Nightmare Hour Read Online Free PDF

went flat.
    The itching stopped.
    He climbed shakily to his feet.
    â€œI like that spell,” Margolin said, pulling glowing bottles and powders from the shelves. “The itching will drive Shamandra insane. The more he scratches, the deeper thespiders will dig into his flesh.”
    Margolin grinned. “Within minutes Shamandra will scratch all his skin off. As I watch with glee, he will scratch himself to death!”
    Ned shuddered. He could still feel the spiders’ prickly legs on his skin. He took a deep breath. “Sir, how can I help when Shamandra arrives?”
    Margolin turned from the shelves. “Help? You?” He sneered once again at his trembling apprentice. “You can’t help, idiot. Don’t you realize that you are doomed?”
    Ned gasped. “Doomed?”
    Margolin nodded. “I know Shamandra. I know his every move. When he arrives, it will be your last moment as a human. He will turn you into a lizard.”
    â€œA l-lizard?” Ned stammered.
    Margolin nodded. “Yes. He will want to insult me as soon as he appears. He will step into the room and turn you into a lizard. That will be his insult to me.”
    â€œNo!” Ned cried. His hand shot out and bumped over a glass jar. A purple liquid spilled over the table.
    â€œYou fool !” Margolin shrieked. He slapped the boy again, hard enough to send him reeling into the ladder.
    â€œThe potion was ready to clot!” the sorcerer cried, staring at the oozing, purple liquid. “You have ruined it. I must start all over again.”
    Ned pulled himself up slowly. “Sorry,” he said. “But--when Shamandra turns me into a lizard, what will you do? Tell me!”
    â€œI shall keep you in a jar,” the sorcerer replied coldly.“And I will find a new apprentice in the village. An apprentice who isn’t a clumsy oaf.”
    â€œYou won’t change me back to a boy?”
    â€œWhy waste good magic?” the sorcerer replied.
    â€œThen…this might be my last day as a boy?” Ned asked in a tiny voice.
    Margolin frowned at him. “Stop thinking about yourself all the time,” he scolded. “ I’m the one who has been challenged!”
    Suddenly Margolin uttered a sharp cry. His hands shot up in the air. “Help! I…I’m sinking! ”
    Ned watched in amazement as Margolin’s body started sinking into the stone floor. The floor rocked and tilted and turned to a shimmering gray liquid. Small gray waves rolled across the stones.
    Margolin thrashed wildly in the thick, gray goo.
    â€œTrickery! More of Shamandra’s trickery!” Margolin howled. “He has improved. His magic is much stronger than when we last met.”
    The sorcerer sank to his shoulders. His hands furiously slapped the surface of the liquid. “Help me, idiot!” He stretched a wet, gray hand out to Ned.
    Ned tugged. Using all his strength, he pulled Margolin up from the sticky, wet goo. Cursing and sputtering, with lumpy, gray liquid running down his face, Margolin hoisted himself up beside Ned.
    Slowly the floor began to harden back to stone.
    â€œWhy is Shamandra doing this?” Ned cried.
    â€œHe’s jealous!” Margolin yelled, wiping chunks of goo from his beard. “He is a little man with little imagination.His castle is smaller than mine. And so are his powers. He has always wanted to defeat me.”
    Margolin stared across the room at a table laden with golden goblets and colorful jewels.
    â€œHe wants my riches and my power, but he will never have them!”
    â€œSir, I just saved your life,” Ned said. “So will you change your mind? Will you save my life when Shamandra arrives?”
    Margolin didn’t reply.
    â€œPlease--” Ned pleaded. “Please, sir. Please spare me. Please rescue me. I’m begging you.”
    Margolin chuckled. “Dream on.”
    Â 
    Ned returned to his room, a tiny cellar closet