Page 93 of The Curse of Indy Moore
I could wear a beautiful dress of my own. I could attend a masquerade ball. I could travel and maybe find that bastard vendor who struck a fear in me and spit in his face. Mr. Hawthorne would probably help, and that made me laugh. I laughed until I cried, uncertain about how to feel over the truth and endless possibilities.
I wanted those endless possibilities. For the first time, I didn’t feel greedy to think about it.
“It’s only natural,”Mr. Hawthorne would probably say, and I believed him.
I fell into the blankets, feeling sleep take me, but I wasn’t frightened that time. My chest had never felt so warm and my mind so full of thoughts that I knew I’d dream a beautiful dream.
The dream didn’t last, and I woke in darkness. That hadn’t happened in some time, so I lay there believing this was part of the dream. Carline stood in the corner of the room, her eyes that same brilliant shade of gold. She approached, donning a smile so unlike her, all sweet and caring.
“You will be with us soon,” she said, speaking more to herself than me.
She came closer, moving into a crouch in front of me. That’s when I realized the sheets weren’t torn up. Nothing was. The room was the same as it had been when I entered.
“You’re so well-behaved this evening.” Carline reached out, and I retreated. “Come now, don’t be frightened. You’ve never been before.”
Before? Has she visited me in the night to watch the curse?
I growled without realizing it. Carline tilted her head and lowered her hand. I stood up, and she did the same. She kept her hands carefully folded at her waist, never looking away from me. She was watching, waiting for me to make a move. I glanced down and saw them: paws.
I was awake in this form. Did she realize I had control over myself? Did Iactuallyhave control of myself?
I had a chance to test the theory. I couldn’t let Carline vanish before I lost that opportunity. I lunged, and Carline jumped back with an unusual shout. When I went for her the second time, she disappeared. She was frightened, but so was I. My pulse jumped. My vision blurred, and I felt myself falling into darkness until I inevitably blacked out.
Next thing I knew, I woke alone to sunlight and torn sheets.
Did last night really happen?
That was the worst part. I couldn’t trust my eyes. Carline caused regular hallucinations, but I think last night actually happened. She was there, and she was worried when I lunged. Our theory could be correct. I had to tell them, so I scurried to the door, where my clothes waited on the other side.
After throwing them on, I burst into a run. I threw open the office door to find Mr. Hawthorne scribbling at the desk, so focused he didn’t hear the door open. Professor Kumir rummaged through books towered by the desk.
“Good morning,” she managed to say prior to my interruption.
“I lunged at her.” My words even broke Mr. Hawthorne’s focus. He and the professor stopped what they were doing.
“Carline,” I elaborated. “Last night, I don’t know why or how, or maybe it was another one of her hallucinations, but I don’t think it was. I woke up last night, and I was in control of the wolf. Carline was there, so I lunged at her, and she looked scared. I think you’re right.”
Professor Kumir smiled so largely, I questioned if it was her. Mr. Hawthorne’s tense shoulders relaxed, and he bore a smile that made my heart ache.
The professor caught my hand. She brought me to the chairs, where we took our seats. “Brilliant, that’s simply brilliant, Indy. Were you aware of yourself all night?”
“No, I blacked out after I lunged at her. I don’t know why.”
“This is a good sign, either way. Tell us every detail.”
We had three days left until the full moon, and I think I had a little hope.
26
Where Indy Writes Her Future
Mr.Hawthornetiedthependant at the end of a string that he put around my neck. His fingers brushed my nap. Even that gentle pressure had my breath catching. When he spoke, his words brushed against my ears, “I wish I had this done sooner.”
The last three days, he lived in the office. Professor Kumir and Otis left him to his devices, knowing full well that enchantments were his domain. We convinced him to eat once, where he proceeded to lecture us through the doorway about how short we were on time and he didn’t need anything as “frivolous” as food. His growling stomach following him from the office to the kitchen a moment ago said otherwise.
I pinched the pendant between my fingers, a simple piece of metal inscribed by a dazzling array of runes. “I appreciate that you got this done at all.”
“You need to be wearing this against Carline. I thought a necklace would work. It should stay on after you shift,” he said, but it was more like he was mumbling tohimself while circling me. “I wish we could test it, but unfortunately, you will have to trust me.”
