Claws (9780545469678) by Rachel Mike; Grinti Grinti Read Free Book Online Page B

still and silent except for the small tabby that had been a tiger. He was looking around, confused.
    â€œLeave Jack alone,” Emma said. She spoke slowly, hoping her voice wasn’t shaking too much. “I . . . I’m your new Pride-Heart, and that means . . . Jack said you have to listen to me.”
    â€œSee? What did I tell you?” Jack laughed. “She was right under your nose the whole time. I gave her the Heart’s Blood so she could find her sister. Aren’t you glad I saved you from being a Heart-Killer like me, Cricket?”
    â€œThe Heart’s Blood was supposed to be mine,” Cricket spat angrily. “And a human can’t be a Pride-Heart. Give it back.”
    â€œI don’t know if she can,” said the gray cat. Emma glanced at him nervously. He walked over to her and sniffed. “Interesting. Very interesting.”
    â€œShe’s a human, Fat Leon. She can’t be a Pride-Heart,” Cricket insisted. “We can kill her and the Heart-Killer Jack, and put an end to all of this.”
    None of the cats moved.
    â€œOh, it’s not so bad being a Heart-Killer,” Jack said. There was a bloody gash on his side. He licked it slowly. “You all depend too much on your precious magic anyway. You’ve forgotten what you can do with just your teeth and claws.”
    â€œA cat’s not a true cat without magic,” Cricket spat. “Creatures like you don’t deserve to live.” She looked back at Emma. “I don’t know what game you think you’re playing at, human, but you will never be our Pride-Heart. The Heart’s Blood is mine. It’s not even working properly. Bits of magic here and there. Pathetic. The sooner your pet Heart-Killer murders you, the better.”
    Then she turned and leaped over the fence, disappearing into the forest.
    â€œThis is . . . unexpected,” the fat gray cat said to Emma, “but you’re just a kitten, aren’t you? You need to grow up a bit, learn how to use your magic. Maybe then we’ll be back.” He sniffed again, and his tail flicked from side to side once. Then he squeezed through the fence and walked away, casually, like there wasn’t any hurry. Or like he was deep in thought. The other cats glanced at each other uncertainly, then followed him.
    Only Jack remained, and the small tabby with the crazy fur and the large head. “I’ve never met a human Pride-Heart before,” he said in a surprisingly loud voice, bouncing up to her, then away again nervously. “I don’t mind. I bet you’ll be more fun than the last Pride-Heart. She hardly gave me any magic at all!”
    Jack hissed and swiped at the air, and the tabby bounded after the others into the forest.
    Emma sat on the grass. She was shaking all over. For a few moments she didn’t say anything. “Are you okay?” she asked after a while, looking over at Jack.
    He stopped licking his wounds for a moment. “I’ll be fine. I’ve had sparrows put up more of a fight. They tasted better, too.”
    â€œI thought you said they’d listen to me,” Emma said.
    â€œI said they
will
listen to you. And that’s true, they will. You might have to tear them up a little first, that’s all. Nothing to worry about.”
    â€œRight,” Emma muttered. “Cats don’t worry about anything. Well, it would be nice if you would worry a little more about telling me when I’m going to be attacked by giant cats. I’ll need to clean up all that glass in the kitchen.” She hesitated, looking at the shredded back of the trailer. “I suppose I’ll have to tell my mom and dad, sooner or later. I can’t keep it a secret if they’re in danger.”
    But she had no idea how she was actually going to use cat magic and a pride to find Helena. She didn’t know where to start.
    Jack went back to licking his wounds. “Let me know when