But what if Ihadmessed up again?
My potions almost always worked the way they were supposed to, but mistakes weren’t unheard of. Last month had proved that. But could I have messed up so badly that I turned a harmless potion poisonous? Even now my magic felt slightly off, as if reminding me how easy it would’ve been for me to make a mistake. It roiled inside me like it wanted to help calm me down, but even it couldn’t give me the peace or balance I needed.
“What if I did?” I whispered.
“That would never happen, Kitty.” Elaine tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear and gave me a small smile. “There’s got to be another explanation.”
I looked down at my cup, letting the steam swirl around my face. “Yeah, you’re probably right.” So why didn’t I feel more reassured? Nausea bubbled in my stomach, and I swallowed hard.
It couldn’t be true, could it? I would’ve known if something was wrong. But even if it had been an option, Elaine was too loyal a friend to let me entertain the idea. It waslike the time I got into an argument with a girl from class. Elaine didn’t even know her, but she spent the rest of the semester scowling at her anytime she got close. I could trust Elaine with my life, but could I trust her to tell me the truth even if it was something neither of us wanted to admit?
Elaine’s window opened, and Caleb poked his head out, his black hair blending in with the night sky. “Are you two okay?”
“No, but we need a moment alone,” Elaine said. “I’ll be up in a second.”
Caleb frowned and fiddled with his maple leaf necklace. “I’m sorry about what happened, Kitty. Graham didn’t deserve this.”
“Thanks.” My throat was still trying to close up.
Caleb hesitated another moment, then slid the window shut again.
I bit my lip and focused on Elaine again. “Even if it wasn’t me, this still looks bad. The police will realize I was Graham’s last relationship, and they might even find out I’d suspected he was cheating on me. People always blame the exes in those murder shows, and we both knowmy family doesn’t have the best reputation right now.” I glanced at her. “What do you think I should do?”
Elaine sucked in a breath, and her hand that held the mug shook slightly. “Maybe you should talk to the police. Tell them everything and get it out now so it doesn’t look like you're hiding anything. Then they won’t suspect you, right? I mean, what murderer would confess all that stuff right after someone died?”
“I don’t know. They aren’t exactly my family’s biggest fans.” I ran a hand down my face, trying to think, but my racing pulse and the hollow feeling in my chest made it hard to focus. Elaine was probably right, though. Hiding anything would make me look even guiltier, especially since I’d given him the cookie in a public place with multiple witnesses. “What if they arrest me? I probably look really guilty.”
“They won’t arrest you, because you didn’t do it.” Elaine touched the back of my hand, the warmth from her fingers reminding me of how chilled I was despite my warm drink. “You’re not alone in this, Kitty. Everything will be okay.”
I blew out a breath. “After what happened with my mom, I never should’ve given him that potion. It was silly and selfish. But you’re right. As much as I don’t want to, I should probably talk to the police.”
“I can come with you if it helps.”
My throat tightened with nerves. I had a feeling the conversation wouldn’t go well. “That’s okay.” I gave the cup back. “I'd better go.”
Despite the urgency, my legs dragged as I trudged home. The sooner I arrived, the sooner I had to face my family, assuming Mary had already told everyone what happened. I couldn’t shake the feeling that this was my fault. How could I have ever thought I was good at potion making when I did things like this?
I made my way back around the corner of Elaine’s place and opened my purse to stare at the bag of cookies. Could they be deadly too? I needed to throw them away as soon as possible, but I didn’t dare crumble them up and leave them here. They might kill any animals that nibbled on them. Or was that the same as tampering with evidence even though these weren’t the exact cookies Graham ate?
I sniffed and did my best to blink back tears, although a few still rolled down my cheeks. I’d been ready to move on with my life, but not like this. Never like this.
Footsteps sounded behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder. A figure loomed in the shadows under a tree a few yards back. My breath caught, but I forced myself to keep moving.
A twig snapped, and I walked a little faster, my heart picking up speed.
The footsteps mirrored mine. They were close. Too close.
Was I being followed? Maybe it was the police. They were already onto me, and they’d decided to track my movements. But no, that didn’t make sense. The police hadn’t even seen me at Graham’s house, which meant it must’ve been someone else.
Unwillingly, my thoughts turned to the killer on the loose.
“Kit—”
I whirled around with a shriek, swinging my bag like a weapon.
The figure let out an oomph and stepped back, rubbing its head.
The moon peeked out from behind some clouds, illuminating a tall form with dark skin and a wry smile. “Is it just me, or do I get hit in the head a lot when you’re around?”
