The Witches of Merribay (The Seaforth Chronicles) by B.J. Smash Read Free Book Online Page A

The thought of it disgusted me, but, hey, I'd play this game. One thing I knew for sure, she had better get my dad back after this.
    We left shortly after that, taking the bridges back to the stairs and climbing down to the ground where the two white, red-eared hell hounds awaited us.
    As we walked back by the tree house, Izadora stood on the porch and yelled down to me, “Oh , and Ivy…if you want the purple scarf on the old yew tree, go ahead and take it.”
    My mouth dropped .
    She turned around and walked back inside.

Chapter Six
     
    It seemed almost impossible, especially for a worrywart like me, to do such a task. My “orders” were to get into Magella's houseboat and look for the rolling pin.
    Apparently the two sisters had been at odds for years —no, “decades and decades,” according to Drumm, which would mean that Izadora was…old. I had no real evidence to say that she may be some supernatural being, but it was my best guess based on the facts that I had been given today. Who turns to dust when they hit the ground?
    And if that didn't convince me , then this possibly could: Drumm told me that Magella would leave her boat regularly after midnight to swim in the sea. She could supposedly “breathe underwater” and went away for long periods of time, fishing and God only knows what else. I figured that if she could never leave the water, then swimming must be her only exercise. As for the breathing underwater part, I had my doubts. At the very least, these ladies were some sort of witches.
    I would have to wait in town and keep watch for her departure . The only place I could think of to wait would be at Aunt Cora and Aunt Clover's café. Aunt Clover lived above the café, and I would have to spend the night there. I would watch and wait for any signs of Magella exiting the boat, and get in there as soon as possible.
    It would have to happen on Saturday night when she was known to most certainly take a break from the boat . It had to work. If it didn't, well, I didn't even want to think of the consequences.
    Drumm and the dogs walked me back to Ian's gate, but first he insisted that we stop and get the purple scarf from the old yew. I didn't really want to take it, but he said, “If Izadora gives you a gift, you must take it.”
    “But how is it hers to give? It belongs to the old yew, doesn't it?”
    He just looked at me funny, untied the scarf , and handed it to me.
    We walked back to Ian's gate in silence . When we arrived, Ian was sitting in his wheelchair, playing a hand-held solitaire game. Before Drumm turned to leave he said, “Meet me Saturday afternoon at this gate at maybe three or so, and we'll go for a run. The forest has thirty-two dirt roads, and we can just pick one.”
    “I'll be here ,” I said
    He turned and walked away.
    Ian opened the gate, all smiles, and said, “I see you have a new friend.”
    “I suppose . He's okay,” I said and handed him a piece of birch bark. “This is Izadora's message back to you.”
    He accepted the tree bark, grabbed his bag from behind him , and took out a plastic bag with black dust inside. He took a pinch and rubbed it on the bark and held it up to the sunshine.
    “I see . I see. That's excellent news,” he said, and then he took out a lighter and burned the bark, tossing it to the ground. “So, you've agreed to help us then.”
    “What choice do I have? She can get my father back ,” I said, “but what do you have to gain from this?”
    He smiled his charming smile and said, “I just want to see things put back to rights.” Then he grabbed something else from his bag and handed it to me . “A check for your two days of service.”
    I took the check . “Fifty dollars! For two days? Thanks!” 
    “Now let's get back for high tea before Mrs. Pumbleton strokes out.”
    As we made ou r way back, I had many questions, but few were answered. The one question that burned me was, “Who or what is Izadora and Magella?”
    This would be the