Evelina and the Reef Hag Part 3

"Udora! Stop frightening the child. For goodness sake!" Mrs. Segal turned to Evelina, but kept moving at a fast clip. "Not to worry. They never come out in daylight."

"Except, when they take another form." Udora's voice echoed as dark as a dirge. "When they're looking for someone."

"That hardly ever happens." Mrs. Segal scolded, breaking into a half run. "Not to worry. They usually come out at night, not by day. And then, by all means, stay away. It's not good. Come quickly. Time to go in."

With all the talk of Reef Hags, Evelina was relieved to finally reach the safety of the little pink beach house.

Udora had the place in lock down with a few flicks of her finger.

Curtains swished, locks clicked, and a big wooden bar fell into place with a thump against the door.

But, as Evelina slid betwixt the cool white sheets in her cozy azure bedroom in the loft, she s.h.i.+vered, remembering how the Reef Hag knew her name-how she knew about Frankie and her parents-how she knew everything about her.

The market at the pier bustled in the wild salty wind. Dozens of stalls lined the sandy park: bakers and farmers, selling buns and strawberries; jewelry makers and painters hawking their works; and exotic artisans of all description.

Evelina scanned the crowd for the Reef Hag, determined not to be ambushed again.

She helped the aunties set up their table between a man selling pecan logs and a fortune teller named Ania, with a monster fro' and a pair of gold earrings as big as hula hoops.

It was a good place to hock your wares. The place was rockin' with the pier right next to the surf shack, blasting music down the beach. Tourists stopped to check out the market and a string of little shops before hitting the beach.

Ania entertained a steady stream of customers. Her gold bangles jingled every time she swept aside the flap on her red and white striped tent.

"I've always wanted to have my fortune told," Evelina said, watching the flap fly once again. "I wonder how much it costs."

"Ha! That's not for you." Mrs. Segal sent forth a chortle of glee, while continuing to arrange her bath balms. "Only a Soul Sifter can do that."

"Why?"

"Because you're a witch," Udora said out of the corner of her mouth. She reached into the trunk of their yellow dune buggy to retrieve a large black bag. "Mortals cannot read witches."

"Oh." Well, that was inconvenient, since there were so many unanswered questions about her past-namely the cause of her parents' death. The closest she'd ever got to finding out anything was the clarifying pool. And, that hadn't gone well. When she'd asked about the night they died, a pair of hands had reached out and tried to strangle her to death.

A s.h.i.+ver rattled through her.

She couldn't resist asking, "Where do you find a Soul Sifter?"

"You don't find one." Mrs. Segal poked her head between them. "They find you. But only under the gravest circ.u.mstances, and that's not likely to happen."

"You're quite safe with us." Mrs. Segal reached over to pat Evelina on the shoulder. Not to worry. The Glaring can be most violent-much more so than Flurries, but we're not about to let anything happen to you, my dear."

Evelina sucked in a sharp breath. "So it is the Glaring?"

"Of course," Mrs. Segal said, making it sound as though it was ridiculous to believe otherwise. "It begins at midnight. Everyone will be there."

"It cannot be discussed." Udora slashed Mrs. Segal a sharp glance. "Not here!"

"Oh yes." Mrs. Segal clapped a hand over her mouth, eyes s.h.i.+fting right to left, as though fearing a member of the Witches' Council might appear and fling her to oblivion. "Only on sacred ground. Yes, yes, quite right."

Midnight? Evelina's gaze s.h.i.+fted from Udora to Mrs. Segal. By then curiosity would have eaten her up. But, there wasn't much she could do about it. As usual, the aunties were as tight-lipped as clams.

Udora unzipped the leather bag, drawing forth a stack of paintings.

Evelina couldn't have been more astonished. "You paint?"

"Of course she paints," Mrs Segal declared, propping open a small easel on the table for Udora to display her paintings. "She's always painted. Where do you think you get it? Udora is a bit of a star in the artist community here. Her paintings sell like hotcakes." Mrs. Segal's blue eyes sparked. "You must sell some of your own while you're here."

"How can she paint?" Udora scowled. "When you've stuffed her schedule as tight as a s...o...b..rd's bikini."

"She wanted a job! You agreed! She requested it in her letter." Udora turned to Evelina. "Didn't you, my dear?" She turned back to Udora. "She'll be with her friends. I made certain of that-Abby Jenny Roscoe and Tallula Banks are working there as well. I spoke with their parents. It's all arranged."

"I have a job?" Evelina's heart picked up speed. "With Abby and Tally?" How amazing was that! She hadn't seen them since summer vacation when their tribe, Lake of the Isles, had won the Flurry. She wasn't sure if they'd be coming or not. Of course, she wasn't sure of a lot of things-like what role novices played in the warlocks' Glaring. "Where is it? When do I start?"

"They're expecting you at the Coconut Shack any time." Mrs. Segal pointed behind them over the top of the yellow dune buggy. "Here's one of your friends now. Off you go!"

Evelina looked up to find Abby striding toward them across the sand. She appeared taller, but other than that, hadn't changed in the past four months. If anything her long lean frame looked stronger and harder. Her long black hair shone in the bright sun like squid's ink. She wore the same c.o.c.ky grin on her face.

"Thank you, thank you," Evelina said, kissing both aunties on the cheek. She threw her straw bag over her shoulder, then ran off to meet Abby.

"Woo hoo!" Abby gave her a high five, then crushed Evelina in a big bear hug. "What's shakin', babe?"

"Not much." Evelina smiled back. "I just got here."

"Good." Abby flashed a devil grin. "I've signed us up for surf lessons." The challenge in her gaze stifled any protest. "Ready to make some snow cones?"

"Sure." It sounded like the perfect job on a hot day-something to keep her mind off being crushed by a giant killer wave. "I might need a lesson or two."

"No problem." Abby pointed her thumb at the gra.s.s-topped hut up ahead, across from the Surf Shop. "Better than grilling weenies in the h.e.l.l Hut with a couple of Swamp Hags like the Cheetums."

Judy and Suzie Cheetum glared from behind the counter of their red hut as Abby and Evelina strode by.

Abby gave a crisp salute. "Morning!"

"Hi!" Evelina waved, offering a tentative smile. "How's it goin'?"

Judy's green eyes narrowed beneath her low brow. A growl reverberated between her thick lips. Suzie's pinched features contorted like a freckled prune under the crown of her bright red hair.

If the Swamp Hags were here, that meant all of the novices were taking part in the Glaring.

How, remained to be seen.

Tally was up to her elbows in ice shavings and raspberry syrup when they reached the Coconut Shack. But she looked happy as a clam, blue eyes sparkling, sandy pigtails bouncing up and down as she raced around. She gave Evelina a quick smile and a wave before das.h.i.+ng to the counter to serve another customer. There was a confidence about Tally, Evelina had never seen.

"Hey, Robinson!" Abby called. "Bon fire tonight at the cove!"

Evelina looked up to find Cliff Robinson, Abby's main squeeze, and Frankie Holler coming up the beach lugging surf boards.

One bronze, one golden, both over six foot-Evelina wasn't the only one staring.

Evelina's heart gave a thump.

Frankie's burnished hair appeared longer blown back from his tanned face. Though bare-excepting a pair of royal blue surf shorts-every sleek muscle exposed, he appeared his usual inscrutable self. A mysterious something clung to him, as it always did.

Evelina thought she knew him once. But time had erased all that. She hadn't heard from him in four long months.

"We're on patrol tonight," Cliff called back, smiling as they strode closer. Evelina's pulse raced.

"What does that mean?" Abby barked a laugh. "You're going to shut us down?"

Cliff chuckled, teeth blinding white against his dark curls and bronze skin. "We might stop by."

Evelina's gaze strayed to Frankie.

Frankie's gold eyes met hers with a smack.

A quiver rattled clear to her belly.

"Hey," she managed to croak.

"Hey." Frankie gave a smile and a nod back.

She stared back at him, tongue frozen to the roof of her mouth.

"See you later." He waved, heading for the surf shop.

Her chest tightened as he strode away.

"Well," Abby said with a grimace. "That was awkward."

"Sorry, Evelina," Cliff said, appearing contrite. "Frankie wants to see you, but you know..."

What did that mean? Evelina continued to stare at Frankie's retreating back. Know what? She didn't know anything.

"Cliff's right." Abby put a hand on her shoulder. "It isn't Frankie's fault. Well, it is his fault. He just can't do anything about it now."

Tally, who'd finished with her customers, leaned against the counter, giving Abby a long look down the length of her nose. "Could we have that in English please?"

"About what?" Evelina felt the frustration build in her chest. "What do you mean?"

Abby's hazel eyes bugged. "You don't know?"

"Know what?"

"Remember last summer, when you and Frankie went AWOL, on your little time travel expedition?"

Evelina nodded. It was hard to forget. They were almost killed.

"Well, Frankie made a deal with the Witches' Council, so you wouldn't both be expelled."

Evelina licked her dry lips. "What kind of a deal?" she said, knowing the answer before she spoke.

"He said he'd stay away from you. You know-hands off, if you weren't expelled."

Evelina's throat closed.

Pain filled her chest.

So that was it.

That was why she hadn't heard from him.

He'd made a deal with the Witches' Council never to see her again.

Chapter Three.

The bonfire glowed orange and red against the night sky, snapping and popping and shooting up sparks. Music and laughter swirled on the breeze. The rush of the surf buffeted against Evelina's ears as she stared into the twisting flames.

She'd come hoping to see Frankie, but now she was having second thoughts.

If it was so easy for him to obey the Witches' Council and forget her, maybe she should forget him too. After all, he was doing it for the right reasons, she reminded herself-for both of their futures. He was a stand up guy. That's what she liked about him.

But somehow it didn't make her feel any better, which, could only mean she was incredibly selfish, or wildly infatuated.

Whatever it was, she had to shake it off.

Maybe it was all for the best-meant to be, as Grammy Crimm would say.

Evelina sighed. Too bad she'd already used up her Cosmic Call for the month. Grammy Crimm would know what to do.

She'd patched the big hole in Evelina's heart when her parents died. But, it never truly mended-at least, not until she met Frankie. Meeting him sealed the cracks. The dull ache in her chest seemed to lift. The world seemed happy again.

But now Frankie was gone and the old loneliness was creeping back in.

At least, she still had Grammy Crimm-the only family she knew, since the age of five when her parents died, until last summer when she met the aunties. They stood in for Grammy Crimm, since she pa.s.sed over to the other side and took her seat on the Witches' Council.

"The Glaring starts tonight," Abby said, close to Evelina's ear.

Evelina snapped out of her trance.

"Mum said, be at the pier at midnight.' It's the same as before, all the hush, hush and whispering."