Free A Charming Cure by Tonya Kappes Page B

I didn’t realize I could see anywhere I wanted. I was under the
     impression I could only see the places I owned, like A Charming Cure and my
     home.
    As
     if she could hear me, she looked up. Her alabaster skin was even gaunter.
     Almost ghost-like.
    “Help
     me,” her lips mouthed. The ball went black.
    “Where
     is she?” I pleaded with Madame Torres. The globe remained black.
    “I
     have no idea. That is something you have to find out.”
    “Thank
     you.” I grabbed Madame Torres off her pedestal on the night stand and kissed
     all over the glass. I was glad that she showed me Eloise, even if she couldn’t
     give me her location. I was on a mission to find her.
    “Pweft,
     pweft.” Madame Torres appeared, and spit specks of silver out of her mouth.
     “Listen, I’m your crystal ball. A cranky one. I didn’t sign up to be a kissing
     ball.” The water cleared and it went back to black. “This is a professional
     relationship.”
    “Naw.
     This is a great friendship.” I hugged her and held her tight.
    “I’m
     only here to guide you. Not give you answers.” Her voice echoed creating waves
     in the ball. Like a light switch that had turned off, so had Madame Torres.
    The
     clock read two a.m. and I didn’t have to be at Intuition School until seven.
     Seeing Eloise and knowing she was okay put me at ease. I had a couple of hours
     to snoop around this University.
    Who
     needs sleep?
    I
     threw on my black jump suit and tennies before I grabbed Madame Torres and
     threw her in my bag. I could hear a slight tantrum at the bottom of my purse. I
     was going to ignore her. After al,l she was there to help me.
    I
     backed out of my door, and used the key to lock it.
    “Where
     are you going at this hour?”
    My
     heart nearly leapt out of my chest until I realized it was Hili standing in the
     shadow of the hallway.
    “Shh.”
     I put my finger up to my mouth. I didn’t want to wake the retired professors on
     the wall, but it was too late. All of the eyes popped open and darted between
     Hili and me.
    “Why
     are you all dressed? Where are you going?” Hili had her short, tomboy blonde
     hair matted to her head in a Michelle Williams kind-of-way, rolled up tight
     blue jeans, black V-neck tee, and black high-heeled shoes.
    “I
     don’t sleep.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Where are you off to?” She followed
     me down the hall, clicking as if she was a little girl playing dress up in her
     mom’s shoes. I wasn’t going to tell her anything with the professors staring.
    Walking
     down the stairs, I reached in my bag and grabbed two Ding Dongs. It was obvious
     to me and Mr. Prince Charming that Hili was going to tag along.
    “Come
     on.” I handed her one of the scrumptious treats wrapped in foil and headed out
     into the dark night.
    The
     fireflies darted around us. Being nosey teenagers, no doubt. I ignored them and
     Hili’s endless stream of questions.
    I
     really didn’t know where I was going. I was relying on my number one gift. My intuition.
    “Okay,
     Hili, how long have you been a student at Hidden Hall.” My intuition told me to
     go the opposite direction of the field to get to Intuition School, so I set my
     sights on the darker side of the University.
    Briefly
     stopping, I noticed it was also the more dreary side as well.
    “Four
     years.” Hili put her hand on me. We stopped.
    “Four
     years? But you are only eighteen.” I couldn’t imagine leaving home as a young
     teenager.
    “It’s
     different for us.” She shrugged it off. “You were raised by a mortal, but if
     you had two psychic parents, then you would’ve been here too. Where are you
     going?”
    “This
     way.” I took a few more steps when I realized she wasn’t following me. I turned
     around. “Well, are you coming?”
    She’d
     better be. I’ll be damned if I wasted a good Ding Dong on her.
    She
     ducked when a bat aimed at her head, teeter-tottering on her high heels, and
     then started to