1.5 True of Blood: Kallen's Tale Read Online Free PDF Page B

back.”
    “What, like you’re stuck?”
    With a glower , I say, “You are very astute.”
    “Well, how do you get unstuck , so you can go away?” 
    “He can only move if I set him free,” a spirit says.  Who is she, and why is she so cognizant of her surroundings?  Spirits are generally souls at unrest, looking for revenge or power.
    Addressing me now, the spirit says, “I will never give my daughter to the Pooka K ing and allow your kind to roam free in our world.” 
    This is her mother?  A spirit?   Pushing that thought aside, I look up at her, barely able to contain my ire at being referred to as a Pooka .  “I am not Pooka, I am Sheehogue.  I am here to protect the daughter you have apparently kept ignorant.”  
    “She doesn’t need your protection, she has mine,” the spirit says.
    Is she serious?  Apparently, crazy runs in the family.  I attempt to stand, but the only thing I accomplish is a grimace as the pain increases.  I swear, as soon as I am free, I am flying as far away from here as possible.  In the meantime, perhaps her mother will listen to reason.  I doubt it if she is anything like her daughter .  “It is only a matter of time before your trifling Witch magic fails you.  You are no match for Pooka warriors.” 
    “You don’t seem surprised that my mom is a ghost , ” the girl says. 
    These are what she is choosing to worry about at the moment?  First, my nakedness, and now my lack of surprise at seeing a spirit?   There truly is something wrong with her.  I should have taken Kegan up on his offer to accompany me; he would be greatly entertained by the girl and her idiocy .  Perhaps he could have helped me see the humor in it, as well.  “She is not the first Witch spirit I have seen , nor is she the strongest.”   She definitely comes close, though.
    For some reason, the girl takes offense to my words.   “You are such a jerk.  Mom, can we go inside now?”  Could she be any more sensitive?  Perhaps, it is the fact that her mother is a spirit that makes her so touchy.  I guess I could understand that.  I still do not like her, though.
    Thinking back to what she said, I am in complete agreement.  Yes, I silently beg the spirit, please take her inside.  Even if that means leaving me trapped here until my magic attunes itself to the Witch’s magic and I can free myself.  I will gladly suffer the pain if I do not have to be in her company.
    “Yes,” the spirit answers her, but she is looking at me. “I will free you this one time , but if you try to cross this threshold again, I will not be as kind. ”  I am tempted to roll my eyes, but if she is offering to free me right now, I will not antagonize her.   “ Earth, water and air combine, protect my home, protect what’s mine.  Allow this foe so evilly charmed, who sought us out, to leave unharmed.” 
    I fall backwards into the snow as the trap releases me.  Now, my entire body is cold .   I push myself to a sitting position just as the girl turns towards the house .  She surprises me with a quick glance in my direction just before going inside.  Her face is flushed again as she observes me in my natural state .  I would be more flattered if she was not a raving lunatic.  Tired of the cold, I shift into my raven form and fly back to where the bag Tabitha had sent with me is stashed.  She was kind enough to pack enough food into it for the next couple of days and I am starved.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 4
    I usually prefer to only stay in my raven form for short periods of time.  But, after giving up my fantasy of either giving the girl to Maurelle , or of leaving this mountain and forgetting about the ungrateful snit and everything to do with her , I find myself in a tree, watching her house .  I am in my raven form because I am hoping she will not notice me like this .
    My luck does not hold out for long.  A window covering moves and I see her peeking out .  I dread the moment her