Mathilda, SuperWitch (Mathilda's Book of Shadows #1)(41)

* * * * *

Later:

Okay – backtracking – away from Still Unbelievable Orgasmic Ash Encounter to what happened before – yesterday, which might be slightly more important than Ash-induced orgasm to the history of the world (or, at the very least, to my entry in the History of Great Wytch Families).

* * * * *

Here we go:

It has begun.

I don’t mean to be so dramatic. That sounds like the beginning of an apocalypse movie.

(Booming voice)

IT… HAS… BEGUN!

But, what can I say?

It has.

* * * * *

It was one of those spring days when it was warm enough that you could open the windows.

I loved the first day of the year where you could open the windows and let the stale, old dusty air out and let in the crisp spring breeze which made everything feel fresh.

We had a new syrup in and thus snickerdoodle lattes were the special.

We were playing the Scissor Sisters, loudly, and everyone was filthy and gorgeous.

We were jigging from table to table.

We were gliding from fridge to burping, hissing, Big Red – the espresso machine.

Our h*ps swayed.

Our lips hummed.

Ash was in London – no word, no sign, no idea when he’d be back.

His edict was still being enforced by the Triumvirate (as Su called Mavis, Gran and Mom) and I was allowed only at the house and the café and therefore, Josie and Rory were also limited to these places – though Rory was able to go to school (alas).

Life was not happy at Camp Gables.

But on a day like that day, when the sun was shining bright on the channel, the tulips were popping out everywhere and the breeze was easy – nothing mattered.

We were busy at the café, foreshadowing, I hoped, for the season to come. I’d been around a bit of the summer last year and our sleepy little seafront had a goodly amount of foot traffic when the weather improved. With as many employees as we had, we needed the business.

It was Lucy, Josie, Antonia and me and we were a good team. I loved to work with Lucy and Josie especially – the coven was great but Lucy and Josie were my age, my girls and we understood each other.

I’d broken out the flip-flops. I loved the feel of them slap, slap, slapping against the soles of my feet.

My toenails were varnished a pearly mint green.

I had on a little gypsy girl gauzy top and Levi’s that I bought at a vintage clothing store that someone (bless their hearts) had worn in well and washed over and over again. They fit in all the good places and were tight in all the better places and, icing on the cake, had a ragged knee.

Sunshine and summer weather meant a whole new wardrobe and the idea that my skin may, someday soon, lose its pasty winter-white pallor made me want to do cartwheels.

* * * * *

Then:

Right down my spine the premonition tickled like a chill.

I stopped to find it… let it in my head…

When the phone rang.

* * * * *

Rory.

* * * * *

Josie answered the phone and I knew who was on the other end.

Shit.

Josie didn’t know but I did. One look at Antonia told me she did too.

“It’s the school, they’ve… lost Rory,” Josie said, her voice shocked and panicked.

“Let me call Mavis.” That was Antonia.

“No time,” I said and there wasn’t and Antonia knew it.

My wand was tucked at the small of my back in the waistband of my jeans. I knew this but I checked anyway to make sure it was there.

“Take care of things,” I ordered Lucy and she nodded. “Come on.” I grabbed Josie and we headed out.

I didn’t think, I just went.

No time.

And no Purple People Eater either.

Shit.

Josie started to blather. “How do you ‘lose’ a student? Dammit. We’ve got to go back to The Gables, see if he went home. Maybe he isn’t feeling well… maybe he got into another fight…”

I wasn’t listening, I was focusing…

On a metallic blue BMW Roadster parked by the seafront.

Aidan was somewhere out there watching me.

I ran toward the Roadster, pulling my wand out and muttering under my breath. The day before the Junior Poon Ruining Road Chase, Su had been experimenting with the Lush Jag and, one incarcerated evening when we were stuck at The Gables, she’d drunkenly explained the spell she’d perfected.

Grand theft auto, witch-style:

Steel, oil, gas, fumes – speed for power, speed to run,

By the force of the moon, the heat of the sun,

Grant me the use of this vehicle – my possession has begun.

Let the power of this spell – in no way reverse,

Or cast upon Josie or me, any curse.

As always and ever, by the strength of my tree

As I will, so mote it be

The lights flashed on the Roadster and I knew we were in.

Blessed be, that Su and her criminal mind.

“Go around to the other side.” I motioned to Josie as I headed to the driver’s side.

“Whose car is this?” she asked.

“Just get in,” I murmured.

More muttering and wand action… I was concentrating.

I didn’t look up, didn’t want to see Aidan racing toward us to stop me from stealing his car, didn’t want to lose track of what I was doing.