The Indigo Spell Read Free

didn’t help. And still another part was
     insanely curious to see how this would all work.
    Taking a deep breath, I recited the book’s incantation and then set the picture in
     the middle of the mirror. I repeated the incantation and removed the picture. Leaning
     forward, I stared into the shining surface, trying to clear my mind and let myself
     become one with the darkness and moonlight. A hum of energy coursed through me, much
     more quickly than I expected. Nothing changed in the mirror right away, though. Only
     my reflection peered back at me, the poor lighting dulling my blond hair, which looked
     terrible both from sleeping on it and having a bunch of dried plants hanging in its
     strands.
    The energy continued to build in me, growing surprisingly warm and exhilarating. I
     closed my eyes and sank into it. I felt like I was floating in the moonlight, like
     I
was
the moonlight. I could’ve stayed that way forever.
    “Do you see anything?”
    Ms. Terwilliger’s voice was an unwelcome interruption to my blissful state, but I
     obediently opened my eyes and looked into the mirror. My reflection was gone. A silvery
     gray mist hung in front of a building, but I knew the mist wasn’t physical. It was
     magically produced, a mental barrier to keep me from seeing the image that lay beyond
     it. Strengthening my will, I pushed my mind passed that barrier, and after a few moments,
     the mist shattered.
    “I see a building.” My voice echoed oddly in the night. “An old Victorian house. Dark
     red, with a traditional covered porch. There are hydrangea bushes in front of it.
     There’s a sign too, but I can’t read it.”
    “Can you tell where the house is?” My teacher’s voice seemed very far away. “Look
     around it.”
    I tried to pull back, to extend my vision beyond the house. It took a few moments,
     but slowly, the image panned out as though I were watching a movie, revealing a neighborhood
     of similar houses, all Victorian with wide porches and creeping vines. They were a
     beautiful, perfect piece of history set in the modern world.
    “Nothing exact,” I told her. “Just some quaint residential street.”
    “Go back further. See the larger picture.”
    I did, and it was like I drifted up into the sky, looking down upon the neighborhood
     the way some soaring bird would. The houses extended into more neighborhoods, which
     eventually gave way to industrial and commercial areas. I continued moving back. The
     businesses became more and more densely packed. More streets crisscrossed between
     them. The buildings grew taller and taller, eventually materializing into a familiar
     skyline.
    “Los Angeles,” I said. “The house is on the outskirts of Los Angeles.”
    I heard a sharp intake of breath, followed by: “Thank you, Miss Melbourne. That will
     be all.”
    A hand suddenly waved across my field of vision, shattering the city image. Also shattered
     was that state of euphoria. I was no longer floating, no longer made of light. I came
     crashing down to reality, down to the rocky desert landscape and my stuffy pajamas.
     I felt exhausted and shaky, like I might faint. Ms. Terwilliger handed me a thermos
     full of orange juice, which I drank greedily. As the nutrients hit my system and strengthened
     me, I began to feel a little better. Intense magic use depleted blood sugar.
    “Does that help?” I asked, once I’d downed the thermos. A nagging voice inside me
     started to chastise about how many calories were in orange juice, but I ignored it.
     “Was that what you wanted to know?”
    Ms. Terwilliger gave me a smile that didn’t extend to her eyes. “It helps, yes. Was
     it what I wanted?” She stared off into the distance. “No, not exactly. I was hoping
     you’d name some other city. Some city far, far away.”
    I picked up my cross and refastened it around my neck. The familiar object brought
     on a sense of normality after what I’d just done. It also made me feel guilty,