A Little Rhine Must Fall Read Free Page B

told me what she was doing here.
    “So, Piper,” Mark was giving me an odd look. “What do you want to do with this cat here?”
    I made a face. “Keep her?”
    “You don’t sound like you want another cat.”
    :She’s a little crazy. Everyone wants us around:
    “I’m not crazy!”
    “I didn’t say you were, honey,” Mark gave me a hug. “I know another pet can be a lot. If you don’t want her I can take her to the pound tomorrow.”
    Bastet growled and bit him lightly on the hand.
    “Ow!” He was laughing. “See, Piper! She wants to stay.”
    :Take us to the pound and you shall feel our wrath!:
    “Fine,” I sighed, “she can stay. For a while.”
    :We knew you would see reason. Now, where is the bedroom? We like to sleep on the right side of the bed:
    “You are not sleeping on my side of the bed,” I informed her sternly.
    Mark snorted. “You tell her, Piper.”
    I looked around the living room. “Where’s Harvey?”
    Mark stood up and stretched. “He’s around somewhere. Probably asleep under our bed.”
    :He’s hiding:
    I ignored her. “Has he met her royal highness yet?”
    “Yeah. Took one look and ran for the woods. I’ll go dig him out.”
    “No, that’s okay.” I headed for our room. “I’ll walk him out in the back yard.” I tried to give Bastet a significant look. She yawned again.
    :We shall just hang out here with Mark:
    Otis gave a little meow, jumped off the coffee table and ran out of the room.
    :On second thought …: Bastet jumped off the couch and followed him.
    “Come back here!” I yelled.
    Mark smiled. “They’re fine, Piper. I think Otis has a crush. Let’s give them some alone time.”
    “Alone time!” but he was already pulling out the Xbox controller and turning on the TV. “Fine,” I muttered under my breath. “I’ll just talk to her later.”
    Harvey was hiding under our bed. His furry little behind was just showing under the edge, but when I called him, he scooted farther under and refused to come out. I wasn’t in the mood for it. “Harvey, come now,” I commanded with the Voice. I didn’t feel bad about using my ability on animals. They were supposed to obey. Harvey dragged out from under the bed and reluctantly followed me out into the backyard.
    I had wanted to talk to Bastet some more, but she and Otis had disappeared to whatever dimension cats go to when they don’t want to be found. Harvey did his business and dashed back into the house. My cell phone was just starting to ring and I grabbed it and headed back to my room. It was Cecily.
    “You won’t believe who has moved in!” I greeted her.
    “Piper,” she interrupted. “We have a problem.”
    Oh, my favorite words in the world!
    “What?” My heart was now residing somewhere around my knees.
    “The aliens are here.”
    My heart finished dropping and landed on my toes.

 
    Chapter Three:
    Aliens
     
    “Aliens!” you say. “Come on, Piper. First you would have me believe that vampires, ghosties and ghoulies really go bump in the night, and now you bring up aliens ?”
    It sounds stupid. At least, I thought it sounded stupid when I first heard of it and I had already had inconvertible proof that things beyond my ken really did exist. But seriously! Aliens? The story I had been told was that an alien spaceship had entered our galaxy and was approaching Earth. (Please, hold your laughter ‘till I finish.) Contrary to the imaginations of Sci-Fi writers with their warp-drive and hyper-drive and what-have-you drive, it takes a good long time to travel through space. On the order of years .
    The species of the USB were concerned about this possible “invasion” and had come up with several plans. The WAND wanted to stop hiding from humans, start harvesting them (killing them) for power, and go on the defensive. Some of the vampires also thought this was a grand idea and rather tasty. Enter Piper (me), and the reason that the witches hate me so much.
    If humans have no magical