Bridget's Witch's Diary: Magic and Mayhem Universe: The Witch Singer, #2

1

Bridget

C’mon, Rika! Bellowing was my least favorite activity. In fact, the moment I had to raise my voice above conversational volume, magic swirled within me. With Rika, it seemed I waged a constant battle against decimating with my decibels.

I’m not going to school! The rebuttal carried down the stairs to the kitchen. And you can’t make me.

Like a red flag waved before a bull, the challenge sent fractures weaving through my tight-fisted control over my temper. After slamming a pan down on the stove, I marched my way up the stairs. When I flung her door open for dramatic effect, it bounced off the pile of laundry stacked just inside and whacked me right in the nose.

Tears sprang to my eyes as I slapped a hand against the wood to keep the door from assaulting me again. Great Green Goddess! It hurt like a…

Don’t just charge in here like you own the place, Rika said with a scowl as she whirled away from her desk. Dressed in ripped jeans, a flowy red top which bared one shoulder and matched the wild red of her ever-changing hair, the teenager took what could only be labeled a battle stance, right down to her clenched fists. On the desk behind her lay an open book—a very familiar open book.

The multi-colored pages were part of the reason I bought the book to use as my journal in the first place. What are you doing with my diary?

Wow, that came out scary calm sounding, even to me. The anger coursing through my veins which sent me rushing up the stairs slowed as ice sheathed my temper. There were only a few things I really couldn’t stand. Invading my privacy topped the list.

My recalcitrant witch-in-training seemed to get the message, because Rika paled and her vibrant red hair faded to an ugly ass orange. I wanted to figure out one of the spells.

Closing my eyes only blocked my view of her for a moment. There weren’t enough deep breaths in the world to ease the tension ballooning in my chest. Come to me, I sang the three words and bent the magic to my will. The book flew off her desk and into my hand.

When I looked at Rika again, chagrin replaced the rebellion in her stance. The orange hair began to flame around the ends. The spell I’d placed on her to contain her magical side effects held. Her cheeks flushed and her eyes took on a sharper color.

Yep, she was about to explode.

How else am I supposed to learn? Rika blustered, her defense shifting to full offense. You’re supposed to teach me, and all you do is tell me to do my chores, and make me go to school. You don’t even let me…

Boom!

The explosion engulfed the air around her and her hair flamed green and stood on end. If I weren’t so annoyed, I might have been amused. Rika clenched her fists and stomped her foot as she tried to get the flames under control. At least they weren’t actually burning her this time.

Martin chose that precise moment to stick his head into the room. Problems?

My heart did a little flip-flop. Martin’s deep, soulful brown eyes turned me into all kinds of chick flick mush. I adored his dark mop of black hair, even the white stripe which reminded me of his skunk origins. He had the longest, darkest lashes framing his gorgeous eyes. I’d be jealous, except I loved how he looked at me.

With Martin, I felt anything was possible—even dealing with the hormonal Rika and her misfiring magic.

She’s a monster. Rika snarled. Yes, the joy of the wild, unpredictable teenage years. She won’t teach me. When I decide to take matters into my own hands, she acts like I’m the criminal.

I see. Martin nudged his glasses up then looked at the book in my hands. He knew I kept a diary. Sometimes it was the only way to work out the problems plaguing me. Problems like how to undo the turn of a succubus into a vampire—have I mentioned how impossible that task had become? Or how onerous a weight it made sitting on my shoulders.

I’d been in Assjacket a month, and I was no closer to resolving the issue than I had been when Mr. Nasty-Face ordered me to fix it.

Well, since I’m a monster, you’re grounded. You will go to school, then you will return and stay in this room. I still sounded all kinds of ominous calm. I didn’t feel that way, but my voice let me do all kinds of tricks. When Rika opened her mouth, I made a zipping motion and it