Page 81 of Monster's Pet

“Hang on,” Aiden said. He held Moonbeam up in front of him and said seriously, “I need younotto eat this spell. It’s going to hide us from the giant. You will get to eat all the magic you could want in a little while, so please, let this one go, okay?”

Moonbeam chirped at him and licked the tip of her nose, making everyone chuckle.

“Okay.” Aiden created a sling, not unlike one for a baby, and placed the kitten in it across his chest.

We created a chain, holding each other’s hands, and cast the invisibility spell. It was comforting to have Aiden and Grandfather on either side of me, their strong hands firmly holding mine. Grandfather’s seemed more frail than I remembered, and I bit back my worries about him.

We entered the cave system in single file, Paige and Professor Akhtar at the front. My eyes adjusted slowly to the dim lighting. We couldn’t use lights of our own. I wanted to smack myself when I remembered there was a spell for seeing in the dark.I had gotten so used to limiting my spells at the academy this semester.

The spell took effect immediately, and I could see the carved rock on either side of us. The ground was flat, but dusty. Anxiety crept up as we continued along the path.

Where were the not-spiderwebs that Paige had described?

How far had she walked before she’d come across the giant?

If he wasn’t here, where was the destruction on the surface?

Surely, we would have noticed it.

Up ahead, Paige was still moving nervously, looking around herself. I wished I could talk mind-to-mind with her. Ask her how much further.

Suddenly, she stopped, creating a chain reaction. She whispered to the professor, who passed her message back to the rest of us.

“This is where the hair started. I scratched a mark on the wall, because it was the first difference I saw in here,” was the message.

There was no hair.

Where was the giant?

After deliberating silently, Professor Akhtar indicated that we should keep moving forward, to see if we could uncover the mystery.

Walking even slower now, if that was possible, we crept down the passage. I shivered a little, and realized that the clothing I’d put on to bear the heat wasn’t sufficient underground. Then I noticed that there was a breeze coming from up ahead. Not much, but enough to blow my hair around my face.

A big cavern?

The walls of the passage widened gradually and then suddenly, we were looking down at a humongous cavern.

Even with my spell to see through darkness, I couldn’t see the other side.

I shivered.

We spread out along the ledge. Paige pointed out the diamond ring she’d left behind. It was glowing brightly in my vision. I didn’t need the spell to see magic to know that I’d be blinded if I looked at it.

But where was the giant?

“You think you’re the only ones who know how to cast an invisibility spell?” The horrible booming voice echoed loudly around the chamber.

Lilia and Hazel screamed, letting go of the hands they were holding to clap theirs over their ears, and I lost sight of them.

I was shaking, holding Aiden and Grandfather’s hands so tightly that my knuckles were white.

“Not going to answer me?” The giant let out a bellow of laughter. “Typical witches. Haven’t changed in two millennia.” The loud angry voice echoed again, surrounding us with vibration.

Professor Akhtar signaled a retreat, but I shook my head, refusing to leave Lilia and Hazel behind.

“No matter. You are brave, to have come to me after trapping me in this cage. Tell me, what is it you wish? Wealth beyond your wildest dreams? Power to rule over the entire world?” the giant ground out, his powerful growly voice making my ears ring.

Professor Akhtar shook his head vehemently and pressed his finger to his lips. I wondered what he was up to, and then he let go.

---