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

screaming at Agatha. “Don’t drink anything that she gives you! Do you know what happened to me last time she did this?! I had that bag sticking out of my arm and was paralyzed from it! Don’t be stupid!”

Agatha started to rock back and forth. “It will make all the voices you’re hearing stop. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Then we can get out of here; go find a new kingdom to live in.” She had her hand stretched out to Agatha, who was trying to ignore Robin’s shrill protest.

“How do I know you’re not still working for Cricket? Can I trust you this time?” Agatha was rocking back and forth on the floor as she looked Sorgin in the eye.

“That witch has nothing to offer either one of us anymore. She had me walking around here as her personal servant ever since you all took over my chateau. She’s learning how to take people’s powers without the Grimalkin – she’s successfully turned two little brownies into Grimalkins. She doesn’t need Lilly to do her bidding anymore. We all want the power, but no one should have ALL the power. She is going to end up with all the power, and the rest of us are going to be in a very bad spot if we’re still here. We need to get out of here to survive. That you can trust.”

Agatha paused for a moment before popping the top off of the vial – the sugary sweet scent of cinnamon rolls filled her nose as she brought the vial to her lips. Robin was nowhere to be seen, but Agatha could still hear her screams. The liquid inside tasted nothing like it smelled. The sour flavor of vinegar and cabbage burned her throat as she fought not to gag. “It’s not working, I can still hear her! She’s louder now.”

“Nothing is instantaneous, give it a moment to work it’s way through your system.” Sorgin calmly used her cane to get to her feet before retrieving another item from her hair – this time it was a small bronze key. She ignored Agatha’s cries of pain as she flipped her hair out of the way and unlocked the collar around her neck. It flashed a bright green before falling to the floor.

Agatha’s head started to pound with pain as she rocked back and forth. “Now you’re ready.” Sorgin helped Agatha to her feet and stared at her forehead that now had a massive vein protruding from her head. She could see it pulse with the rhythm of her heartbeat. “Hold still, this might sting a bit.” Sorgin said as she held Agatha’s head in place – Agatha could only make out her lips moving. The pain was so strong that Agatha’s ears were humming with the sound of white noise.

The skull on the end of her walking stick started to glow blood red as she laid it upon the pulsating vein. Agatha’s skin burned and the stench of burning flesh filled the air. She muttered an enchantment in elvish before she was pushed back with an exploding force that knocked her back into the chair.

The room filled with an orange glow as the vein in Agatha’s head split open, folding down in half as if someone had neatly undone a zipper on her skull – the shell that once was Agatha gently glided to the floor as two beings with fiery red hair emerged from the orange glow.

“There we are. I’d say there are no hard feelings anymore, and we all can help each other get out of here as friends?” Sorgin’s voice was proud as she looked over at the twins, hugging in the center of the room.

“How? How did you do that?” Agatha stammered, as she was touching her sister’s hair.

“The reverse of what you did to keep your sister as a part of you.” She said shaking a finger at Robin. “Banshee tears and fairy dust mixed with nails of a tree elf.” Sorgin smiled at Robin. “I’m glad you learned something from all those books in my home. And your hidden collection was found – I didn’t know you were into the dark arts Robin.”

“You did this? But why?” Agatha’s voice cracked as she looked into her sister’s eyes. Her tears were cooling her face as they rolled down to her chin.

“I was hoping that I would understand you better – get my powers back that I’ve been slowly losing since we were trapped at Sorgin’s. I didn’t want to lose you! You will always be a part of me.” Robin paused for a moment and then hugged her sister in the tightest hug she had ever given to another person. “I didn’t realize that you hated me so much until you were a part of me. I didn’t know that you were that angry at me.”

Agatha pushed out of the embrace and looked at her sister. “It’s not that I hate you, it’s just that….”

“No, you do! I felt it inside of me….in my soul.” She took a moment to wipe the tears from her cheeks. “Whatever I did to make you so angry, I’m sorry! You’re my sister and I love you.”

“I’d hate to break this family counseling session you two have going on, but we need to get going if we’re going to make it out of here alive. Cricket’s going to have my head if she finds out I’m helping you.” The imp-witch giggled at her own joke as she started out the door.

“Wait, why are you helping us?” Robin asked in a meek voice as she started to the door.

“Because that Cricket is getting too big for herself and is trying to be the only one with magic around here.” Sorgin poked her head out into the hallway to make sure there wasn’t anyone out there before she made her way out the door.

“What about the others?” Robin questioned as they quietly started down the hall.

“I don’t have time for all