Read Online Family Magic by Patti Larsen - Free Book Online Page A

a thrill of
residual power as I did. Mom was doing magic this close to sundown?
I offered her my hand, which she took with a look of gratitude.
    “What happened?” I asked. I couldn’t help but
notice now the doors of Frank and Sunny’s elaborate cupboards gaped
wide open. They must have woken up, their auras colliding with
Mom’s, causing the explosion.
    Uncle Frank and Sunny stood without appearing
to move. It always freaked me out, no matter how many times I saw
it.
    “Miriam lost track of the time, I guess,”
Frank winked at his sister. He appeared to be about twenty-one, his
light blue eyes dancing with mischief, despite being closer to
forty.
    “I’m so sorry,” Mom said. “I… I thought I had
time...” She looked at Sass who rubbed against her legs, his big
head butting her knees in sympathy.
    “It’s autumn,” Sunny dismissed it. “Sunset
comes earlier now.”
    “It was an accident, Miriam,” Frank said. “No
worries.”
    My mother shook her head.
    “Inexcusable,” she muttered. “I don’t know
where my head was. We could all have been badly hurt.”
    She wasn’t kidding.
Different magic sources did not mix. The vampires didn’t
necessarily do magic, they were magic, animated by it. The reaction was strongest when they
woke. Human power butting against the newly risen undead turned
into an explosive combination, which was why Mom had to be so
careful and made sure we were, too. Had things been a little
further along with her spell, all that would be left of our house,
and us for that matter, would be nothing more than a gaping
hole.
    Totally not like my mother.
    “We weren’t,” Frank rolled his eyes. “I know
you’re careful. Now get over here so I can suck your blood.”
    He was kidding, of course. Neither of them
drank human blood from the source. Still, the thought always made
me queasy.
    Mom crossed out of the pentagram to hug her
brother.
    “Are you all right?” He asked her almost too
quietly for me to hear.
    “I’m feeling a little weak,” she admitted,
pressing one trembling hand to her forehead. “I think I’ll go
upstairs and lie down.”
    “Feel free to use my cupboard,” Frank winked
at her.
    My mother laughed. “You will never get me in
that thing, Jonathan Francis Hayle.”
    I snickered at his full name. He made a face
at me.
    “Go rest,” he shooed her off.
    “Sydlynn,” Mom turned to me, “thank you for
being here.”
    “You almost blew up the house,” I said,
wincing inside. “I’m glad you’re okay,” I added.
    She smiled a little before leaving us.
    Sassafras stalked to my side and smacked my
leg with one heavy paw.
    “That was productive,” he snarled. “Honestly,
Frank, the girl is a walking disaster. Deal with it.”
    With a flick of his tail, the fat silver
Persian ran after my mother.
    I turned to Uncle Frank, expecting some kind
of sarcastic comment, only met by a worried expression.
    “Did something happen?” Uncle Frank
asked.
    “Like Mom trying to marry me off to some
witch without telling me then inviting them to join the coven?” I
told him. “You could say something happened.”
    Frank exchanged a glance with Sunny.
    “Tell me everything,” he said.
    I went to them on their side of the basement
and filled them in. Despite Uncle Frank’s usual flair for amusing
comments, he was silent, which made me nervous.
    “I don’t like it,” Frank told me. “I wish
Batsheva hadn’t been invited to rejoin. Miriam always thought they
were so close, best friends. But we could all see she was only
using your mom for her position and influence.”
    “You wouldn’t know it by the way Batsheva
tells it,” I said. “Chum city.”
    “You know your mother would never make you
marry this boy,” Sunny said, her flawless face concerned, clear
green eyes earnest. I loved Sunny. She was the nicest dead person I
knew, aside from Uncle Frank.
    “I know,” I told her. “Anyway, you guys
missed the fireworks, lucky you.”
    “Not exactly,”