Page 81 of This Witch Is Not Wicked

“Same thing.”

“And I know about murder because I’ve overheard Auntie Harriet talk about it. She is head of the royal guard, you know.”

I pinched her nose, and she giggled. “I think someone is doing a little too much overhearing lately.” I turned my attention back to the bookwyrm. “All right, Morton, out with it. How does the book end?”

He huffed, spurts of smoke filling the air before dissipating. “The attackers come back, and this time Merry reveals her magic in order to save everyone. She passes out and wakes up days later in the town jail.”

“What?” I snapped. “She saved them and they arrested her?”

Morton blinked. “Yes, that’s what I just said.”

“Then what?” I leaned forward. “If this ends in her dying, I’m going to throw this book in the bog.”

Morton gasped. “You wouldn’t.”

“I think she would.” Fiona tugged at the end of one of her braids. “She’s got that vein thing going on that happens when she’s angry.”

“It’s a romance.” Exasperation filled Morton’s voice. “Romances end happily. Of course she doesn’t die.”

I settled back against my headboard. “Okay, so what happens then?” I was guessing everyone would realize how wrong they were about Merry and accept her with open arms.

“The innkeeper rescues her and realizes how corrupt the town is, so he runs off with her somewhere new where they can both start again and hide her magic forever.” He slumped. “Can I go now, or are you holding me captive?”

“I didn’t kidnap you.” I sniffed. “You came of your own free will.”

“Under false pretense!”

“Get out of here before I change my mind and decide to let Vine play with you.”

Morton turned with a squeak and quickly slithered away, disappearing down the rope ladder at the edge of my bedroom.

I sat there, staring out into the distance, my mood suddenly sour.

“You should go too,” I said to Fiona. “You can’t keep skipping school and showing up here unannounced.”

She settled back, propping up her botany book. “You always say that.”

“But this time I mean it. I’ll talk to your aunts about it.”

Fiona gasped and her eyes turned glassy. “No, don’t tell them I’m coming here. Please.”

“How has your teacher not said anything?”

Fiona swallowed. “I’ve been sending fake sick notes to her. Besides, she probably doesn’t even notice I’m gone. If you say something, I’ll have to go to school.”

“That’s where you’re supposed to be!” I threw up my hands. “You need to go to school.”

Her chin jutted out, and she crossed her arms.

“Just go, Fiona. And if you come back during school hours, I will be forced to do something about it.”

She stared at me for a minute, then her shoulders slumped. She got off the bed, head hanging as she walked toward the stairs and disappeared. Her little footsteps thumped against the floorboards painfully slowly, then the door creaked open and clicked closed.

Guilt stabbed me, but I wouldn’t go after her. I had this sudden need to be alone, and I wasn’t exactly sure what had caused this change in my mood.

After Fiona disappeared, Vine flicked me in the arm. “Ow. Why did you do that?”

It pointed its tail out the window of my loft toward Fiona, now walking down the main road, head still hanging.