T*Witches 3: Seeing Is Deceiving by Randi Reisfeld, H.B. Gilmour Page A

are.” He paused, then his eyes bored into her, and he added, “Don’t you agree? Apolla?”
    Cam swallowed hard, but fought to stay focused. He wasn’t telling her anything she hadn’t just deduced. Shane was a warlock, the latest messenger sent by “Uncle” Thantos. But where did Ms. Webb fit in? And what was the connection to Helping Hands?
    “Lots of questions!” He’d read her mind again. “And of course, smart little witch that you are, you’ve already figured out some of it. But here’s what you haven’t figured out. I’m not here to hurt you. Or to kidnap you. I’m here on behalf of some people who’ve been waiting a long time to get to know you. So as your charming friend Beth might put it — ‘Come with?’ ”
    At the mention of her friend, Cam’s hands went clammy, and her heart began to thud all over again.
    “Leave Beth out of this. Stay away from her!”
    Shane shrugged. “Beth is sweet. And idealistic. Unlike you, trusting. You could take a lesson, Apolla.”
    “I should trust you?!” In spite of her fear, Cam almost burst out laughing.
    Shane leaned in and let his hands rest on her shoulders. At his touch, she felt a familiar jolt, a sensation that felt electric, exciting. He whispered, “Hey, Cam? Despite what you might think, I’m not the bad guy. I’m not evil. I’m doing the right thing.”
    “What
are
you doing, Shane? You still haven’t answered me.” That came out shakily.
    “I’m here to take you where you really want to go, Apolla. To Coventry Island, where you were born, where your family is waiting. Your real family.”
    The room slowly began to spin. Cam grabbed onto a shelf to steady herself. She heard him saying, “You know you want to. You’ve always wanted to. They’re all waiting for you….”
    But the next words weren’t his.
Not like this. Not this way.
Alex! That’s what Alex had said, the last time someone had tried to lure them. It was one against one. Cam had not seen Shane’s powers in action, so shewas not sure she could take him. She decided not to fight.
    But she could bargain.
    Gripping the edge of the shelf so hard her knuckles went white, Cam took a deep breath. She faced Shane straight on. “Deal. I’ll come —”
    “I knew you would!” He was pleased.
    “On one condition.”
    “You have a condition?” His eyebrows shot up.
    “Stay away from Beth. Just disappear — don’t come back.”
    “But that would hurt her,” Shane said softly.
    “You’re right and you’re wrong. She is idealistic. And innocent. And no matter what you think you believe, you
are
the bad guy, Shane. It’s bad to use Beth to get to me. So go ahead, break her heart — but not her spirit; don’t mess with her soul.”
    For a split second, real empathy flashed across Shane’s smooth face. He softened.
    And in that split second, a plan came to Cam. But before she could put it into motion, the door behind her flew open.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
    THE NIGHTMARE
    Three white orbs filled the archway: the snowman?! In her confusion, Cam thought it had walked and opened the door itself. But that wasn’t —
    “Grab her!” a voice coming from the snowman hissed. It was a voice she’d heard before.
    Cam hadn’t planned what to do next. She focused her blazing eyes on the Styrofoam snowman, trying to see inside it. She hadn’t meant to scorch it — but suddenly, tendrils of smoke encircled the snowman and the acrid odor of charred Styrofoam swirled around them and began to seep swiftly into the gym beyond.
    “Dumb move, Cam!” Shane didn’t bother to hide his panic, as the smoke began to thicken.
    “Stupid servant boy!” That voice again, thin and reedy. “Why are you wasting time? Just get her!” With that, a form leaped out from behind the snowman: a man with a swizzle-stick mustache, sparse wishy-washy whiskers on a pointy chin. Cam felt like everything about him was insubstantial, a bundle of bones inside a sack of skin. Fear rippled down her spine.