Magic by Moonlight Read Free Page B

little deeper into the sofa
cushions at the glare her aunt sent her. She just stood there,
looking from Al to M. C. and back again. Then, hands going to her
hips, she shouted, “Mary Catherine Hammersmith, what did you do?”

Chapter Three
     
    Poor Al. He’d just sat there looking stunned
as Aunt Kate explained what happened to him. He hadn’t believed it
at first, of course. But by the time they’d shown him the electric
lights, the microwave, and Aunt Kate’s smoke-belching Buick, he’d
pretty much accepted the truth.
    Now, Kate paced while Mary Catherine sat
beside Al on the settee. She felt like a kid called into the
principal’s office. “You should have listened to me,” Kate
muttered. She went to the book, glancing down at it. “Is this the
spell you used?”
    Getting up, Mary Catherine went closer and
peered over her aunt’s shoulder at the book. “Yeah, that’s it.”
    “This spell specifically calls for the
moon’s first quarter. I can’t believe you’d use it during a full
moon! And on All Hallows eve, of all nights!”
    M. C. shrugged. “I didn’t exactly expect it
to work.”
    “Work? You quadrupled its potency!” She
glared. M. C. looked at the floor. “And what about the white
candle? I don’t see one here.” Kate looked at the candles on the
table. “Red and pink? You used these, didn’t you?”
    M. C. nodded. “Is that bad?”
    Kate eyed Al, then M. C. again. “Red is for
passion. Pink brings true love. Honestly, Mary Catherine, what were
you thinking?”
    Again M. C. shrugged. “Mostly about The
Three Musketeers” she muttered. “It was on TV.”
    Kate frowned. “Well, that explains it. You
wanted protection. You got yourself a protector—in exactly the form
you were envisioning.” She rolled her eyes, shook her head.
“Goddess preserve us from neophyte witches.”
    “I am not a witch,” M. C. said flatly.
    “I think Alexandre would disagree with you
there.”
    Al looked up at the mention of his name.
He’d been sitting, pretty much ignoring them. But now he seemed to
straighten his spine as he got to his feet and came forward. “Can
this...this spell be reversed?”
    Aunt Kate looked at the book again, drumming
her painted fingernails on the page. “I think so. It will take some
research, but...”
    “Well, that’s just great,” M. C. muttered.
“Meanwhile, I’m right back where I started, with the biggest
criminal in seven states out to do me in.”
    Kate blinked. Al gaped at her. M. C.
realized she hadn’t told either of them just how much trouble she
was in. Nor had she intended to. She wasn’t a whiner, and she
certainly didn’t want to drag either of them into this mess.
“Forget I said that. It’s nothing I can’t handle. Go on, Aunt Kate.
Figure a way to send Al back where he belongs.”
    Kate tilted her head. “I can’t do that, M.
C. The only one who can reverse your spell is you. I can help,
but—”
    “ Non!”
    At his declaration, Kate and M. C. both
turned toward Al in surprise. “Whaddya mean, no? You have to go
back,” M. C. said.
    He stared straight into her eyes, and his
were very dark, very deep. If it weren’t for the long, crimp-curled
hair, pointy beard, and stupid hat, she thought, the guy might
actually be attractive.
    “I am a Musketeer,” he said, still holding
her with his penetrating stare. “You brought me here to help you,
Lady Hammer, and help you I shall.”
    Lowering her eyes, she shook her head. “It’s
not like there’s much you could do, Al.”
    When she looked up again, he wore a knowing
smile. “You know very little about what I can do, pretty one.
Besides, no Musketeer would leave a lady in this situation. This
criminal...he means to murder you, non ?” She shrugged, and
Al shook his head. “I will stay,” he said firmly. “And when I’ve
dispatched the villain, only then will I allow you to send me
back...if you can.”
    Sighing heavily, M. C. lifted her chin.
“What do you plan to do, Al?