Family Magic, Chloe Price [christmas read aloud .txt] 📗

kids found their way down the street. I had an idea.

“Let’s go trick-or-treating,” I said.

Alison made a face as she gestured to what was left of her clothes.

“Syd, seriously,” she said. “Who am I going as? A stripper?”

We both laughed at that.

“I’m wearing about six layers of stuff here,” I said, getting to my feet. “I’m sure we can share.”

A sparkle I had never seen before lit her eyes. She stood up, still smiling.

“Let’s do it.”

We ended up in the bushes in front of Suzanne’s house. The giggling commenced immediately. Two scarves made a nice skirt for her while a glittery pink shawl tied up into a nice shirt. Another scarf made a jaunty kerchief. In the end we looked more like a couple of sparkly bag ladies, but the hat was a perfect candy holder and it was good enough for us.

As we emerged, we dodged an ambulance roaring around the corner. It squealed to a halt at Suzanne’s driveway before pulling in. I could hear the distant sounds of puking and winced.

Alison frowned at the ambulance.

“What’s going on?”

I tried to be nonchalant while my stomach flipped over in sympathy. “Maybe someone was sick from the punch?”

I hurried her away, partly to keep her from seeing what I did and partly so I wouldn’t have to witness it myself. My imagination was bad enough.

Man, I wouldn’t want that cleaning bill.

Alison and I giggled and strutted our way through the whole neighborhood, ringing doorbells and squealing, “Trick-or-Treat!” like a couple of six-year-olds. I had never in my life had so much fun. I think from the expression on Alison’s face she hadn’t either.

By the time we hit the last house in full dark, I had my first real friend ever. I was glad things turned out the way they did in the end. Being with Alison, laughing and carrying on like a normal teenager, I managed to forget everything that was happening, had happened, and just be Syd.

As we reached the end of the driveway at the last house on the block, I peered into the overflowing hat at the huge pile of treats.

“Wow,” I said. “Meira’s going to love this.”

Alison rigged a hammock for her treats out of a scarf. It was also way too full and threatened to dump candy on the ground every time she took a step.

“Then here,” she offered me her haul. “Give her these too.”

I shook my head as she did her best to tie up the bundle and hand it to me.

“No way,” I said. “You earned those fair and square.”

She smiled at me, open and happy. “I don’t need them, Syd. I already had my treats.”

I took the scarf, knowing exactly what she meant.

I felt a brush of familiar power. Uncle Frank waited on the corner, leaning against a tree, grinning. I ran to him, relief pouring through me. I hugged him hard, ignoring the stray treats hitting the ground as I juggled the bag, the hat and Uncle Frank.

He hugged me too. When he leaned back, there was unspoken gratitude in his eyes.

“Uncle Frank!” I said. “You’re okay!”

He smiled, but his gaze went to Alison. It was only then I remembered we weren’t alone.

“Yeah,” he whispered, kissing me on the forehead, voice only loud enough for me to hear, “because of you. Thank you, Syd.”

“Any time,” I whispered back.

I turned to Alison and waved her forward. She joined us, a little shy.

“Alison,” I said, “This is Frank Hayle, my uncle. Uncle Frank, Alison Morgan.”

Uncle Frank’s eyebrows raised but he greeted Alison kindly. I noticed his color was normal, his body warm. He had already eaten, thank goodness, or she would probably have run from him, screaming.

“Nice to meet you, Alison,” he said.

“You too,” she dimpled.

“I thought you went to a party?” Uncle Frank looked back and forth between us. When his eyes hit mine I knew, knew, he knew what I did. My heart fell.

Crap.

“We decided to go trick or treating,” Alison said. “Syd’s idea.”

“Really,” Uncle Frank said. “Looks like a successful night.”

I lowered my gaze to my hands full of candy. Alison answered.

“You bet! Way fun, right, Syd?”

“Yeah, way,” I said.

“We should probably get you home, Syd,” Uncle Frank said. “Your mom will want to hear all about it.”

His eyes were unreadable.

“I guess,” I said. I turned to Alison. She looked at me funny. I winked at her. Her face softened.

“Did I get you in trouble?” She whispered as she came close enough to hug me goodbye.

“No,” I whispered back, “I managed to do that all by myself.”

She hugged me hard and let me go.

“I’ll get these things back to you,” she said.

“No hurry,” I answered.

“Thanks, Syd,” she said. “For being there for me. For suggesting this,” she laughed as she gestured to her costume. “For everything.”

Despite what I was about to face at home, knowing I not only helped Alison but made a friend, made everything I did so worth it. Chapter Twenty Four

I waved at Alison as she walked away before turning back to Uncle Frank. He held out his arm, formally. I shifted the candy haul enough so I could link up with him for the walk home.

That act alone eased some of my concern. If he was really mad at me, and he was never mad at me, he wouldn’t be so casual about it. I relaxed and sighed away some of my tension.

“Are you okay?” he asked.

“Yeah,” I said. “I’m glad you are, too. Did Mom tell you Sassy’s missing?”

Frank’s eyes scanned the street as we walked. I wondered if it was a vampire thing or if he was being cautious after everything that happened.

“I’m sorry, kiddo. But don’t count him out,” he said. “He’s been around a long time. You never know with Sassafras.”

“Yeah,” I said, feeling a little better. “For all we know, he could be shielding himself to stay safe, right?”

“Anything is possible,” Frank said. “Even the weirdest things. Like, say, a whole houseful of kids getting food poisoning all at the same time. That’s weird. Don’t you think that’s weird, Syd?”

I tried to swallow, my throat dry. “It could happen,” I said.

“Yup, you’re right,” he said. “It could.”

Uncle Frank started to snicker. His merriment grew, laughter getting louder and harder until we had to stop because he was clutching his sides and wiping tears from his face, barely able to breathe. I smiled a little at first, tentative. I started to laugh too as the tension of what I did ran out of me, leaving behind the absurd mental image of all those kids puking their guts out all over Suzanne’s beautiful house.

Uncle Frank and I laughed together. Finally, eyes sparkling from unshed tears and good humor, he grabbed me and hugged me hard enough I felt his power but wasn’t in any danger of being hurt.

“Oh, Syd,” he said, mirth still in his voice. “What are we going to do with you?”

I shrugged in his arms, face pressed into his chest. “I’m sorry, Uncle Frank,” I said.

He pulled back. “I know you didn’t do it on purpose. Did you?”

“No,” I said, shaking my head. “I just…”

“Just?” He turned me and we started walking again.

Now knowing I could safely confess everything, eternally grateful to whoever gave me my Uncle Frank as a confidant, I poured it all out to him, from the bullying, to the confrontation with Alison, right up to everything that happened at Suzanne’s. By the time I finished, Uncle Frank was angry, but I knew it wasn’t at me.

“Syd,” he said, “if you tell your mother I said this, I’ll deny it, but good for you.”

What? First rule, biggest rule, was never use your powers against normals unless your life was in danger. Was Uncle Frank really congratulating me?

“Don’t get me wrong,” he went on, “I don’t agree with what you did. But, damn it, Syd, I wouldn’t have been able put up with it. And I’m glad you stood up for your friend. Despite everything, she seems nice. I think you’re a good influence on her.”

“Perish the thought,” I grinned. “Me, a good influence on anybody.”

Uncle Frank laughed again. “Seriously, kiddo. But, you realize what happened was wrong, not because of what you did, but because you did it unconsciously.”

“I know,” I whispered. “It’s been getting stronger, lately. Stuff’s been leaking out all over the place.”

“You’re sixteen,” he said. “And only now coming into your power. They’ve let you off the hook before now because you haven’t really manifested anything. But, Syd, they’re not going to let you get away with it for much longer.”

“I get it, Uncle Frank,” I said. “I already told Mom I’d start taking lessons.”

“I think it’s past that. You need to start studying seriously. Right away. Before someone gets hurt. Including you.”

Concern creased his face.

“Grow up and be a big girl,” I said. “Suck it up and stop whining about it, right?”

“Yes,” he agreed. “As much as I love you and want you to have whatever life you want to live, I think we both know being normal is no longer an option for you.”

I wanted to cry. Why me? Just as quickly, though, I shook myself. This was the way things were going to be. Complaining and sulking about it all the time was only going to make things harder for me and everyone around me.

Get over yourself, Hayle.

My demon roared happily back.

We reached my driveway. Uncle Frank paused.

“We could keep this from your mother,” he said, not meeting my eyes. “I only found out by accident because I went looking for you. She would never have to know.”

I admired him standing there, so handsome and boyish, his black hair gleaming, face peaceful and still. I loved him so much at that moment I could have burst from it.

“Thanks, Uncle Frank,” I said, “but we both know what I have to do.”

A sweet smile broke over his face. “Good for you, kiddo,” he said.

He opened the kitchen door for me. I took a deep breath. He winked. I knew no matter what happened in the next few minutes, Uncle Frank had my back.

I entered the dragon’s den.

My mom stood at the table waiting for me. She saw Uncle Frank behind me. Whatever was in his face must have warned her because her expression passed from happiness to concern.

I bit the bullet and told her everything.

Mom took it better than I expected. In fact, after she paled and sank into a chair, she was quiet from beginning to end. I’m not sure from her expression if she was more worried there was alcohol at the party, how Alison was treated by the other girls or the fact I used my magic to punish them all for it. I finished by telling her about trick or treating. I held out the candy to show her where I was the last few hours.

She sat there in silence after I finished. I glanced at Uncle Frank who took a seat at the table across from her. His expression remained warm and steady. I took a lot of comfort from the fact Mom didn’t burst into a tirade and turned me into something unpleasant.

The silence stretched, heavy and oppressive, between us. Tears rose in her eyes. I reached out, feeling crappy. I