"Can you go any slower?" Isabel said. "I'd really like to prolong this experience as much as possible."
"Hey, we're trying to help you here," I shot back, my own frustration bubbling up. "You could try being a little more grateful, considering you practically ran us all over town."
"Grateful?" she spat, her eyes flashing dangerously. "You have no idea what I've been dealing with."
"Then enlighten us," Deva said coolly, her expression unreadable. "Because right now, it looks like you're just throwing a tantrum."
Isabel glared at her but didn't respond, her jaw clenching tightly as she focused on putting one foot in front of the other. The silence that followed was tense, broken only by the occasional wince or gasp from Isabel.
"All right," I said when we finally reached her messy shop again. "We're here. Now tell us what's going on."
"Fine," Isabel snapped, her fury visibly mounting. "You want to know the truth? I couldn't stand seeing Deva so happy while I was suffering. I’ve been trying to figure out a way to get to her when the opportunity presented itself. Katie. I knew she was the perfect weapon to use against her."
I just stared. She couldn’t stand seeing Deva so happy. Why? Deva barely knew her. What could this woman possibly have against our friend?
When no one spoke up, I did. "But why? What did Deva do to you?"
Isabel's face twisted into a grimace as she spewed her hatred and rubbed her sprained ankle. "Harryconstantlytalks about Deva, how perfect she is, how their life had been so wonderful before it all fell apart. It was infuriating. I was dating him, but I couldn’tlive up to the woman whodivorcedhim.Seriously? The bar’sthatlow? And what’s so great about her anyway? What can she do for him that I can’t?"
"You're Harry's new girlfriend," Deva said, understanding dawning on her face. "You're who was there the other night when I went by."
“Yeah, I’m the girl who issogreat that Harry can’t even tell anyone I exist.”
Ouch.
Deva leveled her a look I couldn’t quite read. “You do know I’m not interested in Harry, right?”
Katie looked like she desperately wanted to flip her the bird. “I know a woman who’s playing hard to get when I see one.”
“Hard. To. Get.” Deva’s brain might have short-circuited.
Isabel glared. "Yeah, you don’t fool me. And when Katie came into the picture, I thought, 'Here's my chance. Here's my opportunity to make Deva suffer like I have.'"
The air in the shop was heavy and oppressive, like a storm cloud hanging over our heads. So, we’d officially found the curser. But how was this all working? How did Katie tie into all of this? I glanced around at my friends, who were still struggling to process everything we'd learned. Their expressions mirrored my own shock, disbelief, and a healthy dose of anger.
Beth shook her head. "That's low."
"Unbelievable," I said, my mouth twisting into a disgusted scowl. This woman had cursed our friend and burned down herrestaurant overa boyfriend. "You're not just a witch, Isabel. You're an absolute monster."
"Isabel," Beth said hesitantly, as if unsure of how to proceed. "I think there's something else you should know."
"Really?" Isabel said, glaring. "What is it? That Deva and Harry got back together anyway?"
"Uh, no," Beth said, cringing a little under Isabel's glare. "It is pretty serious."
"Fine. Spill it, then."
"Give me your hand," Beth said. I caught a glimpse of the glove she wore, remembered its significance, and my stomach twisted.
"Excuse me?" Isabel raised an eyebrow.
"Please, just do it," Beth said.
With a huff of annoyance, Isabel extended her hand to Beth. As soon as their hands touched, a shudder passed between them, and the air around us crackled with energy. The lights flickered ominously, casting eerie shadows on the walls. An acrid smell filled my nostrils, making me want to gag.
"Wha—" Isabel started to say, but her words were cut off by a gasp from Carol.
"Look," she cried, pointing to Isabel and Beth's joined hands.
