House of Memories (3 page)

“I don't know what you mean,” Mary said.

“Look at my hand,” said Arak.

On the back of Arak's left hand was a small tattoo of a spider. It was just the same as the tattoos on Edgar and Mary's hands.

The old woman kept talking. “One day a wicked man called Mr Blood stole my two dear children from me. At last I have got you back.”

“No!” Mary shouted. She ran out of the door, towards Mr Blood.

“He can't help you, my dear. I've made sure of that!” Arak smiled at Edgar. She looked very evil. “Did you know, some spiders eat their own children?”

Outside the house, Mary shook Mr Blood. He didn't move. She didn't know how to break the spell.

Mr Blood was holding a sack in his hand. Mary took a closer look at it. Something in the sack moved.

She pulled Mr Blood's fingers open and took the sack.

“He can't help you. Edgar can't help you either,” Arak called to Mary. “Don't you think it's time you came back inside?”

Mary walked back into the house. Edgar sat frozen in his chair.

It looked like Arak had gone. Mary looked round. She could not see her anywhere.

But she saw something else.

Mary's blood ran cold, and she dropped the sack onto Edgar's lap.

Something huge was coming out of a dark corner.

The thing was very big. It had long, thin legs like broomsticks. Its body looked like a mass of black bristles. It had small red eyes and two long, curved, black fangs.

It was a giant spider.

The spider came towards Mary. Its hairy legs scraped on the floor as it moved.

“I'm glad you came back, my dear!” The monster spoke with Arak's voice. Arak was not a person – she was a spider demon!

Mary couldn't speak. Just like Edgar and Mr Blood, she was under Arak's spell. They were all trapped like flies in the spider's web.

Arak the spider came to the table. Edgar's eyes were wide with fear.

The spider laughed. “Who shall I eat first?” she asked. Neither of the children could speak. “I think I will begin with Edgar.”

Mary began to cry.

Arak's two front legs reached out until they scraped against the table. Her sharp fangs were very close to Edgar's face.

“You two are mine!” Arak hissed.

Something hissed back at her.

Mr Blood's sack was still on Edgar's lap. Something shot out of it, like an arrow. It was a snake.

Arak had no time to move away. The snake hit her in the head. It sunk its fangs between her eyes.

She screamed. Her legs thrashed around, knocking Edgar over.

The snake kept biting. Arak began to slow down. The snake's bite was killing her.

Arak's spell broke as she died. Edgar and Mary could move again.

The door opened. Mr Blood was outside. The spell on him was broken too.

Edgar and Mary ran past him, out of the door and out into the night.

Mary and Edgar waited in the wood for Mr Blood.

Some time later, Mr Blood came out of the house. He went up to the children. For a long while they stood still, without saying anything.

Mr Blood spoke first. “Arak lied to you. She wasn't like a mother to you. She had a spell on you both. She wanted to make you her slaves. I broke the spell and took you away. She hated me for that.”

“Why did you bring us back here?” Edgar asked.

“She still had power over you both,” said Mr Blood. “Now you are free.”