The Broken Spell Read Online Free Page B

hold of the back of Una’s jumper as they joined the others, looking amazed but a little frightened.
    ‘Where did they come from?’ she asked. ‘Why are there so many?’
    ‘I suppose I can be a little over-enthusiastic,’ said Ms Gold.
    ‘Did you make them?’ said Grace, lowering her voice to a whisper. ‘Are they
magic
?’
    Ms Gold just smiled again, raising her hand and allowing a tiny butterfly to settle on her outstretched fingers.
    ‘I
knew
it,’ said Grace. ‘I
knew
that volcano was real. I just knew it!’
    ‘Anything to help my students learn,’ her teacher replied. ‘The world is filled with wonder, and I don’t want them to miss out on any of it.’
    ‘You’re a
witch
!’ Adie gasped.
    Ms Gold blew gently on her fingertips and watched the shimmering butterfly fly away.
    ‘And I’m not the only one collecting herbs this evening.’ She nodded to the small bag of leaves on Adie’s arm.
    ‘
We’re
witches too, Ms Gold!’ Una said excitedly.
    ‘We’re not really,’ Grace said quickly. ‘We’re kind of… we’re just learning.’
    ‘I
knew
there was something special about you girls!’ Ms Gold replied. ‘Five witches working together. You must castthe most tremendous spells.’
    ‘We did a while ago,’ said Jenny. ‘We did all these spells, but they didn’t quite work out and–’
    ‘We don’t do spells,’ Grace interrupted loudly, giving Jenny a look. ‘I mean, we did try a few before, but they didn’t work out well. We’re learning magic properly now, so we don’t do spells.’
    ‘You don’t cast spells?’ Ms Gold looked puzzled. ‘Witches that don’t cast
spells
, what an oddity. How do you learn if you don’t cast spells?’
    ‘We’re learning all about herbs and things, stuff for making potions. When we know all the theory, we’ll be able to do magic safely.’
    ‘That sounds like a peculiar way to teach aspiring witches. Who is tutoring you?’
    Right on cue, they heard Ms Lemon’s voice from the woods.
    ‘Girls? Where
have
you got to?’ she called. ‘None of you is going to beat the time at this rate.’
    She stepped into the clearing, and paused, astonished, as she took in the dazzling swarm of tiny golden creatures. Her gaze then landed on Ms Gold. All the colour drained from her face.
    ‘Beth?’ Ms Gold stepped forward and smiled widely. ‘Beth, is it really you? Oh, I have been dying to see you for so long! How strange to be back here – the two of us!’
    Ms Lemon didn’t move a muscle, but gasped one word.
    ‘
Meredith
.’
    ‘Meredith?’ Grace whispered as Ms Gold made her way towards their frozen French teacher. ‘Wasn’t she the other girl in their coven?’
    ‘Yeah,’ Jenny replied. ‘They had a big fight, or something. But she disappeared, didn’t she? Left when they finished school.’
    ‘Well, she’s obviously back.’
    ‘Yeah. Isn’t it great?’
    ‘I don’t know.’
    ‘What do you mean?’ Rachel asked Grace.
    ‘What did they fight over?’ said Grace. ‘I mean, are they still friends?’
    ‘Not judging from the look on Ms Lemon’s face,’ said Adie.
    ‘They were just kids back then. I’m sure they’ll work it out,’ Una said. Her face brightened. ‘Ooh! Maybe we can get Ms Gold to give us lessons as well.’
    ‘That would be brilliant,’ said Jenny. ‘I bet
she’d
let us do some spells. Come on, let’s go ask.’
    As the girls approached the two women, Ms Lemon was looking a little less shocked, but not any friendlier.
    ‘Miss?’ Grace said expectantly.
    ‘Come on, girls,’ Ms Lemon said abruptly. ‘We’re going.’
    ‘Don’t be that way, Beth,’ said Ms Gold, reaching to take her hand, but missing, as it was pulled away. ‘Can’t we letbygones be bygones? Things are so different now. And I understand you’re tutoring these girls. With Vera, is it? I’d be happy to help. It’s so important to train the next generation, but it
is
a lot of work.
I’ll
share the burden.’
    ‘We don’t