Girl of the Prophecy

By Kate McPhail

Keira is a high school misfit who hides her strange ability because she thinks it will only lead to more bullying. Orphaned Keira lives with her aunt who treats her like Cinderella before the ball. Her days are drudgery and sameness, but her boring life is about to change.

A mysterious stranger tells her she is the “One of the Prophecy” who can save a fairytale land ruled by an evil dwarf and under a spell that only a special human can break. Keira must overcome her shyness and fear to save this unknown country and her own future.

Will Keira learn to stand up to the bullies in her life? Will she fulfil the Prophecy and obtain her heart’s desire?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu.com
• Release date: Jan 20, 2018
• ISBN: 9781387529148

Kate McPhail

Kate McPhail was born in Oregon and grew up in Washington. She returned to Oregon in 1972. After obtaining a BS degree in Elementary Education, she taught in several Oregon private schools. She is also certified Master Level English and Writing tutor, has a MA in Professional Writing, and is certified as an educational Trainer through The Oregon Registry. While raising her four children, caring for 57 foster children, and hosting six foreign students, Kate participated in many children's organizations and was a member of the Post 18 chapter of Marion County Search and Rescue. She also held some professional titles: Childcare Center Director, Education and Environments Manager and Team Resource Supervisor (Site Director) at Head Start, and Family Advocate at a Woman's Prison. After working with children and families for over thirty years, Kate retired to become a full time author and entrepreneur.

Book preview

Girl of the Prophecy

Girl of the Prophecy

Kate McPhail

Published by Dragon Wings Publishing. All rights reserved.

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient.

Copyright 2018 by Kathryn McPhail

ISBN: 978-1-387-51698-8

Acknowledgments

Thanks to all those from Nanoland who have encouraged me to step outside the box and try a genre different from any of my other books. It was so much fun, and I learned more about setting and character development.

Mountain View

Kiera glanced back to see if anyone was pursuing her. In that moment of distraction, she miscalculated her step and crashed headlong into a low bush at the edge of the woods. Choking back a scream, she scrambled to her feet and resumed fleeing deeper into the dark trees. She didn’t stop until she was in the protection of her beloved woods.

Gulping air, she crouched under the low-hanging branches of a large tree. Kiera looked back down the trail, but couldn’t see anyone in the darkening woods. The threatening rain made the familiar woods both a refuge and a place of anxiety.

Keira stiffened as someone- or something - crashed through the undergrowth. Heart pounding, she willed herself to stay still and quiet. When the sounds faded away, her body slowly relaxed and she leaned against the familiar rough bark of an oak tree.

Kiera wiped her sweaty palms on her faded jeans. Reaching up, she pulled her long tangled red hair away from her face, tugged it back into a ponytail, and retied the bedraggled purple bow. She wondered about D’Angelo. Had he heard about her humiliation yet?

Keira rubbed her right wrist absently. The sound of wings overhead caught her attention. An eagle soared across the sky. Her heart jumped and she looked down at the mark on her right wrist ~ a perfectly shaped tiny eagle. Her expression softened; maybe that’s why I love birds so much!

The air was rich with the earthy smell of decomposing leaves, overlaid with the mustiness of moss. The woods were the only place she felt safe. No harsh voices or jeering comments here, just the soft familiar patter of small animals skittering through the brush, insects buzzing, and bird calls echoing through the trees.

Pale sunlight filtered through the trees and lit a patch of tiny mushrooms peeping from beneath a carpet of brown and red leaves near her foot. Keira pulled several mushrooms gently loose from the soil. She reached for her backpack and groaned; she had left it lying on the gym floor where TC and his buddies had dumped it. She dropped her finds into her jacket pocket as she licked her dry lips and tasted blood. She reached up and touched the spot with a finger, then scrubbed the last traces of tears from her cheeks.

Keira snorted as she realized she was humming happy birthday. I might as well sing to myself; I doubt if anyone else will even remember that today is… she jumped as she heard a deep whispered growl behind her. I see you, Kiera Kilgore!

D’Angelo! Keira stood and mock punched the air. How did you kn-kn-know I’d be here? she asked, puzzled.

Her best friend stepped out from behind a tree and grinned. Because you always go into the woods when you’re stressed! His brown eyes crinkled as he smiled down at her from his six foot height.

She swayed slightly and closed her eyes. D-d-did you h-hear...?

He nodded and put a gentle hand on her shoulder. That your bag got dumped out on the gym floor? He growled deep in his throat. Because those blankety blanks bullied you … again! Yeah, I heard!

Kiera’s heart had resumed its normal rhythm. D-d-did someone c-c-call my-my Aunt? It wasn’t like Aunt Eunice would care that school had been a source of humiliation---again!

D’Angelo said, I think Mr. Thompson called her. Kiera sniffled and D’Angelo reached out and pulled her into a hug. It’s going to be OK, Pipsqueak, he said quietly.

Silent tears rolled down Kiera’s face. They dumped out all my s-s-stuff. Just like they ALWAYS do. she put her head on his chest. It-it w-was so em-emb... she stuttered to a stop. Her voice shook, I’m getting so tired of having to p-p-pick up my p-p-personal stuff every day!

D’Angelo’s face turned thunderous as he hissed through his teeth, Those irresponsible, lowlife, imbecilic, asinine, thick-headed, dim-witted… He broke off, sputtering.

Wiping her tears away on the back of her hand, Kiera pulled away and looked up at him wide eyed. Wow! That’s a LOT of adjectives!

He gave her an abashed grin. Well, I can tell you that they won’t be bugging you again for a while, at least. That’s for sure! he promised in a firm voice, as he handed her a flowered backpack.

Nodding her thanks, she dug through her bag and pulled out a dog-eared book of fairy tales, a couple of pencils, a notebook, a wallet, several pieces of crumpled paper and a makeup bag. Handing the pile of stuff to D’Angelo, who was watching her with a small smile, she grimaced as she unzipped the small bag and pulled out a couple of her favorite Snickers Bars. Stuffing everything haphazardly back into her backpack, she handed D’Angelo a candy bar. She reached into her pocket and carefully lifted out the small plants and mushrooms she had picked. Putting them carefully into a zippered pocket of her bag, she said in a bitter tone, They won’t bug me for a while? Well, at least not until tomorrow at school.

I think TC might be absent for a few days. He grinned, showing his teeth.

Raising her eyebrows, she sent him a questioning look. W-w-what did you do to him?

D’Angelo laughed and casually put his hands in his pockets, Let’s just say his arm might be broken. And maybe his nose, he added with a wicked grin. And it was sooo worth the few days I have to take off.

Kiera frowned. Suspension again? D’Angelo Williams! You are going to get expelled, if you don’t quit beating people up!

D’Angelo said, So? It’s not like I’m really there very often anyway.

Kiera snapped, You—! She stopped abruptly, biting her lip. It wasn’t really her place to lecture him. He already knew how she felt about his constant fighting. Changing the subject, she said, Let’s go to the Ruins.

I don’t think so, D’Angelo shook his head and crossed his arms.

Kiera stamped her foot. Yes! she said, heatedly. I want to go now and I know you won’t let me go alone. Her green eyes flashed fire as she glared at her friend, who looked at her with the lopsided grin she loved. She smiled back reluctantly.

You got that right, D’Angelo said mildly. He put an arm around her shoulder.

She frowned. I c-c can’t go back to school tomorrow, she stated with some heat. TC might not be there, but his b-b-buddies will and they will be more ticked off than they usually are. She felt the tears welling up again. She angrily brushed them away with the back of her hand and sniffled. She dug in her backpack for a Kleenix and blew her nose noisily.

D’Angelo’s arm tightened around her. He said seriously, You have to stand up to the bullies of the world. Otherwise they will keep picking on you. He reached down and softly wiped a tear away with a gentle finger.

Kiera hung her head. Her hair had come out of the pony tail again and she brushed it away from her face, impatiently. I’m too scared of them, she whispered. I just want to be brave.                                                             

I know, D’Angelo said gently. But I’ll always be by your side. He had been Kiera’s friend and protector since she had moved to town as a kindergartener and she had heard this from him before.

Come on, he said. Let’s go and celebrate your birthday and then I’ll take you home. This is the last time you will ever turn 15! Kiera nodded. She scrubbed at her face with the back of her hand and reached into her backpack. Pulling out her makeup kit, she used the mirror and a dab of foundation to conceal the tear marks. D’Angelo watched her with a slight grin. She looked at him through her lashes and added a bright red lipstick. She then pursed her lips at D’Angelo in a mock kiss.

He laughed and held out his hand. Keira took it and they walked slowly back out of the comforting woods and into the dreariness of the cloudy late afternoon. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Neither of them noticed the owl high in the tree, watching them.

After sharing a quick chocolate milkshake at the local Shake Shack, D’Angelo walked her home. He gave her a hug, said he would see her tomorrow, and ambled away down the rutted dirt road towards his house. Keira stopped on the rickety porch and smoothed her hair into a messy ponytail and retied the ragged ribbon. She grimaced as she saw the beat-up pickup and several other cars parked crookedly in the driveway. Aunt Eunice had company and she would have to listen to their nasty remarks about her mother.

For the past ten years, Keira had closed her eyes and inhaled deeply before opening the weathered door. Keira winced at the familiar but annoying screech as she stepped inside and carefully hung her coat on the nail next to the door.

The minute Kiera stepped inside the kitchen she knew things were going to be bad as she had feared. Aunt Eunice, back stiff, slammed the cupboard door and thumped a box of mac and cheese on the counter. She spun around as Kiera quietly closed the door.

Where you been? Aunt Eunice screamed. You should’ve come straight home after school! She glared at Kiera, who hung her head and didn’t answer. Look at me when I speak to ya. 

Kiera looked up. Her aunt glared at her with a red face and a curled lip. I jest axed ya a question. Where you been? 

Kiera looked down at the cracked wooden floor. I w-w-was j-j-just walking. She spoke quietly.

Was you with that no-good Williams boy again?

Kiera nodded her head slightly. She looked at the dirt on her scruffy tennis shoes. She wiped them one at a time against the back of her legs, moving carefully and hoping her aunt wouldn’t notice.

Her aunt’s face took on a familiar dark red tinge as she lectured in her usual sneering tone. Kiera knew that the lecture about that jail-bound black boy and his horrible low-class mother would go on for a while. She stood quietly with her hands at her side and tuned out the sound of the harsh voice.

Stop slouching, young lady! Aunt Eunice hissed critically. As Kiera straightened up, shame-faced, Aunt Eunice jeered, What do I expect? I took you in even though I can’t afford another mouth to feed. Heaven knows, your no-good parents left nothing to support you with. Them and all their talk about their big plans! Look where it got them; killed in some stupid rebellion! Aunt Eunice raged on for several minutes. and, she said in a strong voice, I will never forgive your no-good father for taking my baby sister away!

Keira kept her head down and listened intently. Her aunt never said much about her sister and brother-in-law, and never anything good, but Keira hoped to hear more.

Aunt Eunice sniffed and snapped, I heard you was fighting again at school. As Kiera started to protest, her aunt said, Not a word or I’ll grab the strap! Now fix dinner for us!

Keira quietly made macaroni and cheese for her aunt and the three ladies from town. As she worked, she could hear them all yattering away in the living room.

Eunice, you are such a saint for taking that witch’s spawn into your home!

And her father—some kinda foreigner, wasn’t he?

Hard to believe that you and Lyrette were sisters.

Aunt Eunice’s voice, pitched high enough for Keira to hear the venom, said, He actually encouraged her strangeness. Her and her plants and potions and strange chants! Her voice dropped to a whisper and Keira only caught a few words, …probably illegal…filling her head…Prince, my eye!

Keira quietly served the plates and took them into the cluttered living room. She moved some dead plants aside and set the tray quietly on the table.

Go on ta yer room, girl. You are just like your pitiful mother! Keira’s back stiffened. Aunt Eunice snorted and then coughed with a horrible, phlegmy sound.

Without a word, Kiera spun around and stumbled across the room, ignoring the stares and hissing whispers of the three frowning women sitting on the couch. As she tripped over the door sill, her aunt cackled, Yer almost out of the money the state sent, so you should probably check out the nearest poor house!  The other women hooted along with her aunt.

Keira gulped her tears back as she reached the dark narrow hallway and blindly pulled the cord to bring the ladder down. She quickly scrambled up into the attic. Letting the trapdoor thump shut, she staggered across the uneven floor and threw herself on the bed, coughing at the dust that drifted up from the pile of old blankets her aunt had allotted her. The hurtful words her aunt had just said kept repeating in her head. Why did Aunt Eunice hate her own sister?

Keira let go of the tears in gulping sobs. After several minutes, she shuddered to a stop, scrubbed her face with her hand, and sat up, pulling her knees against her chest. Standing shakily to her feet and looking around her bedroom in a daze, she shivered at the sight of thick, dust-covered spider webs drifting off the beams and again at the sound of scampering feet and claws against the rough wooden floorboards.

She went to pull the light cord and tripped. Throwing out a hand to catch herself, she saw a small trunk. Leaning forward, Keira picked it up. It fell open and she saw old pictures filling it to the brim. She flipped through the faded photos and saw that many were of people and places that she didn’t recognize. Probably belong to whoever used to live here. She started to put them all back into the trunk and then stopped short. In her hand was a black and white picture of a man and woman with a little pig-tailed girl between them. They were all smiling and standing in front of the old abandoned tower ruins in the woods behind this house! What was it called again? Oh, yeah! Remembrance Tower!

Keira dropped the rest of the photos into the trunk and took the picture of the family closer to the light to examine it better. With surprise, she realized that the little girl was she and the smiling couple was her parents. She studied the unfamiliar picture carefully. This must have been taken not too long before they disappeared! She turned the picture over and saw faint words written on it: Kei, we will always love you! REMEMBRANCE will help you to find us when you are ready.

It had a faintly written date on it: exactly ten years ago today. What does that even mean? Keira wondered. I don’t remember this picture. She blinked back tears. I don’t even remember my parents very well. She looked at the picture with hungry eyes. Her mother had a cheerful smile and her father had a twinkle in his blue eyes.

Keira walked over to the cracked mirror and looked at herself critically. Frowning at the pale oval face dotted with freckles, Tears welled up as she pictured the face of the mother she had almost forgotten. She remembered the police coming to her as she sat alone in the darkness. She remembered asking where her parents were. She remembered shaking as the quiet voices talked about the dangerous woods and the searchers finding nothing.

Keira remembered her terrified five-year-old self as the police officer dropped her off at her aunt’s house with reassurances that everything would be OK now. Her Aunt Eunice would take good care of her. Her aunt’s sweet and sympathetic smile never wavered until the police car pulled out of sight. Keira had never seen a pleasant expression on that face since then.

Keira sat back down on her bed, hugging the picture and quietly rocking back and forth. When she heard her aunt’s truck sputtering into life, she stood up. She listened until the sound of the motor had faded into the distance. She put the picture in her backpack to show D’Angelo.

She climbed back down the ladder and walked into the kitchen. She grimaced as she saw the pile of dirty dishes in the sink. How can anyone make such a huge mess? She grabbed some cold macaroni from the refrigerator, heated it in the microwave, and ate quickly.

Running hot water and a squirt of Dawn into the sink, Kiera began her chores. When the kitchen was as clean as she could make it, she went out to gather the eggs and milk the scrawny cow. Sweeping some weedy looking grass over to the cow, as she had since the first morning after she had arrived at her aunt’s, she returned to the house and stowed the eggs and milk in the old refrigerator.

Wearily, she again climbed to the attic and pulled the ladder up behind her. Sitting on her bed under the weak light, Keira worked on her math homework. Her mind finally settled as she worked on algebra, which she liked. A corner of her mouth twitched up as she thought of D’Angelo cracking jokes that made even the teacher laugh. When she finished the math assignment, she pulled out the outline she had written for her speech class. She shuddered at the idea of standing in front of the class and talking about the realities of magic. Why had Mr. Thompson chosen such an odd topic for her? Did he know about her mother? Did he suspect…? She shook her head. He couldn’t possibly know. She was always careful. Even D’Angelo didn’t know! She couldn’t tell anyone, because then everyone would know that she was a freak and they would hate her more than they already did.

She abruptly locked her mind as she heard her aunt return. She sat very still as she heard heavy footsteps stumbling across the floor. A rapid burst of angry cuss words floated up the ladder as Aunt Eunice stumbled into a wall. Keira stayed quiet as the faltering steps stopped under the ladder. Keira heard her aunt fumbling for the rope and closed her eyes.

Aunt Eunice slurred, Ya better be in bed, Girlie! A pause followed by the sound of shambling footsteps faded down the hallway. A slamming door shook the house and then all was silent.

Stuffing the speech into her backpack, Keira quickly put on her too-small faded pink pajamas and crawled into bed. As she drifted off to sleep, she heard the mournful call of an owl in the woods. She said, sleepily, See you soon, my friend. She was asleep before the soft hooting answer came, Yes. We will meet before the next full moon.

Remembrance

Aunt Eunice’s voice screeched up the ladder, Girl? You up? Com’ on down here and fix my breakfast!

Keira came awake abruptly. She sat up and ignored the pounding in her head, as she shook herself out of the dream: talking birds and foggy images of her parents and battles between unseen, screaming armies. She heard a faint echo of her mother’s voice urgently pleading with someone. She shivered as a frigid wind blew across her, causing goose pimples to rise on her shivering body. As she looked blearily around her room, she saw that her window was open.

Walking gingerly across the rough floor, Keira reached up to close the window. Her hand stilled as she looked across the fields into the forest in the distance. Dark clouds, heavy with rain and spitting lightning hung over everything like a blanket of doom. Large birds swooped across the field and disappeared into the forbidding forest. Keira shivered as cold ran down her spine. She stood staring; the wind howled around the corner and a blast of sleet-filled air roared into her room. She slammed the window shut and locked the window with a flick of her wrist.

Something moved outside. Peering into the gloom, Keira could see the trees of the woods bending in the wind. She started to turn around when something pattered near the window. Keira jumped and her heart thudded loudly in the sudden silence.

She turned and looked out the window again. The trees were still and the few clouds drifting along in the sky were white and fluffy. She frowned.

Looking down, she saw D’Angelo, grinning as he chucked another handful of small stones towards her.

She waved at him and hurried into her clothes. Today, she decided she would wear something warmer, even though she could see the clouds were quickly disappearing. She grabbed her only pair of jeans and quickly zipped into them, then tugged on a long sleeve tee-shirt, which she pulled down to cover the birthmark on her wrist. She grabbed her grey hoodie and pulled it over her head, stuffing her hair into it.

Keira slung her backpack over her shoulder on her way down the ladder. The heaviness reminded her that she had forgotten to look at the pictures from the box she had found in her room last night. Well, she would have time later.

Keira ducked her head as she entered the kitchen quietly. Aunt Eunice seemed to be in a strangely good mood. Was she humming? Keira glanced up through her bangs. Yes! Aunt Eunice had a smile on her face and was humming something light and airy which almost sounded familiar. Keira asked, What is that song, Aunt Eunice?

Aunt Eunice stopped abruptly. Never you mind, Girlie! She smiled; this time it was more of a grimace. She turned and waved her hand as she waddled over to the table and plopped into a chair which creaked loudly. Keira held her breath, hoping it wouldn’t break.

We might have someplace to go after school, so you be right home. She flicked her hand as Keira started to ask a question. Now, git my breakfast!

Keira quickly grabbed two eggs and four strips of bacon and laid them on the counter. She put a pan on the stove and added a pat of butter. Her stomach growled loudly. She looked over her shoulder to see if her aunt was watching, then added three more pieces of bacon.

When the bacon was crispy, she turned off the stove and carefully placed the extra bacon strips on a small plate with a slice of bread. She placed it quietly behind her backpack and turned to finish filling a plate for her aunt.

She toasted and buttered two slices of bread and placed them on the plate next to the perfectly fried eggs and bacon. Carefully, she carried the plate to where her aunt sat and deposited them in front of the scowling woman.

With no acknowledgement, Aunt Eunice stuffed food into her mouth. Where’s the salt? her aunt snapped, barely glancing up from the letter she was reading. Keira pushed the salt shaker a couple inches towards her aunt’s hand. She stood quietly beside her aunt’s chair as Aunt Eunice slurped her food down.

She looked up at Keira and snapped, Well—get yer bread and go to school - Go on, now!

Keira didn’t hesitate. She grabbed her backpack, fumbled, and almost dropped the plate as she tipped the bacon into her backpack, and ran out the door, careful not to let it slam behind her. She tossed a quick smile at D’Angelo, as he joined her in running down the rutted driveway and turned the corner.

As soon as they were out of sight of the old house, D’Angelo and Keira slowed down. Keira looked at her best friend and smiled at him. He smiled back, somewhat suspiciously. What? he barked.

Nuthin’, she said with a bigger smile. She refused to meet D’Angelo’s eyes as she ate her stolen breakfast.

What are you smiling about?

Nuthin’! Keira almost choked as the bacon disappeared down her throat. She glanced at him again through her lashes and giggled at the puzzled expression on his face.

D’Angelo tackled her. She landed on the ground with a thud and laughing, said, You have the worst ‘bedhead’ I have ever seen! She pointed at his hair, which stood up in a wild tangle all over his head.

In an affronted tone, D’Angelo said, It’s an afro! Like my gramps used to wear.

Keira choked out, Well, it looks like you stuck your finger in a light socket!

D’Angelo’s mouth twitched. He frowned and growled, Look who’s talking! His reached out and pulled at her hoodie. Her hair exploded outwards in a wild tangle, covering her face.

Keira yelped and reached up in a vain attempt to get her hair under control. I, um, forgot to, um, she stopped.

D’Angelo, with a huge grin, pointed at her backpack. You forgot how to use a brush?

Keira, red-faced, said, umm, no, umm.

D’Angelo, laughter fading from his eyes, said, What’s wrong, Pipsqueak? Did that witch of an aunt say –or do—something? 

His fists clenched and his eyes narrowed as he started to turn back towards the house. Because, if she laid one finger on you…,

Keira held up a hand. She didn’t touch me, she said quietly.

D’Angelo took a shaky breath and muttered something too soft for Keira to hear. It sounded angry and Keira wisely said nothing.

In a light tone, she asked, Didn’t you get wet in that rain shower?

D’Angelo stared at her. What shower? He looked at her with raised brows. What are you talking about?" 

Keira shook her head. I-I-I thought it was stormy earlier. Her voice dropped as she looked down.

D’Angelo looked at her and shook his head. Are you sure you are OK? You seem… He paused. I dunno … different today. He looked at her for a long moment.

Keira smiled weakly. I am fine. I just had some weird dreams.

How weird? D’Angelo asked, with a grin. I usually dream about monkeys flying cars and stuff like that.

Keira flashed a quick smile and sped away from him down the lane. That’s because you are bananas! she called back over her shoulder. D’Angelo barked out a laugh and took off after her. D’Angelo’s long legs were no match for Keira’s speed; she threw a quick glance over her shoulder, and then slowed down a bit so he could catch up. The old school building came into sight and Keira allowed D’Angelo to catch up. Laughing, they approached the big front door of the school.

Hey wait, Keira said. Weren’t you suspended for fighting?

D’Angelo grinned. I guess not. Mr. T called my mom and told her that because of ‘extenuating circumstances’ I was welcome to come today.

Wow, I never heard of that happening before, Keira said. You are lucky.

At that moment, a sneering voice said, Well if it ain’t the dumb and dumber twins!

D’Angelo and Keira spun around to see Chad and Thad Neeley leaning against an old tree at the corner of the old school building. The twins stood, smirking at them with identical sneers. Chad was slightly taller, but the twins were hard to tell apart. They both had the same high-pitched voice and wore their green-tinged hair in spikes.

Thad said, Hey Witchy, it looks like ya got yer backpack agin. Why don’t ya show us all what’s in there? He reached out and grabbed for her backpack.

D’Angelo stepped between Thad and Keira. He hissed something low-voiced through his teeth that made Thad’s pimply face turn pale. He dropped the backpack, but didn’t move from where he stood.

Chad grinned around at the gathering crowd, a few of whom laughed nervously. Keira saw that TC wasn’t with them and a small smile touched her lips as she remembered D’Angelo had dealt with him the day before.

The Neeley twins were now blocking the steps leading into the school. Other students stood around, not wanting to push past the twins. D’Angelo and Keira stood side by side, as Thad continued making mocking comments. Keira’s face turned red as Thad called her the poor little orphan witch girl and D’Angelo her lowlife monkey boyfriend. She held D’Angelo’s arm and could feel him quivering with rage. He’s not worth it, she whispered. He nodded, but his eyes never left Thad’s face.

Keira pulled her hoodie back over her head and stood looking at the ground, closing out the sounds of Thad’s voice. D’Angelo doubled up a fist and muttered, but said nothing aloud.

Chad scoffed, Wassa matter, Monkey-Boy, cat got yer tongue? Oh wait, the big brave ape is skeered of cats!

He turned to give his brother a high five when D’Angelo sprang into motion. Swinging a fist, D’Angelo punched Chad in the mouth then spun to face Thad. Thad stepped back quickly and tripped over the curb, landing hard.

Chad, blood streaming from his nose and mouth, let out a roar and threw himself at D’Angelo’s back. D’Angelo spun around, throwing Chad off, as a crowd gathered, chanting, Fight, fight, fight!

Chad snarled again and threw himself towards the taller boy. There was a loud thunk as he bounced off D’Angelo’s chest; the two boys fell in a pile of flying fists and legs.

Thad stood up and threw a half-hearted punch at D’Angelo’s head. D’Angelo swung a fist and connected with Thad’s chest, knocking him down again.

Keira reached out to pull D’Angelo away, but Thad grabbed her from behind. She struggled to get away, but he had wrapped his arms tightly around her and was whispering in her ear, Yer big black boyfriend gonna get wuts comin’ ta him!

Keira closed her eyes tightly. She lifted one hand toward the boys on the ground and softly whispered, MoDak Verbreen, by all that is green…I wish … There was a sizzling sound and Chad yelped in pain, but didn’t let go of D’Angelo’s hair.

Keira looked up and locked eyes with Mr. Thompson, the new speech teacher, who had just stepped out of the building.