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

Frank said, brushing at some
imaginary dirt on his shirt. “After all, your mother almost blew up
the house, remember?”
    I made a face and laughed.
    “Honestly, Syd,” Frank said. “Your Mom told
me about the other night.”
    “Naturally.” I didn’t feel like having that
particular conversation, not even with my understanding uncle.
    “I can see you don’t want to talk about it,”
he said. “But you need to get your stuff figured out, kiddo.”
    “And why is that?” I challenged him.
    “Because,” he said, “if you really intend to
leave this life forever, it’s probably a good idea to figure out
why you want to leave in the first place so you have a good
argument for them.”
    “I just do!” I cried. “Isn’t that
enough?”
    Uncle Frank laughed and hugged me. He smelled
of wood polish and fabric softener. I felt Sunny’s arms slip around
me from behind, adding her comfort and the scent of roses. As much
as I loved them both, I was eager to let go. The silk of Sunny’s
blouse did nothing to shield me from her and Uncle Frank’s t-shirt
wasn’t much better. Trouble was, neither of them had eaten
anything. Their cold bodies made me shiver.
    “Just because isn’t good enough,” Uncle Frank
said. “Trust me. From one rebel to another.”
    I knew he attracted a lot of trouble with the
family when he came home a vampire with an undead girlfriend in
tow. And I knew he was right.
    “I don’t know why,” I admitted in a whisper
to his white t-shirt.
    “Then figure it out,” he answered, “or make
something up. Because otherwise, they’ll never let you go.”
    Uncle Frank and his brutal honesty. I
couldn’t be mad at him for it.
    “I’ll see what I can do,” I said. “Now if you
two don’t mind, it’s a little chilly being the center of a vampire
sandwich.”
    Sunny laughed in my ear and let me go. Uncle
Frank took a little longer.
    “I’m here for you, anytime,” he
whispered.
    “I know,” I whispered back. “Thanks.”
    Uncle Frank stretched. “I love a happy
ending,” he winked at me. He looked over at Sunny and grinned.
“Hungry?”
    “Starving,” she said back.
    Totally creepy.
    Sunny kissed my cheek in passing as they spun
into mist and disappeared.
    I was wrong. That was totally
creepy.
     
    ***
     

Chapter Nine
     
    I lay in bed for a long time, struggling with
my thoughts, shying away from taking the real steps I needed to
figure out what my problem was. For some reason I probably should
have been aware of, I didn’t want to know. I wanted out! Why
couldn’t that be enough?
    As I sprawled there torturing myself, I heard
my door creak and the soft pad of little feet. I watched Meira as
she picked her way on tiptoe across my floor and to the end of my
bed. She twisted a handful of quilt in her tiny fingers and peered
up at me through her silky black bangs, eyes wide and almost
completely black in the darkness.
    “Are you awake?” She whispered.
    “Nope,” I answered. “Come back later.”
    Meira giggled. She had the cutest giggle,
clean and fresh and genuine. She always made me feel way younger
than I was.
    I giggled back.
    Meira made her way further up the bed,
twirling her slender body, her pure white nightgown flaring out at
her ankles as she half-danced, half-tiptoed to me. She leaned over
the bed and touched my forehead with one little finger, face
solemn, eyes glowing in the light from the street outside.
    “You are blessed ,” she
whispered.
    I choked on a snort and started writhing on
the bed in mock agony.
    “No, I can’t take it! Please, don’t make me
be like you!”
    She crossed her little arms over her chest
and smirked at me.
    “I’m not that good,” she said.
    I grabbed her and dragged her onto the bed.
She squealed, covering her mouth with both hands, tears brimming
with mirth. I tickled her. She shook her head, lips clenched
together, snorting laughter escaping.
    “Nasty little ruggers,” I continued the
torture, “say it!”
    “No!”