Entangled by Nikki Jefford Read Free Book Online Page A

good mood this evening,” Mom said as Gray sat down to dinner.
    “Eh,” Gray replied with a grin and shrug.
    Across from her, Charlene blew on her fingernails, which were now ruby red. Char had been acting eerily nonchalant ever since Gray returned home from school. She’d even applied eyeliner and lipstick, which seemed like a waste considering she hadn’t gone anywhere.
    “It must be from regaining your powers yesterday. See, I told you Gatherings weren’t a complete waste of time.”
    Sure, let Mom think that was the reason behind her dopey grin.
    Charlene stiffened. “What’s that?” she asked now. “Lee got her abilities back?”
    Mom smiled. “Your sister floated yesterday.”
    “That’s great.” Charlene practically sneered, dropping her elbows to the table and rocking forward. “About time you caught up to the rest of us.”
    Graylee slammed her fork down. “Way to show your sisterly support.”
    Mom cleared her throat. “Girls, let’s enjoy dinner.”
    Enjoy dinner? Right, with the bad seed sitting directly across from her?
    The clank of Mom’s serving spoon against the casserole dish was a distant echo in Graylee’s ear.
    “The squash came out nice,” Mom said. “Just needs a little more seasoning.” She stretched her hand toward the salt shaker. It stood directly between Graylee and Charlene. The salt moved across the oak surface into Mom’s hand. If Graylee’d had any doubt about who’d moved it, it was clarified when Charlene said, “Here, let me help you, Mom.”
    Graylee straightened her back and lifted her chin. “Would you like some pepper, as well?” She glared at Charlene and then pushed the pepper grinder toward her mom with her mind. Only it didn’t move.
    Graylee’s lower lip dropped. She stared in disbelief at the pepper. Then she caught it: a slight smirk on her sister’s lips.
    “You!” Graylee screamed.
    Their mom startled in her seat. “What’s going on?”
    Graylee pointed a finger across the table. “You’ve been blocking my spells all along!”
    If Graylee’d had any doubts, they were wiped clean by the look in Charlene’s eye.
    “No.” Mom looked at Charlene as though she were a stranger. She even spoke as though she wasn’t there. “She wouldn’t do that. She couldn’t.”
    “Five years,” Graylee all but choked. Tears were threatening, but she refused to let a single one spill in front of Charlene.
    “Charlene, is this true?” Mom asked.
    “No.”
    Graylee flexed her fist and practically leapt across the table. “How dare you lie? I know it was you. How come I’ve never been able to perform spells in your presence? Until yesterday I could never do magic at Gatherings, then low and behold—the one day you’re gone suddenly I can.”
    Charlene’s glare was fierce. The best defense was an offense and Charlene rocked the whole “I’m not the one in the wrong, you are” thing.
    “Charlene, how could you?”
    At least Graylee’s mother believed her.
    Charlene’s lip folded over. “Oh, right. So I’m the bad guy. The evil twin.”
    “Charlene, I didn’t say that.”
    Why not? Graylee grumbled in her head. It was the truth. Five freaking years she’d been stripped of her abilities and confidence.
    “You don’t have to,” Charlene cried out. Oh sure, now she was the one sobbing. “You love her more. You always have.” Charlene sobbed harder, great big gasping breaths as though she was choking. “You’d be happier if it’d just been her—if I’d never been born.” Charlene leapt from her chair and ran for the stairs.
    “Charlene!” Mom called in alarm. She pushed back her chair and hurried after her.
    Graylee was left sitting at the table alone.  She stared across the table so long everything went out of focus. The dining chairs, the plates, the framed pictures: everything turned to blurred fuzz as though she were altering reality and might cause everything around her to disappear until there was only herself, seated