Free Witch Land (The Cindy Chronicles #2) by Rashelle Workman Page A

sad to see her go, but I understand. Not really, but she’s like part flower or something, so it seems like she should need the ground. She also said something weird to me right before she left. She said, “We’re sisters, you and I. There’s a gift I must bestow upon you when I get back. Be ready. It’s a gift with a curse, I’m sorry to say.”
    “ Sure, Polly,” was how I responded, keeping my voice light even though inside I felt really weird about her saying we’re sisters. Also, the gift sounds like it isn’t a gift at all, but a total pain in the ass. When I see Polly again I’ll tell her I don’t want it.
    Okay, t hat’s everything. I think you’re all caught up.
    Oh, except one random note. I’ve seen two brown rabbits wandering the castle. One seems genuinely interested in me while the other plays tricks. Like last night it dumped a satchel of dirt in my bed and the day before that it put worms in my Manolo Blahniks. I’ve tried to talk to them, but they hop away before I get the chance.
    When I get to the bottom of it, I ’ll let you—
    There ’s someone at my door. Write more later.
    Cin !

 
     
     
     

     

     
    “Come in,” I yelled out of habit until I remembered I wasn’t in my room in Salem, Massachusetts. And the person on the other side of the door probably wasn’t my mom. Throwing on a robe, I ran to the heavy wooden door, unlocked it, and pulled it open.
    Quilla stood there, her hands on her hips. She wore a dress the color of an eggplant, a bright red painter’s hat, spotted blue tights, and pointy black boots. Before I could say anything sarcastic she walked past me into my room.
    “ Why didn’t you use magic to open the door? Not that I’m complaining. Stupid allergies. But Polonias is a world full of it. No one cares whether you use it or not. In fact, they expect you to.” She patted my cheek. “You were just being polite, huh?” She plopped down on my bed and bounced. “Cozy.” Then she gave me a once over. I followed her gaze.
    My robe was split open, showing my blue polka dot boxer shorts and light blue tank.
    Quilla wrinkled her nose. “Is that what you’re wearing to your party? It’s…” she paused and sniffed before continuing, “charming.”
    “ Hi, Quilla. It’s nice of you to finally come by and see me. Where’ve you been?” I walked to the closet as I spoke. Apparently it was time to get dressed. The closet was larger than my room back home and filled with hundreds of shoes, underclothes, and dresses. They began arriving almost immediately after I did. Most of the dresses were in various shades of blue, I’m guessing because Leo told the dressmakers blue was my favorite color. I wondered how he knew.
    They weren ’t as short or as stylish as I was used to, but they were still beautiful.
    I ran my fingers over the different fabrics , some soft, others stiff. They were all lovely, almost sensuous. I chose one in sky blue, the fabric soft and functional. The shoes I chose were black flats the color of charcoal. My reflection in the mirror revealed I looked pretty, but too sweet. It wasn’t my style, even if I did love the color.
    I stepped from the closet and smiled at Quilla. “What about this?”
    She snorted. “No. No. No.” She twirled her pointer finger in the air. In the air between us, moving at the same speed as her finger, a tornado of materials spun. It was a flurry of silvers and blues and blacks.
    Before my eyes a dress took shape. It was beautiful. The bodice was fitted and a combination of glitte ry silver and sky blue. The jagged tulle skirt pooled out from the waist like a cloud.
    “ That’s gorgeous,” I said, reaching out to touch it.
    “ Th-th—” Quilla sneezed. “You can wear this tonight. I’m sure the dressmakers have plenty of choices in that gigantic closet of yours, but this will be perfect.”
    “ Thank you.” I took the dress from the air and used magic to hang it up. When I returned, Quilla was staring at