Free Malice by Amity Hope

muttered.
    She smirked at me, as if she had a secret. “You won’t. Everything is falling into place perfectly.”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 7
    After making sure that Magnolia was curled up on the sofa with a stack of books, I tiptoed to Mom’s study. She’d left to run some errands. I wasn’t sure how long she would be gone.
    She hadn’t seemed quite as stressed the last few nights. Possibly because Magnolia hadn’t been caught cheating on any more tests. But even so, she didn’t seem quite like herself. I’d asked what was bothering her but she’d brushed me off. She’d told me there was nothing to worry about. Yet, no matter how she tried to hide it, it was clear that she was worrying all the time.
    As I crept into the room I shoved away the feeling that I was snooping. I wasn’t snooping. I was helping. Whatever was going on with Mom, it was clear she needed some support.
    I easily found the book because it was one I’d recognized. It was a thin volume simply entitled The Elements . I’d looked through the book many times.
    I settled into Mom’s chair, pulling the book close to me. I carefully flipped through the pages, searching for the one with the downturned corner. As I leafed my way through I realized maybe she was just trying to determine what Magnolia’s affinity would be. Mom’s was also water but Dad’s was earth. Maybe she was just reading up on what signs to watch for. That thought made me feel a bit better.
    Though it didn’t explain why she was being so secretive about it.
    I continued flipping through the pages, searching for the dog-eared one. I found it toward the end of the book. Mom must’ve flipped the corner back up after I’d left the room because only a crease remained.
    I flipped back a few pages to see which section I was in.
    Spirit.
    I blinked at the word and looked at it again.
    Spirit? I didn’t know of anyone who held an affinity for spirit.
    A spirit affinity was rare.
    Maybe this had nothing to do with Magnolia after all.
    I flipped back to the page Mom had marked. It was entitled, The Power of Persuasion . I scanned the section quickly. The title pretty much said it all. Persuasion, though a rare magical ability, could be a powerful one. A dangerous one if it were to be bestowed upon the wrong person.
    Why on earth would Mom be looking into it?
    Magnolia appeared in the doorway, startling me. She was dressed in her pink nightgown. Her bare feet peeked out from underneath. The soft pink nail polish I’d applied to her toes last week was chipped. She’d brushed out her braids, leaving her hair kinked and floating with static. She had a book tucked under her arm.
    I carefully closed Mom’s book and edged away from the desk. I knew how lucky I was that it was only Magnolia in the doorway and not Mom. I quickly stuffed the book back onto its place on the shelf.
    “What are you doing in your pajamas already?” I asked as I made my way over to her. I placed my hand on her shoulder and guided her out of the room, closing the door behind us.
    She shrugged. “I’m kind of tired. Will you read to me?” she asked.
    I doubted that she was tired. I knew her little tricks. If she got her pajamas on without being asked, it usually meant she wanted something. Tonight, she wanted someone to read to her. It always started with a request for just a few pages. And then a few more. And then before you knew what happened. An hour or more had passed by.
    I didn’t have time for that tonight. I had other things on my mind.
    “Not right now, Magpie,” I said. “You can read that book on your own.”
    Her tiny, soft fingers curled around mine. “Please?” The word was soft. Simple. Yet the simple request was almost too powerful to say no to. For a moment, I could think of nothing else.
    “Please?” she implored again. Her head tilted to the side, a precious smile tilted up the corners of her lips. She gave my hand