Read Online Super Freak by Vanessa Barger - Free Book Online Page B

fingers together. How much should I tell her? I looked her straight in the eye, rolling the glass of tea between my palms. My lie, however, is not what emerged.
    “We followed you home after we went to the library. We saw you leave and figured you had the reference books we needed.” I clapped my hands over my mouth, but my lips seemed to have a life of their own. Beside me, Diana hissed my name, her eyes like saucers. “But you weren’t here. We left and went to Leo’s house. We saw you leaving, and you had a book that looked like one of the ones we wanted. Then we went home.”
    I bit my lip, the urge to speak fading. Unbelievable. My Paranormal Ethics teacher had just fed me a glass of tea with a Truth spell built in. Too bad we’d already finished the “magic for personal gain” unit in her class. I’d have a lot to say about it now.
    Diana must have had the same thought. Her brows furrowed and she dropped her glass of tea back on the tray like it would bite her. “I thought you were supposed to teach us ethics.”
    Ms. Widdershins crossed her arms. “Do as I say, not as I do. Besides, I remember telling you to leave well enough alone. The curse is a rumor. Nothing more.”
    I raised an eyebrow and dropped my hands to my lap. The spell passed. “If it’s nothing, then why did this happen? Why does everyone get so irritated when we say something?”
    Diana shifted next to me, adding, “We aren’t trying to stir up trouble. We’re just trying to find out what’s going on. If we’d gone to the library and gone home empty-handed, we’d have lost interest. But this proves that something is going on. Don’t you see?”
    Ms. Widdershins hovered on the edge of being convinced. Her arms fell away, one hand playing with the monocle hanging from the chain around her neck. “You children shouldn’t play with curses. It’s dangerous. The last time someone tried to solve the riddle of the Harridan House curse, they disappeared.”
    Her words didn’t surprise me. But they did send a jolt of cold fear down my spine.
    “I shouldn’t even tell you that. Stay away from anything to do with it. You have no idea what might happen. The curse is harmless as long as you leave it alone.”
    A lie. It was obvious in the hunch of her shoulders and the way her eyes flicked around the yard, as if she were waiting for someone to come out and contradict her. Diana and I exchanged a glance. Ms. Widdershins’ mood swings confused me. She did, at least, seem concerned for our safety. But there was fear there too. And not for us. Someone had scared her, and since she still seemed to look around for them, I figured it was recent.
    “Ms. Widdershins–”
    “Don’t go looking for trouble, Caroline. Sometimes when you find it, it’s more than you expected.”
    Beside me Diana gasped a little. The threat echoed in the air around us like a living thing. Ms. Widdershins pretended not to notice.
    “Sure thing. We’ve had enough of this, haven’t we guys?” Leo piped in, shooting me a look and bumping Diana’s elbow.
    We nodded and Leo added, “My parents wanted to kill me anyway when they heard about this. I’m just relieved you know the truth and are going to tell them.” He paused. “You are going to tell them, aren’t you?”
    Ms. Widdershins huffed. “I already called. They were all quite thrilled to receive the news.”
    Leo’s entire body seemed to melt a little with relief. I didn’t know what his punishment might have entailed, but at least now he was safe.
    “Thanks, Ms. Widdershins,” Diana said.
    I wasn’t sure she meant it, but at least she sounded sincere. Ms. Widdershins stood there, watching us for a moment. “I’ll call your parents and tell them to pick you up. I think you’ve done enough work for today.”
    She turned to face the house, muttered a few words under her breath and clapped her hands. A cloud of purple, sparkling magic enveloped the house then dissipated. The paint cans were now empty,