Page 62 of Practically Magic

Almost too quiet. All my senses heighten.

Twinkle lights dance in the wind, except I didn’t put up any decorations—those are will-o’-the-wisps in the lake, trying to draw people to their death. Nearby, the greenhouse is glowing with a strange pulsing green light. It would be super-romantic, except I’m pretty sure the world is ending, and I’m with a boy I don’t even like. “Colton, I really have to go.”

“Whoa. What’s your rush? The party is a hit thanks to me. I kind of told everyone I was your cohost tonight. Everyone wants to go to a party with Colton Croft, you know?”

And now he’s talking about himself in the third person. A few days ago, the thrill of being this close to Colton would have made my stomach flutter, but now all I can think about is my sister. I see a flash of light and look up at a window.

Our house looks like it’s having a fit. The lights are flashing yellow and green. A group of gremlins clamber down the drainpipe. Garden gnomes shatter the windows and scuttle their way inside. The window to the kitchen has iced over. The wind shifts again, and leaves blow in our direction, bringing along with it an icy cold that reminds me of the one rising from the hole in the office. Something is happening. We’re being watched. I pull on Colton’s hand. “We aren’t safe out here, Colton. We need to get you inside.”

“You’re with me,” he says, puffing out his chest. “Where could you be safer?”

That’s when a horse’s whinny cuts through the air.

I look around wildly and pull on Colton’s hand again.

“Kat—”

“Shhh!” I hush Colton, but he doesn’t listen. He just keeps talking about himself and how happy I should be that he noticed me and how I don’t need my sister or anyone else, and that’s when I see a tall figure emerge from the shadows behind Colton.

I’m too late. The Headless Horseman has risen from his grave.

I’m so petrified, I can’t even speak. I tug on Colton’s arm to pull him away, but I’m too late. The Horseman kicks his horse into a gallop, and they’re looming closer and closer. He raises his gloved hand, and I watch in stunned disbelief as his axe falls.

26

Mystic Hollow Community Page

New post from Mayor Croft: Citizens, I’ve been alerted by numerous reports of small critters on carnival rides, eating wires, and causing havoc at the festival. Please avoid the area for the time being while we deal with this minor issue. Tricksters at work, I’m sure!

A scream builds in my throat as Colton’s head rolls to a stop in front of me, his eyes blinking in surprise. The Horseman continues down past the lake, loping toward the cemetery, but I can’t look away from Colton’s disembodied head. As if feeling left out, his body ambles over and casually picks up his head, which he holds like a football tucked under his elbow. I guess he is a quarterback.

“Cool, how’d you do that?” his head asks, laughing hard, not at all concerned. “Neat trick. I have to show the guys.” He jogs back toward the house, carrying his head.

I whirl around, but the Horseman has already disappeared into the woods. The cemetery is on the other side of the lake, and I need to find a shortcut. Fast. It’s not like I can run quicker than a horse.

“Wait! Stop!” I scream.

I hear someone snicker. When I turn around, I see a group of vampires.

“You’re too late, witch,” says the one who bit Tom. She wipes a dribble of blood from her mouth, and I pale thinking of whose that could be. “The Horseman has risen from your prison and now will raise the dead to assemble his army.” She steps closer, and I can feel the darkness in her trying to swallow my energy whole. “By midnight, the veil will completely fall, and then Mystic Hollow will be ours.”

I picture the town green, where everyone is gathered for Halloween. The carnival blazing bright in the night, the pumpkin patches, haunted corn maze, and the trick-or-treaters. These supernatural beings our family have kept away for centuries will be allowed to run free and will take over our town. I can’t let that happen.

The vampires start coming at me, baring their fangs.

I know they’re expecting me to panic, but I refuse to be afraid. I’m a witch. My family vowed to protect this town centuries ago, and somehow I lost sight of what these Samhain spells are for. They’re not about finding love on Halloween. They’re about coming together as a family to protect Mystic Hollow. But it’s not midnight yet. There are still two Hadleys in this town, and together we can save Mystic Hollow.

Instead, I turn and race toward the little rowboat we keep by the edge of the lake. Yes, there’s a kraken. Yes, there are lights in the water trying to lure me to my death.

But my sister is across this lake, scared and alone in a cemetery, and the Headless Horseman is riding there to raise his undead army. I get into the boat.

The vampires hiss and lunge at me, but a tentacle rises out of the water and bats them aside like bowling pins. They topple as I start rowing.

On the far shore, tombstones seem to bob with every stroke of the oars.

While not a Samhain ritual, per se, Mom has always brought us to the cemetery on the holiday to visit the graves of our ancestors to thank them for all they did to protect Mystic Hollow. There are many Hadleys buried here, but Beatrice was always our first stop because the woman was a rock star witch.

While our house holds more power, it makes sense for Harry to try to cast her spells there.