Dogspell

Professional Reviews

Excerpt

Why did his head feel so strange? He pushed up with his arms and paused for a moment to let the dizziness pass. Okay, think I've made it to my hands and knees. Time to stand up. A push upward and he went nowhere. Looking up, he saw two pairs of emerald eyes staring down at him in horror.

"What's wrong?" Damn, his voice sounded more like a growl. He looked down. Holy shit. Black, curly fur covered a small paw where his long fingers should have been. His heart raced. His body quivered in fear. What the hell was going on here?

"Mirror. Get me a mirror. Quick!" He looked up at the freckled faces hovering above him. "Get me a damn mirror! Have you gone deaf?"

Getting no answer to his question, he turned to search for the needed object himself, but fell flat on his stomach with a thud.

"Oh dear. What have you done?" Riz demanded of her sibling.

"Me?" Mel glared at her twin. "You're the one who wanted to get the book down. I know better than to listen to you. We always get in trouble with your brilliant ideas."

"My ideas? You're the one who wanted to get the book down to begin with."

"Did not."

"Did too."

Damn it all, couldn't they see he had some kind of problem here? There was no time for another of their stupid arguments. A growl and sharp bark startled Rand with its menace.

Both sisters jumped and their verbal battle came to a halt.

"Oh dear, I don't think he knows." Riz chewed on her bottom lip.

"What? What don't I know?"

"You tell him." Mel pushed her twin forward.

"No. You." Riz stepped back.

"One of you damn well better tell me something, and fast, or I'm going to gnaw your ankle off." Rand's brow furrowed at the thought. Now where did that come from?

Simma, the missing link, walked up and shot a haughty look of disgust in Rand's direction. "Probably from the fact that you're a dog, and you're thinking like one."

"I'm a what?"

"I don't believe I stuttered, my friend. You're a dog. A black Scottie dog, to be precise. Simma's ears flicked. Sort of cute, if one likes dogs." The large black cat sat down and lifted a paw for inspection before he licked the fur and proceeded to wash his face. "It appears your sisters have once again blundered in their magical efforts." The cat followed his comment with a loud yawn. "Oh well, not my problem."

He ambled out of the room, but Rand resisted the urge to chase after him. The cat would have to wait. The trouble-making witches in front of him were the priority of the moment. If he could get this walking issue coordinated, he'd show them a thing or two.

At this level, ankle biting presented a more probable alternative to sending them to their rooms. Besides, the bubbleheads didn't seem to understand his thoughts or his barks.

Come to think of it, the only communication he'd made since going to the dogs was with the damned cat. Now that was scary.

The twins held a whispered argument by the sliding glass door to the patio while he struggled to synchronize the movement of four legs. After several attempts, he finally succeeded in achieving the desired standing position, with all four legs working together instead of against each other. Baring his teeth, he advanced toward them in a stalking crouch. A growl rumbled low in his throat.

"Oh, crap. I need to pee." The urge hit suddenly, and he rushed toward the door.

"Open the door. He's going to bite us."

Rand wasn't clear about which girl screamed the command or who opened the door, and he didn't care as he rushed out into the evening dusk to find the nearest bush.

I can't believe I'm peeing on a tree trunk with my hind leg in the air before any and everyone. Oh well, he'd better get used to it until he could figure out a way to communicate with the two brain trusts and get them to undo the damage they'd done.

What was that? Something moved by the fence. Damn, it's the Henderson's cat. I hate that big yellow tom. Can't understand why Simma hangs out with him. Well, I'll just show him who's boss.

No, wait. I will not lower myself to act like a dog. Oh, but it's a cat, and a cat that I hate.

Rand bounded across the yard in pursuit of what was now his natural enemy. He heard his name screamed and the sound of running footsteps as the twins chased after him, but he didn't slow his stride. He wasn't sure at what point he could no longer hear their voices. The only certainty was that he wanted to do major damage to the beast that zigzagged in front of him.

Man, I'm tired. Doesn't that jerk ever slow down? His sides ached from running, and he panted so loud, the whole neighborhood probably heard him. But he refused to give up on the chase. Wait. He's cutting across the street, and there's a concrete barrier there. If I cut over here, maybe I can catch him when he doubles back.

The sound of screeching tires alerted Rand that something wasn't right. Along with the sound came the sensation of flying through the air, then everything went black.