Page 76 of The Little Shop of Curiosities, The Music Box Part 2

“You know you don’t have to stay here, Riley. You can come with us and we’ll help you find somewhere to stay. Then you can talk to Mr Hadley about selling the house.” I reach out and squeeze her hand.

She considers my words for several long moments before finally sighing and shaking her head. “Tempting, but no. A house like this? In this location? It’s more than likely it’d be sold to a family with children, and I don’t like the thought of anyone else having to deal with all of this.”

“But chances are they wouldn’t be able to see the things you do,” I reply.

“What do you mean?” She frowns.

“Riley, you’re gifted.” I give a small laugh. “I’m sure it doesn’t seem like it at the moment, but not everyone can do what you can. The dreams, the waking visions, being able to see echoes. You have a preternatural ability.”

“I didn’t have it before I moved to London. Do you think it would disappear, that my life would go back to normal if I left?”

“Unfortunately, it’s not refundable,” Sam says. “And once it wakes up, you can’t switch it off. You can only learn how to control it so it doesn’t impact your life too much.”

“Great,” she huffs. “But I still can’t leave this house. I know it sounds crazy, and any sane person would be straight out the door, but I feel like…like it’s my responsibility to fix this, fix it. I know, it makes no sense.”

“Actually, it does,” I tell her gently. “You’re tied to this place by blood and by magic. It’s calling to you.”

“Magic.” She chews her lip. “You believe in all that?”

“Oh, you have no idea,” Sam mutters, and I can’t help the smile that tugs at my lips.

“It’s just…” She hesitates.

“You can tell us anything,” Sam reassures her. “We’re here to help you.”

“The dreams and stuff aren’t the only things that changed when I moved in here. There’s something else.”

She swallows, then lifts her hand and stares at my mug of tea on the table. For a second, nothing happens, then the mug jerks into motion and skids across the table towards her outstretched palm, spilling tea in its wake.

Sam blinks. “You did that?”

She nods slowly.

“Telekinesis,” I mutter. “Well, I’ll be damned.”

She blows out a breath. “That’s the first time I’ve done that in front of anyone. For a second, I wasn’t sure if it would work or if this was all in my head.”

“It’s definitely not in your head.”

“Do you think…”

“What?” I ask.

“Do you think it makes me a freak? That I can do all this weird shit?”

I smile at her and lift my own hand, watching her eyes widen as my palm erupts into the warm red and gold flames of Earthfire. Then the colour shifts into a deep lavender.

“What the hell is that?” she gasps.

“Witchfire.” Her gaze snaps to mine, and I nod. “I’m a witch. The real deal. And you already saw some of Sam’s supernatural abilities. I know this is all new and a bit scary, but you need to know you’re not alone.”

“That’s so cool.” She smiles as she watches the flames dancing in my palm.

Suddenly, the flames start to sputter, and tiny little bursts of sparks shower across the table. I suck in a sharp breath as a rush of power surges up my arm and through my body. The fire I’m holding erupts, turning into a bright green, then the flames funnel up to the ceiling and spread outwards, swirling like an oceanic whirlpool.

I’m vaguely aware that both Sam and Riley have leapt out of their seats, stumbling back from the fire.

“Harrison!” Sam shouts, but I can’t respond. It’s taking all I have to keep the flames under control, my breath coming fast and uneven.