Free A Charming Cure by Tonya Kappes Page A

octave.
    There
     was a collective gasp between the two. The only thing we could see was the
     shuffling of their feet as they went around the bed.
    “We
     need to get the doctor.” Their white nursing shoes proceeded to run out of
     Faith’s room.
    “Let’s
     go.” I rolled out from under the gurney bed and Mr. Prince Charming followed.
    The
     nurses left the lights on. My body froze in place. I stared at Faith.
     Speechless.
    Mewl,
     mewwl.
    “I’m
     coming.” I waved him off as I bent down to get a better look at the glowing hot
     pink nails. It looked as if Faith had just step out of A Cleansing Spa back in
     Whispering Falls.
    My
     eyes slide up her body and to her face. She still had the grayness and the
     black eyed looked, but the nails. . .All my what if’s had flown right out the
     door.
     

 
    Chapter Nine
     
    We
     ran back to the cottage dorm before the nurses came back to Faith’s room with
     the doctor. It was late and it had been a long day. I was tired, but the cure
     was more alive than ever. I was going to have to wait until morning to see if
     anything other than her fingernails coming back to life had transpired from the
     concoction.
    If
     I didn’t get some sleep, I’d never make it to Intuition class. Now it was more
     important than ever to be on time and fit in with the other students.
    The
     more I tried to close my eyes, the more my eyes refused to close. Haunting
     images of Eloise in some Hidden Hall prison cell corrupted my mind along with
     the unknown potion I had given Faith.
    “You
     know you can see her.” Madam Torres made her first appearance since our arrival
     and since her little tantrum on our way here.
    “Nice
     to see you.” I sat on the edge of my bed. A smile formed across my face. “And
     you fixed your hair. And I love the color choices.” I referred to her long,
     curly red mane that took up most of the glass globe. The green glow illuminated
     the ball, which made her red lips stand out on her purple face.
    “Well.”
     She shook her loose curls. “I’ve heard all about these college men.” She rubbed
     her lips together, making them a darker shade of crimson.
    Mewl,
     mewl. Mr. Prince Charming let us know he was there. He made three circles and plopped
     down. He was having no problem sleeping.
    “I’m
     not surprised you aren’t sleeping. Especially after the potion you just gave
     Faith.” Her left eyebrow cocked up in true Elvis Fashion. “I hope you brought
     some concealer for those under-eye circles.”
    If
     she thought she was being funny. . .she wasn’t.
    “After
     all, the Dean’s niece can’t be looking. . .umm . . .nearly dead. Plus I can’t
     be looking bad because of you.” She flung her hair to the back of the globe.
     The water swooshed to the front.
    “Whatever.
     I still don’t get why it’s such a big deal that I’m related to that woman.” I
     had no time to play pretty, pretty dress up. I had to find Eloise. “Let’s get
     back to what you were saying about me seeing Eloise.”
    I
     had done all I could do for Faith, at least until I see how the potion affected
     her. I did need a plan to help Eloise, but what?
    “Hmm.
     . .” Madame Torres disappeared. The green globe went from opal to orange, and
     then brown. The drab color floated to the bottom and cleared the globe. “Your
     wish.”
    I
     heard Madame Torres, but didn’t see her. The ball showed a picture of Eloise
     hunkered down on a dirt floor with a chain around her ankle that was shackled
     to the concrete wall. She was being treated like a cruel animal. That was
     definitely one thing that needed to be changed…the way they treated their
     prisoners.
    Eloise
     had already been through so much. For twenty-years she had been banned from
     Whispering Falls and lived a life of solidarity. All because she was a
     Fairiwick. She didn’t deserve this.
    “Eloise,”
     my hush voice dripped with sadness. Tears flooded my eyes seeing her in that
     position.