The Vaga Read Online Free PDF Page A

hesitancy in opening up. Normally I could tell Aunt Lily anything, but I don’t know if I can tell her about Julian. I mean, what would I say? ‘
Well, Aunt Lily, you know that guy who tried to kill me and Magi and who kidnapped Phoebe? Well, funnily enough, I’ve been having these dreams about him and now I think I’m in love.
’
    As if.
    We sit in silence for a moment, both of us looking out towards the tree line, waiting for each other to fill the void with everything we’re not saying.
    ‘Ellie, your uncle told me about Julian,’ she says, breaking the tension in the air.
    I place my mug down on the side table and fold my legs up underneath me. ‘I thought he might. What did he say exactly?’
    ‘Well, you know your uncle. He was pretty upset about it.’ She takes a sip of tea before continuing, ‘He loves you, that’s all. We both do.’
    I sigh. ‘I know.’
    Magi glances up from the floor and I recognise the look she’s projecting. It’s a look that says “tell her the truth”.
    No
.
    She nudges my foot forcefully with her nose.
    No
!
    She whimpers, her wolf eyes pleading and manipulating me at the same time.
    ‘What’s going on?’ Uncle Jo asks, stepping through the back door and eyeing me tentatively.
    ‘Nothing. Magi’s got issues is all,’ I mumble, passing Magi a warning glare.
    He takes a seat on the stool next to us and watches me warily.
    ‘Can we just talk about something else, please?’ Veering off the topic of Julian and imminent threats I ask, ‘How is the shop going, Aunt Lily?’
    Her pretty face lights up and she shifts position to face me. ‘It is going so well.’ Her wide smile conveys her excitement.
    Moving to college meant my aunt and uncle couldn’t attend to the dairy side of the farm anymore, and after selling all the cattle they were forced to consider other income possibilities. After our near death experience that saw me having to use the Book of Cole and my herbal knowledge to cure Magi and Uncle Jo, Aunt Lily came to respect and admire the power of herbal medicine, and natural therapies in general. She became obsessed with knowing everything there was to know, and she exhausted all my knowledge on the subject before presenting her idea of opening the “Herbology” store on downtown Maine Street.
    Before moving to college I taught Aunt Lily everything I knew—what herbs go with each other to make ointments; how to mix them; how to know which plants relate to the different physical, emotional, and spiritual energies of the body; and more. These things I learnt off my mother, Ama, and from the Book of Cole, and they have served me well over the years.
    ‘I took your advice on how to treat people with anxiety and depression and imported the passionflower you suggested. I have had huge success with it, and have even been able to mix it as a tea tincture.’ She clasps her delicate hands together and looks like she could just burst with happiness.
    Her enthusiasm makes me feel light. ‘That’s so great. Who knew you had this gift?’
    She nods and looks over at Uncle Jo, who is watching her with amusement.
    ‘I think if we keep going this way I will finally be able to employ someone to help around the shop, giving me more free time to be here with you both.’
    ‘We’re okay, Lil. You just keep focusing on the shop. Don’t you worry about us,’ he says, concern rippling through his words.
    Uncle Jo feels it’s safer that Aunt Lily stay at the farm. Without saying it, I know he feels that the closer anyone is to me, the closer they are to potential danger. But I also know what being away from her is doing to him.
    Since the opening of the store a year ago, we had all made a family pact to see each other every fortnight, but lately, what with the store being so busy and me not wanting to teleport as much, the time apart is having a negative effect on everyone.
    ‘Well of course I worry, Jo. Look at Ellie. Something’s going on. Look how she’s glowing.’