skin a cat…or me. The horribleness of the situation sank in further and I started shaking. I couldn’t help it. I wanted to be al tough girl, but there was something twisted and wrong in Jay’s eyes. He wanted to see blood. How messed up is that?
The smel of lavender and honey grew more powerful and it gave me an idea. Cal was probably already searching for me, but I needed to give him time to come up with a rescue plan. Keeping the J-team distracted and their lackeys busy running errands seemed like the best idea. And maybe I’ll stop shaking if I have something to keep me from obsessing over Jay’s new found love of blood and revenge.
“Um, no, but I do need some herbs and stuff,” I said.
I tried to keep my voice from quavering. I’m pretty sure I failed. At least with my hands held behind me, Jay and Jared couldn’t see how badly they were shaking. Could I real y pul this off?
“Herbs?” Jared asked, looking confused.
Jared looked around the room and one guy actual y flashed a questioning look and mimed smoking something that I was pretty sure wasn’t cigarettes. Wow, these guys didn’t even know what herbs were.
“You know, like the herbs and spices used for cooking,” I said. “I’m sure they have a bunch in the home-ec room.”
“Why would you need cooking supplies?” Jared asked. He crossed his arms again and looked down at me suspiciously.
“You’ve heard of eye of newt and al that right?” I asked. “I need to make the spell by brewing it up in a pot, preferably a black cauldron, but I need herbs for the Witches Brew.”
It was al nonsense, but I tried to use bits of phrases I’d heard in scary movies about witches. I emphasized the Hol ywood-style witchy bits and hoped that they believed me.
“Okay, you three,” Jay said, gesturing to three burly guys leaning against the wal , “Go upstairs and grab a big pot and al the herbs you can find. Meet us in the East wing science lab.”
The boys fol owed Jay’s order without question.
“Science lab?” I asked.
“So you can cook your spel ,” Jay said. He looked smug—and sinister.
“Yeah, there’s one thing that this room doesn’t have,” Jared said, nodding his head in agreement. “Flame.” Jared and Jay exchanged smug grins and started dragging me to the science lab. The guy behind me continued to hold onto my wrists and helped Jay and Jared push me toward the door.
“Don’t worry, Witch,” Jay said. “We won’t burn you…
much.”
*****
We were nearly at the door when I heard a loud thud, fol owed by a moan, coming from the hal way. It sounded like the footbal thugs were picking on some poor student.
Whoever it was would likely regret that trip to the bathroom.
They’re probably beating him with his own hall pass. I tried to suppress a shudder, but it didn’t work. Jay let out a weird tittering laugh and Jared snorted, amused at the sign of my fear.
The smel of freshly turned earth and dung fil ed my nostrils and I suddenly felt a comforting presence. It was kind of strange, but the alien aura of my dung beetle spirit guide was much more welcoming than any of the humans in the room.
Do not worry, Little One. Your wolf is on his way and you are much stronger than you think. Did you know that we dung beetles can roll up to fifty times our own weight?
It is all in the…LEGS!
I reacted instantly, kicking out with a thrust of both legs.
Each heavily booted foot connected with a member of the J-team. Jay and Jared lay sprawled on the floor. I was stil held captive, and Jay and Jared were already pul ing themselves upright, but I felt a surge of hope. I just kicked some jock butt and Cal is on his way to rescue me. I will make it out of this alive. I know I wil .
“Thank you,” I whispered.
I hoped that my spirit guide could hear me. She had somehow reached me outside my dreams and given me the courage to continue fighting. I was more grateful than she could ever know.
I would not give up. I refused to give in. Even if Cal didn’t make it here in time, I wouldn’t show fear again. No way was I giving Jay and Jared the satisfaction.
I heard more sounds of struggle in the hal way and wondered if it could be