Free Awaken by Rachel D'Aigle Page B

angrily.
    “Not alone?” the voice demanded. “FIND THEM!
    NOW!”
    “I think we are about to have company,” Colin spoke, his voice easily an octave higher than normal. In that same instant, a thought dawned on him. “Do you think these creatures are the ones scaring the Gypsies?”
    “I somehow have a sneaking suspicion the answer is yes, but this is not the time, Col. We gotta get out a here!”
    “I think the book is our only option,” he said.
    “What! Are you nuts?” asked Meghan. “You seriously think this book is going to just magically fly us away from here!” Meghan’s fury was near equal to her fear of the creatures discovering their hiding spot.
    “Maybe not, but do you see any other options?” Colin was not sure why he was defending the book. His gut told him to believe it. Ever since he could read, Colin had read book after book about magic. In fact, his uncle even encouraged his research on the subject, having given him numerous books on the topic himself.
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    The creatures methodically searched each open cavern in the fallen pine tree, edging closer and closer to where the twins were hiding.
    “If this works,” said Meghan, “I will never call you Little Bro again.” She shook her head, her thoughts screaming, I cannot believe I’m doing this!
    Colin wanted desperately to relish his sister’s promise, but time was not on their side. The creatures were nearly upon them.
    “On the count of three, then,” he sent to her. “We’ll say together, take us to camp.”
    “And when it doesn’t work?” she whispered. They held hands, with each of them grasping the book.
    “Then, I guess…” he gulped deeply, his throat too dry to continue.
    The creatures were at their room now, clicking and growling as their wolf-like faces started to poke inside.
    Smelling, and then seeing, the twins sitting on the ground set off a fury of howling and screeching. The cloaked figure ordered them to back away and strode toward them.
    Here goes nothing! Colin thought to himself, unsure of whether anything would come out when he tried to speak.
    The twins jammed their eyes closed and counted.
    “One… two… three ... TAKE US TO CAMP!”
    They kept their eyes shut, fully expecting to be yanked from their hiding spot and hurled into the air, or mauled by the ferocious fangs of the hideous creatures outside.
    All went quiet, neither twin breathed, and they kept their hands held together still gripping the book. The growls, clicking and screeching howls were gone. All the twins could hear was music; guitars playing somewhere 73
    not too far away. Meghan was the first to open her eyes.
    She did so slowly, and just one at a time.
    “Holy crap!” she exhaled, hitting at her brother’s arm.
    He peeked through one eye, then the other.
    They were sitting on the ground, a few feet into the woods behind the Jacoby travel trailer. The music they were hearing was from the Gypsy caravan.
    “I am…” Meghan could not finish the thought.
    “This is… ” Colin shook his head, unable to think of a word strong enough to describe how he was feeling. He opened the book, stroking the pages with a fond new reverence.
    To their further bewilderment, there was another message. However, this time the book spoke it.
    “Those tremendous votes of confidence might well be enough for me to give up all of this, fun, and retire,” it said rather snidely. The twins sat in utter disbelief, again, their eyes glued to the book.
    “How… can… you… talk?” Meghan finally asked, as if she were talking to someone who spoke another language and could not understand her.
    “I… will... not… answer... such… a… stupid… question!” the voice from the book retorted mockingly. It then slammed itself shut, refusing to open again.
    “Great, you’ve insulted it,” said Colin.
    “Listen to yourself! How can I possibly insult a book?”
    “I don’t know, Sis. But only you could.”
    “At least we are home,” she said,