Opal Fire Read Free

Cinnamon yelled.
    In two seconds the dog came prancing up to us.
    “Dammit, Cin.”
    “What?”
    “He was after something. I wanted to see if he caught it.”
    Cin tapped her foot. “Stacy, I love you like a sister, but I swear to God I am losing patience.”
    I looked at her. Geez, the girl just escaped a fire. I had no idea how much damage had been done, but at the very least she was going to lose thousands in sales while the building was repaired. Thousands I was sure she couldn’t afford.
    She was all brick and mortar on the outside with a mouth like a truck driver. The only time I ever saw her cry was when her dad, my uncle, died a few years ago. But on the inside, she was a marshmallow.
    I hugged my cousin. “Are you okay?”
    She squeezed me back and said, “Don’t forget who you’re talking to. I’m a pretty tough nut.” True. I once witnessed her single-handedly bounce three drunk bikers from her bar without breaking a nail. Or a sweat.
    Thor pawed at my knee and I broke from Cin. “Hey, buddy.” A shred of clothing dangled from his jaw.
    I cupped my hand and said, “Drop.”
    Thor deposited what appeared to be the back pocket of a pair of Levi’s. I knuckled his ear and said, “Good boy, Thor.” He sat down, tongue draped over the side of his jaw, proud as a peacock.
    “Stacy, what did you do?” asked Cin.
    “Nothing.” I shook my head.
    “Stace...” Cin crossed her arms.
    Even before I said it out loud I knew it would sound juvenile and stupid. But maybe Cin would understand since she’s an expert on impulsive behavior.
    I took a deep breath. “There was a high school kid outside in the crowd and when he saw me he took off like a bullet. It seemed strange so I chased him. But then Derek got in the way so my boy, Thor, kept up the pursuit.” I fingered the patch and held it up, smiling. “Brought me a souvenir, too.” I winked at Thor.
    Thor roared then barked and did a little happy dance. Cin glared at him and he stopped short, then lowered his head in a pout.
    “Stacy, all high school kids run when they see a Geraghty Girl.”
    “I am not a Geraghty Girl. I’m a Justice woman.”
    Cin waved her hand. “Doesn’t matter, you’ve got the bloodline, the hair, the cape.”
    “Hey, the cape was a gift and my hair is more blonde than red. Besides you have the bloodline too.” I shivered again and Cin handed over her jacket. “Thanks,” I said and stuffed my arms through the sleeves.
    Cin sighed. “Look, you haven’t been back that long, so I’ll clue you in on a little secret. Kids are petrified of witches. Sure they’ll tease, play jokes, tell stories, but when it comes down to it, they buy into all that flying on a broom shit and sacrificing small rodents nonsense. It’s a game.”
    I could not believe my ears. She was calling me one of them! I prided myself on not being one of them. Hey, you can’t choose your family. Just because Birdie and the aunts believed in abracadabra, hocus-pocus, didn’t mean I did.
    “I am not a witch.” I stuffed the torn pocket in my jeans and glared at Cin.
    She raised one eyebrow. “Are you or are you not practicing magic?”
    “Only to keep Birdie off my back, you know that. She forces me to join her little hex circle whenever the mood strikes. Or the sun is in Venus or a spider crawls down her chimney, or whatever the hell else sets her in motion.” I looked at Cinnamon. “Come to think of it, ever since I was a kid, she’s had it in her head I was the one to be her protégé. Just be lucky it’s not you.”
    “Ah,” Cinnamon said in a phony European accent, “but you are the sensitive one, dear cousin.”
    “Sensitive to what?” I asked.
    “I couldn’t tell ya.”
    I laughed. “Come on. Let’s go find Leo and Tony.”
    Thor saddled beside us and Cin slung an arm around my shoulder as we strolled down the middle of the street, back towards the Black Opal.
    After a moment, Cinnamon said, “It must just be your destiny, Ms.