Half Lies by Sally Green Read Free Book Online Page A

chill.
    He was holding me and he’d gone really quiet, not saying anything, and I asked, “What are you thinking?”
    Eventually he said, “You’re totally different to what they say Black Witches are like.”
    And I laughed because that was what I’d been thinking. And I really think the whole Black/White thing is stupid—we’re just witches. I told him that and he said, “But they’re not interested in that. They don’t care what you’re like—all they see is a Black Witch. And if they catch you they’ll hurt you.”
    “We’re being careful.”
    “It’s too dangerous, Michèle. I don’t want you to be hurt.”
    “It hurts not to see you.”
    “I know. It hurts me too, but Ethan knows you’re a Black Witch. He’s seen Caitlin coming and going at the Bean Counter. It doesn’t take much to work out she knows you—everyone knows she goes onto Black Witch territory.”
    “Caitlin won’t betray me.”
    “I’m not sure about anything anymore. Ethan’s changed. I mean, it’s understandable, but he hates Black Witches now. Really hates them. I’ve got a bad feeling he’s up to something.”
    “So we shouldn’t see each other?”
    He shook his head.
    “But it’s not fair.”
    Then we kissed some more. Lots more.
    And I can’t bear the thought of not seeing him again.
     
    17th February, 2014
    Gab is back. I ran to him as soon as I saw him walking up the road and I hugged him and wouldn’t let go for ages. He’s still the fain Gab, but at least he’s here with me.
    Raul said Gab’ll have to get someone more knowledgeable and powerful to help him. He suggested a few people—there’s a guy in New York and a woman in San Francisco, but the best is a witch called Mercury who lives in Switzerland. She sounds really dangerous, but Gab says, “They all are.” He wants to see her.
    18th February, 2014
    Gab’s making plans to go. He needs to get some money for flights, but he’ll be gone as soon as he has enough. He wants me to go with him. I’m not sure.
    I said, “But what about Dad?” Gab didn’t reply and I really don’t know what to do about Dad at all.
     
    19th February, 2014
    Aiden’s been round to see Gab, and Gab told him we were both leaving. I didn’t stay to talk to Aiden but afterward Gab told me the latest. There’s been more trouble. Worse trouble. A White Witch, a girl, was killed on our territory. A gang of Whites came over, hoping to trap Aiden and the Half Bloods. There was a running battle and the girl was knocked over and killed by a van driven by one of Aiden’s Half Bloods.
    Gab says, “The next Black caught on their land will be killed. I know it. I’m glad we’re leaving. You have to get away from here, Michèle.”
    I think Gab suspects I’ve been to see Sam—he knows what I’m like. I’m still hiding my journal and I don’t think he’s ever found it.
    • • •
    I’ve decided I’m going to go to Switzerland with Gab. I want to stay and be with Sam, but that can never happen. I dream of us running away together, but I know that’s impossible. Where would we go? There’s nowhere that Black and White Witches can live together. Nowhere. And I want to be with Gab too, and he wants me with him. But if I stay I have a bad feeling that Sam will come over here. If Aiden catches him, it would be terrible and it would be my fault. The only option is to leave.
     
    20th February, 2014
    I had a dream last night that I transformed to look like Caitlin and I went to the Bean Counter and met Sam and he started to make me a coffee and I asked if he’d give me a free chocolate-chip cookie and he said he only did that for Michèle. I told him I was Michèle, but he ignored me and spoke to Ethan, who was working at the till. I transformed back to me to show Sam, but he still saw me as Caitlin. He called me Caitlin. I told Ethan to back me up, to confirm I was Michèle, but he just showed me his leg that still had the dagger sticking out of it, and said, “Look at