1I wake and turn to my window. The witch ball is rattling against the inside of the pane, glowing from a tangled spell within. I wonder which one of my so-called friends threw a hex my way? I watch the spell dance around in the spun glass, and hear the swoosh of brooms flying past, capes flapping. One, two, three soft landings rustle the leaves by the back door. The fourth hits the dirt hard, and I smile, thinking Dani better stop scarfing doughnuts or she won't be able to get off the ground much longer.The ball bursts apart and glass clatters against the baseboard. Margo. Damn her, she's always breaking them.

I'll have to ask Mom to make the next one stronger.I get out of bed and throw on a sweatshirt and jeans. I hope I'll be able to find a hat because it's getting too damn cold flying around on the stupid sticks without one. The last time I suggested we take a car, Zahara practically bit my head off -- "We go by air or we don't go at all!" Like she's such the traditionalist. Ha! Wonder what her mother will say when she notices the tongue stud she's sporting?By the time I get downstairs, they're already walking into the kitchen. I wish my mom would keep the door locked or put up a do-not-enter spell, if only to keep Margo stewing out in the cold for a few minutes.Dani waves at me. "Hey, Jules.

"Sascha kneels and Nuisance jumps up in her arms, nuzzling his chin against her, purring madly.I scan their faces -- only Margo and Zahara seemed pissed. Their cheeks are bright red, and I breathe the smoky night air they brought in with them. "Hey, guys."Zahara clacks her tongue stud on her front teeth, and runs her hand across her close-cropped black hair. "Nice bed head. Apparently you didn't know we were coming."I run my fingers through my curls and look at the cauldron bubbling furiously on the burner -- deep-purple steam flying up to the vent.

"Mom! Why didn't you wake me up?"My mom pads into the room and casts a glance at the pot. "Again? Didn't you girls go out a few nights ago?"Margo rolls her eyes and snorts. "Um, it's not like they run on a schedule or anything."Mom gives a half smile and shrugs. I hate she's taking that from Margo, but I'm no better. The more Margo and Zahara vie for Queen Bee, the more the rest of us seem to shrink in their wake. Well, not Sascha. Sascha seems to float outside the circle, only stepping in when things are about to break.

But when did this happen to us? When did the need to pull rank get so strong?Mom sighs as she heads to the stove. "There've been a lot more than usual." She reaches into a jar and tosses some herbs into the water until the steam runs clear. "Do you know who it is?" she asks.Sascha nods. "Yeah, it's the guy who gutted that Wilkins lady last week. They tracked him down. Should be an easy job.

Mrs. Keyes said he's at that bar by the river so we should get going before he drinks too much and passes out."My mom cocks her head and purses her lips. "Sorry I wasn't keeping an eye on it, girls. There's a really good movie on and well, I guess I was hoping you'd get a few nights off."Dani flicks her eyes at Margo and Zahara -- then flashes a tiny smile at my mom. "It's okay, Mrs. Harris, my mom didn't see it right away, either.

""But she did see it," Margo says. "We didn't have to come fetch you.""We're all together now," Sascha says quietly. "Let's just go.""I need to find a hat first." I grab my wool cape from the coat rack and open the closet."For God's sake," Zahara says, "it's not that cold!"I give her a hard look but close the door. "Fine.

"Sascha squeezes my hand with icy fingers as we head to the mudroom. "You're going to wish you had a hat -- it is that cold."Of course Sascha wouldn't be caught dead in a hat -- she totally gets off on her long black hair swirling behind her as we ride. Like anyone is watching. But me, I'll take warmth over vanity, and it's not like a hat cou.