Read Online Emerald Isle by Barbra Annino - Free Book Online Page B

Leo.
    Fiona said, “Do you remember the retrieval spell you created when you were a student at the Academy? The one you put so much time and effort into?”
    “You mean the one Tallulah absconded with? Of course I remember it.”
    Fiona said, “That spell was genius, Birdie. I’m sure if we followed it precisely as it was written, we could unsnarl Stacy from the web.”
    Birdie frowned. “But I ripped it up, after that initial competition the first year of school. I knew if anyone found it, they would suspect it was I who cheated on the creative-spell-writing test.” She tightened her jaw. “I feared expulsion. Not that it mattered in the end.”
    “That’s true. But you see…” Fiona reached into her apron and pulled out a folded piece of paper. “I made a copy.”
    Birdie was stunned. She reached out her hand, and Fiona dropped a folded piece of notebook paper into it. Birdie uncurled the corners and read.
    It was indeed the spell she had crafted more than fifty years ago. She looked at Fiona, incredulous. “But I don’t understand. How? Why would you save it?”
    Fiona said, “Because I was incredibly proud of my baby sister. Your talent has always been the force field of our family.” She shrugged. “We visited that week, remember? I rescued it from the wastebasket.”
    Birdie felt a growing excitement. It could work. If Anastasia hadn’t been pulled too deep into the Web of Wyrd, if she had only been sucked into one plane and not traveled through multiple dimensions—they could bring her home.
    She threw her arms around Fiona and said, “Thank you.”
    Fiona squeezed her back.
    There was a knock at the door that divided the house, and Cinnamon called, “Birdie? Fiona? Are you two out there?”
    Fiona stepped forward and unlocked the door. Birdie pocketed the spell.
    “There you two are. I just gave Lolly the last of the wine, but I have a case in my car I was going to drop by the bar. I sent Tony for a bottle, but you better get outside and bring some clothes before she catches pneumonia.”
    Birdie collected a hooded, full-length faux fur from the coat closet and handed it to her youngest granddaughter. “Give this to your aunt and we’ll begin serving dinner momentarily.”
    “Where’s Stacy?” Cinnamon asked, scanning the room.
    Birdie and Fiona exchanged a nervous glance. “She was feeling a bit peaked, so I gave her a tonic and sent her up to a guest room.”
    “Really? She seemed fine this afternoon. Maybe I should go check on her.”
    Cinnamon started for the front staircase.
    Birdie caught her arm and said, “I’m sure that isn’t necessary, dear. She’ll be down in a minute. You know those spa treatments rush all the toxins out of the body so quickly, it could cause anyone to feel woozy.” She raised an eyebrow at Fiona.
    Fiona picked up the cue and went to Cinnamon’s side. She put a hand to the girl’s forehead and said. “Oh my, you’re looking a bit pale yourself, dear.”
    Cinnamon touched her cheek. “I am?”
    “Certainly understandable. You are eating for two, after all,” Birdie said.
    Cinnamon nodded and said, “That’s true. I am feeling light-headed.” She glanced at the settee that Leo was near and said, “Maybe I should lie down too.”
    Fiona put her arm around Cinnamon and guided her to the doorway. “You need something to eat is all. How about some nice hot soup?”
    Birdie asked cautiously, “Fiona, are you sure that soup might not be too…spicy…for a woman in her condition?”
    Cinnamon said, “I like spicy food.”
    “Not to worry, Birdie. It’s perfectly seasoned,” Fiona said, and looked at her sister reassuringly.
    A flash of light beamed from upstairs then, and Birdie’s mirror jingled.
    Cinnamon said, “What was that?”
    “Motion light. Just had it installed,” Birdie said.
    “In your bedroom?” Cinnamon asked.
    Birdie said, “Can’t be too careful. Now be a good girl and go give your auntie the coat.”
    Cinnamon looked