The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman Read Free Book Online Page A

wondered.
    April grinned. There was definitely a family resemblance. “Because I’m headed for the very same place.”

    During the time April stayed with them, she and Vincent left the house together each morning. They said they had taken up running, which they vowed would become a huge trend someday. But whenever they returned they were wearing their black clothes and boots and they clearly hadn’t broken a sweat. Jet and Franny both resented being cut out of their mysterious doings. Franny was jealous of the time Vincent spent away from them, but it was April whom Jet wanted to know better, if only to borrow some of her cousin’s fabulous clothes.
    Still, each day April and Vincent continued to disappear without a trace, clearly looking for the trouble they would one day find. At last Franny spied them in the rare book room at the library, intent on The Magus. The two of them had gleefully set the glass-drop chandeliers to shaking, which had the librarians frantically calling town hall to see if there had been an earthquake. The cousins were so engrossed they didn’t notice that Franny had entered the room until she threw herself into a chair directly across from them. Then they looked up, blinking, caught in the act. They were glad they had earlier set a spell on Franny so she would never know what they were up to.
    â€œBrilliant,” Franny scolded. Her eyesight was fuzzy, as if she couldn’t quite see the trouble they were brewing. “Practicing the dark arts in a public place. That will make the locals love us.”
    â€œScrew the locals,” April responded. “Did you know thiswas the spot where the old jail stood? Maria Owens sat here in chains. It has enormous power.”
    â€œIt’s a library. Somehow I didn’t think of you two as library hounds.”
    â€œI am not a hound,” Vincent said.
    â€œI can’t believe this is where you spend your time,” Franny said.
    â€œWe also smoke pot at the lake,” April cheerfully revealed.
    â€œ Our lake?” Franny said to Vincent, truly hurt now.
    â€œWe don’t own it. April has a right to go there.” Vincent seemed even more reckless than usual. “And we only go there occasionally.”
    â€œSo what are you up to?” Franny asked her brother.
    â€œWhat trouble could happen in a library?” When Vincent’s languid smile spread across his face Franny nearly forgave him for sharing secrets with April. But not quite.
    â€œIf you’re with her,” Franny said, nodding to their cousin, “plenty. Just be aware that April is a narcissist.” She’d heard her father use this term for many of his patients, devil-may-care people who never thought about anyone but themselves. “I think you’ll regret this alliance,” she told her brother.
    â€œHe won’t,” April said. “And you’re not the first one to tag me with that diagnosis. I’m disappointed in you, Franny. I thought you were more original. If you’re doing so much research here, did you find out anything about the secret?”
    â€œWhat secret?” Franny said.
    â€œIf I knew, it wouldn’t be a secret,” April said smugly. “I’ve heard my parents whispering about it. It’s probably something horrible and unexpected. I suppose it will hijack us when we least expect it. It has something to do with the curse. Some darkpast that everyone wants to forget. So it looks like you don’t know as much as you think you do.”

    After that Franny had nothing to do with April. Jet, on the other hand, continued to find their cousin fascinating. She loved to try on April’s miniskirts and skintight jeans and lacy dresses. When Jet dressed up in them she looked like someone completely different, and she liked what she saw.
    One night, when thunder was rolling across the sky, Jet looked out the window to spy April and Vincent playing strip poker in