Chapter 41

Behave. Behave. Chris kept repeating the word over and over even as his skin itched. Something emanated from the house. A vibrating force that made his teeth quiver. It could have just been some highly charged air from power lines passing nearby.

But he knew better. It was magic. Lots of it.

Strong magic.

Possibly stronger than him.

As if his doubts drew attention, the damned whisper was back. "Don't go inside. Stay away from the witch. You won't find help here. Come to me. I'll give you what you need."

What he needed was for the ghostly voice of his mother to shut up. Except maybe it wasn't so ghostly. Isobel claimed to have heard it that morning, and yet, expression intent on their objective, she didn't seem to hear it now.