Read Rogelia's House of Magic for Free Online Page B

hand, no one ever spoke of Grandpy’s poor family from Mexico.
    Marina tore her eyes from her nana’s photograph and quietly opened one of the French doors to the backyard. Behind the lush foliage and large rocks bordering the pool, she and Fern found a patch of dirt in a spot farthest from the house. The full moon had traveled past the zenith, the highest point in the sky, and crept silently toward the western horizon. The moonlight illuminated Fern and Marina as they dug into the earth.
    “We should have brought shovels,” Marina whined as she surveyed a broken fingernail with regret. “And look how dirty our feet are getting. I just had a pedicure!”
    “You are such a princess, Marina,” Fern said. “Would you concentrate, please? If you don’t, it won’t work.”
    “Fine,” Marina mumbled, taking one last glance at her toes.
    They placed their creations side by side in the hole. Marina marveled at their handiwork. Together they chanted three times: “Sun above, whose gift of light is given to me, I ask for your blessings of a magical power. This I make true, three times three, times three.”
    Satisfied, they covered the three god’s eyes with dirt and patted it down. Fern tore into the popcorn and crunched loudly. Marina cracked open a soda and gulped it down. She belched loudly and smiled when Fern made a face.
    “That’s revolting,” Fern reproached.
    I’m no princess,
Marina thought rebelliously as she gave an untroubled shrug. “So when do you think we’ll get our powers?” she asked eagerly.
    Fern leaned back and stared up at the indigo sky speckled with stars. “Dunno. I guess it depends on whether or not the stars are listening.”
    Marina looked up to the heavens. She concentrated with all her might on the brightest star she could find. Combined with the stars around it, it looked like the tip of a goat’s tail. Marina focused all her energy on that star. With a steady gaze, she sent her wish for a magical power, and the star seemed to wink back at her. “I think they are,” Marina said.
    “Hope so.” Fern yawned. “Come on. Let’s go to bed. Magic makes you tired.”
    Marina nodded to the star as if she was confirming their contract. “Okay,” she said to Fern and the star simultaneously. Marina placed a couple of twigs over the dirt mound that concealed their creations. She got up, shook the dirt off her sweats, and led the way back into the house.
    Marina checked the stairwell to her mother and stepfather’s bedroom suite to be sure they were both snoring and hadn’t woken. All was safe. She and Fern crept down the hallway to Marina’s bedroom. After changing into her nightgown, Marina crawled into her bed and snuggled under the covers.
    “Good night, Fern,” she whispered.
    “Night,” Fern said as she settled onto the trundle bed next to Marina.
    Soon they fell fast asleep, completely forgetting to close the portal to the world of magic.

    An hour or so later, Marina tossed and turned, lost in a place between consciousness and deep REM sleep. She moaned, quietly at first, but within minutes she began to hyperventilate.
    Fern woke up and blinked several times, looking around groggily. “Marina?” she whispered.
    “There are imps in the orange trees,” Marina mumbled in a raspy voice. She tossed her head back and forth, as if she was spotting these magical creatures in a dense wood before her.
    “What?” Fern asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
    “They were put there on purpose,” Marina continued. Her voice became clearer, not so hoarse. “They agreed to come to this dark place. They say I can help. I don’t think I can. I like orange trees, though. Yes, I do.” She began to talk faster. “My favorite orange crates were the ones from Sunkist, where I used to work. Glad I don’t have to pack them anymore. I used to get caught in the spiderwebs.” Marina tried to sit up, her eyes still closed.
    “Marina, are you okay?” Fern sat up in bed, concern