The Overwood by Gabrielle Prendergast

Author:Gabrielle Prendergast [Prendergast, Gabrielle]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orca Book Publishers
Published: 2022-01-29T20:00:00+00:00

My heart pounds as I tiptoe down to the gate. It’s not locked, thank goodness. I push it, and it creaks a tiny bit. I open it just enough to squeeze through. Looking behind me, I can see Salix and Finola watching. Rosa is pulling on her leash, but she’s not barking. I think she knows she needs to be quiet.

I step lightly, hiding behind tombstones, until I’m close enough to the witches to see what they’re doing. They’re standing in a circle, holding hands. A dozen candles burn in the center of the circle. The witches begin to chant.

My heart was pounding before, but now I think it might stop. What are they doing? Are they going to raise zombies? Some sort of demon?

I duck across to the next tombstone. Now that I’m closer, I can hear them.

“Parking restrictions on Queen Street from three to six on weekdays,” they chant.

Parking restrictions? That seems kind of… ordinary for witches.

“Fines for using gas-powered lawn mowers on weekend mornings,” the chant continues.

Is this a witches’ coven or a city council meeting?

“Season tickets for the Blue Jays…”

So I guess they like baseball. I’m starting to wonder if I’m in the right graveyard.

Suddenly the chanting stops. “Who’s there?” one of the witches shouts. She turns and looks right at me. “Come forward, child,” she says kindly. “Do you have a request for the sisters of night? Funding for a new school bus? A potion for acne?”

These witches are nothing like I expected them to be. I step out from behind the tombstone. I get closer to the circle of candles. One of the witches beckons me with a curved hand.

They are all dressed in long black coats. Their boots are black too. Some of them have their hoods up. Some are wearing loose black hats. The one who beckoned me steps into the candlelight. I can see that she’s very old. Her white hair hangs in two braids.

“Good evening, young man,” she says. “I am Mrs. Brooks. What do the stars call you?”

“The stars?” I ask. “I doubt the stars even know I exist. My name is Blue. I’m looking for my mother.”

Mrs. Brooks turns. “Is the mother of Blue in the circle?” she asks. All the other witches shake their heads.

“She’s not a—one of you,” I clarify. “I was told you might be able to help me find her. I think she’s with someone you know. Someone called Barbara?”

Mrs. Brooks reacts. She takes a tiny step back. The other witches seem to shiver, as though a breeze has passed over them.

“Come closer, Blue who is unknown by the stars,” Mrs. Brooks says.

Faintly I hear Rosa give a sharp bark. I know it’s a warning. But what can I do? I have to find my mother. I need their help. It’s past midnight now. Dawn is only hours away. If I don’t find Mom by then…

“Come, Blue,” Mrs. Brooks says. “I have something for you.” She holds out a marble. Kevin said witches often give these as gifts.

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