and every day Bazâs eyes grew colder and more cruel.
One Friday after school Willa caught her mom staring at her hair.
âThe grey is coming back already! Time for another dye job.â
âMaybe I want to keep it.â
Her mom raised an eyebrow. âWhatâs eating you?â
âNothing. I just like my hair the way it is!â Willa grumbled.
âSuit yourself.â
Willa went into the bathroom to take a look. A silvery vein was visible in the roots, and it did look a little weird, but Willa didnât want to back down now. And when she passed Belle in the hall, the old lady whispered conspiratorially, âI like it. And itâs silver , not grey! â
The next morning was the weekend, and Willa went over to check on the house. To her great disappointment, there was no sign of progress in the construction. Everything looked exactly as it had days ago, though a loud metallic clanging sounded from the basement. She found Tengu in the woods, leaping about, striking battle poses, and lashing out at invisible foes.
âHi, Tengu. Seen any new black spots?â
He shook his head. âNope. Just the one at the hotel, and it hasnât gotten any bigger.â
âWhat about Horace?â
âStill running wild.â
Willa sighed. âI was afraid of that. I guess Iâll go up Hanlanâs again and look for him. I hope heâs okay.â She glanced over her shoulder at the house. âI donât see much progress here.â
Tengu grinned brightly. âThe dwarves are too busy making weapons.â
âWeapons? Oh, Tenguâ¦.â she sighed.
Tengu pulled out a small black disc with glistening spikes, holding it up proudly. âNinja stars!â He gazed lovingly at the hunk of metal, turning it in the light. âIsnât it gorgeous? Iâve always wanted some of these beauties.â
He pulled his arm back and hurled the star like a Frisbee. It whistled through the air, thunking into a tree trunk. There was an angry squeal, and Mab erupted from a hole in the tree, glittering in her dwarvish armour and swinging her sword over her head as she flew at Tengu. He dodged her, ducking behind Willa for protection.
âSorry! Sorry, Mab! Wonât happen again!â he wailed.
âSettle down, Mab, it was an accident,â soothed Willa. âTengu, find another target thatâs not a tree, please!â She turned to Mab. âDid the fairies find any spots?â
The fairy had a blank look on her face. âSpots?â
Willa smacked her forehead in frustration. âSpots! Black spots! Openings for the forces of evil, remember?â
âOh, those .â Mab was only half paying attention; she was admiring her own reflection in the blade of her sword.
âSo did they find any?â
Mab shrugged. âI donât think so.â
Willa took a deep breath, willing herself to remain calm. âDid they look everywhere? In the forest and the stable? What about the basement? Have either of you looked in there recently?â
âNope. Peace treaty rules,â Tengu reminded her.
âArticle thirty-seven , paragraph two,â cooed Mab, smoothing her hair.
Willa walked over and rapped on the trapdoor. Fjalarr opened it. âYeees?â
âI need to come in.â
The dwarf shook his head vehemently. âArticle thirty-seven ââ
âParagraph two. I know.â Willa tried again. âBut this is an emergency. I need to know â¦â The door slammed shut.
âHey!â Willa pulled on it, but it was latched shut. She shouted, âI need to know if there are any weird black spots in there!â
Silence.
âAre there any black spots in there?â
Silence. Willa gave the door an angry kick just as Tengu burst out of the stable, chased by Robert, who was swinging an enormous sword over his head and hollering.
âYou dundering fool! Careless lout! CLUMSY BABOON!â
They
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