Any Witch Way by Annastaysia Savage Read Free Book Online Page B

wanted to smack her so she didn’t feel bad for thinking them thieves. He possibly hid them so he didn’t have to wear them. They looked heavy.
    No, that’s silly, how could they be heavy to a very muscular centaur named Zeno? And he’s probably magikal, too, isn’t he? I mean, he is a Centaur. Aren’t they magikal?
    Zeno began to move towards the large bay window in the front of the store. Out in the darkness Sadie could see eerie red eyes, flashing green ones, and some angry yellow slits peering in at them. She almost thought she saw gnashing and snapping teeth, very large dagger-like teeth, but she couldn’t be sure. As Zeno pulled an arrow and placed it, ready to shoot, he looked back over his shoulder at Sadie with his eyes flashing intensity.
    “Lie low on my back, little one. Hold onto my mane, and use what little power you have to help get us out of here alive,” he said to her, voice low and deep.
    “But I don’t have any power, and I don’t want it anyway. This is crazy; I’m not a wit….”
    “YES, YOU ARE!” he shouted and then lowered his voice. “Yes, you are not a full one yet, but in the beginning stages. We don’t have time to argue this point, child of the moon, just do as I say if you want to live to see tomorrow,” and with that he turned around and aimed.
    The glowing arrow smashed through the window without a sound, save for the whooshing through the air. Miraculously, the glass had all fallen away and outside could be heard an agonizing moan. The magikal arrow must have reached its mark. Roars and screams and cackles rose up out of the night, and Sadie felt Zeno’s muscles ripple under his skin. He took off at remarkable speed towards the now-open window, his bow and arrows flying at supernatural speed. Sadie held on tight to the thick, black mane that ran down his back as she tried to see what was happening. They flew through the window in one colossal leap, out into the night to put faces to their foes.
    Immediately Sadie felt someone or something grab her ankle. She looked down to see some sort of half snake-half man thing trying to pull her off of Zeno’s back. She screamed at the sight of it and kicked furiously as she tightened her grip to the point of making her knuckles white. Its scaly, razor-sharp fingers raked her leg, leaving rips in her pants as Zeno turned and shot the beast between its cold, steely eyes. It imploded upon itself in a mess of green ooze and then disappeared completely into the ground.  
    “Do what I told you, Sadie! Use your magik! Remember the books flying off the shelves!”
    He tried to shout above the mayhem as he spun this way and that, rapidly shooting arrows at the creatures that were trying to get them.
    Sadie was scared. Really, beyond doubt, frightened to her utter core. Though she didn’t truly believe she was a witch, she did know their lives were in danger and she should listen to Zeno.
    It’s worth a try.
    She closed her eyes and tried to concentrate amongst the chaos.
    What do I concentrate on? In the book store I was angry, though I still don’t believe I did that to the books. I guess anger is the key here.
    Sadie thought hard and went deep into herself to find what angered her most. A thousand memories flashed through her mind, and she settled on the anger she felt at Death. She was angry with Death for taking her mother from her so soon and without goodbyes. She felt the anger she had towards Death for not even giving her as much as a body to say goodbye to or have a proper funeral for. She was angry at the lonely little plaque at the graveyard, placed without a service, and the absence of family to rally around her. She remembered the very moment she’d realized what it meant for her mother to be gone and to have no one else in the world she could rely on. It was the first time Sadie had felt utterly alone. Her anger began to change form. The anger had turned to sadness and a lump caught in Sadie’s throat. She tried to fight