Read BEYOND THE LOOKING-GLASS: Book One in the BEYOND Series for Free Online

massive head back and forth, sending streams of spittle hurtling into the air.
    Sikes appeared about to unleash the terrifying beast.
    Kellen looked at Aleeta’s face. He’d seen that look before. She was a cool and calm person normally. But she had a fearful temper. And when it was released it could be a terrible sight to behold.
    “Well, Missus, I’m waiting for yer reply,” Sikes commanded. “Else I can’t be held responsible for what this here dog of mine might do.”
    “We’re asking for help, not bullying, you big ape,” Aleeta replied.
    Sikes looked as if he were about to let go of his dog’s leash and allow the pit bull to attack. Before Sikes could react, Aleeta quickly pounced forward and grabbed the large club out of the big bully’s grasp.
    Sikes, with the townsfolk behind him, surged forward.
    Aleeta swung the large club back and forth in a wide arc, like a baseball bat. Every time someone edged forward, she swung the bat at them and they pulled back.
    “Back all of you,” Aleeta warned. “Or I’ll bash your ugly heads to a pulp.”
    Sikes let go of Bull’s-Eye’s leash.
    With a yelp, the huge dog leaped at Aleeta. She suddenly shifted the club to a position in front of her. Aleeta turned the club into a lance. And when the pit bull lunged at her with dripping fangs, she drove the pole directly into its mouth.
    Bull’s-Eye gulped and froze, impaled in mid-air on its master’s wicked club. And in the next moment, it fell writhing in pain to the cobblestone street.
    Sikes fell to his knees beside his fallen dog. He sobbed bitterly.
    Aleeta placed Kellen behind her and held the club up high next to her ear. She waved it about in a small circle as she shoved through the crowd. People backed away, and ducked whenever Aleeta menaced them with her club.
    As they moved out of the mob, Aleeta whispered to Kellen.
    “When I say GO, run like hell.”
    At her signal, Kellen began to run right behind Aleeta. They dashed down the main thoroughfare, and then ducked into a side street. Kellen could hear the angry shouts behind them. The Londoners were right on their tail. Their footsteps sounded like rifle shots as clicked against the cobblestones.
    Just as it looked like they were doomed, a small young boy reached out and yanked them into a shadowy doorway. The angry mob rushed on by and soon their shouts sounded far off.
    “Thanks,” Kellen gasped, panting. He could make out three small figures in the shadows. “You saved our lives just now.”
    Aleeta stared at three boys standing before her. “And who might you be, young gentlemen?”
    The boy who had reached out to pull them in stood with cap in hand. He was rail-thin, pale and with a mop of yellow hair.
    “My name is Oliver Twist, milady. I am most pleased to make your acquaintance. And this other fellow is my mate, Charley Bates. We were in Fagin’s family of thieves. The other boy is a stranger. He says his name is Hans Brinker and that he doesn’t know how he got here. He’s got a pair of ice skates but there’s no ice anywhere around these parts. Isn’t that peculiar?”
    “Very,” Aleeta said, peering at the smiling boy holding skates. He wore wooden shoes on his feet.
    “Nice to meet you, Hans,” Aleeta said. “I’ve read a lot about you.”
    Hans frowned, obviously puzzled. “You have?”
    “Yes. But I haven’t time to tell you all about it now. We’re looking for our children. Have you seen them?” Hans shook his head no.
    But Oliver reached out and touched Aleeta’s sleeve gently.
    “They were here. They didn’t stay long. Some washerwomen gave them directions to the forest just outside town. They went there a short time ago.”
    “Forest?” Kellen asked.
    “Yes,” Oliver answered. “They went into Sherwood Forest.”
     
    ~*~

EIGHT
     
    It was almost dark when the Yellow Brick Road led them to the edge of Sherwood Forest. They entered cautiously, not knowing what to expect. The two found themselves surrounded by