The Iron King. Julie KagawaЧитать онлайн книгу.
shaking my head. This was Robbie, my closest friend. I wouldâve known if he was an ancient faery.
Wouldnât I?
Frighteningly, the more I thought about it, the more likely it seemed. Iâd never seen Robbieâs house, or his parents. The teachers all loved him, though he never did a lick of school-work and slept through most of the classes. And strange things happened when he was around: mice and frogs ended up in desks, or names were switched around on term papers. Though Robbie Goodfell thought these scenarios absolutely hilarious, no one ever suspected him.
âNo,â I muttered again, backing away toward my room.
âThatâs impossible. Puck is a legend, a myth. I donât believe it.â
Robbie gave me that eerie smile. âThen, princess, by all means, let me assure you.â
His arms rose from his sides, as if he might levitate into the air. From downstairs, I heard the front door creak open, and I hoped Mom and Luke werenât home yet. Yeah, Mom, Ethanâs turned into a monster and my best friend thinks heâs a faery. How was your day?
An enormous black bird swooped into the hallway. I yelped and ducked as the raven, or crow or whatever it was, made a beeline straight for Robbie and perched on his arm. They watched me, the pair of them, with glittering eyes, and Robbie smiled.
A rush of wind, and suddenly, the air was filled with screaming black birds, swooping in from the open door. I gasped and ducked as the cloud of ravens filled the hallway, their raucous cries nearly deafening me. They swirled around Robbie, a tornado of beating wings and sharp claws, tearing at him with talons and beaks. Feathers flew everywhere, and Robbie disappeared within the swirling mass. Then, as one, the birds scattered, flying out the open door as swiftly as they had come. As the last bird swooped outside, the door slammed behind it, and silence descended once more. I caught my breath and glanced at Rob.
Robbie was gone. Only a swirl of black feathers and dust motes remained in the place where heâd stood.
It was too much. I felt my sanity unravel like frayed cloth. With a choked scream, I turned and fled into my room, slamming the door behind me. Flinging myself under my bedcovers, I put the pillow over my head and shook, hoping that when I woke up, things would be normal.
My door opened, and the sound of wings fluttered into my room. I didnât want to look and pulled the covers tighter around me, willing the nightmare to end. I heard a sigh, and footsteps padded over the floor.
âWell, I tried to warn you, princess.â
I peeked out. Robbie stood there, looking down at me, a pained smile on his face. Seeing him, I felt relieved, angry, and terrified at the same time. I threw off the covers and sat up, narrowing my eyes as I stared at him. Robbie waited, hands in the pockets of his jeans, as if daring me to contradict him some more.
âYou really are Puck?â I said finally. âThe Puck? Like in the stories?â
Robbie/Puck gave a little bow. âThe one and only.â
My heart was still pounding. I took a deep breath to calm it and glared at the stranger in my room. My emotions churned; I didnât know what to feel. I settled on anger; Robbie had been my best friend for years, and he never saw fit to share his secret with me. âYou could have told me sooner,â I said, trying not to sound hurt. âI would have kept your secret.â He only smirked and raised an eyebrow, infuriating me even more. âFine. Go back to Faeryland, or wherever you come from. Arenât you supposed to be Oberonâs jester or something? Why were you hanging around me so long?â
âYou wound me, princess.â Robbie sounded anything but hurt. âAnd after I made up my mind to help you get your brother back.â
My anger vanished instantly, replaced with fear. With all the talk of fey and faery lords, Iâd nearly forgotten about Ethan.
I shivered as my stomach twisted into a tight little ball. This still felt like something out of a nightmare. But Ethan was gone, and faeries were real. I had to accept that now. Robbie stood there, gazing at me expectantly. A black feather dropped from his hair, spiraling down to the bed. Gingerly, I picked it up, twirling it in my fingers. It felt solid and real.
âYouâll help me?â I whispered.
He gave me a shrewd look, one corner of his mouth turning up. âDo you know a way into Faery by yourself?â
âNo.â
âThen you need my help.â Robbie smiled and rubbed his hands together. âBesides, itâs been a while since Iâve gone home, and nothing ever happens here. Storming the Unseelie Court sounds like fun.â
I didnât share his enthusiasm. âWhen do we leave?â I asked.
âNow,â Robbie replied. âThe sooner the better. Do you have anything you want to take, princess? You might not be back for a while.â
I nodded, trying to stay calm. âJust give me a minute.â
Robbie nodded and walked into the hallway. I snatched my bright orange backpack and tossed it on the bed, wondering what to take. What did one need for an overnight trip to Faeryland? I grabbed jeans and an extra shirt, a flashlight, and a bottle of aspirin, stuffing them into the pack. Walking down to the kitchen, I tossed in a Coke and a couple of bags of chips, hoping Robbie would know where to find food on the journey. Finally, not even knowing why, I grabbed my iPod, zipping it into the side pocket.
Mom was supposed to take me to the DMV today. I hesitated, biting my lip. What would Mom and Luke think when they found me gone? Iâd always followed the rules, never sneaking outâexcept that one time with Robbieânever staying up past curfew. I wondered what Rob meant when he said weâd be gone âawhile.â Luke might not even notice Iâd left, but Mom would worry. Grabbing an old homework sheet, I started to write her a quick note, but stopped, my pen hovering over the paper.
What are you going to tell her? âDear Mom, Ethanâs been kidnapped by faeries. Gone to get him back. Oh, and donât trust the Ethan thatâs hereâheâs really a faery changeling.â It sounded insane even to me. I hesitated, thinking, then scrawled a quick:
Mom, thereâs something I have to take care of. Iâll be back soon, I promise. Donât worry about me. Meghan
I stuck the note on the refrigerator door, trying not to think that I might never see home again. Shouldering the pack, feeling my insides squirm like a nest of snakes, I climbed the stairs.
Robbie waited on the landing, arms crossed over his chest, wearing a lazy grin. âReady?â
Apprehension tickled my stomach. âWill it be very dangerous?â
âOh, extremely,â Robbie said, walking up to Ethanâs bedroom door. âThatâs what makes it fun. You can die in so many interesting waysâskewered on a glass sword, dragged underwater and eaten by a kelpie, turned into a spider or a rosebush for all timeââ He looked back at me. âWell, are you coming or not?â
I noticed my hands were shaking and held them to my chest. âWhy are you saying these things?â I whispered. âAre you trying to scare me?â
âYes,â Robbie replied, unabashed. He paused at Ethanâs door, one hand on the knob, and stared at me. âThese are the things youâre going to face, princess. Iâm giving you fair warning now. Still think you want to go? My previous offer still stands.â
I remembered the taste of the mistwine, the desperate longing for more, and shivered. âNo,â I said quickly. âI wonât leave Ethan with a bunch of monsters. Iâve lost a father alreadyâI wonât lose