Stardust by Linda Chapman Read Free Book Online Page B

Lucy looked at the table and shrugged.
    â€˜Just stuff,’ she said.
    Her mum sat down next to her. ‘Lucy, what’s wrong?’
    â€˜Nothing…’ Lucy started to say, but her mum interrupted her.
    â€˜I know something’s the matter. You’ve been so quiet the last few days. It’s not like you at all.’
    Lucy stared at her hands. Her mum covered them with her own. ‘If you tell me I might be able to help,’ she said when Lucy didn’t speak.
    â€˜You can’t,’ Lucy muttered. ‘No one can.’ She sighed. She couldn’t tell her mum, but she could see how worriedshe was. ‘Don’t worry, Mum. It’s not important.’
    â€˜You’re not being bullied at school?’ her mum asked. ‘Or made to do something you don’t want?’
    â€˜No,’ Lucy said quickly. ‘It’s nothing like that. It’s nothing to do with school at all. I promise.’
    Her mum looked at her for a long moment. ‘All right,’ she said at last. ‘I’m not going to make you talk about it if you really don’t want to.’ She squeezed Lucy’s hands. ‘I know you’re growing up and you have to work some things out on your own now. But Dad and I are always here for you. You know that. Even if we can’t help we can always listen. You’re never on your own.’
    Mrs Evans pulled Lucy into a hug.
    Lucy shut her eyes and for a few moments felt all her worries fade away. She was home and she was safe. For the moment at least…
    Lucy felt slightly better for the rest of the day. Although she knew she couldn’t tell her mum what was wrong, it was comforting in a way to know that her mum was there for her. And her dad and Hope – even Rachel, she realized, despite all her sister’s teasing. She might not be able to tell them about her stardust life, but Lucy knew they loved her. For the first time ever, she found herself realizing how glad she was that she had her normal home life as well as her exciting stardust life. After all the tension of the night before, and all her fearsand worries, it felt strangely comforting to spend the day with her mum doing ordinary things like tidying her room, making biscuits, watching TV in the afternoon – and having her mum come into her room to say good night.
    â€˜I hope you sleep better tonight,’ her mum said, stroking her hair.

    â€˜I’ll try,’ Lucy said. It was the feast that night, but with everything that had been happening she wasn’t looking forward to it.
    She hugged her mum. ‘I love you, Mum.’
    â€˜Love you too,’ her mum said, kissing her hair.
    Lucy glanced out of the window. The sky was covered with clouds. It looked dark and oppressive. She shivered. It was almost as though the night was waiting for something…
    Lucy waited for her parents to go to bed and then flew next door. Allegra was waiting for her. ‘There’s a really strange feeling in the air, isn’t there?’
    Lucy nodded. Her skin was prickling uncomfortably. Being a stardust spirit, sheusually loved the dark, but as they flew across the fields towards the woods, she found herself glancing at the shadows. Maybe it was because the clouds were covering the stars and so the night was blacker than normal, but she felt uneasy, as if danger was lurking.
    â€˜I hope it doesn’t rain again tonight,’ Allegra said, looking at the heavy sky. The air seemed to press in on them. Lucy could feel the magic crackling around them.
    Something’s happening
, she thought.
Something to do with magic
. In the distance there was an ominous rumble of thunder.
    â€˜Oh, no!’ Allegra said in dismay.
    â€˜There’s going to be another storm!’
    They swooped into the trees.
    CRASH!
    They both gasped as the loudest clap of thunder they had ever heard exploded directly over their heads. A fork of bright white lightning jagged