Petal's Problems (12 page)

"What's that?" Georgia asked.

"It looks like a charm bracelet," Petal said.

"Of course it's a charm bracelet." Rebecca was back to sneering. "It's a silver bracelet and it has charms. What else could it be?"

"It must be your gift," Jackie said. "I wish it were mine," Zinnia said.

"Petal," Durinda said, "go see if there's a new note in the wall for you."

We all went.

The usual loose stone in the drawing room was slightly pulled away from the wall, and when Petal pulled it out entirely, she did indeed find a note behind it. The note read:

Dear Petal,

Twelve down, four to go. Nice job being so brave—I do realize this has been particularly hard on you.

"And how," Petal said to the note.

As always, the note was unsigned.

It also didn't answer Petal back.

"Those notes are simply amazing," Marcia observed. "They find us in the house, they find us in France. Whoever writes them must be incredibly resourceful, a real Jim Dandy. Hmm ... I wonder if a note would find us in Antarctica or on the moon?"

"I wouldn't want to find out," Annie said.

"Well, I would," Georgia said wistfully. "I think either place would be fun."

"Who wants a snack after we unpack?" Durinda said.

"I do!" Zinnia said.

"Will you need help with that, Durinda?" Jackie offered.

"Thank you," Durinda said.

We started up the stairs in a line.

"I'm just looking forward to a week from tomorrow," Petal said.

"A week from tomorrow?" Annie echoed. "But why?"

"Because a week from tomorrow it'll be July," Petal said happily, "and then I mostly won't have to worry about my power anymore."

"Wait a second," Annie said slowly, which was odd. Annie was never slow about anything. "If your month ends a week from tomorrow with the start of July, then it also means that a week from tomorrow is..."

She let the horrifying notion drift off uncompleted as we all slowly turned and looked at Rebecca, who was standing at the end of the line, even behind Zinnia.

"Yesssss." Rebecca dragged the word out, her eyes flashing darkly. "That's when my month begins."

The idea of Rebecca having her own month, of Rebecca having a power.

Was it too early, we wondered, to prepare...

"
Run!
" seven Eights shouted.

And then we raced up the stairs and dived under our beds.

Don't miss any of the stories of the Sisters Eight!

And coming soon:

R
EBECCA'S
R
ASHNESS