Beheaded In Biology, Kennedy Harkins [children's books read aloud .TXT] 📗

text again, “Nope, just blood.”
“I’ll get the paper,” Nay said as he walked over to one of the supply cabinet. Kole grabbed a spare cup that was lying around, and poured some holy water in it from the canister Nana kept on the spare desk near the stairs.
Guess that means I’m on bodily fluid duty. Gran installed a mini fridge next the small couches a few years ago, and I knew for a fact she kept blood in there. Yuck.
We all met at the table where Kole recited the instructions for us. “It says that we pour the holy water of the paper, so it’s completely wet, and then put a small drop of blood on the middle of the page.
Nathan and I did as Kole instructed. “And then?” Nay asked.
Kole handed me the book, and I read aloud, “Indicate mihi fecísti vias. Ostende periculum, quod latet. Sic fiat.

” I recognized it as Latin, but that was about as far as I got. I knew a few words, from hanging out with Gran, but I was far from fluent.
We all stared at the paper for a few seconds and nothing happened. Nathan laughed and clapped Kole on the back, “Guess you’re on your own for that test tomorrow.” Nay and I glanced up at each other, sharing a goofy grin.
Kole didn’t move.
I shook his shoulder, “Earth to Kole. Reenter the atmosphere, Dipstick.”
“Guys, look.” He pointed a shaking finger at the piece of paper.

Cavete ab periculum
Bacchantis in tenebris
Venit ad vincere
Petit ut perderent

The single drop of blood had spread to form those words. They sat ominously on the paper, making me nervous. Especially because I knew the translation for the first line, and it didn’t seem to apply to Kole’s exam.
“Beware the danger.”

Chapter Three:

 

            “That’s...what it says?” Kole asked.

            “The first part, yeah.” I murmured. Spells and creepy Latin threats, is this really my life? Knew it was a bad idea to let Kole do magic. Rule numero uno, all that can go wrong in Albany, will.

            “And the rest of it?” Nathan’s voice was surprisingly even and calm. Surprising, because I know he feels the same way about magic as I do. It’s like Charmin Ultra Soft: less is more.

            “I’m not sure off the top of my head-”

            “But if you had to take a guess?” He pressed.

            “It’d go something like this: You have brought the wrath of the mighty Sun God down on yourselves. Prepare to die a fiery death...P.S. Luke, I am your father.”

            I got a snicker out of Kole, Nathan, however, was less than amused. “Not funny, Gabi.”

            “Alright, alright.” I hold my hands up in surrender, “Gran has some translation books in her personal library that could help us. I’ll take a look once I get home.” I copied down the Latin words on an old grocery list in my purse.

            “What should we do with the original?” Kole picked it up, giving the bloody part a wide margin.

            “I don’t know, but we definitely can’t let Gran see it. It’ll just worry her, she actually believes in this stuff-”

            “And you still don’t? Even after this?” Kole interrupted.

            “Not completely, no. This is just...a coincidence.” That last remark earned a snort from Kole.

            “So...” Kole trailed off suggestively.

            “I don’t think we should move it, and not just because it’s freaky as hell.” I paused, “Okay, mostly because it’s freaky, but that’s a pretty good reason in my book.”

            “We could hide it in a book,” Nathan started, and elaborated when he saw the looks of disbelief on our faces. “A book that your Grandmother never touches.” He strode over to the shelves and removed a light pink book. It was a recipe book given to Gran years ago by our least favorite neighbor, Mrs. Shell. She implied that Gran’s cooking was sub-par in the card attached to the present. Although Gran would never throw it out, because we suspect Mrs. Shell goes through our garbage in her spare time, it hadn’t left the shelf since it'd put there.

            “It could go unnoticed for centuries,” Kole mussed.

            “I don’t need centuries, just a few days to translate the words to English.”

            “Days? Can’t you just Google Translate it?” Kole asked.

            “No! It’s an ancient language, the translation has to be perfect or you could get a completely different meaning. Everything has to be exact when it comes to magic. Play it fast and loose, you’re liable to end up a different color or species than one you started as. Or so Gran says.”

 

_____

 

            A couple hours later, Nay dropped Kole off at his car on the opposite side of the parking lot than mine. He waved tentatively at us, before starting the engine and getting the hell out of dodge. Nay drove over to Gran’s red Bug, and put his SUV in park.

            It was past seven, and the school grounds were completely deserted as well as pitch black, save a few streetlights. The wind blew against the car, making an audible whoosh sound.

Say goodbye to your nicely combed hair, I thought grimly.

“Hell of a night, huh?” He broke the eerie silence. Nathan and I were a lot of things, quiet wasn’t one of them.   

“Yeah. You know it’s bad when Kole is creeped out. He actually likes this mystical crap.” I felt his intent gaze on my face. I turned to him, but found his expression unreadable. His golden eyes were practically neon in the little light. They stood in contrast to his dark hair that blended into the dark surroundings.

“I wish you and Kole would be more careful with this magic stuff. We shouldn’t play with something we don’t understand.”

“Chill, Nay. We’ll be fine.”

            We lapsed back into silence, which was every bit as uncomfortable as it was before. Maybe even more so, because now I recognized it as an extremely pissed off silence on Nathan’s part.

            Awkward.

            Suddenly feeling very tired, I sighed. “I’ll see you tomorrow, okay, Nay?” Nathan grabbed my hand, when I would’ve grabbed the door handle and proceeded to my car.

            His fingers were long and rough and the warmth radiating from them felt amazing. I hadn’t realized I was cold until that moment.

            “I’m sorry.”

            I squeezed his hand and flashed him a smile. “Already forgiven. Drive me to work tomorrow?” Nay and I both picked up similar shifts at the mini-mart next to Grandma’s shop, so we often carpooled after school.

            “Sure,” he breathed and released my now toasty fingers. Turning away to hide my unexpected disappointment at the loss of his touch, I opened to door and hurried to my car.

            Don’t be such a girl, Page, my annoying inner voice sneered at me.

Too late.

            Slamming my car door shut, I hastily turned on the car and, more importantly, the heater. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Nay’s car pull out of the parking lot. He lived the same distance away from the school as I did, just in the other direction; no doubt, he’d be home before I even got the car out of park.

            My phone buzzed. Clicking it on, I checked the messages; there was one unread from Nana.

            Please pick up some rosemary from the store on your way home. It’s urgent.

            Turning the key and putting the car in drive, I headed towards the mini-mart, grumbling all the way.

            Of course, she couldn’t wait till my shift tomorrow afternoon. How could anything involving rosemary be urgent anyway? It’s not like when you urgently need toilet paper, or water. It’s rosemary.

            The market was deserted, which was typical for any business in Albany at 9:30 at night. Most of our population is the old and the young. People grow up here, leave as soon as they can, and then come back to die.

            I waved to Sam, the owner, who told me to tell Grandma hi from him. Hiding my smirk, I promised I would and moved on to the herb section. The smell of dried plants enveloped my nostrils. Blinking against my watering eyes, I grabbed the last packet of rosemary and paid for it.

            “Can you tell me where the paper plates are?” A voice shook me out of my ravine. I glanced up to meet a pair of stunningly green eyes. His golden hair flipped carelessly into his eyes and he flashed me a perfect smile. Too gorgeous to be real.

            Answer, stupid. He asked you a question.

            Snapping out of it, my words were a little breathless. “Isle three, next to the napkins and plastic utensils.”

            “Thanks. I’m Zane.”

            “Gabi.”

            He reached out with his hand, “Nice to meet you, Gabi.” It took me a few second too long to realize he meant for me to shake it, and my face heated up in mortification. His skin was cool to the touch, and sent shivers down my spine. I couldn’t decide if that was a good or bad thing.

            Jesus, what’s wrong with you tonight? Say something intelligent.

            “D-do you go to school?” I stuttered out. Does he go to school? Seriously?

            Zane grinned, thankfully not put off by my clumsy conversation skills, “Yeah, I just enrolled at Albany High. Do you go there?”

            “‘Till they kick me out.” Finally, something that sounded like me.

            “Then I guess I’ll see you around.” He said.

            “Guess you will.”

            Still smiling over the prospect of seeing Zane at school tomorrow, I turned on my car and pulled onto the highway.

My mind was in a million places: the premonition, my new found feelings towards Nathan, Kara, Zane, rosemary...everywhere, but the road in front of me.

A flash of white, followed by the sickening crunch of my bumper connecting with a hard, fleshy object. I heard, rather than saw, it flung up my windshield and over the back of the car. I slammed on the brakes, bringing the old bug to a painfully quick stop, and almost causing my head to smash into the steering wheel.

“Oh...god.” I’d hit something, maybe someone. I sat there frozen in my terror for a split second, and then I was moving.

Flinging open the door, I practically flew from the car, pausing only to grab my emergency flashlight from the back seat.

Girl Scouts. Always prepared.

The light wavered where it touched the ground. It took me a few moments to realize my hands were shaking. Hell, my everything was shaking.

            I was just a few streets over from my house. The area was typically pretty suburban and populated, but this street was in the midst of construction and had no finished houses on it. Ergo, no one around to hear me scream.

            My flip-flops kicked up the dirt from construction, as I moved around to the front of the car. I swallowed my terror and tried to calm my heartbeat, which was so loud it was a wonder I didn’t wake up everyone in a half-a-mile radius.

            Whatever I had expected to see, a pale-skinned boy sitting a few feet in front of my bumper wasn’t it. His legs were crossed underneath him and his back was towards me. His medium length brown hair flowed