Read Ravenspell Book 2: The Wizard of Ooze for Free Online Page A

leaves.
—AMBER

The worms still held Amber, and one big night crawler seemed to be trying to choke her.
    Amber peered down and saw that night crawlers had lunged up, wrapped themselves around her legs, and were now pulling back, effectively binding her to the ground.
    Thorn screamed in terror.
    Amber tried to leap away, but the worms had her tied down.
    Bushmaster and Ben whirled and lunged, stabbing the huge worms that held them with their spears. It was a magnificent battle.
    He’s so handsome, Amber thought, gazing at Ben. He’s so brave and powerful. He makes my knees weak.
    “Intruders! Who dares disturb the great and powerful Wizard of Ooze?” a deep voice roared, echoing through the small cave.
    The great worm lunged from his dirt clod and came oozing toward them, his tail clanking against the hard dirt floor.
    Slobber goblins lurched into action, raising their spears, and raced toward the mice.
    Amber was nearly witless with terror.
    The worm wizard hissed, and green snot shot from his mouth, splattering the wall above Amber’s head. The snot hissed and bubbled like acid.
    “Return!” Lady Blackpool shouted.
    There was a clap like thunder; the air shimmered around them, and the vision fell away.
    Suddenly the stars shone down on the little pool again, and the air smelled fresh and clear.
    “Help!” Thorn screamed. “The worms are strangling me! I can’t breathe!”
    The worms still held Amber down, and one big night crawler seemed to be trying to choke her. But the worms weren’t very strong, and Amber realized that she didn’t have much to fear. She just grabbed the slimy things and pulled herself free.
    Meanwhile, Thorn suddenly broke loose of some worms, and now he just hopped around in circles, screaming for help with a huge night crawler draped around his throat like a scarf. “I’m dying!” he cried. “I can’t breathe at all!”
    Lady Blackpool bit a couple of chunks out of two worms that were trying to hold her down; they recoiled in pain.
    Bushmaster grabbed the night crawler that was hanging around Thorn’s neck and yanked it loose.
    Just when Amber thought that she had nothing to worry about, an enormous worm erupted from the ground and rose high, high in the air, climbing up like a cobra.
    “An Oregon giant!” Ben shouted as the ghostly white worm reared up, moonlight gleaming down on its slimy skin, its flesh as pale as if it were dead.
    In a deep voice, the giant worm intoned solemnly, “Who dares defy the wizard who lurks at the heart of the world?”
    Suddenly, there was a hissing sound, and a powerful white light erupted from the worm’s gaping mouth.
    “Laser beams!” Ben shouted, backing away in fear.
    The light hissed just over Amber’s head, slashing through some young cattail rushes behind her.
    Lady Blackpool raised her paw, and a bolt of dark purple energy struck the giant worm.
    Amber gulped loudly as the great worm suddenly recoiled, disappearing into a vast crater. She stood there, trembling all over.
    Lady Blackpool sent more bolts of energy flying, and the night crawlers lunged into the ground, retreating as fast as they could.
    In moments, the only sign left from the struggle was the slime that coated Amber’s fur.
    * * *
    Back at Ben’s home, his mother lay in bed, unable to sleep. She’d had a disturbing dream about worms. She had the distinct feeling that her son was in danger, and she needed to warn him.
    He’s alive, she told herself. I just don’t know where to find him. She’d searched all over the neighborhood and hadn’t found a clue.
    The only real lead she had to go on was the bat she’d seen in her house the night Ben had disappeared. The bat was obviously a vampire. It had flown right through the roof, tearing a gaping hole in it.
    Could it be that Ben has been turned into a vampire? Ben’s mom wondered.
    And if he has, will I ever see him again?
    He could be prowling around the house right now, afraid to let his mother know the truth.
    But