Wildwood (YA Paranormal Mystery) by Helen Scott Taylor Page B

hook.
    When the constellations became clear, Todd pointed some out. "That's the Great Bear and—follow the direction of my finger—that's Polaris, the North Star. That's part of the Little Bear. If you went to the North Pole and looked straight up, you'd be right underneath Polaris."
    Marigold raised her arm. "The W shape there is Cassiopeia, the beautiful queen."
    "You know the constellations?" he said with a hint of surprise. He'd never met a girl who was interested in stuff like that.
    "Course I do." She laughed at his incredulous expression. "You're not the only one who knows, smart-ass."
    "No one else at school is interested. Dad used to say people have forgotten the old wisdom."
    "You and I are alike, Todd."
    "Yeah." They looked at each other for so long, heat crawled up his neck into his face. He turned away and cushioned his head on his arms, his gaze sweeping the sky, feeling cast adrift in that wide dark bowl speckled with stars.
    "Did your mum teach you about the stars?"
    "No. I have some lessons with Professor Cardell. He taught me."
    The slight hesitation in Marigold's voice had Todd frowning. "Who's Professor Cardell?"
    Marigold glanced around as if to check no one was listening. "He lives in Trewartha House, the big place on the hill overlooking the village. He owns our cottage and most of Porthallow."
    "Your mum doesn't own Lookout Cottage?"
    She shook her head. "Not many people in Porthallow own their own places. I think your grandpa owns his shop, though. He's friends with Professor Cardell."
    "Grandpa hasn't mentioned him. What does he look like?"
    "Posh. You can't mistake him for anyone else. He always wears a hat and one of those old-fashioned scarf things around his neck instead of a tie." Marigold mimicked tying something at her throat.
    "I saw him talking to Mrs. Bishop on the coast path. She stopped at the place Andrew fell and this tall old guy with a walking stick came along. She didn't seem happy to see him."
    Marigold glanced around again and lowered her voice. "Did you hear what they talked about?"
    "No. I was too far away."
    "He's her dad."
    "That means he was Andrew's grandfather."
    Marigold wrinkled her nose. "Yeah, I suppose. But Andrew wouldn't go and see him. Professor Cardell was annoyed about it. He said I was more of a grandchild to him than Andrew was."
    Todd's brain worked furiously. The professor was another piece of the puzzle, although he had no idea where he fitted in.
    Marigold rolled onto her stomach and plucked at the grass. In the near darkness she appeared to glow as if her hair reflected the moonlight. She gripped his forearm, pulling his hand from beneath his head. She examined his palm, her fingers tracing the lines on his skin, tickling. His breath caught. Her touch fired something inside him, teased the primitive animal part of his nature that fought to take over when he was frightened or angry.
    "If we had more light I could read your palm."
    She curled up his fingers and examined his father's stag's-head ring. He waited for her to comment, but all she did was cast him a thoughtful glance, then run her fingers around his wrist. He closed his eyes at the sensation.
    "Who gave you the bracelet?"
    Dragging himself back from his pleasant haze, Todd glanced at his wrist. He'd nearly forgotten the leather bracelet. "My sister."
    Marigold slid the leather around counting the knots. "Seven knots of protection." She frowned. "She must have thought you'd be in danger. Did she say what sort of danger?"
    "No."
    "Is your sister a witch? Does she have the sight?"
    Todd pulled his hand back and sat up, the pleasant mood shattered. He was always careful not to tell people about Emma's strange dreams. "Em's not a witch."
    "Mum's a witch, and she makes bracelets like this for people." Marigold bit her lip. "I'm a witch too, sort of. Sometimes I have visions, but I don't know what they mean till they come true. Then it's too late." She glanced at Todd's bracelet again. "It's strange. I