Spirits and Spells Read Online Free Page A

specialty.
    Feeling smug, Tansy followed the footprints along the hall. Aha! Here was the stairway to the attic.
    She sighed. The footprints stopped. The steps had been swept clean. She was going to have to work a little harder than she had thought.
    She played her flashlight beam up the stairs. At the top was a door, held shut with an old-fashioned latch.
    Tansy took a deep breath and started up the stairs.

4
    THE DEPTHS
    Derek and Jenny stood at the top of the main stairway, the curving one they had first climbed from the foyer. They watched as Tansy moved to the other end of the hall and disappeared up the next flight of stairs.
    Jenny shivered. “I don’t know how she can do it.”
    â€œDo what?”
    â€œGo looking for that ring on her own. I’d be petrified.”
    â€œThat’s why you’re with me,” said Derek with a smirk.
    â€œAnd I’m still petrified.” She aimed her flashlight down the stairs and shuddered.
    â€œCome on, Jen—I’ll be right beside you all the time.”
    â€œWhy do you think I’m so scared!”
    Derek scowled. “Thanks a lot!”
    â€œOh, Derek—you know I’m kidding. But I still don’t like it here.”
    â€œLook, Travis assigned us together to keep you from getting into a panic. What more do you want?”
    â€œTo go home.”
    â€œForget it. We’re playing out the game.”
    She sighed. “All right, O fearless one—what do we do next?”
    â€œDid you write down the clue?”
    Jenny flipped her golden hair over her shoulder. “Of course!”
    She took out her pad and read:
    â€œ Mighty powers has the sword
    That once was stolen from dragon’s hoard;
    Stolen once, now lost again ,
    Hidden from the eyes of men ,
    It’s guarded by the earth—and more.
    Seek it now to earn your score .”
    She frowned. “What’s all that supposed to mean?”
    â€œWell, it’s pretty clear we have to find a sword—a magical sword, which makes sense, considering the game. It was held by a dragon for a long time, then someone stole it from the dragon. Now it’s been hidden again, ‘deep from the eyes of men.’” Derek smiled. “Heck, this is almost too easy. It has to be in the cellar.”
    â€œIn the cellar ? Oh, Derek, I don’t think I want to go into the cellar of this place. Besides, what does that line about ‘guarded by the earth—and more’ mean?”
    â€œThat just reinforces that the sword is hidden in the cellar. Cellar—guarded by the earth. Get it?”
    Jenny frowned. “I’m not stupid, Derek. I got the part about the earth. It’s the ‘and more’ that has me worried.”
    Derek paused. “Hmmmm. That’s a good point. Travis may have a little surprise planned for us. I wonder if he’s planted some friends down there to try to give us a scare.”
    Jenny stopped in her tracks. “God, I hope not.”
    â€œOh, I do,” said Derek eagerly. “Two can play at that game, you know.” He grabbed Jenny’s hand and pulled her after him. “Come on. We’ve got to find the cellar door.”
    They continued down the stairs together, their flashlights cutting a path through the gloom. When they reached the bottom, Jenny swung her beam around the spacious foyer. “Which way now?” she whispered.
    â€œLet’s try over there,” said Derek, pointing to their left. “Looks like a pretty big room.”
    As they passed through the door, Jenny again played her light around the room.
    Derek let out a low whistle. “Did I say big? This place is like a cavern!”
    At the far end of the room loomed a huge fireplace. Its chimney, made of gray stone, took up half the wall. The wall to their right, the front wall of the house, had a row of windows masked by dark floor-to-ceiling draperies, thick and heavy. Ghostly, misshapen forms were