Page 337 of Castings & Curses

Shit.

The rave site.

No wonder it looked familiar. Maybe someone was there. A witch who could help her.

Kendall burst through the trees, and skidded to a stop. This wasn’t a rave. Not by a long shot.

A form stood in the center of a crudely drawn pentagram gouged into the earth. Behind her, two golden moon shaped scythes stood at attention on either side of what appeared to be an altar.

There, a woman stood, her back to Kendall. The suit she wore was expensive and her shoes had higher heels than anything she’d ever seen, let alone considered walking in.

“Hello?” Her voice cracked and she cringed. “Can you help me? There’s this crazy dog…”

A feminine face turned to face her, only the docile smile she was expecting was replaced by something other.

Something cold and reptilian.

What had she just walked into?

“You’re late.”

“Do I know you?”

Kendall’s brain sputtered and she tried to think. The spell must have gotten on her, because whatever she said wasn’t making sense.

“You’re selling, my dear. And I’m buying.”

“No…” she stuttered. “I mean, I was supposed to meet this guy out here for a spell.”

“And so, you have.”

“You?” Kendall rasped. “I don’t understand.” The sulfur smell was nearly overpowering now and she almost gagged.

A flash of silver emerged from the woman’s suit.

“Some things are not meant for you.”

Kendall swung around to run. The beast countered her movements, blocking her way. Its yellow eyes glowed in the darkness. She never felt the blade enter. Only the sensation of falling as the ground rose up to meet her, and the slow exsanguination of her blood as it left her body and filled the pentagram.

CHAPTER2

“No,Jessica. You hook it like this.” Gripping the scarlet sport weight yarn in her hand, Kate maneuvered the hook until the stitch came out just right. “Class, I want you to all take out your phones and look up how to do a single crochet stitch. It’s on my channel. But if you need a refresher, here goes.”

An abandoned crochet hook took off from the long brown folding table and found an extra skein of yarn.

“Up we go!”

The hook twirled in midair, showing the stitch in question multiple times until it had made its round to all the ladies.

Goddess, was this what her magic was reduced to these days? Kate sighed and pasted a smile on her face.

“How do we do that?” One of the older ladies grumbled.

“You Tube, Marge.”

“I’d rather be able to wiggle my nose and pull that off.”

“Sorry, hon. Nose wiggling will only get you so far. Trust me.” Kate winked and let the ladies get back to their projects.

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