The Secret of the Dread Forest by Gillian Summers

Author:Gillian Summers
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Social Issues, Magic, Action & Adventure, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Nature & the Natural World, General, Trees, Fiction, Elves
ISBN: 9780738714110
Publisher: Llewellyn Worldwide
Published: 2009-06-01T02:21:52.456000+00:00

twelve

Elianard was the vampire. She should have known. But she couldn’t believe Elia was asking her to save Elianard, even if he was her father. She grasped the side arm of the porch swing to steady herself.

“I don’t know how I can help.” Keelie looked at Jake, who returned her gaze without any expression. “I think you two had better go. Grandmother and Dad will be returning soon.”

Elia nodded. She wiped her eyes and sniffled, then glanced at Jake to see if he was looking. Keelie felt the outrage build. Faking it again. Could she ever believe the elf girl?

Jake sat down next to Keelie, glancing over at Elia before putting his head close to Keelie’s. “She needs your help. You’re a tree shepherdess, but it means more than helping trees. Do the right thing.”

Jake’s voice was soft, but sounded old, as if he carried centuries of wisdom. If she closed her eyes, he’d sound like Dad.

Ariel cried out, and her wings beat against the cage. She turned her head from side to side, as if she might see again if she kept trying. It tore Keelie’s heart in two. Elia had laughed when she’d cursed Ariel. She’d gotten into a lot of trouble for using magic she couldn’t undo, although the punishment, whatever it had been, would not help Ariel to see again.

“The wizard at the rehabilitation center couldn’t break the curse on Ariel. Elia is the one who ruined her forever. And she helped Elianard try to kill a unicorn. She doesn’t deserve my help.” Keelie stood up, but Jake grabbed her arm.

“People make mistakes, and it would be a mistake not to help Elia.”

Keelie glared at Jake. “Did you know her father threatened to kill Dad?”

Elia wailed, probably sensing that Jake was starting to see Keelie’s point. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I wish I could take back what happened in the Wildewood. And I wish I’d never cursed the hawk. It was wrong. You’re more powerful than anyone thought possible for a Round Ear.” Too late, Elia realized her mistake.

Keelie jerked her arm free of Jake’s. “Even now, they think of me as something less than them, yet they expect me to save their asses when they get in trouble. Maybe this time I won’t help.” She took two steps toward the front door.

“Keelie.” Jake’s tone was commanding. “Not helping someone is as bad as cursing them. It can lead you down the path to darkness.”

Keelie stopped—her hand level with the knob, not looking back but feeling Jake’s gaze boring into her back. “If Elia can find a way to break the curse on Ariel, then I will think about helping Elianard.”

With that, she bolted up the stairs two at a time. She needed to talk to someone who wasn’t an elf. Or a vampire. Someone sensible. And how dare Jake take Elia’s side? And they kept looking at each other as if they were in love or something. Disgusting.

Sir Davey could help her. Maybe she could call him on Dad’s tree-connected cell phone.

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