Free Chasing the White Witch by Marina Cohen Page A

disgust.
    â€œLook, Claire,” she huffed. “I’m sick. I don’t have time to listen to your insults —” She began to close the door.
    â€œI know you’re sick,” I interrupted, pushing the door back open. “ I’m the reason you’re sick. I meant to say I cursed you , and —”
    â€œGo away, Claire!” she said. “I’m not kidding. I’m not feeling well and I’m not in the mood for your ridiculous stories. Besides, shouldn’t you be at school annoying Mrs. Martin and the rest of the class?” She tried closing the door again, but she was weak and I was stronger. I held it open.
    â€œPlease listen to me, Hollis. I know you hate me — I don’t know why you hate me — but I know you do and I’m not here about that or anything crazy — well, it is sort of crazy, but that’s beside the point. I bought this little book at the grocery store ...” I grappled in my pocket, pulled out my green book and practically shoved it in her face. “See? It’s a book of spells and I cursed you because you asked Paula-Jean to be your partner and I got stuck with Jason. Now you’re sick and it’s all my fault and I’d fix it if I could. I swear, Hollis. But I don’t know how. You have to believe me, because I have a plan and I’m going to make you better — you’ll see. You just have to believe me.”
    She glowered at me for a second, like she thought I was purposely trying to antagonize her, but then I added, “Please.”
    Maybe it was the sincerity of that last word or maybe it was the tears pooling in my eyes. Or maybe she was just too weak to argue. At any rate, she released the door. She looked me up and down. “Come on in,” she said finally. She turned and walked calmly toward the living room. I shut the door and scurried after her.
    Hollis’s house was as perfect as she was. Polished marble and hardwood floors, huge baseboards and crown mouldings, heavy brocade drapes, and nothing — not one thing — looked out of place. Even the books that were strewn across the coffee table looked like they’d actually been arranged to look strewn. Wow , I thought to myself. It’s like this house is some kind of show home. Barely looks lived in . My mother would be pea-green with envy. She was always going on about how hard she worked to keep our house tidy and how between Jordan, Cyrus, and me, the house constantly looked like a tornado had ripped through it.
    Hollis sat down on the edge of the sofa, like she was worried she might crinkle the fabric. She looked at me with her sea-foam eyes. She was wearing pink silk pajamas — with a matching headband, for crying out loud! It killed me — even sick as a dog, Hollis still managed to look stunning.
    I lowered myself into a chair opposite her and cleared my throat. “Listen,” I said, “I know this is asking a lot — even for me — but I swear it’s the truth. I was really angry. I didn’t know what I was doing.”
    Okay. That was only partially true. I did know what I was doing when I cursed Hollis, but I didn’t fully understand the consequences of my actions, I rationalized. I certainly wasn’t aware that Hollis would get this ill and that the curse would bounce back on me.
    â€œThis book is magic,” I said holding it up again for her to see. “It really is. It cured my zit and beat up my brother. If you don’t believe me, just go ask Paula-Jean. But, er, don’t blame her — I did all the hexing — she was an innocent by-hexer.”
    Hollis rolled her eyes and sighed. She didn’t believe a word I was saying. I decided to try showing her the spell. I opened the book and passed it to her. “Read it,” I said.
    Hollis took the book in her right hand. For the first time, I noticed her left hand hung limp by her side. I watched her eyes move