Free Eye of the Storm (The Charmed) by Dianne Nutting Page B

smashed together in the garden.”
    “Thank god. I couldn’t take much more. Wanna go get something to eat? I’m starving.”
    “You’re always starving.” Kayla smiled.
    “You look beautiful, by the way.” He had seen her come in with Harley and couldn’t find his voices. Her dress was a deep blue strapless long gown with white feathers halfway to the bottom, her mask matched in white and blue.
    Kayla stopped and looked at Jaden. “Thank you.” Jaden helped her navigate around a large pile of dirt to the entryway.
    Brendan came through the front door, face beaming. “Guys, come on! You have to see this!”
    Jaden and Kayla rushed through the front door to the parking lot that was in another form of chaos. Every single car had mud caked around it and a pig skewered on the front hood. Nobody could use a spell or charm to take them away because the hold on it lasted over twenty four hours. Either people left their car there or they took it home to clean it up which would require driving through town with a pig skewered on the hood.
    “This is the best day of my life. I got my girl back and dad got hell. Come on guys, I didn’t park here.” The group walked down the sidewalk to the parking garage a block away and folded themselves into Brendan’s car.

Chapter 8

Old spells
    H arley spent a whole day holed up in her room. She cleaned, sorted through her few clothes and makeup and finally gave up around four. She was exhausted from the masquerade last night but on a high of happiness that she hadn’t felt in so long. Brendan was different and so was she. They had talked until five that morning. She had to sneak into her house, which wasn’t that hard considering her father was passed out most of the time. She walked downstairs quietly but the age of the house and the amount of neglect were too much, she stepped on the stair she was trying to avoid and a creak reverberated throughout the house.
    “Harley! Is that you?”
    Harley hung her head and said, “Yes, dad.”
    “Get me a fresh bottle, would you?”
    “Okay.” This was Harley’s least favorite part of living here. Her father was an alcoholic and had been most of her life. If her mother hadn’t died when she was born, she wondered what her life might have been like. She tried to keep up with the house but it was a lot for one person. Harley went into the kitchen and noticed a sink full of dishes. At least he was eating, she thought to herself. She walked over to the fridge and opened the freezer above. Nothing. She opened the cabinet directly next to it and plucked a new bottle of vodka out. Harley never understood how so much liquor came into their house when her father never left. He would be pissed it wasn’t cold. She plodded back through the dingy brown hallway past the front door and turned left to the living room. Her father was sound asleep on the couch. Mouth open, one leg draped over the arm, television on. Harley walked in, placed the bottle on the table and noticed a picture in her dad’s hand. Harley looked at the picture. She recognized her father but didn’t recognize the other two faces. Both tall, with dark hair, the couple were smiling but her dad wasn’t. She looked closer. Something about the eyes of the man was familiar. He had a gleam that hinted he knew more than everyone in the room. She straightened up and began walking toward the front door when it hit her. She ran back to the photo and plucked it from her father’s hand. The two people were Brendan’s parents. Her father had known Brendan’s parents. Harley’s heart began thumping loudly.
    Harley picked up her bag and went out the front door. She started running in the direction of Brendan’s house four blocks away, but she never made it. Driving straight toward her was Brendan. He pulled up next to her and leaned out the window.
    “Hey gorgeous.”
    Harley didn’t say anything but ran to the other side, letting herself in. “Let’s get out of here,