Witch & Curse by Nancy Holder, Debbie Viguié

anything,” Amanda observed, sniffing as if to prove her point. “We haven’t had a fire. Well, except last night in the fireplace.”
    Holly shrugged. “Maybe I’m smelling something else. I’ve got some new perfume.”
    Amanda considered; then she brightened. “Dad made dinner last night. He’s not very good at it. In fact, he usually sets off the smoke alarm.” She chuckled. “I’ll bet that’s what it is.”
    â€œThat makes sense,” Holly agreed, not convinced. The smell was so strong, she couldn’t believe Amanda didn’t notice it.
Not that I think she’s lying about it. It’s just odd
.
    â€œMom’s doing the honors tonight, because of you,” Amanda continued. “She’s really good. She studied at culinary school.”
    â€œWow. Cool. You guys are talented,” Holly said admiringly.
    â€œNo. Just my mom and my sister. My dad and I arereally boring.” Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “We’re the audience. They’re the stars.”
    Holly was a bit shocked. She didn’t know what to say. Without speaking further, Amanda left, closing the door behind her.
    Holly took off her sandals and jeans and pulled back the white lace coverlet. The sheets were silky soft, caressing her as she lay down in her bra and panties. Bast mewed and crawled on top of her chest. Holly stared down her nose at the cat, who stared intently back.
    â€œSo, here I am,” she whispered. “I’m . . .” Tears slid down her face. It was all too much. New cousins, new house. New bed. New everything. The kitten cocked her head, blinking large blue eyes at her filled with innocence and curiosity. “I want them back,” Holly whispered. “I want everything to be the way it . . . it’s
supposed
to be.”
    The little animal blinked, then lowered her head to Holly’s collar bone. Bast kneaded her shoulder a few times and began to purr. She nuzzled her new mistress, settling in for a good catnap.
    Will I ever stop crying? Will it ever stop hurting?
    Suddenly the cat jerked up her head. She scampered off Holly’s chest and dropped to the floor. Facing the closed door, she growled deep in her throat.Her hackles rose; she arched her back. Her warning growl grew into a squall of anger; she put her ears back and hissed.
    â€œKitty?” Holly murmured.
It’s probably my uncle in the hall. She must have heard his footsteps
.
    Except she’s deaf
.
    â€œKitty?” she said, more urgently. “Is something wrong?”
    The cat backed away, then turned tail and scooted under the bed.
    Holly sat up. She stared at the door and the floor just in front of it. There was nothing there.
    The cat kept growling, sounding very threatened.
She must feel the vibrations of someone walking
.
    Then, without warning, the temperature in the room plummeted. It was freezing cold, so cold that when Holly exhaled with surprise, she saw her own breath. Freaked, she grabbed the bedclothes and twisted them around herself. The cat yowled again and leaped onto the bed, scrabbling up to Holly and pawing at the blankets. Holly grabbed her up and pulled her inside the blankets, where the cat mewed frantically and tried to burrow into Holly’s stomach.
    They must have a bad thermostat
, she told herself firmly.
The cat’s cold. That’s all
.
    And no one touched me at the airport
.
    â€œAmanda?” she called, but her throat was dry, and barely any sound came out at all. She cleared her throat and tried again, but her second try wasn’t much better than her first.
    Then she heard a footstep on the floor, near the doorway.
    Inside her room.
    Her scalp prickled; the hair on the nape of her neck rose straight up. The air in the room got even colder, if such a thing was even possible; she was shaking, she was so cold. Her teeth were chattering and the skin on her face seemed to tighten across her