MAIL-ORDER MONSTER

by Linda Joy Singleton

A Middle Grade Novel

©copyright by Linda Joy Singleton, June 2001
Cover Art by Eliza Black
1-58608-217-5
Gemstar Edition 1-58608-377-5
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park, GA
www.newconceptspublishing.com

CHAPTER ONE

"Rattlesnake grass!" Skye Jones exclaimed, bouncing off her patchwork quilted bed.

Skye hurried over to her desk and found a thick book of Western plants. She pushed her glasses up high on her nose, eagerly checked the back index, then flipped to the B's for briza maxima.

"Eureka!" Skye pointed to a tiny drawing of a long-stemmed plant with dangling pods that looked like rattlers. It was the same plant she'd spotted growing in a ditch on her way home from school.

Skye smiled, and felt hopeful for the first time that day. Aunt Glory and Aunt Belle would love a bouquet of rattlesnake grass for their dried flower arrangements. A gift of decorative weeds was the perfect way to say, "I'm sorry."

Skye's smile faded as she remembered what she was sorry for. Boy, had she blown it this time. She might as well place an ad in the newspaper to announce: Skye Jones messes up again.

She pressed her lips together so she wouldn't start crying. Crying was for babies, not sixth graders. She hated crying almost as much as she hated failing. If only she hadn't flunked that dumb geography test. She'd never been an A student, but she'd always earned okay grades.

Until today.

Why did she need to know where Tasmania, Copenhagen, or Malta were on a map anyway? She'd never traveled further than Hickory Town. And that had only been once.

Nervously, Skye paced her cocoa-colored carpet. Sneaking out when she was supposed to be studying was risky. It would be night-time soon, and gathering wild grass in the dark was scary. So many things could go wrong . . . .

She could get lost.

Or she could stumble over log and break her leg.

Or WORSE--a vicious animal could attack her.

Skye gritted her teeth and vowed: Nothing will go wrong.

She found a small burlap sack, grabbed a flashlight, and tip-toed out of her bedroom. It was now or never.

Taking a deep breath, Skye quietly slipped down the stairs.

As she passed the kitchen, she heard the soft murmur of voices. A strong sweet and tangy smell filled the air, and she knew her twin great-aunts were cooking another batch of goats' milk. They made goat cheese, goat soap, and unique dried-flower baskets. These creations were sold through their mail-order business, "Just Kidding." Aunt Glory and Aunt Belle would be busy for hours.

Good, Skye thought. There would be enough time to walk down the street, gather a cluster of rattlesnake grass, and sneak back into the house. Her aunts would never know she'd been gone.

Skye stepped outside into the dusky evening. The sun had sunk behind western hills, and a sliver of moon looked silver in the twilight.

She pulled out her flashlight, pushed the "on" switch, and a yellow beacon shone a bright path down the narrow, rutted country road. There was no sidewalk, only a worn trail through weeds.

Her heart pounded loudly as she aimed the flashlight straight ahead. Trees and bushes seemed taller, darker, and scarier at night. Faint rustling sounds sent shivers up and down her spine.

Skye had never been afraid of the dark--but she could learn. Her teacher, Mr. Reuben, had said she was a very quick learner.

There was a loud crackling sound and Skye froze on the weedy grass. Was it a wild animal? Was she being stalked by serial killer? Or had her aunts followed her?

"Boo!" a girl's voice shouted.

Startled, Skye whirled around.

She groaned, and decided she'd rather take her chances with a wild animal. A savage beast was friendlier than the two girls who faced her. Viera Galvez and Priscilla St. James were the most popular girls in sixth grade, or as Skye secretly called them: Enemy One and Enemy Two.

"Gotcha, Skye!" Viera roared. "Scared you big time!"

"Yeah. Ha. Ha," Skye replied sarcastically, hiding the sack behind her back.

"What'cha sneaking around for?" petite, blond Priscilla questioned.

"Yeah." Viera shone a tiny flashlight into Skye's eyes. "We saw you creeping past my house and got curious. Why are you walking down a dead end road?"

"No special re-reason," she stammered, adjusting her glasses to shield her eyes from Viera's flashlight.

"You look guilty. You're up to something," Viera accused.

Priscilla nudged her friend and giggled. "Something weird, I bet."

"With Skye Jones, it's always something weird." Viera almost doubled over with laughter.

Skye's cheeks felt hot. She knew her classmates thought she was strange. They teased her about her oval pink glasses, her curly toffee-brown hair, and the homemade dresses her aunts sewed for her. Being different was the pits. Skye wished she could fit in. But she didn't have a clue as to how.

"I-I've got to go," Skye said, backing away.

"Not so fast." Viera's cool fingers encircled Skye's wrist. "What are you hiding behind your back?"

"Just a bag."

"What's in it?" Viera persisted.

"Nothing. Now I really have to leave . . . ."

Viera released her wrist. "You're acting weird. Weirder than usual. And you're really nervous. How come you're sneaking around?"

"I bet she's gathering ingredients for her witchy aunts," Priscilla said in a hushed tone. "I've seen them brewing potions in a spooky caldron."

"My aunts make soap," Skye snapped, her embarrassment heating to anger. It was one thing to make fun of Skye, but they had no right to insult her aunts. Aunt Glory and Aunt Belle were the kindest, sweetest people in the universe. Sure they were old-fashioned, but they loved Skye like a daughter. They'd taken her in when no one else would.

"Normal people buy soap at the store," Viera sneered, flipping her satin-black hair behind her shoulders. "You sure are loony."

"Loony-toon!" Priscilla added.

"That's not true! My aunts' goat milk soap is wonderful. People order it from all over the world. Their mail-order business is famous."

"Famous?" Viera snorted. "Yeah, right. And you're really a princess in disguise. A goat princess!" She rolled her eyes and tapped Priscilla on the shoulder. "We'd better go before Skye's weirdness rubs off on us."

"I bet her aunts are really witches," Priscilla said.

"Brewing goat milk soap sounds like black magic to me," Viera agreed. "Wait till the kids at school hear this!"

Then both girls walked off, laughing, leaving Skye standing alone.

Always alone.

And it hurt.

Tears stung Skye's eyes. Why were Priscilla and Viera so mean to her? She tried to be friendly, but it never worked. She didn't understand other girls. It was like they were from another planet and spoke an alien language. They gossiped about TV stars, clothes, and boys. But Skye seldom watched TV, wore boring hand sewn clothes, and would probably never have a boyfriend.

Skye loved animals, gardening, nature walks, and learning about science. Important stuff that might seem weird to other kids.

Skye sighed. Feeling sorry for herself wouldn't solve anything. She'd better get some rattlesnake grass. Although, with cruel words still ringing in her ears, her goal no longer seemed special. Sure, Aunt Belle and Aunt Glory would love the wild grass, but they'd still be unhappy about the bad geography grade. Skye would never forget the disappointed looks on their faces when she'd showed them that ugly black-inked "F".

But life goes on--even when you're having the worst day of your entire life.

So Skye straightened her shoulders, pushed painful feelings aside, and went after the rattlesnake grass.

CHAPTER TWO

"Anything can be ordered through the mail," Aunt Glory said the next evening as she picked up a magazine from the coffee table. "Postal employees are miracle workers."

"I agree, Glorianne." Aunt Belle flipped through a Dairy Digest Magazine, her pen handy in case she wanted to jot down an interesting ad. Mail-order shopping was a hobby both Skye's aunts enjoyed. Every night they gathered in the den and sorted through piles of magazines.

"Skye, would you like a magazine?" Aunt Glory asked.

"Not really." She stared blankly at a wall and rocked back and forth in a wooden chair.

Aunt Glory glanced at her great-niece in concern. "You're awfully quiet, sweetie. How was school?"

"The same." Skye could have added that today was worst than usual. Normally popular kids like Viera and Priscilla just ignored her. But today they clustered in whispering, giggling groups, and Skye knew exactly who they were gossiping about. Weird Skye Jones.

She felt so alone. If only she had a special friend of her own. Someone to share giggles and gossip with: a best friend.

Aunt Glory reached over to pat Skye's hand. "Did I tell you how much we enjoyed the rattlesnake grass? Belle and I used it in a basket this morning."

"I'm glad you liked it."

"We loved it," Aunt Belle said enthusiastically.

Skye knew her aunts were trying to cheer her up, so she tried to look happy, but couldn't quite curve her lips upwards.

Tall, slender, blue-haired Aunt Glory handed Skye a magazine called Serendipity. "Best remedy for a frown is a smile. Sort through this and maybe you'll find a smile."

"I'd rather find a best friend."

Tall, sturdy, blue-haired Aunt Belle patted Skye's hand. "If you need a friend, you know where to find one."

"Not at Royal Star School, that's for sure."

"Try a magazine or catalog," Aunt Belle said. "Write to a pen pal."

"A splendid suggestion, Annabelle," Aunt Glory said. "Pen pals make wonderful friends."

"Well, I guess I could look." Skye flipped through Serendipity. The catalog advertised unusual novelty items. Doorstops, decorative flags, designer mugs, glow-in-the-dark makeup, and even magic wands.

No pen pals here.

She tossed Serendipity aside and found a smaller, plain orange-covered catalog. This one was called Kindred Spirits. Hmmm, what an unusual title, Skye thought. She'd never heard of it before. "Kindred" and "spirits" could mean several things: happy thoughts, spooky ghosts, or good friends. Definitely worth checking out.

When Skye looked inside, she saw long columns of printed names and addresses. Were these potential pen pals? Kindred Spirits was like a phone book, yet different. Occasionally there were large words in bold dark ink. Odd words like: Familiars, Apothecaries, and Incarnations. Intriguing, puzzling words.

Skye's curiosity grew.

She thumbed to the back of the magazine and stopped when two words seemed to jump out at her: Special-Tee Fiends.

"Fiends?" she wondered. That couldn't be the right word. Kindred Spirits really goofed. Skye guessed grown-ups made mistakes just like kids. She thought of the error she'd made on her last spelling test. She'd forgotten to put the "e" in "gruesome." Obviously, Kindred Spirits had forgotten to include the "r" in "friends." The ad should have read: Special-Tee Friends.

A special friend was exactly what Skye needed.

Her sour mood lifted. Having a pen pal would be fun. They'd share letters, secrets, and eventually visit each other. Skye hoped Special-Tee Friends would match her with someone nice.

She read on: Carefully describe your special request and wait seven days for a reply.

There were no other instructions, just a P.O. box in Specter, California.

Simple enough.

Skye found a pen and paper and wrote: "I'm requesting a girl, age eleven. She has to love animals, science, and adventure. I want her to understand me, like she knows what I'm thinking. And I hope she can be my best friend. Sincerely, Skye Jones."

She smiled at her letter.

In seven days she would have a pen pal.

Aunt Glory was right. Anything can be ordered through the mail.

Even a best friend.

CHAPTER THREE

Skye ducked as a paper airplane zoomed over her lunch tray. She heard laughs and snickers from a back table, yet she didn't turn around. She refused to let gross boys like Brian and Tyrone annoy her, no matter how hard they tried.

Skye nibbled on a carrot stick and stared straight ahead. She watched Viera, Priscilla, and some other girls share secrets. Gossiping girls behind her and gross boys in front of her. She was surrounded by enemies. Lunch time at Royal Star School was like a war zone, and Skye didn't have an ally to call her own.

But there was hope.

Soon she'd have a pen pal, a nice girl who'd share her interests. Only six more days. Time couldn't pass fast enough.

Another low-flying plane swished by and circled Skye's curls. She was annoyed, but kept her cool. She merely fluffed her hair and went on eating. In a few minutes, she'd be finished and free to leave. Brian and Tyrone couldn't tease her once she left the cafeteria and entered the quiet safety of the library.

Skye's tray was empty, except for a puddle of gooey seaweed masquerading as lime Jell-O. Fortunately, she had brought her own dessert. She withdrew four long black spirals from her backpack and slipped one tangy spiral into her mouth.

Hmmm, she thought, delicious black licorice. My favorite food. Even better than Aunt Glory's goat-cheese yogurt ice cream.

Skye's gaze drifted past Viera's group of friends. At a narrow corner back table, Kristen O'Malley read a book and ate from a bagged lunch. Kristen's short auburn hair shone, and she was smiling. Kristen always smiled. Eating solo didn't seem to bother her.

As Skye chewed licorice, she wondered why Kristen seemed different from other girls in Mr. Reuben's class. Kristen didn't tease Skye, she enjoyed studying, and she kept to herself. Other kids seemed to respect Kristen, although Skye wasn't sure why. Maybe because Kristen never tried to impress anyone. She did exactly what she wanted and didn't care what others thought.

Wow! Skye thought, What a great attitude. I wish I could be like Kristen. But even more, I wish Kristen could be my friend.

Only Skye was afraid to approach Kristen.

What if Kristen thought she was weird?

There was a shout from behind. "Ready! Aim! Take-off!" Brian exclaimed.

Those dumb boys were at it again.

Skye braced herself, knowing another aerial attack was coming. An instant later, a swift paper plane swooshed by her ears and snagged in her curls.

"Hey! Cut that out!" she cried, whirling around.

Brian, Tyrone, and some other boys laughed.

Skye stood and snatched the airplane from her hair. She glared at her tormentors. Then she deliberately crumpled the paper plane in her hand.

"Hey!" Tyrone yipped. "You squashed my bomber!"

"Serves you right. You can have your stupid bomber!" Skye aimed carefully and threw the crumpled ball. Contact! She scored a direct hit on Tyrone's cropped dark head. One pesky boy smacked down with his own weapon.

Skye quickly gathered her stuff and crammed the rest of her licorice into her mouth. She'd better go before Tyrone and Brian sent out another air strike.

She headed for a side door, but stopped when she heard her name being called. Turning, she saw Kristen waving at her.

"Over here, Skye," Kristen invited, pushing back her shiny auburn bangs.

Skye couldn't believe her own eyes and ears. Kristen O'Malley wanted to talk to her! Incredible!

Thrilled, Skye hurried over.

Kristen welcomed Skye with a wide grin. "Congratulations, Skye. I was wondering if you'd ever fight back."

"Huh?" Skye mumbled. She couldn't talk because her mouth was still stuffed with spicy licorice.

"Tyrone and Brian are dimwitted, idiotic, and infantile."

Skye nodded in agreement. "Uh uh."

"They're creeps," Kristen added, then took a sip of her cherry cola. "I loved it when you crushed their dumb plane. Want to sit with me?"

Skye almost burst into a joyous song. Boy, did she ever want to sit with Kristen! She felt like shouting, "Yes! Yes! Yes!" But licorice still filled her mouth, so she could only nod. A very happy, eager nod.

"I don't usually like company at lunch," Kristen admitted as Skye sat across from her. Kristen held up a colorful paperback with a flying unicorn on the cover. The book's title was The Flying Sorcerer. "I'm a bookaholic and I'd rather read than talk. But the way you got even with Tyrone really wowed me. Figured it'd be more fun talking to you than reading. Do you like to read?"

Skye bobbed her head, and chewed faster. She would read a whole set of encyclopedias if that would "wow" Kristen. Skye liked National Geographic and animal books better than fantasy, but she'd give anything a try in the name of friendship.

Kristen smiled. "I read twenty-seven books last month, and I'm aiming for thirty this month. Maybe we can read together after school sometime." Kristen sat down her novel and added, "I'm glad you finally stood up to those bullies."

Skye mumbled, "Uh huh."

"They'll think twice before bugging you again."

Skye nodded.

"Sixth graders can be so childish," Kristen added.

Skye thought about reminding Kristen that they were both sixth graders, too. But maybe Kristen just meant sixth grade boys.

"Have you decided on your science project yet?" Kristen asked. "I'm doing a study on magic. Spells, potions, and slight of hand tricks. I plan to compare simple magic tricks with mysterious, unexplained happenings."

Skye swallowed the last bite of licorice. "That sounds neat," she replied, flashing a huge grin. "I haven't thought of a project yet."

Kristen's hazel eyes grew large. "Oh, my!"

"What?"

Kristen pointed and giggled. "Yikes! Gross out!"

Skye looked around for something gross, but she quickly realized Kristen was pointing at her.

"Skye ... your mouth!"

"My mouth?" Now Skye was totally confused.

Kristen laughed so hard tears streamed down her cheeks. "Your teeth and tongue are black!"

"Black?"

"You have monster fangs. Like the creature from the black lagoon!"

Skye shut her lips, realizing her licorice had coated the inside of her mouth a gooey black. She hung her head and wished she could turn invisible. How embarrassing!

And Skye had thought Kristen was so nice, that she wanted to her friend. Big mistake. None of the kids at school wanted Skye for a friend. Not Viera, Priscilla, Tyrone, Brian or Kristen.

Everything Skye did turned out weird.

Grabbing her backpack, she sprang up and ran out of the cafeteria. She thought she heard Kristen call her name, but she didn't turn around. She headed straight for the library.

Once again, all alone.

CHAPTER FOUR

"Six long days and still no idea for a science project," Skye complained to her white dove, Sugarberry. Her bird cooed and bobbed its beak. A caged pet was nice company, but it couldn't understand about human problems.

Skye turned away from Sugarberry and walked over to her desk. She sank into a chair and stared at the blank computer screen. Why couldn't she come up with a terrific idea?

After her horrible geography grade, she needed to make her aunts proud by earning an A in science. Easy enough, right? Wrong! Every idea she came up with seemed lame. With her love for nature and animals, she should be able to think of a fantastic science project.

But no brainstorms yet.

Skye turned on the computer. The screen glowed a dark green and a neon green cursor flashed. She accessed the data base and typed the heading: Science Project.

"Hmmm," she murmured, pushing up her glasses. "My project should involve animals." So she typed the word "animals."

She tapped a pencil against the desktop and thought harder. Should she study one particular animal or lots of different animals? Living on a farm had its advantages. There were enough animals around here to start a zoo. There were over a dozen goats, five sheep, two dogs, a barn full of cats, a cow, and Sugarberry. They were all Skye's special friends, and she couldn't choose among them. Maybe a project should involve a whole bunch of animals.

A fragment of an idea tickled her mind. A few weeks ago Aunt Belle had made a special flower arrangement that included a plaster copy of a rare flower. Aunt Belle still had a huge box of plaster in the garage.

Plaster could be useful in a science project.

"Eureka!" Skye cried, feeling excited. Her fingers flew across the keyboard as her mind raced. She wrote: goat, dog, cat, sheep, cow, squirrel, raccoon, deer, and coyote. Her science project would be to make plaster molds of animal footprints; both tame pets and wild creatures. It would be fun, interesting, and grade A quality.

After printing a computer copy of her project plan, she wanted to share her excitement.

"Aunt Belle and Aunt Glory!" she called out, skimming the stair railing with her fingertips as she hurried downstairs. "Wait till you hear my idea!"

Her aunts were in the living room, expertly fitting flower-scented bars of soap into tiny square boxes. The logo, "Just Kidding," decorated each precious box.

"What idea?" Aunt Belle asked.

"Is that about your science project?" Aunt Glory guessed.

Skye nodded. "And it's a super idea! I want to get started right away. But I'll need to use some plaster."

"Take all you want," Aunt Glory said generously.

"Thanks. I'll also need to make a wood frame."

Aunt Belle said, "Hammer, nails, and wood are in the garage. Help yourself." She was the practical twin; a bit bossy at times, but always generous and kind-hearted.

"So tell us about this super project," Aunt Glory said.

Skye began to describe her idea. She would find animal prints in the dirt, then place a wooden frame around the print, and pour plaster inside. When the plaster dried, Skye would have the perfect animal print.

"I'll make molds of our pets and some wild animals," Skye added, feeling more enthusiastic than ever towards a school assignment. She wondered if Kristen would be impressed with this science project. But then Skye remembered how Kristen had laughed at her and decided it hurt too much to think about Kristen.

"So what do you think of my plan?" Skye asked her aunts.

Aunt Belle and Aunt Glory exchanged glances. They often did this; their way of reading each others' minds.

"It's wonderful, sweetie," Aunt Glory assured gently in her "motherly" tone. "Making molds of pet footprints is a lovely notion. But searching the woods for wild animal prints sounds dangerous."

"I agree completely," Aunt Belle said. "Not safe at all."

"I'll be careful," Skye assured.

"There might be bears in the woods," Aunt Glory pointed out.

"Or cougars," Aunt Belle added. "You may go ahead with your project, Skye, but stay away from the woods."

"Go anywhere around the farm," Aunt Glory said kindly. "But the woods are off limits."

Skye frowned and tried not to resent her aunts. She knew they only worried because they loved her. They didn't mean to be over-protective. Still, Skye couldn't help but wish her mother were still alive and her father wasn’t off drilling for water in Africa. Sometimes living with elderly aunts could be a pain.

"Well ... guess I'll go get started," Skye said, trying not to sound too discouraged. But without the wild animal prints, her project idea was as boring as a jelly sandwich without peanut butter. Her aunts just didn't understand.

As Skye turned to leave, she thought how much better things would be if only she had a good friend--a best friend--who understood her.

Skye snapped her fingers as she remembered that she would have a best friend soon. She'd almost forgotten about her pen pal. Maybe her first letter would arrive today!

Skye hurried outside, eager to check the mailbox. It was two o'clock. The mail should be here by now.

The mail had arrived. But there was no letter from Special-Tee Friends.

Skye leaned against the large metal mailbox and sighed. Maybe Special-Tee couldn't find a twelve-year-old girl who wanted to write to Skye. Maybe no such girl existed. Maybe requesting a pen pal had been a dumb idea.

Skye began to gather the mail, but a loud rumbling sound startled her.

She whirled around and saw a huge purple van coming down the road. She stared and wondered where the van was headed. Just a Short Lane was a dead-end street. Few people lived here, and fewer cars drove down the quiet country road.

The van slammed its brakes and stopped in front of Skye's tall, weathered, two-story home.

A large bearded man stepped out. He wore a purple and white uniform and carried a clipboard.

"I have a delivery for Miss Skye Jones."

His voice was gruff, like a bear's growl, and Skye felt nervous. She answered softly, "I'm Skye."

He thrust the clipboard at her. "Read the small print. Then sign on the dotted line."

"Huh? But I didn't order anything."

His bushy brows came together in a stern line. "If you are Miss Skye Jones, then I have a package for you."

A package? From who? Skye wondered. Could her pen pal have sent a present? A "let's be friends" gift? Or maybe the first letter was so long and thick it had needed to be mailed in a box.

"Sure," Sky said eagerly, taking the clipboard. "I'll sign."

The delivery man nodded briskly. "Be sure to read the contract first. Signing your name is a serious matter."

Skye stared at the dark, printed words, her mind dizzy. The big letters at the top of the form read: Special-Tee Fiends. There were seven paragraphs of tiny, confusing sentences. Like "party of the first part agrees to meet all existing regulations and to uphold any specified conditions."

Skye's head spun faster.

She pointed to the form. "Shouldn't this read Special-Tee Friends? Not Fiends. They spelled their name wrong again."

The "bear" delivery man shook his head. "No mistake. Please, sign."

"But if it isn't a mistake, then maybe I made the mistake...."

Skye nibbled on her lower lip and thought about the word "fiend."

A demon, someone wicked, an evil spirit.

Skye hadn't ordered a best friend.

She'd ordered a monster.

CHAPTER FIVE

"Sign, please." The delivery man handed Skye a pen.

"I'm not sure...."

The grizzly-man frowned. "You are Miss Skye Jones, are you not?"

"Yes. But-"

"Then sign." The man's sharp white teeth seemed to glow. "I have other deliveries to make before midnight."

"Midnight?" That seemed odd -- but no odder than a delivery man from a company of fiends. What in the world had Skye ordered?

She wanted to run and hide, but her legs wouldn't work. The man scared her and she just wanted him to go away. So Skye did the only thing she could thing of. She aimed the pen and signed on the dotted line in blood red ink.

The delivery man ripped off a yellow form and handed Skye a copy. Then he walked to the back of his van.

Skye's heart pounded as she followed. He unlatched a bolt, opened heavy metal double doors, and grabbed a two-wheeled dolly. Easing the box onto the dolly, he rolled the box onto the driveway.

Skye stared. She couldn't have spoken even if she'd known what to say. The box had to be at least six feet tall and four feet wide. Fragile and This End Up were stamped onto the top. What was inside?

"I've changed my mind," she managed to say. "I don't want a friend ... a fiend ... after all."

"Your signature binds you for a lifetime."

"A lifetime!" Skye gasped.

His sharp teeth spread into a wicked grin. "You should have read the small print. Contracts can't be broken."

Then he wheeled the dolly back into the van, climbed inside the driver's seat, and roared off.

Skye rubbed her eyes, feeling like she was trapped in a bad dream. A weird nightmare. But when she opened her eyes again, the box was still there.

"What should I do?" she murmured, frightened and yet curious. Part of her wanted to walk away from the box, but another part was dying to know what was inside.

"Open."

Skye jumped back two feet. Was she hearing things or had a voice come from the box?

"Who said that?"

"Open," the mysterious voice repeated.

No doubt about it now. Someone--or something--was in the box. But who or what?

"Open, please."

Skye couldn't turn her back and ignore the voice. Her conscience and curiosity wouldn't let her walk away. So she began to slowly unwrap the box. Paper tore in her hands, thin string snapped, and cardboard fell to the ground.

Skye stared; stunned and amazed. No weird creature or hairy werewolf. Sitting in a chair was simply a girl about Skye's age. She wore a long plaid gathered skirt and a plain white blouse. Two thick golden braids hung down her shoulders and she looked at Skye with incredibly beautiful lavender eyes.

"Who? What?" Skye sputtered. "I mean ... you're not a monster."

"Are you Skye Jones?" the lavender-eyed girl asked in a sweet, musical voice.

Skye nodded.

The girl stood and held out her hand.

Skye looked at the girl's hand, not sure what to do. She wanted to shake hands, but was afraid. The girl's palms were dotted with pale silver spots and her long fingernails were painted different colors: red, blue, green, orange, and purple.

Gulping back her fear, Skye reached out to the girl, and their fingers touched. An electric tingle shot through Skye. Ohmygosh! The girl wasn't warm! In fact, her skin was colder than a refrigerator.

Skye jerked her hand back and cried, "You're not human!"

The girl's mouth tipped upwards at the corners. "You didn't request a human. I saw your letter and you asked for a girl age eleven. Which I am. I am Hobbledehoy."

"Hob-ble- ... What?"

"You may call me Hobbi. That is what my sisters and brother call me."

"Sisters and brothers?" Skye blinked, more confused by the minute.

"Oh, yes. Seventy-five sisters and twenty-two brothers. I am the youngest." As Hobbi spoke, her chin moved up and down, and although her mouth opened when she talked, her lips didn't quite shape her words.

Odder and odder.

"Hobbi, there's been a mistake," Skye said quickly. "I thought I was writing for a pen pal."

"How can a pen be a pal? I am puzzled." Hobbi's eyes grew wider and darkened to a plum purple.

"Not an ink pen. A person to write letters to. See, that's what I wanted when I wrote to Special-Tee Friends."

"Error. Not 'friends' but 'fiends."

Skye ran her fingers through her wavy hair and sighed deeply. "That's for sure."

"You do not like me," Hobbi stated bluntly.

"I wanted a friend, not a ... whatever you are."

"I am a Specter Fiend. You are thinking that I can't be real, but I am. I'm here to obey my boss. You, Skye Jones, are my boss. I belong to you."

"People can't belong to other people!"

"I am not a people." Hobbi's golden braids spun in odd circles like tiny propellers. She leaned toward Skye and said, "You thoughts are confused, Skye Jones."

"Don't call me that!"

"Do you have another name?"

"No. That's my name, but you make it sound so formal. Just call me by my first name," Skye said, trying to decide if she could make a run for her house. Hobbi may look ordinary, but she was spooky . . . and Skye was scared.

"Don't run from me," Hobbi said. "I cannot harm you. Do not be afraid."

"I'm not afraid. Just," Skye paused, trying to think of the right word. "I'm just bewildered. What am I going to do with you?"

"Be my best friend. That is what you wrote in your letter."

Skye covered her face with her hands and moaned. "This can't be real!"

"I am very real. I am age eleven and I love animals, science, and adventure." Hobbi grinned. "Exactly as you requested."

The sound of a door slamming made Skye jump to quick awareness. She turned and saw her aunts stepping out of the house. They were heading her way!

How could she possibly explain Hobbi? Aunt Belle and Aunt Glory wouldn't understand. They ordered from catalogs all the time, but the strangest thing they had ever received was a musical tomato. Never an eleven year old fiend!

"Skye, sweetie," Aunt Glory called, waving as she came over.

"Introduce us to your friend." Aunt Belle smiled at Hobbi.

"At last we meet a friend of Skye's," Aunt Glory gushed. "How delightful! Skye, this is the first time you've ever had someone over."

"But Hobbi isn't my..." Skye stopped in mid-sentence, unsure what to say.

"Isn't what?" Aunt Glory asked innocently.

Skye wanted to say, "She isn't my friend, she's my fiend." Instead, Skye took a deep breath and answered, "Hobbi is the pen pal I wrote to. Only she isn't exactly a pen pal."

"What do you mean?" Aunt Belle questioned.

"There's been a major mix-up. Kindred Spirits wasn't what I expected. Hobbi answered my letter, but she thought I wanted her to come here."

Hobbi didn't say anything. She simply stared ahead, like she was waiting to be told what to do next.

Aunt Glory and Aunt Belle exchanged quick looks. More of their twin mind-reading. Then Aunt Glory said, "Oh, I understand."

"You do?" Skye asked, surprised.

"Of course," Aunt Belle answered. "And I think it's wonderful!"

"How delightful!" Aunt Glory exclaimed. "A foreign exchange student."

Aunt Belle told Skye, "Only last week, Glorianne and I discussed taking in an exchange student. Someone who could be like a sister to you."

Aunt Glory nodded. "We worry about you, Skye. But I can see we won't have to worry anymore. Not with Hobbi around."

Aunt Belle turned to Hobbi. "Welcome, dear. But where is your luggage? And why are you sitting in a chair?"

"Her luggage got lost," Skye answered quickly. "All she has left is this chair."

"What a shame," Aunt Glory said.

"Don't you worry, dear," Aunt Belle assured Hobbi. "We'll take good care of you."

Aunt Glory smiled. "We certainly will. And until we make you some new clothes, you can borrow Skye's. How long will you be staying with us?"

"A lifetime," Hobbi replied.

The aunts shared amused glances. Aunt Belle chuckled. "What a sense of humor! Of course, a few months can seem like a lifetime to young people."

Aunt Glory nodded. "Hobbi, I can tell you'll be an enchanting guest. I'll bet you'll liven things up for us."

"That's for sure," Skye said with a groan. "Thanks to Hobbi, our lives may never be the same again."

CHAPTER SIX

Skye's aunts accepted Hobbi easily. Too easily. They showed her the guest room and found her some clothes. They didn't seem to notice Hobbi's colorful fingernails, her cold rubbery skin, or her unusual lavender eyes.

Skye was the only one who was suspicious of Hobbi. She couldn't forget that fiends were supposed to be evil and wicked. What sort of mischief did Hobbi's innocent smile hide?

"This isn't going to work," Skye told Hobbi as they walked around the farm. The animals seemed excited by Hobbi--as if they sensed she was different and wanted to greet her. Chickens clucked, goats bleated, and barn cats meowed and swished their tails.

Skye frowned at Hobbi. "You can't stay. You have to return to Specter."

"No."

"But you don't belong here."

"Yes, I do."

"But wouldn't you rather be with your sisters and brothers?" Skye asked gently, pausing by the chicken coop.

"No."

Another simple, stubborn answer. How could Skye make Hobbi understand that should couldn't live here. Skye had enough trouble fitting in at school. She wondered with despair, What would kids say if they knew I had a mail-order fiend? Talk about embarrassing! Paper airplanes in my hair and black licorice smeared in my mouth are nothing compared to having a live-in monster!

Skye noticed that Hobbi's golden braids were spinning again. Fear gripped Skye's heart, and she backed away.

"Your thoughts are jumbled," Hobbi said in a calm, matter-of-fact tone. Her braids continued to twirl and she leaned toward Skye. "I'm having trouble reading them."

"Reading my thoughts!"

"Of course." Hobbi patted Skye's arm with her cool hand. "Your letter said: 'I want her to understand me, like she knows what I'm thinking.'" Hobbi smiled. "You are now wondering how my hair can twirl by itself."

Skye felt light-headed and dizzy. "Yes ... that's what I was thinking. Oh, no! You really can read my mind!"

"Isn't that what you ordered?" Hobbi's braids stopped spinning, and she frowned. "You are still afraid of me. But that's silly. You are my boss, and I couldn't harm you even if I wished to. I was designed to crush, smash, and torment those who wish you harm."

"No hurting anyone!" Skye cried, more afraid than ever. Hobbi was dangerous. Maybe not to Skye, but to others.

"You are the boss." Hobbi bent down and patted a plump white hen. The hen cackled and rubbed against Hobbi's leg.

"I don't want to be your boss. Please go back to Specter."

"Impossible," Hobbi answered, straightening up. "Didn't you read my contract? Special-Tee Fiends has a no return policy. I am yours for a lifetime."

"A life ... lifetime." Skye gulped, afraid to ask the question that spun in her head.

Hobbi-the-mind-reader answered it anyway. "Your lifetime, Skye. I will be with you always. Forever."

Skye's legs trembled, and she sank down to the ground, her back against the chicken coop. She didn't want a mail-order mind-reading monster. Not for a day, a week, a month, or a lifetime.

Somehow, Skye had to find a way to break the contract.

She had to get rid of Hobbi.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Skye woke up so early the following morning the sky was still dark and lit with a silvery moon. Skye didn't usually look forward to school, but she was glad for any reason to escape from her spooky house guest. Fiends didn't belong in school, so Hobbi would have to stay at home.

Skye had never gotten ready for school so quickly. She buttoned on a green flowered-print skirt, slipped a white ruffled blouse over her head, and stepped into comfy white sneakers. Then she grabbed her backpack and zipped downstairs for breakfast.

The kitchen and dining room were empty. No sign of Hobbi. She must still be asleep. So far, so good, Skye thought.

A glance at the clock revealed Skye was ready an hour early. But she didn't mind. She'd rather spend an extra hour at school than more weird minutes with Hobbi. All yesterday Hobbi had followed Skye around like an eerie shadow, calling Skye "Boss" and twirling her golden braids like windmills.

Skye poured Gadzooks Granola cereal into a bowl and added a splash of milk. As she spooned her last bite of cereal, she heard voices and looked up as her aunts bustled into the dining room. They wore quilted cotton robes and looked identical, down to the surprise on their faces.

"What are you doing up so early?" Aunt Belle asked, automatically going to the stove and putting on a pot of water. Herbal tea every morning was a tradition.

"We would have cooked you a hot breakfast," Aunt Glory added.

"Where's Hobbi?" Aunt Belle asked.

"Still asleep," Skye answered. "I'm sure she'll be up soon. I'd say good-bye to her, but I have to hurry to school. I don't want to be late."

"Late? But the sun hasn't even risen yet," Aunt Belle said.

Skye carried her dish over to the sink. Escape was so near. She couldn't wait to leave. Any minute Hobbi would show up.

"I'd better go." Skye swung her backpack over one shoulder and headed for the door. But she only made it to the refrigerator.

"Hold it right there young lady," Aunt Belle ordered.

"You can't leave yet," Aunt Glory added, dipping a tea bag into a cup of steaming water.

"Why not?"

Aunt Belle raised an eyebrow. "You're forgetting something."

"What?"

Both aunts shared a deep look, then answered in that uncanny twin way of theirs, "Hobbi."

Skye groaned. Her fiend friend was like a noose around her neck that just kept tightening; smothering, strangling Skye until she couldn't breath.

"There's no way I could ever forget Hobbi," Skye said truthfully.

"So go fetch her," Aunt Glory urged, sipping her tea.

Aunt Belle added, "We don't want our exchange student to be late on her first day of school."

"School? Hobbi!" Skye almost choked.

"Of course," both aunts said.

"No way! Hobbi doesn't belong at Royal Star. It would be a disaster!"

Aunt Glory reached over the patted Skye's hand. "Calm down, sweetie."

"But you can't be serious! Hobbi can't ... it just won't work. She's not ... I mean ..."

"All young girls must attend school," Aunt Belle said.

"Hobbi isn't a normal girl. You'd be surprised how different she is. I can't take her to school with me!"

"Skye!" Aunt Belle cried, her tone shocked and disapproving. "I can't believe you'd be so heartless. Put yourself in Hobbi's place. The poor lamb is alone, away from her family and friends, and living with strangers."

Skye opened her mouth to explain, but realized it was useless. Her aunts were frowning at her, which made Skye feel guilty. She'd never argued with her aunts before. Ever since her dad had left her here three years ago, Skye had been on her best behavior. Her room was never messy, she willingly helped with chores, and she never complained about her problems at school. She couldn't bear if her aunts sent her away like her father had.

So Skye told her aunts she was sorry, then she went upstairs to awaken Hobbi.

Skye tapped on Hobbi's door. "Are you up?"

There was no answer. Maybe fiends are part zombie. Skye knocked again, loud insistent raps, but still there was no reply. Finally, Skye twisted the door knob and peeked inside the room.

No Hobbi, but there was plenty of evidence that Hurricane Hobbi had been here. Clothes were scattered on the floor, blankets were tangled around the bed, and dresser drawers were open. Major monster mess!

Skye heard splashing sounds and realized Hobbi must be in the bathroom. Spinning around, Skye hurried down the hallway.

Water noises grew louder, and the bathroom door was open.

"Hobbi?" Skye called, stepping through the doorway. What she saw made her gasp. "Oh, no!"

Hobbi's face was smeared with gooey white cream, she wore the same peasant-styled clothes she'd arrived in, and she was chewing on something waxy and white.

"Good morning, Boss," she greeted as though it was normal to stand in the bathroom with one foot splashing in the toilet bowl.

Skye stared incredulously. "What are you doing?"

"Readying for the day. Although this cleaning stuff makes my face itch." Hobbi held out a long tube of Brush-Brite toothpaste.

"You put toothpaste on your face?"

Hobbi nodded. "Is that wrong?"

"You bet it's wrong! What a mess! And why is your foot in the toilet?"

"Your washing pool is too small for all of me. Only my foot would fit inside." She wiggled her toes in toilet bowl water, and Skye noticed that like her fingernails, each toenail was painted a different color.

Skye shook her head in amazement. There were so many weird things about Hobbi. She obviously didn't know the first thing about being human.

"The toilet isn't for your feet," Skye tried to explain. "It's for ... well, I'll tell you about it later."

"Then how do I clean?"

Skye pointed to the bath tub. "In there."

"But there is no water inside."

"Of course not," Skye said. "You have to turn on the faucet first. And what are you chewing?"

Hobbi spit a wad of white stuff into her hand. "Bubble gum. I found it on the sink. It tastes delicious, and I can blow bubbles." Hobbi tightened her lips in an "o" shape and blew a stream of small, clear bubbles. Like tiny balloons, the bubbles floated around the bathroom.

"That's not bubble gum!" Hobbi popped a large bubble with her finger. "That's soap. You're not supposed to eat soap."

"I'm not?" Hobbi's golden braids whirled and Skye knew what that meant.

"Stay out of my head," Skye ordered.

"You are angry with me?" Hobbi said unhappily. "I do not know how to please my boss."

"Don't call me Boss."

"Yes, Bo- ... Skye. I make too many mistakes. For a fiend, I am a failure."

Hobbi sounded so miserable that Skye felt sorry for her. Sky knew what it felt to be a failure. She remembered what her aunts had said about Hobbi being far from home. Hobbi may not be human, but she seemed to have feelings; feelings Skye had hurt.

"Everyone makes mistakes. It's okay."

"Can I undo my mistake?" Hobbi asked eagerly.

"How?"

"Permit me to give you a wish. What would you like?"

Skye ran her fingers through her curls and blinked in bewilderment. Wishes!

"What kind of a wish?" Skye asked cautiously.

"A small wish," Hobbi said, still looking comical with cream on her face. "Because I am a small fiend."

Skye wrinkled her brow. Guess that meant no wishing for world peace or an end to environmental problems. But what exactly was a small wish? Skye glanced in the bathroom mirror, frowned at her reflection, then smiled as an idea came to her.

"All right. I've thought of a wish. But first let's clean you up and then go into my room."

Five minutes later, Skye found a copy of TEEN Magazine and showed Hobbi a picture of a girl in a baggy black tank dress and pale gold leggings. "I want to dress like this," Skye explained. "My clothes are too geeky. Can you zap me a really cool outfit?"

Hobbi nodded eagerly. "Yes, boss."

Hobbi held out her hands and pressed her right purple fingernail. There was a sizzling sound, a blinding flash of neon light, and the bathroom floor seemed to spin. When the spinning stopped, Skye felt different.

Slowly, nervously, she stepped in front of her mirror.

Her curly dark hair, small face, and thin shape were the same, but everything else was different. Gone were the hand sewn clothes. Instead, Skye looked dramatic in a short black scooped-neck tank dress and glossy gold leggings. A pert black and yellow hat tilted to one side on her head and funky platform shoes added inches to her five foot two frame. Gold bracelets jangled around her wrist and tiny gold stud earrings dotted each earlobes. Somehow her ears had been pieced in the magical process -- and Skye hadn't felt a thing.

All Skye could say was, "Wow!"

Hobbi's braids twirled and she grinned. "You are thinking you look fantastic. You like your wish and you like my magic. I am no longer a failure."

"That's for sure. I've never looked better. Thanks, Hobbi."

"I am glad you are happy, Boss."

Skye admired the new "Skye Jones" in the mirror and nodded enthusiastically. Hobbi was right. For the first time in months, Skye was truly happy.

And she wondered ... If Hobbi could magically create clothes, what other kinds of magic could she do?

CHAPTER EIGHT

Hobbi wasn't the only one with magical skills. Somehow--Skye couldn't even begin to guess--her aunts had managed to enroll Hobbi at Royal Star School. Skye's aunts may be lost in the pioneer era, but when they made up their minds to accomplish something, there was no stopping them.

And Hobbi DeHoy became a Royal Star student.

Skye managed to hide her new outfit from her aunts by wearing a long dress over it and putting the yellow hat into her backpack. While Hobbi was registering with the aunts, Skye ducked in a school bathroom, and presto-change! The black tank dress and gold leggings made her feel like a different person. Hopefully "weird" Skye was gone forever.

The bathroom door opened and a familiar girl with long black hair walked in. Viera Galvez.

Viera's jaw sagged opened when she was Skye. "Your clothes!"

Skye grinned. What a reaction! Ever better than she'd hoped. Clothes really did make a difference. Viera was obviously impressed. This could be Skye's first step to popularity. Thanks to Hobbi, today was going to be wonderful.

"Like it?" Skye asked, turning like a model to show off the black dress.

Viera's ebony eyes narrowed. "Of course I like it! Who wouldn't? It's a Legende original from Los Angeles."

Skye just grinned and waited to hear what other nice things Viera had to say. Only when Viera spoke again, she didn't say anything nice. She pointed her finger at Skye and exclaimed, "What are you doing with my new outfit?"

CHAPTER NINE

Skye wanted to die on the spot, but that wasn't an option. So she stepped aside, then shot past Viera, right out of the bathroom. Skye rounded a corner and almost smacked into Hobbi.

"We have to talk!" Skye grabbed Hobbi by the arm and led her to a shadowy area between two buildings.

"Your wish is my command, boss."

"Don't ever mention wishes again!" Skye pointed to the tank dress and leggings. "I need some answers, Hobbi. Where did you get my outfit?"

Hobbi's lids lowered over her lavender eyes. "Around."

"Around where?"

"It does not matter. You wished and I zapped."

"Viera Galvez says these clothes belong to her! Is that true?"

Hobbi's braids twirled, and she smiled slyly. "Viera is Enemy One. Is that correct?"

Skye groaned as she remembered that Hobbi had once said she was designed to crush, bash, and torment Skye's enemies. "We'll talk about this later," Skye hissed. Then she ordered Hobbi to zap back Skye's dull hand sewn clothes.

Although Hobbi's eyes darkened to a dusky purple, she didn't argue. The black tank dress, gold leggings, yellow hat, and gold earrings vanished.

Skye was once again plain and boring.

A school bell rang and Skye said quickly, "We have to go to class, Hobbi. But when we get there don't say anything. Sit in your chair and behave."

"Behave how?"

"Perfectly."

Hobbi's smile was sly. "I will behave perfectly."

Skye waved a warning finger. "No weird stuff."

"Yes, Boss."

"And stop calling me Boss!"

"You are my boss."

"But my name is Skye. When we're at school, there's no such thing as boss or fiend. We're just regular sixth grade girls. Got it?"

Hobbi nodded solemnly, but Skye noticed a glint in her violet eyes as they stepped into the classroom.

* * *

"This is our foreign exchange student," Mr. Reuben said, standing up from his desk and smiling at Hobbi.

"Hello," Hobbi said sweetly. Except for her old-fashioned clothes, she looked like a normal young girl.

Skye crossed her fingers and hoped Hobbi wouldn't do anything strange. Mr. Reuben was a really nice teacher; tall, with gentle hazel eyes, and cute dimples. He wasn't married, and his girl students giggled about him a lot. Skye never giggled, but sometimes she wished she were twenty-one instead of eleven, so maybe he would notice her.

"Welcome, Hobbi," Mr. Reuben said. "I think you'll enjoy our class. I hope when you're comfortable, you'll share with us some stories about your country. Specter, isn't it? I'm not quite sure where that is...."

"I know I'll enjoy this class," Hobbi said with a brisk nod. "I enjoy anything Skye enjoys and she likes your class very much."

Mr. Reuben's smile widened to include Skye, and Skye's heart turned to mush. She thought dreamily, Oh, those dimples!

Hobbi's golden braids began to sway. "Skye likes you so much, she wants to be twenty-one and marry-"

"Hobbi!" Skye grabbed her fiend by the arm. "Let's sit down." She whispered in Hobbi's ear, "No more mind reading!"

Hobbi flashed an innocent smile. But Skye had learned there was nothing innocent about Hobbi--she was Trouble with a capital "T". If Skye wasn't careful around Hobbi, she'd end up into double trouble.

All during class, Skye waited for something horrible to happen. She wrung her hands and braced herself for supreme embarrassment. Hobbi was sure to do something wrong. Maybe she'd spin her goofy braids or chew a piece of chalk. Then everyone in the class would guess Skye's "foreign" friend was really a fiend.

But nothing weird happened.

Mr. Reuben gave a math quiz, discussed the Boston Tea Party, and pointed out geographic spots on a roll-down wall map. All through these lessons, Hobbi was a perfect angel. Not one devilish move did she make.

When the bell rang for recess, Skye led Hobbi out past the concrete playground, past games of four-square, whipping tether balls, and spinning jump ropes. They stopped when they reached a quiet shady area under a huge willow tree.

"So far, so good." Skye sat down on the grass, facing Hobbi. "Except for zapping Viera's outfit and almost proposing marriage between me and Mr. Reuben, you've behaved okay."

Hobbi lifted her chin proudly. "I behaved perfectly."

"Almost." Skye relaxed a little. "So how do you like school?"

"It's fun. Many students in one room seems strange, but it is pleasant. In Specter, young fiends are taught by many teachers."

"More teachers than students?"

"Of course. Much wisdom for each fiend. This makes very good sense," Hobbi said, plucking a yellow daisy and lifting it to her mouth.

"Stop!" Skye pointed at the daisy. "Smell the flower--don't eat it." She giggled. "You really have a lot to learn, Hobbi."

Hobbi sniffed the daisy. "I love to learn."

Skye leaned against the tree trunk and started to ask Hobbi more about her life in Specter. But her question was forgotten when she glanced to her left and saw red hair and a book. Kristen O'Malley sat on a bench reading her fantasy novel.

Kristen looked content and relaxed. She didn't seem to need company, yet Skye yearned for Kristen's friendship. Skye wondered what would happen if she tried to talk to Kristen. Skye could apologize for over-reacting about her black mouth last week. But would Kristen accept an apology or tell Skye to get lost? It was too scary to find out.

A whirling sound jerked Skye out of these thoughts. Hobbi's golden braids were spinning furiously, which meant she was mind reading again.

Skye opened her mouth to order Hobbi to stay out of her head, but she heard a startled cry. Skye turned to her left and stared in astonishment.

Kristen's book was no longer in her hands. Instead, it floated through the air in Skye's direction.

Hobbi the fiend had struck again, and unsuspecting Kristen was the target!

Skye jumped up and held out her arms just as the book sailed past willow branches and dropped into Skye's hands.

"What are you doing with my book?" Kristen demanded, coming over and glaring at Skye.

"Nothing." Skye tossed the small paperback to Kristen. "Catch. I don't want it."

"Then why did you take it?"

"I didn't."

"Oh, right," Kristen said sarcastically. "The book hopped on a breeze and floated into your hands like magic."

"That's pretty much the way it happened," Skye said, glancing at Hobbi who leaned innocently against the tree trunk. Hobbi's braids no longer twirled and she smiled sweetly. The image of a perfect angel.

"You can't fool me, Skye Jones!" Kristen's face grew almost as red as her hair. "I know a lot about magic. I can perform tricks that would astound you, but even I can't make a book fly through the air. How did you do it?"

"I didn't."

"Then who did?"

Skye hesitated. Should she tell the truth or invent a lie? Either way Kristen wouldn't believe her. There was no way to win, so Skye answered with complete honesty, "Hobbi did it."

"Hobbi?" Kristen looked at Hobbi, then turned on Skye with a furious glare. "How low can you get? Blaming your dumb joke on the new girl!"

"It’s the truth."

"Is this your idea of revenge because I laughed at your black licorice mouth?"

"No. I guess my face did look gross. I'm sorry I blew up at you."

"So why did you swipe my book?"

"I already told you, I didn't swipe anything." Skye wished she could explain fiendish Hobbi to human Kristen, but it was hopeless.

"You expect me to believe that Hobbi waved her magic wand and zapped my book over to you?"

"Skip the wand and that's what happened. Look closely at Hobbi. Don't you notice anything unusual?"

Hobbi smiled and held out her hands. Each colorful fingernail glowed and the tiny silver spots on her skin sparkled.

But Kristen wasn't impressed. "So Hobbi paints her nails and spilled glitter on her hands. Nothing weird about that. No vampire fangs, no furry werewolf hair, and no Frankenstein bolts poking from her neck."

Skye sighed in frustration. "I knew you wouldn't believe me. Why don't you just ask Hobbi."

"This is crazy!" Kristen exclaimed.

"No crazier than a book floating from your hands to mine. Can you explain how that happened if it wasn't magic?"

Kristen frowned, obviously puzzled. "No. I-I don't get it. No wind or hidden wires. I thought I knew most magic tricks."

"It wasn't a trick. It was honest to goodness real magic."

Kristen's eyes narrowed and she challenged, "So prove it."

Skye glanced at Hobbi and thought to herself, Why not?

Hobbi's braids spun, so Skye knew her thoughts had been read. Mentally Skye gave Hobbi permission to strut her stuff. Go ahead. Show Kristen some real magic.

Hobbi clasped her hands together and rubbed her left orange-painted fingernail. Sparks flickered and orange smoke wavered in the air. The smoke shaped into a wispy arrow and aimed at Kristen.

"What's going on?" Kristen exclaimed, backing away.

"A little magic," Skye answered.

"Only a little!" Kristen shrieked. "Call that thing off!"

The orange smoke-arrow shot at Kristen and lifted the paperback book from her hands. Skye giggled as The Flying Sorcerer took flight, spinning in the center of spooky orange fog.

But Skye's giggling stopped when the book fell to the ground and a strange shape formed in the puffy cheese-colored smoke. Four legs, a flowing white tail, a silver horn, silky wings, and a long slender neck. A horse. But not just any horse--it was the picture on Kristen's book come to life! A tiny flying unicorn.

"My book!" Kristen gasped, her green eyes round and huge. Her legs buckled and she sank to the ground, her gaze never leaving the little unicorn.

Skye was shaken, too. Still she managed to say to Kristen, "I guess you believe me now."

"Yikes!" Kristen cried. "Hobbi, how did you do that?"

Hobbi's lavender eyes sparkled. "It was very easy. A spell I learned in kindergarten."

Kristen stared in fascination. "Impressive. You must have a powerful magic book. I have lots of magic books, but I've never been able to do anything like that! It's genuine hocus-pocus. Real magic."

"Oh, it's real all right," Skye assured.

The unicorn flew circles around the orange smoke. Its delicate wings fluttered rapidly like a hummingbird. It was so cute--yet so weird.

A loud bell rang out. Recess was over.

"Yikes!" Kristen exclaimed. "Now what are we going to do?"

"Return to class like everyone else," Skye answered. "Hobbi, playtime is over. Get rid of the unicorn."

Lavender eyes regarded Skye with child-like innocence. "So soon? But Lucky is having fun."

Kristen croaked, "Lucky! That's the same name as the unicorn in my book. But it's just a fictional character--not a living creature."

"Painted book covers can't have names," Skye objected.

"All animals have names," Hobbi said.

Kristen ran her fingers through her tousled red hair and stood up. "Amazing!"

"Hobbi," Skye said firmly. "Lucky has to go. Now."

"Yes, Boss."

Hobbi pressed the orange fingernail on her left hand. The orange fog faded, but the unicorn continued to buzz over the girls' heads. Lucky gave a shrill whinny, then flew up ... up ... up ... until he disappeared through willow branches.

"As you ordered, Boss. Lucky is gone," Hobbi said smugly. Was that a fiendish smirk on her face or just Skye's imagination?

"Gone where?" Kristen demanded.

Hobbi shrugged. "Up."

Skye gave Hobbi a sizzling look. "We have to go."

"Yeah." Kristen bent down to the ground and retrieved her fallen book. The cover was a dull gray and green. No unicorn.

"I only hope Lucky is gone for good," Skye said, turning to Hobbi. "Come on. We'll talk about this at home."

"Me, too." Kristen nodded. "I have lots of questions about magic for Hobbi."

"Well, I guess it's okay," Skye said as they hurried to class. "The three of us will meet at my house at three-thirty."

"Good," Kristen said. "I'll be there."

"Do you need directions?" Skye asked.

Kristen grinned. "No. Everyone knows where you live, Skye. Although most kids are afraid to go near your house. They have this strange idea your aunts are witches."

"Viera started that rumor, and it's so unfair. But I don't care what other kids think--just you, Kristen." Skye faced the auburn-haired girl squarely. "Do you think my aunts are witches?"

"No way! If anyone's a witch, it's not your aunts or even you." Kristen chuckled. "It's Hobbi."

CHAPTER TEN

When Kristen arrived at exactly 3:28, Skye was waiting. She yanked open the door before Kristen could knock.

"Shhsh!" Skye whispered, pulling Kristen inside.

"Is this how you greet all your guests?"

"No time for jokes. We have to talk, and I don't want Hobbi to know you're here."

Kristen raised her eyebrows. "Why all the secrecy?"

Skye put her finger to her lips and gestured toward the kitchen. "My aunts are in there finishing a batch of goats' milk soap and Hobbi is upstairs in my room playing with my pet bird. We should be safe for a few minutes, but keep your voice down."

Skye led Kristen toward a narrow closet underneath the staircase. She opened the door and motioned for Kristen to follow her inside. "No one can hear us in here."

Kristen pushed her auburn hair from her face. "A closet? Have you flipped out? I can barely see my own hands."

"You don't need to see, only hear what I have to say. I've been thinking about things all day, and I've decided you can help me. But we have to be careful. I never know when Hobbi will decide to read my mind."

"Mind-reading? That's impossible," Kristen stated.

"Nothing's impossible with Hobbi. You already know she's ... different. She can do magic because she isn't human."

Skye couldn't see Kristen's expression, but disbelief was obvious in Kristen gasp. "If Hobbi isn't human, what is she?"

"A fiend. Like a monster. But keep your voice down. I have to figure out a plan to get rid of her, and I thought you might know a magic trick or something that could help."

"I don't want to get rid of Hobbi," Kristen said firmly. "She's terrific. I loved her unicorn trick, even if she did ruin my book."

"She'll ruin more than your book if she stays around," Skye warned, crouching down so she wouldn't bump her head on the sloped ceiling. "Her magic is dangerous and spooky. She has to leave before she causes REAL trouble."

"If you don't want her, I'll take her. It might be hard to convince my parents, but I'm willing to try."

"It's not that easy. I'm stuck with Hobbi forever because I signed a contract." Skye quickly explained about the purple delivery van, the grizzly driver, and the blood ink signature.

Through the dim light, Skye could see Kristen shrug. "So tear up the contract."

"I tried that when I got home from school today," Skye admitted. "I tore it into a zillion little pieces and dumped it into my trash can. But when I turned around, there it was on my desk, as perfect as ever without even a wrinkle."

"Yikes!" Kristen cried. "Genuine magic. I always suspected real magic existed, but I couldn't conjure up any myself. I'd sure love to study Hobbi for my science project."

"Forget your science project!" Skye cried. "This is serious! Hobbi has to go home. Do you know any magic spells or potions to get rid of a fiend?"

"No. I can do card tricks and make small objects disappear, but not real magic. Hobbi is real magic, and I want to learn from her. I don't want her to leav-"

Kristen stopped in mid-sentence and gasped as the door suddenly burst open.

Aunt Belle stood there in the bright light, and she looked surprised. "What in tarnation? Why are you girls hiding in here?"

Skye realized she and Kristen must look silly huddled in a narrow closet surrounded by winter coats and sweaters. She tried to think of a good explanation, but Kristen beat her to it.

"Skye was helping me with a magic trick," Kristen said quickly. "Hi, I'm Kristen. I'm a magician in training."

"A magician?" Aunt Belle squinted at Kristen. "Aren't you kind of young?"

"The younger a magician begins training, the better."

"But in a closet?" Aunt Belle asked, reaching for a sweater and draping it on her arm. "What sort of magic trick needs to be done in a closet?"

"I can't reveal professional secrets," Kristen said as she and Skye stepped out of the darkness. "But I call this trick, Fingertip Fireworks. A tiny ball of fire dances in the air as I wave my fingers. It's really super."

"I'd love to see it," Aunt Belle said with a smile.

Skye grabbed Kristen's hand and told her aunt, "Maybe later. Hobbi's waiting for us upstairs."

"Then you'd better skedaddle," Aunt Belle said. "We don't want our house guest to get lonely. Hobbi is such a sweet girl, although a bit untidy with her room. Glorianne and I spent two hours cleaning her room this morning."

"Sorry about that," Skye said. "I don't think neatness is important in Hobbi's country. I'll talk to her about it."

"You do that." Aunt Belle nodded, then returned to the kitchen.

"Is there really a Fingertip Firework trick?" Skye asked Kristen as they walked upstairs.

Kristen grinned. "You bet. It's my best trick and no one can figure it out. Of course, I'll never tell my secret."

Skye led Kristen to her bedroom. The door was halfway open, and Skye could see Hobbi's back. Hobbi's long braids trailed to her waist as she bent by Skye's birdcage. Skye guessed she was still playing with Sugarberry. The white dove had been a present from Skye's father last Christmas. Like all her father's previous gifts, Sugarberry had been delivered by a messenger. Skye's father was always too busy to come himself.

"Hi, Hobbi," Skye greeted.

"Boss!" Hobbi exclaimed, turning and looking so embarrassed that Skye suspected Hobbi had been up to some mischief.

Then Skye noticed the open bedroom window--and the empty birdcage.

"Sugarberry!" Skye rushed over and peered first into the cage and then out the window. Tree tops swayed, marshmallow clouds puffed high in the sky, and the autumn sun shined. But there was no sign of the special white dove.

Skye whirled angrily on Hobbi. "Where's my bird?"

"Gone."

"Gone where?" Skye demanded.

Hobbi gestured toward the window. "Sugarberry is flying home to her family." Hobbi's braids twirled and her mouth dipped downward. "You are displeased, Boss. You are very angry with me."

"You bet I'm angry! Sugarberry was the best gift my father ever sent me. And now she's gone. How could you, Hobbi?"

Hobbi spoke calmly, "It was easy. I just opened the cage--"

"But why?" Sky cut in. "How could you be so mean?"

"It was not mean to Sugarberry. She was very sad. She missed her mate and five baby birds. She wanted to go home."

"Sugarberry's home is with me," Skye snapped, almost too upset to talk. She could barely remember what her father looked like, but at least she'd had a sweet bird to remember him by. Until now.

"I want my bird! Hobbi, I order you to zap Sugarberry back into her cage."

Hobbi's eyes swirled to a deep, dangerous shade of violet. "No, Boss. I cannot obey. Sugarberry belongs with her family."

"How do you know so much about my bird?" Skye asked sarcastically. "Don't tell me you can read bird brains, too."

"No." Hobbi's braids swayed as she shook her head. "I had no need to mental probe. I spoke to Sugarberry. It was her wish to fly home."

Kristen clasped her hands to her auburn head. "Yikes! You actually talked to a bird and the bird talked back to you?"

"Yes. Is that wrong?"

"Letting my bird go was wrong," Skye said miserably, sinking on her bed and hugging an embroidered pillow to her chest.

Kristen told Hobbi, "Talking to animals is fantastic! It reminds me of Dr. Dolittle and his parrot Polynesia."

"I don't know this little doctor, but I've met many parrots," Hobbi said. "All fiends communicate with animals. In Specter, many languages are possible."

Kristen looked thoughtful. "Specter must be an unusual place. I've never heard of it, and I got an A in geography."

Skye very wisely didn't mention her own geography grade. Instead, she decided it was time to continue her private talk with Kristen. Minus Hobbi.

Skye convinced Hobbi to go downstairs to help the aunts make soap. Hobbi didn't argue, maybe because she loved making soap or because she felt guilty because of Sugarberry. Either way, it was a relief to have her gone, even if just for a short while.

"Now do you understand my problem?" Skye asked Kristen.

Kristen nodded. "Hobbi is so ... different."

"She's a fiend and I’m stuck with her for my entire life. I’m doomed! I'll never sign a contract again without reading every single word."

"Can I see your contract?" Kristen asked, glancing around the room.

"Sure." Skye walked to her desk, opened a drawer, and withdrew the indestructible paper.

Kristen studied the contract. "Very complicated. Lots of huge words and micro-sized print."

"Yeah, but the message reads loud and clear. I signed in red ink for Hobbi and I can't send her back." Skye sighed. "I like Hobbi. I really do, but she scares me. And I don't want to be her boss forever."

"Forever is a long time. Still, Hobbi is magical. Think of all the possibilities."

"You think of the possibilities. Hobbi can make books float, talk to animals, and read minds. Sounds great, but remember she's a fiend, designed to cause mischief."

Kristen frowned. "Could she read anyone’s mind?"

"Sure. Nobody is safe ... including you."

"What do you mean?" Kristen asked, gripping a desk corner and narrowing her gaze at Skye.

"Hobbi could learn your magic secrets."

"Not my Fingertip Fireball trick!"

Skye folded her arms and nodded. "Every trick you know. She could tell the whole world."

Kristen's face paled. "All my dreams of becoming a famous magician would be ruined. Skye, we have to get rid of Hobbi!"

"That's what I've been telling you."

"So we need a plan to send Hobbi home. Do you know where Specter is?"

"No, but I can check the maps in the school library."

"And I'll search through my magic books for information about fiends," Kristen said. "I have some very old books that belonged to my great-great grandfather. He lived alone near a Louisiana Bayou and some people called him a wizard. I've always been scared to try his magic spells, but dealing with a fiend calls for drastic actions."

"Very drastic," Skye said in dead seriousness.

"I'd also like to study your contract. Can I take it home with me?"

"Sure. It gives me the creeps."

"If there's a way to break this contract, I'll find it," Kristen promised. "And once I find it, Hobbi will be out of our lives. Forever."

CHAPTER ELEVEN

As Skye snuggled underneath her covers that night, Hobbi entered the room. Hobbi wore a long flowing flannel night gown that had once belonged to Aunt Belle.

"Skye," Hobbi said, hesitating. "I know you are still mad at me. I am sorry about Sugarberry."

"It's okay," Skye lied, turning away from Hobbi and burying her face into her pillow. Without the sweet cooing of Sugarberry, the room seemed empty. She missed her pet bird more than she was willing to admit.

Hobbi shook her head. "I have failed you and I feel bad."

"Just go to bed, Hobbi. It's late and I'm tired."

"But I can't sleep knowing you are mad. Will you forgive me if I give you a wish?"

"What if I wished for Sugarberry back?"

Hobbi sounded sad as she begged, "Please, make a different wish. You ordered a fiend who loves animals, and I love all animals very much. I can't bear to see an unhappily animal. Sugarberry is with her family now and is very happy."

Skye peaked at Hobbi through her covers. Hobbi looked so miserable and sincere that Skye's anger melted away. "Are you sure Sugarberry is happy?"

"Oh, yes!" Hobbi smiled. "She is flying with her mate and children."

The pain in Skye's heart eased as she imagined Sugarberry soaring above tree tops and through clouds. "Forget the wish, Hobbi. Sugarberry's happiness is what's important."

Hobbi's golden braids spun. "You are no longer sad. You love your bird enough to let her go."

"I guess so." Skye scrunched up her pillow and rested against it. "Only Hobbi, stop reading my mind. I mean it."

"I will obey you."

Skye had heard that before, but Hobbi sounded like she really meant it this time. Skye hoped so. If Hobbi read her mind too often, she might discover that Skye and Kristen were planning to send Hobbi back to Specter. That would ruin everything.

Since the first step of the plan was to locate Hobbi's real home, Skye sat up in bed and asked, "Hobbi, where exactly is Specter?"

"In California, Boss--I mean, Skye. Very north and near water."

Skye thought excitedly, We were getting close! So she probed deeper, "Near the ocean?"

"No." Skye shook her blond head. "Not near salt water, near fresh water. A large natural lake with mysterious hot water."

"Hot water?"

"Yes. And it is near an island of vipers."

"Vipers?" Skye's sleepy mind churned in confusion. "You mean, snakes?"

Hobbi nodded. "We could fly there if you wish."

"On an airplane?"

A sly smile curved on Hobbi's lips. "Fiends do not need planes to travel. Only a wish."

Skye knew better than to trust Hobbi's wishes. "Let's talk about Specter another time." Skye yawned and pulled her covers over her shoulders. "Good night, Hobbi."

"Good night, Boss."

Then Hobbi switched off the overhead light and left the room. As Skye drifted to sleep, she thought in frustration, Hobbi disobeyed me again. She didn’t call me Skye, she called me Boss.

* * *

The invitations were pink with fancy gold printing. Viera acted like a princess as she pranced from desk to desk, bestowing lovely envelopes to every girl in the class.

Well, almost every girl.

Guess who was excluded? You got it: Weird Skye Jones.

Even Hobbi received a pink invitation to Viera's party--which hurt Skye deeply. Skye felt tears prickling her eyes, but she refused to cry. Who cared about a dumb horseback riding party anyway?

Me, that’s who, Skye thought.

"Yo, Viera," Tyrone called out. "Invite some guys to your party."

"Yeah, we can ride horses, too," Brian added. He stood up in the aisle and pretended to gallop in place. He waved an imaginary cowboy hat and shouted, "Yee Haw! Bronco Brian rules!"

Laughter scattered across the room. Even Mr. Reuben, who hunched over a piled of papers, couldn't resist a grin.

Of course, Skye didn't grin. She was trying too hard not to cry. She adored horses, and had always wanted one of her own. Her aunts had lots of farm animals, but not one horse.

Viera lifted her chin in a royal manner. "Hang up your spurs, Brian. My party is for girls only. It'll be the best party ever. My grandparents own Silver Spurs Riding Academy, and they'll provide horses for everyone."

Skye wondered if Hobbi was excited about the invitation, so she glanced at her fiend friend. Oh, no! Hobbi's braids were moving. Not in big spinning circles, but enough so Skye knew someone's thoughts were being read. Probably Skye's.

Hobbi stood and waved her pink invitation. "I will not attend. I do not party with enemies."

"Enemies?" Viera gasped.

Kristen, who had a desk in the back of the room, also stood up. She pulled out her pink envelope and then purposely ripped it in half. "Count me out, too. I've got better things to do than attend childish parties."

"Childish! Of all the-" Viera's dark eyes glittered furiously. "Fine! Who needs you anyway!"

Priscilla put her arm around Viera. "We sure don't. We'll have a great time without them. It's their loss."

"And our choice," Kristen said proudly.

Mr. Reuben stood and announced a geography test, so the party debate ended.

Skye leaned over and whispered to Hobbi, "Thanks, Hobbi. I know why you turned down Viera, and I appreciate it."

"Viera was cruel to you. She hurt your feelings. She is our enemy."

Skye said wistfully, "She may be a snob, but she throws fantastic parties. Everyone raves about them. I wouldn't blame you if you decided to go."

"You are my friend, Skye. I will not forget that."

Hobbi's lavender eyes had never looked more beautiful or more kind. Skye realized with sadness that she would really miss Hobbi when her fiendish friend returned to Specter.

Skye smiled sadly. "And I'll never forget you, Hobbi."

CHAPTER TWELVE

At lunch break, Kristen and Skye met underneath the willow tree. Hobbi would join them after she finished a short spelling tutoring session with Mr. Reuben. Fiends were good at science, math, and geography, but they were terrible at spelling.

"Let's have a plotting powwow," Kristen said, spreading out her bagged lunch of dill pickles, a boiled egg, wheat crackers, and pineapple punch.

Skye made a face at Kristen's lunch selection and reached for her peanut butter and jelly sandwich. "I asked Hobbi about Specter last night, but her answers were confusing."

"What'd she say?"

"That Specter was near a California lake and an island of vipers. I spent an hour studying a map this morning and I couldn't find Specter anywhere. I scored a zero in finding Specter, but I scored a 93 on our geography quiz."

"I'm glad you did well on the quiz, but bummed you couldn't find Specter. I've never heard of it before," Kristen said.

"I'll check out a map in the library. Now what about your part of the plan? Have you found a spell to break my contract?"

"Not yet, but I still have two more magic books to look through." Kristen sipped her punch, and grinned. "I did find a spell for removing annoying warts. We could use it on Viera. She's awfully annoying."

Skye giggled. "I wanted to gag at her Miss Princess attitude earlier. Like each pink envelope was a crown jewel. I loved it when you tore up her invitation. You were great!"

"A party wouldn't be any fun without you."

Skye felt warm with pleasure. "Thanks, Kristen. I wouldn't want to go to a party without you either."

They didn't say anything for a moment. Skye guessed they were both kind of embarrassed. Finally, Skye broke the silence by asking, "So tell me about your magic books?"

"They're fascinating." Kristen bit into a juicy pickle, then wiped her lips with her hand. "I mixed a few basic potions and I'm dying to try them. One is a love potion. Know anyone I could try it on?"

Mr. Reuben's handsome face, complete with cute dimples, flashed in Skye's mind. She blushed and shook her head. "No one. How about you?"

"Promise you won't laugh," Kristen said.

"Sure." Skye grinned. "Who is he?"

"Brian Howton."

Skye broke her promise and laughed. "Not Bronco Brian the goof-ball? The only thing you two have in common is red hair."

"You laughed," Kristen accused, giggling some herself. "That's the last time I confess my heart's desire."

"But Brian? He's such a clown!" Skye almost choked on her sandwich.

"We're supposed to be plotting, not cracking up. Did I tell you there's a whole chapter on fiends in Simple Sorcery?"

Skye's laughter stopped. "Really?"

"Yeah. That's one of the magic books I haven't read yet, but it looks promising. I'll show it to you next time I come over."

Skye leaned forward and asked eagerly, "When will that be?"

"How about tonight?"

"Sounds great!" She paused and added, "But I have to work on my science project."

"I'll help you. I had fun at your house yesterday. Your aunts are so cool. Not like regular grown-ups who ask dumb questions like 'what do you want to be when you grow-up?' And Hobbi is fun, too." Kristen lifted her gaze and suddenly pointed. "Oh, look. There she is now."

Skye stood to call Hobbi over, but stopped when she saw that Hobbi was going in the opposite direction.

"Where's she'd headed?" Kristen asked.

"I don't know," Skye answered nervously. "But we'd better go after her."

"I haven't finished my lunch yet."

"Okay. You stay here. I'll get Hobbi."

Skye frowned and wondered what mischief Hobbi was up to now. In the distance, Skye could see Hobbi watching three girls play jump rope. Hobbi stood as still as a statue and stared at a black-haired girl. Viera Galvez.

Major trouble was brewing, and Skye hoped she could stop Hobbi before something terrible happened.

Hobbi lifted her right hand and pointed her colorful fingernails at Viera. The jump rope glowed with electric fire and flew up in the air as if it had been struck by lightening. Then it seemed to change shape. Skye gasped as the simple rope transformed into a wicked, writhing snake. The brown-spotted snake slithered on a breeze and aimed its poisonous tongue at Viera.

Viera screamed and backed away, but the snake followed. Other kids cried out as Viera shrieked.

Skye ran even faster, mentally commanding Hobbi to stop causing trouble.

"Go away!" Viera screamed. "Help!"

Skye ran frantically to the edge of the blacktop where Viera had backed into a fence. Viera was trapped, and the large snake twisted forward, hissing, and arching as if ready to strike.

"NO!" Skye hollered. She reached for the snake and grabbed it by the tail. She was passed being afraid. Besides, she knew Hobbi's magic couldn't hurt her.

Instantly, the electric snake changed back into a coarse rope. Relief filled Skye as a harmless rope dangled from her fingers.

"It's okay now," she told Viera.

"But it ... it was a snake." Viera gasped. "A ... deadly snake."

Skye held out the rope. "It's just a jump rope."

Viera's black eyes were wide and fearful. "I don't understand. It wanted ... wanted to kill me. It almost did."

Priscilla appeared at Viera's side. "Oh, Viera. What happened? Why were you running and screaming?"

Viera pointed at the rope. "It was chasing me ... a horrible snake."

Priscilla looked puzzled. "Huh? Are you okay?"

Viera nodded. "Yeah. Now I am, thanks to Skye. She saved my life."

"From a rope?" Priscilla put her arm gently around her friend. "I think you need to rest. Let's go back in the classroom."

"After I talk to Skye." Viera turned to look at Skye. "I don't know what just happened, but I know what I saw. And you did rescue me from ... something."

"Just forget about it," Skye said, glancing over at Hobbi who serenely smiled. The fiendish brat!

"I can't forget," Viera insisted. "You did something nice for me when I've never done anything nice for you."

"Yeah. Well." Skye shrugged, unsure what to say.

"You're a hero--a heroine. I know how to reward you." Viera's royal tone was back. "This is short notice, but here."

Viera reached into her pocket and withdrew a lovely pink envelope with gold printing.

Then she dropped the invitation into Skye's hand.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

The impossible had happened, and Skye felt like Cinderella as she stared at the pretty pink invitation. She didn't care about meeting Prince Charming, but she did care about being popular. An invitation from Viera was like winning a ticket into the "popular" crowd.

When the bell announced recess, Viera called out, "Skye, we're going to play foot tag. Wanna come?"

"Sure!" Skye answered, stuffing a spelling list in her backpack.

"Meet you on the blacktop." Viera flung her satiny hair over her shoulder and bounced out of the room.

Skye was so excited, she could barely think straight. And she didn't even know how to play foot tag.

But her excitement fizzled when she turned and saw the hostile look on Hobbi's face. Hobbi's lavender eyes were almost steaming with anger.

"I wasn't forgetting about you, Hobbi," Skye said quickly. "You can play foot tag, too."

"No." Hobbi folded her arms across her chest, and tapped one foot against the linoleum floor.

"We can learn how to play foot tag together. I'm sure Viera won't mind if you come with me."

"I mind."

"But why? Hobbi, is something wrong?"

"Yes." The golden braids twirled. "You will betray true friendship if you go with Viera. Ignore the invitation and stay away from Viera Galvez. She is not your friend."

"She wants to be," Skye insisted, annoyed by Hobbi's behavior. Just when everything was going right, her fiendish friend tried to ruin everything. Well, Skye wasn't going to let her. Just because Skye signed a lifetime contract didn't mean Hobbi could run her life.

"Do not go with Enemy Number One," Hobbi stated flatly.

"I'll do what I want."

"Hey, what's going on?" Kristen interrupted, stepping around a desk to come between Skye and Hobbi.

"I'm glad you're here," Skye said with relief. "Help me convince Hobbi that Viera's okay. Then we can all go outside and play foot tag."

"With Miss Snob Queen?" Kristen asked sharply. "Forget it. Just because she invited you to her party doesn't mean you can trust her."

"Why not?"

"Get real!" Kristen’s cheeks reddened to match her hair. "Next you'll be telling me you're actually going to Viera's party."

Skye lowered her gaze, reaching in her skirt pocket to caress the precious envelope. "I-I haven't decided," she answered evasively.

"You are serious!" Kristen exclaimed. "You don't have anything in common with Viera's crowd. You'd be bored in two minutes."

"No, I won't. Horseback riding will be super. Why don't you and Hobbi go to the party with me?"

"This is crazy!" Kristen ran her fingers through her smooth auburn hair. "Hobbi and I refused the party because of you. I even ripped my envelope to show my support for you. And now you're going to the party! I thought you were my friend."

Skye sighed. "I am."

"Then act like it," Kristen huffed, then turned to Hobbi. "Come on. If Skye wants to hang out with the snobs, that's her business. Let's go sit under the willow tree."

Hobbi gave Skye a miserable look, then slowly nodded at Kristen. "I will go with you."

"Don't leave me!" Skye felt like a piece of taffy being pulled in different directions. She hadn't done anything wrong, and yet she felt guilty. It shouldn't matter if she went to a party or played a simple game at recess. Kristen and Hobbi were being unfair. Absolutely monstrous!

"You guys don't understand," Skye insisted.

"We understand all right." Kristen frowned and shook her head sadly. "But you don't. I'm not going to watch you make a fool of yourself. You're on your own, Skye. Good-bye."

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Kristen didn't come to Skye's house after school. She avoided Skye the next day at school. Hobbi talked to Skye, but her tone was cool and distant. At home Hobbi kept busy with Aunt Belle and Aunt Glory, leaving Skye alone.

Maybe I should skip the party, Skye thought, but I don’t want to. If I’m going to be punished, I might as well commit the crime. I only hope I’m not making a big mistake.

But on the day of the party, when Skye saw the horse Viera had chosen for her, Skye knew going to the party was the right choice.

Savannah Starlight was the most beautiful appaloosa in the world, and it was love at first sight. Skye laid her face near Savannah's creamy coat, and stroked the silky white mane.

"We call her Savvy Star," Mrs. Galvez explained, coming up beside Skye. Viera's grandmother spoke quickly, with a slight Mexican accent.

"Can I ride her now?" Skye asked eagerly.

Mrs. Galvez chuckled. "Not yet. Check with Viera. This is her party."

"Okay." Skye whispered into Savannah Starlight's ear, "Good-bye for now. But I'll be back. I promise."

Skye followed Mrs. Galvez into the large rambling ranch style house. Viera's room was almost as big as the entire first floor of Skye's house, and much fancier. Pink was the theme color, and splashes of it were everywhere. Frilly pink curtains, thick pale rose carpet, and ivory and pink wallpaper.

"Your room is gorgeous," Skye said, trying to be out-going and friendly.

"You think so?" Viera looked skeptical. "But everything is SO pink. I'd have it redecorated, by Abuela ... my grandmother ... likes pink. Besides, I only visit here on weekends."

Skye glanced down, feeling awkward. "Well ... it's a nice room."

"Whatever." Viera shrugged, her dark hair and ebony eyes an exotic contrast to all the pink.

Nervously, Skye clasped her hands and looked at the other girls. All six were from Mr. Rueben's class: Priscilla, Roxanne, Tonya, Ashley, and identical twins Candy and April.

"Hi." Skye gave a shy half-smile.

Several nods and a few "hi's." No warm offers of friendship, but they seemed to accept her. Skye tried to act cool, and secretly hoped they'd go horseback riding soon.

Viera stood on a plush velvet pink stool and clapped to get everyone's attention. "Are you ready for some fun?" she asked.

Answers of "YES!" filled the room.

"What are we going to do?" Tonya asked, crossing her long slender dark legs and leaning forward on the edge of the bed.

"Guess! What's my favorite game?" Viera teased.

"I know! I know!" Roxanne waved her hand excitedly. "Lies and Loves."

Viera reached for a deck of cards. "That's right, Roxy. Everyone into a circle on the floor and I'll pass out the cards. You all know how to play, right?"

Skye opened her mouth to say "WRONG!" but the other girls were giggling and Skye was afraid of looking uncool. Besides, Lies and Loves was obviously a card game. She could figure out the rules by watching the others. When the game was over, everyone would go outside and ride horses.

Viera dealt Skye four cards: a three of spades, king of hearts, ten of clubs, and seven of spades. Skye had no idea if her hand was good or bad.

"Me, first!" Priscilla squealed. Then she placed a card face-down on the carpet in front of her crossed legs. "Love or lie? I'm going to a movie with Garret tomorrow."

Giggles. Each girl slapped a card down in front of her. Viera, Ashley, and the twins chose "Lie," and Tonya chose "Love."

"What about you, Skye?" Viera asked. "Lie or Love?"

"Huh?"

"Place your bid," Viera said.

Skye guessed a bid meant a card, so she flipped over her king of hearts. She copied what the others had done and went along with the popular answer, "Lie."

Priscilla grinned happily and turned her card over. An Ace of hearts. Whatever that meant. "Love," Priscilla chirped. "I win!"

Gasps and squeals echoed off the pink walls.

"You're going out with Garret?" Tonya asked doubtfully.

"For real?" Viera added.

Priscilla giggled and explained that Garret was going to a movie with her brother and she had been invited, too. Skye's head spun as she tried to make sense out of the babbles that followed. Something about Priscilla having a crush on Garret and this being her big chance for romance. Skye never did figure out how to play Lies and Loves, but it didn't matter because the game was quickly replaced by boy talk.

Yuck! Maybe someday Skye would like giggling about boys, but not today. Especially when a darling horse waited outside for her.

"Viera, when we go horseback riding?" Skye asked.

"After lunch. Abuela is preparing a scrumptious salad and fruit bar for us."

"Sounds good." Skye tried to hide her disappointment. She remembered Kristen's warning that Skye would be bored in two minutes at Viera's. Boy talk and card games were dull, but riding on Savvy Star would be fantastic.

Viera pulled out a multi-compartmented makeup kit and announced a beauty pageant. Since she and Tonya attended a modeling school, they would apply makeup and fashion accessories to everyone. Then each girl would choose from Viera's wide assortment of pageant costumes and parade down an imaginary runway.

Skye's stomach churned. Beauty queen material, she was not. Her hazel eyes were her best feature, and they were hidden by thick glasses. Maybe Kristen had been right about Skye's not fitting in with Viera's crowd. Skye found herself wishing for some of Hobbi's magic. A fiendish interruption would be very welcome right now.

Suddenly a shrill scream pierced the air. It came from outside and sounded like Viera's grandmother.

A horrible thought jumped into Skye's head. Could Hobbi create magic even when she wasn't around?

What mischief had Skye's fiend done now?

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

"I am not loco," Mrs. Galvez insisted, pushing her concerned husband and granddaughter away. "I did see this thing. It was not my imagination."

"What did you see, Abuela?" Viera asked gently.

"Wings, a tail, and something very small."

"A bird frightened you?" Mr. Galvez questioned.

"Not a bird. Smaller and stranger. I know you won't believe me, but it looked like a tiny horse. A flying horse."

Skye's mouth dropped open and she slapped her hand over it quickly. Lucky the Unicorn! It had to have been Kristen's runaway book cover!

But what was Lucky doing at the Galvez home? Hobbi had to be responsible. Just wait until Skye got home and had a talk with Hobbi. This magic meddling had to stop--one way or another.

Mr. Galvez led his wife away from the stables and Viera shook her head in bewilderment. "This is not like Abuela. She must be very tired. All her work for my party, I guess." Viera twirled a long strand of her black hair with one finger and suddenly grinned. "But as they say in the movies, the show must go on. Let's party!"

"I hope you don't mean horseback riding," Priscilla said with disgust. "I'm not in the mood to get sweaty and filthy."

"Neither am I," Viera agreed. "Let's go inside and practice kissing our hands. I've got some new shades of lipstick we can try out."

"Ooh! Terrific!' Roxanne gushed.

Skye groaned. Kissing her hand? That was even worse than Lies and Loves. And Viera thought this was fun? Unbelievable!

But what choice did Skye have? So she followed the girls back into the house and upstairs to Viera's palatial pink room.

Skye never did get to ride Savvy Star.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Instead of going home after the party, Skye headed for Kristen's house. Holding a pink purse filled with party favors in one hand, Skye knocked on the door with her other hand. Nervous butterflies swarmed in her stomach. She'd never been to Kristen's before and wasn't sure she'd be welcome now.

At least Kristen's green and white rectangular house looked welcoming. A chained-linked fence framed a colorful blend of flowers, a shade awning covered a large front window, and two contented calico cats curled in a box on the porch.

The door opened and a small-framed, chestnut haired woman smiled at Skye. "Hello. What can I do for you?"

"Is ... Is Kristen here?"

The smiled deepened, and looked familiar. This had to be Kristen's mother. "Yes, she's here. Come on inside."

Skye followed Mrs. O'Malley through the living room and down a book-lined hallway. Mrs. O'Malley tapped once on a door, then opened it, and Kristen's green eyes almost popped out when she saw Skye.

"What are you doing here?" Kristen asked with surprise. "I thought you were at Viera'a party."

Mrs. O'Malley quietly, wisely, shut the door and left.

Skye was pleased that Kristen hadn't yelled at her to get out or slammed the door in her face. So far, so good.

"I was at Viera's, but I left early," Skye admitted. She held out the pink purse as a peach offering. "This is for you."

Kristen opened the purse and stared at the assortment of lipsticks, perfume samples, eye shadows, and earrings. "Did Viera give you all this stuff?"

"Everyone got purses as party favors. But I feel silly in red lipstick and chartreuse eye shadow. I kept one pair of earrings for myself and thought you might like the rest."

Kristen dabbed a squirt of Titian Temptress perfume behind her ears and on her wrists. "Nice fragrance. Thanks."

Skye sat on the edge of the trundle bed. "Am I forgiven?"

Kristen shrugged. "Hanging out with Viera was punishment enough."

"That's for sure." Skye giggled, almost heady with relief. They were friends again! It felt great.

Skye immediately launched into a description of Viera's grandparents' home, the stables, the silly games they played, the vegetarian lunch buffet, and the unicorn sighting.

"I'm sure it was Lucky." Skye frowned. "Hobbi manages to cause trouble even when she's not around."

"Well, she is a fiend."

"I know. Boy, do I know." Skye sighed and hugged her knees. "I wish I knew what to do about Hobbi."

Kristen pointed to an enormous glass-covered bookcase near the foot of her bed. "We're going to send her back to Specter. I've been searching through my magic books. I think I'm really close to discovering a spell."

"You still want to help me?" Skye asked, hopefully.

"Of course!" Kristen grinned. "I'm excited about performing awesome magic. It's a major step in my career."

"Good. I was afraid you wouldn't be my friend anymore since I went to Viera's party."

"You can't lose me that easily. Maybe I over-reacted. You needed to see for yourself just how boring it is to try to act like everyone else just to be popular. Wearing the same type of clothes, playing goofy games, and giggling about dumb stuff. Bor-ring! I'd rather be with creative, unique, and fun people."

"The party wasn't boring," Skye said truthfully. "The food was good and everyone was nice. Sure, I wish I could have ridden Savy Star and I felt dumb kissing my hand in gross shades of lipstick, but I had an okay time."

"Then why did you leave early?"

"I-I didn't feel like me. And I knew I'd have a better time with you. I prefer creative, unique, and fun people, too."

"Like you and me."

"And Hobbi," Skye said a bit sadly. "She's unique."

"That's for sure."

"If only she didn't cause so much trouble."

Kristen sat in a chair and faced Skye. "Having second thoughts about our plan?"

"Second, third and tenth! I missed Hobbi while I was at the party. I can’t imagine how I'll feel when she gone forever."

"I'll miss her, too. Hobbi's fun, and her magic fascinates me. I don't want her to leave either."

"So let's keep her," Skye suggested, her heart pounding and her palms clenched into anxious fists. "Maybe I can live with a fiend."

"For a lifetime?"

Skye couldn't answer. Not honestly. She remembered how Hobbi's rope snake had attacked Viera. Hobbi might have seriously hurt Viera if Skye hadn't interfered. Hobbi tried to help, but things always back-fired. How could Skye trust her?

Everyone would be better off if Hobbi returned to Specter. Including Hobbi. She didn't belong with humans. No matter how hard she tried, she just didn't fit in--like Skye hadn't fit in with Viera's crowd.

Skye sighed and pointed at the bookcase. "We don't have a choice. Keep looking for a magic spell."

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

When Skye returned home, she went straight to Hobbi's room. The door was open and Skye had to step over discarded towels, shirts, and socks to get inside.

Hobbi was reclining on an unmade bed, reading a paperback copy of Heidi Grows Up. Skye hoped that the goat on the book's cover wouldn't suddenly spring to life. She shivered, imagining Hobbi's magic run amuck.

"Hi, boss," Hobbi greeted, tossing the book aside.

"Hobbi, did you send Lucky to Viera's party?" Skye demanded, kicking an empty cracker box. Hobbi's messy room never failed to surprise Skye. But what surprised Skye even more was that her aunts allowed Hobbi to get away with it. Skye had to make her bed twice if Aunt Belle found even one wrinkle.

Hobbi's face was a mask of innocence. "Lucky?" she echoed.

"The unicorn from Kristen's book," Skye reminded, putting her hands on her hips. "Lucky showed up at the party and nearly scared Viera's grandmother to death. Did you zap him there?"

"My magic has a life of its own," was all she said.

This cryptic answer was supposed to satisfy Skye, but it left her uneasy. She just couldn't figure Hobbi out. Skye loved being with Hobbi when she was good, but when she was bad: watch out!

Unfortunately, after school on Monday, Skye forgot to watch out.

Hobbi wanted to work on the science project. Mr. Reuben had agreed to let Skye and Hobbi be partners, and an oral presentation was due in four days. Since Kristen was busy with her own project, Skye figured she should work on hers.

Hobbi and Skye carried a box of plaster, a bucket, and a hose out to the pasture. Chickens, ducks, and cats made noises as Hobbi walked by. Hobbi replied by cackling, clucking, and mewing, and Skye wondered what was being said.

Skye turned on the hose and put the nozzle in the bucket, then she measured in four cups of powdered plaster.

"Should I add another cup?" Skye asked Hobbi.

A small white nubian goat named Nibbles rubbed against Hobbi's leg. "Perhaps one," Hobbi answered, stroking the lop-eared kid.

"This much?"

"Yes, boss."

Skye stirred the concoction with a stick until it felt as thick as creamy peanut butter. Nibbles made deep paw prints in soft dirt and Hobbi placed a wooden frame around the best print. Then Skye poured plaster into the frame.

"When it hardens, we'll have our first print," Skye told Hobbi. "Of course, our project would be better if we could use wild animals prints. But Aunt Glory and Aunt Belle said no."

"Why is that?"

"Too dangerous."

"Animals aren't dangerous. Humans are," Hobbi stated, patting a gray and tan goose. Psycho the goose ruled the farm, and Skye never got near him or his menacing beak.

"Try convincing my aunts of that," Skye grumbled. "We have to stay on the farm. The woods are off-limits."

"Nothing is off-limits to magic."

Hobbi's purple eyes lit up like Christmas lights and her golden braids spun in dizzy circles. She pressed the blue fingernail on her left hand and the ground shook like a seven point earthquake.

"NO!" Skye cried, holding onto the plaster frame. "Stop it, Hobbi!"

"Yes, boss," she replied, and the earth stilled. Hobbi smiled in her mysterious way. "If we can't go to the animals, they will come to us."

Skye put her hands to her face. "What have you done now?"

"Look." Hobbi sounded proud as she pointed to a thick patch of pine trees with her blue-tipped index finger.

Skye's logical mind didn't want to look, but her curious mind couldn't resist.

"Yikes!" Skye shrieked, using Kristen's favorite word.

Animals stepped out from the woods and filed in a line heading toward the girls. A raccoon, a squirrel, a bear cub, a porcupine, a doe, and a rabbit.

Incredible!

Hobbi spoke in strange languages, probably telling the enchanted creatures what to do. Then one-by-one the animals pressed their paws in the damp ground. Skye was frozen with fear and amazement. She wanted to reach out and touch these beautiful, graceful creatures, but she only stood and stared.

The magic was over as quickly as it had begun, and the animals returned to the woods.

"Are these prints enough?" Hobbi asked.

"More than enough!" Skye wasn't sure whether to be grateful or furious. She decided she must still be in shock.

"I can bring a wild and rare beast. Would you like a Tasmanian devil?"

"You're joking! That's just a cartoon."

"No. Tasmanian devils live in Australia and are very real. They are vicious scavengers."

Skye shivered. "Too scary."

Hobbi smiled slyly. "A Tasmanian devil would not be vicious with me. Go ahead and wish for one."

"No more magic," Skye said firmly. Hobbi would probably swipe one from a zoo and Skye would end up in jail for grand theft.

"But it is my job to please. What can I do to make you happy, boss?"

Skye thought of Hobbi's attempts to "please." The stolen black outfit, Kristen's book cover leaping to life, and the attack of the killer rope.

"If you want to make me happy, don't do anything."

Lavender eyes twinkled as Hobbi smiled sweetly. "As you wish, Boss."

Skye thought uneasily, Why don’t I believe her?

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Unicorns flew in the air, vipers swarmed on an island, and a bell rang over and over.

A bell.

The phone.

Skye sat up in bed, rubbed her sleepy eyes, and reached for the ringing phone. "Huh? Who is it?"

"Skye! I'm so glad you answered!"

"Kristen?" Skye yawned and glanced at her illuminated bedside clock. Midnight. "Do you know what time it is?"

"I don't care. Skye, this is important."

Skye's fuzzy mind cleared and her heart pounded. "What?"

"I found it!"

"You mean--"

"Yes! A spell that will get rid of Hobbi. It was in Simple Sorcery, under a chapter on disappearing."

Skye bit her lip nervously. "But I don't want Hobbi to disappear ... just to send her back. Nothing bad had better happen to her."

"It’ll be okay. I promise. She'll be perfectly safe. She's my friend, too, and I want what's best for her ... for all of us."

"I'm scared. And I feel like a creep for plotting behind Hobbi's back."

"You're not a creep. You're just human, something that Hobbi can never be."

"Which is the problem," Skye said with a deep sigh. "Hobbi should be with her family. I hope she'll be happy in Specter--wherever that is."

"My book said Specter isn't visible to human eyes. That's what gave me the idea to look up invisibility spells. I found one that will make signatures disappear."

"Like my signature of Hobbi's contract?" Skye guessed.

"That's right," Kristen answered, sounding excited. "Your signature will vanish and the contract will be broken. You'll be free of your fiend."

"But what will happen to Hobbi?"

"She'll return to Specter ... I think. I'm not positive," Kristen admitted. "The book doesn't say exactly. Magic is very complicated and this spell involves several unusual ingredients and moonlight."

"Moonlight?"

"Don't worry about it. Once I find the ingredients, I'll cast a fantastic spell. By this time next week, Hobbi will be gone forever."

CHAPTER NINTEEN

Tuesday, Skye couldn't think of anything but the spell. She felt guilty, worried, and relieved all at the same time.

"I'll be glad when this is over," she told Kristen as they walked to the O'Malley's house after school. Hobbi had promised to milk goats for Skye's aunts, and had gone directly home.

"So will I," Kristen agreed, hugging a book bag to her chest. "Do you think Hobbi suspects anything?"

"No." Skye shook her curly head. "For once she's kept her promise and stopped reading my mind. Thank goodness, or else she'd know about our plan."

"And ruin everything," Kristen said gravely.

"Tell me about the spell."

"It's simple. We gather some special ingredients, follow easy instructions, and chant magic words in the moonlight. Friday night the moon will be full, so that's when we'll do it."

"What ingredients?" Skye asked.

"Honey-suckle, manzanita branches, and daisies."

"That won't be too hard. What do we do with these things?"

Kristen gave a half-grin. "We arrange the manzanita branches in a circle on the ground, wear daisy crowns on our heads, chew honey-suckle and chant magical words in the moonlight by a rock shaped like a frog."

Skye almost choked. "A frog!"

"Yeah. I guess that could be kind of difficult." She shrugged and spread her arms in a hopeful gesture. "Know where we can find a frog-shaped rock?"

"You're kidding, right?"

"Nope."

Skye stopped on the sidewalk and groaned. "This is never going to work."

"Sure it will. Look on the good side. At least the spell didn't ask for eye of newt, bat wings, or slimy gizzards."

"Yuck!" Skye couldn't help but giggle. "You're impossible."

"And determined," Kristen stated. "Let's look for the easy stuff first. There's a manzanita bush in a field near my house. We can probably find some daisies there, too."

There was no arguing with Kristen, so Skye shrugged and said, "Lead the way."

Thirty minutes later they had collected six smooth reddish manzanita branches, a pretty bouquet of daisies, and a bag full of sweet yellow honeysuckle. Luckily, Kristen had a honeysuckle vine growing in her own backyard.

But no matter how hard they looked, they couldn't find the frog rock.

"We'll never find a rock shaped like a frog," Skye complained, looking around the third field they'd searched. She felt disappointed and tired. The sun was setting and she knew they would have to head for their homes soon.

"Maybe you're right." Even Kristen sounded discouraged. She pointed to a rock at the base of a towering oak tree. "That little rock resembles a chicken."

"We need a frog."

"Maybe the spell won't know the difference."

"No messing with the ingredients," Skye warned. "I don't want anything to go wrong. Hobbi could get hurt."

Kristen sighed. "Well, we still have a few days till a full moon. Let's look again tomorrow."

Skye agreed, and picked up an armload of manzanita branches. Kristen held a few branches plus a small bag of daisies. Skye thought how odd they must look, trudging through weedy grass and scraggly bushes, carrying their treasures.

Kristen squeezed through a tunnel-like opening between two trees, but Skye's armload was too wide, so she made a jog around the trees. But she could barely see where she was going because of the shiny burgundy wood piled high in her arms. Her foot shot out, she stumbled, and branches flew everywhere as she tumbled. She ended up flat on her bottom.

"Skye!" Kristen called, hurrying over. "Are you all right?"

With branches scattered around her feet, Skye shakily stood up. A jagged scratch ran down her arm and her backside ached. She rubbed the back of her pants and said, "Ooh! But I smacked my arm on something. What did I hit? Oh ... a dumb rock."

Skye looked at the round odd-shaped gray stone, and frowned. It was about four-feet tall and larger at the bottom than the top. Skye's frown changed as she stared, realization making her jump up excitedly.

"Kristen!" She grabbed her friend by the hand. "I can't believe it, but this dumb rock is shaped exactly like a frog!"

CHAPTER TWENTY

Friday arrived, and Skye was a basket case at school. She tried not to think about the spell, but magic was never far from her thoughts. Tonight was the night. By tomorrow morning, Hobbi would be back in Specter.

Fortunately, Hobbi didn't seem to notice the difference in Skye. In fact, Hobbi had never been happier. She talked about how much she loved the aunts, the animals, and even school.

Which made Skye feel like a triple creep.

If only Skye could trust Hobbi not to cause trouble. But she couldn't. Hobbi was a fiend, after all.

During lunch, Skye sat with Kristen and Hobbi at their usual back table. Brian, Tyrone and some other boys chose to sit at the next table. Skye would rather the boys sat as far away as possible. When she saw them whispering among each other, she felt a tremor of worry.

"I wonder what those boys are up to," Skye commented, holding a carrot stick.

"Would you like me to read their minds?" Hobbi offered.

"NO!" Skye and Kristen said at the same time.

Kristen sipped milk through a straw and added, "I don't mind the boys. I think Brian looks kind of cute in his Giants cap."

"Don't get boy-crazy on me. Brian is a goon. He's only wearing that cap to hide his red hair," Skye replied.

"I happen to like red hair," Kristen retorted, winding a strand of her auburn hair around her finger.

"Keep your voice down or those dumb boys might decide to bug us." Skye sighed. "I have enough things to worry about today."

Hobbi chewed a bite of a shiny green apple, then glanced curiously at Skye. "But why do you worry, Boss? We did well on the oral science report and Mr. Reuben loved the animal footprints so much, we both got A's. Today is a very good day."

Skye glanced uneasily at Hobbi, taking close note of Hobbi's braids which were--thankfully!--not moving in mind-reading circles. Hobbi could be so sweet at times, and Skye's heart felt heavy at the thought of losing her. But Hobbi would be happier with her own kind, and Skye's life would return to normal.

"You're right, Hobbi." Skye managed a weak smile. "Today is a good day ... a day I know I'll never forget."

Kristen blushed guiltily, focusing on her pickle and scrambled egg sandwich. "That's for sure," she muttered.

Skye bit her lower lip, and reminded herself that sending Hobbi back was the right thing to do. For everyone. Yet Skye couldn't forget that today was her last lunch with Hobbi, her last day at school with Hobbi--the last day forever.

Skye gulped and tried not to feel sad. She glanced away and noticed that Tyrone was folding a piece of paper in a triangular shape. Not another paper airplane attack, she thought with irritation.

"Don't look now," Kristen whispered, leaning over toward Skye. "But Tyrone's aiming a paper plane in your direction."

Skye rolled her eyes. "Just what I need! Not!"

As she spoke, a plane swooshed by her head, and then another one snagged in Kristen's auburn hair.

"Brian!" Kristen yipped, yanking the paper missile out of her hair. "You creep!"

The boys at the next table laughed, and Skye realized that kids at other tables were watching, too.

Hobbi frowned and asked Skye, "Why are those boys throwing papers at us? Is this a game?"

"Not exactly," Skye answered with a grimace. "They want to make us mad. Boys can be such pains!"

Three more planes zoomed by the girls, and Hobbi's frown deepened. "I do not like this game."

"Neither do I." Kristen yanked another plane from her hair.

Skye ducked as a low-flying paper craft sailed by. "I wish they would stop bugging us!"

"As you wish, boss," Hobbi said quickly.

Before Skye could put a leash on her fiend's magic, Hobbi had pressed two of her colored fingernails and electricity seemed to vibrate in the air.

Suddenly, paper airplanes filled the cafeteria airway, but the boys no longer commanded the flight plan. Like a flock of birds, over a dozen planes circled in perfect formation, as though communicating through invisible radar. Fiendish radar.

Squeals of delight and alarm filled the room.

Teachers, cafeteria workers, and students exclaimed and pointed in astonishment.

"Hobbi!" Skye cried, unsure whether to stop Hobbi or sit back and watch the fun.

The paper airplanes spread out in an arrow shape, aimed at Brian, Tyrone, and their pals. The boys watched with their mouths' open and their eyes bulging. They seemed frozen in place, until the planes shot forward, directly at the boys, and ATTACKED!

"Hey! What's happening!" Tyrone cried.

"Back off!" Brian shrieked, jumping up and running. But even as he ran, several planes followed, all the way out of the cafeteria.

The remaining planes targeted Tyrone. They circled overhead, then as if obeying an invisible flight plan, swooped down on Tyrone. They landed in his hair, on his lunch tray, and jabbed his arms.

Tyrone cried out again, swatting at the paper army as if they were annoying flies.

"Cut it out!" Tyrone wailed, then he jumped up and headed outside. As he ran, the planes continued to chase him until Tyrone--and the planes--disappeared through the doorway.

While everyone else was in an uproar, Kristen, Skye, and Hobbi exchanged grins.

Kristen laughed. "Now that was magic!"

"Only small magic," Hobbi said. "When the planes left the room, the magic left, too. But perhaps the boys did not look behind them, and are still running."

Skye couldn’t help but grin. It was hard not to enjoy Hobbi's magic.

"You showed those boys!" Skye lifted her hand and high-fived Hobbi. "Way to go, Hobbi!"

"I only did as you wished," she said, her tone a mix of modesty and pleasure.

"Well, thanks." Skye gave Hobbi a grateful glance.

Kristen giggled. "One thing's for sure."

"What?" Skye asked.

"Those boys won't dare bother us again."

Another thing is for sure, Skye thought to herself sadly. Every minute I spend with Hobbi makes it harder to send her back to Specter. If only she weren’t a fiend.