yourself lately.”
“Just school and homework,” I lied, not daring to bring up the Spectral topic. I mean, if they wanted me to know, they’d have told me right? I reasoned. I ate a forkful of lasagna and realized how hungry I was. I downed some more.
Grandma smiled. “We’re planning a big birthday party for you this year—”
I almost choked and started coughing. Grandma handed me the glass of water.
“Oh yeah?” I managed.
“Sure. Turning seventeen is a special birthday.”
You’re not kidding.
“I’m sure you’re tired of all the moving and everything but I just want you to know that things should settle down soon.”
“Did the police catch the bad guys or something?” I asked, going with the common theory that we were trying to evade criminals.
“On your birthday, you’ll move one more time,” she said, ignoring my question. “But this time we’ll all move together.”
My stomach twisted. “ Again , Grandma?” I dropped my head in my hands. I knew it was inevitable but still, even I didn’t expect to move again so soon.
“We’re going to go back to live with our family.” She looked away out the window as if pondering her words, then back at me again. “We have a very big extended family, you know. And they’re looking forward to meeting you.”
My head began pounding and the blood drained from my face. If what I read in the book was true, once I’d been through my quickening, becoming all Spectral and all, their own powers would become strengthened. I was sure they looked forward to meeting me. I couldn’t say I felt the same. Becoming a witch and belonging to a coven wasn’t exactly my idea of normal.
Grandma squeezed her hand around my shoulder. “Then you won’t have to worry anymore.”
The tension began peeling away from my body. The longer she held her hand on me, the more relaxed I became, until it was as though I’d taken too much medicine like Gravol, or one of those red concoctions my mother had given me a couple times.
I remembered all the times Grandma was around and how whenever she was near me, and touched me, my worries seem to wash away. Maybe since Grandma Raine was a part of my family, then she was a witch too. One with an endowment. The ability to calm , I mused. My eyes grew heavy until I couldn’t think anymore and Grandma lifted her hand off me and helped me up from the desk chair.
I flopped into bed and tugged the comforter around me, grateful for my comatose state, and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Until I heard a knock at my window.
***
Startled, I bolted upright. I checked the clock and it read 3:08 a.m. Then it came again—another rap at the window. Being on the second floor, I didn’t understand how that was possible. A branch? I jumped up and walked to the window, rubbing my eyes. Roman stood in front of the window, a pensive look on his face.
My breath caught. I opened my mouth to scream but instead clasped my hand over it. I didn’t want my family to come charging in. I edged near the window and Roman waved.
I unlocked the window and turned the lever, opening it just an inch. Willow hopped on the ledge and meowed. I shooed her away.
“What’re you doing?” I asked in a whisper. “Can you fly too?”
Roman pointed to the ladder he stood on, which I’d not noticed until then. “Flying’s not my strong suit. A ladder, ya know? I’m not a levitator.”
“Well, what are you exactly—besides stalkerazzi, that is. And what do you want?” I threw my hands up. I wasn’t sure what to make of the whole situation that had gone down earlier and now here he was knocking at my window at three in the morning.
“Can I come in?”
I wagged my head in disbelief. “Seriously?”
Roman’s expression remained fixed, letting me know he was totally serious.
“I dunno. No. What if someone hears and comes to check on me.”
“I think I can handle that situation.” He smirked.
“Just a little freezing action?” I chided,
“Just school and homework,” I lied, not daring to bring up the Spectral topic. I mean, if they wanted me to know, they’d have told me right? I reasoned. I ate a forkful of lasagna and realized how hungry I was. I downed some more.
Grandma smiled. “We’re planning a big birthday party for you this year—”
I almost choked and started coughing. Grandma handed me the glass of water.
“Oh yeah?” I managed.
“Sure. Turning seventeen is a special birthday.”
You’re not kidding.
“I’m sure you’re tired of all the moving and everything but I just want you to know that things should settle down soon.”
“Did the police catch the bad guys or something?” I asked, going with the common theory that we were trying to evade criminals.
“On your birthday, you’ll move one more time,” she said, ignoring my question. “But this time we’ll all move together.”
My stomach twisted. “ Again , Grandma?” I dropped my head in my hands. I knew it was inevitable but still, even I didn’t expect to move again so soon.
“We’re going to go back to live with our family.” She looked away out the window as if pondering her words, then back at me again. “We have a very big extended family, you know. And they’re looking forward to meeting you.”
My head began pounding and the blood drained from my face. If what I read in the book was true, once I’d been through my quickening, becoming all Spectral and all, their own powers would become strengthened. I was sure they looked forward to meeting me. I couldn’t say I felt the same. Becoming a witch and belonging to a coven wasn’t exactly my idea of normal.
Grandma squeezed her hand around my shoulder. “Then you won’t have to worry anymore.”
The tension began peeling away from my body. The longer she held her hand on me, the more relaxed I became, until it was as though I’d taken too much medicine like Gravol, or one of those red concoctions my mother had given me a couple times.
I remembered all the times Grandma was around and how whenever she was near me, and touched me, my worries seem to wash away. Maybe since Grandma Raine was a part of my family, then she was a witch too. One with an endowment. The ability to calm , I mused. My eyes grew heavy until I couldn’t think anymore and Grandma lifted her hand off me and helped me up from the desk chair.
I flopped into bed and tugged the comforter around me, grateful for my comatose state, and fell into a dreamless sleep.
Until I heard a knock at my window.
***
Startled, I bolted upright. I checked the clock and it read 3:08 a.m. Then it came again—another rap at the window. Being on the second floor, I didn’t understand how that was possible. A branch? I jumped up and walked to the window, rubbing my eyes. Roman stood in front of the window, a pensive look on his face.
My breath caught. I opened my mouth to scream but instead clasped my hand over it. I didn’t want my family to come charging in. I edged near the window and Roman waved.
I unlocked the window and turned the lever, opening it just an inch. Willow hopped on the ledge and meowed. I shooed her away.
“What’re you doing?” I asked in a whisper. “Can you fly too?”
Roman pointed to the ladder he stood on, which I’d not noticed until then. “Flying’s not my strong suit. A ladder, ya know? I’m not a levitator.”
“Well, what are you exactly—besides stalkerazzi, that is. And what do you want?” I threw my hands up. I wasn’t sure what to make of the whole situation that had gone down earlier and now here he was knocking at my window at three in the morning.
“Can I come in?”
I wagged my head in disbelief. “Seriously?”
Roman’s expression remained fixed, letting me know he was totally serious.
“I dunno. No. What if someone hears and comes to check on me.”
“I think I can handle that situation.” He smirked.
“Just a little freezing action?” I chided,
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