Page 90 of Ghost Walk
Grace’s feeling of satisfaction faded into confusion. Knockout powder was supposed to be purple. Even Grace knew that and she hated magic so much she hadn’t even watched the stupidHarry Pottermovies.
There was only one explanation for the green dust settling all over Eugenia: Whatever Grace just used, it was the wrong spell.
Darn it, why did her family have to make everything so complicated? The clay vial had read “tired powder” right on the side of it. “Tired powder” as in “sleeping powder” as in “friggingknockout powder,” right? She’d checked, before she took it.
At least, shethoughtit said “tired.”
Loyal’s old-fashion handwriting wasn’t exactly Times New Roman. Had she misread the label? If so what had she just doused Eugenia in? Grace actually checked her pockets, as if another vial might somehow have snuck into her apron. All she came up with was the magnifying glass. This wasn’t good. As far as Grace knewnoenchanted powders were green. Well, except the fabled and probably-phony…
Troll powder.
Oh God.
Grace’s gaze slashed back up to Eugenia, her lips parting in horror as the other woman began to transform right in front of her. She might have skipped theHarry Potterfilms,but she’d seenAvengersand she knew what the Incredible Hulk looked like. Eugenia’s body got bigger and greener and hairier as the powder seeped into her system. Her demure black dress ripped along the seams as she grew. Cunning intelligence stayed in Eugenia’s eyes, but now she was about six times her normal dimensions.
Grace had just super-sized a serial killer.
Eugenia let out a furious bellow of animalistic hatred.
“Sorry!” Grace blurted out. “Sorry about that. Ittotallywasn’t what I was going for.”
Eugenia didn’t seem appeased. Grace’s words to Serenity back at the shop had been one-hundred percent correct: Nobody wanted to become a troll.
Grace winced as Eugenia slammed a wrathful fist against the ground hard enough to shake it. “Umm… Yeah.” She considered her options for a heartbeat and then took off running. What else was she supposed to do?
It seemed like a lousy idea to lead a raving lunatic straight into the 4thof July celebration, so she went in the opposite direction. Darting around Eugenia’s massive body, she headed for the armory.
Why couldn’t the powder make people into thosecutetrolls fromFrozen? At least then there would be songs and snowman hugs.
Eugenia grabbed at Grace, hotdog-sized fingers barely missing her throat. She caught hold of the tour guide costume instead and Velcro ripped free. The apron came off of her, tripping Grace. She tumbled to the ground, the magnifying glass falling from her pocket and landing next to her.
Crap, crap,crap!
If she got out of this alive, she was going to make sure troll powderstayedextinct. Nowaywere they ever going to sell this stuff on the open market, no matter how much her family wanted to drive Madam Topanga out of business. It would end up in nothing but lawsuits, and flattened cities, and tears.
Eugenia dragged Grace closer, no doubt intent on crushing her bones to make bread.
Without even stopping to think, Grace grabbed the magnifying glass and smashed the lens against one of the rocks lining the walkway. Clutching the largest shard, she stabbed it into Eugenia’s hand. The jagged edge sank deep into green flesh. Eugenia let out a roar of pain, loosening her grip enough that Grace was able to squiggle away.
Meanwhile, down below, the gigantic troll was not going unnoticed by the townsfolk. Clara Vance’s irritating voice let out an even more irritating screech. “Witch!” It was her favorite word, so of course that was the explanation she went with. “Eugenia Wentworth has been the witch, all this time! I told you! I told you all along!Look at her!”
Like Japanese crowds spotting Godzilla, Harrisonburg-ians pointed, screamed, and ran for their lives. All very unhelpful. But, on the plus side, it was a sure bet no one was planning to lynch Jamie anytime soon. Not with Eugenia charging around like a character fromWorld of Warcraft.
“Grace!” Jamie shouted, battling the exodus to reach her. “What the bloody hell is going on!?”
Grace was too winded to answer that. She clambered to her feet and aimed what little magic she knew at Eugenia. The menstrual cramp spell hit like a freight train, but instead of providing soothing, relaxing, drugged-out comfort, it seemed to do the exact opposite. Troll powder apparently reacted badly with other magic. Maybe that was why the recipe was forgotten in her time. Or possibly it was forgotten because it had no practical purpose outside of a demolition derby.
Either way, all the menstrual cramp spell did was give Eugenia’s troll-self a raging case of PMS. It slowed her down, but it sure didn’t make her happy.
Grace cringed at Eugenia’s wrathful bellow. This wasexactlywhy spells sucked.
“Grace!” Jamie fought his way up the hill and grabbed her arm. “What happened? Are you alright? What’s…?”
“Move!” She yelled and shoved him towards the armory. It was the only place that seemed even halfway safe. The walls were made of solid stone. “I accidently turnedEugenia into a rampaging monster.”
Jamie took the news better than most men would have. “Holyshit!” His head whipped around to stare at Eugenia’s colossal form, trying to piece together what had happened to the formerly blah-looking Sunday school teacher. “Rivera Doomsday Spell?” He guessed after a beat.
“Troll powder.”
