Witch Ball - BK 3 by Linda Joy Singleton Page A

But I stopped in mid-reach when I noticed a
silvery glint off a large square box. The metal chest.
My gaze zeroed in on the heavy metal lock and I
lifted the key from my pocket. A perfect fit into the
lock. There was a loud click and the lock fell open.
    My hands grew clammy and the urge to flee
was stronger than ever. I could sense Opal with me,
but no other presence. To be safe, I reached up
under my collar and touched the protective satchel Velvet had given me. It as soft, warm, and comforting. I just hoped it had real powers to ward off evil.

    As I lifted the lid of the chest, an unearthly
golden glow lit up the darkened room, like a curtain
drawing back from the moon. My breath caught as
I stared down at the beautiful crystal globe. Inside,
tiny glass shards blazed with dazzling rainbow colors. These colors danced across the walls, and I felt
as if I moved with them. My fears faded, replaced
with the most wonderful sensation-warm, joyful,
pure happiness. Without thinking, I reached for the
witch ball-
    No! Opal's voice rang out sternly. Don't touch it!
    I lurched back, blinking in confusion. The wonderful feeling died and lovely rainbows eclipsed to
black. I was left with a sharp disappointment.
    Sabine, do not lower your guard. She is close and
watching.
    "She?" I looked around. "I don't see anyone."
    BANG! The lid on the steel chest clanged
shut.
    The witch ball ghost! Like a genie released from
a lamp, she was here with me. Yet I still saw nothing.
    "Where is she?" I cried, circling slowly in place
on the alert for the slightest movement.

    Close your eyes and concentrate on her image.
    I did as asked, but I only saw Opal-her black
upswept hair, heavy, dark brows over intense, black
eyes. She floated several feet off the ground and
seemed to be watching the steel chest. No witchy
ghost.
    So I opened my eyes-then gasped. The witch
ball was rising into the air. I knew there had to be
a ghost guiding the ball, but I still couldn't see anyone, not even an aura.
    She's blocking you. Concentrate to a meditative
state.
    I would have rather smashed open the door
and fled from the shed.
    Instead I sat on a crate and closed my eyes
tightly. Nona had taught me how to meditate when
I was little, explaining that I needed to visualize a
place where I go and feel safe. So I shut out all fears
and hummed softly, becoming at one with my
rapid heartbeat and closing off everything but my
thoughts.
    I imagined a peaceful island with a beautiful
white gazebo where windows faced the ocean in
every direction. I heard the soft lapping of ocean
waves and smelled a garden of fragrant flowers sur rounding me with comfort. I was no longer in a manure rank shed, but secure in my own paradise.

    Watching through a window in this perfect
place was like peering outside a fragile glass dome.
And for the first time I saw her.
    Two figures faced each other. Opal and a pale
woman, tall and bird-like, with narrowed no-color
eyes and a bitter scowl. Her hair was braided in a
bun; an old-fashioned style that matched her long
drab skirt that dragged behind her like a dark veil.
She wore a high-necked blouse of heavy brown
fabric with long sleeves and tiny pearl buttons. She
was all dark energy except for the globe of rainbow
light she clutched protectively in her arms. The
witch ball.
    I wanted to ask who she was, but in my peaceful sanctuary, I was only a spectator.
    Opal swept towards the woman, her chin lifted
high with confidence. I am Opalina Christine Consuela La Cruz, and might I know your name?
    "Hortense." The woman held tightly to the
witch ball and regarded Opal with suspicion. "I
know what you want, and all the others before
you.

    I want nothing from you, instead I can offer you
assistance to a better place. Allow me to guide you to-
    "Nay! I will not be fooled. My ball is mine
alone and no one will wrench it from me. Be gone
or harm will befall you."
    What harm can you do from your dark