Warped (Maurissa Guibord)

said slowly, "they said threads , plural." Tessa frowned. "I didn't really think about that before. They're kind of intimidating. It was hard to focus. What are you doing?"
    Opal was busy fiddling with something. She turned and slipped the pig bracelet onto Tessa's wrist. "Here," she said, pulling the drawstrings closed. "I don't know how all this is going to end up, but you will definitely need the power of the pig."
    Tessa smiled and fingered the simple adornment. It wasn't much to look at. The worn black fibers were frayed here and there, and a couple of the smaller beads were missing. But the chubby jade pig still had that dopey smile on his face. Or his snout, rather. Whatever it was, it felt comforting to have him back.
    Opal rocked sideways to nudge Tessa's shoulder with her own. "I'll bet you think of something." She nodded knowingly. "You're tougher than you look, girlfriend."
    Tessa grinned. "Thanks."
    "Yeah, well, it's not much of a compliment," said Opal with a hint of a smile. "You look pretty wimpy."
    "Ha-ha. Come on." Tessa stood with a sigh and picked up a small canvas tote. It was bulging with food and books she'd packed for Will. Her cooking skills were pretty much nonexistent, but that morning she'd sliced bagels and smeared them with cream cheese, steeped three bags of Earl Grey tea in a thermos and tucked it all inside, along with a couple of apples.
    Tessa slipped the bag absently over her shoulder, remembering Opal's comment about Will. Maybe she did ... like him.
    Who was she kidding? She could barely think of anything but him. It was as if Will de Chaucy's face, the sound of his voice, even the smell of him had been sizzled into her brain with a hot cattle brand.
    It was early, and the Closed sign hung in the bookstore window. Her father was still upstairs. What he didn't know, Tessa decided, wouldn't hurt him. "Okay," she said to Opal. "Let's go get Prince Charming."
    They were about to enter the alley to go to the back entrance when Tessa glanced to the side, squinting against the brightness of the morning sunlight. She glimpsed a large black sedan parked near the corner. New York plates. She wasn't sure what drew her eye to the car, but as her gaze lingered, the dark outline of the driver inside shifted, crouching lower in the seat. Tessa veered, immediately changing direction. She put her head down as she hissed.
    "That's him. Don't look."
    "Who?" Opal asked. "Will?" She craned her neck to search the street.
    "No! Quit looking! It's the lawyer. Moncrieff. I'm pretty sure it's him in a car behind us. He's watching us." She could almost feel the gaze of those two droopy blue eyes boring into her back.
    "Jeez." Opal quickened her pace next to Tessa. "She sent the lawyer after you? Since when do evil witches sue?"
    "He's kind of a henchman," puffed Tessa, striding down the narrow sidewalk. "In pinstripes."
    "What do we do?" Opal asked. "Try to lose him?"
    "Just keep walking."
    As they reached the corner, Tessa shot a look back down the narrow street. The black car pulled away from the curb. It was following them.
    "Come on!" Tessa sprang into a run as soon as they turned the corner. Opal gave a yelp and followed. Despite the weight of the tote bag, Tessa dug in, relishing the feel of her strong legs and the sight of the pavement flying away behind her. But after a few moments she jerked to a stop. Opal was lagging behind. The black car had turned the corner and Tessa saw Moncrieff at the wheel, his face looking grim as he drew closer. But he was a few cars back and the line of traffic was crawling, stuck behind a city bus that had lurched to a halt to let someone off.
    "Hello?" Opal gasped, coming up beside her. "Heels, here."
    Tessa muttered something nasty about fashion statements while she swiveled to look around. "This way." She and Opal dashed in front of the bus to cross the road, and a little farther down they turned onto the next side street. Tessa slowed her steps and threw a glance back.
    At the end of the street the black sedan slowed ... and passed by.
    Tessa grinned at Opal. "One-way."
    Opal looked back in surprise. "Huh. That never stops them in the movies."
    "Yeah," Tessa agreed. "But somehow I don't think this guy wants much attention. Listen, just keep going, okay? I'm going back before he has a chance to loop around."
    "You sure?"
    "I need to make sure Will's okay and tell him what's happened."
    "Okay," Opal grumbled. "But be careful."
    "I will." Tessa turned and began to