“Yes, every time you move up a rank, your jewel evolves to match your magic,” the E.F. explained.
Kara twirled her unicorn jewel. “Mine changed after I bonded with Starfire.”
Adriane sat forward, absently rubbing her wolf stone. The jewel had been rough and unpolished when she first found it. But as she and Stormbringer became packmates, it had quickly transformed into a paw-shaped wolf stone.
“Level One mages use jewels to focus the magic,” Tweek explained, looking at Kara. “Bonding with magical animals is essential, protecting you from losing yourself in the magic. But Kara has also bonded with an elemental creature, Starfire. A Firemental, no less—inconceivable!”
“And she saved my tail in the nick of time.” Lyra rubbed against Kara’s side.
“You’re welcome,” Kara purred.
Adriane felt a pang of jealousy watching Kara and Lyra, a Level Two mage and her loving bonded animal, together forever.
“Level Two mages use elemental magic based on one of the four elements: water, air, fire, and earth,” Tweek continued. “To reach Level Two, a mage must bond with a powerful creature of the same element like Kara did. It’s called a paladin.”
“What’s the difference between a magical animal and a paladin?” Emily asked.
“Magical animals work side by side with you, and are friends that grow with you through all stages of magic,” the E.F. answered. “The tie is extremely deep and unbreakable.”
Adriane’s wolf stone flared. Emily turned concerned hazel eyes to the warrior, sensing her friend’s grief.
“A paladin like Kara’s fire stallion is a creature made of pure elemental magic,” Tweek continued. “Starfire is inextricably linked to Kara and her jewel. Only she can summon him.”
“Really?” Kara asked excitedly, waving her sparkling jewel wildly in the air. “Starfire! Heeere, Starfire!”
“No, no.” Tweek shook his twigs. “A paladin only comes when you are in great need. It is a protector of immeasurable power.”
“Oh.” Kara dropped her jewel, frowning.
“Well, Kara,” Emily said. “You were the last to find your jewel, but now you’re first.”
“Exactly where I should be,” Kara said, radiating a dazzling smile.
Adriane crossed her arms and sat back, glowering. Kara, the blazing overachiever. Things always went her way. Adriane had found her jewel first. She had bonded with Storm first. She had worked on her magic for a full year, and now it seemed she was only going backward.
“What happens after Level Two?” Emily asked.
“As you tune your jewels, you get closer to becoming a master of your elemental magic.” Tweek scrolled through various images on his turquoise jewel, his Handbook of Rules and Regulations for Fairimentals, a.k.a. the HORARFF. “I’m not exactly sure what happens when you reach Level Three. It should be twigtastic!”
Adriane abruptly stood and started pacing, her shadow casting strange shapes across the wooden floor. “Could it ever go the opposite way?”
“What do you mean?” Tweek asked.
“Could the jewels ever get out of tune?” Adriane held up her wrist, emphasizing her point with a flash from her wolf stone. “Could we lose our magic?”
“Well, technically your magic is always changing. But as you grow more powerful, the greater the chance it could be corrupted. That’s why you have your animal friends. To keep you balanced and grounded.”
“I lost my bonded animal,” Adriane said flatly.
“I lost my magic, and Starfire helped me get it back,” Kara said.
“Adriane and I switched magic powers,” Emily said.
“By the great tree!” Tweek’s quartz eyes spun as he scratched his mossy head. “Frankly, you mages are entering uncharted areas. With magic flowing wild all over the web, extraordinary things are happening. That’s precisely why the Fairimentals designed me to stay on Earth.”
“Incoming.” Ozzie turned back to the computer as it dinged. “Kara, your email from the city council.”
“Perfect. Print it.” Kara grabbed her pink smart phone and started checking her to-do lists. “Tour bus arrives in twenty minutes, people!”
Today was the opening day of the new tourist season. Kara had convinced her dad, the mayor of Stonehill, to add Ravenswood as a stop for a bus touring company. This was a major break for Ravenswood and the girls. As part of their arrangement with the town council, the girls needed to generate income in order to keep the preserve open.
In the year since the girls had managed the preserve, with the help of Gran and Emily’s mom, Dr. Carolyn Fletcher, the animals had flourished. There were more deer than ever, peacocks, all kinds of wild birds, foxes, rabbits, and even a few bears.
That didn’t include the special guests who’d decided to stay after the mages healed their home world, Aldenmor. The magical animals helped the mages care for the preserve and monitor for any signs of unusual activity.
With a soft hum, a color print slid from the printer.
“Tah dah!” Kara grabbed the brochure and read it excitedly. “‘Ghosts, witches, monsters! Find out if the legends are real. The Ravenswood Experience—enter the scare zone!’ Pretty cool, huh?”
“Hooya!” Ariel cheered.
“We should be focusing on the animals,” Adriane said, annoyed.
“It’s just a little spin. Besides, it was the only way I could cement the tour deal.”
“Maybe it should say ‘You’ll be smitten, not bitten,’” Adriane grumbled.
“Look, the animals are here.” Kara pointed to the print. “Lyra the leopard, Dreamer the wolf, and—Ozzie the wonder ferret?’”
Ozzie brushed his cowlick back. “It’s all good.”
He suddenly jumped, ferret stone flashing, whiskers vibrating. “The tour bus just pulled through the front gates!” he announced.
“Wait.” Kara held Lyra’s face, moving it left, then right, carefully smoothing the spotted fur. “Perfect.” She kissed Lyra’s head and stood. “Time to make some magic.”
“Into the great unknown,” Adriane sighed, following the group out of the door.
“RAVENSWOOD MANOR WAS built in seventeen fifty-three,” Kara said as she led the group of tourists through the immense foyer of the Gothic manor house.
The group consisted of about twenty ladies and a few camera-laden hubbies who had booked the tour as part of a day trip from Atlantic City. Kara had also managed to convince the local paper to send someone to cover opening day of the season.
Emily and Adriane were at the rear of the group, ushering the stragglers along.
“Everything in the manor has animal themes,” Kara continued, “some more fanciful than others.”
The group passed an ornate mahogany table with carvings of unicorns, centaurs, and dragons, which ended in big, clawed feet.
Several women lagged behind, observing every detail.
“Take your time,” Kara said, then touched her unicorn jewel, sending a telepathic message to Adriane and Emily. “Move ’em along!”
“These paintings are just wonderful,” a woman cooed, admiring the many pieces depicting the history of Ravenswood and the animals that had made their home there.
“Ravenswood has always been an animal sanctuary,” Emily piped up from the back. “Through the years, different caretakers have kept it in excellent condition, as you can see.”
“This is the most recent caretaker, Henry Gardener.” Kara pointed to a painting of a handsome man proudly showing off a pair of white tigers.
“Where exactly is Mr. Gardener?” a man asked, snapping photos of the painting.
“He’s—” Kara faltered.
“On vacation,” Adriane quickly finished.
“We heard he mysteriously disappeared,” the man persisted.
“Murdered in the cellar with an ax, he was,” his wife chimed in.
“Which is the most haunted room?” a woman in all black asked.
“That would be… um… this
room.” Kara stepped into the lavish living room with the massive marble fireplace and green velvet and mahogany couches.
“This is a unique part of Stonehill’s history,” the Stonehill Gazette reporter said, directing his photographer to snap photos of portraits hanging about the formal room. “Legends have it there have always been ghosts and monsters in these woods.”
“This place sure looks like it could be haunted,” opined a pale, blue haired woman.
“Let’s see the basement where the guy was axed,” enthused one of the younger men.
“Dude, no one was ax murdered here!” Adriane scoffed.
Kara broke in, smiling. “Who knows what happens when the darkness of night falls and the full moon rises?” the blazing ham said dramatically.
“This is stupid!” Adriane complained to Emily.
Emily shrugged. “Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves.”
“What about the ghosts?” asked a visitor.
“Okay, I’ll tell you a really scary secret,” Kara said, warming to her subject as the group crowded around her. “One time, we hosted this big rock star, Johnny Conrad…”
“Yes?”
“And I sang a song that died a horrible death.”
Adriane snorted.
“What’s going on in there?” Ozzie demanded through his ferret stone. “We’re all waiting.”
“You’ve seen some of our regular guests,” Emily said, leading the group down a hallway toward the rear exit of the manor. “Deer, peacocks, hawks. And now it’s time to meet our special animals.”
Kara flung open the tall double doors to the grand marble patio. Beyond were the water gardens and rose gardens sprawled majestically across the great lawn. Tables on the patio were laden with ice cream, chips, sodas, and cookies.
“Meet Lyra,” Kara called out. “A rare leopard breed from, uh… France!”
Right on cue, Lyra leaped over a hedge bordering the patio and came to a stop a few feet away from the group. Her sleek orange-spotted fur shimmered in the sun.
“Wow, a real leopard!” someone exclaimed.
Cameras starting clicking as Kara walked up to Lyra and put out her hand.
Lyra roared, raising a few gasps from the group.
Kara petted the cat, smiling brilliantly.
The group clapped, then gasped as Ozzie sprang from the water gardens and tumbled across the lawns. Lyra leaped to meet Ozzie as he jumped onto her back, juggling pinecones in his furry paws.
“Adorable!” a lady proclaimed, clapping her pink-gloved hands enthusiastically.
Kara laughed. “Nice touch, guys.”
The acrobatic ferret tossed the cones high in the air one at a time for the dazzling finale.
A piercing howl cut across the lawn, startling everyone. Lyra swung around, sending Ozzie and his cones flying onto the picnic table.
A spike of fear drove through Adriane.
“Is that the wolf?” a lady asked, peering through her horn-rimmed glasses.
“His name is Dreamer, and he’s coming right out,” Adriane said, looking expectantly to her left, where the mistwolf was supposed to make his entrance from behind a cluster of rose bushes. “I said, the wolf is coming right out.”
After a long pause, Dreamer slunk from behind a thick violet rosebush. His hackles were on end, and he growled low in his throat.
“Say, he looks meaner than an over-fried corn dog,” a tourist observed.
Lyra eyed the wolf warily. “Something is not right with Dreamer.”
With a snarl, Dreamer lunged at the cat. Lyra easily dodged the snapping jaws and stepped back.
Emily and Adriane both ran to the wolf, herding him back from the group.
“Dreamer?” Adriane gasped—her wolf stone was pulsing deep red, a warning of danger.
“Easy, Dreamer.” Emily’s jewel glowed blue as she sent calming magic to the agitated mistwolf. “He’s not feeling well,” she called back to the tour.
“Are you sure these animals are safe?” one of the ladies demanded.
Adriane tried to respond, but Dreamer jumped between her and the visitors, barking protectively.
The tourists started yelling with alarm.
“Dreamer!” Adriane cried. She wrestled the wolf down, holding his head steady, and looked deep into his green eyes. “What is it? Show me.”
Images of gleaming claws, snapping fangs, and spider webs barraged her mind as Dreamer thrashed, trying to get away.
“Hooooray!” Ariel zoomed from the skies for her part in the show, cooing happily. Dreamer broke free of Adriane’s grasp and lunged at the snow owl.
“Hoo-aahhhh!” Screeching, Ariel careened into the air, narrowly avoiding the mistwolf’s teeth and barreling into three tourists.
“Help!” the lady in horn-rimmed glasses shrieked.
“Yes, help yourselves to cookies and ice cream,” Kara shouted as she plucked a pistachio-soaked ferret from a gallon tub. She shot a concerned look to Adriane.
“Dreamer, stop it!” Adriane grabbed the wolf’s collar, golden light flashing from her gem.
“This is front-page material,” the reporter exclaimed, snapping photos of Dreamer and Adriane. “Wolf attack in Ravenswood Preserve!”
Adriane looked at Emily desperately. “Take him to Gran—I can’t get through to him.”
“Dreamer is just a little overexcited about the new season,” Emily blurted to the tourists, her jewel shimmering as she pulled him away.
The wolf gave Adriane one last concerned glance before following Emily.
Adriane watched him go, wishing her dark dreams had vanished with the night.
THE CHAMBER SHIMMERED with movement as hundreds of spiders slid along silken strands, weaving subtle colors into the giant tapestry. An intricate landscape of woods and gardens formed beneath their skittering feet.
“This will be my greatest creation.” The Spider Witch waved long fingers, her blood red jewel pulsing upon its ornate spider webbed ring. “A masterpiece of dark magic.”
A tall figure, startling silver hair draped below her shoulders, stepped from the shadows. “It is an impressive decoration,” the Dark Sorceress allowed. Her green animal eyes narrowed.
The Spider Witch spun around, moving quickly despite the heavy black robes shrouding her bulky body. “The Ravenswood forest sylph will become a powerful demon when this weaving is complete.”
The Dark Sorceress raised an eyebrow. After so many months in the Otherworlds, her own magic remained weak and drained. Yet the Spider Witch had been trapped there for many years. How could she be so powerful? There had to be something in this place that was feeding her magic.
“Without a protector, Ravenswood will fall!” the witch proclaimed.
“What about the warrior? She is tied to Earth magic.”
“Exactly. The link is strong.”
“We must do more if we hope to eliminate the warrior,” the Dark Sorceress said.
“You presume to give me advice?” the Spider Witch mocked. “Let me remind you that your attempts to harness the magic of the unicorns, the dragons, and the mistwolves have all failed miserably.”
The Dark Sorceress gritted her vampire teeth. “You don’t know these girls like I do. You have to go for the heart—the animals,” the sorceress shot back. “Everything the warrior loves must be stripped away, her spirit crushed and broken.”
The Spider Witch directed a mass of black spiders to weave the next image on the tapestry: the cottage next to Ravenswood manor. The witch’s insect eyes flashed yellow from the depths of her hood as she faced the Dark Sorceress.
“Then let it begin.”
“COME AGAIN TOMORROW!” Kara waved to the tour bus and newspaper van as they sped out of the preserve, leaving the mages and animals standing in a cloud of dust.
“This is a disaster!” she wailed, pushing aside the rainbow-colored balloons bending sadly over the welcome sign.
“All that mint chip!” Ozzie cried.
“Ozzi
e, let’s store the food back in the manor freezer,” Emily said.
Suddenly, a fierce howl pierced the air.
“Dreamer?” Adriane looked nervously toward the cottage.
Jagged lights pierced her mind as she tried to connect with her packmate. Images flashed: dark claws, snapping teeth, glowing blue and green eyes, her grandmother’s horrified face—
Something was attacking her house—and Gran!
Adriane bolted toward the cottage, half blinded by the terrifying images. Her wolf stone blazed with sharp pulses, its magic amplified by her fear.
“Gran!” Bursting through the cottage’s open front door, she called out frantically. “Where are you?”
A ferocious snarling came from somewhere inside. Adriane raised her fist, sending bands of golden fire flooding through the afternoon shadows.
“Adriane?”
Emily, Kara, Lyra, and Ozzie ran through the door.
“What’s happening?” Emily asked.
“Something’s in here,” Adriane said quietly.
Kara and Emily instantly took fighting stances behind the warrior, jewels ready.
“Dreamer?” Adriane called out.
Her only reply was sharp static. But underneath she could feel the hunger, the driving bloodlust of the hunt.
The mages crept into the living room.
“No!” Adriane screamed.
Gran lay motionless on the living room floor, frail arms crossed as if trying to protect herself. And standing over her was Dreamer—teeth bared and feral.
“THE DOCTORS SAY a severe shock put Gran in a coma, but her condition is stable,” Dr. Carolyn Fletcher, Emily’s mom, explained, walking with Adriane, Emily, and Kara across the wide parking lot of Stonehill Hospital. “But Adriane, honey, she’s also an elderly woman. It could be a stroke. These things happen.”
“She’s under some kind of spell,” the healer said telepathically to Adriane and Kara.
“An enchantment,” Kara added, blue eyes dark with contemplation as she twirled the unicorn jewel between two fingers.
Emily shook her head. “My healing magic couldn’t break it.”
“Where’s Dreamer now?” Carolyn asked.
Ghost Wolf (Avalon: Web of Magic #9) Page 2