Shadow Spell by Caro King Page A

the boy stepped forward, grabbed her and pulled her down, below the level of the flying shards. Even so, the whirling glass was dangerously close and she felt a splinter brush across her wrist, drawing a line of blood. Then the whirlwind calmed and she could look. It wasn’t good.
    The shards were coming together again, but not as a flat image in a window. This time the lions were in three dimensions, formed of crystal slivers sharp enough to spill blood.
    Nin shivered. The lions shone like jewels in the light, sending diamonds of colour glancing off the walls. One of them moved, tinkling faintly. Its emerald eyes found Nin. The others followed its gaze. Nin wondered why they didn’t pounce.
    â€˜It’s a cat thing,’ said the boy. ‘As soon as you start running, they’ll chase, right? They’re just waiting for you to move, so keep still!’
    â€˜I didn’t mean it,’ said Nin trying not to panic. ‘Here, have your silly clue!’ She threw the shadow ribbon into the room. Or at least she tried to. It wouldn’t leave her hand. Not panicking got suddenly harder. The ribbon shifted, twining its silky length around her fingers.
    â€˜You’ve got it now,’ the boy said. ‘It’s a spell of some sort and I’m betting it won’t leave you till
they
take it back. Name’s Seth Carver, by the way, I’m a treasure hunter. You’re Nin.’
    â€˜How …?’ Nin sent him a look, still trying to untangle the spell. It wouldn’t let go and taking hold of it was like trying to pick up water. Every time she went to pull it free, it slipped out of her grasp, slithering up her wrist and forearm to weave itself even more tightly around her.
    â€˜Oh come on! You’re famous,’ he said cheerfully, getting between Nin and the glass guardians. ‘Stories about you are halfway round the Drift.’
    One of lions took a step forward, its ruby-tipped paws clinking on the ground. It opened its mouth and gave a snarl like grinding glass. Its emerald gaze was cold, fixed.
    â€˜See these boots,’ he said calmly.
    Nin glanced at the cracked leather bands strapped around Seth’s calves, ankles and feet. The hide looked as if it had been dipped in tar and was scored and scratched with a dozen symbols.
    â€˜They’re travelling magic, but they won’t work unless I’m on open land. So what we have to do is get out ofhere and then we’re away.’
    â€˜But …’
    â€˜We can come back and find your friend later. And don’t worry about these, they are only after
you
. You’re the one who picked up the spell.’
    Seth pushed her backwards to the door. The lions followed, pacing them. The second one gave a low, grating growl.
    â€˜When I say go, you run, right? Listen to me, I’ll tell you which way to go, got that?’
    Nin nodded.
    â€˜Right,’ said Seth. ‘Now RUN!’
    Nin ran. So did Seth.
    So did the lions.

    They thundered through the Mansion, diving through arches, skidding across rooms and trying not to crash into walls and pillars. Behind them came the lions, one after the other, their manes and paws scraping against the arches as they ran, their tread like breaking glass.
    Nin tumbled down a flight of stairs, past tall windows, but no doors. She could sense the lions at their back, pausing, cat-like, at the top of the stair. Then taking a step. And another. Then bounding on after them, splintered colour swirling in the air as it caught the light of the windows.
    They’ll tear us up like rags, Nin thought, suddenlyknowing why some of the skeletons had been scattered and broken. They were the ones that had found the clue.
    She was used to running, but that didn’t make it easy. Her breath was already rasping in her chest and her heart thumping madly. Her fringe kept getting in her eyes and her hand was raw where she was running it along the stone walls for balance as