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.Like so much else, painting would be a costly hobby.Books, computers and magic were much cheaper.The next set of shelves held woodworking tools, mostly unrecognisable to Calvin.He couldn't imagine what one could do with most of them.At Harrow’s command, he picked up a tiny saw and held it up, studying it thoughtfully.It had to be for very fine work indeed.One shelf held a dozen examples of what someone could create, if they had the time and money.The problem was finding the time and money.“Calvin?”Calvin jumped and spun around.Marie was standing there, wearing a drab uniform that did nothing to hide her curves.He felt visions of her nakedness rising up in front of his eyes and flushed, brightly.A goddess like Marie would never lower herself to even look at a social outcast like Calvin, he’d certainly never imagined her speaking to him.He heard Harrow’s laughter in his head and flushed again, wondering why he felt so tongue-tied after everything he’d done.How could he hold a normal conversation with her?“Hi,” he said, finally.“I.I just came in to browse.”“My dad’s brother owns the store,” Marie said.He hadn't asked her what she was doing in the store, but she was somewhat self-obsessed.And besides, she wouldn't want anyone to think she went into the store willingly.“Dad insists that I work here on weekends.”Calvin tried hard to keep his face under control.Marie’s family were supposed to be rich, although he knew that such things were relative.A millionaire might still be poor compared to one of the Wall Street bankers who’d made billions off the banking crash.The internet claimed that a higher than normal suicide rate on Wall Street was caused by hundreds of curses being directed at the bankers by their victims.But Marie’s father had made his money the hard way and he clearly didn't intend to let his daughter waste all of her life.“Here?” Calvin asked.“Not the clothing store?”It sounded dumb the moment the words came out of his mouth.Marie’s face twitched unpleasantly, leaving Calvin feeling a strange mixture of shame and anger.He had sounded a little.stupid, hadn't he? Marie spent half of her time in clothing shops, but as a customer rather than a worker.She'd hate the very idea of being treated as she treated serving girls.“My uncle doesn't own a clothing store,” she sneered, finally.“And what are you doing here?”Calvin felt his anger growing stronger and fought to bring it under control.How dare she treat him like that? Didn’t she know that he’d killed Moe and his cronies – and Sandra? Of course she didn't, he realised a moment later.She still thought of him as the nerd so nerdy that even the other nerds stayed well away from him, the loser so pathetic that it had been funny, rather than horrifying, when Moe had pulled down his pants in front of the entire class.The hot rage bubbled out of control and he found himself shaping a spell within his mind.This one compelled its target to give truthful answers, always.“Tell me,” he said, feeling the anger giving him confidence, “how many guys have you put out for?”Marie looked as if she were about to slap him, before the spell took effect.“Five,” she said, dully.She clapped her hand over her mouth a moment later, as if she couldn't believe what she’d just said.If it had slipped out when talking to Calvin, it might have slipped out in front of her father, or her uncle.“What.?”Calvin felt his face twisting into a grin.Five was almost disappointing, compared to the rumours floating around school.They claimed that Marie had slept with every jock in the school, starting from the moment she became a woman.But rumours were undependable and guys were prone to bragging.Moe had once claimed to have slept with every girl in the class, something that pretty much had to be a lie.Calvin had never understood why he had bothered to brag.He’d had enough action to satisfy any teenage boy, unless the girls had never allowed him to go very far.There was no way that Moe would admit to not having even reached second base.“You.” Marie stumbled backwards in shock.“You’re the one who killed Sandra!”Calvin reacted instinctively, using a spell to freeze her in place.Clearly, Marie wasn't quite as dumb as she acted.Panic threatened to overwhelm him, before Harrow started issuing calm instructions directly into his mind.Carefully, he locked the door of the store and moved the OPEN sign until it read CLOSED, before casting a second spell on Marie.This one made her obedient, and helpless to object to anything.“Walk into the backroom,” he ordered.A moment later, he realised that he hadn't thought to check to see if anyone else – Marie’s uncle, for instance - was in the shop.He nipped ahead of her and allowed himself a moment of relief when he discovered that the shop was empty.A pile of girly magazines and an Ipad bore mute testament to what Marie had been doing, in the long hours between customers.“When is your uncle due back?”“This afternoon,” Marie whispered.Calvin looked at her.Having a cheerleader under his absolute command had been one of his fantasies for a very long time, particularly after Moe had bragged about how he had half of the cheerleading team trained to suck his cock whenever he wanted it.Calvin had known that he’d been lying and yet he’d still felt jealous.Now.he looked at Marie and felt his heartbeat starting to race.He could have her and then wipe her memory.It wasn't as if he could avoid ensuring that she didn't remember anything.If he left her, she would go to the police.She’s just a mundane, Harrow’s voice said.Calvin guessed that there was no point in trying to sacrifice her for mana.Harrow confirmed it a moment later.Do what you will with her.“Undress,” Calvin ordered [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]