“I’m guessing it’ll take some kind of magic spell.” Moonzy shrugged. “I’ll see if I can find something on wrecker birds.” She scampered down the middle row of books, reading each title out loud as she went.
“Skaw?” I moved my foot to let him past.
“No’ my area of expertise. However, I will tell you this for nothing: if you bring back something which has no’ had a pulse for hundreds of years, you have to return it to the grave, otherwise you’ll take its place. It’s the law of nature. I’ll check if there’s anything on wrecker birds on the bottom shelf.” Skaw wriggled towards the books.
I stared after him, stunned. Not only did we have to bring Carline Deedclathes to life, but we’d have to bury her again too, otherwise one of us would end up taking her place instead. I shivered at the thought.
Mrs Shellycoat reappeared at the end of the aisle, waving at me.
Maybe she’d found something on the wrecker bird?
I placed The Folklore of Saltbay on the arm of the chair and hurried towards her. Moonzy swooshed her tail and Skaw removed some carpet fluff that’d stuck to his head.
“You have a visitor, Coral.” Mrs Shellycoat guided me towards the reception, where I spotted a tall figure scratching his beard.
I hesitated, wondering if I would be in even bigger trouble with Dad. I’d lost all track of time and had no idea how long we’d been here for. If more than an hour had passed by, he’d never trust me again.
I braced myself for the full force of his anger.
He stepped forward and hugged me tightly. I closed my eyes and leaned into him.
“I’m so sorry, Coral – I let you come here on your own and I should have realized it would have stirred up lots of feelings about Gran.” Dad’s jaw hit the top of my head softly as he spoke. His words vibrated through my skull to my heart. And just for a second, I felt at peace, but it could never have lasted.
Dad let go of me. “Next time you want to visit, I’ll come too. OK? You ready to go?”
“I need to fetch a book Mrs Shellycoat gave me. Can you wait a second?”
“Actually, while Coral’s doing that, could you give me a hand with these?” Mrs Shellycoat clutched the missing pet posters. The way she grinned at us, I knew it was her who had called Dad.
“I’d be happy to.” Mrs Shellycoat passed him a box of drawing pins.
I hurried towards the nature section, skidding to an abrupt halt. Skaw was on the floor reading a book. Moonzy peeped down at him from the top shelf and nudged a giant encyclopedia forward with her paws. Before I could yell out a warning to Skaw, it fell down right on top of him.
I sprinted over to where the book lay, lifting it off him carefully.
Skaw lay flat out, unmoving, his skin slowly turning Celery Sprig, Saffron Blush and Veil of Violet.
I scooped him up in my hand, checking for cuts. “Skaw?”
“She’s way more dangerous than Muckle Red,” spluttered the worm.
Moonzy peered down at him with the hint of a smirk on her face.
“He’s not the murderer!” I snapped at her.
“He is as good as if he helps Muckle Red out of the graveyard.” The squirrel puffed up her tail.
I wrapped Skaw tightly in my tissue and tucked him into the rucksack. “Moonzy,” I whispered. “I have a plan to make sure Muckle Red can’t ever escape. If we gather all the objects and then hide them from him, we can force Muckle Red into telling us where Lyart is. And if they’re really well hidden, there’s no way Muckle Red will be able to find them before midnight.”
“Which means he’ll be destroyed!” chipped in Moonzy.
“Exactly! Except Skaw doesn’t need to know this. We’ve got such little time; we need his help. So, please, do you think you can stop with the assassination attempts?”
Moonzy relaxed a little and wiggled her nose. “I didn’t find anything on wrecker birds. I’m sorry.”
“Thanks for searching anyway, Moonzy.” I held my coat pocket open for the squirrel. “Dad’s here. We have to go.”
She jumped in and I closed the flap.
Dad had finished pinning up the poster of God and the other pets, for all to see.
Without thinking, I hugged Mrs Shellycoat.
“Oh! It’s like being in the grip of a boa constrictor!” She caught her glasses in time before they shot off her nose.
Dad laughed – not just a polite one; a real one.
“Thank you, Mrs Shellycoat.” I handed The Folklore of Saltbay over to her. I really wanted to ask if she knew where I could find a spell that would bring a person back from the dead, but I thought this might be a step too far, even for her.
“I have something on the bird you were asking about, coming over from the library in Greenside. I’ll drop it off for you tomorrow.” Mrs Shellycoat gave us both a warning stare not to argue with her.
“Bye, Mrs Shellycoat. Thanks for keeping an eye on this one.” Dad opened the door for me.
Mrs Shellycoat dipped her head slightly, before being mobbed by a shrieking group of children.
Even though Dad was holding my hand, the smile left my face by the time we’d reached the bottom of the steps because Moonzy, Skaw and I were going to have to figure out how to raise Carline Deedclathes up from her grave tonight.
CHAPTER
11
The gravel on the path up to Guiltree Hill crunched so loudly, I was sure the noise alone would be enough to wake Carline Deedclathes from the dead. It had been a miracle we hadn’t disturbed Mum and Dad sneaking out of the house. Skaw and Moonzy had squabbled non-stop as I’d clambered down the tree. If Mum and Dad had cottoned on to what I was up to, they’d make it impossible for me to sneak out again, which would put an end to collecting all of the objects – something I didn’t even want to think about!
Thousands of stars shimmered up above in Heavenly White, Pineapple Delight, Alice Blue and Orange Burst; plane lights winked and the waves, which had been set on fire earlier by the sunset, cooled as they bathed in the Ice Cavern rays of the moon.
Now we were nearing the stone, the squirrel and the worm had both fallen silent.
Moonzy stared straight ahead; every now and again her nose twitched as she caught new scents. The squirrel flicked her ear a few times, as though irritated. “Funny how it’s called Guiltree Hill yet there are hardly any trees on it.”
We were surrounded by clumps of wilted grass and tangled patches of wild brambles, their Provocative Plum branches arching out like thin octopus tentacles, eager for a catch. Three trees, bullied by the wind, leaned sideways. Black Magic–coloured plastic bags flapped and billowed from their twisted branches, which the boys in my class had called witches’ knickers when we’d visited here on our school trip.
The rock at the top dominated the landscape. Wide more than it was round, it sat, silent, guarding its dark secret.
All that prevented me from fleeing was the thought each step could take me closer to rescuing Lyart and being with Gran.
I buttoned my coat up, to stop the air from pinching my skin. The sea shifted and sighed far below. Even though Skaw was tucked into my beanie hat, his teeth chittered. He swung down, his nose practically touching mine. “So, what are we doing again?”
“We’re going to see if there are any clues which might help us work out how to bring Carline Deedclathes back to life,” I whispered, not sure why I felt the need to keep my voice down.
Skaw coughed. “That’s no’ much of a plan.”
Moonzy scowled at him. “You got a better idea, worm-head?”
“Aye, as it happens. We go home, get some shut-eye and return to the library tomorrow. The answer will be in there, somewhere.” The worm pulled himself up to sit on my hat.
“In case it has slipped your minuscule mind, we don’t have the time. This needs to get sorted tonight, or your travel plans with Muckle Red will be on hold, permanently.” Moonzy gave him a tight smile.
Car headlights swept round the bottom of the hill. For a moment, I wonder
ed if it was Mum and Dad searching for me. Even if they had discovered the pile of clothes I’d shoved under my covers, they wouldn’t know to look for me here. They’d check Isla’s house first.
As we neared the summit, I noticed the stone was covered in swirls, drips and slashes of spray paint in Red Riot, Neon Banana and Bubblegum. My feet crackled over crisp packets and flattened tin cans the grass had grown over.
A bench stood beside the rock, quietly shedding its skin of Relentless Olive paint. Even though there was a bin, bottles lay strewn everywhere. Smashed glass caught the light of the stars and shone; a twin galaxy on the ground.
I slid off my rucksack, sat it on the bench and took out the tear catcher. Even though I had a sinking feeling we’d had a wasted journey coming to Guiltree Hill, I’d thought it best to be prepared and had slipped it into my coat pocket. “Do you think Carline Deedclathes senses we’re here?” My legs started to tremble. The stars spun and blurred as though the earth was rotating on fast forward. I stole a furtive glance towards the path to safety and Saltbay.
“She’ll be as dead as a dodo. We should check the stone for markings,” said Moonzy as she trooped off to explore the other side of the rock.
“Why?” I asked Skaw.
“It’s a trademark of witches – they’re always vandalizing stuff with weird signs.” He nodded wisely as I approached the boulder. The closer I got, the more it loomed over me. It must have taken all the townspeople of Saltbay to move it. I placed my hand against the stone, my fingers turning Muted Fuchsia in the cold. I tried hard not to imagine what it must have been like for Carline Deedclathes being buried alive.
Something tapped my foot and I leapt back, snapping my head down. Skaw shot off my hat, vanishing into a clump of grass at the base of the rock.
“It’s only me!” squeaked Moonzy, waving her paws.
“Would you not do that!” I yanked my hat over my ears. “In case you haven’t noticed I’m a little tense at the moment.”
“There’s nothing there.” Moonzy bounded up on to my shoulder and over on to the rock, where she checked every inch of the top of it. Not detecting anything unusual, she sat, her tail flicking in annoyance.
I stared down at the grass but it was too long for me to spot where Skaw was.
Kneeling, I parted a clump and spied a small burrow under the boulder.
“Skaw? You there?” I hoped the hole wasn’t inhabited by any creatures who considered worms to be gourmet delicacies.
Moonzy hopped on to my hat and slid down my arm, where she landed beside the tuft of grass. As she peered into the hole, she sneezed.
My mouth fell open.
The squirrel glared at me, wondering why I was gawping at her.
“You sneezed!” I said. “Doesn’t this mean there’s a witch nearby?”
Moonzy’s eyes widened. “It’s usually the case…”
Just at that moment Skaw’s head appeared out of the burrow. “There’s something on the underside of the stone, but there’s no’ enough light for me to see.”
I dashed over to my rucksack, rifling through it for my phone and its torch. All of a sudden, I remembered Mum and Dad had confiscated it and I cursed out loud. Scanning the hilltop, something caught my eye in the bin, which gave me an idea.
The squirrel and the worm watched me intently, wondering what I was up to. I fished out the tinfoil lid of a takeaway carton and raced over to them, positioning it on the ground so the moon’s rays reflected off it, flooding the hole with light.
“Great thinking, Coral!” Moonzy clapped her paws together.
Skaw wriggled back down under the rock. “A bit over to the right,” he called out. “No. Your other right. That’s it!”
Moonzy and I waited for him, hardly daring to breathe.
Skaw pushed up through the hole. “There’s some writing on it. If Carline Deedclathes was buried alive, she could have done this.”
I shuddered before I could stop myself.
The squirrel’s whiskers stiffened. “What does it say?”
Skaw’s eyes flicked up to the side as he recalled the words from memory. “I am in the earth, right beneath here. A ring around me will bring me near. Say my name three times and I will appear. Don’t place me back, or it will cost you dear.”
“It’s definitely a spell. That’ll explain why I was…” Moonzy erupted with another sneeze, making Skaw and me jump.
“It says not to put her back, except you told me in the library she has to return to her grave.” I frowned at the worm, not sure the world of magic was making much sense to me.
“If you’d been buried for hundreds of years, got your pulse kick-started and were set free, would you want to end up under there again?” Skaw jerked his head towards the earth.
Moonzy sat up. “The spell says we need to draw a circle. Lyart told me they were powerful shapes often used in magic rituals. Oh! And if the line gets broken, the magic can’t work any more. Or so he said.” She pulled a face.
“What will we draw it with?” Skaw bit his lip.
I hurried over to the bench and reached into the patch of brambles, bringing out a discarded tin of the Red Riot spray paint, which rattled as I shook it.
“Brilliant! You can do it, Coral.” Moonzy pointed to the stone.
“Why me?” I said, in a way that made me sound half my age.
“It would take the worm about forty years and you’re an artist – I saw what was inside the sketch pad in your room. Once it’s finished, Coral, say her name three times and then we’ll wait for Carline Deedclathes.” Moonzy brushed her paws together, as though it was a job well done.
“You have a way of making this sound as simple as baking a cake,” I said, gripping the can of Red Riot spray paint. Some of it leaked out of the nozzle, on to my fingers. Although most people associated red with danger, Roman generals would paint themselves head to toe in the colour if they won a battle, and right at this moment, I liked the idea that red was seen as being victorious. A thought occurred to me. “I suppose I’ll have to collect the tears from Carline Deedclathes too?” My voice was as taut as a guitar string the second before it snaps.
“Slightly tricky for me to do without arms,” said Skaw.
Moonzy sucked her teeth. “You’re taller and can reach her eyes better.”
“What if she doesn’t weep?” I asked, putting my hands on my hips.
Skaw shrugged. “She’s being brought back to life by a girl, a worm and a stuffed squirrel. That’s enough to reduce anyone to tears.”
My skin thickened with goosebumps.
Skaw tapped my foot to get my attention. “Witches can be touchy at the best of times. This one is bound to be raging after being dead for so long.”
“Skaw, do you have any other pearls of wisdom you’d care to share with us?” I picked him up and marched over to the bench where I perched, holding him in the palm of my hand at eye level.
“The witch will be way cleverer and can easily outsmart you, and if this goes pear-shaped, there will be no use in running because she’ll be a million times faster.”
I slumped on the seat. What had I been thinking? This task was going to be utterly impossible.
Skaw clocked the expression on my face. “Don’t you give up now. I’m no’ losing out on the chance to travel the world.”
“Round of applause for Skaw, who wants to go on holiday with his beastly bestie.” Moonzy’s voice was as brittle as eggshells.
Skaw puffed his chest out. “I’m no’ stupid. I’ve sussed you and Coral want to prevent Muckle Red from leaving the graveyard. As soon as we’ve gathered all the objects, you’re on your own. I’ll no’ turn against my pal.” Skaw flushed Splash of Ketchup as I plonked him on the bench.
“For a worm with eyes, you need to stop being so blind when it comes to Muckle Red,” Moonzy snapped.
“Give him a break. He’s worked hard to put the past behind him. He’s a new man, an upstanding citizen, who on release from Halloway will devote
his free time to charity work. Mark my words,” said Skaw.
Moonzy flattened her ears and curled her tail in tight.
“Are you OK?” I could tell she was upset.
The moon highlighted scratches on the squirrel’s pupils. “I wish Lyart was here. He’d have known exactly what to do,” she said. “I’m just worried about him, that’s all.”
I hated the thought of Muckle Red holding him captive somewhere in Halloway graveyard. I could only pray he hadn’t been harmed. “Lyart means the world to you, doesn’t he?”
“It feels weird him not being with us – although I can still hear his voice jabbering away in my head, telling me what to do, which is kind of comforting and a little bit annoying.”
Skaw rolled his eyes.
I smiled, thinking about my friend Isla. I loved her to pieces, even though she bugged me half the time too. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“If it’s not too rude asking – what happened to Lyart? He’s very young to be a ghost – and for you to be a poltergeist too.”
“We got sick from an illness called Black Belly Fever.”
“I’m sorry to hear this, Moonzy.” I watched as her nose quivered. “Were you and Lyart friends before?”
“No, he saved me from some groaner goblins at Halloway and we’ve been inseparable ever since. He really does make the graveyard a safer place for everyone. This is the first time he’s not been able to keep an eye on Muckle Red – he’ll be beside himself with worry.”
As I patted the squirrel’s back gently, I pictured Gran smiling at me – the way she would when I came through the door after school and my heart floated like a helium-filled balloon that had been let go of in the park.
I had to give this a shot – for both of our sakes. “C’mon, let’s do this.”
Moonzy grinned at me, her nylon whiskers curling up at their ends.
I got to my feet and strode towards the boulder. Thankfully there wasn’t much of a breeze and the ground was well-trodden, making it flatter than a sand dab fish. A circular path already existed around the stone, so I decided it would be best to follow it. As I pressed the top of the nozzle, spray hissed out of the can, coating the grass in a fine mist of Red Riot. The line was a bit wobbly in places; however, under the circumstances, it was the best I could manage. When I’d finished, I placed the nearly empty can on the bench.
The True Colours of Coral Glen Page 9
