“Adriane. Adriane, wake up!” Emily called. “Storm, what happened?”
“I felt her distress, her fear... then nothing.”
“Come on, Adriane, rise and shine!” Ozzie patted the side of Adriane’s face.
But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t bring Adriane around. Gran was in the exact same state.
“Something is not right here,” Emily said. She turned to all the animals that had gathered outside of the cottage.
“Everyone! Inside! Quickly!” Emily commanded. “You’re supposed to be in the glade!”
The animals barreled into the cottage. Although it wasn’t a small house, it was soon overstuffed with fur, beaks, flippers, and wings.
“Gather round me,” Emily said.
“Gah! That shouldn’t be hard!” Ozzie’s muffled voice said.
Emily looked around for Ozzie and found him stuck between a wommel and a hard place.
Pulling him free, she settled next to Adriane and held out her wrist. Ozzie stood close as the rainbow jewel pulsed with blue-green light. Emily concentrated and sent out her healing magic to her sleeping friend. She sensed no physical injury, just a deep blackness. Adriane stirred but did not awaken
“She’s in some kind of deep trance,” Ozzie realized.
“A spell,” Ronif said.
“Yes… a spell,” Emily mused. “Everyone concentrate with me. Send healing strength to break the sleeping spell.”
She focused her jewel and reached out again.
The wolf stone on Adriane’s wrist flashed with light. Emily quickly placed her gem next to the wolf stone, willing the healing magic to flow into Adriane. Both gems flared with magic and Adriane’s eyes fluttered opened. “Hey,” she said groggily. “Is that a ferret in my face?”
THE SKULTUM HAD no idea what was happening. Not at first. He was wearing Adriane’s form and had Kara fighting to give it all up onstage, just as he had planned.
Then, he’d suddenly started to feel weak. His entire body trembled, his flesh crawled, and it was hard to keep posing as Adriane.
He was beginning to change. That meant his victim had awakened, which should have been impossible! The only way that spell could be broken was with… magic.
The other mages would know what was going on—and so would the real Adriane!
Hissing, the Skultum threw down the guitar and stumbled back, his stolen “Adriane” form losing its shape as he looked for a way out.
Kara gasped. Adriane’s face was changing... no, not just her face, it was the girl’s entire form! For a shocking, mind-splintering instant, Kara saw—or thought she saw—Adriane morph into Johnny and become the singer. His hands danced, fingers moving in complex patterns as a strange song left his lips. Then, in a heartbeat, the figure before her shimmered and transformed into a monstrous creature covered in green scales. Slivered reptile eyes shone from its hideous face. Then it was gone.
“What... what just happened?” Kara began, attempting to wrap her thoughts around the horrific thing she had just seen... or thought she had just seen...
“Ouch!” Johnny’s locket flared red hot against her skin. She flinched and looked away. Her thoughts grew hazy, her head throbbed. Then the locket cooled and Kara felt a deep sense of triumph and exhilaration. So what if Adriane had gotten away? Kara had proved to Adriane that she was the blazing star, and now she would prove it to the world! Nothing would stand in the way of her singing the big number with Johnny! She was a star, baby!
Suddenly, something flew by Kara, flapping down the corridor where Adriane had disappeared. Ewww! A bat! A few seconds later, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see Johnny entering the ballroom from the entrance across the room.
The singer quickly covered the distance separating them. Concern tinged his words. “Kara, what happened? Are you all right?”
“You were right, Johnny,” she told him. “Adriane wanted to sing in the spotlight. She wanted to take my place!”
“Well, don’t worry. No one can take your place! I’ll make sure Adriane doesn’t get anywhere near you during the show.”
“Thanks,” Kara said, still feeling a little shaky.
Johnny smiled as he led Kara to the back door of the manor and onto the great lawn. The crowd was chanting for Johnny. His band had taken their places onstage, ready to rock.
“It’s show time.” Johnny straightened his leather jacket as he led Kara to the side of the stage. People covered the entire field.
“Johnny! Johnny!”
“Are you ready?” he asked Kara.
“Kara! Kara!” Did she hear the crowd shouting her name also?
“Yes!” Kara wiped the dried stain from her jacket. “I’m ready to shine my light!”
“All right! Let’s knock ’em dead!”
ADRIANE PACED BACK and forth as Emily entered the living room. “Gran’s fine now. Just resting,” she reported.
“We were right,” Adriane said, her hands balled into fists, wolf stone pulsing. “It’s Johnny! Only it’s worse than we thought... whatever he is, he’s not human.”
“A shape-shifter,” Balthazar said.
“That’s what we sensed the other night.” Ronif shuddered.
“What’re we talking about here, banshee? Sylph? Brag? Dryad?” Ozzie asked.
“Worse,” Rommel answered.
“Werebeast?”
“Keep going,” a pooxim sang out.
“A fairy creature then.” Ozzie paced, paws behind his back.
The animals followed him, nodding in agreement.
“I thought fairies were good,” Emily said.
“Not the dark ones,” Eddie the brimbee said.
The pooxim agreed. “Dark fairy creatures are extremely dangerous.”
Ozzie turned to the girls. “This one is very cunning and proficient with spells.” The ferret waved his paws around.
Adriane flashed on the Fairimental’s warning. “Like spellsinging.”
“Skultum!” Several animals said at once, their voices quivering.
“Blingo,” Balthazar said. “This fairy creature is rare and very, very evil.”
“A Skultum. That explains it. It must have disguised itself as me.” Lyra was wildly pacing now. “I thought she was ignoring me, but maybe she can’t hear me. Kara is in terrible danger! We have to help her!”
“Skultum! ” The animals all wailed. “We’re no match for that magic!”
“Everyone, chill! You have to get back to the glade!” Emily said. “All of you!”
From outside, they heard the sounds of rockin’ drums, a thumping bass, and a wild electric guitar.
“The show’s started!” Ozzie yelled.
Then the most powerful spellsinging voice in this world—and any other— rang out. Johnny Conrad had taken the stage.
DANCE! DANCE! DANCE! Take a chance and dance!
Buzzing with excitement, Kara watched from the wings as Johnny launched into his opening number. The audience loved it: moving, clapping, and dancing to the music. Johnny had them in the palm of his hand.
In her hand, Kara clutched the locket, thinking back to how she had first pictured the event, months ago. And now it was really happening! Here she was with Johnny Conrad, about to become the star she was meant to be!
She would use the magic. She had no choice. Her song with Johnny had to go perfectly.
“Kara! Kara!”
Was the crowd calling out her name already? She scanned the rows of faces. They were all intently watching Johnny, center stage.
“Over here!”
Just outside the roped-off area beside the stage, Emily and Adriane were jumping and waving. Adriane was in her black jeans and dark green jacket. When did she have time to change? Kara wondered.
They were yelling something but she couldn’t make it out above the music. Emily was arguing with the security people but the guards weren’t letting them through. Kara smirked as Adriane paced back and forth, hands balled into fists. She must be so mad! Kara smi
led to herself. Serves her right.
She turned back to the stage as Johnny finished his first song.
“Hello, Stonehill!” The pop star shouted. “It’s a great night for Ravenswood!”
The audience exploded in applause. Then the band blazed into their second number. Johnny rocked out, doing the moves that had made him famous.
Kara danced in the wings, jumping and—ow! Something had just bitten her! She spun around but nothing was there. Another spark stung her leg. What was that? Then she caught a telltale flash of amber light. Zing! She’d been bitten again! Adriane! Angry, she whirled around and saw the black-haired girl standing, arm raised, golden light flaring from her jewel. Kara narrowed her eyes and stuck her tongue out. She was just starting to turn away when she saw Adriane pointing. Kara followed Adriane’s finger. Emily was holding up a sign. IT WASN’T LYRA!
Kara stopped moving. It wasn’t Lyra? She loved Lyra more than anyone, but she’d been avoiding the cat. In fact, she hadn’t even really thought of her since… it wasn’t Lyra!
Something twisted in her stomach. She looked back at Emily again, who now had a second sign raised. IT WASN’T ADRIANE!
What did Emily mean? Lyra and Adriane had been horrible to her. Of course it was them! She’d seen them! A tingle of fear crept up Kara’s back, tickling its way to her neck. She took a tentative step toward her friends.
Suddenly, the locket around her neck sparked with intense heat. Her mind became hazy. Johnny was finishing his second number, but he was looking directly at her, anger flaring across his face. Kara shook her head—she must be crazy! She turned back to the stage and was relieved to see Johnny’s look soften before he faced the crowd and bowed.
“Before we continue,” he announced. “I know you’re all excited about the contest. And I have picked the winner!”
What? Kara’s face mirrored the surprise on the contestants’—no one had performed yet!
Johnny continued, “Let’s hear it for the person who made this whole day possible, Ravenswood’s very own, Kara Davies!”
Applause thundered as Johnny beckoned Kara. In a daze, she stepped onstage.
“And we have a surprise for you—we’re going to perform a brand-new song dedicated to the Ravenswood Preserve!” Johnny smiled at Kara. “Give it all you got!”
He nodded to the band, and the music started. Kara felt light-headed.
The audience sat waiting as the band reached her cue. Kara opened her mouth and sang.
In a world that spins so fast
Nothing real seems to last
When the future falls out of sight
Find the path and shine your light
Kara scanned the crowd and felt her cheeks flush. Wincing, she spied Heather flanked by Molly and Tiffany, all snickering. This was awful. Kara’s voice hadn’t changed a bit.
“Sing it! Johnny hissed. “You’re the star! Make it happen! Use your star power.”
The locket around her neck flared with magical energy. Kara thought, when they see what kind of star I really am, they’ll come back to me.
She deserved to be the blazing star. That was her destiny, and Johnny could make it happen.
Reaching into her jacket, she felt the comforting coolness of the unicorn horn. Gripping it tightly, she called upon its magic… and sang.
Kara’s voice suddenly soared into the air, hitting perfect notes. She sang louder, moving her feet to the backbeat.
Johnny jumped into the air and danced. “That’s it!”
The audience cheered.
As Kara sang the chorus, she could feel the powerful energies flowing from the unicorn horn mixing it up with her magic. Lights behind the stage flashed in time to the beat as a wave of blue light pulsed around her.
Johnny was ecstatic. “Beautiful! More! Give it more! Shine your light!”
And she did.
IN THE DISTANCE, away from the surging crowd, strong magic swirled into the large field. The portal to Ravenswood opened wide, ripping the air with shrieking winds against the darkening horizon. The dreamcatcher that kept Ravenswood safe sparkled, ready to amplify any magic sent through it.
EMILY AND ADRIANE were pushed to the side of the great lawn as people surged forward to get closer to the stage. “Warrior! Healer!” The girls heard the mistwolf’s urgent voice in their heads.
“What is it, Storm?” Adriane asked.
“The portal has opened!”
“Oh, no!”
The girls looked back up at Kara and saw the blue glow around her. That wasn’t special effects! That was magic!
They pushed and shoved their way to the stage.
“Kara, stop!” Emily called. “You’re opening the portal!”
Kara heard them and faltered. But before she could react, there was a blast of magic from the locket—and suddenly she was singing louder than ever, releasing more and more of her magic.
“Johnny!” Adriane shouted, nodding toward the wildly grinning singer. “He’s making her do it!”
And though Kara was singing wonderfully, there was pain and fear in her eyes.
The bass thrummed a thumping rhythm, and the band began its instrumental break. Johnny pumped his fist in the air as he swaggered across the stage, drawing the crowd to their feet.
His fingers reached into the sky and he began to spin. A blistering lead solo kept the fevered pace. Suddenly the music stopped—and so did Johnny. In his hands he cradled a ball of light.
He grinned at the audience as the ball grew brighter, revealing twinkling stars inside. The crowd cheered louder.
With a graceful toss, he sent the ball floating gently over his head. It sparkled as it caught the stage lights, glistening like a mirror ball, sailing through the air right toward Kara.
Kara recognized it instantly, the twinkling ball of stars with the bright silver glow in its center. She was looking at the fairy map. The gift the Fairimentals had given her. The one stolen last summer by the monstrous manticore.
Kara gazed at Johnny in fear. Then she felt the heat of the locket on her skin, pulling at her magic, and her thoughts began to get hazy. In a burst of sudden panic, she tightened her grip on the unicorn horn.
“What have I done,” Kara said, her voice breaking as the tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision.
But Johnny was no longer looking at her. His gaze was firmly fixed on the fairy map.
“You are the blazing star.” His musical voice sounded like a chant. “Shine on!”
The fairy map began to settle around her, covering her in dazzling stars. Pinpoints of light twinkled, each a portal on the magic web.
“Sing, Kara!” Johnny urged. “Make it happen.”
The audience was on its feet, breathlessly waiting to see what would follow this special effects extravaganza.
Kara struggled to fight Johnny’s spell and stop the song before it was too late, but she didn’t have the strength. The unicorn horn could not protect her. Triggered by her blazing star power, the lights in the fairy map rolled and tumbled, falling into a pattern.
And she was just another falling star about to flame out in a blaze of glory.
No! She had to fight this! “Lyra!” she called out.
“I’m here!” the cat answered.
Hearing the voice of her best friend, Kara suddenly knew that Lyra would never do anything to hurt her. It had all been a trick.
Kara started the next verse—but reaching out to her friend for strength, she changed the words.
A web of lies spins so fast
I was blinded by your night
We can see the truth at last
Let’s all shine our light!
The crowd gasped. Her voice sounded horrible. She couldn’t hit any of the notes.
“What’s she doing?” Emily asked nervously.
“She’s changing the words,” Adriane said, surprised. “She’s trying to spellsing!”
Suddenly, a chill wind kicked up and surrounded Johnny. In fury, he swung around
and glared at Kara. What was that girl doing? Opening his mouth, he joined her in song, tightening his control, forcing Kara to sing the right words to his spell.
Kara tried to sing again, but she could barely catch her breath.
Emily and Adriane raced to the stage. Security guards converged on them.
“You have to let us through!” Adriane demanded.
“We told you, no one’s allowed on stage during the show!”
“Perhaps you’d like to talk to the ones that run this place.” Emily stepped aside to reveal Stormbringer and Lyra.
The animals bared their teeth and growled fiercely.
“Whoa!” The guard jumped back at the sight of the huge silver wolf and the large spotted cat. “No problem!”
Adriane pulled the animals back. “Thanks, guys. We’ll take it from here.”
Her gaze fell on the locket around Kara’s neck, glowing with dark magic.
“That’s what Johnny’s using to control Kara!” Without a second thought, Adriane launched herself on stage. She ran to Kara and knocked the fairy map away from her. The ball floated gently over the crowd.
People in the audience started to bat it around like a translucent beach ball.
Rage flared on Johnny’s face, but only for a second. Dancing to the edge of the stage, he motioned for the crowd to send the ball back to him.
Adriane surged toward Kara, her hand reaching for the locket—but she was yanked back. Another burly guard carried the struggling girl back to the wings.
A sudden awareness flooded into Kara. The fairy map was always meant for her. That’s what Johnny really wanted. Only she could open it—and find Avalon.
She heard Johnny. “Kara, you are the blazing star—now finish the spell!”
Wide-eyed with horror, Kara realized the terrible mistake she’d made—all the wrong decisions and all the wrong excuses to justify them.
She felt herself spiraling out of control. The locket that seemed to complete her, focus, and sharpen her magic, was a lie. Just like the dark magic Johnny had worked on her.
She had to sing.
It was her dream.
Her nightmare.
There was a loud commotion backstage. Kara heard growls, scuffling, and people running. Then Adriane was racing toward her, reaching for the locket. Kara had a flash that this was a mistake, the worst mistake anyone could make.
Spellsinger (Avalon: Web of Magic #5) Page 10
