Mr. Fine and Candy Cherry appeared midway down the sidewalk. Maybe Elvis would draw some of their energy and fight off the bad spirit. When they neared, Candy and Mr. Fine took position behind Jane and smiled. That was when I knew they weren’t there to help me. I’d suspected it for some time, but it was still creepy to have the confirmation.
Chapter Forty-Four
“You betrayed me. I knew you were evil.” I glared at Candy Cherry. “But you, Mr. Fine, I thought better of you.”
Candy Cherry snorted. “I was trapped in that ball. If helping Jane meant I could escape, then so be it.”
Jane directed the attention back to her. “You must die because of your friendship with Karyn. You seem like such good friends, it’s a shame it has to end this way.”
Whoa. Die? That was a bit drastic. Couldn’t we just agree to disagree? “We weren’t all that close, really. I’d only just met her.”
No, no. I couldn’t throw Karyn under the bus. That wasn’t the type of person I ever intended on being. My mama raised me right.
“Why come after me? You have the necklace. End of story… time to move on.” I gestured with my hands, hoping she’d follow my command.
She scoffed. “I have to get rid of you first. I came after my sister, Karyn, but then I discovered you had the necklace.”
“You came after your own sister?” Mindy asked.
I shook my head at the nastiness that was Jane Howe. “Couldn’t you just have asked Karyn for the necklace?”
“Do you really think she would have given it to me?” She shook her head as if I was the stupidest person ever born.
“Well, no, but you could have at least asked,” I said.
“Whatever. I’m tired of this conversation. I have to get rid of you in order to get the coven leader position. It’s my right and Karyn took it from me.” Her expression told me she was tiring of the conversation… and me.
“So you’re willing to destroy me in order to get the coven leader position?”
“Whatever it takes.” An evil grin spread across her face.
I had a way of attracting all the bad witches. Lucky me. I had just about had it with the black magic. Enough was enough already.
“Did you cast a spell that conjured up the demon?” I asked in a shaky voice.
“How was I supposed to know you’d have a demon waiting to pounce on your ass? I should have known though. It wasn’t my fault you got involved in such evil things. I cast the spell so you would want to give up the magic and give up the necklace. If the necklace was gone, then the coven would fall apart. But that didn’t happen, so I guess I’ll have to kill you instead.” She shrugged her slender shoulders.
I was not going to let that happen. “Well, you can’t control what other people do. And now look what you’ve done. I think deep down you really are evil.”
“You take that back. You really are possessed by the devil.” Jane pointed.
The ghosts stood in their guard positions—Elvis on my side and Mr. Fine and Candy Cherry on Jane’s.
“Maybe you’re the possessed one. Why else would someone do something like this to their very own sister? You should be ashamed of yourself,” I scolded.
She glared at me. Clearly no one had ever given her a piece of their mind before. Well, it was about time someone did and I was glad to be that someone. I wouldn’t let her get by with this evil.
“I’m only doing this to help my sister. She can’t handle the coven leader position.”
Mindy stood to my right; I felt the tension shooting off her in waves. I hated that I’d involved her in more of this crazy world of mine.
“I think she was doing just fine for a long time. You’re not supposed to hurt your family, and that’s exactly what you’re doing to Karyn.”
“I suggest you stop right now. I won’t let you lay this guilt on me. I know what I’m doing.” She shook her fist.
“My point exactly. You know what you’re doing and you don’t care if you hurt Karyn. All you’re worried about are your own feelings.”
“You have no idea about me. I’m sick of hearing about sweet, precious Karyn. She can do no wrong.”
Jane stepped forward, but froze after two steps. Her face turned to a scowl and she held her head.