Free Legacy by Calista Anastasia Page A

coming along?”
    “Okay, I guess. I’m getting to be really good at spells.” She grinned. “At least I can send the basketball through the hoop in gym class.”
    Gran nodded, looking pleased. “Good. Keep practicing.”
    “I have to get dressed now. Greg will be here soon.”
    “Show me how you look before you leave.” Gran blew her a kiss through the glass and she felt the sensa tion of a whisper on her cheek.
    Mercy dressed hurriedly, slipping the peach dress over her head and finally stepping into the little heels. She spritzed fragrance on her wrists and brushed her hair. She wanted to be ready when Greg drove up so she didn’t have to explain to him why her grandmother was n ’ t at home .
    She returned to stand in front of the mirror and found Gran waiting patiently.
    “You look beautiful, my darling.”
    Mercy felt a flush of pleasure. “Thanks, Gran.”
    “And I have something for you. A present.”
    Mercy looked around. “ You do? Where?”
    “Check the top drawer of the bureau. In the carved rosewood box.”
    Mercy complied, opening the drawer carefully. She set the rosewood box on top of the bureau and ran her finger over the deeply grooved carvings before she removed the lid. The box was lined in burgundy colored velvet and sitting right in the middle was a golden locket with a blue stone in the middle. She glanced up to see Gran smiling. “Is this for me?”
    Reverently, Mercy lifted the locket from its container. The metal gleamed and the jewel caught the candlelight. “Oh, Gran. It’s gorgeous. I love it.”
    “ It was your mother's. Sapphire is her birthstone. Go ahead and p ut it on. ”
    Mercy fastened the clasp and stared at her grandmother, expectantly .
    “Perfect,” Gran pronounced. “ Now, don't take it off. It has special properties. Have a great time at the dance.”
    “Thanks so much, Gran. I will .” She blew a kiss to her grandmother and snuffed out the candle. Her grandmother’s image slowly faded to be replaced by her own. She sighed and gazed at the locket. It was really beautiful.
    She heard the crunch of tires on the gravel driveway and grabbed her small handbag, just big enough to h old her lip gloss and door key.
    She said goodnight to Alistair and ran out the door just in time to see Greg climbing out of th e car. “Hey, Greg!” she called.
    He grinned. “Wow! You look hot.” He opened the car door and held it while she slid in, then took his place on the driver’s side. Greg smiled at her and started the motor.
    She was still glowing from Greg’s approval. Hot! I look hot.
    Greg took her hand and they rode in silence to the school. He pulled up next to the auditorium. “ Ready?” He smiled at her encouragingly.
    She nodded as he climbed out. Her stomach was filled with nervous churning but it felt more like elephants or rhinos than anything as delicate as butterflies . Greg held his hand out to Mercy.
    She got out and smoothed her dress before taking his hand. The swarm of butterflies commenced flying loop-de-loops in her stomach.
    They walked h and-in-hand into the gym which had been transformed to a tropical island. Fake palm trees and improbably huge tissue paper flowers festooned the walls.
    Kelli and Felicity sat togethe r at a large round table. They waved when they spotted her with Greg.
    Felicity motioned them over and pointed to the chairs next to her. “I saved you r seats.”
    Mercy noted that the rest of the chairs were empty, but she thanked Felicity for saving their places. They sat for a while chatting and then Greg asked her to dance. She wasn’t sure she could dance, but her new found confidence helped her to her f eet and onto the dance floor. She moved hesitantly, trying to emulate the way the other kids were dancing. It didn’t look hard. She kept the beat and mirrored what Greg was doing. When she glanced around at the other people on the dance floor, she noticed that some people moved better than others, but everyone seemed to be