Page 34 of Dance With Death

Marci nods curtly. “Meet you in the café for breakfast at eight? We can discuss tonight’s problems then.”

“Do you feel safe walking back through the woods?” Nita asks the humans. “One of us could accompany you?”

Helen smiles and touches her brooch. “I have this. Besides, we’re not far from the path or the academy. No issues walking here.”

“Agreed. Bodies aren’t found in the woods every night,” says Violet.

Isabella squeaks, and Marci touches her arm. “You’ll be fine. You have the talisman.”

“Yes, but look what happened to Holly…” Isabella whispers, trailing off as she looks at me.

“Holly didn’t have a talisman,” Marci replies.

“Mmm. Holly.” Violet tips her head at the fraudulent witches. “Another interesting subject. Now, Marci. Can we talk?”

“Is this what Holly didn’t want involvement with?” Violet demands the moment the humans are out of earshot. “Duping humans?”

Marci perches on the rock while Nita takes the black metal box and places it on her knee. Zoe stands behind the pair, the three girls in unity against us.

“I am creating talismans for the human girls who want to buy them,” Marci says.

“How much?” I ask.

She regards me for a moment. “£50.”

“£50?” I scoff. “So, duping and extortion.”

“These girls often spend that on a dress. More. The brooches hold greater value,” says Marci.

“And we have to split the money with the humans,” puts in Nita. “We get £10 each.”

Violet crouches down to study the runic circle, dipping her fingers into the fragments of glitter left on the ground. “The spell from this little show only causes the brooch to shine at night, and the so-called ritual uses human ingredients, not magic. The brooches are not talismans.”

“If the girls believe they are, that reassures them psychologically,” says Marci blithely. “Therefore, the brooches have the same effect.”

“Until they discover you conned them!” I protest.

“And how would that happen?” asks Nita. “Hasn’t your father put extra security around the academy, Violet? No more supernatural attacks to test their effectiveness.”

“Good grief. If the shifter on campus attacks a human, your trickery will be exposed.”

“Magical attacks,” says Zoe. “A shifter would be a physical assault. That wouldn’t count.”

I drag a hand through my hair. “Why not just add a protection charm? Why rip them off?”

“Do you know how much the ingredients cost for that type of protection spell?” Nita asks indignantly.

“Less than £50?” suggests Violet.

“Why so concerned? You don’t like people, Violet,” Zoe replies.

“Unless you know of an imminent attack?” asks Marci.

“No wonder supes have a bad reputation with humans,” I interrupt. “You’re risking a lot for a small financial gain.”

“We’ve read Holly’s past messages with the group. Is this what Holly refused to involve herself in?” presses Violet. “Were you concerned that, due to her loyalty to humans, she’d inform somebody, and therefore you needed to silence her?”

The woods fall quiet, and Marci stands, the broader girl meeting Violet face to face. “Are you accusing me of hurting Holly?” she asks, voice thick with disgust.

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