Black Wood (A Witch Rising) by Jayde Scott

raised her hand to stop him. “Emily, I know
you’re upset and there’s nothing wrong with that. You’ll get over
it. In time.”
    “You’ll be gone soon. Tell her,”
Sam said, hiding behind Emily’s back.
    “Dad, all she wants is
Ravencourt Manor and Grandma's magic,” Emily said. “That’s why she
turned Sam into a troll.”
    Her father grabbed Muriel’s hand
and turned to face them. “Trolls? That’s enough! I won’t put up
with your nonsense. Go to your rooms now. I’ll have a word with you
later.”
     
    ***
     
    “He doesn’t believe us,” Sam
said as they climbed up the stairs.
    Emily shook her head. “She’s
bewitched him and he doesn’t even know it.”
    “What should we do?”
    Above their heads, wood creaked.
Emily lifted a finger. “Did you hear that?”
    Sam nodded. “Probably just your
cat.”
    “There’s this window in
Grandma’s room that keeps popping open.” Emily shuddered. “And the
room turns cold as ice. Something’s not right. Probably Muriel
weaving her evil magic.”
    The creaking moved nearer and
stopped above their heads. They both looked up toward the attic,
then turned to face each other. Emily spoke first. “Something’s up
there.”
    Sam swallowed.
    The sound of hundreds of tiny
wings broke the silence. And then cawing. Emily pressed her palms
against her ears. “What is that?” she shouted on the top of her
lungs so her brother would hear.
    His face paled. “The crows are
back.”
    The sound stopped as abruptly as
it had begun. Emily spun around, gasping for air. She didn’t trust
this quietness. “This is too freaky. You stay here and take care of
Dad while I go talk to Aurelie. Maybe she knows what’s going on.”
Without waiting for her brother’s answer, she ran down the stairs,
put on her winter coat and boots, and tip-toed to the living room
and out the backdoor into the garden.
    The temperature had dropped over
the last few days. Thick, dark clouds hung low in the sky,
obscuring the rising moon. Emily hurled herself over the fence and
bolted for the house.
    Aurelie opened on the second
knock. “I didn’t expect you before tomorrow. What happened?”
    Emily entered the cosy living
room and plopped down on the sofa, sinking into the soft cushions.
“Dad said he and Muriel are getting married.” She looked at
Aurelie, waiting for assurance that this wasn’t going to happen,
but it never came.
    Aurelie pursed her lips. “Did
you have dinner yet?”
    “Dad’s still married to Mum,”
Emily said.
    “Your parents have lived apart
for a long time. There are some things they never told you.”
    Emily jumped up, pouting.
“Still, he can’t marry her just like that.”
    “Muriel’s a dangerous witch. She
knows her magic well.” Aurelie tilted her head to the side. “We’ll
have to act fast, for, once she becomes mistress of Ravencourt
Manor, its powers will be hers. She’ll not only be able to open the
portal through the mirror, but also summon Black Wood creatures to
enter this world. I wouldn’t want human-devouring silverfurs
roaming the streets of Inverness.”
    “That reminds me,” Emily said,
tapping her chin with her finger, “did Grandma ever tell you
anything about crows in our attic?”
    Muriel shot her a wary look.
“Why’re you asking?”
    Emily shrugged. “They come every
year. Sam and I heard flapping of wings ten minutes ago.”
    Aurelie rose to her feet.
“Clifford, get down here this instant,” she shouted toward the
staircase.
    A few moments later, Clifford
emerged in the doorway. “What is it, Aunt Aurelie?” His glance fell
upon Emily, and his cheeks turned bright red.
    “I want you to bring me the
backpack,” Aurelie said.
    Clifford’s eyes popped wide
open. “What? Now? But you said she needed more time.”
    “We don’t have more time,”
Aurelie snapped. “Now, do as I told you.”
    What where they talking about?
Emily looked from one to the other when Clifford ambled away,
hesitation written on his