First Frost (12 page)

“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t distract me from my driving,” her friend scolded.

“Oh, suddenly you’re Miss Careful?”

“Yeah.”

“Since when?”

“Since my dad bought me this brand new car, and he’d murder me if I got a scratch on it. So if you would please cut it out, I’d appreciate it.”

“Fine.”

When they got closer to Bianca’s house, they talked about what they wanted for dinner. After much debate, they decided to stop at McDonald’s. As soon as they got home, they ate their food as quickly as possible. They were both curious as to what the contents of the spell book were. Mostly, Bianca wanted to see what it was that Lenore wanted so badly that she was willing to sacrifice a person’s life for it.

Bianca retrieved the wooden box from her black bag and placed it gently on the dining room table. She used a damp paper towel and wiped the thin film of dust and dirt that covered it. She opened the wooden box that held Mirabel’s spell book. She half expected there to be an evil looking skull and a pentacle of some sort on the cover. But all she saw was a plain brown, leather book that could’ve easily belonged to anyone. The book smelled like leather and wood.

“Are you sure you want to do this now? I mean…what if there’s something in there that makes me wanna throw up? I just ate, B. You know?” Ming asked.

“I have to know,” Bianca replied.

Ming took a deep breath, sat beside her friend. “If I blow chunks on the table, I’ll expect you to go get me some more chicken nuggets to replace the ones I lost.”

“Deal.”

Bianca carefully opened the book before she had a moment to change her mind. She found that the yellowed pages smelled like herbs and lavender. Once more, she had expected to see something horrible but instead found a tiny inscription on the first page.

Remember, my child, magic is all around you. In the herbs we use, the ground we walk upon, and the intangible feelings that swim inside our hearts. Beware of whom you share your secrets with.

Love,

Mother

Bianca couldn’t believe it.
Mirabel’s mother gave this book to her?
It seemed to her that it was Mirabel’s mother who taught her everything the wicked queen knew.

She turned another page and found the first official entry of Mirabel’s spell book. In it, Mirabel described some of the herbs she discovered in the castle’s garden and some of their basic uses and ailments they could cure.

“That’s not so bad,” Ming whispered.

“I guess we have to keep reading it to see what happens next,” Bianca muttered.

“I don’t like where this is going, Bianca,” Ming warned.

“Then go watch TV or something. I’ll call you if I find anything interesting.”

“Sounds good to me.” Ming got up and headed to the family room.

Bianca ignored the voices coming from the television and focused all of her attention on the spell book. The book started out innocently enough with spells like
Banish Evil Spell, Luck Oil, Happy Harmony Spell, Blessing Oil,
and
Destroy All Evil Bath.
Bianca wondered if she had the wrong spell book because she had read a third of the book and had yet to find anything that led her to believe that the spell book was evil. It was a subtle change…very gradual, but some of the spells took on a slightly darker aspect. Spells on how to give someone nightmares, how to command a magic mirror, and the proper usage of mirror charms. Once the book began taking a more sinister turn, Bianca slammed the book shut and walked away from it. She joined Ming in the living room, took the remote control and changed the channel.

“Hey! I was watching that,” Ming protested.

“
Gossip Girl
can suck it,” Bianca said and changed the channel.

“You suck.” Ming pouted.

“This whole situation sucks,” Bianca said as she clicked the buttons on the remote so fast it was difficult to tell what was playing on the television screen.

“You okay?” Ming asked.

“No.”

“I can tell. You’ve usually settled on a show by now.”

Bianca groaned in frustration, turned the television off and threw the remote control on the floor so hard it shattered. She ran her fingers through her jet black hair several times.

“She was a good person, Ming. She was a good witch that practiced good, healing magic, and she just lost it. How can someone lose their way like that?” Bianca turned to Ming, hoping that her friend would give her the answer. She was met with a blank stare. Once more, she found herself wishing for her mother.

Ming’s eyes softened. “That bad?”

“It’s like watching someone spiral into the darkness and feeling helpless…like…I can’t do anything to stop it.”

“Have you found the spell to open the portal?”

“Not yet. I’m scared to read the rest of that book, Ming. I don’t want to know what was inside that woman’s mind.”

For a while neither one said anything. They just sat on the couch and stared off into space. Bianca was afraid of voicing her worries for fear that they would somehow come true, that the universe would be cruel enough to turn her thoughts into a reality.

I don’t have a choice. I either read that book or resign myself to a life without Mom.

The following morning, Bianca and Ming discussed what they were going to do that day while having breakfast.

“Isn’t the repairman supposed to come today?” Ming asked as she broke the yolk on her sunny-side-up eggs with a corner of her toast.

“Yeah, at nine o’clock,” Bianca replied.

“What are you going to do about the museum?”

“I dunno. I was thinking about asking you to stay here while I go to the museum and open the doors and get everything ready for the day. Then we’ll switch, you stay in the museum, and I’ll come home and deal with the repairman.”

“Why don’t I just go to the museum and you stay here?”

“Because I have to disarm the alarm system, put money in the cash register, turn on all the lights, and make sure the credit card machine isn’t on the fritz again.”

“I think I’ll stay here and wait for the repairman,” Ming said and then took a bite of her buttered toast.

“Good.” Bianca gave her friend a tight lipped smile and ate her breakfast, which consisted of Cinnamon Chex with lots of ice cold milk.

“Did you find anything in the book last night?”

“I forced myself to stop. It was just too creepy. It gave me nightmares,” Bianca said.

“Really?” Ming had a worried look on her face as she waited for Bianca to reply.

“That book is seriously evil.”

“But we need to use it. Do you think you can handle it?”

“I hope so,” Bianca whispered.

“You’re not leaving me alone with the book, are you?”

“I have to leave it here. It’s the only place I know where it’ll be safe. If I take it with me, who knows what could happen to it.”

“Can you tell me where it is? I really don’t want to touch it,” Ming said.

“It’s in my mom’s room.”

“Good to know.”

They finished their breakfast, and Bianca headed to the museum. Most of the time there would be a line of people at the entrance waiting to go inside. But on that Wednesday morning…it was completely deserted. Bianca sighed, unlocked the doors and got everything ready for the day. Once she took her post behind the gift shop counter, she called Ming and asked if the repairman had arrived yet.

“Yeah, he’s here. Got here about five minutes ago,” Ming replied.

“Okay. Tell him I’ll be there soon. I’ll leave as soon as you get here,” Bianca said.

“You want me to leave him alone in the house?” Ming whispered.

“If he meant any harm, the wards Mom placed on the house wouldn’t have let him walk in. Trust me, it’ll be okay. Just tell him you’re going out and that I’ll be there soon.”

“Okay…if you say so.” Bianca could hear the hesitation in Ming’s voice. Once more she reassured her that everything would be okay.

“See you later,” Bianca said.

“Bye.”

Twenty minutes later, Ming appeared.

“Wow. This place is dead,” Ming said as she took in her surroundings.

“Yeah, word spreads real quickly around here. Anyway I’m gonna go home and make sure everything is okay with the repairman,” Bianca said.

“Okay.”

“Does he…you know…does he seem nice to you?” Bianca fidgeted with her car keys.

“Oh. My. God. He was super cute, and yeah, he seemed nice and polite. Very professional looking,” Ming replied.

“Cool. I’ll see you later.” She waved at Ming and walked away.

Bianca drove back home and found the repairman outside by his black pickup truck unloading supplies and materials he needed to fix the window.

“Hi,” Bianca said as she approached.

“Hello, you must be Bianca.” He set down his toolbox and extended his free hand to her.

She shook his hand and smiled. Ming was right; he was very cute. He had dark blond hair, chocolate brown eyes and dimples. He looked like the sort of man that liked to spend all of his free time outdoors, which was a stark contrast to Bianca, who loved nothing more than to be in her room, drawing or reading a book.

“I’m Don Carlson, and I’ll be fixing your window today,” he said and then flashed her a smile.

“Great. Do I need to do anything?”

“We’ll, if you wanna stick around that’s up to you. I do need you to sign some papers before I get started, and then once I’m finished, I’ll need you to sign some more paperwork. But other than that I’m good to go,” Don said.

“Okay, I’m going to stay here in the house. I have some reading to catch up on anyway,” she said.

“Cool.”

“How long should this take?”

“A few hours give or take. I have to replace some of the frame and put in the new glass.”

Bianca nodded. “Sounds good to me. Do you need any help carrying stuff in?”

“Nah, I’m good. Thanks, though.”

Bianca nodded and went inside the house. She asked Don if he wanted anything to drink as he set his stuff up in the living room. He politely declined. Bianca then retrieved the spell book from its new hiding place and sat on a stool in the kitchen.

She sighed as she looked out the window. It was a glorious day. The sky was a perfect light blue. Ivory white clouds that slowly drifted from one end of the sky to the other. It was a great day to sit on the hammock with a glass of lemonade and read the collection of short stories she’d borrowed from Ming a few months ago. It was a shame that she had to spend it with her nose buried in an evil spell book that gave her more questions than answers.

Bianca gasped.

I found it.

“All done,” Don said. He had been working quietly for several hours.

“Oh, wow. It looks brand new. Thank you so much.” Bianca let out a sigh of relief. She felt a lot safer knowing that the window was fixed.

“No problem. Here’s the total and I need you to sign here, here and here.” He pointed to several Xs on three pieces of paper. “And if you have any other repairs you need taking care of, here’s my card. Call me anytime.” He gave her a playful wink.