Demon Thief Read Online Free PDF Page A

the car. The back seat and trunk are filled with musical instruments and paintings. Two other couples have already left in a caravan with the majority of the pieces that they hope to sell. Dad hugs Art, then me.
    “Look after your brother,” Mom says, kissing my cheek.
    “Of course he will,” Dad says. “Kernel’s the best brother in the world. He’ll take care of Art better than you or I could.”
    Dad gets in and starts the engine. Mom hugs us one last time, then gets in beside him. And they’re off. Art, Sally and I wave after them. Mom rolls down her window, leans out and waves back, until they turn a corner. Although Sally’s right beside us, I can’t help but think as they roll out of sight — we’re alone now. Just Art and me. In a remote village. With a witch.
    The day passes smoothly. School, playing with Art during lunch, dinner with Sally and some others. The villagers like to share meals. Here, it’s not polite to eat by yourself all the time. We often have guests over to eat with us, or go to a neighbor’s house.
    Art doesn’t miss Mom and Dad. He eats, drinks, plays and behaves the same as always. Doesn’t cry when Sally gives him a bath. He does give her a sharp nip on her left forearm at one point, leaving deep marks, but that’s normal for Art.
    “We should stitch his lips together when he’s not eating,” Sally says, rubbing her arm. But she’s only joking. Sally loves kids. Of course she’d rather not be bitten, but the whole village knows about Art’s biting habits. Sally knew what she was getting herself into when she offered to have us.
    It’s strange not having Mom and Dad around. Things were different when we lived in the city. They often went out at night, leaving me with a babysitter. And they’d go on trips by themselves occasionally. I didn’t mind. I enjoyed staying with other people — I always got loads of treats.
    But for the last year we’ve been together all the time. I’ve gotten used to them being at home every night. I feel like I did when I lost my favorite teddy bear a few years ago. It was a scruffy grey bear, nothing special, but I’d had it since I was a baby. It had been my constant companion, even when I’d outgrown my other stuffed animals. I took it to bed, on vacation, even to the movies. I felt like a friend had died when I lost it.
    This is almost the same. Not as bad, because I know Mom and Dad will come back. But strange. Like something’s wrong with the world.
    I’m uneasy when it’s time for bed. Sally’s spare bed is soft, but it smells damp, like my socks when they’re wet. Art goes to sleep immediately, delighted to be sharing a bed with me. But I can’t drop off. I’m tired — I woke early, knowing Mom and Dad were leaving — but my eyelids won’t stay closed.
    I think about Mrs. Egin. I haven’t seen her since that morning when she witched out on me. I’ve taken the long way to school and back every day since. I’ve tried to laugh it off, make like it was no big deal. Told myself I imagined the curses and her stroking the patch of light.
    But I know what I saw. I can’t pretend it didn’t happen. And although I’m not as scared as I was that first night, I’m still shaken, afraid to close my eyes in case she’s there when I open them, standing over me, cackling, a knife to my throat.
    I turn from my left side to my right, then back again. I try lying flat on my back, then on my stomach. Nothing works.
    Annoyed, I stop trying to sleep, hoping I’ll drift off by accident. I look around the small, cozy room, then focus on the patches of light. They look the same as ever, various shapes and shades. I count triangles, quadrangles, pentagons, sextants. . . . No, that’s an instrument. Sextuplet? I’m not sure. I think that’s right, but I’m not . . . maybe it’s a . . .
    I wake suddenly.
Hexagon!
Of course. Can’t believe I had trouble remembering that. The brain can play funny tricks when you’re tired. I turn,