The Thinking Woman's Guide to Real Magic by Emily Croy Barker Read Free Book Online Page A

together.”
    On second thought, maybe a little
too
charming, Nora thought.
    â€œAnd I would direct!” Ilissa said. “It would be so much fun! I can already tell you two have, what is it called, screen chemistry.”
    â€œThen it’s all set,” he said. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m wanted over there. Lolly insists on getting into a grave misunderstanding with Carnassus, and I think I shall have to peel them apart.”
    â€œOh, the wretch,” said Ilissa, watching him move away. “Not Raclin—Lolly. I may have to—but that’s not important. So you’ve met my son. Do you like him? I can tell he likes you.”
    â€œHe’s the best-looking man at this party,” Nora said. It was true.
    Ilissa looked pleased. “That’s what I always think, but then, I am his mother. I see Moscelle coming this way—she’s looking for you.”
    The night flowed faster and faster. Nora had a long, earnest conversation with Moscelle about Gaibon and whether he loved Moscelle or Amatol more. “Really, the way it started out, it wasn’t that serious between us,” Moscelle said. “But she’s so possessive, she’s driving him away.” Nora squeezed into a snub-nosed red Ferrari with four or five others and they went racing down narrow roads lined with poplar trees, until they had drunk all the champagne that Vulpin had brought and had to go back to the party. More dancing, then Nora wound up talking to the girl with the boa constrictor, whom she realized after a while must be Moscelle’s rival, Amatol. “I’m Nora,” she said. “Lovely to meet you,” said Amatol. “Charmed,” said the snake, lifting its head from the girl’s shoulder and showing its fastidious, forked tongue.
    Nora wandered out by the swimming pool with Amatol and a tall, bald black man. He had small, round Lennon glasses, and he was telling them, in great detail, about a love affair that he’d once had on the planet Jupiter with one of the gaseous women there, whose skin felt like silky smoke, whose kisses were explosions. What has he been taking? thought Nora. She looked down into the pool and saw a naked couple making love at the bottom. They moved rhythmically, wrapped around each other like eels. Nora marveled at how long they could hold their breath.
    Someone started a game of hide-and-seek in the garden. Nora hid behind a palm tree until the girl who was It went past; then she ran laughing down the dim paths, skimming the gravel in her high heels until, in the shadow of a bronze centaur, someone grabbed her arm and pulled her to a halt. Nora almost fell, but the person pulled her upright and kissed her, roughly. “Good night, my dear,” he said. Raclin’s voice.
    â€œHey!” she said warningly. She felt too good to be really angry, she understood the kiss was all part of the night’s game, but still, you could take a game too far.
    He kissed her again, more smoothly this time, and then the gravel crunched as he moved away.
    It was a very good kiss, she realized too late. “Good night,” she said uncertainly.
    She walked across the grass toward the house. It was almost dawn. The lawn was flattened, littered with crumpled napkins, wineglasses, a pair of lace panties. The pool was empty of lovers, but the man who’d had the affair on Jupiter was sleeping on one of the recliners, his glasses askew. In the brightening air, Nora noticed vaguely that his skin was not actually black, or brown, but dark green.

Chapter 4
    F rom under the covers, Nora groped for the ringing telephone. Maggie’s voice in her ear, clear but faint. “Nora? Is that you?”
    â€œMaggie?” Blinking, Nora sat up in bed. It took her a moment to realize where she was. “My God, I missed the wedding, didn’t I? I got lost in the woods, and I just—I just forgot about it.” What on earth had she