Page 78 of The Little Shop of Curiosities Cursed Object 1, The Music Box

Before he can get to his feet, I reach out with my power and give the huge commercial bin butted up against the wall opposite a shove. He looks up and sees it heading for him. It smashes into the wall where he’d been only moments before, but I can’t see him.

Breathing heavily, I move forward, wondering if I’ve really hurt him and feeling a twinge of guilt. As I reach the bin, I peer around but he’s not there. Suddenly, hands grab me from behind. Spinning me around, he pulls my wrists to my chest and slams me against the wall.

I’m breathing hard as I stare at him, wondering how he managed to move so quickly that I didn’t see it.

My eyes narrow. “You cheated.”

“I could do this all day. I’m far older and more experienced than you. If I wanted to hurt you, I would.”

“What do you want from me?” I whisper.

He looks up and I track his gaze. The sky darkens, the maelstrom which has been maliciously churning above us now blanketed by blackness. I suck in a sharp breath.

The eclipse.

The portal must be open. I have to get to the others. I struggle against him, but he simply holds my arms crisscrossed over my chest and presses me harder against the wall.

“Let me go,” I yell.

“Just wait,” he says quietly.

The last bit of light disappears, and we are enshrouded by blackness. With my vision gone, my other senses sharpen, and after a second, I realise I can no longer hear the wind. Only the quiet sounds of our breaths.

My heart pounds in my chest and my stomach clenches with trepidation, but gradually I realise the darkness is lifting. As the eclipse passes, light returns. Only now, there’s nothing but calm air and blue skies.

I suck in a slow breath.

“They did it,” I whisper.

“Just as I said they would,” he replies. “Your loyalty to them does you credit, as does your need to rush headfirst into danger for them. But sometimes you need to know when to step back and realise your path–”

“Lies in a different direction?” I say bitterly. “Alone. Like always.”

“No, you’ll never be alone.” He tilts his head as he studies me. “Have the dreams started yet?”

Although I don’t answer, he obviously sees the truth in my expression. He nods, relaxing his grip on my arms and stepping out of my personal space. “I’ll be seeing you again. But before I go, a piece of advice. One that I thoroughly encourage you to heed.”

I stare at him.

“Keep Sam close.”

“What?” I blink. “Why? What’s going to happen to Sam?”

He chuckles lightly. “He is going to be important to you in ways you couldn’t possibly imagine.”

I open my mouth to speak, but before I can get a word out, deep purple smoke swirls around him and then he’s gone. I blink several times as my brain catches up.

Witch smoke.

A sudden ringing in my pocket startles me from my thoughts, and I fumble for my phone before it rings off. It’s Sam.

“Hello?” My reply rushes out. “Sam? Are you okay? The others?”

“Well, hello to you too, Prickles,” he greets me, and I can hear the cheerfulness in his voice. Honestly, it kind of makes me want to punch him in the face for one irrational moment. Here I am, rushing across London, worrying myself sick about him—them, I mean—and having a crazy magic fight with some complete stranger in an alley, and he sounds like he’s having a grand time. “We’re all fine.”

Of course they bloody are. They don’t need me. Embarrassment washes over me. They clearly didn’t require me to come rushing to their rescue. I feel kind of stupid actually.

“Prickles? Are you still there?”