Page 60 of Big Witch Energy

Caroline nodded, taking both of their hands. “You are really, really good friends.”

Their laughter fell short as Mina exploded out of the side door of Gray Fern, stomping down the steps and into the street.

“Well, that’s not good,” Caroline said, watching Mina storming toward the Main Square, toward the Rose. She was practically leaving a steam trail in her wake.

“Yeah, um, we should go,” Riley agreed, hopping up to lock the front door.

The three of them followed Mina as she half ran down the street. Caroline was able, to her surprise, to keep up with Riley and Alice, which she considered progress in her healing. But Mina was smaller and faster, not to mention younger. The three of them arrived at the bar just in time to see Mina tossing a rock at the front door.

“Um, Mina, I’m already pretty much capped out on my construction budget, so if we could not break the windows, that would be great,” Caroline told her, bending at the waist and panting.

“Come on out here!” Mina yelled, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Come out here and answer for that bullshit, you hateful old…”

“Mina!” Riley cried. “What is going on?”

The purple ghost slipped through the front door, grinning at Mina like she was a favorite treat. She didn’t speak, only glided closer to the teenager.

“Shut up,” Mina cried. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”

“What in the hell?” Riley huffed. “That’s the ghost you two have been dealing with here?”

Alice shuddered. “She’s terrifying. She reminds me of my grandmother.”

“Ouch,” Caroline muttered as Mina took a large box of kosher salt she’d carried from home and poured it as close to the ghost’s feet as she could get. But the ghost wouldn’t hold still, slipping away from Mina like a kid playing keep-away. Caroline could see the ghost laughing, but couldn’t hear any sound, which was disconcerting.

“Just hold still and shut up,” Mina cried.

“OK, I applaud the ingenuity, but that’s really not how we do things,” Riley said. “Let’s just slow down.”

Mina grunted and ripped the top of the salt box off, tossing the contents at the ghost, who just sort of sauntered back through the front door, as if Mina didn’t matter at all. Mina fell to her knees, crying.

“Oh, honey, no,” Riley cooed as they rushed to her. “You’re gonna get salt all embedded in your kneecaps.”

“I just want her to shut up,” Mina sobbed. “I don’t want her in my head, saying those awful things. It’s like I’m not safe, even at home. She keeps sending me these nightmares.”

“I thought you said she hadn’t been talking to you,” Caroline said, dropping to her own knees and hugging Mina tight. Riley was right. The salt crystals stung.

“I didn’t want you to worry. You seemed so freaked out when I said I could see her. And she’s tried to trick me,” Mina sniffed. “She tried to play mom, to make me see her as this poor, defenseless thing. But she’s not; she’s crafty. She’s been telling me all this stuff about my mom and you and how no one is gonna love me and she’s the only one who understands and it was some accident that I got magic. And soon enough, Riley’s gonna take it back. It should have gone to Josh because he’s the one who’s sensitive and talented, not me.”

“That’s not true,” Alice told her.

“She used to live here. She’s so angry. And she says you don’t really like me, that Wiltons don’t know how to love, not really, but that you’ll fool my dad and he’ll forget all about me and Josh and—You’re a lying old bitch!” Mina hollered, stomping toward the half-constructed entrance.

“Easy, killer,” Riley said, catching Mina around the waist and preventing her from getting too close to the door.

Mina swiped at her cheeks. “She showed me all this stuff…and she’s so mean.”

“OK, OK, but you don’t need to talk to her alone anymore. OK?” Caroline told her. “You’re basically all paid up, in terms of labor swap for medical expenses. So maybe you and Josh just shouldn’t spend any more time here at the bar.”

“No, no, don’t send me away!” Mina squeaked, clinging tighter to Caroline.

“I’m not sending you away,” Caroline promised, kissing her damp hair. “I will come to your house as much as you want. And you’re welcome at Shaddow House any time.”

She looked to Riley, who nodded. “Yep. Any time at all. If you’re scared, you come over. If you’re sad, you come over. If you’re suddenly feeling like you’re gonna storm through town in a blind rage and throw some rocks at a historical building…maybe call first.”

Mina snorted. “OK.”

They heard footsteps approaching. Josh and Ben were running up the hill, obviously winded.

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