The War on Witches by Paul Ruditis Read Free Book Online

helping.”
    â€œSorry.”
    â€œWho
are
you people?”
    â€œWitches,” Piper said, carefully. “Like you.”
    â€œI’m not a witch,” Nat quickly replied.
    The Charmed Ones didn’t even bother to share a knowing glance. Most of the people they met with special abilities hid them from the world. This wasn’t the first person to flat-out deny what they were saying.
    Phoebe took her hand. “Tell us what happened.”
    Nat provided a quick rundown of her story between halting comments and questioning whether or not it was real or she’d imagined it. Her attacker did sound like some random guy. He had no horns, no fiery breath. But the Charmed Ones had also learned that even the most handsome man could be a monster inside, literally.
    Phoebe and her sisters held their questions until the end with the unspoken agreement to let the girl tell her tale the way she needed to get it out. They wanted to get all the information they could get before they focused on the important stuff.
    â€œThis book,” Paige said gently, beginning the interrogation. “Did it have a name on the cover? Anything to identify it?”
    â€œNot that I saw,” she replied. “But he called it a Book of Light. Said it was the opposite of a Book of Shadows. You . . . know what a Book of Shadows is?”
    â€œWe’re familiar with the concept,” Paige replied.
    â€œThe spell he chanted,” Piper said. “You’re sure you didn’t recognize the language?”
    â€œPositive. I’ve never been outside of Hartford, but my parents and grandparents speak a bunch of different East Asian languages. I’m also majoring in film studies with an emphasis on foreign cinema. I like to joke that I’ve got an ear for tongues. This was nothing I’d ever heard before.”
    â€œDid you feel anything when he used the herbs on you?” Paige asked. “Pain? Dizziness?”
    â€œYou mean before I blacked out?” she clarified.
    Piper nodded.
    â€œJust felt like I had to sneeze,” she replied. “Some of the fairy dust went up my nose. It smelled like oregano, actually. I could go for a pizza now.”
    Phoebe was glad that Nat was managing to remain lighthearted. And that she had an appetite. It made the questioning easier on all of them. “Have you tried any magic since the guy left?”
    Nat stiffened. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” She sounded far from convincing. She had no problem talking about books or magic and fairy dust, but when it came to admitting the truth she still stuck to the lie. Years of hiding her abilities from the world and she still wouldn’t give up the denial.
    Phoebe squeezed the girl’s hand reassuringly. She had not let go since Nat started her story. “This will be a lot easier if you trust us. I know we’re strangers and you’ve had a difficult day, but—”
    â€œLet’s save some time.” Paige held her hand out. “Tablet!” Across the room a tablet computer started to glow a bright blue and white before breaking into tiny orbs that rose into the air and disappeared. The tablet reappeared a half a breath later, materializing in Paige’s hand. “See? Witches. Like you.”
    Nat’s eyes went wide. “Wow. I’ve never seen a teleportation spell like that. What do you call it?”
    â€œSometimes I call it more trouble than it’s worth,” Paige replied. “I’m part Whitelight—know what? It’s not important. Let’s focus on you for the moment. What’s your active power?”
    â€œI . . . I can sense trouble,” she replied, having given up all pretense of denying who she was.
    â€œYou see the future?” Phoebe asked.
    â€œNo,” she replied. “It’s more of a spidey-sense kind of thing. Not particularly useful as powers go, but it’s saved me from trouble on