AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Has anyone told Amy yet?” Dani asked. “If anyone is likely to do something silly without thinking, it could be her.”
“Really?” True said. “I would have thought Faith…”
“Stop!” Nana warned. “This could be the last few hours you have left with your sister.”
“What?” Faith said. “Why did I just get the death sentence?”
“Surplus to requirements?” True replied, chuckling.
“Always have been where you’re concerned, but I’ve done okay so far,” Faith shot back.
Nana groaned. “In times of trouble, squabble.” She cocked an eyebrow at them.
“Better than, in times of trouble, make it double,” True said. “Which is what Faith would like to do.”
Faith snorted with disbelief. “Are you still smarting over that whole challenge, jibe?”
“Maybe we should close the bar,” Dani said.
“What? Why?” Hope asked, wondering how you threw out a load of tourists who were watching an eclipse without getting the worst rating of any business on the internet.
“If we’re not working, we can keep an eye on each other at all times and have our backs,” Dani said.
“If we stay in twos, we can have each other's backs,” Hope said. “Nana should stay with Evie and Jennifer.”
“Amy stays with Dani in the kitchen,” True said.
“Hope and True together,” Nana said. “No bickering.”
“And we all watch Faith,” Hope said.
“I’m good,” Faith said. “I’ve got Serendipity.”
“And Mr Paws!” Dani said. “We should get him to watch everyone, he’s quiet, but he sees everything.”
“It’s a plan,” Hope said, shrugging. “Heads on the swivel and nearer to five bells, we should all come together.”
~
Nana boiled the kettle and filled the teapot with her special brew, it had a little kick to it, herbs that made her joints ache a little less, and she needed that today. Maybe the eclipse wasmaking her bones feel older; whatever it was, she would take fifteen minutes out of her day to drink her elixir.
There was still plenty of time. The bells would ring out at five, signalling danger, and they were nowhere near that yet.
When the kettle started to steam and the water bubble, she cut off the power and gave a nice slow pour over her concoction inside the belly of the teapot. The steam rose to mist up the mirror on the wall, and she didn’t mind missing out on viewing the reflection of a woman she didn’t recognise. She liked to think of herself as younger; she just wished she felt that way.
Nana smiled to herself, remembering her youth, but that smile faded to curiosity as a ghostly hand reached for the mirror and started to write in the steam.
S E B A S T I A N.
“Sebastian,” Nana said, and her brain kicked her backside into gear. “Your name!” She turned to find the man looking downcast. He nodded. “Do you have a last name?” The ghost shrugged. “Helpful, but after all this time, not surprising.” Then she got an idea. “I’ll be back, don’t go anywhere.” And a cup of tea or not, she took herself off as fast as her legs could carry her.
~
“Faith!” Nana said, just as Faith turned with an empty tray.
Faith jumped in place, and Nana was so close to getting a tray in the face that Faith had to reel in that temptation. “Canyou not pop up like a vampire with a bloodlust?” she hissed in a low whisper.
Lex leaned back on the barstool behind Nana and eyed the witch. “I resent that.”
