《Shriek of the Harpy》


 Mysterious Journey into Night

    Mysterious Journey Into Night


    Johnny was having trouble with his classwork. Creating a family tree was a complex business after all.


    He pulled the sleeve of the girl next to him. "Sarah, what are we supposed to do if we''ve had two mums?"


    She shook her head, blond ringlets bouncing. "You can''t. Why don''t you look at what I''ve done and do it properly?"


    He glanced at her paper. She had started with herself at the foot of the tree with her age ¨C seven years old ¨C and then continued with her parents and grandparents on the boughs above.


    "But my mum died when I was two. Then my dad married Steffi. Steffi says she wants to be my mum now."


    Sarah looked thoughtful. "Oh." She patted his arm. "I''m glad you''ve got a mum again."


    Johnny looked down at his paper. "I don''t know how old Steffi is and I don''t know where to put her. I haven''t always known her. But she said she really wants to be my mother."


    Johnny had known Steffi for a year before she married his dad. Thinking of Steffi as mum seemed strange, but the times when they had gone on days out with her had always been fun, whether to the fair or the seaside or visiting one another''s houses. She was always so nice and had a gift for him each time.


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    00O00


    She beamed when he met her in the playground at home time, crouching so as to hug him, her blond hair obscuring his vision. He got the sharp scent of her perfume as he always did. "How was school today, darling?" Steffi had a funny way of pronouncing darling, even though she said it a lot. She drawled a bit with the ''dar,'' syllable and made the ''ling'' sound like ''link.''


    "Very good thank you, Steffi," he replied with practiced politeness. Thinking he should say something more he added, "we had to draw a family tree and write about our families. I decided to put you in as my mum, but sorry¡­ I don''t know how old you are and I know it''s rude to ask."


    She smiled broadly. "Thank you Johnny. And I''m thirty-eight."


    "The teachers all say they''re twenty-one when it''s their birthday."


    She laughed, scrunching up her nose. "Some adults just don''t want you to know how old they really are."


    On the way back Steffi bought him an ice cream and then they stopped in the curios shop. It was quite dingy in here, even though it was not late in the afternoon. Johnny thought the place smelled strongly of dust. The owner was an old lady who seemed to have even more bracelets and bangles than Steffi did. "My new son, Johnny," said Steffi grinning.


    Johnny grinned a little awkwardly. "Hello."


    The old lady peered at him over her spectacles. "Hello there, Johnny. And congratulations, Steffi."


    "So what can you show me today?"


    "There is a bracelet with a fertility symbol - for barren women."


    Steffi suddenly gave that glare that meant she was going to say something hard. She never spoke crossly to Johnny, but she certainly could to other people. "White and grey magic cannot cure a barren woman and we both know that full well. I would say they''re as useless as our medical institutions and the butchers therein." Steffi was breathing a little hard, her breast rising and falling. "So is there anything left to impress me?"


    Johnny had heard her talk about magic before. Did she believe in it? She was calling it useless now. Nonetheless, she bought a small silver skeleton ornament and seemed happy again when they left.


    Johnny was interested by her skeleton. "Cool. Isn''t it like a tiny marionette?" Johnny loved the story of Pinocchio. It had been Steffi who first read it to him and then he had seen Disney''s version with its gentler puppet character that he had liked even better. Steffi had been particularly enthusiastic about the idea of Pinocchio coming to life in both versions once Geppetto had created him.


    Steffi lightly stroked his hair. "You can hold it, darling."


    On the corner of their street, Johnny caught a glimpse of a hooded figure out of the corner of his eye, but when he turned around there was nothing.


    "Did you see that? Someone in a cloak and hood?"


    "No darling, there was nothing," said Steffi quickly.


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    00O00


    Steffi wasn''t quite the cook Dad was, but she made spaghetti well enough. She did not make anything for herself, but sat opposite him, smiling at him as he ate. He felt a little self-conscious. He had put the skeleton on the chair next to him. He gestured to it. "I think he should get a seat as well."


    "You are a thoughtful young fellow. Do you want him?"


    "Y-yes, thank you."


    "Then he''s yours. Oh, I got something else earlier." Steffi took a small paper parcel from her bag and opened it. Inside was a doll made of lurid green material. Johnny peered at it. It looked home-made, with twigs for arms and legs and leaves for hair. It had little black beads for eyes that seemed to stare at him as she held it out. The sight of it made him uncomfortable.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.


    "What is that for, Steffi?"


    She put a hand over her mouth and gazed at him for a moment before answering. "I have insomnia, darling. That means I have trouble sleeping. This is supposed to help, if I hang it over the bed before I lie down for the night. Really, I''d try anything now. It''s awful not getting any sleep."


    Johnny thought he would find it harder to sleep with such a thing in his room, but he did not say so.


    After tea, Steffi wanted to play a game with him. Although Johnny best liked to read on his own in the evenings, playing a game with Steffi was no bad thing. She selected "Escape the Blob" and set it up on the living room floor. She amused him as they played by making the blob piece speak in a gruff voice.


    "I wonder what planet he''s from?" said Johnny as he lost a swamp hopper piece to the blob. "It would have to be outside the solar system. Nothing lives on the other planets in our solar system."


    Steffi leaned across the board, smiling. The rays of the sun streaming through the window lighting up her face. Close to, it looked like she had put yellow glitter in the makeup on her nose and cheeks. "Either that or he''s magic."


    That reminded Johnny of her words in the curios shop. "Steffi, what does it mean when you say a woman is barren?"


    He was surprised by the pained expression in her blue eyes. "I mean that I cannot have a baby, darling. You are a clever boy and have read that book on how the body works and where a baby comes from. Well one thing it doesn''t mention is that there are ladies who ¡­ cannot have a baby." She was forcing her smile now.


    Johnny thought that sounded as though she had wanted to have a baby herself. "Sorry."


    She reached out a hand, her numerous bracelets sliding down her arm and lightly touched his cheek. "You are my son now, Johnny. Legally."


    Maybe he was legally, but it still seemed strange to call her ''Mum.''


    After the blob had cleared the board of little swamp hopper pieces Johnny hinted that he wanted to read now and Steffi took that as meaning that she should test him on his reading. Johnny was two years ahead of his reading level so he showed her that he could read a passage from the Bluestone series. The story is set in a world of anthropomorphic rodents and the first in the series recounts how an order of plucky mice defend their citadel made of blue stone against the aggression of a rat warlord and his horde.


    Johnny sat with Steffi on the sofa and read her the passage where the mice debate what to do about the oncoming threat. The villain had the epithet "the Scourge" and at this point in the story, was little known in the Bluestone country. The mice had supposed that he was some sort of bogey that lived in bad dreams and the dark corners of imagination. A silly mousemaid suggested that he was really coming to get them for staying up late. Steffi laughed out loud at this part, scrunching her nose as she always did.


    Johnny was glad she enjoyed it. "Isn''t the Bluestone country great? Just imagine, mice doing such exciting things. When the Scourge attacks it gets so much better. He''s a better villain than Sauron in Lord of the Rings. He actually moves about and does things and in the beginning, he frightens everyone as much as Sauron does."


    Steffi pushed her blond hair away from her face. "Sauron never excelled at combat. I recall that in the extended mythology, he always lost when he got in a straight fight. But he was a conniving demon."


    "Conniving?"


    Steffi smiled. "That means he was always plotting or scheming. He twisted other characters to his will."


    Johnny thought about Middle Earth. "They had magic in that world, but it didn''t help them much."


    Steffi gave a wry smile. "The story is set in a period of very great general decline, when nothing is at its best anymore. And magic in the world causes problems as much as it helps."


    When it came to playing with Magnus, Johnny''s hamster, Steffi was keen to be involved there as well. She held Magnus up to her face, wrinkling her nose and making kissing noises. Johnny was pleased that they got on. The ladies often did not like Magnus and Dad virtually never had time to play with the hamster.


    Johnny held up a piece of raw carrot. "See what he does when he sees this?" As Johnny expected, Magnus stuffed the entire thing into his cheek pouches, distending them greatly.


    Steffi shook her head, her thick yellow hair rippled and bounced. "Oh Magnus, you bite off more than you can chew."


    "Look how he changes shape though."


    "We''ll take care of him, whatever shape he''s in. He''s family."


    Having Steffi in the family certainly made things better for Magnus and maybe for Johnny too.


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    00O00


    Dad came back late that evening, after which Johnny retired to bed, taking the skeleton with him. It was more interesting than a teddy bear. He stayed awake reading, the skeleton lying beside him. His parents'' voices carried up the stairs. Steffi had by far the more penetrating voice of the two and he could easily make her words out. She was talking about the translation work she had to do and how a deadline was a stressful thing. Then she was talking about him. She referred to him as "my son" rather than by his name. He really ought to call her mum. Or mother. He would have to ask her which.


    Magnus was running in his wheel. "Remember Magnus, call Steffi, ''Mum.''"


    He heard Steffi''s footfalls up the stairs. She had a lighter tread than Dad''s. He decided against pretending to be asleep as she opened the door, the lamplight glinting off her nose and cheeks. She kissed him, her strong perfume invading his nostrils.


    "How about a lullaby, darling?" She gathered him into her arms and hummed a haunting tune without words. He felt it go round and round his head and he became very relaxed as she held him to her.


    "Good night, erm, ¡­ mum," he murmured. There he''d done it.


    She beamed. "Call me if you need anything, my son." That was really nice. He hoped he could be the son she wanted. He lay back and drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Suddenly he awoke. The sound of a woman moaning and crying was carrying across the landing. He sat up in bed, feeling anxious. Was Steffi unwell? Surely Dad would be doing something?


    But Steffi cried louder. Oh for Goodness'' sake, Dad! Will you just let her cry? Johnny could not bear to hear her like this. He stood up and slipped out of his bedroom. The landing lights were dim and the landing seemed longer than usual. He stumbled along as though moving through water. Steffi screamed and he snapped out of his lethargy and ran to her door, but then a harsh, guttural sound froze him where he stood. Filled with fear, he remained transfixed as the terrible voice grated and screeched and something heavy moved across the room. The spell of fear released him as if from invisible bonds and he flung open the door and saw ¨C


    His Dad lay sleeping in bed, snoring loudly as usual. But Steffi was nowhere to be seen. The window was wide open, the curtains fluttering in the wind. Johnny peered out. The only light was from the street lamps. He was about to shut the window when he noticed three large gouges in the window sill. What could have caused that? It was all so strange. He shook his head in wonder, but there was another surprise. Feathers on the floor by the window. He picked them up. Impossibly large, dark green feathers. What green birds were there in this country? They were much too big to be parrot feathers. He threw them out of the window. More importantly, where was Steffi? Had some huge bird broken in and carried her away? He began to feel sick with worry for her. What did it all mean?

 The Animal World

    The Animal World


    Johnny tried to wake his Dad, but shaking his arm gently didn''t work and neither did calling to him softly, so he couldn''t think what else to try. After pacing up and down the landing in a turmoil of indecision, he decided to stay up in the bedroom, just in case Steffi should come back.


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    00O00


    He did not mean to drift off, but he did anyway. When he awoke it was already dawn! He hurried into his parents'' bedroom and there to his amazement was Steffi, lying asleep beside his father, her long blond hair loose on the pillow. "Dad!" He shook his father''s arm again.


    Dad began to stir. "Alright, Johnny, what time is it?" He glanced at the alarm clock. "It''s not even six AM!" Johnny had moved round the bed to peer at Steffi. When had she come back?


    "Oh don''t wake her at this time, for Goodness'' sake, she doesn''t get a decent night''s sleep as it is."


    Steffi''s eyelids fluttered and her eyes opened. She stared blearily upwards, but then her blue eyes focused on him. She smiled. "Morning, darling." She sat up and put her arms around him, kissing him on the cheek. Her face felt very cold. She must have been outside all night.


    "Sorry about this. Johnny''s woken us up before six," said Dad sternly.


    "That''s quite alright, Henry. We''ve got a lot to do today, can''t spend it in bed." But then she groaned and put her hands to her temples. "Ohh my head."


    Johnny looked closely at her. She did look very pale and there were dark circles around her eyes. "Steffi, did you go out for a jog or anything last night?"


    She laughed. "Oh Johnny, what an idea! I slept like a log as soon as my head touched the pillow¡­ but to be honest, I feel as though I spent the night running a marathon. I don''t understand it."


    Well neither did Johnny.


    "Get your mother a cup of tea," said his Dad curtly. "I''ve got to get ready for work."


    "Really, Henry," Steffi tutted, "the sweet boy is concerned¡­"


    But Johnny was hurrying downstairs to prepare a cup of herbal tea just as Steffi liked it. Did his stepmother not know she had been out of the room in the middle of the night? Or did she not want to admit it?


    Back upstairs, Dad was in the shower and Steffi was sitting up in bed, looking tired and wan. He sat beside her on the bed, handing her the tea. She gave her small contented sigh and put an arm around his shoulders. "It''s too bad Daddy must work on Saturday, but we''re going to London Zoo. I''ve been wanting to take you there as my son for so long."


    Johnny suddenly noticed the ugly doll with twigs for arms and legs hanging above the bed. It hadn''t been there last night. The beady little eyes seemed to be staring down at him. Following his gaze, Steffi looked up as well. Johnny glared at the hanging doll. "What is that thing called?"


    "It''s a night doll, Johnny. See it''s dress? The back looks like a pair of folded wings. Flying through the night symbolises dreaming."


    Now Johnny looked at the crude figure again, he supposed he could see it. "The skeleton has more¡­ personality. If I were making a puppet show I know which I would choose."


    Steffi laughed, scrunching her nose. "You''re my little showman, brimming with confidence. Love it."


    Dad had to leave early, before Johnny had finished washing, so after he left, Steffi cooked porridge along with bacon and scrambled egg. Johnny sat the skeleton on the chair beside him again.


    Steffi served Johnny his porridge first, but when she was about to serve the scrambled egg, she clapped a hand over her mouth and ran to the bathroom. Johnny could hear her retching all the way from the kitchen. He was a little worried. Something had happened that she wasn''t admitting. He quickly served the scrambled eggs himself and then the rashers of bacon.


    Steffi came back into the kitchen looking very pale and clammy, her long yellow hair dishevelled. "Good boy," she said weakly, seeing that he had served the eggs and bacon himself.


    Johnny had to broach the subject. "Mum," he began. He bit his lip. He didn''t want to accuse her of lying. "Is there anything you want to talk about?"


    Her bottom lip quivered. "I ¨C can''t darling. That is¡­" she sniffed. "I may have a stomach bug. Nothing to worry about though. Tea and dry toast will help."


    Steffi sat opposite Johnny and the skeleton and nibbled her toast. She then took a while getting ready to leave, applying makeup in front of the mirror for a long time, but afterwards she no longer appeared so ashy pale. Pausing as if struck by a sudden thought, she picked up a silvery gold arm ring from the mantel piece and slipped it on.The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.


    "Got everything, darling?"


    Johnny held up the skeleton and nodded.


    "Great!"


    Hand in hand they walked to the bus stop. Steffi blinked in the bright sunshine and put a hand over her eyes. Murmuring something, she took her sunglasses from her sequined handbag and put them on. They stopped at the newsagents where Steffi bought Johnny a copy of the Hasbeano and the Nutter comic complete with its free gift of phantom fizzes.


    Johnny spreadthe Hasbeano over both their laps as they sat on the bus where they read the strip about Lord Ashcroft. Johnny was disappointed. "Hmm. Not a lot happens this week. The taxman asks Lord Ashcroft whether he has paid any taxes, Lord Ashcroft tells him to mind his own business and the taxman goes away¡­"


    Steffi burst out in raucous laughter, scrunching up her nose. Some of the other passengers glanced at her curiously. She pointed at the last panel. "They''ve drawn his smug face well. When he says: ''That wasn''t too taxing, eh readers?''"


    Her laughter was quite infectious and Johnny gave a chuckle. "Yes mum, dodging taxes is funny."


    Steffi pulled that silly face she sometimes made to amuse him. "It is for those of us who can only dream of such a thing."


    Next Johnny spread the Nutter comic over their laps and opened it on the page with the strip about the hypochondriac. The hypochondriac character kept complaining that he had some strange illness or other. In one panel he insisted that he couldn''t make a fist because his hand kept opening again.


    "Faust, Faust," muttered Steffi. Steffi was German and Johnny knew that the word for "fist" in German is "Faust" and that Faust was also the name of a fictitious wizard who sold his soul to the Devil. In Christopher Marlowe''s version of the story, the devils carted him off in the end, but in Goethe''s version he was redeemed.


    When they were about to disembark, Johnny glimpsed the hooded figure from yesterday afternoon. It was as tall as a man and standing near the back of the bus. He pointed to it, but Steffi''s mood had changed and she hurried him off the bus without speaking.


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    00O00


    In the zoo she became happy again as she lead him to the elephant enclosure. "I always liked seeing the elephants."


    "There''s a phrase, ''elephant in the room'' for a problem that everyone can see."


    "There certainly is, darling. I believe it should be ''rhino in the room.'' That would please no one."


    "I love what you do with our language, mum. You did say it was more flexible than German."


    She giggled. "And I love that the grammar is almost non-existent compared to the grammar I grew up with."


    There was a crowd by the elephant enclosure. One of the elephants was reaching out its trunk towards the onlookers, looking rather forlorn. "Ah, this elephant remembers the days when people were allowed to feed him. They say an elephant never forgets."


    "I wonder why they can''t anymore."


    "Bad people used to feed them rubbish. It was simplest to forbid everyone¡­" Steffi put a hand to her forehead. "Oh darling, my head hurts. We''ll have to go into the shade for a bit."


    She led him into the aquarium and they sat on the stone bench in the near darkness. Steffi took off her sunglasses gave a little groan. Johnny peered at her anxiously. The eerie light of the ray tank played over her face, making her look ghostly pale. "Mum, I think you are ill."


    She put her arms around him and he sat on her knee. "You''re a good boy. Everything is OK." He relaxed as she held him, but he couldn''t help noticing that she felt strangely cold and there was a faint musty smell about her that her perfume could not conceal.


    The spooky forms of the rays in their tank kept swooping up to the glass and showing just their mouths and colourless underbellies. It was like glimpsing creatures from another world.


    "Water, darling?" Steffi was suddenly brisk again. He took a small drink from the water bottle she offered and then she led him to the shark tank. He kept his hand in hers as the shark drifted lazily around its glassy prison. Steffi gazed at it, the light of the tank glimmering in her blue eyes. "There''s a true predator of the deep."


    "He''s little for a shark. Too bad they couldn''t get a great white shark."


    Steffi giggled. "A great white shark would never fit in this building, darling. And I bet they cost a lot to feed."


    They went round the smaller tanks of colourful fish chatting happily about each one. Johnny was interested to see the stone fish, having read about them recently. "Isn''t he ugly? And if you step on him, he''s poisonous. I don''t think I would spot him."


    Steffi pulled a face at the stone fish. "In here, he can''t catch people out in that nasty way."


    Next they went to see the birds of prey. It was the eagle''s feeding time, which Johnny was curious to see. Steffi suddenly tensed again as they stood by the eagle enclosure and heard the eagle''s piercing scream. Johnny looked up at her. She was staring fixedly at the eagle as if horror stricken at it gorging itself on dead animal. He tugged at her arm, but she did not respond. Beginning to feel alarmed he glanced around. Two older boys were holding up a newspaper and talking loudly about it. "Could one of these have escaped? They''re talking here about a big bird that robbed someone."


    "Eagles don''t take jewellery."


    "Magpies do."


    Johnny looked up at his stepmother who still stood and stared. He tugged her arm more insistently. "Steffi?" She did not answer. He was beginning to feel panic well up inside him. "Mum?"


    Abruptly she shook her head, blinking and gave him a wan smile. "Sorry, darling." She stroked his hair. "It''s time for our lunch." She jerked a thumb at the eagle. "Don''t want to watch him stuffing himself, the glutton." Johnny gave a sigh of relief that she had come back.


    At the restaurant Steffi clapped her hands in delight when she saw a waitress dressed as a clown. She beamed at her until she came over to take their order. Johnny thought her glistening makeup looked like a second skin.


    "Why do you love clowns so much, mum?" asked Johnny when the waitress had gone.


    "Good question! I''ve always liked masks, so I suppose that that is where it comes from. A clown face is really a disguised face. I liked the idea of changing and having different identities. When I was a girl, my best friend wanted to be a clown with a clown name and everything, but she was disappointed. There is a reason why circus clowns are usually big strong men. Setting up one of those tents is heavy work. It''s a shame Daddy is not keen on the circus, I''d like us to go as a family someday. Wouldn''t you like that, Johnny?"


    "I''d love to go with you."


    Steffi beamed at him. "Yes, we must go." Her accent was getting stronger as it did when she was excited.


    Johnny thought it a pity that her friend could not perform at a circus for her. "What was your friend''s clown name?"


    "The best translation would be ''sweet-face'' or ''cute-face.''"


    The clown arrived with the drinks; mint tea for Steffi and refillable coke for Johnny. Steffi had been carrying the skeleton in her handbag at Johnny''s request, but now he wanted to hold it again. As there was no other chair, he sat it on his knee. Steffi grinned, holding up her tea. "Cheers, darling!"

 Life and Dreams

    Life and Dreams


    After lunch Johnny felt full and contented and to his great relief, Steffi seemed a lot better. At the big cat enclosures they looked at the tigers first and then at the leopards. Johnny gazed at the leopard''s spotted pelt. "Remember the Just So story about how the leopard got his spots?"


    Steffi flicked a strand of yellow hair away from her face. "It is a cute story, indeed. But didn''t Kipling''s story about the crab show a wonderful imagination? So much magic."


    "Yes. The leopard didn''t change nearly so much as the crab. But he was luckier than the tiger, getting spots instead of stripes."


    "Absolutely right, darling. Spots are certainly prettier."


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    00O00


    Later that afternoon they climbed the steps to the invertebrate house. Steffi pushed open the doors. "None of my favourite animals live here, but many invertebrates are interesting."


    "I know. All creepy crawlies are interesting. I want to see the ants." When they saw the leaf-cutter ant tank, Johnny got the chance to tell Steffi everything he''d read about the ants, how they can cut leaves and how there are worker ants, male ants and the queen. He was grateful that Steffi listened attentively, her blue eyes shining as she smiled at him. He wondered if any other lady was so interested in creepy crawlies. The teacher had asked him not to talk about them the previous day, because she thought they were horrible. "I suppose the ants communicate with each other telepathically." He knew that word because his dad had used it before. "Perhaps the queen tells them what to do. What do you think?"


    "It is very possible, Johnny. And remember how in Lord of the Rings, Sauron is compared to a queen ant, although he is a male demon? When he loses all his power, the author compares his minions to ants who have lost their queen and don''t know what to do."


    "Oh yes! Bad magic creatures use telepathy too!" Johnny found this idea exciting.


    In the next room there was a man giving a talk about bird eating spiders and Johnny was curious to watch, for the man was holding up a huge spider in one hand. He and Steffi stood at the edge of the small crowd and listened.


    The man''s gaze was on his spider and he told them that she was a red kneed bird eating spider. "Now she can jump and I have to hold her just right or she''ll jump off and then she''d break and I''d be very upset." He looked up and seeing Steffi, he grinned. A rather silly grin, Johnny thought. He carried on in a gabbling tone; "it takes expertise to handle them and my skills are varied." He kept on talking like this and looking at Steffi whose blue eyes widened in astonishment. Johnny wondered why he was acting like he was talking to her instead of to all of them. At the end of his talk he put the spider in the tank and walked up to them as the crowd dispersed.


    "Hope you and your little boy enjoyed my talk," he said with a wink.


    He was not as tall as Steffi and had to look up to speak to her just like Johnny did. Johnny almost laughed, but disguised it as a cough and said aloud; "it''s very interesting, that a spider could catch a bird."


    "There, you see Madame, your son can spot a clever man. And a clever chap such as I can spot a fine lady; your golden hair, your handsome, aquiline face and-" he coughed. "Now if you are not busy this evening I know how to entertain a lady such as yourself."


    Steffi held up her hand to show her wedding ring. She had other rings, but the wedding ring had its tiny, sparkling diamond. She had told Johnny that it was her only real diamond. "Sir, can you spot a married woman? Is that also among your many and varied talents?" The man frowned at her. Steffi shook her head. "Come, Johnny." She led him away and Johnny noticed she was giving that little smile that meant she was amused.


    "What''s your favourite jewel, mum?" Johnny wanted to know.


    "Why my diamond of course, darling. A diamond is the hardest naturally occurring mineral you know? And my gem reminds me how much I love being part of my new family."


    Johnny felt touched. "I love you!"


    She grinned at him, her blue eyes sparkling like the diamond.


    Johnny had a further question. "What did he mean when he said you had an aquiline face?"


    "It''s from Latin, darling. From the world ''eagle.'' Saying I look like an eagle. Referring to my prominent nose." She tapped the side of her nose. "And I suppose I have a long face. Believe it or not, it''s a compliment."


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    00O00


    That evening they went swimming at the pool with a wave machine. Steffi concealed her long hair under a blue swimming cap. She shook her head at her reflection in the mirror beside the showers. "Ach, it does look silly. And I feel so naked with no jewellery."


    Steffi had such long hair that the cap had to be large so as to cover it. It made the top of her head appear elongated as well as shiny and blue. With her hair no longer visible her nose was somehow more noticeable. Perhaps the funny man at the zoo had been right. From the side her nose looked a bit like a beak. Changing the shape of someone''s head changed them a lot. Johnny remembered her words about Magnus the previous day. Magnus looked funny with his cheek pouches distended and so did Steffi did with her swimming cap on. "I love you mum, whatever shape you''re in."


    She gently touched his shoulder. "I love you, my son."


    In the water, Steffi procured a bright pink ball and tossed it in the air. "Try to catch it, darling."This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.


    "What''s the game, mum?"


    "How about Escape the Blob again?" She pushed the ball to Johnny. "Now pretend I''m the blob and that I want the ball. It looks like a jewel bright swamp hopper."


    Giggling, Johnny splashed around the shallower outer rim of the circular pool, while Steffi swam slowly after him.


    "Why run from me, darling?" She scooped him up in her arms and planted a kiss on his forehead. "Got you, you sweet little hopper."


    The alarm for the waves sounded. "Hold tight, darling." Johnny dropped the ball and his stepmother kept her arms firmly around him. A wave swept them up and into the shallows, Steffi landing in a sitting position with her arms around Johnny.


    "Aua!" Steffi had been thoroughly drenched, her cap wrinkled and Johnny was giggling.


    "The waves are the best part. I want to go to the deep center. I have a bronze swimming badge now."


    "Oh no, you''re not going in the deep end until I''m satisfied you''re ready." Johnny tried to give her a plaintive look, but her blue eyes were unusually stern.


    "Then please carry me on another wave?"


    Steffi sighed. "Certainly, Johnny."


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    00O00


    Back home they had tea with strawberries and cream and then Steffi wanted to read to Johnny. It had been a tiring day, so he leaned against her on the sofa as she read a story about a girl who found out that she had been created out of magical clay because her parents could not have children naturally. Johnny remembered when Steffi said she was barren. Was that why she had thought of this story?


    Johnny still had not finished reading the latest installment in the Bluestone Builder series, but now he laid it on the sofa and followed his stepmother into the kitchen where she began to prepare supper, first chopping up the vegetables.


    "I really hope you enjoy this, darling. I had a frugal childhood in the DDR. It''s great to be able to cook my child a big meal."


    Johnny noticed the calendar on the wall that she had made, with each month accompanied by a family photo. This month the photo was one of him alone, smiling to show off that he had lost his first baby tooth. He surveyed it critically. "Does that picture look funny? I''m missing a tooth."


    Steffi stopped chopping and lifted the calendar from the wall to beam at the photo. "Aw, that''s part of the charm. Don''t you look adorable? That smile and that mop of chestnut curls and those bright, green eyes..."


    Johnny wanted to talk more about the story she had read him. "The little girl made of clay was lucky that her parents were kinder than Thumbelina''s. Think what they might have called her."


    "Thumbelina''s mother was mean. How would she have liked to be named ''desperate, lonely spinsterella''?" Steffi''s voice was trembling a little as she said the last three words. Johnny thought she must really feel sorry for Thumbelina


    At supper, Johnny felt relaxed and happy. His parents talked about Dad''s work and Steffi''s translating. Steffi did not sound entirely happy. "You know Henry, I always wanted to translate children''s fiction instead, German tax law is a load of drivel."


    "Tax law''s the same the world over," said Dad.


    "Not for Lord Ashcroft," said Johnny.


    He was pleased that Steffi burst out laughing, scrunching her nose.


    "I take it you two had fun today?" said Dad.


    Johnny grinned at his stepmother. "We did! In the Zoo and the swimming pool. Want to ride some more waves, Steffi?"


    Steffi had fixed her long yellow hair in a pony tail, which she flipped over her shoulder. "Ach, I''ve only just got the scent of chlorine off me, darling. Actually no¡­" she sniffed her hand. "Three showers and I still haven''t."


    <hr noshade="noshade" size="1">


    00O00


    Late that night, Johnny was still awake and he was determined to stay awake. There had been some kind of monstrous bird here last night and it had taken his stepmother, he just knew it. This would not happen again.


    He stayed up reading the latest installment in the Bluestone Builder series. This one had a strange ending which he found disconcerting and now he was getting very sleepy so he decided to play with Magnus. Drowsier than usual, he accidentally let Magnus slip through his fingers and scuttle onto the floor. He jumped out of bed to scoop the hamster up and heard his father''s voice; "is Johnny still up at this hour?"


    Then there were Steffi''s footfalls on the landing and she opened the door. She grinned at him. "Well, are you still up at this hour, my dear night owl?"


    He had to persuade her to stay where he could watch her, just in case the wicked bird creature came back. "Something''s bothering me, mum. It¡­ it''s in this book." Thinking quickly he picked up the latest Bluestone Builder book.


    Steffi looked concerned and sat on his bed. He put Magnus back in his cage and opened the book at the final chapter, flipping through the pages and pointing at each one to show Steffi what he was talking about. "In this story, things were a lot like the first Bluestone adventure. There was a villain who used to be a pirate like the Scourge and he had a nickname too ¨C ''Mad Eyes.'' Mad Eyes had taken over a tiny island off the Bluestone coast and he said that he was the emperor of his island. Then he led an army of corsairs and flesh eating lizards to the mainland to attack the Bluestone Fortress. The brave mice beat his army back and take the fight to Mad Eye''s palace where the Bluestone champion fights Mad Eyes. He is the grandson of the hero in the first book. And see, mum, he punches Mad Eyes so that the tyrant stumbles back and treads on his pet snake which bites him. Doesn''t this look like the story with the Scourge? The first hero kills the Scourge in a surprising way as well, by cutting the rope of the Bluestone bell so that the heavy bell falls on the Scourge.


    Steffi nodded. "Indeed it does look like the mouse followed in his grandad''s paw prints, darling."


    "But then it gets really, really strange. One of the Bluestone mice takes the dead baddie''s crown and declares that he wants to be the Emperor¡­ and he changes¡­ I don''t like it. How could he change into a villain just by wearing the crown of a dead villain?"


    Steffi picked up the book and frowned at the page. "It reads like the story turned into a dream. What was the author thinking of? I wonder if it is even the same author."


    Flipping the page over she read aloud. "The crown of Mad Eyes was evil and it had found a new host. The old tyrant was dead, but the reign of terror would never cease¡­"


    She stopped, her blue eyes wide and then dropped the book and put her arms around him. "Don''t fret, my son. You have nothing to fear."


    "Does it frighten you if stories turn into dreams, mum?"


    "It is just a story Johnny and not worth worrying about¡­" she spoke in such a soothing voice. Then she was singing a lullaby without words again and he was getting really drowsy. He felt so relaxed in her arms he didn''t want to fight the tide of sleep.


    <hr noshade="noshade" size="1">


    00O00


    When he awoke Steffi was gone and the only light was that of the small bedside lamp. To his horror, he heard the shuffling sound that he had heard the previous night before he found the strange feathers, but this time it was right outside his door. He shut his eyes tight, feeling fear well up inside him.


    The door swung open and he could hear the rustle of huge wings and the shuffling and dragging of huge feet. He would not open his eyes. He could not cry out. It felt as though he couldn''t move at all. Something was standing over him now, he could hear very heavy breathing and a weird musty smell invaded his nostrils.


    What felt like an icy cold finger gently touched his cheek. He kept his eyes tightly closed, his heart fluttering. What was it doing? Something ruffled his hair¡­ cold fingers stroked his other cheek¡­ Then it was shuffling out of his room. He lay there perfectly still, perfectly terrified. He did not think he would be able to sleep, but somehow he drifted off again and did not wake until dawn.

 Enter the Bird Monster

    Johnny awoke the next morning to the sun shining through his window and the birds tweeting outside. The skeleton was lying in bed beside him although he didn''t remember putting it there last night.


    He sat up as cold realisation hit him. He had fallen asleep instead of staying watch and the bird creature had been here again! Where was his stepmother? Feeling slightly sick, he jumped out of bed, ran along the landing and hammered on his parents'' bedroom door.


    He heard his dad; "what is it, Johnny? Your mother''s not well."


    "Let my son in, Henry," murmured Steffi''s voice. She sounded so tired¡­ so weak.


    Dad opened the door and Johnny hurried straight to Steffi''s bedside. Dad was dressed but she was lying in bed, eyes closed. She looked paler and wearier than ever. He leaned closer. "Mum?"


    "Fetch a cup of herbal tea," began Dad, but Steffi groaned and tried to sit up, shaking her head.


    "Stay with me, darling."


    "Alright, I''ll fetch it."


    "Thanks, Henry."


    Dad left the room and Johnny sat on the side of the bed as Steffi lay down again and reached for his hand. Her hand felt very cold, so he rubbed the back of it. He felt a sense of guilt gnawing at him. She had already been ill, he had failed to keep watch last night, the bird creature had taken her away again and now she was worse.


    Steffi mumbled something in German. He leaned close to hear. "What is it, mum? Will you be alright?" His agitation was showing in his voice.


    Steffi lifted a hand and gently stroked his cheek. Her fingers felt cold. "Don''t fret, mouse."


    "I can''t help it. I''m really worried that you''re so ill."


    She struggled to a sitting position and hugged him to her. "There, there, my snail."


    ''Snail?!'' She must be unwell. He should have done more to prevent the bird monster from intruding¡­


    He buried his face in her pink silk nightgown and sniffed as she gently rubbed his back, giving her small contented sigh. "I love you, Johnny."


    "I love you, mum. What would I do if I lost you?"


    "That will never happen." She kissed him and the tip of her long nose brushed his cheek. Her face really did feel cold and there was that musty smell again... "I want to take care of you and that is what will happen."


    Something had fallen from her hair onto the duvet and Johnny felt a chill as he recognised a bright green feather.


    He picked it up. "Mum, what is this?"


    "A feather? I''m sure I don''t know where it''s from, darling. Can I hug you again?"


    Johnny dropped the feather and she put her arms round him again singing something softly to herself.


    His dad arrived with herbal tea and toast and took Johnny down for breakfast.


    "I think I should read to her. Wouldn''t that help her get better?"


    Dad was reading the paper. "She certainly likes having you around, so yes, try it out."


    But to Johnny''s consternation, a lot of his books were not on their shelves and were in fact nowhere to be found. He picked up an issue of the Nutter comic instead and re-entered his parent''s bedroom. Steffi grinned at him as he clambered back onto the bed beside her and she struggled back into a sitting position. "I wanted to read to you, mum, but this is all I could find. The characters in it are so silly¡­"


    He flipped open the comic at a page entitled the Narcissist. The Narcissist character went around boasting a lot. It seemed that he was a patient in some kind of hospital, but he was certainly self-confident. They pored over the third to last panel. The Narcissist appeared beside a new patient and began to boast. Johnny read his words aloud: "Welcome to the hospital. Whatever''s wrong with you, I''m the one who will help. I''m the only one who''s any good. The psychiatrist? I warn you, he''s really conceited. And alright, the tractable young psychologist is pretty, but she''s nothing on me of course. Look out for the Narcissist! I will be your mentor, if you wish it." Then the last two panels showed the Narcissist''s head swelling until it exploded.


    Steffi burst out laughing, scrunching her nose and collapsed back onto the bed, shaking with mirth.


    Johnny began to laugh too. "You laugh at the strangest things, mum."


    Steffi sat up, pulling a funny face. "Do I?"


    He put his arms around her and looked up, pulling a funny face as well. "I think so." Feeling silly, they rubbed their noses together. Johnny pointed at the last panel again. "Look out for the Narcissist¡­ or he''ll blow up?"


    Steffi burst out laughing again, pointing at the panel. "As if he could be anyone''s mentor doing that."


    "What''s he doing in this whole story, mum? He''s so strange."


    "I suppose he wants reactions from the other characters, even if they are angry reactions. So he annoys and makes fun of everyone."


    "Oh. He''s not very nice then."


    Steffi was grinning and her blue eyes were shining. "Indeed he is not."


    Johnny laid the comic aside. "The other characters in this are also stupid, but they''re not even as funny. I think a game would be more relaxing. Wait a minute¡­"


    He ran downstairs and searched through the games cupboard. Steffi had enjoyed playing Escape the Blob, but he couldn''t find it anywhere. In fact, where were all the games he had played with her? They were all missing, like his books. Could the bird creature have stolen them when it broke in the previous night? It had made his stepmother ill and taken away the games she liked! His indignation increased.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.


    In the end he had to take an old Draughts set upstairs and spread it out over the bed. It was easier than playing Chess and Johnny was OK at it. As they played Steffi pointed out the tactic she had used each time she took one of his pieces and how they could be used. It had been she who had first told him that a game ends when the other players pieces are either taken or trapped in a square and unable to move.


    He felt a prickle of unease as though he were being watched and looked up. That ugly green doll was hanging over the bed, its beady black eyes fixed on him. He scowled at it. Why would Steffi suppose it helped with her insomnia? She was able to make him fall asleep just by singing that lullaby without words.


    "Why don''t you sing that lullaby to help you sleep, mum?"


    "Oh darling, it''s a light magic spell - I can only cast it on someone I love, not on myself. It''s to refresh their spirit." She pushed her blond hair away from her face. "It is a spell of de-stressing and can also possibly be used to help them handle pain."


    "I''d like to sing it to you. Can you teach me?"


    She beamed at him. "I''d love that, darling." She hummed a snatch of the haunting melody for him to try and repeat. He found it difficult, but after some attempts he was able to imitate the first part. He could not make it work they way she did however. Was his heart not in it?


    When Johnny was about to go down to lunch, Steffi put an arm round his shoulders. "I''m sorry I''ve been too ill for our real plans today, but we still must take a walk. This afternoon I''ll be strong enough for that."


    <hr noshade="noshade" size="1">


    00O00


    Over lunch Dad had the paper out and Johnny noticed there was an article that claimed a man had been attacked by a huge bird.


    He felt a prickle of unease. "Dad, could that bird have broken in here last night?"


    "No Johnny, I expect the bird only attacks drunks. It''s the same with alien encounters."


    But a huge bird creature had broken in last night and had even been in Johnny''s room, although it had only stroked his cheek and hair. Johnny wondered what Dad would think of the feather he had found upstairs. Where was it? Johnny remembered he had dropped it on the floor. Well he was going upstairs to fetch it. Johnny stood up, but at that moment, Steffi entered the dining room fully dressed and in her leather coat, wearing her sunglasses.


    "You dears, I really need to take a little walk, get the cobwebs out of my brain." She beckoned to Johnny. "Do you want to come, darling?"


    Johnny hurried up to her. "Yes! Round the park?"


    "Yes, I think so."


    Dad shook his head. "I have to shop for the new TV this afternoon. I''ll be setting off soon."


    Steffi blew him a kiss. "See you soon, Henry."


    "I''ll be a few hours. You know what the service in that shop is like."


    <hr noshade="noshade" size="1">


    00O00


    They walked along, side by side. Steffi held herself back to Johnny''s pace and smiled at him each time he looked up at her. She pulled her leather coat tighter. "Cold today."


    Johnny thought she was feeling the cold because she was ill, but he did not say so. He noticed a snowdrop flower on the grassy bank beside them as they walked through the park gates. "Look, the first snowdrop. Winter is ending."


    Steffi nodded. "The first snowdrops are so pretty."


    There was a harsh cawing and Johnny saw a flock of crows milling around on the grass nearby.


    "What was the name for a lot of crows, mum? It''s something strange isn''t it, like an unkindness of ravens."


    "It''s a murder of crows, darling." Steffi grimaced. "The English language shows wild imagination at times."


    She pushed him on the swings for a while higher and higher so that it felt like the wind was rushing through his hair. "Feel as if you''re flying, my little love," Steffi crooned.


    Later she wanted to sit on a bench while she tried her trick of attracting birds to perch on her gloved hand, but this time, none would alight near her. "I can''t do it." She sounded more agitated than Johnny thought the situation warranted.


    "The birds are probably timid today."


    "But are they nervous of me?"


    "Why would they be¡­ oh!" He suddenly noticed the hooded figure from the bus previous day, standing nearby, silent and sinister.


    Steffi gasped and her blue eyes widened and she swept him up in her strong arms and ran, taking great long bounds. Johnny shared her obvious terror, his heart fluttered as he clung to her.


    But silent as a shadow, the figure glided round, encircling them his feet not seeming to touch the ground.


    Steffi placed Johnny on the ground and crouched over him protectively. She turned her face to the figure and screamed; "Back! Get back!" She screamed something even louder in German that Johnny didn''t catch and reached into her pocket, took out a handful of glittering powder and flung it at the shadowy form.


    There was a flash and he seemed to melt away.


    Steffi put her arms round her stepson. She was breathing hard and her eyes were wide and scared, her yellow hair in disarray.


    "Was that magic?" Asked Johnny, but then a shadow fell over them. Johnny looked up and saw a pitch black shadow above that unfurled to form the outline of a pair of huge wings. A stench of rotting meat invaded his nostrils and he heard a harsh man''s voice croaking out the words: "There''s no escape, witch. You have dabbled in dark magic and on the third night there will be no road back."


    Then the shadow melted away, like a nightmare at sunrise it was gone.


    "What in the world, was that?" asked Johnny, eyes wide.


    Steffi''s bottom lip quivered. "Back to the house, darling, quick." She picked him up again and ran to the house. When she opened the front door, she called for dad, but there was no answer.


    "He''s still shopping?" said Johnny, his voice betraying his unease.


    "Oh what can I do?" wailed Steffi. "We must stick together, Johnny. We must hide - in my bedroom I think."


    Steffi cast off her leather coat and led Johnny upstairs to the bedroom where they sat on the bed.


    "Mum, what was that shadow in the park? A ghost? A demon?" He looked her in the eye.


    Steffi opened and closed her mouth. She did look pale. "We saw a psychic projection."


    "Psychic projection?"


    "An evil magical being can send a picture of himself over great distances. Remember the Eye of Sauron in Middle Earth? We just saw a psychic projection of a practitioner of dark magic who calls himself ''the Raven.'' The Raven is far away and it''s his minions I am worried about right now. I have got you into this. I-" Tears shimmered in her blue eyes. Outside the sun was setting, lighting up her face in glowing red. "But the Raven was a man to begin with, not a demon. We do have one chance."


    "So the Raven stole our games and books? Are his minions coming to get us?"


    At that moment, there was a horribly harsh cawing sound from far off. The cawing grew louder and louder - much louder than the cawing of mere crows and disturbingly like human voices¡­


    Steffi breathed hard through her long nose, her nostrils dilating. "They won''t ever take my son from me. I''d stake my humanity on it."


    Johnny saw a small movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked up and saw the night doll twitch. "The doll ¨C it moved!"


    "Darling-"


    The night doll''s string snapped and the ugly little thing flung itself at Steffi, its twig like arms seizing at her hair. Steffi screamed and Johnny yelled in shock, his heart fluttering. Steffi screamed again and again, the sound terrible, her pale face turning lily white and her lips turning blue. Johnny leaped up and standing on the bed, pushed her hair out of the way, finding the doll which was stuck to her neck. He tugged at it, but it was welded to her. To his horror, dark green feathers were bursting from her skin, surrounding his hand. Feeling sick, he began to sob.


    Steffi screamed even louder, a terrible unbroken sound and jumped onto the floor with a thud that rattled the room. With an awful splintering sound, her body became rigid and she stood motionless, continuing her chilling scream, her pearly white face beginning to turn green and then brighter green - a livid green. Her yellow hair was thickening and darkening, becoming tangled knots.


    Johnny was crying. "Mum please¡­"


    Her screams altered, becoming deeper and harsher. With a fresh surge of horror he heard her stockings rip and saw huge claws protruding from her feet¡­ but her legs had become thinner and scaly green¡­ huge green bird legs. Bird legs¡­? Steffi was a bird monster!


    Johnny tore from the room, the sound of husky yells following him down the stairs. He raced for the front door, but a huge dark shape swooped over him and landed right in front of the door¡­ It was Steffi, but she was very different... Her entire body was covered in thick, dark green feathers except for her head, neck arms and shoulders which were now a bright, livid green. Her legs were gone, replaced by the clawed feet of some giant bird. Her long hair was now a tangled, dark green mess, cascading down her green shoulders. Her blue eyes glared at him with frightening intensity. She reached for him and he saw that her fingernails had lengthened into talons. She spoke in a low, husky voice; "Why run from me, darling?"

 Flight and Fight

    Steffi gave a shriek and lifted her arms high above her head. A massive pair of dark green wings unfurled behind her and Johnny''s nostrils were assailed by a strong musty smell¡­ He leapt back, but she darted forwards fast as lightening, scooping him up in her strong arms, breathing heavily onto his face, her blue eyes gazing into his with an unnerving intensity that he had never seen from her before. Her gaze was that of a hawk. She was giving off that musty smell stronger than ever and her feathers felt really weird. He was about to yell in fright, but then she spoke again, more softly.


    "Have no fear, darling. We must fly from the danger." She kissed him tenderly on the cheek and he breathed a sigh of relief, putting his arms around her.


    She pushed open the door. "Hold tight darling."


    Johnny clung to her and she wrapped her arms tightly around him as her massive wings fanned out behind her and flapped once, twice and then she leapt into the air! They flew upwards with incredible speed. Johnny shut his eyes tightly against the blasting wind and buried his face in his stepmother''s soft feathers. The wind roared, rushing past¡­


    Then she ceased her upward flight and the roar of the wind quieted. The only sound was the steady beating of her wings. He looked up at her and she grinned at him. Her entire face was an immaculate bright green, but her lips were a dark green, nearly black. "Alright, my son?" Her voice was low and husky, but he recognised her tone. She was happy again. He grinned back.


    "I ¨C I think so¡­ wow, I''ve never flown like this before!"


    "Sorry, but we must fly fast. The Raven''s minions are almost on us. Hold tight, my child." She was right. The terrible cawing mixed with the sound of evil voices was growing nearer. Johnny buried his face in her feathers again and she flew forward with incredible speed. He could feel the icy wind blasting against his back with great force. On and on they flew, on and on until Johnny wished they could just land. Steffi''s body felt so warm now and he could feel the rhythm of her heartbeat as she flew. Had she been using up all her energy flying like this at night? Was that why she felt cold during the day?


    Steffi was flying upwards again higher and higher until her bird''s feet clattered on rock. She clattered across a rocky plateau and then came to a halt. "You can look now, dear Johnny."


    He glanced around. Steffi had folded her mighty wings and they now stood at the mouth of a rocky tunnel. Where precisely this was, Johnny could not guess. He glanced around in wonder as his stepmother strode into the tunnel which was not long ¨C there was a light at the end. The tunnel soon opened out into a rocky chamber suffused with silvery light. There was what looked like a large, spherical silver lamp suspended from the ceiling and a familiar rug on the floor. It looked like the spare hallway rug. The cavern was rocky, but draped in what looked like straw and animal furs woven together. In its centre was a large stone slab piled high with what he recognised to be his lost books and games. There was a large rock roughly hewn into the shape of a sofa which had been draped in the straw weave and then strewn with cushions.


    Steffi sat her stepson down amidst the cushions and plumped herself beside him. Johnny could not help but glance down and see again how her legs were scaly bird legs ending in those clawed feet.


    "Water, darling?" Steffi picked up a bottle of water from the seat beside her and he took a small drink. She stroked his hair, looking down at him with a tender expression playing about her dark green lips. "Are you sure you''re alright? Flying like that is a new equilibrium, after all. Don''t worry about the Crows, we left them behind quickly enough."


    "Yes¡­ mum, please, what''s going on?" He looked up at her and she smiled back at him, the pale lamplight shining off her green nose and cheeks. Her thick, dark green hair was dishevelled from their flight.


    "This is our nest, my son. I''ve just started building it and I will make it the home of your dreams."


    "It''s great, but why are there crow monsters chasing us and what''s happened to you? Who is this Raven?"


    She gave a husky sigh. "Darling¡­ The story begins with my unhappiness. I was very, very unhappy when I first discovered I was barren. There is no cure in medicine and none in light magic or twilit magic either. I made the mistake of dabbling in dark magic. Dark magic goes against nature." She shifted a little, her claws clattering on the hard floor.


    "There is a crime lord who has the title, ''the Raven.'' He has used dark magic on himself and his henchmen with the result that they have become more successful thieves and assassins¡­ When I first decided to use dark magic I sought out a dark magic practitioner and found him. The Raven promised to cure me with a dark spell and he promised that I would be able to have a child also, but he was not doing it out of the kindness of his heart¡­ his black heart¡­ he lied to me. He really intended for me to become a bird monster like his henchmen and a slave to his will. It has worked differently on me to how he thought it would and I have kept my mind, but now he has sent his minions to get me. I was a gullible fool. Dark magic always comes with a price. The Raven himself is proof of that, for he must now reside in his own netherworld. He mostly communicates with the outside world by psychic projections. He can cast a spell from a long distance..."This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.


    She looked troubled. This idea made Johnny feel uneasy too. "What sort of spells?"


    "For instance, he tampered with the text of your Bluestone Builder book. I understood it to be his warning that you should not underestimate dark magic or a villain who is a schemer. By the Moon, I pray that we are safe here¡­" She choked and her bottom lip quivered. "You heard him in the park. On the third night there is no road back. I cannot change back. I don''t know what will happen. What will your father think? He''s so practical and down to Earth and this is all kinds of bizarre... If my marriage is over, I don''t want us to go back¡­ I could not bear to lose you as well¡­" Shining tears were sliding down her face so Johnny put his arms around her feathery body. She unfurled a wing and gently wrapped it around him, stroking his hair with her human hand. Despite the pungent musty-sweet odour, the feel of her wing around him felt reassuring.


    "How do you know you can''t change back, mum? I''ve found out dark magic is real. Nothing seems impossible now."


    She swallowed. "But what if I couldn''t? I made sure that I adopted you as a condition of my marriage, but does the law apply to me anymore? How would I look turning up to parent''s evening? Or anywhere? Now that I''m¡­ If I am an outcast¡­ What if I never saw you again-?" She covered her green face with her hands and began to sob, her feathery body shaking.


    Johnny couldn''t stand to see her cry. He had to comfort her. He knelt on her lap, putting his arms around her shoulders. She took her hands away from her face and gazed at him, her wide blue eyes shining with tears in the lamplight. "Do I get no say in it, mum?" He wrinkled his nose. He wanted her to be happy and silly again, like they had been that morning. "Remember what you said about Magnus? I love you too, even if you change shape."


    Steffi gave a throaty chuckle and wrinkled her shiny green nose. "I love you so much, darling." They rubbed their noses together and Steffi wrapped both her wings around him. She murmured huskily into his ear. "I have wanted to look after you ever since I first saw your bright young face and looked into your sparkling green eyes. You have been the light of my life for as long as I''ve known Henry. I do want to work things out with him, but if the worst comes to the worst, I am ready to fight for custody."


    Johnny wondered what she meant by custody. And was the Raven just after Steffi or was his Dad in danger? "Are your wings strong enough to bring Dad to this nest too?"


    She bit her dark green lip. "I don''t think so¡­ I''d have to learn a spell of lightness or a spell of strength."


    "Will the Raven go after him?"


    "It''s me he''s after so¡­ I hope not," her voice trembled. "I must warn him though and offer help also¡­ it''s my duty. I took a vow. I owe my husband the whole truth, however embarrassing." She sighed deeply. "There''s really no time to be lost. I must take you with me, because if the Raven did find this place¡­" she shuddered. "I''m not letting you out of my sight." She stood and swept over to the corner of the cavern, Johnny trotting after her. She rummaged through a pile of cushions in the corner until she found a harness. "I think this will work. It''s safer if I strap you to me. There was no time to retrieve the one back in the house, but this one will do."


    She pushed her thick, green tinged hair away from her face and murmured¡­ "now what will we need? My son''s safety is paramount."


    "Mum, what does it mean when you talk about fighting for custody?"


    "Oh darling¡­" Steffi placed her hands on her temples, "please don''t fret about it now, but when a mum and dad fight for custody of their child it means that they go to court to decide who gets to look after him and for what portion of the time. It costs money and it''s not pleasant. But that only happens if the mum and dad can''t live together anymore."


    Johnny''s heart gave a lurch. "You''re not going to fight dad like that, are you?"


    Steffi grimaced and covered her green face with her hands. "I''d hate myself if I hurt Henry, but I couldn''t bear to end up alone¡­ I''ll get the money together. Please don''t make me fight you, Henry." she was muttering to herself rather than to him. She shook her head, her wild dark hair flying this way and that and strode over to a crate in the corner of the cave. Prising off the wooden lid, she lifted out a sparkling diamond, the size of her fist and gazed at it reverently.


    "Mum, did you steal that?"


    "I''ll be needing it soon, darling. There''s no way around that."


    Johnny''s head was spinning. So she needed the diamond to pay for court? Were his mum and dad really going to court to fight each other? Even if they could somehow beat the Raven, a dismaying prospect remained. Which of them would he rather live with? Dad had always been there and living away from him was unthinkable, but he really didn''t want to go back to life without Steffi either.


    She had buckled a leather belt about her waist and was clipping different leather pouches around it. She had put the diamond in a leather bag and clipped that to her belt as well. She turned to gaze at him, her blue eyes showing that intense expression again, like she could see into his thoughts. "I sense your unease my child. Rest assured that only the Raven is my enemy and we are going to help Daddy tonight, come what may. He can decide what he wants to do afterwards. If he is prepared to stand by me, the three of us still could have a wonderful life together."


    Steffi motioned for her son to come near and then she strapped him to her with a harness so that he was securely in place and then stepped out into the night. There was a full moon in the sky, a brighter moon than Johnny ever remembered seeing before. It seemed to blaze down with an ethereal light. Strapped to her chest, Johnny looked up at his stepmother. The ghostly glow of the moon lit up her green face. She smiled at him a little sadly. "Tonight will decide many things, my little love."


    She flapped her wings once, twice and then she was aloft again, flying with great speed away from the mountains.


    Suddenly she stopped flying and took a sharp intake of breath. A shadow reared up in front of them, forming the outline of a pair of huge, pitch black wings.


    Johnny heard the evil voice of the Raven once more and smelled his putrid stink on the wind; "Where do you think you are flying, Harpy, clutching your fledgling like that? He will provide victuals for my Crows! Entrails, sticky treats for them after they have sated their lust for murder."


    Steffi gave a terrible shriek, but the great shadow was already gone, replaced by a mob of smaller shadows on the horizon that cawed in harsh malevolent voices¡­ Crows coming at them from all directions, above, below and from all sides, hurtling towards them with impossible speed, cutting off any way of escape¡­

 Showdown in the Sky

    The Murder of Crows hurtled towards them and a great shadow cut off the Moon, larger than any bird, larger even than any plane. It was like a dark ship tossed on the sea of clouds! Surely impossible¡­ although given everything else that night, perhaps not. Johnny clung to his stepmother, feeling an icy sense of terror. Steffi shrieked again and Johnny felt her heart thumping beneath her feather breast, her breath coming in ragged gasps. The Crows were now clearly visible ¨C shadowy shapes of men with pitch black wings and heads of monstrous birds of carrion, wielding what Johnny thought were huge forks that glowed with dull red lights. Suddenly they pointed the forks and beams of bloody light shot towards Johnny and his stepmother. Steffi soared upwards to avoid them and began flying in erratic loops. Johnny buried his face in her feathers.


    "No other way¡­" groaned Steffi. She was reaching into one of her belt pouches and then she screamed something. There was a sound like smashing glass and she flew higher.


    He heard the clatter of her talons as she alighted on a hard surface so he looked up. They were in a narrow, wooden corridor lit up by a glimmering red light for which Johnny could see no lamp. There was a faint stink of rotting meat in the air. The lurid glare made Steffi''s green face look rather strange. Her eyes were wide and scared.


    "The Crows must have wanted me to board this ship. It is the Raven''s Flying Fortress. They kept shooting at me until I broke through one of the portholes." She unbuckled the harness that strapped him to her and set him on the wooden planks. The ship was moving, Johnny could tell that; it felt even worse than being on a ship at sea. The whole floor seemed to sway and lurch.


    There were shining tears rolling down Steffi''s cheeks. "I''m so sorry I got you into this, my son. We''re right in the Raven''s lair... I have a plan if he should find us, but it''s so dangerous¡­" She took hold of his hand and breathed hard, her feathered breast rising and falling. "If they want you, they will definitely have to kill me first."


    Johnny shared her fear. "You said the Raven stayed in his netherworld?"


    "And the portal is somewhere aboard this vessel. Come, we must be quick. The Crows will be here in seconds."


    She led him down the corridor which joined another. At the end of this new corridor, there was a heavy wooden door. Steffi tore at the lock with her fingernails and the bird claws of her feet, gouging great rents in the wood. The lock came free and she kicked the door open. A harsh croaking sound assailed their ears from the room beyond: "Kak-kak-kak-kak-kak." Steffi took Johnny''s hand and they stepped inside.


    They were in a wide room with a higher ceiling than the corridors. With a giddy, unreal feeling, Johnny saw the shapes of men covered with black and white feathers, wings folded behind them. They had heads that resembled giant magpies! They were peering over a set of railings which fenced in the centre of the room and cheering in their harsh, quacking, barking voices: "Kak-kak-kak-kak-kak."


    Steffi gave an earsplitting shriek that carried above even the sound the bird men made.


    Several of them turned at the sound, surveying the two of them with beady, black eyes.


    Steffi put a wing around Johnny and spread her green arms wide. "Listen to me, Magpies. I have a proposition. I can help you find all the treasure your hearts desire, make you rich beyond the dreams of avarice - if you will help me end the menace of the Raven. Please think what he intends¡­ to kill innocent humans to sate the monstrous appetites of the Crows! How can you be OK with this?"


    The Magpies had all fallen silent. Steffi''s shriek had been deafening enough to carry above even their cacophony. She paused and the Magpie nearest them spoke: "The Raven promises many things, Harpy. He has promised the Crows carrion. He has promised us treasure. He has promised you a fledgling. We all accepted."


    "I have a fledgling and the Raven had no part in it!" said Steffi proudly. She stroked Johnny''s hair and grinned at him and Johnny felt warm and glowing inside.


    "We dare not defy the Raven, Harpy kak-kak" rasped the Magpie. "We are not such fools. We know what he is capable of and how he delights in torture. What is there to gain by incurring his wrath?"


    Steffi glared, breathing hard, her breast rising and falling. Her husky voice trembled as she replied: "Oh I don''t know, how about innocent lives?"


    "Not worth his wrath," grated another Magpie.


    "And what of my wrath, mine?" Steffi''s spoke these words more softly, but Johnny could tell she was getting really angry - she was breathing harder, her breast rising and falling.


    A third Magpie shook his head and pointed a talon over the railing. "Forget it and look at the results of his magical experiments. Kak-kak - We''re humans to whom he has given the powers of birds. He''s also tried giving birds human traits with dark magic. Look at these abominations."


    "What?" Steffi picked up Johnny and spread her wings wide, striding forwards. She shoved aside two Magpies with her strong wings so that she could see over the rail. In the center of the room there was a shallow pit with a wooden floor and strange, misshapen things were crawling around in it. Johnny thought that they were like plucked chickens, but with four legs and swollen heads, their beaks opening and closing like they were struggling to breathe. He felt sick. What a horrible wizard the Raven must be to treat birds like this.


    Steffi choked and put a clenched fist to her mouth. Johnny glanced up to see tears in her blue eyes.


    A Magpie pointed into the pit. "They hate themselves ¨C they hate each other¡­ look¡­"The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.


    One of the bird-things gave a wheezing gasp and scuttled at one of its fellows, pecking at it.


    "We''re taking wagers on which will peck which to death," added another Magpie.


    "Stop, stop now!" screamed Steffi, flapping her great wings with terrific force, bowling the nearest Magpies aside like ninepins. She reached into her belt pouch and took out a handful of glittering powder, just like the stuff she had thrown at the Raven that afternoon. She flung it at the Magpies, screaming in her Harpy voice and there were bright flashes of rainbow coloured lights all around. "Get out! Get out! How could you be so depraved?"


    The Magpies retreated to a door in one of the walls, croaking things like: "A witch! kak-kak" and "Magic! The Raven can handle it."


    Steffi was crying as she gazed transfixed at the pit and her tears splashed onto Johnny''s face. The bird-things had scuttled to the corners where they cowered in fear at the commotion. "Alive¡­ and hating themselves¡­"


    This was a horrible idea and it made Johnny feel sick, but he knew Steffi had to focus. "It''s the Raven''s fault, not the Magpies," said Johnny.


    "Quite right, darling! I must get you out of this foul place."


    She folded her wings, set him down on the wooden floor and took his hand, leading him to a door in the far wall. This corridor was darker and the dull red lights were the faintest glimmer. Johnny felt like they were moving unnaturally slowly as if through water. He looked up at Steffi for reassurance. She gave a small smile, but looked worried. "The stink of dark magic is all around," she murmured.


    A pitch black shadow suddenly loomed in front of them and the Raven''s voice cut through their minds.


    "Direct defiance is it, Harpy?"


    Steffi shrieked and flung a handful of glittering powder at him. There was an explosion and flashes of rainbow lights, briefly illuminating the dingy corridor. The shadow retreated, but there was no time for relief. There was a clattering sound and a mirror with an ornate silver frame and clawed bird''s feet propelled itself down the corridor towards them with incredible speed. In the mirror they saw the head of a huge raven with glowing red eyes and a wickedly sharp beak.


    The Raven''s voice resounded in their heads, louder and harsher than ever. "Very well ¨C suffer living Hell until the Crows arrive to devour your carcass and that of your brat."


    Steffi flung her arms round Johnny, shielding him with her wings, but then to Johnny''s horror she began to scream and scream without pause and collapsed to the ground, her arms still around her stepson, writing in pain.


    The harsh sound of the Raven''s hollow laughter echoed above Steffi''s screams. "You can shield him from my spell for a moment, but not for long! I remade you, Harpy. I can unmake you. I take great pleasure in making you suffer! And know this before you die: The night of the Raven will fall on the world below. The Crows will feast!"


    Johnny felt really sick that Steffi was hurting so badly and his heart was fluttering. If he could only help, but what magic did he know? Then he remembered their lullaby ¨C the melody without words that could be used to help a loved one relax and forget their pain. She had been teaching it to him just that afternoon. He hummed it into her ear as loudly as he could although her screams were making his eardrums throb. He thought of how he had grown to love his stepmother and how it would hurt him if he lost her and he concentrated and concentrated and hummed the haunting melody louder.


    Abruptly, Steffi stopped screaming and writhing. She glared up and the mirror, her blue eyes furious and fixated. "Your portal is not harder than diamond," she wheezed and held up the bright diamond she had packed in the cave.


    "No!" barked the Raven


    But Steffi gave another scream and covering Johnny with her wings, she flung the diamond with terrific force at the mirror.


    There was a flash of blinding silver light and a brittle shattering noise that seemed to go on and on¡­ then a tinkling of broken glass.


    Steffi and Johnny looked up. The empty mirror frame stood lifeless in front of them, the fragments of the shattered glass lying in a heap at its clawed feet.


    The diamond lay nearby and Steffi picked it up and helped Johnny to stand. There was a terrible, inhuman cawing sound and they turned to see a small group of Crows staggering around in circles, yelling in their harsh voices: "The Raven is lost¡­ lost¡­ all is lost caaaawwwww."


    Steffi curled her dark green lip at them and flung another handful of sparkling powder, causing them to rush away back down the corridor.


    "Without the Raven, they''ve no idea what to do! But they almost had us. They made it as far as this corridor."


    "Is the Raven dead now, mum?"


    "Only stuck in his netherworld, darling, but I would say he is defeated de facto."


    Back in the room of the bird-things a small group of Magpies were milling around. One of them addressed Steffi. "The Crows have lost it ¨C kak kak¡­ they were going after you and I''m afraid they ate the bird-things¡­ thought they were carrion¡­"


    Steffi glared at him with frightening intensity. He staggered back at the force of her gaze, holding up his arms in a pacifying gesture. "But now they''re getting their comeuppance. They used dark magic for murder and it will exact its price. I doubt they will survive. kak-kak Now what do we do? The Raven''s magic propelled this ship and without him you''re the only mage left here."


    Steffi sniffed. "I''ll steer the ship, but only because I don''t want it to fall from the sky onto civilians below. You lot just stay out of the way."


    The Magpie held up a wing and his feathers began to fall out. "I''m changing back into a man¡­ we''re all going to revert¡­"


    "Well what do you want me to say? Congratulations? Come, dear Johnny."


    Steffi led him through another doorway and up a flight of stairs into a room with a broad window which let in the silvery light of the full Moon, lighting up Steffi''s face. She grinned at him. "We''ll park this thing in the mountains and then fly back home. We''ve won, darling. We''ve both won! I could never have done it without you, my little love."


    <hr noshade="noshade" size="1">


    00O00


    After landing the ship on a mountain top, Steffi strapped her son to her again and revisited the cave, depositing some items and collecting others, including a dress which she packed into a leather bag which she then strapped to her belt. They flew back to their home with all speed. They landed in the back garden and Steffi unstrapped Johnny and set him down on the lawn. The first faint streaks of dawn were visible on the horizon.


    "Yes¡­ I think I can still change back¡­" she murmured and reaching into her tangled mass of dark green hair, pulled out the night doll. Her hair began to turn yellow again and her wings began to shrink.


    "Excuse me please, darling, I must change..." She hurried into the garden shed and a couple of minutes later emerged. She was her old self again, fully clothed. She grinned at him and gave him the thumbs up.


    Johnny threw his arms about her, greatly relieved. "You see mum, the Raven was lying when he said there was no road back."


    Steffi stroked his hair. "A lie will always be exposed in the end, darling. And now I must tell your father the truth."


    The back door was flung open and there was dad wearing his dressing gown and a big frown. "What''s going on? Where have you both been?"


    Steffi gave a wan smile. "Please Henry, we need to sit down on the sofa with a cup of tea and talk about it. Be assured that Johnny has been a great help and I would have been lost without him."


    Dad stared.


    "Come, let us go in." Steffi took Johnny by the hand and linked her arm in Dad''s and they all went indoors. The sun was rising. The night of the Raven was over and it was the beginning of a beautiful day¡­