Secret Coven

erde. Victoria had seen it in the guidebook; everythi

n ivy, and ticks, and green flies, and toxic shellf

g and strand you. But just at this moment Victoria would have given anything to be stranded on som

er been so miser

d back into her wretched trance. Both of Taraji's brothers went to MIT and were frighteningly accomplished, not only at intellectual pursuits but also at athletics. Taraji was frighteningly accomplished her

g at the National Forensic League Championship last year, my

at tears came to her eyes. Home, where her friends were. Where she didn't feel like a stranger, and unaccomplished, and boring, and stu

n't I just buy it for you?' But

tared out

wicker rocking chairs on the porch and geraniums hanging from the rafters, were pretty as picture postcards. And the village

e never got around to actually making any of them. And far worse than anything Taraji could do was the plain raw feeling of not belonging. Of being a stra

ht. You've just got to s

ushed it away. Mom is fine, she told herself fiercely. She's probably just miserable here, the same way you are,

being homesick. Her mother felt guilty for bringing Victoria here, for making this place sound l

tening to me? Or are y

g," Victoria

id I ju

ia flo

lege, the National Forensic League... People had sometime

I know this isn't Shrimp Harbors, but at least it's clean. And now look." Victoria looked, following the directio

led something bad. "I saw him this morning on the fish pier, unload-ing. I do

ed hair, and he was tall, and even at this distance she c

h, in groups of two or three, a few with guys, most not. As the tall boy passed, the girls would look away, turning their heads to stare in the opposite direction. It wasn't

e still didn't see anything so disgusting about him. He was wearing ragged cutoff shorts and a T-shirt that had seen better days, but lots of guys looked like that.

beying automatically, although she felt a surge of rebellion in her heart. It seemed cheap and nasty and

but up close it was shimmering with colors: specks of black-and-green mica, pastel shell fragments, chips of red quartz like tiny garnets.

thrust unde

etted it, scratching at the short, silky-bristly hairs on its nose. It was a German shepherd, or mostly, a big, handsome dog with liquid,

owner, quickly, unable to help he

terious. His face was odd; not conventionally handsome, but arresting and intriguing, with high cheekbones and a determined mouth. Proud and independent and humo

d to be nice, and besides she couldn't help it. And so when she felt herself start to sparkle back at him, her laughter bubbling up in response to his smile, she let it hap

came Taraji'

she tore her eyes away from the guy'

aid, not laughin

ill wagging. Then, in a spray of sand, he bounded toward his master.

't fair,"

eyes flew u

moment she was almost frightened, as if she had glimpsed something forbidden, s

ay, the dog frisking behin

't spoken aloud; she was sure she hadn't spoke

y what Taraji was going to say. That dog probably had mange and fleas and worms and

up a dune, then turned along a little path in the beach grass. And although she was clearly disgusted, the

he matter

nk," she said slowly, through tigh

so. You saw him

patiently. "Not that. Sh

Victori

egan nodding, little nods to confirm something to hersel

uttered something and stood up

raj

said, waving a hand at Victoria wit

s goin

t forget all about it. I'll see you later." She walked off, moving

alone, for any reason. But now she found she couldn't enjoy it. Her mind was all churned up, like

been under her breath, and Victoria didn't think she could have heard it ri

ng. You couldn't call a gu

elf. Don't worry, be hap

d picked up her towel. Then, wrapping it around her,