Legacy by Calista Anastasia Page B

special.” She flipped her hair and left the store, her charm bracelet jingle-jangling in her wake. Amy and Becca flouncing after her.
    Mercy’s cheerless mood lifted immediately , like a gray cloud evaporating overhead . She turned to Felicity . “So this means I won? The dress is mine?”
    Felicity grinned and did a little dance around in a circle. “You won! You won!” Both hands flew to cover her mouth. “I know why you won. It’s because you look so much better in th at dress than Lindy did.” She giggle d delightedly, and then motioned Mercy back to the dressing room. “I found a perfect dress too . It makes me look taller and thinner and I love it. Come on. We’ve got to buy shoes too.”
    Mercy grimaced. Somehow she ha dn’t th ought that she would ever win any confrontation with Lindy. She returned to the dressing room and momentarily considered the peach and the teal dresses in turn. Checking the price tags revealed that the peach dress was significantly more expensive than the teal, so she was resigned to purchase the latter, but when she took the dresses to the counter, the sales lady informed her that the peach dress was on sale . Mercy 's insides took a little leap of joy. She gladly handed over the cash and had to resist the urge to hug the store bag, but her heart was literally dancing in her chest. She would look so dazzling for Greg. Definitely not sweet.
     
    ~*~
     
    After Mercy arrived back at home, she ran inside with her purchases. She had never owned anything so gorgeous. For the first time since Greg had asked her, she was looking forward to the dance. She twirled around three times, hugging her bags to her chest.
    The only downside was the fact that Gran was in Minah, wherever that was. Mercy had wanted to run home and show off her purchases. She wanted to try on her new dress and heels for Gran’s approval. Mercy hung up the dress and placed the shoebox in the bottom of her closet. At least she was prepared for one event in her life.
    She felt so buoyant she thought she should gear up for another encounter with the daunting Darynda . Pointing the remote at the television, she settled down to see if she could locate the WTC for the next lesson.
    “You again?” Darynda scowled at her. “You’re early.”
    “I thought I would see if you might give me another lesson.”
    Darynda let out a little laugh . “This is a switch. What made you decide to become the good little witch student all of a sudden ?”
    Mercy blinked her eyes and took a deep breath. “I talked to my grandmother. She made me perceive things in a different light.”
    “I see …” Darynda drawled. “ Lavinia is a very powerful witch. I understand why you would like to follow in her footsteps.” She flashed a wide grin. “ She’ s a legend.”
    Tears stung Mercy's eyes. "My grandmother...I miss her so much...Is there any way you can help me bring her back home?"
    Darynda shook her head. "No way! I'm not getting in the way of another witch's magick. I'm sure Lavinia will bring herself back...when she's ready. In the mean time, you're education has been entrusted to me, so let's make your grandmother proud of you."
    “I want her to be proud of me…She thinks I have. . .talent.” Mercy shrugged.
    “Okay, let’s see if you do. Th is lesson is on basic spells. Are you up for it? ”
    Mercy nodded. “I’m ready. I read the first two chapters in the handbook, but the rest of the pages were blank.”
    Darynda folded her arms across her chest. “Look again.”
    Mercy opened the handbook and found that chapter three , entitled Spell Casting 101 , had mysteriously appeared. “I don’t understand. I looked and these pages were blank.”
    “We don’t like for you to read ahead. When you’re ready for the next lesson, it will b e published in your handbook.” She winked. “Let’s get started, shall we?”
    Mercy sat up straighter. “What is a spell anyway? Like hocus pocus or abra cadabra?”
    Darynda favored