Everyone turned in horror as Carly stood in the grass, white eye


    blind to the world, voice too deep for a freshly seven-year-old child. Rick turned back to me, because the goddess left my body, and we were once again alone. "Is that who I think it is?"


    Carly chuckled in a voice that sounded like she was grown. "If you are asking if I am the Shaman, I am indeed.” She turned to me. "High above us, where the stars can reach, the secret you are searching for has taken root."


    Something in my chest loosened. Something my soul has figured out, but my brain was still trying to catch up. "What do you mean?"


    "You know." She smiled, and then I watched her start to fall. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head and before she could m into the ground, I caught her.


    "Holy shit, you have the shaman here?" Rick paced.


    "Abby is ying with the shaman?" Shelly looked confused.


    Ternen, sweet Ternen, just looked at us, "Who or what is the shaman?"


    Everyone froze for a second and then everyone, including the newly awakened Carly,ughed. I think thement broke through everyone''s heightened emotions and brought us all back down.


    Wendy, Toya, and Abby all came out of the cabin and walked up to theughing crowd. "Everything okay?" Toya sounded


    worried.


    I nodded. "Why?"


    Toya pointed to Carly. "The girls were ying with the dolls and this one sprinted from the room."


    Carly wiggled to get down from my arms. "I felt a visioning on and I needed to be with Amy when it hit." She looked up at them. "I''m sorry if I scared you."


    Wendy crouched down with a smile. "It''s okay, sweetheart." She tickled her side, earning a giggle. "We understand that your


    power pushes you to do things. We just worry, is all.”


    Carly hugged her and then turned to me. "You remember my words?" I nodded. "Good." Then she turned to Abby. "Do you want to go back to y dolls?"


    "Yes." Abby danced in Toya''s arms.


    "Hold your horses, girls." My mom''s voice carried from the porch.


    We all turned in surprise. "Ma?"


    Sheughed. "Morgan and Shannon are gone. The house is locked up and I came through with dinner." She waved us over. on and eat, and then we can figure out or next steps." She walked back into the house.


    "Come


    #20 Bonu


    "Morgan left the house?" Toya lifted her brows.


    I nodded. "You missed the bomb that dropped today." Toya and Wendy looked


    intrigued. "I''ll tell youter."


    "Porch wine?" Wendy offered.


    I nodded. "Porch wine." I winked as we all turned and headed to the door.


    "Porch wine?" Shelly caught up to me.


    Iughed. "Yeah, after Carly is in bed, the three of us will catch up on the porch with a ss of wine. Toya started called it porch wine after the first night." I slipped my arm around hers. "When you are here, you are more than wee to join us.


    "Oh I can''t." She shook her head with a chuckle.


    "Why the heck not?" I shook her lightly.


    "Because I have Abby."


    I snorted. "Rick will be here, and she will be cured by then. I''m sure the man you


    mated can handle her for one night."


    She looked at me through hershes. "You promise?"


    I distractedly nodded. "Promise what? That he can handle his kid for a night.


    Goddess, I freaking hope so.” Iughed.


    Shelly chuckled with me as we went up the porch steps, but she shook her head. "No. About Abby being cured by then?"


    I pulled her to a stop before the door. "The only reason I''m not curing her instantly


    is because Vince would feel it. Or who ever he had to do the curse. It''s connected


    to the caster, and if any die, or the curse is lifted, they are instantly alerted."


    She quivered in my arms. “I can''t lose her."


    "And you won''t." I squeezed her.


    "Mommy,e on. Grandna Ainsley madesagna, and garlic bread." Abby bounced on her toes.


    I looked at her. "Issagna your favorite?" She nodded. "My y mom makes the bestsagna ever." Abby looked at her mom.


    "I think my mom does." I smiled.


    "Well, I guess we have to find out. Tonight we will have my moms, and maybe soon, we will get to have your moms."


    She grinned, and we headed inside. But instantly, something felt off. I left everyone downstairs as I made my way upstairs. Nels and Megan''s hackles were up. I started to run, but something was wrong.


    I ran to my bedroom and realized my mom had left the connecting doors opened


    in her haste toe over with her hands full. I


    went to close them, but I heard something scraping against metal.


    I slipped through the doors, closing them as I went, and made it to my bedroom


    door when I heard it again. A soft scrap of something against my lock. I spun the lock and wrenched my door open.


    383


    "What the fuck do you think you''re doing?