Shifting by Rachel D'Aigle Page A

her companions.
    Colin yelled at Meghan.
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    “You don’t think we are in enough trouble, without pissing off that crew? I mean, why not just walk in and announce hey, we can do magic and we’re here to spy on you and report back to our evil people.” Colin was never good at arguing.
    Meghan took a huffed breath.
    “Colin, when will you learn that you have to stick up for yourself? So what if they get pissed off! It’s clear they are not running home tattling to anyone. You heard them; they’re waiting for us to screw up.”
    “More fun for them, then. I think Uncle Eddy would agree that we or I should say, YOU, just screwed up.”
    Meghan threw up her arms in defeat.
    “That’s it, Colin. I’m not sticking up for you anymore. If you think you could have handled that situation any better, then next time, YOU DO IT!” she stormed off crossly.
    Anger overwhelmed her; anger that she had to live with the Svoda, dealing with secrets, bullies or magic. As she stormed her way through Bedgewood Harbor, her thoughts strayed to Sebastien; she recalled the conversation they’d had back in Cobbscott. He had warned her then.
    Don’t keep sticking up for Colin. But how could she not? He was still little, still her brother.
    Meghan did not want to go home. She veered off the road, taking the lane that led to the ocean shore, suddenly needing to feel the bite of the ocean on her face.
    Colin slumped over on the wagon steps. Up above, Timothy, looking forlorn for a ghost, floated in circles over him.
    “Sorry, Timothy,” said Colin.
    “Oh that’s okay,” he said shyly. “I hear people argue all the time around here.”
    “Hey, you won’t tell Uncle Eddy will you,” Colin asked nicely.
    “You mean a secret, between you and me?” Excitement rose in his voice.
    “Yeah. A secret.”
    “Wow, I haven’t had a secret to keep in such a long time.” He swirled around, happy as any ghost could be and sang a little song, “I won’t tell, I won’t tell.”
    “I gotta go, Timothy, see you later, okay.”
    “Yes, later then, friend of which I know a secret.” Timothy held his hand up and saluted Colin, then floated away.
    Colin headed into the wagons hoping to find his sister waiting for him, but to his dismay, he did not. He walked through Bedgewood alone, feeling every staring eye. He realized that without his sister, he was afraid. He wanted to hide, but instead, walked quickly to the school and waited for Jae and Mireya, who instantly questioned where Meghan was.
    “Not sure. We had a fight.”
    “Oh, sorry. Maybe she’s already home,” twittered Mireya. She then ran off with a friend.
    “What happened today?” asked Jae.
    In reply, Colin asked his own question.
    “What can you tell me about a girl named Darcy?”
    “Not Darcy Scraggs!” muttered Jae. “Was Dulcy Hadrian and Daveena Troast with her?”
    “Dulcy was, and if Daveena is the biggest, scariest girl you’ve ever seen, then yes she was.” 45
    “Something else I forgot to warn you guys about. The Three D’s.”
    “The Three D’s. They have a name. I take it they’re not just nasty to us, then?” asked Colin.
    “No. They’re mean period. Darcy, she’s the worst. Daveena could crush any of us, but she doesn’t do anything unless Darcy orders it, and then there’s Dulcy.”
    “She doesn’t seem to fit in,” Colin broke in.
    “Don’t let that stupid act fool you. She doesn’t have a decent bone in her body.”
    “Noted,” said Colin gravely.
    “So what did they want?”
    “Actually, they acted as if they knew about our magic,” whispered Colin.
    Jae froze in his tracks.
    “Do you think they do?”
    “Honestly, it’s hard to say. If she did know, though, will she tell?”
    “If it served her well to do it, Darcy wouldn’t hesitate,” exclaimed Jae.
    “Why not turn us in and get it over with then?” asked Colin.
    Jae contemplated before answering.
    “Knowing the Three D’s, they are either scheming some way to expose