She had enough time to sit down, open her hummus, and dip a carrot in it before Summer came down the stairs.
“How did it go?” she asked, only half interested in the reply.
Summer shrugged. “I’m not familiar with the spell, but she definitely cast something.”
Ember crunched although all the sweetness was gone from the orange stick in her mouth. “Yeah?”
“Yeah. Um, Ember.”
She paused in the act of chewing. The way she used her name gave an indication that Ember wouldn’t like what came next.
“Never mind.” Summer walked around her, and Ember expected her to sit in the next chair, but she didn’t. At least, not right away.
The hairs on the back of her neck rose. A chill washed down her spine to be replaced by a hot flash.
“What are you doing?!” she cried, reaching up and catching Summer’s hand. Static seemed to build and then zapped her. She dropped Summer’s hand, but held onto the stone in it, amethyst.
“Just…” Summer sighed heavily and sat down. “I know you’re having trouble accepting our gift.”
“So you put a spell on me?” Her voice was shrill to her own ears and Summer’s usually kind and smiling face blurred with the tears forming in Ember’s eyes.
