Witch Ball - BK 3 (13 page)

"Oh, Sabine! I just found out why Jacques is
absent."

"Why?" I asked, immediately concerned by
her flushed face and reddened eyes.

"There was an accident last night! He was in
the hospital."

"An accident?" I inhaled sharply. "What kind?"

"He fell on the job and fractured his arm."

"That's terrible!"

"Even worse-it was his right arm, so he won't
be able to paint for weeks. He slipped because he had
oil on his shoes and didn't realize it. Poor Jacques."

"Oil?" I thought of the oily puddles on the
pavement where we talked last night. Is that how the
oil got on his shoes? Was I somehow responsible?

"He fell off a board."

"A board? Why not just use a ladder?"

"Not a regular board-it was stretched out
like a plank and propped up on the sides. He had
a name for it." She paused, her reddish brow knit
in concentration.

My heart skipped. "What?"

"A sawhorse."

A horse-a freaking sawhorse! It was all so weird!
Jill's visit from her dead father and now Jacques
falling from a horse.

During sixth period, I couldn't concentrate on
editing and must have fixed the same misplaced
comma a dozen times. I kept glancing across computer consoles to a large wall calendar where dates
marked my fate.

Two days to live?

I was trying so hard not to believe the prediction could happen, as if believing would make it a
reality? My world had been flipped upside down
and everything was out of control. This was not
how my gift was supposed to work. I'd always been
the one who gave predictions. I wasn't supposed to
receive them.

I couldn't pretend the witch ball was harmless
anymore-not after two predictions came true.
Dangerous powers were at work, and if I didn't figure out how to stop them, I could end up dead.

If only I'd never taken the witch ball. I should
have sent it back up to the attic, I thought as I stared
down at blurry papers. Why didn't Opal warn me?

Would you have listened ifI had?

I clearly heard her voice as if she were standing
beside me.

She had a valid point. Would I have listened to
her? Probably not. I was quick to give advice for
other people, but reluctant to take it.

"But I'm ready to listen now," I thought to her.
"What should I do?"

Face your fear.

"How do I do that?" I asked, then reddened
with embarrassment when I caught a boy sitting in
the seat next to me giving me a curious look. Oops!
Guess I must have spoken aloud.

Pressing my lips tightly shut, I picked up the
article I'd been proofing, and pretended to work.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the boy shrug
and turn away.

The connection to Opal was gone, so I replayed
her advice in my head. Face your fear. Not "fears"
but "fear," as in a specific fear. There was only one
fear I could think of-the witch ball.

I'd had some experience with ghosts, who were
usually earthbound because they were confused
and too frightened to move on. I had mixed feelings about dealing with ghosts, although it always
felt good when I helped a lost soul find peace.

But the ghost around the witch ball was elusive-and frightening. If I confronted it, more trouble could be unleashed. The ghost had already
shown uncanny abilities, moving the ball from my
closet to Nona's kitchen and switching places with
the crystal ball meant for Manny. I didn't want to
mess with a ghost with that sort of power.

But doing nothing wouldn't accomplish anything either.

So I had to confront my fear like Opal said.

I hoped I wouldn't regret it.

After school, I dropped off my backpack in my bedroom, checked in on Nona who was talking on her
office phone, then went outside. I headed for the
shed behind the barn. I spotted Dominic working
in the back pasture, and had a strong urge to ask
him to come with me. But if I told him what I
planned to do, he might try to stop me. I had to do
this alone.

I clutched the key Dominic had given me, the
metal cold against my skin. I felt cold, too. The sky
had grown overcast and a chilly wind shivered
through my jacket. I wrapped my arms around myself, wondering if I should go back for a heavy coat.
I might need an umbrella, too, in case it started to
rain.

Procrastination only moves you backwards, a
haughty voice rang in my head.

"Opal, I'm so glad you're here."

I know nothing about this earthbound soul you
seek and find myself in the unusual situation of uncertainty.

"That doesn't exactly reassure me."

Reassurance is not my purpose. Also, you will not
require an umbrella, the precipitation will hold off
until this evening.

The toolshed was out behind the barn, half-hidden in a grove of oaks. It was a ten-by-ten wooden
structure, the roof sagged in one corner, and the
paint was faded with age. As I reached to unhinge
the latch, my hand shook. I thought of a dozen reasons why I should turn around and forget this whole
idea. But I'd come this far and didn't want to give
up now.

As I began pulling the door open, I heard flapping wings. I looked up to see Dominic's falcon.
Dagger swooped down low, squawking as if he was
admonishing me. His wings brushed my arm, but
I ignored him and finished opening the door.

A dark, musty smell swirled around me as I entered the shed. Something gauzy flew across my face
and I shrieked. Jumping back, I saw fragments of a
cobweb clinging to my fingers. I slapped it away,
swallowed hard, and stepped deeper into darkness.

I had to blink a few times before my eyes adjusted and I could recognize the distorted shadows
as gardening tools; a rake, broom, and hoe were
propped against the wall in one corner. There were
also old crates, a rusted push mower, and bags of
fertilizer. That would explain the ripe odor.

A sudden gust of wind roared and shook the
building, nearly knocking me over.

The door banged shut.

I grabbed onto a shelf to pull myself up, then
tried the door. I pushed at the rough wood, but it
wouldn't budge. Panic closed in around me like a
straight jacket and I felt trapped. Coming here had
been a bad idea. I wanted out now-even if it meant
breaking down the door.

Looking around desperately, I started to grab a
shovel. 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 prison?I
am free to go between worlds, while you are trapped
in a hell ofyour own making. Freedom is yours ifyou
go forward with me and find joy away from this chosen exile.

"You seek to lure me away from my ball."

Earthly possessions have no lasting value.

"Lies! I watched them come, peeking into my
home and calling for me to come out, but I would
not be fooled. They were tools of the devil and conjured magic against me, only no harm would befall
me as long as my witch ball offered protection."

You need no protection if you go into the light.
Come with me-

"Your feeble attempt at trickery will not work.
I recognize you for your sins when you lived on
earth."

My past was a trial on a path leading to wisdom.
That was hundreds of earth years ago and has no relevance. I do not fathom how you even know these
things.

"I know that and much more. Leave before I
show the full force of my powers."

Let go of your anger and trust me-

"Trust a woman who took her own life, leaving her children alone? I would have given my life
for my child, yet even that was denied me. I will
not place my trust in someone such as you," she
sneered. "Begone!"

Turbulent seas rose up around my glassedin house, then swept me back to reality. My eyes
opened and I gasped, feeling as if I was drowning
in black waters. But I was back in the shed-and
the witch ball was back in the chest.

"Opal!" I called out. "What just happened?"

I honestly do not know.

"Hortense must be crazy. You tried to help her
and she wouldn't even listen. Those things she said
about you were horrible."