Inherited Magic by Jennifer Mccullah Page B

concerned with fighting. By
dinnertime, Ruby had constructed a comprehensive list of items they would need.
    “We should just buy 3 machine guns
and go in there blasting everyone,” Allison said.
    “I don’t think you’re going to find
a firearms dealer that has three machine guns available for purchase. They’re
not illegal, but close to it. It takes a lot of time, paperwork and money to buy
something like that,” Cain said.
    “Fine, something semi-automatic,
anything.”
    “The BC has special protections.
Often, when they murder, they do so by invading the victim’s home. In the past,
they lost several members to gunfire. They had to do something, so they
developed special charms, protections.”
    “You’re saying they’re bullet
proof?”
    “Not bullet proof, no. They do use
protective charms that sort of deflect bullets, though. If the charm was broken
or weakened enough, bullets would affect them the same way they affect any
other human.”
    “You don’t know how to break it?”
    “No. We always concentrated on
strengthening our magic, never breaking it.”
    It seemed like the odds were
insurmountable, though Allison did try to stay positive. The rest of the day
and into the next, she could feel her anxiety mounting. She found herself
pacing within the small RV in spite of her efforts not to.
    For the first time in her life, she
was excited to see the sign that read, ‘You are now entering Kentucky.’ All she
could hope for was a quick stop off in Wilburn and an easy time finding Sam.
The RV stayed on the interstate for another hour before they were within a few
miles of Wilburn. At this point, Ruby was driving so that she did not have to
bother giving Cain directions. It was easier for Ruby to go somewhere herself
than try to explain how to get there.
    Once they were off the exit, they
traveled through a small town and onto a gravel road that branched out from the
main highway. To call it a tight squeeze would have been an understatement.
Branches and bushes grazed the front and top of the RV. The winding road came
to an abrupt halt, turning into a private driveway. There, in the midst of the
wooded area was a clearing probably two acres wide. A simple house stood in the
middle of the clearing along with two other buildings. 
     A woman emerged from inside the
house. Allison could think of no other word to describe her than flow-ey, and
she was pretty sure that wasn’t even a real word. Everything about her seemed
to flow, from her long brown hair to her soft white dress. She did look like a
witch or a new age spiritualist or something.
    Ruby opened the door to the RV,
“Everyone out.”
    They all stood and began to make
their way to the front.
    “Is it just me or does she look
like some kind of crackpot? You know; the ones who wear crystals for energy and
consult the stars before making any decisions?” Allison asked Vinnie.
    “We’re on our way to fight men who
are trying to steal your magic by killing you. I think we all might be crackpots,”
Vinnie said.
    Allison laughed.
    “Besides, I think she looks pretty.
Well, except for those shoes,” he said, looking out the window at her feet.
    “Ursula’s a good person,” Cain
said, before he walked out to join her and Ruby, who were already exchanging
embraces.
    Ursula’s smile faded when she
looked at Cain. Her reaction seemed reminiscent of how Ruby had reacted. The
three of them were talking, and Allison was sure they were filling her in on
recent events.
    Vinnie and Allison stepped out of
the RV and Ursula’s face went from grim to excited. She greeted Allison and
Vinnie as if they were old friends, hugging them both. Allison half hugged
back, taken by surprise at the stranger’s embrace.
    “Allison, I haven’t seen you since
you were a baby. You’ve grown into a beautiful young woman. And you must be
Vinnie; Ruby has told me so much about you. I’m Ursula, by the way.”
    “Nice to meet you,” Vinnie said.
    Ursula looked back at