The Horrendous Imaginings Book 1: Theft of Sapphire by Joseph Daniel

Author:Joseph Daniel [Daniel, Joseph]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-01-19T07:00:00+00:00

Judah had a couple of hours to kill before the meeting at the aquarium. A quick conversation with Rusty in the parking lot was all it had taken to figure out exactly what aquarium Clayton and his sister had been talking about. According to Rusty, it was only a half hour flight away.

Judah decided to take the long way home, to give himself time to think. Goliath had gotten hungry, so Aveline had gone on ahead to get some pop rocks for him from the kitchen. By now she was probably already back at The Mansion. Judah only hoped she stayed in the fridge and out of sight. The last thing he needed was for his siblings to find out he'd been harboring a fugitive in their parents' underground room.

He inhaled shakily. He wasn't sure what had been going on back at the agency. What was this key Aveline so desperately wanted? Mysterious key or not, though, right now Judah had one focus. In two hours this would all be over. In two hours, his family would be rich, The Mansion would be saved, and things could go back to normal. Aveline's key changed nothing.

As Judah walked, the smell of earth and vegetation wafted over him. The forest echoed with the sounds of twittering birds and rustling leaves punctuated by the distant whooping noise of the Wishrot. Judah made his way up the forest trail that led over a stream when he came face to face with three genies heading the other direction.

It was his siblings. Barnaby was in the lead, gesticulating wildly, his top hat askew. He was in the middle of shouting, “—No excuse. Absolutely none! And to bring her—it—into our own home. Judah should know better!”

At these words, Judah froze. He hadn't expected his siblings to be home. To bring her into their home. Barnaby was talking about Aveline! They must have found her in the tunnels!

Judah stood as still as possible in the middle of the forest path. Part of him hoped that his siblings wouldn't notice him. The other part of him wanted to flee into the woods.

Barnaby looked up. His eyes narrowed, his face was flushed. “You!” he said, wagging a furious finger. He started striding forward like an encroaching bull.

Judah stumbled back, hands held high. "I can explain!" he cried.

“You brought it home!” said Barnaby. “Into our house! How could you!”

Judah felt it a bit harsh to call Aveline an “it.” He knew most Smiths didn't get along with Grumbluds, but he'd never thought of Barnaby as prejudiced before.

“She has a name,” said Judah timidly. “She's really quite nice...”

“Nice? She tried to kiss me!” Barnaby snapped. “She tracked paint all up the porch. I can't believe...” Barnaby trailed off into angry mumblings, and Judah frowned in confusion. Aveline had tried to kiss Barnaby? And what was that about the paint—Aveline didn't paint. At this point, Judah realized the odd ones were both shooting delighted looks over their shoulders and giggling quietly at every muttered word of fury from their oldest brother.

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