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I hear myself say those words, but I still feel like I'm floating in space ten feet above my own head.
    "No. Harold did. And now he won't wait any longer. I'm all out of tricks. Excuses. Lies. But, Nita. Listen to me."
    "No." Tears well again. I know what he's going to say.
    "Listen. I've lived a full life. You're healthy. You're young. Don't come back. Don't marry Gerry. Let Harold come for me. I'm happy to go if it means your being free."
    "No!"
    "These past three months. I've had a lot of time to think. I'm happy to pay the price. Happier than you know."
    "Stop saying that, Dad. Stop. I have new friends." I think of Rachel. "A powerful new friend. Someone like Harold. Let me go talk to her. She might be able to help."
    "Well, if you think so." He sounds dubious.
    "I do. Rachel can work miracles. I'll call you right back." I leap to my feet, seized by energy and purpose. "Let me call you right back!"
     

Chapter 4
     
     
     
    I run the whole way back to Honeycomb Hall, which given my lack of general exercise is something. I can flip pancakes for hours, but ask me to jog ten blocks and I'll just laugh as I lean back in my chair and take a huge bite out of a biscotti. But today I run like the hounds of hell are at my heels, pumping my arms and blowing out my cheeks. Thank the lord it's only a quarter mile, but still, I race along the country road till the iron gates of the Hall come into view. I slow down, puffing and blowing, and struggle up the driveway. Hui and Rachel are sitting on the porch out front having drinks in the rocking chairs, and at the sight of me they both leap to their feet.
    "Anita?" Rachel comes rushing down the steps.
    "Rachel." I lean over, hands on my knees, sweat dripping down my nose. "Help. Please."
    "What's wrong? What happened? Hui, get Blake."
    "No." I gulp down more air. "Rachel. My father. He saved my life. Car accident. Magic?"
    "What?" Rachel leads me up the steps and pushes me down into the rocking chair. "Stop. Breathe. Then start from the beginning."
    Hui has pulled a mop from somewhere and is standing guard beside me, mop held like a spear, eyes narrowed. I want to laugh and hug her at the same time. How would I handle this crisis without my friends? I want to cry with gratitude. I take one final breath, feel my racing heart slow, and start. "When I was a teenager. We got in a car accident. My mother died, and my father's back was broken. I thought I got through it uninjured, by my dad just told me I was almost killed. Was going to die."
    Rachel sinks into the chair across from me, nodding as I speak, listening intently.
    "I was dying. And this man came out of the woods. Harold. He offered to heal me if my dad promised my hand in marriage to his son. My dad agreed, Harold healed me, and since then my dad's been trying to find a way to break the oath. I ran into Gerry, Harold's son, who told me time was up. My dad will die if I don't marry him. Please. You have to help me. Can you speak to Harold? Help find a way to break the promise?"
    Rachel's eyes have gone wide, and when I finish she lifts her drink and takes a pensive sip. "I'm still new to all this witching stuff, but of course I'll help. Let me ask Simon Two. Hold on." She gets up and disappears inside. Hui picks up her drink from where she'd balanced it on the rail and hands it to me. I take a sip. Gin and tonic. I cough, then take a big gulp.
    A moment later Rachel emerges, Mama B's staff of power in hand. Her face looks grave. "I've asked, and Simon says that if it was an honest oath, freely given, then it can't be broken from outside. This Harold didn't force your father. So he's truly bound."
    My heart sinks. I don't know what I expected. For her to wave her hands and fix everything? "Is there nothing we can do?"
    Rachel cocks her head as if she's listening, and then nods. "Well, Simon suggests we call Harold and offer him something else in exchange. Something of equal or greater value. The only way out is to have Harold