Half Past the Witching Hour (Paranormal Personnel Saga #3) by Joanna Mazurkiewicz Read Free Book Online Page B

said about her past she’d never been in love, so she didn’t understand what I went through while Nathaniel was in my life.
    ‘I think you should stop drinking because you’re not making any sense,’ Kate muttered, pushing Kelsie and me away from the crowd. ‘Have you forgotten about that murder already?’
    ‘Kate, please. Jennifer was involved with some shabby individuals. It was clear that she pissed off the wrong crowd. There is nothing else to dwell on,’ I pressed, feeling a little overwhelmed with a sudden dose of magic. It was like someone switched on my body to produce and receive waves of heat.
    ‘How come you are suddenly not interested in this case?’ Kate asked, eyeing me with curiosity. ‘When Rufus went missing you were risking your skin just to find out more.’
    ‘Jennifer isn’t Rufus.’
    ‘Don’t change the subject. We want to know what’s been going on with you lately. You had strange panic attacks twice, one during the meeting with Rufus and the other when you saw Jennifer’s body. Come on, Julia, you’ve seen far worse than this and you always kept your shit together.’
    Kate was reading me so well and now I had no idea what to say. She was right. I normally handled everything amazingly well and I never before lost it like I had in the factory. For a split second I was considering telling them about the blackouts, the fire, and this mysterious visit from Tron, but then I realised that I had to solve my problem on my own. There was no point getting my friends involved. And Tron had advised me not to discuss it with anyone. Was he really a teacher or just some crazy scam?
    ‘I’m fine, really. It’s just stress. Anyway, I need the rest room. See you guys later?’
    ‘As usual, Julia and her secrets. Sooner or later you’ll have to tell us what is going on,’ Kate called after me.
    I hate that I have to lie to my friends. Maybe I should tell them.
    I vanished into the ladies’ room, keeping my breathing steady. Kate was right. The secret would come out; it was just the matter of time. I didn’t want to think about this now. When I was done with my business I decided to blend into the crowd and admire the art, trying to enjoy myself. Quentin was talking to an older guy in a grey suit, pointing at his beloved painting. I sipped my champagne, looking around, checking out the most expensive pieces. My love life was slowly turning around. I didn’t want to think about the hurdles that I had to face. Everything was getting back to how it used to be.
    ‘Meredith, have you noticed that sculpture on the north side? Apparently it’s been made by the Ukrainian giant. You know the one that painted the Secret castle?’
    The high-pitched voice belonged to a very strong English woman. I smiled to myself because I knew what piece of art she was talking about. Quentin was planning to purchase it right after he got his hands on the other painting. The sculpture was pricey, but he was hoping to make a lot of money on it.
    ‘No, I told you. I hate Eastern European art. My apartment is set in Asian style. He should have known that it was a waste of time coming here tonight,’ replied another woman. She wasn’t English. She sounded foreign, French maybe, but I couldn’t tell because her accent was difficult to pinpoint.
    I finished my champagne, aware of the sudden shift in my energy. Magic was charging through me faster than ever before. Cracks of current appeared on my arms, pinning me down to the right corner of the gallery. I started taking in the pools of air. I had this odd heavy sensation inside me chest: it felt like I swallowed a balloon. The waves of magical energy were passing through my forehead, and a small breeze started ruffling my hair. Something was going on with me, but so far no one else noticed it. We were in a locked up building with no air conditioning, so either someone else must have created the wind or it was simply me.
    I turned around in a search of a waiter and more