Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve Read Online Free PDF Page B

said Annie. She called up to the bird. “Rok! Rok!”
    From his perch above the window, the raven looked down at Annie.
    â€œRok, it’s me, Annie,” she said. “I helped you when the people in the village threw stones at you. Remember?”
    â€œWhat nonsense,” croaked the Raven King. “Bring me the stick, bird.”
    Rok didn’t move. Gripping the hazel twig in his beak, he stared down at Annie.
    â€œGive the twig to Jack, Rok,” she said. “So he can turn Teddy back into a boy.”
    â€œSo that ugly little stick is a magic wand, is it?” said the Raven King. “Bring it to me, bird. Now!”
    â€œDon’t do it, Rok,” said Annie. “Don’t let him boss you around anymore.”
    The raven stared at Annie for a momentwith his dark brown eyes. He looked at the Raven King. He looked back at Annie. Then he swooped down to Jack and dropped the hazel twig at his feet.
    Jack grabbed it.
    â€œTraitor!” the Raven King shrieked at Rok. “You’ll pay for this!” He lunged toward the raven. Rok tried to escape, but the king grabbed him by the throat.
    Jack had to save Rok! He pointed the twig at the Raven King’s back and shouted:
    â€œO hazel twig from hazel tree!
    Make him what he wanted to be!”
    A deafening wind roared through the room. A blinding light flashed. Then all was clear.
    The Raven King had vanished. His cape lay on the floor. Rok hopped away, unharmed.
    From under the feathered cape came a hoarse cry.
Awk.
    Annie lifted the cape and uncovered a tiny raven. “Ohh!” she said softly.
    The bird stretched out his scrawny neck.
Awk
, he croaked again.
    â€œHello yourself,” Annie said, smiling. She stroked the downy feathers on the creature’s head. Then she looked up at Jack. “How did you come up with that rhyme?”
    â€œIt just came to me,” said Jack.
    â€œI knew I had to save Rok. But I didn’t want to hurt the Raven King. I think I actually felt sorry for him.”
    â€œSo you helped him finally get what he wanted,” said Annie. “You turned him into a baby raven.”
    â€œYeah,” Jack said. “Now he can live his whole life as a bird.”
    Rok flew up to the window ledge. He looked around at the other ravens. It was clear he had become their new leader.
    â€œGRO! GRO!” Rok croaked.
    He stepped aside. The raven troops began to leave the nursery, one by one. Two of themescorted the new member of their flock as he timidly flapped his small wings.
    Rok was the last to leave. He stared at Annie and Jack with a long gaze. Then he lifted off the window ledge and flew away into the light of the silver dawn.

Q ueek.
    A little croak came from the cage on the floor.
    â€œTeddy!” cried Annie.
    â€œWe almost forgot you!” said Jack.
    Queek
, Teddy croaked again.
    â€œLet
me
change him back,” Annie said to Jack.
    â€œOkay, but let me get out of the way first,” said Jack. He handed Annie the hazel twig. Then he quickly stepped over to the window.
    Annie moved closer to Teddy’s cage. Sheclosed her eyes and thought for a moment. Then she waved the wand over the cage and said:
    â€œO hazel twig from hazel tree!
Make him Teddy! Set him free!”
    There was a mighty roar, a blast of heat, and a blaze of light! Then the cage was gone, and Teddy was a boy again, sitting on the floor.
    â€œYay!” said Annie.
    â€œNicely done,” said Teddy. “Thanks.”
    â€œWelcome back!” said Jack. He and Annie helped Teddy stand up.
    Teddy shook his arms and legs. “Ahhh! ’Tis good to be human again!” he said. “And now we must help the duke’s family. Where’s the diamond?”
    â€œWe lost it!” said Annie.
    â€œYeah, I had it in my beak,” said Jack. “But I must have dropped it when Annie changed us back into ourselves.”
    â€œDon’t worry,” said Teddy, “it