Werewolf versus Dragon by David Sinden

heard the sound of the helicopter’s engine starting up in the courtyard.
    â€œShe and I are going on a little…expedition,” the Inspector said.
    He put his hand through the bars of the cage and stroked Ulf’s head.
    Ulf tried to step back but the Inspector gripped his hair.
    â€œSuch lovely thick hair. You’d make a good rug.”
    Ulf bit the Inspector’s hand.
    â€œOw!”
    The Inspector’s glove came off.
    Ulf stared.
    The Inspector’s little finger was missing.
    â€œYou’re not an inspector at all!” Ulf yelled. “You’re Marackai Farraway!”
    â€œThat’s Baron Marackai to you.” He smiled. A wide grin stretched across his face to his ears.
    He threw his head back and started laughing. “Ha ha haaaa ha haa ha haaaa ha ha haaaa!”
    As he laughed, his grin didn’t move. Even when he stopped laughing, it was still stretched wide across his face.
    It was stuck.
    He pressed his fingers to his cheeks, pushing the corners of his mouth back into place. Then he took his hat off and dug his fingers into the skin on his neck. It was rubber, like a mask.

    He pulled it up, and underneath, Ulf saw a face that was old and twisted with hatred like a rotten apple core.
    He leaned toward Ulf. “I’ve been away. But now I’m back.”
    He was scowling. It was the same scowl Ulf had seen on the boy in the photograph. His eye twitched. “My father was crazy to leave this place to beasts. It should have been mine.”
    Ulf leaped at him, bouncing off the bars. “You shot the baby dragon! You’ve kidnapped Aziza!”
    Marackai smiled, rolling his rubber mask back down, and slipped his glove back on.
    â€œWhere’s Orson? What have you done with Orson?”
    â€œI’d love to stop and chat,” he said. “But I have to go to Furnace Woods. I have a Ring of Horrors to attend. Dr. Fielding’s in for quite a surprise.”
    He hurried off toward the courtyard. “I’ll be back for you later,” he called.
    Ulf furiously rattled the bars. “Dr. Fielding! Tiana! Druce!”
    He could hear the helicopter blades starting to turn.
    â€œHelp! Somebody help!”
    Ulf looked up at the house. Druce was on the rooftop, as still as stone.
    â€œTiana!” Ulf called.
    A sparkle came flying from the observatory window. It sputtered through the air, dipping and weaving.
    â€œI’m coming,” her tiny voice called. Her sparkle was fizzing weakly. She fell down at Ulf’s door.
    â€œLet me out, Tiana!” Ulf said. “Inspector Black is Marackai Farraway. He’s tricked us!”
    â€œWhere’s the key?” Tiana asked.
    â€œHe threw it into the paddock.”
    Tiana flew off to find it. “I can’t see it,” she said, flying low over the grass.
    From the courtyard, Ulf could hear the thwock thwock thwock of the helicopter blades.
    â€œHurry up!” he called. “They’re about to take off. He’s got Dr. Fielding!”
    â€œFound it!” Tiana called, dragging the key across the grass to Ulf’s den.
    Ulf picked it up and unlocked the door. “We have to stop them!” he said.
    Ulf leaped out of his den and raced toward the front of the house.
    â€œStop, Dr. Fielding!” he shouted.
    But he was too late. The helicopter was rising above Farraway Hall. Ulf stood in the yard and watched as it banked, heading northward. He saw it getting smaller and smaller as it flew into the distance.
    Tiana hovered beside him.
    â€œDr. Fielding’s in danger!” Ulf said.
    â€œThen you have to go after her.”
    â€œBut how?” Ulf asked.
    â€œYou’ll have to fly,” Tiana told him. “Meet me by the Roc!”

Chapter 20
    TIANA SHOT OFF ACROSS THE PADDOCK TO the Dark Forest, a trail of sparkles sputtering behind her.
    Ulf ran along the track to the aviary. He sprinted through the mesh tunnel, past the griffin and the