Free The Knaveheart's Curse by Adele Griffin

quietly.

“Sure, lots of times.”

“Cool.” Maddy retied her cape tassels.

“What’s going on, Mads?” asked Pete as he stepped into the hall, Hudson close behind. “I can tell you’ve cracked a clue.”

Maddy put a finger to her lips. “I think Zelda’s the Ninth Knave and she’s transferring power to Lexie. It’s all in the book. From glass-eyed witnesses daren’t blink to poison strings and picque . Doll’s eyes and guitar strings and picks, that is.”

They stared at her. “A Knave? Like Vlad the Impaler? But . . .” Hudson shook his head. “No way. Lex is just a girl.”

“So am I, but I’m the only one in the family with the ruby-and-gold Slayer’s pin. I destroyed the von Kriks, remember?” Maddy arched an eyebrow.

“Point taken. What do we do next?” asked Pete.

“Crud—you come with me. Pete, you watch Lex. Don’t let her leave the house or let her fall asleep—or else her blood will start to go Knave-y.”

“Where are we going?” Hudson asked.

Maddy slapped Dakota’s back. “My friend is going to show us the way. We’re off to pay a little visit to the family Elcris.”
     

 

14
     

    THE FAMILY ELCRIS
    Y ou’re flat outta luck, kids,” said the doorman. “The Elcrises are all playing golf at Club Lullaby.”

“Is their cousin Zelda with them?” Hudson asked.

“Oh, yes. She likes it out in the country air. She says she found a good nap spot.” The doorman shook his head. “You know teenagers. They love their sleep.”

And so do millennial-old Knaves in dark, smelly, rat-infested Dumpsters, thought Maddy.

“Plan B,” she decided as the threesome headed outside. “The King Kong route.”

“You mean climb the building? But the Elcrises live on the ninth floor,” squeaked Dakota.

“Hudson and I’ve spent centuries scaling heights,” said Maddy. “We’ve still got our excellent vampire skills. And you said you could climb trees. Think of the building as the highest tree you ever climbed.”

Dakota looked uncertain. “I’ll try.”

They decided to scale the back of the building that faced into the alley. That way, nobody would see them. Jumping and swinging from ledge up to ledge was a test of the most flexible hybrid grip and strength. Maddy went first to test and show the route.

“This feels very scary—and illegal,” huffed Hudson from behind.

“For humans, sure.” Maddy was too busy counting floors to pay him attention. Her vampire traits were out in full force. Sharpened teeth, double-jointed bones, and a steel grip in her fingers. Scaling buildings had been a primary Old World activity, when they’d looked for predator-safe places to roost. “This apartment isn’t even close to the challenge of climbing Notre Dame, remember, Crud?” she encouraged.

“Mmph,” came the reply from below.

Finally, the ninth floor. Maddy wrenched open the window and plop, plop, plop, they all dropped inside, to find themselves in a supply room.

“The Elcrises live at the end of the hall,” informed Dakota as they stood and dusted themselves off. “I’ll lead the way.”

“Here’s a question,” said Hudson as they tiptoed down the corridor. “If Lexie’s fate has been written into the Gospyll , then isn’t it her destiny? Which means that no matter what we do, we can’t change it?”

“Go ask a philosopher. I’m interfering with Lex’s destiny no matter how it’s been set up.” Maddy was already kneeling to pick the Elcrises’ lock.

“The Argos really don’t like it when you break and enter,” warned Hudson.

“Well, I really don’t like having my sister’s identity transfused,” said Maddy.

The lock held fast. “Cagey Knave,” said Maddy. “Zelda’s on to us. She hybrid-proofed the locks. Not even the family skeleton key could get us inside.”

“Hey, I think I can help,” said Dakota. “My dad’s a ghost, remember? When I wear this cloak, I can pass through doors.”

Passing through doors? No way. The perfect