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  “Many do,” Josh said.

  “And in doing so they stain their soul,” Isaac added. “Mess around with a big enough demon, and you could lose your soul. Natural witches risk this too. You need to understand your powers before you use them. They are a part of you and everything around you. They are the stones beneath your feet and the air that you breathe.”

  “Everything is connected,” Josh said. “I remember when I first embraced my powers, I was eight. My father made me promise I’d keep them a secret. He said as I got older I would learn to taste others’ powers and know without a doubt who I could trust with my secret.”

  Powers are a part of everything, check. Keep them a secret, check. Trust few, check.

  I nodded to let them know I understood.

  “When you use,” Isaac said, “you’re taking from these powers and transferring the energy into your spell. If you’re not in control of your thoughts and emotions when you cast, your spell will end up out of control like the fire at your house.”

  “The first spell you did was fire?” Josh asked, a mixture of astonishment and surprise in his expression.

  I frowned. “I lit a few candles.”

  “And almost burned down the house,” Isaac so kindly reminded me.

  Josh let out a low whistle.

  Isaac continued, “Now that you’ve embraced your power, you’ll start to see the things around you with more clarity.”

  “It’s almost as if everything is crisper,” Josh said. “Like watching a movie in high def. You’ll be able to see and feel things you couldn’t before.”

  “Like how I can taste your magic?” I asked.

  “Exactly like that,” Isaac replied. “And the taste of someone’s magic can tell you a lot about the person. Your magic reminded me of dirty pennies. That’s how I knew the energy that went into it was fueled with negative emotions.”

  Great. I reminded the guy I liked of pennies, and not just any pennies, dirty ones. I had to work to keep my disappointment from showing in my expression.

  Isaac went on. “Power is easy to bend to your will. As you get stronger, you will be able to absorb power from trees, grass, people, even the air around you.”

  Isaac held his hands in front of him as if he were holding an imaginary basketball. The air around him crackled. The vanilla and spearmint that was his magic suffused the space between us. I could actually see a ball of energy, translucent and pulsing, in his hands. Josh held a hand in front of him, and the ball of energy stretched and shifted until it was a long tube that connected his hand to Isaac’s.

  I felt like a child who’d just seen a magician pull a quarter out of her ear.

  Isaac and Josh pulled their hands away from the tube, and it vanished. I reached out in front of me, feeling the remains of their power in the air. Lush like velvet, it caressed my skin.

  “Magic is often subtle.” Josh flicked his forefinger off of his thumb like he was flicking a crumb off a table, and a burst of air brushed past my cheek. “Or it can be forceful.” This time he held his hand to the side, palm out toward Isaac’s closet. A moment later, the clothes were pushed in as if someone had fallen against them.

  “And it can be countered,” Isaac said. “Like I did at your house. Are you ready to try?”

  Was I ever!

  “Yes,” I said in a voice much smaller than I’d meant to use.

  “Then let’s create our bond and see what you can do.”

  Isaac and Josh raised their arms above their heads and looked at me. I raised mine.

  “By the power of water,” Josh said, an expression of complete calm set in his features.

  “By the power of fire.” Isaac’s eyes were suddenly alight with a fire of their own.

  And since they both were looking at me, I took my cue and said, “By the power of air.”

  Isaac and Josh said the next part together: “We shall cast with the powers of three times three.”

  I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to say it too. Just in case, I muttered, “Um, what they said.”

  The corners of Josh’s mouth tugged upward for a brief moment.

  We relaxed our arms, and I waited to see what I should do next. Several of the stones on the floor around us glowed translucent orange. Our circle.

  Isaac put his hand out in front of him—like someone does before saying, Tah-dah!—and produced blue flames. Josh did the same, only he produced a perfect drop of water that looked as if it had dripped from a large faucet; it dangled suspended above his palm.

  “Your turn,” Josh said.

  So if Isaac represented fire and in turn produced fire, and Josh represented water and produced water, was I supposed to produce air? And how the heck was air supposed to look? My brow furrowed together. I held my hand out and concentrated, focusing on the air in my palm. Absolutely nothing happened.

  “What are you trying for?” Isaac asked. I was relieved that he really couldn’t read my mind.

  “I’m not sure,” I confessed. “What would air look like?”

  Isaac stifled a laugh by coughing.

  “I only did water because I didn’t want to copy,” Josh said with a stupid grin on his face. He closed his hand, then reopened it, turning his drop of water into fire.

  I ignored the heat of embarrassment that rose to my cheeks and tried again. Seemed no matter how hard I stared at my hand, I wasn’t going to produce the lovely pale blue flames they had.

  Isaac canceled his spell and came closer to me. “You don’t have laser eyes.” He put his hands on my waist. His powers glided over my skin as they wrapped around me. There was something behind his usual vanilla and spearmint scent. It was subtle like the spray from the ocean or maybe a breeze through the forest. Outdoorsy. Cologne mixed with magic. I inhaled, my back hitting Isaac’s solid chest.

  I could get used to being this close to Isaac. Yet I had to force myself to ignore the feel of his magic against my arms and listen to his voice. It wasn’t easy. His warm breath teased my neck as he spoke.

  “You should feel your power building within you, flowing into your hand and into the spell.”

  I had felt that before. It was easy when I was angry. I closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. I focused on each beat of my heart. As I did, I could feel the air in the room charged with Isaac’s and Josh’s powers. I wanted it to be charged with mine too. The taste of strawberries and chocolate kissed my tongue. My powers danced to the tips of my fingers, tickling my skin from the inside. I beamed with sheer delight as fire appeared in my palm. I didn’t create the pale blue flames Isaac and Josh had, though. Mine were the vibrant violet-blue of a tanzanite gem.

  “Now throw it,” Isaac said.

  “What?” I couldn’t have heard him right.

  “Throw it at Josh.”

  “Don’t worry,” Josh taunted. “Your little fire won’t burn me.”

  I liked my flames and really didn’t want to throw them, but Josh kept staring at me, wiggling his finger to tell me, Come on. I couldn’t pass up the challenge. I brought my arm back, saw Isaac grinning like a proud cat behind me, and whipped my flames at Josh, who lazily held his hand in front of him. My spell died with a faint hiss.

  It was a little pathetic how easily he’d canceled it.

  We continued to practice. It was a good thing Isaac and Josh only threw balls of air and large drops of water at me, because countering spells wasn’t as easy as they’d made it look. If they had used fire, I would have had third-degree burns.

  At some point, Isaac’s father called us upstairs. Isaac spun a funnel of warm air around me. It not only felt wonderful—it dried my hair and clothes.

  Two police officers stood in the foyer. They were looking for Kaylee and were very disappointed when they discovered Josh was with Isaac and me.

  “We were hoping she was with you,” the officer admitted to Josh. “Are you sure she hasn’t gotten in touch with you?”

  “I’d know if I talked to my girlfriend.” Josh ran a worried hand o
ver his face as he shook his head. “How could this have happened?” He looked as if he could barely hold himself together. His eyes were the red of someone who hadn’t slept. He looked nothing like he had in the basement. Boy, was he quick with a glamour. He’d managed this one while he had walked up the stairs, and he deserved an Emmy for his performance.

  Just like Isaac had said would happen, the officer nodded, jotted notes in his notepad, and thanked us for our time.

  After that, I called my dad and asked him if I could spend the night at Sarah’s, using the excuse that I wanted to be with friends. I then called Sarah and asked her to cover for me in case my dad called there to check up.

  “Sure, no problem,” Sarah said. “How’s Kaylee?”

  “She’s better,” I replied. “But do me a favor and don’t tell anyone we talked, okay? I can’t really explain now.”

  “Sure. If you need anything…” Sarah left the sentence hanging.

  “You know you’re the first person I’ll call.”

  We practiced into the early morning hours. I got the hang of calling upon my powers, and while I was only able to counter a small percentage of Isaac’s and Josh’s spells, I could block just about all of them. By the time I lay down next to Kaylee, I felt as if I’d undergone a rigorous exercise regimen.

  Isaac and Josh tossed a bunch of pillows and blankets into piles on the floor, but I don’t remember them lying down. I must have passed out as soon as my head had hit the pillow. I woke hours later with Kaylee’s hand on my face.

  Chapter 12

  The Plan

  “SO, WHAT’S THE PLAN for today?” Kaylee asked. She looked rested; the pink was back in her cheeks, and her eyes no longer had the haunted look of a person afraid of everything around her. She took a big bite out of a bagel.

  Isaac, Josh, and I had worked out the details of our plan while we’d practiced the previous night. The key was to act natural and move through the day as if we were worried sick about Kaylee. We didn’t know if everyone at school would know she was missing—like the doctors and police believed—or if they’d think she was still at the hospital and not allowed visitors, so we were left playing that piece by ear.

  “Madison and I are going to school,” Josh said. “Isaac’s going to tell his parents he’s not feeling well. He’ll stay here with you.”

  “Josh and I will get the things we need for the spell and hurry back here after school.”

  I hated having to wait until the entire school day went by, but the guys had insisted it would look suspicious if Josh and I drove to school together, yanked out Mark’s hair, ripped his shirt to pieces, and left. I felt we could claim temporary insanity. Whatever.

  Kaylee nodded.

  We set our plan into motion after that. Josh dropped me off a few houses down from mine so that it would look like I was walking home from Sarah’s. My dad was in the shower, and Chase was eating breakfast in the kitchen when I got in. I hurried to my room and stuffed a clean pair of jeans, a long-sleeved T-shirt, socks, and sneakers into Kaylee’s backpack before opening my window. The cool morning air rushed in.

  Josh was already standing below and looked up at me. “Just let go of it.”

  I dropped the stuffed backpack along with Kaylee’s purse down to him.

  “I’ll be back in thirty.” He cut through the backyard and out of sight.

  As soon as my dad was done in the bathroom, I brushed my teeth, showered, and tried to get a brush through my tangled hair. I couldn’t help but curse—a lot—as the brush got caught on knot after knot. My dad’s voice bellowed up the stairs as he yelled for me to watch my mouth. It was comforting to know some things were still normal; it made me want to run up to my dad and give him a hug for just being him. A giggle bubbled up my throat as I imagined the surprised expression I’d get for thanking him after he’d yelled at me.

  Before I went downstairs, I placed a few loose threads into the folds of one of my dad’s handkerchiefs and tucked it in my purse for later.

  Dad looked up from the morning paper when I walked into the kitchen. “How are you doing, sweetheart?”

  “I’m holding it together.” I poured myself a glass of orange juice and took a seat next to Chase.

  “Is Kaylee home?” Chase asked. He knew Kaylee was sick, but none of the details. My dad and I didn’t know how to explain to a six-year-old that someone who was young and happy one day could be seeing things that weren’t there the next.

  “Not yet, but we’re hoping she will be soon.” I ruffled his hair and forced a grin. My dad had no idea I knew where Kaylee was. He only knew the police had stopped by looking for her.

  “Any word?” he asked, his question cryptic.

  “No.” I finished my juice and rinsed the glass out in the sink, purposely making my hand shake so I’d seem rattled. If I were too calm, my dad would be sitting me in a chair, shining a bright light in my face, and insisting I ’fess-up and tell him where Kaylee was. I had to keep up the act. “Josh is picking me up. I’m hoping he’s heard something.”

  As if we’d synchronized our watches, Josh’s horn sounded with one long blast.

  “I’ll see you later.” I waved over my shoulder as my dad and brother said goodbye.

  Outside, I ran down the walk to the curb where Josh had parked and got in his car. His dark hair was slick and shiny, still wet from his shower. He had a latte waiting for me. It smelled of pumpkin spice, heavenly.

  “Thanks.”

  “No problem.” Josh pulled away from my house. “Kaylee wanted me to thank you for the clothes and her stuff. She feels a whole lot better not wearing Isaac’s sweats.”

  “I knew she would. What are they doing today?”

  “Isaac is going to explain the powers to her. The more she understands them, the safer she’ll be. Even without any of her own, she’ll know what to watch for and what can protect her.”

  I nodded and took a sip of my latte, instantly feeling a little better about the day ahead.

  It was harder to be at school than I had expected, though. Everyone asked about Kaylee. The good news was that no one knew the nurses had lost her. That meant the hospital and police were keeping it quiet.

  In English, I didn’t even make it to my seat before Natalie Parker cornered me.

  “How’s Kaylee?” She chewed on the nail of her index finger.

  “She’s about the same,” I said, sticking to the words Josh and I had agreed to use.

  “I’m really sorry.” Natalie paused for a moment, looking as uncomfortable as I felt, then took her seat.

  I recited my line several more times before Mr. Chapin called the class to order. When there were only five minutes left to first period, he called me to his desk.

  “I heard about Kaylee,” he said. “I know how difficult it can be when a friend’s in trouble, but as a friend, it’s our responsibility to help them.”

  I wasn’t sure what he expected me to say to that, but he watched me expectantly, so I said, “I know.”

  “Do you?” He paused, giving me one of those looks adults like to give when they don’t believe you: eyebrows raised and mouth in a thin line. “Sometimes it means telling a teacher or a doctor something you may have promised you’d keep a secret.”

  I opened my mouth then closed it. He thought Kaylee did drugs. That meant most of the staff thought she did drugs. How was Kaylee supposed to face her teachers and classmates if everyone thought she was a junkie? It wasn’t fair.

  “She didn’t take anything, Mr. Chapin,” I said, fighting to keep my voice calm. “I’m sure she’ll be okay.”

  “You’re a good friend, Madison. Still, if you need someone to talk to, I have fourth period free, and I’ll be in my classroom.”

  I turned on my heels and stormed back to my desk. Even after we bound Mark, his reputation would be unscathed. To everyone else, he’d still be that awkward but sweet freckled-faced boy. No one would know he had caused Kaylee’s hallucinations.

  I tossed my things i
n my backpack and headed to Foods. Several “Kaylee’s about the same” and “I’ll tell her you said hi and to get well soon” were said as I made my way to class.

  I followed two chatty sophomores into the classroom and almost lost what little control I had left over my emotions when I saw Mark sitting at our table. I was sure my face turned a few shades of red as I fought the urge to throw something at him and snarled, “Hello.” I should have asked Josh and Isaac to show me how to create a glamour. It took me a few seconds, but I managed to pull myself together after that. This would be my only chance to yank out Mark’s hair. The thought cheered me up.

  “How’s Kaylee?” he asked when I sat down.

  “Like you care,” I hissed, too quietly for him to hear. I forced a smile, hoping he’d mistake my anger for worry. “About the same.”

  “I heard what happened.” He was wearing that stinky cologne he’d had on the other day, Essence of Jerk. “They’re saying she was on acid or something, but—”

  “She didn’t take anything,” I snapped.

  “That’s what I was going to say, that I didn’t believe them. Were the doctors able to figure out what’s wrong with her?”

  “No.” I could taste my anger building, literally, as if I’d sucked on a mouthful of pennies and spit them out. I stuck a stick of passion fruit gum in my mouth.

  Then I made a mental note that passion fruit was not a good mix with copper.

  Mark kept a straight face, never letting his act waver. I took a few slow breaths to rein in most of my anger. In the meantime, I removed an inch-long thread from inside my dad’s handkerchief and kept it hidden in my hand. When I was sure I wouldn’t punch Mark—or kick him, bash his face in with my Foods book, set him on fire, or otherwise give away that I knew what a slime he was—I looked at him.

  He pulled at the collar of his T-shirt. “I would have visited, but her parents said she wasn’t allowed anyone.”

  “They’re keeping it to only family and a couple friends.”

  He nodded.

  “You have something in your hair.” I reached up and plunked a few strands from the back of his head.