Mary Lou
No matter what anyone said about that boy being a guest, I knew he was a witch. The very same witch I'd seen fly off in the town a while back. He didn't seem to recognize me though. The boys went up to the attic to help him clean up and they had not come down yet. There was no way they couldn't smell the mac and cheese with hotdogs. They practically had a sixth sense for it! Did that boy, Ezzie, do something to them? My mind showed me an image of them both on the floor, dead and Ezzie standing over them, cackling. Cold ran through my veins and I shot up the stairs. I turned the corner and slammed into Dean. I fell on top of him.
"What are you doing?!" he said, muffled by me. I jumped up and ran for the attic.
"Saving you..." I stopped and looked at them. They had dirt all over and a splinter or two but were unharmed. Dean started to say something but Jack cut him off.
"Could that be," he sniffed the air. "Mac and cheese with hot dogs?!" he shot down the stairs and Dean scrambled after him.
"Leave me some, you pig!" he yelled and disappeared.
Hmm. strange. I thought that Ezzie had hurt them. I brush it off as paranoia and tell myself, Ezzie can't be a witch. They don't exist. I snorted. That was a stupid lie. Of course they exist! I've seen the others so witches probably do exist. I started to go downstairs and heard a muffled bang noise come from the green attic door. I climbed the spiral stairs and put my ear to the door. A muffled voice saying something and noises. I cracked the door open a bit and looked in. The boy was holding a book in one hand and throwing stuff in a cauldron with the other. I didn't remember a cauldron being there. He threw another thing in and a huge explosion of blue, white, and purple smoke came out. He snapped the book shut and reached a bare arm into the boiling pot and pulled out something I couldn't see. I turned and ran down the stairs as fast as my short legs would carry me. Witch. No doubt about it. I ran into the kitchen and stopped dead in my tracks. He was leaning against the counter, talking to Dean and Jack. he noticed me and smiled. My knees went weak. He knew I knew. Oh god. He looked back at Dean as he said something. Ezzie laughed and said,
"Once upon a time she did. Gran used to knit and I still do." Jack looked at him.
"You really know how to knit?"
"Yeah, why?"
"No reason."
The oven beeped and Ezzie put on mittens. He pulled out a delicious spelling pot pie. I leaned forward and smelled it before I could help myself. Idiot, I thought to myself, now he thinks you don't know anything! Wait. That's a good thing. Keep going. I smelled the pie as he set it on the table.
"Smells really good!" he smiled.
"Grans recipe. Did she ever make this for you?" I nodded. That's why it smells so familiar! She made me a pie every time I was feeling down. I sat and took a bite. Perfect. Tastes like bittersweet memories. I opened my eyes to find him inches away. I choked on my bite and he said,
"How is it?" I gasped for air and took a drink of the water that was sitting in front of my plate...
"Don't you know personal boundaries?!" He laughed a bit at this. How I hated that little half-laugh.
"I've lived for almost 5 years alone, no I think I've forgotten them." Oh god. He lived alone. That's so sad. Stop feeling sorry for him, he's pure evil, I told myself. But what makes him evil? The fact that he flys on a broom, or makes potions, what? I realized I was staring and turned away.
"Oh that reminds me," he said and pulled out two small charms out of his pocket. He handed them to the boys.
"Gran said to give gifts when gifts are given. Here," he attached the bracelets to each's wrist. Dean looked at it, amused, but Jack turned red to the tips of his ears. Why that reaction?
"T-th-thanks." Jack stammered and Dean frowned. Ezzie caught his expression and quickly said.
"Now don't think I'm just giving you jewelry. Those are useful." He tapped the charm and I looked more closely. There was a small engraving, shaped like a mortar and pestle. How strange.
"These will get you to places you aren't supposed to go. I have a lot of friends." The boys laughed like it was a joke and sat down. Mom and Dad walked in.
"Ohh smells nice! But who cooked?" Dad asked. Ezzie raised his hand.
"I cooked a chicken pot pie, sir" Dad waved his hand dismissively as he sat next to mom, who was inhaling the pie.
"No need to call me sir. You can call me Dan. Or Mr. Krackel if you prefer."
I chimed in using a British accent.
"Righty o, Danny my boy!"
Ezzie snorted and actually laughed. I didn't hate that. His real laugh sounded like memories. I grinned, blushing, and turned back to my food. It was gone. I slammed my hand on the table.
"Alright," I snarled. "Which one of you rats took my food?!" Ezzie just put another slice on my plate and said calmly,
"You already are it all. Have another." I was about to devour this one when a shriek came from upstairs. I rolled my eyes.
"Urrg. Hagatha. Wonder if she fell down the stairs, no, I'm not that lucky." Ezzie laughed again and Dad glared at me. Mom giggled behind his back. Aunt Hagathe walked around the counter with an armful of letters and a huge crow on her shoulder.
"Corvus came home and he has an entire box of these for ya." Ezzie grabbed a few and read them over quickly.
"Dear god! So many! I'll have to get to work right away!" He grabbed the crow and cradled him in his arms and ran to the attic. Hagatha ran after him. Dad shook his head.
"Those schools give you kids too much work," I said nothing, thinking up a storm.