The Hunt of the Grimalkin (Erresuma Book 1) by Dani Swanson (read aloud books txt) 📕

These people haven’t had their souls eaten, they are all just in a trance. Thea handed the book to Robin to review.

“We should be able to reverse this, if we find the witch that cast it or the right antidote.” Robin was speaking slowly as she read over the book.

“No! It was the Grimalkin! I know what I saw!” Agatha chimed in. She was looking between the girls, desperately hoping to get one of them to believe her.

“That may be well and good, Agatha, but I’m telling you that these people have a spell on them; their souls are intact. They don’t look like any of the Grimalkin victims that people have described.

They continued to debate between the options of the Grimalkin eating people’s souls and it being a spell when they were interrupted by an explosion off in the woods. Smoke and a bright light were raising above the trees. Birds started to squawk and fly away from the area as fast as their wings would take them. A witch’s cackle echoed from that direction.

“I think we better go towards that.” Thea said with a frightened look on her face. “Someone, or something, is trying to get our attention.”

“What about these people? And Charles?” Agatha asked with concern as she was looking into Charles’ blank, violet eyes.

“They all seem to be just fine here; we will come back for them,” Dean set Charles down on the ground and he immediately got up and started to aimlessly walk in circles with the rest of the creatures. Dean drew his sword and started to walk back up the path, towards the smoldering ash that was now raining down on the field.

“He’ll be okay here,” Robin said, as to comfort Agatha while she gently led her towards the path.

The group headed towards the smoky haze rising above the treetops. They weren’t alone. There were many creatures moving through the trees towards the fire. They slowly crept out of the darkness of the forest to where the fire was brightly burning. Thea saw many of the same creatures that were trapped in Sorgin’s prison, now walking with spears, bows, and swords. The Grimalkin’s dark shadowy presence engulfed the clearing, with her yellow eyes glowing. She looked at everyone who was gathered there. The ravens and sparrows had finally stopped squawking in the trees; the eerie silence made Thea feel uneasy as she twisted her staff in her hands. The air turned cold as the Grimalkin moved closer to the girl. Fairies, elves, and humans alike raised their weapons, ready to attack.

Thea dropped her staff where she stood. Her raven friend flew up to the trees. Thea raised her hand out at her side. She drew all the fire from the pit to her hand. The flames swirled in orange and yellow and nestled restlessly in her palm, creating a massive fireball that was larger than Thea’s head. The Grimalkin roared; the force of its breath pushed the spectators back into the trees. The mighty cat lowered its head and charged towards Thea. The beast opened its mouth and disbursed an ample violet flame. Thea charged towards the fire and threw her own flame towards the creature.

Red and violet flames engulfed the Grimalkin and Thea. Their bodies rose off the ground and went flying straight up into the branches of the trees before crashing back to the ground at an accelerated speed. The explosion of light that followed, was brighter than the sun. It temporarily blinded everyone in the area; The noise was a deafening, high pitched squeal. Robin fell to her knees, covered her ears and screamed, though no one could hear her. Her eardrums had ruptured upon the impact.  The tops of the trees around the fire had ignited, casting shadows against the night sky; The creatures retreated to the dark corners of the forest. The air was scented with the smell of burning flesh, and the smoke was a thick, smog-like blanket that covered the entire clearing in the forest.

When the ringing in their ears had subsided, Dean helped Robin to her feet, while Agatha fanned the faint haze from in front of her face. Fig ran over to a large lump on the ground and was meowing to the group.

“Thea!” Dean yelled, as he ran over and held her head up off the ground. “Can you hear me? Are you okay?” He lightly shook her shoulders as he slid his body under hers to support her better. The green of her eyes sparkled intensely as she opened them. She let out a sigh and then started to cough from the smoky air.

“Did I get her? Did it work?” Thea said as she struggled to get out of Dean’s lap.

“Look over there!” Robin exclaimed as she pointed to an ample dark mass in the shadows of the fire, that was slowly stirring on the other side of the clearing. Dean drew his sword, while Agatha and Robin each had thunderbolts ready to throw; Thea had a fireball in each hand as they marched into the hazy darkness. Fig had grown into a massive cat, and was prepared to pounce.

The Grimalkin moaned and took deep, slow breaths.

“You’re done hurting people, Lilly! This is the end!” Thea and the twins raised their spells high above their heads, and, with a nod, released them at the Grimalkin. Thunderbolts struck the ground rhythmically as the fire soared through the center of its massive body. Dean then lunged towards the Grimalkin, running his sword through the middle of the dark figure. Fig pounced on the figure, grabbed it by the jugular and shook the mighty beast, until it went limp.

The sky opened, and the darkness lifted. The birds started to slowly come back, and the deafening silence was no longer ringing through their ears. Thea looked down at the Grimalkin, took in a deep breath and slowly let it out.