In Deep Dark Wood Read Online Free Page A

slow nod. ‘You will return!’ she saidemphatically, and grasped Mia’s arm.
    Mia jumped up off the stool and forced the gnarled fingers apart.
    ‘Let me go!’ she screamed, and she raced out the door, running away from the old woman and her mad talk.
    ‘Don’t go, child!’ pleaded the dragon woman. ‘Don’t go!’
    Mia turned to go down the driveway. She watched in disbelief as, ahead of her, the heavy, iron gates began to shut, blocking her escape. Terrified, she raced around the side of the house to the back garden.
    She hurled herself through the gap in the hedge, dry branches scraping her skin, grass and mud sticking to her clothes. She almost cried with relief when Jackie’s wet nose greeted her at the other side. Grabbing the small dog up in her arms, she ran in to the house, locking the door behind her.

Chapter 4
Glenkilty Wood
    M ia was always fearful now. At night, her dreams were filled with dragons and monsters and a constant whispering voice that pleaded with her to return to return to the house next door. Had Bella put a spell on her? Enchanted her? She tried to convince herself that what she had seen in the glasshouse had been an illusion, a trick, a hologram even. But she only had to look out of the back window of her house and see the familiar curved structure of the glasshouse, to remember vividly the flutter of dragon wings, the glimmer of dragon eyes and the feel of dragon skin.
    The following week, Bella cycled down by the lake and along the village road every day, passing by Glenkilty National School. Dressed heavily in black, she rode her old black bicycle in front of the school yard. Mia watched from the classroom window, anxious and afraid, hearing Bella call her name again and again. Neither the teacher nor the otherchildren seemed to notice anything.
    When Mia was going to the supermarket, or the post office or just even walking home from school, she knew that Bella would suddenly appear, smiling and friendly. She did her best to stay close to her Mum and her Granny and her friends, but she knew that they could not protect her forever from Bella’s magic.
    ‘Are you all right, pet?’ asked Mum, sensing that something was going on.
    ‘Yep!’ said Mia, too frightened to tell. She didn’t want to be an apprentice dragon keeper, or helper or whatever that crazy old witch wanted of her. She just wanted to go back to being a normal eleven-year-old girl who knew nothing about dragons or magic or people’s time running out!
    The whole family had noticed Mia’s behaviour and they were beginning to get very worried.
    ‘There’s definitely something wrong with Mia,’ Granny Rose said as she rolled out pastry for an apple tart on the kitchen table.
    ‘Rory, do you think Mia’s being bullied at school or something like that?’ asked Mum, a worried frown creasing her forehead.
    He didn’t think so. Mia would tell him something like that, he was sure.
    But Mum and Granny were right. Something was wrong with his sister. She seemed tense and nervous, as if she was scared of something or had a big secret to keep.
    ‘It’s that Bella Blackwell, next door. She has something todo with it, I’ll be bound,’ Granny said, shaking her head.
    ‘The two of you have always been so close, Rory. Will you have a word with her?’ begged Mum.
    ‘I’ll try and talk to her,’ he promised.

    Jackie raced in front of them snuffling at the leaves, as Rory and Mia walked through Glenkilty Wood. Rory was glad that he’s managed to persuade his sister to put on her new yellow padded jacket and join him, for the woods behind their house had always been a favourite place of theirs. Oak, ash and chestnut trees formed a natural tunnel of greenery, and as they walked, the sunlight flickered and danced through the leaves. Only Jackie’s panting and the crackle of broken twigs disturbed the silence. Druids, hermits, bandits and outlaws were all supposed to have found shelter within Glenkilty’s ancient wood