Let the Dance Begin Read Online Free

Cassie’s voice trailed off.
    ‘What do they say?’ Rubus jumped off the board.
    ‘They mainly whisper about how selfish my mother was to run off during the storm and how it’s her fault that the dance school has been closed for so long. They say such a famous
dancer should have stayed and helped out. I try to ignore it because Aunt Euphorbia hates it when I get into trouble for being rude or stomping at anyone!’ A tear of frustration slid down her
cheek, and Cassie quickly wiped it away. ‘I won’t let them get to me. I will prove them wrong when I find out the truth.’
    ‘How are you going to get to Silica City in time for the audition?’ Rubus asked. ‘Didn’t you say you had to be there by nine o’clock?’
    ‘I’m going to sneak out and catch the early dune bug.’
    ‘Those old beetles are a bit slow. Won’t your aunt be suspicious too, if you leave the kutch so early?’
    ‘I have to take the chance.’ Cassie nibbled the edge of her fingernail.
    Why don’t I give you a lift? The sand surfer can hold two sprites. I could drop you off on the edge of the city close to the palace.’
    ‘Brilliant idea! It’ll give me a chance to practise my driving!’ Cassie looked over at the sand surfer.
    Rubus groaned.
    Over the next couple of weeks, Cassie grabbed every chance she could to go over the dance steps in secret. She got up early so she could read over the steps in the book before her aunt got up.
    She ‘missed’ the dune bug back from school so she could perfect the moves whilst she waited for the later bug. She sneaked out at night to dance on the beach. One time she narrowly
    missed bumping into her aunt coming back from the night shift at the sand factory and had to hurl herself against the side of a rock. She practised until her feet ached. It was only as she got up
    early on the morning of the auditions that she realised she never had asked Lena Sealovage about the missing instructions. But it was too late for that now.

 
    Chapter Four
    ‘A sand dancer should behave with decorum
at all times, remain in the background
and wait to be given her due.’
The Sands of Time
    ‘Next!’ the loud voice called out from the doorway. It echoed down the empty corridor to where the last four sand sprites were waiting on
a hard wooden bench for their auditions. One of them got up and disappeared through the door. Cassie gripped the box she was holding tighter. Her heart was beating wildly. She had almost bumped
into her aunt that morning as she was sneaking out. Then Rubus had been late. Fortunately there had been a strong sea breeze to carry them along but all the time Cassie had been afraid that she
would miss the auditions. Here she was, though, finally. She had tied her hair back in preparation for the auditions and was trying to control her nerves.
    ‘I can’t believe that the dance school is reopening!’ gushed a voice beside her, interrupting her thoughts. Cassie turned to see a tall, thin sand sprite excitedly gripping the
edges of her patched-up skirt.
    ‘About time, if you ask me.’The third sand sprite rolled her eyes. She was smaller and dressed smartly. Her azureblue eyes sparkled with mischief. ‘Let’s introduce
ourselves,’ she suggested as she stood and curtseyed. ‘My name is Shell.’
    The tall sand sprite smiled and bowed her head. ‘I’m Alexsandra, but everyone calls me Lexie.’ She looked quizzically at Shell. ‘Shell is an unusual name for a sand
sprite. Everyone I know is named after sand or the flowers that grow in dunes.’
    ‘I am not like everyone else!’ Shell beamed. ‘I was rescued from a conch shell as a baby and sent to live here. I am now one of Sandrine’s serving sprites.’
    ‘At the palace? Wow!’ Lexie said.
    ‘I know – I’m lucky to live in a palace,’ Shell agreed. ‘For one thing, I didn’t have to travel far to get here. I did have to do all my chores in record time,
though. What about you?’ she asked Cassie.
    ‘I’m