Once Upon a Haunted Moon (The Keeper Saga) Read Online Free Page B

books floated in the air a few feet above our heads, hovering as if waiting for their master to call for them.
    Wynter gestured toward the sofas in an invitation to sit as she leaned against the arm of the chair.
    “What questions bring you here?” she turned her attention back to Nikki.
    “My house has a strange wall in the attic. We saw you in it…and my great-grandmother,” Nikki said in a strained voice.
    Wynter nodded as she chose her words carefully, “Your home is old and built from the trees of the forest. It has both magic and memories that it will show only to those who belong there. I came to ask the old woman for her help — for her to send for her great-granddaughter. I asked for you. ”
    “Why did you want Nikki to come here?” Adam stood up, planting himself firmly in front of the fairy.
    She looked at him calmly and met his golden stare with her icy blue one, “I asked for her because one comes whom I cannot stop. Zue is stronger than I and she …” she pointed around him to Nikki, “…is the only one who can defeat her.”
    Black mist ebbed around Adam as his wolf came to the surface to protect Nikki. Ed started a low whine. Erik grumbled something less than nice under his breath. Wynter’s dress started flipping out, pages rattling and rearranging as if it, too, was becoming unnerved.
    I imagined blood soaking through the white carpet as wolves and fairy fought to the death. I knew that unless something happened soon to calm everyone down, someone was going to lose it — and possibly die.
    “So who is this Zue and how do we stop her?” I asked as calmly as I could muster. Adam’s mist faded slightly, and Ed quit his whine as they waited for the answer.
    Wynter turned her strange blue eyes on me, lips curled up in a smile that would have looked friendly on a normal person. The pointed teeth, though, made it look downright scary…
    “She is Spriteblood,” she said, then whispered in a voice that sounded like raindrops pattering on a rooftop. “She was trapped long ago in a Deadland by your people. She is now free. I do not know how you will trap her, only that you must, or all will perish,” she rose and paced, stopping abruptly to stare out a front window at the crow perched on an electric line outside, “I cannot help you any further.”
    “Why not!” Erik shouted the question, no longer able to contain his anger, “You’re the one who wanted Nikki here! You won’t even tell us how we’re supposed to kill her! You could at least help us instead of wanting Nikki to do all of your dirty work.”
    Wynter turned and looked at him evenly.
    I cannot help you kill her…” she turned her attention back to the crow, adding sadly, “…she is my sister.”
    ***
    Zue
     
    She watched them enter the house. She frowned as she felt the magic surrounding the shack, knowing its familiar touch was that of Wynter. She also felt the magic of the ones who had entered and knew that the wolf spirits within them were the same who had trapped her for all those years. Wynter had gone to them after they imprisoned her. She had spoken of peace and somehow managed to stay free. Zue snarled angrily at the memory of that injustice as she stared at the house, baring her pointed teeth.
    Once she had been close to her sister, as they shared the strength of those they conquered. Somewhere along the way, though, Wynter had grown a conscience. Terrible things they were…consciences. Somehow Wynter had learned to love what should only ever have been prey. Living amongst the very ones she swore to kill, she knew Wynter’s magic had dimmed, and that getting her out of the way would not be a challenge. She grew weak among them, and Zue could tell from the magic the house held, that Wynter hadn’t fed off her human prey in a very, very long time.
    She heard the raised voices, as the wolf-people implored her sister to help them. She watched as Wynter came to stare out the window. Zue saw the conflict on her