The Creature Keeper by Damaris Young

Author:Damaris Young [Young, Damaris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic
Published: 2020-05-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Creatures of the Four Realms

The moment my eyes opened, my whole body felt heavy as lead.

I had dreamed of the creature, of plants of every colour. Every time I had surfaced, I had listened for the calls, but I hadn’t heard it again.

Was the creature awake now? Was she afraid?

I was determined to find a way to see the creature again. But before that, I had to see Lady Cavendish.

I dressed hurriedly and clattered downstairs, taking the steps two at a time. Out of breath, I knocked on Lady Cavendish’s door. “Come in,” came the voice.

Lady Cavendish was sitting behind her desk, reading. The grey hair around her ears looked white in the light of the desk lamp that was still on despite the sunshine outside. She peered at me over the top of her glasses. Ornaments were dotted around the desk, wooden sculptures of animals and birds and odd-looking ceramic creations. It was as if Lady Cavendish was just another object in a mountain of things, another item in her own collection.

Lady Cavendish snapped the book shut.

I scanned the cover. Creatures of the Four Realms. I longed to see inside it. I also wanted to know about the creature I’d met last night. What was her name? Where did she come from? Would I be allowed to see her again? And more importantly, why was she being hidden away?

But in my excitement, I lost my voice. It got stuck somewhere in my throat, all jammed up and useless. Instead, I gazed at Lady Cavendish expectantly.

Lady Cavendish studied me for a long moment. “You’re not very talkative, are you?” There was no accusation in her statement. She said it as if she was observing the behaviour of a bird or other animal.

I went over to the chair and sat down.

“I’m assuming you would like to know about the creature, Cora.” Lady Cavendish stood up.

I nodded eagerly. I felt breathless and slightly dizzy.

“My mother and father were explorers,” Lady Cavendish said. “They travelled the many realms of the world and brought back extraordinary creatures to Direspire Hall, as well as other artefacts and treasures.”

Perhaps, I thought, that explained the paintings and the wooden statues and the boxes and boxes of papers.

“I am the caretaker of their life’s work.” Lady Cavendish gestured at the cluttered study. “I keep their legacy secure, and that includes the menagerie.”

This troubled me. I had never liked the idea that Bella our cow was a belonging, a thing to be milked. She was my friend and part of my family. And these creatures were living, breathing beings that deserved to live happy lives, just like anybody else.

Lady Cavendish put down Creatures of the Four Realms on the table in front of me, where it sat just out of reach. I clamped my hands in my pocket.

“This is my parents’ book. They were particularly interested in studying and identifying the extraordinary creatures that they found on their travels. Mostly, they are scribbles and smatterings of description; my parents were impatient and impulsive and their attention was easily ensnared and then lost.

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