plank floor looked the same as it had the day before. The only parts of the house that were higher than ground level were the white beams growing up out of the ground. They were up to Willaâs knees now. The hammering stopped, replaced by sawing. Willa sat down, enjoying a moment of calm, listening to the wind in the trees. She looked up to see a great flock of starlings settle in a swaying elm in the park.
There was movement in the grass, and a small green hoop, a little larger than a bracelet, rolled toward her. Willa smiled as it reached her foot and unclamped itself. Four beady little eyes peered up. It was the amphisbena, a two-headed snaky-lizard -type creature.
âSo youâre still around,â she murmured softly. âI havenât seen you in a while.â
The amphisbena heads looked at each other and responded with a quiet little chitter.
Just then a thunk sounded behind Willa. Startled, one lizard head chomped onto the neck of the other and it rolled off, disappearing into the tall grass. Willa turned to see a hammer poking up through a gap in the boards covering the basement. Slowly it rose, the handle coming into view with six little fairies straining to heave it the whole way out. They spotted Willa and froze, eyes wide and guilty. The sawing below stopped, and Willa heard muffled, angry voices. She looked sternly at the fairies.
âSarah! What are you up to?â
Sarah feigned innocence, her eyes going wide in a âwho, me?â look.
âGive the dwarves their hammer back.â
The other fairies looked to Sarah, who shrugged, still grinning. They let go and the hammer dropped. A great howl of pain sounded from below and the fairies scattered, giggling.
âAlways something,â sighed Willa.
Chapter Three
War is declared
âH e said to look through her eyes,â said Willa. âSo Iâve been staring and staring, but she doesnât seem to like it. She keeps hissing and spitting at me.â
âHmmm.â Tengu nodded and peered into the cage. The phoenix hissed and he jumped back.
âSay, Tengu â¦â Willa went on. âYou donât know where Horaceâs cufflinks are, do you?â
Tengu looked blankly at her. âHorace has cufflinks?â
She smiled. âNever mind, Iâm sure theyâll turn up.â
âLet me try something.â Tengu pulled up a chair and sat down, facing the bird.
âWhat are you going to do?â
â Hypnotize her!â Tengu grinned. He turned and stared intently at the bird. She squawked and circled the cage, feathers dropping behind her. There were bare patches on her neck and back. Tengu started humming a low note.
Willa crossed her fingers and watched. More humming, more staring. No reaction from the bird.
âTengu, what do you know about Belleâs past?â
Tengu didnât take his eyes off the phoenix as he answered. âNothing, really. But I do know that mermaids are flighty and selfish.â
âThat sounds like Belle all right.â
âThat sounds like people too. Mermaids and people are very similar. Mermaids are just ⦠sharper about it. They hold grudges for centuries, not weeks. They live for so long you never know whatâs floating around in their heads. Theyâre hard to pin down.â
Willa thought about this. What kind of family could she have that included a mystery like Belle?
The bird was now frozen in place, head tilted a little, eyes blazing as she stared unblinking into Tenguâs eyes.
âTengu! I think youâve got her!â Willa whispered.
Tengu had stopped humming, totally absorbed in the staring contest. Willa held her breath. The room was silent. The bird looked like a statue. Tengu was swaying slightly, his eyes bugging out. Then one eyelid twitched and he let out an ear-splitting â¦
âSQUAWK! SQUAAAAWK!â
âTengu!â Willa gently put her hands on his shoulders and gave him a little