The Secrets of the Phoenix Girls lay closed on the rock, the girls surrounding it. Penny placed her right hand over the brass Phoenix and nodded at Zoe. Zoe regarded her for a moment, looking nervous now that the time had come, then placed her right hand over Penny’s. A moment later, Katie followed suit.
“You start, Penny,” Katie said.
Penny considered for a moment. The instructions that had seemed so easy when they’d first read them now seemed too simple, too vague, to have any power. It called for a declaration of loyalty, a dedication to your friends.
Penny had filled the brass cup with water from the creek as the book instructed and now regarded it a little dubiously.
“Shouldn’t we boil that water first or something?” Katie asked, frowning at the cup as Penny reached for it.
