Lottie Luna and the Twilight Party

by Vivian French

  COPYRIGHT

  First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2020

  Published in this ebook edition in 2020

  HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd,

  HarperCollins Publishers

  1 London Bridge Street

  London SE1 9GF

  The HarperCollins Children’s Books website address is

  www.harpercollins.co.uk

  Text copyright © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2020

  Illustrations copyright © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2020

  Cover design copyright © HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd 2020

  A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.

  All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this ebook onscreen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

  Source ISBN: 9780008343019

  Ebook Edition © March 2020 ISBN: 9780008343026

  Version: 2020-01-21

  For the wonderful Aurelie Norman,

  and all the children she inspires xxx

  CONTENTS

  Cover

  Half Title Page

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  About the Author

  About the Publisher

  CHAPTER ONE

  ‘When the moon is blue

  Then we’re all blue too …

  And we’ll all howl together

  with a wowly wowly woo!’

  Prince Boris, Lottie Luna’s big brother, was singing at the top of his voice as Lottie came hurrying into the royal breakfast room.

  ‘Boris, dear,’ said Queen Mila, ‘MUST you sing that song?’

  Boris made a face as Lottie sat down. ‘You just don’t appreciate modern music, Ma.’

  ‘No, I don’t think I do.’ The queen cracked her boiled egg with a teaspoon. ‘I prefer classical howling concerts.’

  Lottie smiled at her mother. ‘So you won’t be buying a ticket to hear the Wonderful Werewolf Wailers?’

  King Lupo came out from behind his newspaper. ‘What’s that, Lottie? Who’s wailing? And where are they doing it?’ He frowned. ‘Not anywhere near me, I hope!’

  Lottie giggled. ‘It’s okay, Pa. They’re going to be wailing in the Pine Tree Grove next week, and that’s miles away from here. It’s going to be amazing! They don’t just wail – they juggle and do acrobatics too!’

  ‘Ahem.’ The king cleared his throat. ‘I hope you aren’t thinking of going, Lottie. You must remember that you’re a princess. Princesses should always be dignified, and jugglers and acrobats are NOT dignified.’

  ‘Pa! Don’t be so mean!’ Lottie turned to her mother. ‘Ma! I can go, can’t I? Boris is going – he got a ticket for free!’

  ‘Huh! Well, you can’t come with me,’ Boris told her. ‘My pal Volpin’s brother plays guitar with them sometimes – that’s how I got my ticket. And me and Volpin, we’re going with all our friends. We don’t want you tagging along.’

  ‘That’s SO not fair!’ Lottie was about to explode, but the queen held up her hand.

  ‘Lottie, dear – shouldn’t you be on your way to school?’

  Lottie looked at the clock, gasped and jumped to her feet. ‘Oh, no! I’m going to be late!’ And next minute she was rushing out of the door. Jaws, her bat, was dozing on the top of a picture; he woke up with a jump and flew after her, only just managing to whizz through the door before it shut.

  As she ran down the path, Lottie was still thinking about the Wailers. ‘I wonder if Marjory and Wilf would be interested in going?’ she said to herself. ‘What do you think, Jaws? I’ve never asked them what music they like … I’ll ask them today. Maybe we could go together.’ She gave a little skip. ‘It’s so lovely having new friends … I’m so lucky!’

  Lottie had only been at Shadow Academy for a few weeks, but she was delighted with her new school – especially as, so far, nobody except her closest friends had discovered her secret.

  Lottie was werewolf royalty. Not only that but she had been born during a lunar eclipse, which had given her special powers: she could run like the wind, she was exceptionally strong, she could hear almost as well as Jaws … and she could see infinitely better than everyone else too. Round her neck was a moonstone necklace that celebrated her special birth; when she was happy, it glowed white, but if she was sad or worried it was dull … and, on the few occasions when Lottie was bored, it turned grey. Wilf and Marjory knew her secret, and they also knew her other secret – that she lived in Dracon Castle, her father was a king and her mother a queen.

  ‘I just want to be ordinary,’ Lottie had told them. ‘So please don’t tell anyone. Pa’s only been king for six months … It’s not like I was born a princess.’

  ‘That’s okay.’ Marjory had grinned at her, and Wilf had winked.

  ‘We won’t say a word! We’re friends, and friends always keep each other’s secrets.’

  ‘To the death!’ Marjory had agreed, and they’d solemnly shaken hands.

  Now, thinking about her friends, Lottie ran even faster – so fast that her little bat had trouble keeping up with her. ‘Hurry up, Jaws!’ she called. ‘I’ve just had the most AMAZING idea, and I need to talk to Wilf. I think it might be Marjory’s birthday soon … and, if it is, maybe we could take her to the Wailers concert for her birthday treat! Wouldn’t that be perfect?’

  Jaws was too puffed to do anything other than flap a wing.

  Anyone else would have been late for school after such a late start, but Lottie’s amazing speed meant she arrived in plenty of time. She flew through the entrance hall, hurtled down the corridor to her classroom and burst through the door with a crash. Her teacher, Mrs Wilkolak, looked up and shook her head. ‘Really, Lottie! MUST you arrive like a whirlwind?’

  ‘Sorry, Mrs Wilkolak!’ Lottie apologised. ‘Please … do you know when Marjory’s birthday is? Is it soon?’

  Mrs Wilkolak picked up her register, and ran her finger down the names. ‘It is indeed, Lottie. It’s next week.’

  ‘Oh, brilliant!’ Lottie’s eyes shone. ‘Thank you! But please don’t tell her I asked. I want to plan a surprise for her!’

  Mrs Wilkolak smiled. ‘What a lovely idea! Of course, I won’t tell her.’

  ‘Won’t tell who what?’ Wilf had come sauntering in and overheard Mrs Wilkolak.

  ‘Wilf!’ Lottie grabbed his arm, and pulled him into a corner. ‘It’s Marjory’s birthday next week and I’ve got a fabulous idea for it – but I’m going to need your help!’

  ‘Count me in,’ Wilf said cheerfully. ‘She deserves something nice. Her mum never gives her an actual party because money’s a bit tight in their house as she’s got so many brothers and sisters. What’s your idea?’

  ‘Listen!’ Lottie said, and she began to explain …

  CHAPTER TWO

  As Lottie and Wilf were talking, the rest of their classmates gradually arrived in
the classroom, and Marjory came hurrying over to join her friends.

  ‘Hi!’ she said. ‘You two look as if you’re up to something! What’s going on? Is it exciting?’

  ‘Oh … nothing much. How was your weekend?’ It was so obvious that Wilf was deliberately changing the subject that Marjory looked at him in surprise. Lottie saw Marjory’s expression, and tried to make things better.

  ‘We were talking about the Wonderful Werewolf Wailers,’ she said. ‘Do you like them?’

  Marjory’s face lit up. ‘Oh, yes!’ she said. ‘I love them! And they’re playing in the Pine Tree Grove next Sunday!’ Her smile faded. ‘But I can’t possibly go. I’ve got to visit my gran that evening … and actually I wouldn’t have been able to afford a ticket anyway. Are you two going?’

  ‘I’d love to,’ Lottie said, ‘but I’m not sure if I can.’ She gave Wilf a quick sideways glance, then asked Marjory, ‘Why have you got to visit your gran that evening? Couldn’t you go the day after?’

  Marjory shook her head. ‘It’s Gran’s birthday, and we always go and visit her then. All the family come; we take a huge cake with enough candles for her, and for me as well. It’s my birthday the day after, you see, so it’s kind of a tradition that we celebrate together. I can’t miss it.’

  One of the other pupils had been listening to their conversation. Agatha Claws, a tall girl, leaned forward. ‘I’m going to the Wailers concert,’ she boasted. ‘My father’s taking me and my cousin Kiki. Kiki’s parents are moving house, so she’s staying with us for a while, and the academy said she can come to school with us while she’s here. She’s the same age as me, and she loves the Wailers too. We’re going to have front-row seats! They’re VERY expensive, but my father says it doesn’t matter.’

  Lottie, Wilf and Marjory had always secretly called Agatha Awful Aggie; now they looked at her without enthusiasm. ‘Good for you,’ Lottie said.

  ‘Yes.’ Aggie smiled in a self-satisfied way. ‘And did you know they do conjuring tricks as well as sing? And they ask for volunteers, and my father’s going to make sure it’s me they pick.’

  ‘Oh.’ Wilf shrugged, but before he could say anything else Mrs Wilkolak clapped her hands, and told them it was time for the register.

  It was only as they went back to their places that Lottie noticed that a new girl had come into the class. She sat herself down close to Aggie, and it was clear that they knew each other well. That must be Aggie’s cousin, Lottie thought, and she looked at the girl with interest. She was like Aggie, but her eyes were smaller, and closer together … and she was staring round the classroom as if she disapproved of everything and everyone.

  Mrs Wilkolak looked up from the register. ‘You must be Kiki Claws!’ she said. ‘You’re Agatha’s cousin, aren’t you? Welcome! We’re delighted to have you here at Shadow Academy for the next few weeks. I expect Agatha’s told you all about us.’

  Kiki nodded, but she didn’t return the teacher’s friendly smile. ‘Yes,’ she said. ‘It doesn’t seem to be as much fun as my real school, though.’

  Mrs Wilkolak raised her eyebrows. ‘Well, give us time. This is a lovely class, as I’m sure you’ll discover.’

  Kiki nodded again, but didn’t say anything. She turned away to whisper something to Aggie. Lottie’s special powers meant that her hearing was extraordinarily acute, and she heard Aggie whisper back, ‘Lovely … well, except for Lottie Luna. She sometimes behaves as if she thinks she’s cleverer than everyone else!’

  Oh, no, Lottie thought as the new girl gave her a chilly stare. She sighed, and opened her history book.

  They were studying famous werewolves that week, but even though Lottie loved history she found it hard to concentrate. She was still worrying about Marjory’s birthday. If Marjory’s visiting her gran, she thought, there’s no way we can take her to see the Wailers. We’ll have to plan something else … but what?

  She was interrupted in her thoughts by Mrs Wilkolak asking her a question. ‘So, Lottie … who was the most unusual werewolf king in the sixteenth century?’

  Lottie had no idea. She blushed, and said, ‘I’m really sorry, Mrs Wilkolak. I can’t remember.’

  Mrs Wilkolak frowned. ‘A little more concentration, please. Does anybody else know?’

  Kiki put up her hand, and said, in a bored voice, ‘Lupino the Second, because he lived to be a hundred and fifty years old. Everybody knows that. Except stupid people, of course.’

  ‘Thank you, Kiki. And I should tell you that in Shadow Academy we don’t call anyone stupid.’ Mrs Wilkolak sounded cross, but Kiki just shrugged.

  ‘Okay,’ she said.

  She’s not very nice, Lottie thought to herself. That was rude!

  The rest of the lesson seemed to drag. Lottie tried hard to keep her mind on the sixteenth century, but it was difficult. Her thoughts kept spiralling away. Wilf had said that Marjory’s mum never gave her a party, but did her family do something else instead for her? Lottie sighed, and decided she needed to have a private chat with Wilf at breaktime. She had thought the Wailers would be the perfect birthday treat … but now she could see that they’d need to come up with something else.

  At breaktime Lottie looked for Wilf, but he was deep in conversation with another boy. It was Marjory who slipped her arm through Lottie’s and said, ‘What were you dreaming about this morning? You usually know more about werewolf history than any of us!’

  ‘Oh, nothing really.’ Lottie hoped she sounded convincing. ‘Probably the Wonderful Werewolf Wailers.’

  Marjory made a face. ‘I do wish they were playing on my birthday instead of the day before. Wouldn’t that be brilliant? We could all go together.’

  ‘I thought you said you couldn’t afford a ticket, Marjory!’ Aggie and Kiki had come up behind the two girls, and Kiki gave Marjory a despising look. ‘It must be horrid to be so poor. I’m glad I’m not.’

  Lottie put her arm round her friend, and glared at Kiki. ‘That’s such a mean thing to say! I expect Marjory’s glad she isn’t you! I am! She’d never, ever say something like that!’

  ‘Ooooh … temper, temper!’ Kiki stuck her nose in the air. ‘Come on, Aggie. Let’s go and find someone nice to talk to.’ And she pulled her cousin away.

  Marjory stared after her. ‘She’s much worse than Aggie,’ she said. ‘I’m so pleased you’re my friend, Lottie. You and Wilf … we’re best friends, aren’t we?’

  Lottie nodded. ‘We certainly are.’ She paused, and then asked, ‘So don’t you ever have a party on your birthday?’

  ‘We do all the celebrating the day before, at Gran’s house.’ Marjory shrugged. ‘There’s not enough money for two parties. Sometimes we have a Family Howl on my actual birthday, and Mum always makes an extra cake – but we don’t do anything else.’ She saw Lottie was shocked, and added, ‘It’s okay. Really it is! I don’t mind.’

  ‘Come on, you two!’ It was Wilf. ‘Time for my favourite lesson … not! It’s new-moon studies!’ And he sped away.

  Hmmm, Lottie thought as she walked back into class. When am I going to get to talk to him alone? We absolutely MUST organise a treat for Marjory … I know! If I don’t get the chance to catch him at dinnertime, I’ll write him a note! I just need some paper. She fished in her pocket, and pulled out a picture of a rainbow that she had drawn the day before. That’ll do, she told herself. Wilf likes rainbows!

  CHAPTER THREE

  Hi Wilf,

  Could you meet me after school? I really, really, REALLY need to talk to you about Marjory’s birthday! We need to plan a special surprise for her.

  Love

  Lottie

  PS MAKE SURE MARJORY DOESN’T KNOW YOU’RE MEETING ME! We don’t want her guessing what we’re up to!

  Lottie folded her note carefully, and wrote WILF! on the outside. It was the afternoon, and she still hadn’t found Wilf on his own for long enough to talk to him; at lunch Marjory had been with them all the time, and Aggie and Kiki had been hanging around as well. Now Lottie
was taking advantage of a couple of minutes between lessons; Mrs Wilkolak had gone out of the classroom to take the register to the head teacher, Madam Grubeloff, and everyone was meant to be reading.

  Lottie tucked the note inside her copy of Winnie, the Weirdest Werewolf Ever, and jumped up from her seat. ‘Here you are,’ she said to Wilf. ‘You said you wanted to borrow this when I’d finished it.’ She handed him the book.

  Wilf looked surprised. ‘I never—’ he began, but stopped as he saw Lottie wink at him. ‘Oh, yes. Thank you!’

  ‘Give it back when you’ve finished it,’ Lottie said, and she sat back down again beside Aggie.

  Aggie seemed to be concentrating very hard, but when Lottie wasn’t looking she gave a little smile. She had seen Lottie writing the note, but she hadn’t been able to read it; now she was dying to know what was going on. I’ll find out! she told herself. Lottie’s got a secret with Wilf … but what is it?

  Mrs Wilkolak came bustling back into the classroom just then. Everybody had to get their homework out, and Aggie kept a careful eye on Wilf as the class searched their school bags for the stories they had written the night before. She watched him reading Lottie’s note and scribbling an answer, and she saw him tucking his reply in the book Lottie had given him. Pleased with herself, she nudged Kiki.

  ‘Watch Wilf! He and Lottie have got a secret!’ she whispered. ‘They’re passing notes to each other!’

  ‘Aggie? Are you talking?’ Mrs Wilkolak asked.

  Aggie shook her head. ‘I was just reading to myself, Mrs Wilkolak.’

  ‘Then perhaps you’d like to read your story out loud,’ the teacher said. ‘I’m sure we’d all like to hear it!’

  Aggie stood up and began to read. It was Kiki who saw the scrumpled piece of paper that was Lottie’s note fall off Wilf’s table. ‘Oh, no!’ she said loudly, ‘I’ve dropped my pencil!’ And jumping up, she slid across the classroom and snatched the note up before Wilf knew what was happening. Stuffing it in her pocket, she sat back down beside Aggie with a triumphant grin. ‘Got it!’ she hissed, but Aggie was in the middle of the most dramatic part of her story and didn’t answer.