Old Magic Read Online Free PDF

bedroom is the entire top floor. It’s small but I love it there, even though I can only stand full height in the center where the sharply angled roof is tallest. But it has privacy, and the sounds of the forest inhabit my room at night comfortingly.
    I suddenly wonder what Jarrod thinks of my home. Strange, I’ll bet. I won’t dare probe his mind again, it only alarms him when I do. He’s not very receptive to new ideas. What he doesn’t understand straight off, what doesn’t follow his “rules of life,” scares the hell out of him. I’ll have to tell Jillian to take it slowly.
    The door chimes ring as I lead Jarrod through the front glass door. Jillian is out back, but comes through the timber-framed arch at the sound of impending customers. I smile at her. Even though it’s unusual to see me here at this time of day when I should be at school, I know she won’t be angry. That’s the way she is—nonjudgmental.
    My smile shrivels on my face. The second Jillian sees Jarrod her mouth drops open and her eyes squint like she’s trying to figure something out. We step closer and her eyes suddenly spring wide open in startled shock. She looks comical, but I’m not laughing. Something is wrong. She fumbles in her jeans pocket for her glasses in a mad kind of panic. She puts them on and starts screaming.
    Her terrified screams hit a high pitch. I sense wildlife scattering at the sound. I can’t understand her reaction. She’s mumbling something about evil this or that, but it’s hard to distinguish any actual words.
    Finally she stops but is still breathing hard, a hand splayed across her heaving chest. Of all the unexpected things to happen, today is definitely the day for it. First that bizarre storm in the lab, and now Jillian losing control. And it’s so out of character, I can do nothing but stand here stunned. Slowly, I slide a sideways look at Jarrod. This is all he needs. He’ll think we’re both crazy now. Predictably, it’s written all over his face, skepticism, shock, and fear of being in bodily danger. His pathetic spirit makes me mad. Where is his backbone? Can’t he see the woman is upset?
    “What happened, Jillian?”
    She points to Jarrod with a trembling hand. “Snakes. I saw snakes.”
    Jarrod’s eyebrows lift.
    “On him?”
    She nods, sucking in a deep gulping breath. “A vision. It must have been a vision. They’re gone now.” Reluctantly she draws her gaze away from Jarrod, locking her blue eyes to mine. “There were at least twenty, Kate. Covering the top half of his body, green slimy things that weaved all around him, over his shoulders, his head, into his hair.”
    I don’t doubt her for a second. “God, what does this mean?”
    She shudders and slips her glasses back into her pocket. “I don’t know, darling. Snakes are vile creatures, indicating the presence of evil.”
    “We’ve only just met, but I don’t sense evil on him.” I think about this and shake my head. “Nah, not evil, Jillian. No way. He’s more . . .”—I shrug as images waft across my subconscious—“kind of puppy-doggish.”
    “If you’ll excuse me,” Jarrod’s placid voice unfolds between us. “This is all very amusing. If I ever get my sense of humor back, I’m sure I’ll laugh—in about twenty years. Right now though, I gotta go, get that Band-Aid, y’know?”
    Wonderful. Of course I know what he’s doing. Ignoring his obvious urge to get the hell out of here, I try pushing past his skepticism and mounting fear. “Wait, Jarrod. Let me explain.”
    He adjusts his glasses, then points a finger with a negative shake of his head. “I don’t think I want to hear it. No offense, but . . . this isn’t my scene. You wanna know the truth? I hate snakes. I had an incident with snakes in my bed once.” His whole body shivers. “Never ever again.”
    He turns, but I beat him to the door. “While you’re here let’s just fix your arm. It’s the least we can do, really.”
    “I think the