Wand of the Witch by Daniel Arenson Read Free Book Online

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    The long-toed slinkers squealed. Cobweb's arrow slammed into one. It screamed, baring sharp teeth. Romy screamed too, flew, and lashed her pitchfork at the creatures.
    As Cobweb nocked another arrow, she saw that one of the attackers was a young woman—sixteen or seventeen years old—with black hair and purple wizard robes. She pointed a wand at Cobweb.
    Cobweb ducked. Pink sparkles and hearts flew from the witch's wand. Cobweb fired her arrow. It missed the young witch by a finger.
    "Damn it, shoot bolts of lightning, you stupid wand!" the witch cried and shook her wand. "Not hearts!" She turned to the monsters. "Slinkers, kill them!"
    The toey beasts nodded. "Yes, Lady Willow! They will die." They charged on their tiptoes and their claws lashed.
    Cobweb ducked and claws swung over her head. She grabbed a fistful of dirt and tossed it. The dirt hit the slinker's eyes, blinding it long enough for Cobweb to draw her dagger. She tossed the blade; it sliced the slinker's neck. Cobweb fired a third arrow, hitting its chest. It screamed and fell dead.
    "Oh God, no!" Willow screamed. "Madrila will kill me for this. She spent all night creating that slinker."
    The witch pointed her wand at Cobweb and uttered a spell. Candies flew from the wand, incurring a stream of curses from Willow.
    "Oh God," the witch said and tossed her wand aside in disgust. "This thing is useless."
    Cobweb snarled and kicked. Her foot hit Willow's shin, and the witch fell. Cobweb leaped up and kicked again, hitting Willow in the stomach. Above her, Romy flew and swooped, thrusting her pitchfork. Slinkers dell dead beneath her.
    Cobweb grabbed Willow's hair and pulled her head back.
    "Who is Madwiwa?" she demanded. "W-w-what do you peopwe want fwom us?
    Willow blinked back tears and managed a snarl. "I will kill you, Bullies. I will kill you and make Madrila proud, and finally she'll teach me spells. Finally she'll teach me to be a great witch."
    Sniffing, Willow kicked. Her foot slammed into Cobweb's knee.
    Pain filled her. Cobweb fell. As Romy killed the last grunter, Willow scurried to her feet and ran into the forest. Within seconds, she disappeared among the trees.
    "Wet's catch hew!" Cobweb said. "She's g-g-getting away."
    Romy landed by her. Panting, the two girls began running after Willow. Branches slapped their faces and leaves crunched under their feet.
    They ran through the forest for a long time.
    "She's gone," Romy finally said. "We'll never find her."
    Cobweb shook her head. "We'ww find hew. See how da weaves awe pwessed d-d-down hewe? See dat smudge of m-m-m-mud on dat bouwdew? She wan hewe. She's f-fast... but we'ww catch hew."
    Romy got down on all four, lowered her head to the ground, and sniffed like a bloodhound. Her tail wagged. She straightened and nodded.
    "She walked here," the demon announced. "I can smell her trail. Let's keep looking."
    It was slow progress. Many roots, bushes, and boulders impeded their passage. Streams gurgled, full of slippery rocks. Sometimes they had to stop and climb over a fallen log, a towering boulder, or bramble. As she followed the trail through the forest, Cobweb thought about the other Bullies. What will they think when they don't see us come home on time?
    Soon the sun began to set. When it grew dark, Cobweb could no longer see the trail, and they had to rely on Romy's nose. The demon stopped every few feet, leaned down, and sniffed the earth. Then she'd wag her tail and run forward. The stars emerged and the sun vanished. The only lights came from their hair: Romy's flamed like a torch, and Cobweb's glowed softly like moonlight.
    Romy whispered. "What if we walk right into the witch's camp and meet a thousand monsters?"
    Cobweb clutched her bow tight. "Wet's be cawefuw. If we f-f-find da monstews' camp, we'ww spy on dem, den wetuwn to Buwwfiewd. Wet's not p-pick any fights."
    Romy walked ahead, sniffing and wagging her tail. Cobweb followed her. Leaves crunched and branches snapped under