Trixter by Alethea Kontis Read Free Book Online Page A

herself up for servitude."
    "I'm going to guess that didn't go well," said Trix.
    "You guess rightly. To Peppina, cats were pompous, smelly animals that made her itch. Not that it mattered—had they been unicorns, lazy Peppina wouldn’t have served them for more than five minutes. It wasn’t two weeks before Papa Gatto offered to release her from her contract and send her home. Thinking she was going to be rewarded as I had been, Peppina let herself be dipped in a vat of pitch."
    "Ouch," said Trix, thinking more of the sister's pride than pain.
    "It got worse. She did not follow Papa Gatto's precise directions on how to return home. By the time she arrived, a donkey's tail had sprouted from her forehead." Lizinia pointed to the star on her own brow.
    “Oh no.” Trix had made many mistakes in his life; he couldn’t imagine having to wear his shame so blatantly.
    "Oh, yes . Peppina went out of her selfish mind with grief. Mother was beside herself. Neither of them could bear to look at me after that, so they threw me out of the house. I ran away—here—the only other home I have ever known. Papa Gatto graciously took me in. I went on to care for him and the rest of the cats for the whole of their lives."
    "Are there none still living?" asked Trix.
    “No.” There was sorrow in her eyes. "This cottage was where they all came to live out the twilight of their ninth life after the first eight had been spent. Because of the wisdom and power that he held, Papa Gatto was the last to go. He put a spell on the cottage that gave me everlasting life, until someone finally came along who was worthy of my goodness. Only then would I be allowed to leave this place and travel as I chose. This apple tree was both my sole sustenance, and my sole means of escape. Papa Gatto promised to always be there for me, to guide me on my way." She squinted up into the leaves above Trix's head. "I can almost see him up there in the branches of this apple tree, smiling down upon us. I think he is happy that you have come at long last. As am I.”
    "Cats can smile?" Trix asked playfully.
    Lizinia turned her body to face him. “Trix Woodcutter, may I accompany you on your journey?"
    "I am going to see my mother."
    "I would love to meet her," said Lizinia.
    "She is dead.” Papa told him it was always best to be honest.
    "All the more reason that you should not travel alone," said Lizinia. "I will accompany you to the grave of your mother, and we may decide from there whether to companion each other further. Do we have a deal?"
    It was a fairer offer than most of his other siblings would suggest.
    “Adventure awaits!” said Trix. He spat in his palm and held his hand out for Lizinia to shake. She did, her warm metal hand slipping into his.
    As soon as their palms touched, the tree above them began to shake. Apples flew everywhere, pummeling both Trix and Lizinia, and Trix did not have the benefit of golden armor to protect him. The blue sky was devoid of clouds and yet the tree bent and waved wildly, as if belatedly tossed in the magical storm Trix had left behind the night before. The cottage, too, was suddenly abuzz with movement. Shutters clattered against the window panes. The door opened wide and slammed shut nine times in quick succession.
    The tenth time the door opened, Lizinia gasped.
    “What?” Trix asked the golden girl. “What’s happening?”
    “Papa Gatto.” Her eyes were wide. “Did you not see him walk through the door?”
    “I saw nothing,” Trix said in earnest, but he had enough experience in an enchanted Wood to know that didn’t necessarily mean nothing was there to see. Especially when it had to do with cats.
    Lizinia slowly turned her head to Trix. “Papa Gatto would like you to go inside.”
    That hadn’t been a daunting prospect before the empty house had come alive on its own. “Am I to be dipped in oil? Peanut butter? A vat of snakes?”
    “I don’t know,” said Lizinia. “No other traveler has passed the