Total pages in book: 140
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 140940 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 705(@200wpm)___ 564(@250wpm)___ 470(@300wpm)
Will the eerie magic of New Orleans provide the healing the Mouse desperately seeks, or will new sinister threats emerge, pulling them into an entirely new war?
*************FULL BOOK START HERE*************
Chapter one
Superpower
Lunita
Ihad to go back.
My special place had never felt so good.
Mean old lion. . .do it again.
Was it wicked to go back twice in one night?
Emily was already mad at me and thinking she could change us. I didn’t want to make her break another mirror.
She’s still sleeping.
I didn’t have to go back and be bad.
I could be good.
Maybe no one is up.
Excitement bubbled through me as I thought of Emilio and Paolo.
I could see them.
Then, I wouldn’t be bad.
I would be good.
Yes. Let’s go.
I stood on the edge of the roof and took all the flowers out of my hair. Petals and stems fell all around me, spilling over the edge.
Now. Think. Real hard.
Swapping into Emily was like. . . I was a regular person changing into a superhero costume.
I had the power to become someone else, while still being me.
What else could that be, but a superpower?
Cold wind rushed past my face.
I closed my eyes and concentrated as hard as I could.
Begin.
Buzzing things surged through my body.
It started off with this floaty feeling as if I had jumped off the roof, but didn’t fall.
I was the feather caught in the breeze.
I was the boat sailing away from the harbor, getting ready to start a big adventure.
I moved through the place where Emily’s dreams lived and headed to where my dreams came alive.
Almost there.
The only problem was that merging with the body brought a funny feeling.
I felt silly and icky at the same time.
Blood and flesh.
Heart suddenly beating in my ears.
Thinking new things in my head.
Breathing in.
Breathing out.
Wetness on my tongue.
Satin on my skin.
Almost over.
It was like getting used to a new bike. At first, it felt strange and a bit wobbly, but then I’d get the hang of it.
Am I back?
Slowly, I opened our eyes.
Yes.
Colors looked brighter.
Sounds were clearer.
Every little thing seemed more magical.
New thoughts and memories rushed in, like a river filled with floating pictures and ideas. They were Emily’s, and they sparkled in my mind like stars in the night sky.
Why would she think she could get rid of me? We are one.
I blinked our eyes, peering through these special goggles.
Don’t get caught.
Kazimir laid next to me, sleeping like a big, peaceful monster.
Mean old lion.
I curved our lips into a smile.
His face looked soft.
He’s having nice dreams?
Instantly, I wondered if we were all still flying and scanned the space.
Sunlight came through the plane’s small window and landed on his face, making his skin glow.
If you wasn’t so mean, I wouldn’t be so mean. Then, I wouldn’t get in trouble all the time and make her mad.
Annoyed, I moved my view back to the window. It was all white clouds and blue sky out there.
They thought New Orleans would change things.
I’ll kill that lady, Delphine, before she tries to heal us. Cut her chest open, take it out, and put her heart up in her special place.
I began to smile so hard that my cheeks ached.
Bet her heart would get stuck there.
I put my view back onto Kazimir.
Mean old lion.
I hated when my heart got all funny when I looked at him. Warm and fluttery. Hot chocolate syrup pouring over cold vanilla ice cream, making everything melt and get gooey.
And when he talked to me. . .it was like I was about to get a present, but I didn’t know what it was. It was excitement, yet fear of being disappointed.
Or just. . .scared that I wouldn’t like it.
Maybe when I opened the box, spiders crawled out and bit me on the hand.
I’d learned long ago that when a man gave you presents or candy, it usually wasn’t a good thing.
No. Don’t try to get him to touch the special place. She will be mad, and he will know. . .I am not her.
I rolled over, making sure to not wake him.
Go smell Emilio’s neck. There may still be enough time.
Warmth hit my heart.
Emilio had taught me that it wasn’t nothing better than the scent of baby powder.
Will I have time to play with Paolo’s hair too?
Slowly, I slid out from under the cozy covers like a secret agent on a mission, trying really hard not to wake up the enemy.
I sang my superhero song in my head.
There’s a hero inside, brave and bright, facing danger with might.
The carpet was really cold and rough under my feet. It felt weird, but I didn’t let myself jump.
Emily wouldn’t.
She would walk strong and all bad ass.
So, I did the same.
Wonder woman style!
I took my time, step by step with my hands at my side, keeping my shoulders stiff like I had the whole world sitting on them.
There you go.
For so long, I had been practicing how to walk and talk like Emily.
It was getting better and better.
Soon no one would notice.
I made it to the door and inch by inch opened it.