crowd was
so big that it was hard to hear what she was saying from the other
side. “We have seen a lot of changes, going from being a community
of Good-Siders to a community of all spiritualists, including the
Dark-Siders.” She grabbed Eloise’s hand. The two friends smiled at
one another. Their affection was apparent.
“ It’s all because of our
very own June Heal, who was born into this community.” She gestured
toward me. I shuffled my foot in the grass, hoping they couldn’t
see my red face in the dark night that had fallen upon us. “It’s
time. Time to pass the torch to the younger generation. June Heal
is going to be our new council leader who will take us into the
future.”
A round of applause and shouts sounded
out into the night sky. The fireflies fluttered about, creating a
flurry as they shot into the sky forming a thumbs-up.
“ Are you kidding me?”
Petunia Shrubwood shrilled as Gerald put an arm around her to
console her.
She shrugged away so fast, Gerald’s
arm flung up into the air.
“ Um…Petunia!” I yelled.
“Just a few months ago you said I’d make a great Village
President!” My mouth dropped open and slammed shut. I turned to
Eloise. “I think she’s mad.”
Eloise curled an arm around my
shoulder, as the entire community watched Petunia stomp down the
hill toward town.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a
flash. Looking in the direction of the woods, a big figure stood
with his arms crossed. The shadow of the feather headdress lay on
the grass as the moon created a spotlight.
Like a deer, Kenny gracefully leapt
and jumped down the hill toward A Charming Cure.
“ I’ve got to go!” I held a
hand up, knowing I had to catch him to give him Belur. It was my
only opportunity to give him back until the next time he blew into
town. My little whisper in the wind must’ve summoned him and he
came!
“ No! Don’t follow them!”
Bella cried out, almost sounding in pain.
I did it anyway.
The fog was starting to roll in for
the night. It was hard seeing in front of me as I ran after him.
The only light was the small streetlights that dotted Main Street.
The only sound was the stampeding of the crowd running after
me.
“ You can stop following
me.” I stopped walking and turned around to face the villagers.
“I’ll be back before the ceremony.”
“ But you are the village
leader. We thought you were taking us somewhere.” Constance Karima
shouted from the group.
“ You are supposed to
dismiss us, like Izzy does.” Chandra Shango held her perfectly
manicured hands in the air, reminding me I needed to go to
Chandra’s shop, A Cleansing Spirit Spa, to get my nails
done.
“ Dismissed!” I threw my
hands in the air. Not only did I have to figure out the level
twenty-eight potion, now I had to learn and abide by all the rules
of Whispering Falls. Little did they know that I was good, no,
great at altering them to fit my own spiritual needs.
I was going to have to rethink this
whole village leader thing.
“ Help!” Someone screamed
from the direction of A Charming Cure. “Murder!”
Murder?
I darted off in the direction of the
blood-curdling scream with Mr. Prince Charming on my
heels.
Hiss, hiss. He took off in front of me, leading the way with
the crowd not too far behind.
“ What is with all this
fog?” I swept my hands in front of me. The fog parted. We saw
Adeline standing at the steps of A Charming Cure along with Petunia
and Gerald. A pair of feet were sticking out from the opened front
door of the shop… Kenny’s feet.
“ Sister, it’s our lucky
day,” Patience gasped, “it looks like we got us another
one.”
Chapter Nine
“ Let’s go over this one
more time.” Oscar stood over a distraught Petunia, who was sitting
on the stool next to the counter. I wasn’t sure if she was crying
from finding Kenny in the doorway of my shop, or from the pain of
the crow’s claws that was perched on her shoulder. “You got upset
at the smudging
Jane Hunt
Jonathan Maberry
K. Sterling
Tara Fox Hall
James Kakalios
Jacquie Rogers
Rebecca Hamilton, Conner Kressley
Elizabeth Moynihan
Shiloh Walker
Mary Balogh