Ash And Curses

Chapter Nine

Kate shifted uncomfortably as Miley's eyes burrowed into her. "You've been looking at me weirdly"she muttered. Miley opened her mouth to speak, then shut it immediately. "How do I know this is the real you?"she blurted out.
Kate laughed out a surprised "what?" "What's that supposed to mean?"she asked but Miley remained mute. "You almost hit me with an alarm clock the last time I slept over"Kate said. "Oh, thank goodness"Miley whispered, heaving a sigh of relief.
"You've been acting weird M, the last time you called me and sent me away as soon as I came"Kate frowned.
"This is so hard to explain"Miley groaned, pulling her hair. This was something she always did whenever she was frustrated or pressurized. "I talked to you but it wasn't you"she said.
"Really? That's the best you could come up with?"Kate stared at her. "I'm your best friend, you should tell me everything–"
"That is what I'm doing now Kate"Miley sighed.

"What's good ladies?"a voice said behind them, it was Frankie. Miley and Kate didn't even pay him attention.
"The book I told you about...it appeared in my room and I called you immediately. You came– no, not you"Miley began. Kate stared at her in confusion.
"You came, I talked to you, we read the book together. It was about an evil witch and you asked me to call you if I find her name in the book. Then you left and– and you came again like you never came to my house before."
"I do not understand you"Kate began. "Do you mean someone transformed into me?"she continued.
"Exactly! The book I read with the other you said the witch has the power of shape shifting. I don't know, maybe..."she suddenly stopped and sighed.
"This is creepy"Frankie said.
"When did you get here?"Kate asked and he rolled his eyes. "About five minutes ago, you were so engrossed in your discussion"he replied.
"See? I don't even know if this is the real Frankie. I'm scared, I'm really scared"Miley sighed again. "How about we make a secret code?"Frankie suggested.
"What's that?"Kate asked.
"A word meant for just the three of us"he grinned. "If you want to be sure we're the real Franklin and Kate, you ask us for the secret word. And I know just the word"he smirked, rubbing his palms gleefully.
"Umm, okay?"Kate raised an eyebrow.

"Butt"he chuckled.
"You are disgusting"Kate frowned at him.
"Plain disgusting"Miley concurred.
"How about jellybean? We all agree, yeah? Jellybean it is"Kate said.
"We never agreed"Frankie pointed out.
"I never bargained for all these. I just want a normal life"Miley groaned and Kate pulled her close. "I believe this is for a purpose"she whispered soothingly.
"I'll come over to your house after school hours so I can see the book"she continued and Frankie nudged her, pouting.
"With Frankie too"she rolled her eyes.
"It's fine, I'll be expecting you. There are lots of things I want to tell you–"she was saying when a feminine voice interrupted.
It was Bianca.
"Kate can I talk to you?"she asked. Kate stared at Miley.
"Umm, I'm sorry I'm kinda in the middle of something"Kate replied.
"Please"she whispered, caressing Kate's arm.
"Miley, Frankie, I'll see you guys later"she said, standing up. "But–"Miley began.
"I'll be back"Kate interrupted as Bianca pulled her away.
"I miss when she was attracted to boys"Miley said. "I thought you asked her to avoid Bianca for now"Frankie said and Miley shrugged.
"There's something about that Bianca girl though"Frankie continued and Miley turned to him.
"I thought I was the only one who noticed.
                          ★
"So, what were you talking about?"Bianca asked, leaning close. "It's not something you'd understand"Kate replied and pulled Bianca close.
"I missed you"she mumured.
"Make me understand"Bianca frowned.
"Bianca, it's Miley's private life. I can't tell you about people's private lives"she whispered softly in her ears. There was silence for a minute or two, then Bianca pulled away from Kate.

"Bianca..."
"Tell me"she said, staring intensely at her.
"Tell me everything you discussed"she continued.

                         ★
Kate knocked softly and Miley ran to open the door immediately. "Jellybean"they chorused and she smiled as she let them in.
"Let me get you something"she said going to the refrigerator. "Hey, watch this"she smiled and pointed at two cans in the refrigerator. They moved as she moved her fingers.
"What the fuck!"Frankie exclaimed.
"I...I thought you said you lost them"Kate whispered as Miley dropped the can drinks on the table. "I found out I could do it on Saturday"Miley smiled. "It reduces my workload"she continued as she walked into the room, returning with the book.

"Umm, you can do this from the room the room? Your book is floating"Kate said.
"What? I'm right here"Miley raised an eyebrow and Frankie spurted the drink in his mouth.
"I– we can't see you Miley"she said. "What?!"Miley exclaimed, dropping the book. It hit her foot and she groaned in pain. Kate heaved a sigh of relief.
"I can see you now"she said.
"You were invisible, Miley"Frankie said almost in a whisper as she limped to a chair. "I told Kate but she didn't believe me"Miley said.
"Do you think I–"she said, then stopped.
"Have invisibility powers?"Kate completed and Miley nodded. "Obviously"she affirmed.
"This keeps on getting weird"Frankie whispered.
.....
.........
......
Kate closed the book and sighed. "Aurora has been monitoring the generation of Eunice?"she said and Miley nodded. "That means you're from a lineage of magicians"Frankie said and Miley nodded again. "If she knows you and was actually here, then it means she knew your parents too while they were still– you know, here"Kate said.

Miley stared at her and was about to nod again when her eyes widened.
"Wait– wait a minute"she whispered.
"What– what if this whole thing has something to do with my parents disappearance?"she asked and they stared at themselves.