Shadow Wrack by Kim Thompson Read Free Book Online Page B

through town, walking fast with the cage banging against her legs, her mind whirling. The blackness was in her house. Not in weird old Eldritch Manor, but in her very own home. The phoenix had caused it, that seemed clear, but what did it mean? Were more evil things on the way? Would it expand, or would it stay just one small, magicky puddle? Either way, the bird was to blame, and it was definitely time to set her free.
    The darkness deepened, and she glanced at the windows she passed, glowing in the night. Families sitting down to supper … normal families, Willa thought fiercely. She hunched her shoulders against the chill. The cage swung in her hand, squeaking. Dark shapes filled the sky. Do birds fly at night? Willa wondered. Or are those bats?
    Under the towel, the phoenix was strangely silent. She’s glad to go, she told herself, hoping she was right.
    The path up the hill was dark. Willa wished she’d brought a flashlight. She stood for a moment, just past the glare of the last streetlight, waiting for her eyes to adjust to the gloom. There was movement everywhere she looked. She slowly realized that every branch of every tree and bush around her was crowded with birds.
    A chill ran down her spine. She peered at them carefully, making sure they were all little birds. Cute little birds. Birds that don’t attack people. She pictured a news headline, Girl Assaulted by Chickadees , and actually smiled. Gripping the cage tightly, she started up the hill.
    At the lookout she sat down to catch her breath, the lights of the town twinkling before her. So beautiful, so peaceful. The top of the hill was above her, but she decided this spot would do. She pulled the towel from the cage and the bird lunged, trying to peck her hand again. Willa jumped back. The phoenix recoiled, looking at her with glittering eyes. Willa was frightened. Would the bird attack her when she opened the cage? Or was the bird just acting fierce because she wanted out?
    Minutes ticked by as girl and bird stared at one another. Finally Willa reached out and flicked the latch on the cage. The door swung open. The bird hopped, pausing in the opening. Then, with an agonized screech, she launched herself into the air, wings spread wide. Willa fell back, shielding her face with her arms, but the bird swooped straight up into the sky. As the phoenix rose higher, Willa could just make out flocks of birds scattering to make way for the bird. She kept rising until she was lost to Willa’s sight and her cries faded away. Only then did Willa notice the pain in the bird’s calls.
    Willa shivered. It will be all right, she told herself. It will be all right.
    There was a sudden clacking sound, like sticks banging together. Willa turned around slowly but couldn’t make out anything in the dark. She found her way to the path and started down. The clacking soon receded behind her. Her mind was consumed in anxious thoughts as she hurried along, images of black spots, cats with human faces, butcher birds, swarms of spiders … and a massive sightless snake with a gaping mouth.

Chapter Five
    Black spots and dark suspicions
    W illa awoke to sunshine and scratching sounds at her window. She thought maybe the fairies were back, but it turned out to be little sparrows hopping about on her windowsill. The room was blessedly quiet without the phoenix, and she lay there a moment enjoying the peace. At breakfast her mom was humming cheerfully. Willa felt guilty about her behaviour the night before, but all seemed to be forgiven. In fact, her mother was smiling, a sight Willa hadn’t seen in quite a while.
    â€œThank you for setting the bird free, Willa. It was the right thing to do.” Her mother set her a place at the table. “What would you like on your toast, hon?”
    She had hoped the stain would disappear when the bird did, but no such luck — it was still there on her desk, blank and mysterious. Even shining a light directly