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Authors: Mindee Arnett
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She grabbed me by the shoulders. “Finally. We’ve no time to lose. We need to get you packed.”
I blinked at her, a bit alarmed at her panicked state. My mom was usually the definition of calm and cool, like a female James Bond. “What for?”
“You and I are running away. Now .”
5
Basic Training
“Say what?”
“We’re running away,” Moira repeated.
“Come again?”
She rolled her eyes. “Honestly, you’d think I never taught you English. What part of running away don’t you understand? You, me, Mexico.” She nodded to herself, as if this plan was news to her, too. “Yes, that’s it. We’ll wait it out with sun and cocktails until this thing with Rosemary is over.”
I glared at her, furious at her audacity in thinking she could swoop into my life whenever she felt like it and start dictating. She gave up that parental right when she abandoned me and Dad a long time ago. Sure, she’d been coming around more often now that I’d inherited my Nightmare powers, but fair-weather mothering didn’t count. And we weren’t “girlfriends” or BFFs, either. Cocktails indeed .
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said. “Besides, I’m not old enough to drink.”
Moira put her hands on her hips, assuming her “I’m the boss” stance. “You are coming with me. You’re not getting involved in this murder business. It’s too dangerous, and you’re too young.”
My mom, a study in contradictions.
I decided it was time for a subject change. “Where’s Bethany?”
Mom scowled. “Don’t worry about it. I took care of her.”
“Geez, Mom, what did you do now?” I looked around for cops again.
“She’ll be fine. You don’t want to learn from her anyway. She’s a horrible woman.”
“But where is she?”
“Taking a little nap. Long enough for you and me to get out of here.”
I groaned, certain she had used a sleeping spell. I kept hoping Mom would give up her habit of breaking The Will, but apparently, it was never going to happen. Just how she got away with it was a mystery, although most of the rumors suggested she was friendly with a lot of high-ranking Will-Workers, those weirdo magickind whose job it was to keep The Will running smoothly, and who made sure the spell knew who it needed to keep in check by maintaining the registry.
“I can’t believe you! You’re going to get us both in trouble,” I said.
“Don’t be ridiculous. We’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Come on. Let’s go.” She reached for my arm.
I pulled away. “No.”
Moira frowned, a look of momentary surprise in her pale, almost white eyes. She wasn’t used to people defying her. Shame. If she’d stuck around more often, I’d have given her loads of practice.
“You’ve got to come away with me, Destiny.”
“Not until you tell me why.”
She blanched. “I can’t tell you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not five anymore, Mom. You can’t just make demands and expect me to obey without question.”
“Fine. Because it’s dangerous, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Well, there was a satisfying response. Common sense told me I should be afraid of anything that provoked this much anxiety in my mother, but as usual I felt the opposite. My curiosity skyrocketed, and for the first time, I envisioned myself solving the mystery, saving the day. Being the hero.
“Well,” I said, “that’s too bad, because I’m not running away with you, and I am going to do what the senate wants and be the best dream-seer ever .”
“You are so stubborn.” Moira shook her head.
Encouraged by her frustration, I added, “You forgot rebellious and a smart aleck.”
She glowered at me for a second, then grinned. “I know. I’d expect nothing less from my daughter.”
Crap. I hated when she turned the tables on a perfectly good argument. Why did she have to get all proud about my
She grabbed me by the shoulders. “Finally. We’ve no time to lose. We need to get you packed.”
I blinked at her, a bit alarmed at her panicked state. My mom was usually the definition of calm and cool, like a female James Bond. “What for?”
“You and I are running away. Now .”
5
Basic Training
“Say what?”
“We’re running away,” Moira repeated.
“Come again?”
She rolled her eyes. “Honestly, you’d think I never taught you English. What part of running away don’t you understand? You, me, Mexico.” She nodded to herself, as if this plan was news to her, too. “Yes, that’s it. We’ll wait it out with sun and cocktails until this thing with Rosemary is over.”
I glared at her, furious at her audacity in thinking she could swoop into my life whenever she felt like it and start dictating. She gave up that parental right when she abandoned me and Dad a long time ago. Sure, she’d been coming around more often now that I’d inherited my Nightmare powers, but fair-weather mothering didn’t count. And we weren’t “girlfriends” or BFFs, either. Cocktails indeed .
“I’m not going anywhere,” I said. “Besides, I’m not old enough to drink.”
Moira put her hands on her hips, assuming her “I’m the boss” stance. “You are coming with me. You’re not getting involved in this murder business. It’s too dangerous, and you’re too young.”
My mom, a study in contradictions.
I decided it was time for a subject change. “Where’s Bethany?”
Mom scowled. “Don’t worry about it. I took care of her.”
“Geez, Mom, what did you do now?” I looked around for cops again.
“She’ll be fine. You don’t want to learn from her anyway. She’s a horrible woman.”
“But where is she?”
“Taking a little nap. Long enough for you and me to get out of here.”
I groaned, certain she had used a sleeping spell. I kept hoping Mom would give up her habit of breaking The Will, but apparently, it was never going to happen. Just how she got away with it was a mystery, although most of the rumors suggested she was friendly with a lot of high-ranking Will-Workers, those weirdo magickind whose job it was to keep The Will running smoothly, and who made sure the spell knew who it needed to keep in check by maintaining the registry.
“I can’t believe you! You’re going to get us both in trouble,” I said.
“Don’t be ridiculous. We’ll be fine.”
“Yeah, sure.”
“Come on. Let’s go.” She reached for my arm.
I pulled away. “No.”
Moira frowned, a look of momentary surprise in her pale, almost white eyes. She wasn’t used to people defying her. Shame. If she’d stuck around more often, I’d have given her loads of practice.
“You’ve got to come away with me, Destiny.”
“Not until you tell me why.”
She blanched. “I can’t tell you.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m not five anymore, Mom. You can’t just make demands and expect me to obey without question.”
“Fine. Because it’s dangerous, and I don’t want you to get hurt.”
Well, there was a satisfying response. Common sense told me I should be afraid of anything that provoked this much anxiety in my mother, but as usual I felt the opposite. My curiosity skyrocketed, and for the first time, I envisioned myself solving the mystery, saving the day. Being the hero.
“Well,” I said, “that’s too bad, because I’m not running away with you, and I am going to do what the senate wants and be the best dream-seer ever .”
“You are so stubborn.” Moira shook her head.
Encouraged by her frustration, I added, “You forgot rebellious and a smart aleck.”
She glowered at me for a second, then grinned. “I know. I’d expect nothing less from my daughter.”
Crap. I hated when she turned the tables on a perfectly good argument. Why did she have to get all proud about my
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