Page 33 of Potions & Prejudice
Elspeth lifted her chin. “Have you never played moon ball?”
I blinked. I’d never even heard of it.
Thea snapped the box closed, and everyone groaned. “We have to tell him the rules,” she said, then gave me an apologetic smile. “My daughters usually aren’t this competitive.” She eyed Elspeth. “Well, one of them is, but this game tends to bring out the competitiveness in all of us.”
“So what is the game?”
Thea tapped the box. “When you open the box, the moon ball will escape.”
“And we have to catch it?” I asked.
Elspeth snorted. “We have to run from it. Keep it from tagging us. It tags you, you’re out. Last person standing wins and gets bragging rights and the honorary trophy until next time we play.”
I crossed my arms. “Trophy?”
Auggie flounced over to a cabinet, then opened it and pulled out a decorative glittery wand with ribbon tied around it and a big fluffy ball on the top. It looked ridiculous. And damnit, I wanted it.
“So who’s the reigning champion?” I asked.
“Elspeth.” Auggie made a face. “Only because she shoved me right into the moon ball last month when we played.”
I shoved up my sleeves. “Are we allowed to run anywhere in the cottage?” My gaze flicked toward the wooden set of stairs leading up to the second floor. I’d never even stepped foot in this place because every time I tried, the damn thing attacked me.
“Not upstairs,” Adelaide said. “This room only.”
I nodded, having a hard time not watching Elspeth. She rolled up the long sleeves of her dress, then her hands fell to her sides, curling into fists.
Thea once again opened the tiny wooden box, a silver ball rising into the air with a half moon on it.
Everyone began moving at once as the ball zipped around the room trying to find its target. Auggie dove behind the little island in the kitchen while Prue squeezed herself under the rickety coffee table. Adelaide grabbed a book and held it up as the ball flew toward her.
“My book!” Prue yelled, emerging from under the coffee table and lunging for her older sister. The ball hit her arm, and she wrenched the book from Adelaide, who was smiling smugly.
She’d baited her sister.
The ball rose higher in the air, and I whipped around to see Thea brandishing the broom, ready to bat it away. If I stayed out of the chaos, maybe I could go undetected, keep the ball from finding me. My gaze landed on the kitchen table right when Elspeth dodged for it.
I moved fast, running and diving under the table, slamming into Elspeth.
We both rolled onto our stomachs, shoulders pressing into each other.
“Get your own hiding spot.” Elspeth shoved her shoulder into mine.
“I did,” I said. “I got here first. You’re the one encroaching on my space.”
“It’s my house,” she said loftily.
“Actually, it’s mine.” The words slipped out before I could stop them.
She stared at me, mouth agape. “What are you talking about?” she whispered.
“Get off of me!” Auggie yelled from somewhere in the cottage, shrieking.
I sighed. “I own the cottage. I bought it when my sister and I moved here, hoping to rent it out to someone. But...”
“But what?” she asked.
I hated admitting this to her. “It wouldn’t let me enter. Wouldn’t let me come anywhere near it. Anytime I tried, the damn thing attacked me.”
