Free Josh and the Magic Vial by Craig Spence

arm. “You said this plan of yours would be risky.”
    Again, the mocking grin. “Not for your precious Josh. He’ll be okay . . . till the night of the full moon.”
    â€œThen you mean it will be risky for you?”
    â€œFor me and some people very close to me. Tell him not to say anything that would tip Endorathlil off. She’ll figure it out anyway, but there’s no sense putting up a big, neon sign that says ‘IAN LYTLE RATTED’, is there?”
    â€œThat’s your name?”
    â€œYup.” He said this with deliberate pride.
    He stood there, waiting, until Millie realized she still gripped his arm. “One other thing,” he smirked when she let go. “Tell Dempster to find a safer place to snooze than Rogers Park.”
    By the time Millie figured out what he’d meant, Ian was already halfway to the door. “It was you!” she blazed, shaking with silent indignation. “You stole Josh’s things!”
    She had to smile, though. Angry as she was, she had to admire Ian Lytle’s audacity.

14
    J osh looked terrible, even worse than the last time she’d visited.
    â€œAre you okay?” she asked.
    He continued drawing, his pen scratching at the sketchpad in short, angry strokes.
    â€œYeah,” he said.
    â€œI heard about your visit to Lil’s.”
    The nib stopped mid-stroke. He sat there, frozen, as if her remark had jammed something in his brain. “So,” he said at last. Then, “Who told you about that?”
    â€œThe ‘friend’.We just finished a little tête-à-tête, he and I. Turns out he was the same guy who followed us to Café Java that day, the same guy who stole your backpack and skateboard.”
    Josh raised his eyebrows, but showed no other signs of interest.
    â€œDo you know what happened to you at Lil’s, Josh?” she probed.
    He nodded lethargically. “She tried a spell on me. I fainted.”
    â€œYes,” Millie cried, “but do you know what happened while you were under.”
    â€œNothing,” he said testily. “Lil had me moved to a cot in her back room. I came to. I came home. That’s it.”
    â€œLet me see your arm,” she demanded.
    â€œWhat for?”
    â€œJust let me look.”
    Reluctantly he held his left arm up for her. She examined it, stopping at the red puncture mark in the crook of his elbow. “She took a sample of your blood, Josh,” Millie announced.
    â€œThat happened when her clumsy assistants grabbed me, Mil. Stop being ridiculous.”
    â€œHands,” she demanded.
    â€œHuh?”
    She grabbed his hands, examining his fingernails. “Where did you get this manicure?” she teased, holding up his left ring finger. “And the trim!” She pointed at the jagged patch above his left ear.
    â€œOkay!” he exploded. “So she’s a lousy hairdresser.”
    â€œNot to mention surgeon, and manicurist,” Millie added.
    â€œYeah, that too. So what!”
    â€œDo you know what Lil intends to do with that stuff?” Millie persisted.
    â€œNo idea.”
    â€œOur friend thinks she’s going to use it to cast some kind of spell — ‘voodoo’ is the word he used for it. He says she’s going to do something on the night of the full moon, and that Endorathlil — that’s Lil’s real name — is bad business.”
    He waited, certain Millie had more to say.
    â€œAnd you know what,” she added after a long pause. “I believe him. In fact, I think she’s already done something to you, Josh. I mean, you look awful.”
    â€œThanks,” he said gloomily. Then, looking at her, he smiled. “But, hey, since when did Millie Epp start believing in magic?”
    â€œI don’t necessarily believe in magic, Josh.”
    â€œWhat, then?”
    â€œHave you ever heard of hypnosis?”
    â€œOf course, but that can’t