The Circle of Owls (The Grimalkin Book 3) Dani Swanson (best books for 8th graders .TXT) 📖

of my powers fade over the past two years! She tried to eat you as a dragon! Do you not remember that?!” Agatha couldn’t handle looking Robin in the eye – She knew that she had let her own selfishness create so many problems for so many people.

“I was there, I remember.” She sighed before she started to talk. “A lot of things were promised in the past, that may have clouded people’s perceptions. Once we made Sorgin promise to not collect living creatures anymore, the whole being evil thing started to fade away. She is part imp after all – she’s programmed to collect everything she can. It really wasn’t her fault. Sorgin also saw how horrible Celeste got treated and realized her loyalty doesn’t mean anything around here……Robin, I’m sorry I’ve been such a horrific sister. I am sorry, and I do love you.” She just sat and watched Robin’s face twist into a look of disgust before she just faded away – leaving Agatha alone in the deafening silence.

All the emotions that Agatha had been pushing down into the pit of her stomach were starting to affect her. She did love her sister more than anything, but her jealousy for her natural gifts always outweighed every intention she had at doing right by her family and friends. She now realized that her jealousy for Robin felt like hate for her too. All Agatha could think about was wanting to be happy, just like everyone else in the world.

She smiled as she remembered how blissful it was growing up with her twin sister – before they knew that they had powers. It was amazing to have someone that knew everything about her. They had their own made-up language that drove their mother crazy and games that only they knew the rules to. She always dreamt that they would be two little old ladies still hanging out while all their grandkids ran about.

Agatha went and looked at herself in the mirror, rubbing the bump forming on her head. She started to cry when she realized that the only time she was going to be spending with her sister from now on was going to be arguing with her voice running through her head. “I really am no better than Cricket.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

It wasn’t long after Lilly left the cave that she was back to stalking the Circle of Owls. After weeks of watching the comings and goings at the little house in the Monkey Tree Village, did she finally see Sorgin and Cricket journey on a pair of horses out of the village. Sorgin, as always, had her silvery hair neatly tied up in a bun, while Cricket had a rather large hat on top of her head, with all her hair flowing out the back – both witches wrapped themselves in capes, before climbing onto their horse’s backs. She followed the witches all the way to the Kingdom of Owls, where she found them with a half a dozen other members circling the castle, trying to find a break in the protection that the golden acorn cast over the castle, which would allow them to reclaim their old home.

Lilly slinked along the trees, watching Cricket closely. She had to remind herself to breathe as her lungs would start to ache from holding her breath with excitement. She was waiting for the right moment to change into the Grimalkin and attack. Lilly had decided that she was going to eat Cricket’s soul without any hesitation – for all the pain and suffering she caused, and the number of souls she had stolen. It felt fitting to Lilly that she was the vessel of all the chaos that Cricket had caused, and now she is going to be the cause of chaos in Cricket’s plans. She followed Cricket to the old tree entrance that Lilly knew all too well – Cricket was alone for the first time since Lilly had been stalking her.

She watched from the trees while her eyes changed to solid black, and she crept down on all fours as her human features started to fade away, and all that could be seen was the Grimalkin. The shadowy cat kept behind Cricket as she fumbled to press the knots of the tree, trying to get the old door to open. Beneath the weight of the mighty cat, a twig snapped – echoing through the otherwise still part of the forest. The Grimalkin let out a low throaty growl as Cricket turned to see who had joined her.

“I’ve been expecting you, Lilly.” Cricket started to bow in front of the Grimalkin as she took off her large hat. A swarm of fairies along with a pair of harpies came flying out of it; The fairies were shooting arrows from either side of the Grimalkin while the harpies made the wind blow around her, forming a cyclone that she couldn’t escape. Dirt and leaves danced around the Grimalkin, blinding her, causing her to become confused. They blew the wind up higher than the trees, carrying the Grimalkin in their blasts. “Now!” Cricket’s voice could be faintly heard through the howls of the wind.

With that command, the harpies ceased their winds and the body of the Grimalkin came speeding down toward the ground, however, like all cats, she was still able to flip herself over and land on her feet. A large troll came out from the shadows, jumped on the Grimalkin’s back and wrestled with the creature until he was able to attach a black collar onto her neck. The growls from the Grimalkin changed to the screams of a female voice as the shadowy cat slowly changed back to the slight figure of Lilly Quinn.

Sorgin emerged from the bushes, with a solemn look on her face.

“What’s the matter with you?” Cricket’s voice was light as she smiled at her latest conquest.

Sorgin shook her head and forced a slight smile as she delivered the news that they couldn’t find