Spellsinger (Avalon: Web of Magic #5) (4 page)

“Perfect.”

Kara grinned. “Let’s move out!”

They ran into the room where Mayor Davies and the other council members were still chatting away.

“People! People!” Kara hollered. “Let’s go. Our guest of honor has arrived!”

“Ooo, how exciting!” Mary Rollins exclaimed.

“Let’s keep this orderly now,” Mayor Davies cautioned. “Just another visitor to our humble town.”

“Look! It’s Johnny Conrad!” Heather was jumping up and down, pointing out the front window.

“
Ahhhh!
” Tiffany screamed.

Everyone in the room rushed for the door at once, stampeding past the mayor. Soon the vast crowd outside started screaming.

This was it. Kara was about to become a star.

O
UTSIDE TOWN HALL
, Kara stood beside her dad. She heard the rumble of engines and the blare of car horns.

And in the distance... music?

Kara’s eyes widened as she and everyone else in the enormous crowd turned toward the street, where a jet-black convertible T-bird with the top down drifted their way. A young, dark-haired guy stood on the hood, a microphone in his hand. A tour bus crept along at a respectful distance behind the singer. A guy with sunglasses sat with a mixer board in the back between two huge speakers while another one drove, their heads bobbing to the beat of the thundering, pulsating, blisteringly happening song that was currently topping the charts.

Let me tell you, if I sing it true, get up and start the dance,

No matter what you do, it's your life, you're you,

So come on and take a chance and dance!

Dance! Dance! Dance!

Take a chance and dance!

Johnny Conrad’s thick, tousled black hair glistened in the golden afternoon sunlight and his deep, model-perfect cheekbones filled with dusky shadows as he rapped. His soulful deep blue eyes were cast heavenward and his lanky, muscular body swayed with the music, his pale shirt clinging, his black leather boots and pants shining, his long leather jacket curled behind him. The booming music seemed to ensnare his listeners as everyone moved to the beat. Molly, Heather, and Tiffany were bopping like crazy, dancing around the black car as it rolled up to the curb.

Just take a chance and dance!

Dance! Dance! Dance!

Take a chance and dance!

The entire crowd was caught in the rhythm, the enveloping sound, and the enchantment that was Johnny Conrad. Dancing, moving, shaking, and screaming, adults, teens, and children all rocked out to the sounds of the latest music sensation.

Johnny leaped from the hood, his headset microphone catching every note as he sang his heart out. Security held the crowds back as Johnny climbed the wide steps of Town Hall, heading right for the podium. The song ended and Johnny took a bow, creating another round of searing screams from his audience. Smiling, he waved and tossed the headset to his driver.

Mayor Davies stared in slack-jawed wonder at Johnny, who patiently nodded and waved to his fans and the press. Cameras flashed bright lights into the singer’s brilliant blue eyes.

“Hello, Stonehill!” Johnny called out.

The crowd erupted in frantic, ear-piercing screams. “Johnny! Johnny!”

Kara was practically beside herself as the superstar approached, but she had a job to do. She nudged her dad’s arm, snapping him to attention. She noticed Adriane standing next to Emily, cheering.

Mayor Davies cleared his throat four times, right into the podium’s microphone, but nothing happened until Johnny put a single finger to his lips and winked at the adoring crowd—which immediately fell silent.

“They’re all yours,” Johnny whispered, nodding to the mayor.

Kara watched Johnny, transfixed.

Whoa. This guy was
hot
.

“Johnny Conrad, thank you for taking time out of your mad busy schedule to help the Ravenswood Wildlife Preserve—your act of super cool generosity has moved us all,” Mayor Davies read from the script Kara had written. “The town council would like to offer you and your crew—our best suites at the Stonehill Inn…?” He turned to Kara.

She smiled ear to ear.

The mayor shrugged and continued. “And as mayor of Stonehill, I’d like to present you with the key to our city!”

Covering the microphone, Mayor Davies arched an eyebrow, “I think you’ve already won the key to my daughter’s heart.”

“Dad!” Kara wailed.

Johnny smiled at Kara—and she managed not to faint. Then he turned toward the crowd and shot them a dazzling smile, holding the big golden key high over his head.

“Thank you very much. We’re proud to play for all you fine people. And for the amazing Ravenswood Wildlife Preserve.” He winked at Kara.

Kara practically leaped into the air.

“And we’ve got something special planned,” Johnny announced. “As part of a promotion for my new CD,
Under Your Spell—
”

Screams erupted, but quieted down as Johnny raised his arms.

“I’m inviting one fan to sing onstage with me during the concert Saturday. The performance will be streaming live all over the world!”

“
Ahhh!
” Kara screamed.

“
Ahhhhh!
” dozens of girls screamed with her.

“
Ahhhhhhhh!
” the crowd screamed and screamed and screamed some more.

Sid Stewart put his hands over his ears, screaming in pain.

“That’s right, we’re holding a contest for one special person to sing with me...” Johnny eyed Adriane. “To take a chance and dance,” he crooned lightly.

From the corner of her eye Kara caught a twinkle at the dark haired girl’s wrist.

“If I can only find him…or her.” And then, suddenly, he zoomed in on Kara and seemed to see... something. “Maybe I already have.”

Kara’s heart skipped a beat.

He means me, she thought.
Yes!
He’s talking about me!

Kara struggled to control herself. She took a step toward the microphone and was about to speak when Adriane suddenly grabbed the mike.

“Johnny,” Adriane said, gazing at the handsome star. “As a representative of the Ravenswood Wildlife Preserve, I want to thank you again for your support of animals all over the world—”

Kara pulled the mike out of Adriane’s hands.

“As
president
of the Ravenswood Preservation Society, I want to personally thank you for supporting worldwide wildlife—”

Adriane stepped on Kara's foot and grabbed the mike back. “I'd like to invite you and your crew to stay at Ravenswood Manor,” she quickly said, holding the mike away from Kara’s grabbing fingers. “What better way to get exposure for Ravenswood than for Johnny Conrad himself to stay there?” She smiled.

“Whoa, Ravenswood Manor.” Johnny beamed. “
Now
you’re talking!”

No
way
! Emily mouthed to the girls, dumbfounded.

“Outstanding!” Johnny said. “I’d be honored to make Ravenswood Manor my home away from home.” He turned to his entourage. “How do you like that for hospitality?”

The members of Johnny’s band all nodded enthusiastically.

The crowd cheered.

Adriane glanced past Kara at the pop star, her wolf stone glowing. “I can’t wait to practice with Johnny.”

Kara felt unsteady. What did Adriane think she was doing? Suddenly a flare of magic sparkled in her eyes—then she saw the photographers snapping away.

Kara felt a white-hot fire of fury rise within her. It was all she could do to keep from screaming at the girl. This contest was the most important thing in the world! “I’m going to win that contest,” Kara hissed. “It’ll be
me
onstage singing with Johnny.”

“I guess we’ll see about that.” Adriane strutted off.

Kara put her best smile on display for the crowd as she and her dad prepared to take the activities inside. The Town Council and their friends and families couldn’t wait to meet and greet the great Johnny Conrad.

Ooooh! That Adriane! Finally the real warrior has surfaced, Kara thought. The one who just
has
to compete with me. Fine, let her try. I will win, Kara thought.
I will!

There was just one slight glitch: Kara couldn’t sing a note in tune if her life depended on it. And everyone knew it.

S
TREAKS OF LAVENDER
stretched across the horizon as stars winked into existence over the forest. Kara and Emily walked down the gravel driveway to Ravenswood Manor. The girls had about an hour before Johnny and his entourage were due to arrive.

“What got into you two?” Emily demanded. “That was the most immature display I’ve ever seen!”

“I just got so mad! How could she
do
that?” Kara was steaming at Adriane's totally irritating behavior. “She’s trying to outdo me, steal my thunder.”

“You’re not in this alone, Kara,” Emily reminded her.

“Then how are
we
going to get the entire Ravenswood Manor ready?”

“I don’t know,” Emily answered. “We’ll just have to keep everyone out of the library.”

She stopped at the front doors of the manor. “And we have to keep the magical animals out of sight!”

“About time!” Ozzie called out.

A gathering of animals milled around the cobblestone path to Adriane’s house led by Ozzie, Lyra, the pegasus called Balthazar, and Ronif, leader of the duck-like quiffles—all key members of the girls’ inner circle of trusted magical animal friends.

“What kept you?” Ozzie asked, crossing his furry ferret arms and tapping a rear paw. “Everyone’s waiting for Fairimental updates.”

“All we know so far,” Emily explained, “is a few came to warn us about possible danger, so I want all of you on high alert.”

“I’ve got Stormbringer and a pack of pooxim on patrol,” Ozzie said. “Look out, evil!”

“
Adriane returned a short time ago, acting very strangely,
” Lyra said softly.

“Strange like how?” Kara asked.

“
There have been bursts of her magic all through the manor.
”

Kara and Emily exchanged worried glances.

“Looks like we’re going to have some guests for a few days,” Emily announced to the animals.

“Who?” Balthazar asked.

“Johnny Conrad!” Kara dramatically swooned.

The animals looked at each other, bewildered. Ronif shrugged.

“I want Lyra, Balthazar, and Ronif with Storm on perimeter watch. Gather the rest back at the glade, Ozzie,” Emily ordered. “I need a complete head count.”

Ozzie led the animals toward a forest trail behind the manor.

“And make sure everyone stays there!” Kara added.

Emily turned to Kara. “You find Adriane and see what's going on. And play nice.”

“I
can
sing, you know,” Kara sniffed.

“Adriane is really talented, too,” Emily said. “Besides, it’s not about who’s the best.”

“Yeah, it’s about being onstage in front of a zillion people with Johnny Conrad!” Kara exclaimed, then grumbled under her breath, “Besides, she started it.”

“It doesn’t matter who started it. What’s important is that the two of you work this out.”

Kara frowned. “Okay. But hurry and get back and help me get this place ready. There’s probably a million things to do.”