Enchanted Secrets by Kristen Middleton Page B

sister?” asked Clarice , taking a step closer.
    “Actually, I haven’t spoken to her since this morning.” I hadn’t even considered how much danger my twin could be in.
    “We’d better take a drive to the school and check on her then,” said Clarice. “Quickly, before Vivian gets her mitts on her.”
    “ Um, Kala’s supposed to be getting a ride home with Mark Davis. They’re going to the library after school to surf the Internet.”
    Clarice frowned. “Did you say “Mark Davis”?”
    I nodded.
    “I don’t know. There’s something about that boy that doesn’t sit well with me,” she said. “I’ve seen him around town, getting into all sorts of trouble.  He’s definitely not the type of boy your mother would want for Kala.”
    “He’s a total jerk,” I said. “I don’t know how she can even stand to be near him.”
    Rebecca went behind the register and grabbed her purse. “Let’s go find your sister, Kendra. If we’re lucky, we’ll locate your mother, too.”
    I sighed. “Can we drive by my house again, just in case she’s there?”
    “Of course , dear,” answered Rebecca. She turned to Clarice who was digging around in her purse. “Are you coming?”
    Clarice looked up. “Yes, I was just looking for my wand. It’s got to be in here somewhere.”
    Rebecca opened up her own purse and held it away from her body. “Manifest,” she said.
    I watched in awe as a thin black magic wand shot out of Rebecca’s leather handbag. It twirled in the air for a few seconds and then sat hovering in front of her face. She grabbed the wand and smiled at Clarice. “You may as well use magic now that Vivian’s aware of our existence in town.”
    Clarice nodded and then held out her purse. “Manifest!” she ordered. Unfortunately nothing happened.
    “Where is it?” asked Rebecca, stepping closer.
    Clarice frowned. “Manifest!” s he yelled. Still the wand did not appear.
    “Is it possible that you left it at home?”
    “I never leave home without my wand. It’s just giving me a hard time. I think it’s still angry that I hollered at it the other day.”
    “Oh,” said Rebecca. “You have one of those .”
    “What do you mean?” I asked incredulously. “What… you hollered at your wand and now it’s acting out?”
    Clarice nodded. “Some wands are sensitive. Mine is very temperamental,” she murmured.
    “I heard that! ” boomed a feminine voice from somewhere inside of Clarice’s purse.
    My jaw dropped as a long thin wand shot out of the purse and hovered close to Clarice’s face. “ Madame, you owe me an apology!” it announced.
    “Well, I don’t know about that,” said Clarice, w ith a stiff upper lip. “You’ve been ignoring me all day. With Vivian around we have no time for such petty games.”
    “I’m not playing games! I’d just like a little respect, is all. I’ve served you for over fifty years, witch. Have you once ever asked me to perform a spell nicely?”
    “Whatever do you mean?” she asked.
    The wand snorted. “A simple ‘thank you’ or even a ‘please’ works wonders. Is that too much to ask?”
    Clarice’s eyes narrowed. “Fine. Thank you for all your magical assistance, I greatly appreciate it. Now get your petulant, bony butt into my fist before I turn you into a box of toothpicks!”
    The wand immediately flew into Clarice’s hand .
    She smiled smugly and then looked at me. “You have to teach the wand who’s in charge or they won’t serve you properly. They like to test you from time to time. S ome more than others.”
    I was still flustered from seeing a wand talk, let alone think on its own. “Um, okay.”
    Clarice stepped closer to me. “You do realize you’re a witch too, don’t you, dear?”
    “Me?” I asked , hoarsely.
    “Oh yes. Your powers are dormant right now. But you and your sister have the genes to be very powerful witches.”

Chapter Twenty
     
     
     
     
    I chewed on what Clarice had told me on the way to the school