RARE BEASTS Read online

  Ellen covered her ears. She hated the “Happy Birthday” song. More than that, she hated the birthday girl.

  Her lavender dress.

  Her lilac patent-leather shoes.

  The purple ribbons in her hair.

  “I’m going to be sick, Brother,” Ellen moaned, slumping against the wall.

  “You don’t want to miss the fireworks, do you?” Edgar asked. He peered out from behind the drapes that hid him and his sister from the party.

  Ellen’s eyes narrowed as she looked down at her left pinkie, which was missing its fingernail—lost in an incident involving the head of Stephanie Knightleigh’s favorite doll and a claw hammer. Stephanie got a new doll. Ellen’s fingernail had not grown back.

  But when Ellen looked at the empty box crumpled in her right hand, she smiled.

  The cook ushered an ornately decorated cake into the room, much to the excitement of the many singing guests. Thirteen fizzing candles sparked and crackled atop the tallest tier. Standing at the head of the table, the birthday girl nodded approvingly as the cook set the purple cake before her.

  “Happy birthday, dear Stephanie…”

  Edgar clutched at the drapes, drawing them to his mouth so the heavy fabric muffled his giggles. Ellen twisted a pigtail with her scarred finger.

  Stephanie took a deep breath and leaned in.

  Ex-ploosh!

  Frosting erupted in all directions, and sugared rosebuds shot across the room like tiny cannonballs. Too late, the horrified partygoers threw their hands up to protect themselves from the torrent of frosting. The cook screamed.

  Stephanie stood at the head of the table, fudgey cake splattered across her party dress and thick icing dripping from her red ringlets. The birthday girl stared at the spot where her beautiful cake once sat, all color drained from her face.

  In the madness following the explosion, Edgar and Ellen slipped from behind the drapes and out the front door.

  Edgar & Ellen

  UNDER TOWN

  SOMEONE IS CAUSING A LOT OF TROUBLE in the charming town of Nod’s Limbs, but it isn’t Edgar and Ellen! To catch this new mischievous miscreant and end the rash of copycat capers, the twins must scour the sewers and uncover someone’s dirty secret.

  BOOK 3 OF THE EDGAR & ELLEN SERIES

  Coming Soon to Your Favorite Bookseller

  WWW.EDGARANDELLEN.COM

  Edgar & Ellen

  PET’S REVENGE

  WHOSE LAB HAVE the twins discovered? What are the secrets of the old journal? And what has gotten into Pet? The mystery deepens as Pet fights back.

  BOOK 4 OF THE EDGAR & ELLEN SERIES

  Coming Soon!

  WWW.EDGARANDELLEN.COM

  Edgar & Ellen

  HIGH WIRE

  A BIZARRE CIRCUS APPEARS in the dead of night, bringing caravans of strange entertainers to Nod’s Limbs. The twins, however, find kindred spirits among the big top’s fire-eaters and escape artists. Will Edgar and Ellen join up and leave Nod’s Limbs to escape the wrath of Heimertz? What plans does the terrifying caretaker have for Pet? In a world of smoke and mirrors, is anything what it appears to be?

  BOOK 5 OF THE EDGAR & ELLEN SERIES

  Coming Soon!

  WWW.EDGARANDELLEN.COM