The Zodiac Collector Read Online Free PDF

should call Dad.” Mary pulls out her cell and dials home.
    â€œI’ll walk you outside and wait with you.” William hops up and tucks his chair under the table.
    Evan pops from his seat. “Yeah, uh, me, too.”
    He and Mary walk ahead of William and me. She glances back at me once, her eyes wide.
    I grin at her, the best nudge I can give under the circumstances. I want to say, “Go on, talk to him. He totally likes you,” but I can’t.
    She bites her lip and settles in next to him. Evan chats about the special effects in the film, how they’re made, and what the director could’ve improved on, and Mary nods emphatically, hanging on every word.
    William and I don’t talk. Ordinarily, it’d be a comfortable silence, but ever since his wicked awesome gift…well, let’s just say both sides—Operation Fuzzy Confusion and Mission Sharp Excitement—are on full offensive strike. A good friend would give him something equally as cool. A more-than-a-friend would…would…crap. Operation Fuzzy Confusion is winning this round. I can’t think of anything super fantastic enough to give him.
    On the ride home, Mission SE launches another campaign.
    I’ve got Gamma’s spellbook. There must be something I can use inside those worn, yellowed pages. Inspiration climbs from its hidey-hole deep in my spine to the battlefield in my brain.
    Gamma doesn’t want me to chant, but if it’s for a good reason then it should be okay. Besides, how much damage can one teensy-tiny spell do?
    Advantage: Mission SE.
    Operation FC raises the white flag of surrender for this round.

Chapter Four
    B y the pale yellow glow of my clip-on book light, I open the Zodiac spellbook and dive into its mysterious depths. A brightly colored Zodiac wheel marks the first page. Red for the fire signs, yellow for air, green for earth, and blue for water. In the center is a five-pointed star. The next ring shows the constellations, with an image of the corresponding sign superimposed on top. The final ring depicts the symbol of each.
    Gemini is yellow. The constellation looks like two stick figures with the stars Castor and Pollux making up the head of each twin. On top of the outline is a drawing of longhaired boys dressed in tunics standing next to one another with their temples touching. The symbol in the outer ring looks like the Roman numeral two.
    I trace my fingers along the image. This is my sign. Where I get my magickal energy from. All I have to do is figure out how to call on the stars.
    â€œCastor and Pollux, are you listening?” I whisper. I hold my breath and listen really hard, as if expecting an answer.
    â€œWho are you talking to?” Mary asks.
    I yelp. “I thought you were sleeping.”
    Mary fluffs her pillow. “Nope. Grandmother said to be careful with that.”
    â€œShe also told me to study it.”
    She purses her lips.
    I blow a raspberry at her.
    The dogs think I’m playing a game. They rush out of their doggie beds and hop on top of me, yipping for pets.
    â€œGuys, easy. Go back to bed.” I lift the book so they can’t scratch at the pages.
    â€œPollux, come here.” Mary snaps her fingers and the little Papillon scrambles to her bed.
    Without competition, Castor can relax. He settles onto my lap, rolls over, and waits patiently for a belly rub. “You’re such a ham.”
    His tail wags like crazy.
    â€œIf you’re going to study something, why don’t you prepare for the SAT?” Mary prods.
    â€œHey, you played with your camera. I’m playing with my present.”
    â€œWant me to snap your photo now? I’ll use the flash,” she snarks.
    I huff. “I want to look at the spells.”
    â€œYou need to wait for Grandmother.”
    â€œYeah, you said that already. Message received.”
    She rolls her eyes. I dip my nose toward the spellbook and ignore her. Her mattress creaks. I