Page 27 of Hex You

And it did. Like the rainforest exhibit. The smell of too many pent-up animals and too many sweaty humans packed into a building filled with fusty, stagnant air. Every time she’d gone to the zoo, she’d run through that exhibit, away from the stench, but she wouldn’t run now.

Instead, Hunter pictured the ley line beneath her, stretching from the ancient cherry tree and flowing in a cosmic blue current through Goodeville. Her pendant hummed against her chest as she reached up, up, up, through the clouds and into the cosmos.

Reveal yourself.Her mind was clear, blank, primed for a picture, a clue, of what had come through.

The power beneath her feet sputtered. A spitting shower replaced the hurricane of energy she knew the ley lines possessed.

Behind her, Jax cleared his throat and patted her on the shoulder. “Ready whenever you are.”

She glanced down at her arms, her wrists and hands thrust into the mouth of the Underworld. Maybe she hadn’t made her request clear enough.

She closed her eyes and returned to the vastness of the universe.

“Reveal yourself!”

This time, the ley line barely flinched, a resting worm, soft and quiet, beneath her feet.

She pulled her hands out and stood, nearly knocking Jax to the ground for the second time that afternoon.

“Did you see it?” he asked, flattening his hand against the ground to steady himself before he fell. “Is it gross?”

Hunter used the bottom of her tee to wipe her moist palms. “It didn’t work.”

Jax tilted his head, opening his mouth and closing it before finally saying, “But you’re a witch.”

Hunter stared down at the shriveled leaves, willing the ley line to awaken and lend her its power. But it was hidden, sleeping, hibernating.

“I need to rest.” She shoved her hands into her pockets and surveyed Sugar Creek a final time before turning to her bike and Jax’s car. “That’s what the ley line is doing. I should do the same.”

“Makes sense,” Jax said, his strides shortened to keep pace with her. “A lot has gone on. As soon as you’re recharged, you’ll be back to throwing witchy powers all over the place.”

Hunter forced out a weak chuckle as she spun her crescent moon ring around her finger. She wanted to agree with him, wanted to fully believe that a nap and a warm mug of tea would fix her problems and put her back in touch with the magic of Goodeville, but the weight on her chest and the churning in her belly told her it would never be that simple.

TWELVE

“So, you’re sure Hunter is good with you and Khenti and me checking out the banyan tree without her?” Emily asked as she pulled into the driveway of Mercy’s house.

“Yeah.” Mercy tapped out a quick text as she reassured Emily. “I’m just talking to H now. She’s at the cherry tree waiting for Jax. They’re checking to be sure the gate really is closed. She already knows the Greek Gate is still messed up, and we all know the Egyptian Gate is hanging on by a thread and jackal-headed assholes, so we need to check the Hindu Gate to see how it’s doing. The Norse Gate is perfect, though.”

“Your mom’s sacrifice made sure of that,” said Emily.

Mercy nodded as a wave of grief crashed over her. When she could control her voice again, she said, “We’ll all meet back here for dinner and to report what we found and figure out next steps.” She turned to grab a big shopping bag out of Emily’s backseat. “I’m glad Burton’s Department Store had a decent selection of jeans and tees—and, of course, Mustang hoodies. Going all the way to Champaign would’vebeen a pain in the ass. Hope all this fits Khenti.” She started to get out of the car, but Emily’s voice stopped her.

“Mag, can we talk for a sec?”

Mercy turned to her friend. “Sure, but if we don’t get inside soon you know that Xena will be out here—and she comes with cat spit ready to smooth on your hair.”

Emily shuddered. “Don’t remind me. But I did take my allergy pill this morning, so at least I won’t explode into snot and hives if she does put cat spit on me. Again.” Then her expression sobered and she cleared her throat. “Did you notice anything weird at school today?”

Mercy snorted. “Yeah. I noticed the stares aimed in my direction, especially by the cheerleading Stepfords,” she said as she rolled her eyes.

“You were friends with them just, like, a week or so ago.” Emily met and held Mercy’s gaze. “And they’re not all Stepfords. Kylie’s a cheerleader. I like her. Hunter and Jax like her. She’s actually really nice.” Emily drew a deep breath and continued. “And they weren’t just staring at you. People watched all of us—you, Hunter,andme.”

“Yeah, people are assholes.”

“See, that’s part of what I want to talk to you about. Mag, you know I love you, right?”

“Well, yeah. You’re my best friend. And I love you, too. Em, are you okay?” Mercy turned in her seat so that she could look directly at Emily.