Fawn wiped her eyes, which had returned to their natural olive color, with the back of her fingers.
"I'm happy for you, Lainey. Really."
Lainey smiled.
"Why are you crying?"
Fawn shrugged.
"I don't know," she squeaked.
"Really?" Lainey asked.
"No. I just . . . I don't want to hurt anybody or let anybody down."
Lainey grimaced.
"You mean your mom?"
"Or you . . ."
Lainey's heart skipped a beat.
"Fawn . . . you wouldn't try kill Benjamin, would you?"
"Like I said, I don't want to hurt anybody."
"But? . . . There's a 'but', right?"
"Lainey, I don't know what's going to happen, okay? God this isn't what today was supposed to be about. We're supposed to be hanging out and having fun."
A few second later there was a light tremor, causing most of the cosmetics on Lainey's vanity dresser to fall.
Lainey cautiously looked at Fawn.
"Did you . . .?"
"I'm sorry," she whispered. "Mama called it a magical surge. Sometimes when a witch's emotions are high . . . things like that happen. We have no control over what happens nor can we anticipate what happens. Forgot to mention that I'm the elemental witch of earth. Guess that explains the tremors."
Lainey stared into the palms of her hand which were resting on her lap. If Fawn was the elemental witch of earth, then the elemental witches of fire, water and wind remain.
"Which elemental do you suppose Ursula is?" she asked quietly.
Fawn rested her chin on her knuckles as she thought about Lainey's question.
"You said her eyes glowed green. That would make her the elemental witch of wind. It would also explain why that particular elemental have been MIA for so long. Ursula never died so she remained the elemental witch of wind all these years." Fawn looked at Lainey. "I still don't have full control over the mind-reading thing. Information comes in bits. Anything I miss?"
"Well . . . she was one of the original four elementals that sealed away the sorcerer Demetrius."
"The sorcerer who created the three Unforgivable Spells," Fawn said. "I've heard of him. He's the sorcerer you're supposed to be the descendant of, right?"
Lainey nodded.
"Ursula came to Sancova to get my blood to use in a ritual to . . . raise him."
The two girls stared at each other, their eyes widening. Lainey knew that Fawn was thinking the same thing she was.
"Demetrius is the Evil One of the prophecy," Fawn whispered.
"I was just thinking the sa--"
"I know. Why would Ursula want to do such a thing?"
"Ursula says she believes he is strong enough to kill primitive dead walkers without the Bone Dagger."
Fawn looked at Lainey.
"Primitive . . . I've heard that before. Something about a . . . 'Primitive Family.'"
Lainey nodded.
"They were the very first dead walkers, turned by drinking the Demon's Spirit--"
"Created by the sorceress Ursula, right."
"And they can only be killed with the Bone Dagger, a 'cure' Ursula created by severing a limb and forging a dagger with her blood and bone. It's currently in the possession of Ulysses Morrison, the first undead man in the world."
Fawn was now nibbling on one of her dreadlocks as she was lost in thought. She looked at Lainey.
"I need to know everything," she said, moving closer to her. She put her hands on the side of Lainey's head and bowed her head so they were forehead-to-forehead.
"What are you doing?" Lainey whispered.
"I'm trying to see if I can get more information from you."
"Do you have any idea what you're doing?"
Fawn was quiet for several seconds before she began snickering.
"Absolutely no idea."
Lainey laughed.
"Oh my God, Fawn. You're amazing."
"I figured if I can accidentally read minds, I should be able to get something if I'm actually trying."
"What do you need me to do?" Lainey asked.
"Just . . . I don't know, be silent so I can concentrate. Oh, and try to think of your encounter with Ursula and everything she told you."
Lainey nodded.
She was silent for two minutes. Then five. Around ten minutes she began to grow uncomfortable. Fortunately for her, Fawn finally let her go.
Lainey looked at Fawn, whose eyes were closed.
"Anything?" Lainey asked.
She opened her eyes.
"She called herself 'Sulura'. Really?"
"Oh my God! It worked!" Lainey said excitedly.
"So Ursula's goal is to rid the world of the undead so that she may die and find peace. I'm guessing she doesn't believe she stands a chance against Morrison, so she's going to the extreme of undoing the spell--using your blood--that sealed Demetrius away to free him so that he can do her bidding. But . . . the four elemental witches were created by Nature to defeat the Evil One. If Ursula's on his side, how can we fulfill that prophecy? I'm going to have to share this information with the other witches."
Lainey raised an eyebrow.
"You know other witches?"
"Oh, right. Remember the distant relatives I told you were staying over at my place?"
Lainey tilted her head to the side and playfully scoffed.
* * *
"Dude, you don't look so good," Rodney said.
"Yeah," Lionel added. "You sure you should be going to Vera's party?"
Jason sat at the foot of his bed, hunched over as his best friends stood over him.
"I'm fine," he grunted. "Just a little hungry. I'll feel better after I get something to eat."
"That's not it, bro," Rodney said, shaking his head. "You've been moody as hell lately. And paler than my ass."
Lionel grimaced at Rodney.
"TMI, dude." He looked at Jason. "But Rod's right. You're like . . . a zombie, bro."
Rodney laughed.
"Zombie-bro! That should be, like, your new nickname."
"Damn it! Would the two of you just shut the hell up!" Jason roared. He stood and walked over to his window. He could feel the monster within creeping toward the surface. "The two of you should go," he said through gritted teeth. "Now!"
"I don't think that's a good idea," Lionel said, stepping beside him. "Whatever you're smoking, you need to let it go. Rodney and I, we're worried about you."
"Lionel's right, Retro," Rodney said. "You're like a stranger now. I mean . . . how can we he bros if I don't even know you anymore?"
These two idiots! They should have listened. Such a shame; they were good friends.
Jason turned to face his friends.
Their screams of terror echoed throughout the entire house.
---
To be continued in Chapter 70...
(wow, 70 chapters!)