Shadow Wrack by Kim Thompson Read Free Book Online Page A

me?”
    Baz turned away with disdain and began licking her hand. Clearly she was losing control.
    â€œBaz, you have to promise you won’t go out there tonight. Promise, or I’ll put the cone back on you!”
    That got her attention. The last time she’d been injured, Willa had put a cone around her head so she couldn’t worry the cut. It had been a source of great amusement for the others but of course humiliating for Baz. After giving Willa the evil eye, Baz circled three times and lay down on the carpet. Willa sighed and went into the kitchen.
    Her mom was just coming in the back door. She looked exhausted.
    â€œWilla, something has to be done about that bird!” she barked.
    â€œNice to see you too,” Willa snapped, surprising herself. She held her breath, waiting for her mom to lose it. She didn’t have to wait long.
    â€œWilla! I do not need that tone of voice today!”
    Willa slumped into a kitchen chair. “Sorry.”
    â€œI simply can’t take it any more. If I don’t get a good night’s sleep soon, I shall go stark raving mad. The bird has got to go!”
    â€œGo where, Mom? Just tell me, and I’ll take her!” Willa heard her own voice like it was coming from someone else. Someone super angry.
    â€œJust let it go free! It can fend for itself! Take it up Hanlan’s Hill and let it go.”
    Willa opened her mouth to argue but stopped. It wasn’t a half-bad idea. Even if somebody spotted the bird — Hacker or another birder — there was nothing to link the phoenix to her or Eldritch Manor. The bird was obviously not happy here. Maybe she would just fly far away. Problem gone.
    â€œOkay.”
    â€œAnd I want it out of the house tonight! ”
    â€œYes! Okay! I said okay!” Willa got up, banging her chair against the table.
    Her mom’s eyes were fiery. “I don’t like your attitude these days. You’re a different person.”
    That was it. Willa’s chest hurt when she breathed in. Either tears or rage were just a moment away. She chose rage.
    â€œ I’m a different person? Me? What about you ? I’m not the one who avoids problems, I’m not running away from things, I’m not pretending my own mother doesn’t even exist!”
    She headed for the door, lightheaded but charged up.
    â€œStop right there, young lady!” she heard as the kitchen door swung shut behind her, but she kept going. She stomped past Baz, down the hall and into her bedroom, slamming the door.
    The bird began squalling as soon as she saw her. Willa paced the room. Her chest felt tight, she was hot, and out of breath. She stopped and leaned in to look hard at the bird, staring into its eyes. The anger she felt brimming over she saw in the bird’s eyes too. Willa thought about how the old bird Fadiyah had always calmed her down, and she became even angrier.
    Horace was right, she thought. This bird is nothing but trouble. Selfish, noisy, and mean. The bird let out a harsh shriek.
    â€œShut up! Shut up!” Willa banged the cage with her palm. The bird lunged, jabbing her beak into Willa’s hand. Willa jumped back with a gasp. The puncture was small, but it really hurt; beads of blood oozed out. Willa lost it.
    â€œYou stupid, stupid bird!” she shouted. “Why can’t you — why don’t you just —” Willa thought her head was going to explode. She threw a towel over the cage, swinging it off the desk … and froze.
    Beneath the cage was a dense black puddle, an uneven circle about the width of her hand. Willa touched it with her finger and felt a familiar cold tingle. It was just like the black stains that had appeared in the old house. The whole nightmare there had started with little spots like this one, spots that looked harmless enough until they grew larger and larger, and horrible creatures crawled out of them.

    The streetlights blinked on as Willa strode