The Nixie's Song by Holly Black & Holly Black

Author:Holly Black & Holly Black
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: 2007-06-21T04:00:00+00:00

Nicholas and Laurie didn’t speak as they ran home, saving every bit of energy for going faster. In all that time, Nick had pictured so many horrible possibilities that he was stunned to find the giant sitting beside the lake, picking at the dirt and listening to the nixie’s song as if transfixed. Its features were relaxed, its black eyes fixed on Taloa with calm adoration.

“He’s not doing anything,” Nick whispered. Laurie smoothed back her ragged hair. Her skirt was so torn that part of it followed her on the ground like the train on a wedding dress. “Maybe if you don’t step on him again he won’t go crazy.”

“He looked like a hill!” Nick said. “If it wasn’t for me—” He broke off as Taloa scrambled onto the bank. The giant’s large eyes followed her every move.

“La-lo-le,” she sang, between notes of the other tune. She bared her teeth. “You led him here, lo-le.”

“He heard you singing!” said Nick. “This is your fault, not mine!”

She brought her face close enough that he could smell the pond mud on her skin. The long, drooping weeds of her hair stuck to her neck. “Lo-le, where are my sisters, Nicholas?”

The giant swung its massive head in their direction, grunting. The ground shook as it rose.

“Sing, Taloa!” Laurie said. “I don’t think it likes it when you stop singing!”

“We grew tired,” said Taloa, and although she sang the words, they didn’t seem to calm the giant. It wasn’t the right tune. The massive nostrils flared. “Our throats were hoarse lo-le-lo. That’s when he began lo-le to blow fire.”

“Taloa, please,” Nick said. “Please sing.”

“Where are my sisters, Nicho-le-lo-las?”

“Burned,” he said, not meaning for it to sound so blunt and sad. He didn’t know how to cushion it better, didn’t have time to think with the giant looming over them.

Taloa shuffled back, crouching, the webbing of her fingers pulled tight between spread fingers. A low sound came from the back of her throat.

“Only three of them,” Laurie said. “We don’t know where the others are. They might be fine!”

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