Read The Charmed Children of Rookskill Castle for Free Online Page B

the fishy rotting stench in the dark and crowded cottage. She’s grateful when Rose moves outside to examine the charm by the light of day.
    A moment later, as Rose hangs the charm around her neck and Leonore repeats the whispered words from the magister, the child cries out, then slips into a vacant-eyed silence. Leonore bites her lip. Was that a cry of pain? Has she done something wrong?
    But no—Leonore assures herself that Rose’s mother is right. Rose will have a fit life in Rookskill Castle as the daughter of a lord, even if the enchantment has changed the child in some way Leonore does not yet understand.
    It is only as she makes her way back to the castle that Leonore feels something else. The charmed child Rose walks behind her, silent as a shadow, frail as a wisp. But Leonore is stronger than she was before she cast the spell, less the young bride and more the rightful lady. She smiles for the first time in years. Instead of feeling lighter for the loss of the little fish charm, Leonore’s chatelaine feels a wee bit heavier.
    She brings the charmed Rose to her lordship’s bedside. “See what I have made for us?”
    But he does not stir. His staring eyes are fixed upon a point in the space above his head.
    The chatelaine tugs on Leonore’s belt. A newfound strength snakes through her blood. A thin strand of white weaves through her black hair. The rooks, her only friends, wait at Leonore’s window.

9
    The Secret Room
    â€œS IT DOWN AND catch your breath,” Kat said to Robbie. But it was to Peter she looked. His eyes were almost as round as Rob’s.
    â€œHe’s right about the secret room,” Peter said. “We found it because of the noises.”
    â€œGrindings,” said Rob. “And screeches.”
    Peter lifted his hands in a shrug, nodding, and goose bumps rose on Kat’s arms.
    â€œIt’s got to be a ghost,” Rob whispered. His eyes widened. “Say. Maybe it’s that Lady Leonore.”
    â€œLike the fishing girl,” said Ame. “Except she didn’t screech.”
    â€œAmelie,” Kat said, trying to keep the tremor out of her voice, “that girl couldn’t be a ghost. Likely she’s one of the other students.”
    â€œNo, she’s a ghost, because she’s disappeared,” said Ame.
    Kat turned to the window. Sure enough, there was no sign of the girl, who’d been there only moments earlier; the dog wandered the lawn alone. A rook perched on the pond coping, its head cocked, looking down at the stony bottom.
    Kat twisted the watch on her wrist.
Carry on.
She faced the boys. “I’d like to see for myself.”
    Peter squared his shoulders. “Okay.”
    â€œRobbie, you stay here with Ame, okay?”
    â€œNo problem,” he said with a shudder. “I wouldn’t go back there for anything.”
    Kat plastered on a brave smile before closing the door on Robbie’s white face and Amelie’s round eyes.
    She and Peter crept down the hallway past closed doors, turning corners and finding their way in the gray light.
    â€œThis place is so confusing,” Kat whispered. “It’s nothing inside like it appears on the outside.”
    â€œIt’s like a puzzle box,” Peter whispered back.
    â€œRight.” Kat glanced at him. He was clever and friendly. An unexpected shyness grew in her. “Did you see anyone else?”
    â€œNo,” Peter replied. “Rob rattled a couple of doorknobs before I stopped him, but nobody came out.”
    The castle did creak and groan in the way of old places, but nothing shrieked or clanked yet. A dank, musty odor permeated everything, and the carpet was worn and tattered. Kattried not to think that the grim portraits of long-nosed ancestors with dark eyes watched them as they tiptoed down the hall. She didn’t want Peter to know she was frightened, but she was glad to have him there, even if she couldn’t