Legend of Witchtrot Road by E.J. Stevens Page A

kiss had gone unnoticed. I hope.
    “Sorry guys, but I need to go home early,” Emma said.
    “Yuki, rain check on our movies and ice cream night?”
    “Sure, no problem,” I said.
    “Everything okay?” Cal asked.
    “Yes, just my parents wanting a family night,” Emma said. “I think the empty nest thing is starting. Ever since I got accepted to Tufts University, they’ve been acting strange. Fortunately for me, they have a house ful of pets.
    There’s no way they’l be lonely when I’m gone.”
    “Tel your mom I said hi,” I said.
    “Um, Emma?” Cal said. “I was just tel ing Yuki, but I have to leave for Wolf Camp tomorrow night with the rest of the pack. It’s almost the ful moon…”
    “Don’t worry,” Emma said. “I’l look after her.”
    “Ugh, I don’t need looking after,” I said. “I’l be fine.”
    “Right,” Emma said, rol ing her eyes. “Anyway, we should get together to do more research on Dylan and the curse of Witchtrot Road.”
    “Wel , okay,” I said. “See you tomorrow.”
    “See you,” Emma said.
    As she turned to leave, Emma winked at Cal.
    Apparently doing research was also her way of keeping an eye on me. I sighed and started gathering my things.
    “I should probably go home too,” I said.
    “I’l get my keys,” Cal said.
    We didn’t say much on the ride to my house. My thoughts were a tangle of curses, death threats, evil spirits, and the warm lips of a werewolf that I was beginning to want a little too much. I real y wasn’t sure which of these things was the most dangerous.

Chapter 8
    After Cal dropped me off, I changed into my favorite pajamas, covered in pink and black smiling skul s, and went up to bed. It was stil early, but the past few days had been exhausting. I tossed and turned, but eventual y fel into a fitful slumber. Something tickled my nose, and though I tried to brush it away, it persisted in touching me. Oh em gees, I hope it’s not a spider.
    There was one determined spider living in the corner of my bedroom that had thwarted al of Emma’s efforts at
    “humane relocation” and though I didn’t mind spiders while awake, much , the thought of one crawling on my face while asleep was real y creepy.
    I opened my eyes to find myself lying in the grass with an enormous antennae waving monster towering over me. I squeaked in fright before I realized that I was dreaming and the monster was only my dung beetle spirit guide. The paper dry grass, whispering as it moved in the breeze, was the culprit responsible for tickling my nose. Could be worse, could have been a spirit guide sized spider.
    I pul ed myself to my feet and looked my sacred scarab spirit guide in what I guessed was her face. With a seven foot tal beetle, it’s kind of hard to tel .
    “Hi, um, thank you for your help the other day at school,” I said. “You were right. Using my legs real y worked to create a diversion.”
    “You are most welcome, little one,” said the scarab, her voice echoing in my head.
    The scarab tilted her head to the side and seemed to be weighing her words.
    “Are you here about the kidnapping?” I asked.
    “It is true that I am concerned for your wel being,” said the scarab.
    Her long, thin arms scraped up and down along her carapace in what seemed to be a nervous gesture.
    “Is everything okay?” I asked.
    If my spirit guide was nervous, then I was in big trouble.
    “You have begun to walk the world of dreams and darkness, my child, but the way before you is a troubled one,” she said. “Your power has awakened, but you stil have much to learn.”
    “I know I stil have a lot to learn, but I’ve already helped a few good spirits find peace,” I said. “I’m trying to help spirits find their way into the light.”
    “Yes, little one, and I am proud,” the scarab said. “You have become the flickering flame that leads the spirits of the dead out of darkness, but if you falter, who wil rescue you?”
    “I don’t understand,” I