones. Nona swatted them away.
    “Don’t take pictures of it. Heaven knows what kind of juju is in this house now.” She looked at me. “What about that boyfriend of yours and his friends?”
    I raised an eyebrow not following.
    “Slash or Slain, what’s his name?” She shook her head , trying hard to get it together, “Slade. They wear an awful lot of black and those tattoos. Do you think they would have done this as a joke, Hope?”
    I was sure everyone could see the blood draining from my face. My throat constricted. I wished I knew a spell to get them all to shut up and forget all that they saw.
     
    “No matter, t he house is in one piece. Your dad can stop worrying about his memories with that shrew in Georgia and get on with his life now.” She lo o ped her arm through Claude’s preparing to leave . “And I will see you at five.”
    I stabbed a finger to my chest, and raised an eyebrow. “Me?”
    “Yes, you, we are going to see Clive. He is going to have you famous in no time.” She pinched my cheek and headed for the door. “Wear something girly, I hear Clive likes the beautiful women."
     
    I sighed. Dad grabbed the dustpan and started cleaning the ashes from the floor.

New path
     
    I stared at my odd- shaped cookie , t he ones that the Shore Café was so famous for serving. Every circular table was draped with sea foam green tablecloths and seashell centerpieces. The windows were bedazzled with sand dollars around every window frame, and the floor’s tiles were emblazoned with tiny shells itself.
    “I don’t understand the ambience of this place. We live by the ocean. Why would someone want to come inside and stare at it some more?” I asked Nona. She pushed my cookie toward me, shooting me a bothered stare .
    “People live in Cherry because they enjoy the ocean. They want the ocean up close and personal.” She smacked her hand down on the table with a loud whap. “Clive knows business. He knows what sells. And he is going to sell you.”
    I raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t