Read Online The Blue Woods by Nicole Maggi - Free Book Online

what’s happening . . . to me,” he muttered in a strangled voice. Blue light gathered at his heart, swirling faster and faster. He was going to shift, any second now. “I’ve been . . . waiting . . . my whole life . . . for this.”
    And before I could respond, the light flared out in all directions, shattering the room in a million pieces. I fell back, shielding my eyes from its brightness. When it cleared, the boy lay motionless on the floor, and next to him stood a huge, fierce-looking feline. He wasn’t a Lynx; our Lynx, Sam, had been sleek and silvery, the kind of animal that could disappear into a snowdrift. This animal was a Catamount, rugged and tawny, with dark spots markings his face and flank. His oceanic eyes stared out from beneath the ridged fur of his brow.
    He let out a low growl and pawed the floor, making the wooden floorboard tremble beneath me. “Shh,” I hissed, but it was too late. The door to the bedroom swung wide open, and a tiny firecracker of a woman stepped into the room. Her dark eyes flashed, taking in the scene before her. “I—I—he’s okay,” I managed to get out, trying to figure out what the hell I could say to this poor woman whose son was lying as though dead on her Persian rug.
    She looked from me to the boy on the floor to the Catamount next to him. “Ah,” she breathed. “It’s finally happening. I knew it would. I saw it long ago.” Her voice had a slight lilt to it. Not Italian; maybe eastern European. She marched over to me. I scrambled to my feet just as she threw her arms around me. “Take good care of him,” she said. “I know he will serve the Benandanti well.”
    I jerked away and backed up until I hit the wall. She gave me one final smile and disappeared out of the room. What the hell?
    Narrowing my gaze at the Catamount, I tore my soul free. Here I was, prepared to answer a million questions about what was happening to him, and it seemed I was the one who needed answers. My body dropped to the floor beside the boy’s and I flew to the ceiling . You know I had a whole spiel about who the Benandanti are, I said. But it sounds like I might be wasting my breath.
    If it was possible for Catamounts to grin, he was grinning. I’ve known what the Benandanti are since I was little, he said.
    I blinked. Doesn’t it interest you that we’re talking telepathically right now?
    He leapt lightly from the floor to the window seat that was nestled into the large bay window at the front of the room. Not really.
    Okay, seriously. I winged down to him. What the hell is going on?
    Why don’t we start with names? You’re Alessia. I’m Calvin, only no one but my mother calls me that. Everyone else calls me Cal.
    Okay, Cal. How do you know about the Benandanti?
    He padded in a small circle around himself. This is the coolest thing ever! I’m a freaking lion!
    Catamount, I corrected, ruffling my feathers. And you didn’t answer my question.
    You’re a Falcon, right? You are so lucky you’re a bird. I was kinda hoping I’d be one too so I’d get to fly. But a lion is cool too. Are you going to take me to the magical site? I know there are seven of them. I also know that—
    Just—hang on a minute, okay? Jeez! I soared back and forth across the room. How the hell did he know all this? That Benandanti web page I’d found all those months ago didn’t have anything about the seven sites on it. And why wasn’t he upset that he’d just had his life ruined? The room felt too small suddenly, like my wings would break apart the walls if I were trapped here any longer. Fine. Let’s get out of here.
    Cal led me down the hall to the back door that I’d come through. With a swipe of one of his huge paws, he pushed it open. I swept out into the night, the cold air an elixir for my rumpled soul. I curved around the house, waited for Cal to appear