Last Dance (15 page)

“I don’t understand what this is about, but I understand about family and love, and I want to help.” She handed the envelope to me. “This has been in my family for a very long time, and now I’m happy to pass it on to you.”

Hardly able to breathe, I lifted open the envelope flap.

I pulled out a tiny silver charm shaped like an old-fashioned house.

My second charm! I was halfway towards finding the remedy book. I couldn’t wait to tell Nona!

“Since we’re cousins, I’ve decided to give you something else,” Mrs. Baskers added with a mysterious smile. “I found it when I was rummaging around in the attic, and frankly I had no idea what to do with it. Until now.”

“What is it?”

“An object of superstition,” she said with a wink as if she didn’t take superstitions seriously. “It was used to ward off evil spirits. All it’s been doing in my attic is gathering dust. With a little polishing, it will make a lovely decoration.”

I stared in awe at the reflective mirror-like sphere. I’d never seen one before, but Nona had told me stories about these magical objects. When I touched the sphere, I had a strong feeling the stories were true. And that something ancient still lurked inside.

“Do you know what it is?” the old woman asked me.

“Yes.” I shivered. “A witch ball.

Linda Joy Singleton lives in northern California. She has two grown children and a wonderfully supportive husband who loves to travel with her in search of unusual stories.

Lin
da Joy Singleton is the author of more than twenty-five books, including the series Regeneration
, My Sister the Ghost, Cheer Squad,
and, also from Llewellyn,
Strange Encounters.