Initium by Jamie L. Lalley (best novels for teenagers TXT) 📕

area and queens anne's lace bloomed in an abundance. Decaying logs and leaves were raked away sitting in two little mounds off to one side revealing the dark earth and sizable moss covered boulders.
Phillip swung off his book bag and took out the materials the three have put together for the Offering and laid them out on the ground. Kiki grabbed a twig and drew out her Wizard Circle; it resembled a flower with seven petals.
As Phillip doubled checked the items, Bobby read him the list that he had written out as a precaution:
A branch cut from a platanus accidentalis with the leaves stripped
A flat stone with a small hole punctured through it
Wood shavings in a zip lock bag
A handful of red clay
A granite stone
A soda can tab
Four empty pen capsules
Eighteen apple seeds
A cubbed piece of cheddar cheese
Upon reading the offering list that Hocus had given them, Bobby thought it was a bit of a joke. Then again, who was he to argue with the forces of Nature?
"What do you think She will give us?" Bobby asked.
"Does it matter?" murmured Phillip.
"I supposed not," said Bobby, rolling up the list. "But if was something like the Ring of Awning then I can't wait!"
"I would like pixie dust," said Kiki. "The book its really hard to come by on your own."
"Yes it is, "Bobby turned toward her. "Why do you want it? It's meant for devious things."
"True," she rolled her eyes. "But if you actually read the history in Hocus you would see that it has just as many good uses as it does bad."
"I've been to busy skimming ahead," He admitted. "We have got to try to make that adfectus potion. Brittany Ingalls is really starting to get on my good side if you know what I mean."
Kiki scowled and her face burned with anger. Her tongue burned with the words that were about to pour from her mouth until Phillip beat her to it.
"We are not going to use the magic for our own personal gain. You of all people should know that Bobby," roared Phillip. "That potion is all the way in chapter fifty-four. It isn't a good idea to skip around. The magic is written in that order for a reason. So don't start getting ideas."
Bobby only stared. Phillip was huffing so much that his face was was steaming and when he realized that his emotions dissipated and he slunk down to the ground again as so to appear to be busying himself with the materials.
Kiki waited for Bobby to say something back but it had appeared that he was biting his tongue. He didn't want to say anything that would upset Phillip even more as it could jeopardize his chances in finding out what Phillip was going to tell him later. It was also clear that she noticed something that Bobby didn't.
That potion is all the way in chapter fifty four. How could he possibly know that and tell Bobby that it wasn't wise to read ahead?
Temporarily forgotten, she pulled out her piece of ginger root and placed it in on the petals where the wood shavings and soda can tab lay. Bobby tossed a set of keys into the petal that held the cube of cheese, the granite stone, and the empty pen capsules. Phillip dug into his pockets and pulled up a rolled up piece of parchment and a smooth green and white pebble and laid it in the petal that held plantanus accidentalis branch.
Kiki fought the urge of asking him if there was anything written on the parchment but she knew that Phillip wasn't going to tell her anything. He took out Hocus from his book bag and held it up for her to grab very careful not meet her gaze. She turned to page one hundred thirty-two and read over the chant.
Bobby read over his list one more time and moved things around till they looked balanced in minds eye. Then he and Phillip positioned themselves equally apart from each other around Kiki's Wizards Circle. Bobby was jumping with excitement. Phillip dug his fist in his jacket pockets. Kiki held out the book flat our in front of her and cleared her throat.
"Dear Mother Nature
Goddess of Life,
Queen of Elements
Spirit who keeps us Who We are to Be,
Thank you."
A chilled wind braced them and against their cheeks was the pressing of little kisses. That is how Nature greeted them. Kiki smiled knowingly and continued with her prepared chant.
Since the discovery of the book and finding that she was good at it, Kiki decided it was safe to write and read her own instead of reading from the book. She looked over at Bobby who had already gone through her many drafts and gave her an encouraging nod.
"Here we stand dearest Mother,
here to give you one of many.
An offering. A gift.
In thanks for a good harvest season.
The curved lines of Kiki's Flower glowed a misty white. The air was still. She took a deep breath and continued.
"We make our wishes now
and hope that in some truth
they will be granted
while we maintain our promise
of using our gift for You.
Kiki whispered her wish in the dead language and so did the boys. While hers was quick and sweet she heard the last few syllables of Phillip's. Her eyes searched him, trying to read his mind to understand the meaning of his prayer because even though she heard him the request, it did not make sense. She didn't take her eyes off him as she recited the end.
"A kiss upon thou hand Mother
till Winter's end."
Her own words sent a quake through her body. A silent gong rang below her feet shaking the ground in ripples. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up when came the voice that only she, Phillips, and Bobby's ears were sharp enough to hear.
"Release your wool sweet weaver,
lend me the remedy.
Tend to my need sweet weaver
and I'll pay you back in gold."
Nature's voice echoed through the evergreen like the wind, silencing anything in its wake. The wind did a full circle around the clearing and rushed between the wizards legs toward the very center of the Flower and then shooting upwards to the sky, high above the tree tops. Kiki's eyes shot to the center of her Circle and three pieces of glinting gold laid in the center. There offerings no longer in sight.
"That went well." said Bobby. He was holding his breath from pretty much the beginning.
"Yeah."
Without a word Phillip went straight to the center to examine what Nature left them there.
"How much do you think that's worth?" asked Bobby joining him.
"None," said Phillip, pocketing his. "Its fool’s gold."
"Fool's gold? What are we supposed to do with that?"
"Why are you asking?" Kiki rolled her eyes and shoved Hocus into his hands. "Why don't you read and find out?"
Kiki leaned into his arm and looked through the pages with him. Phillip lingered back. Something inside him was winding itself up. His hands had balled up into fists again and he fought the urge to hit something... or someone. He looked away from his friends and after a moment of hesitation, turned away completely.
Bobby was too busy muttering under his breath about how the gold was useless and Kiki shot back retorts of how wrong he was. They didn't notice that Phillip had taken his leave until he was long gone.

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Publication Date: 07-08-2012

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