Haunted Castle on Hallows Eve

shiny black armor.
    â€œGood evening,” said the Raven King.

J ack and Annie were too stunned to speak.
    Staring at the bizarre creature, Jack remembered the story of the Raven King—how the king had wanted to be a bird, how he had stolen a spell from the Wizard of Winter, how the spell had worked only halfway and left him half bird and half human.
    The Raven King jumped from the window to the floor. One by one, his raven bodyguards swooshed into the room after him. At least twenty ravens came through the window. SoonJack and Annie were surrounded by dark wings, sharp beaks, and bright eyes.
    Once his guards were in place, the Raven King twisted his head from side to side, looking from Jack to Annie. “Where are the two ravens who stole my diamond?” he asked in a raspy voice.
    â€œWhat diamond?” asked Annie.

    â€œWhat … what ravens?” asked Jack, his voice trembling. He wished desperately that he still had the Diamond of Destiny to give him strength and courage.
    â€œThe ravens that came to this castle after raiding my treasure room,” said the Raven King. “Where are they hiding?”
    Jack tried to imagine that he
was
still holding the diamond. “We don’t know anything about them,” he said in a low, steady voice. Pretending to hold the diamond actually made him feel brave.
    â€œYou don’t know anything about them?” said the Raven King.
    â€œNo,” said Jack. “You must have the wrong castle.”
    â€œAh, the wrong castle,” said the Raven King.
    â€œYes,” said Jack.
    â€œPerhaps you’re right,” said the Raven King. “But are you certain you haven’t seen them? They look very much like this little one here.”
    The Raven King threw his cape over his shoulder and held up an iron birdcage. A raven was held captive inside.

    â€œJAH, AWK-NEE!” the raven croaked.
    â€œTeddy!” cried Annie.
    â€œHis name is Teddy?” said the Raven King. “How charming. I’ve caught a Teddy. I think he’ll make a wonderful pet, don’t you?”
    Jack was horrified to see Teddy trapped in the Raven King’s cage. “It’s not charming,” he said. “It’s cruel. You better let him go, or else!”
    â€œYeah, let him go,” said Annie. “Or else.”
    â€œOr else?” said the Raven King. “Or else what?” With backward jerks of his head, he laughed a raspy laugh.
    As the king laughed, Jack glanced at the floor under the window. He saw the hazel twig. He moved toward it.
    The Raven King caught sight of him. His laugh stopped abruptly. “CREE! CAW!” he croaked to one of his bodyguards.
    Jack dashed for the twig. But before he could grab it, the king’s bodyguard had swooped across the floor and picked up the twig in his beak. Asthe raven carried it to the top of the window, Jack noticed that one of his tail feathers was bent.
    â€œJack, look, it’s Rok!” said Annie. She called up to the bird. “Rok! Rok!”
    From his perch above the window, the raven looked down at Annie.
    â€œRok, it’s me, Annie,” she said. “I helped you when the people in the village threw stones at you. Remember?”
    â€œWhat nonsense,” croaked the Raven King. “Bring me the stick, bird.”
    Rok didn’t move. Gripping the hazel twig in his beak, he stared down at Annie.
    â€œGive the twig to Jack, Rok,” she said. “So he can turn Teddy back into a boy.”
    â€œSo that ugly little stick is a magic wand, is it?” said the Raven King. “Bring it to me, bird. Now!”
    â€œDon’t do it, Rok,” said Annie. “Don’t let him boss you around anymore.”
    The raven stared at Annie for a momentwith his dark brown eyes. He looked at the Raven King. He looked back at Annie. Then he swooped down to Jack and dropped the hazel twig at his feet.
    Jack grabbed it.
    â€œTraitor!” the Raven King shrieked at Rok. “You’ll pay for this!” He lunged toward the raven. Rok tried to escape, but the king grabbed him by the throat.
    Jack had to save Rok! He pointed the twig at the Raven King’s back and shouted:
    â€œO hazel twig from hazel tree!
    Make him what he wanted to be!”
    A deafening wind roared through the room. A blinding light flashed. Then all was clear.
    The Raven King had vanished. His cape lay on the floor. Rok hopped away, unharmed.
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