Read Online No More Black Magic by A. L. Kessler - Free Book Online Page A

like this. The coven tried to take me in after my parents died, but it was in their will that Levi got me instead.
    “Abby, you’ve got that look in your eyes again.” His voice was almost disapproving.
    I met his gaze. “What look?”
    “The one that tells me you’re dwelling on the past. Go grab a shower, I’ll leave breakfast on the counter for you if you’re not out by the time I leave.”
    I nodded. “If I miss you, tell the pack hi for me, and toss that name around.”
    “I will.” He seemed reluctant to leave me in the living room, but in the end he walked into the kitchen without looking back. I closed the binder that now had my notes in addition to my father’s and went to the guest bathroom to take a shower.
    I showered quickly. Once dressed I went out into the kitchen to find my plate on the counter and a note.
    Try not to die tonight -Simon
    I shook my head. I wasn’t going to die tonight, if anything the opposite was going to happen. I was going to get my life back tonight. It’d only been a couple nights since I was hexed, but I wanted to keep my magic and my life. I ate my eggs and toast and washed my plate. Right after I dried it a knock came on the front door.
    I went and answered it and saw Clarissa standing there. She’d dressed in a sweater and jeans, and her fading red hair was pulled away from her face. She didn’t look happy. I sighed. “I’m ready to go, I promise.”
    “I need to see the runes and the translation of that spell before we go anywhere.”
    Why did I feel like I was in trouble? “Okay.” I went and pulled out the binder. “Here.”
    She looked over it and cursed. “What on earth made you even touch this?”
    “I was in the chamber and figured the only way to get the message was to activate the spell.”
    She growled at me. “Girly, sometimes you are so stupid I wonder why the Goddess gave you the abilities you have.”
    That hurt. “I didn’t know it was going to try and kill me. I don’t know why they bothered with contacting me.”
    “There’s a long story behind that. Come on. I know what we have to do now. There’s going to be a happy naked pagan dance involved.”
    “I’m not getting naked!”
    She shook her head. “You’re going to have to. You need to be grounded and the best way to do that is be naked on the earth.”
    “Can’t I just walk barefooted? That normally helps.”
    “Not for this. This is deep, deep magic, Abby. You’re lucky your mom had that pentagram for you.” She sighed and hugged me. “No more activating spells like this, okay?”
    Like I wanted to do it again. “Promise.” I seemed to be promising a lot of things lately, but whatever helped to get this stupid hex off me.

CHAPTER FIVE
    T he sun had set nearly an hour ago and we were still driving. Clarissa pulled to the side of the road. The coven, like most supernatural groups, had land in the mountains. It was great for privacy, but not so great on gas. At some point I gave up figuring out exactly where we were, but the moment we stepped out of the car I could feel the magic.
    A lump formed in my throat. I hadn’t seen anyone in the coven in over a year, and last time it was because one of our members was involved with killing people using sex magic. I had been investigating for the state. It was a mess and it was not fun to explain to the priests and priestesses.
    “Nervous?” Clarissa asked and put an arm around me as she led me into the trees.
    I nodded. “It seems every time I meet with them, I piss them off.”
    “Yeah, you have a special talent for that, but tonight you have to let us help you. Or you’re going to end up being slowly drained of your magic.”
    I cringed. “Is that how this spell works?”
    “Kind of. Your mother’s pentagram helped slow it, but every time you use your magic or your abilities it takes part of your magic. You’re a witch, your life is attached to your magic.”
    I knew that much. “When I activated the hex, it tried to