CHAPTER THIRTY
Yaya snorted. “Most of us can see through your glamour. We see you for who and what you are, Sariah. Dark magic exacts a terrible price. You knew what you were getting into when you chose to dabble in the dark arts,” Yaya said gravely.
Her words seemed to enrage Sariah further. With a screech, Sariah hurled a crackling ball of energy at Yaya. Yaya ducked and the ball of angry energy slammed into the window.
All the windows shattered at once. Bianca covered her head with her arms and tried to shield Boris.
Carly and Nelson yelled for the witches to stop fighting, but Sariah paid them no heed. She continued casting her destructive spells around the diner. All the cups and glass bottles exploded. Ketchup splashed onto the tabletops and splattered on the walls like blood.
Bianca jumped to her feet. “Hey! That’s enough!” she shouted. “Stop it, I say. Stop it right now!”
Sariah whirled round to snarl at her. “You stay out of this!”
“No, I won’t just stand by and do nothing” Bianca snapped. “I won’t let you do this, to them.” She pointed at Carly and Nelson who were looking around their damaged diner with horrified, stricken expressions.
“Look around, Sariah. Are you going to pay for all this damage?” Bianca gestured around the messy diner. “Carly and Nelson are running an honest business here. They serve good food, and they’ve never turned anyone away or thrown anyone out. Everyone is welcome to eat here. Even you, Sariah. And Yaya is right. Why hide behind your glamour? Just walk in here as you are, and we’ll serve you, like we serve everyone else.”
“Shut up!” Sariah screeched. “Who are you to talk to me like that! I...”
“No, I won’t shut up. I won’t be afraid to speak up. By not speaking up, I’m letting bullies like you win. I’m not afraid, not anymore.” Bianca balled her fists and stepped forward. “I’ve seen and learned a lot since I started working at Sunset Diner. Some people are nice. Some are rude and unreasonable. But Carly and Nelson treat them all with kindness and respect. Who are you to destroy their diner, their livelihood? Who do you think you are, Sariah? Why should others suffer while you throw a tantrum?”
Carly was staring at Bianca with eyes that were showing too much white. She shook her head and gestured frantically, trying to get Bianca to stop talking. But Bianca was too angry to stop. All her pent-up anger, frustration and regret boiled to the surface and overflowed.
She had been bullied and victimized before, and she could remember how helpless, ashamed and miserable she felt. No one had stood up for her. No one even believed her when she told them what she was going through. And the collective silence gave her abuser more power.
She wasn’t going to let anyone take away her power. She had found her voice, her courage, and she would not stay silent while a bully went on a rampage.
She would speak up and stand up for the people she loved. Carly and Nelson weren’t just her bosses. They were her friends, the first true friends she had made in this town.
It was Talon who had showed her what true love was. He showed her that love could give you the strength and courage you never knew you had. Talon had fearlessly faced off against the three black wolves to protect her. He’d risked his life and stood firm even though he was outnumbered. He wasn’t afraid to stand up and fight for her.
Carly and Nelson were good, kind, loving people. Carly always checked to make sure that Talon was waiting outside the diner every evening before she would let Bianca step out the door. She was like a worrywart big sister, fussing over Bianca and making sure she got home safely every night. And Nelson always took the effort to whip up something hearty and nutritious for Bianca’s lunch and dinner. They cared for her. In a strange new town, they had welcomed her with open arms, given her a job and looked out for her.
How dare this witch come in and destroy everything that Carly and Nelson had worked so hard for?
“Get out, Sariah,” Bianca said, her voice low and deceptively calm. “Get out right now. Or I’ll kick you out myself.”