She read on…
I can barely write. Fairyweather has gone. She didn’t even leave a note.
Everything was perfect. We went for a lovely morning walk yesterday. She was so excited to finally show Nocturnia the truth about the Creatures of the Light. But later that night, I couldn’t find her anywhere….
I just don’t understand. What will I tell poor little Tangine? I have to find her….
The words looked like drops of water had smudged them. The pictures on the next pages showed Tangine looking sad and lonely. The king wasn’t in any of them. Instead, Tangine was surrounded by Mummy Maids, and in every photo he had more and more toys. As the years went on, his face became dark and troubled. His fairy wings were covered with a cape, and his hair was dyed, to hide the sparkles.
We’ve been invited to the Fangs’ Barbaric Ball again this year, but I can’t bring myself to go. I need to find Fairyweather! The pain is still as fresh as last night’s cabbage froth.
I’ve been searching for her every hour of every night while the Kingdom of the Light sleeps. If I risk going during the day, I’ll be spotted. It appears that the Creatures of the Light are just as scared of us as we are of them.
But I won’t give up until I find Fairyweather. The Mummy Maids are taking care of Tangine in my absence. I fear for him, though. I don’t want him to be judged for his Creature-of-the-Light blood.
Maybe I’ve got Tangine all wrong, thought Amelia. It must have been hard growing up without a mom, and his dad doesn’t seem to spend any time with him. Amelia knew how lonely that could be. Her dad would sometimes rather do crosswords than play with her. But at least she had Squashy and her friends. Who did Tangine have?
“Amelia Fang is here?” Tangine’s voice came from the drawing room. He sounded surprised—and pleased.
Amelia quickly closed the diary and peered around the secret doorway.
Tangine was sitting on the sofa, swinging his legs.
“PAULA!” he yelled.
A Mummy Maid came running in.
“You’re sure Amelia Fang is here to see me?” he asked.
“That’s what she said,” the Mummy Maid replied.
“Hmmm. Maybe she wants to be friends after all.” He smiled. It wasn’t a sneer or a smirk. It was a real smile. Amelia felt a little sorry for him again. He looked very small and lonely sitting in the middle of the huge room.
But she couldn’t forget why she was here. She had to get Squashy back.
“So where IS she?” Tangine called. He slid off the chair and wandered out of the room.
Amelia ran back in, and jumped onto the sofa.
“OUCH!” she yelped as the sofa bit her butt.
Tangine’s head popped around the door. “Oh, there you are,” he said, looking confused.
“Er, hi!” Amelia said.
She was still trying to piece everything together, but it was all slowly becoming clear: the reason Tangine was so short while the king was so tall, the glitter he’d had on his shoe when he visited Amelia’s house and the fact that he hadn’t minded holding Grimaldi’s glittery sunflower scythe.
“I didn’t expect you to visit me,” said Tangine, interrupting her thoughts.
“Well, since we’re at school together, I thought it would be…fun,” said Amelia, faking a smile.
Tangine’s eyes lit up.
“Umm, where’s Squashy?” Amelia asked.
Tangine frowned. “He’s having his dinner right now.” Then his expression changed. “How about we play a board game? I have a new one called Full Moonopoly. Or we could play Bat Trap! That’s a good one. No fun to play by yourself, but now that you’re here…” He started rummaging around in a cabinet.
“Maybe we could wait for Squashy?” Amelia asked hopefully. “He could join in.”
Tangine emerged from the cabinet and started twiddling his thumbs. “I thought you came here to hang out with ME, Amelia.” He was frowning again.
“Where is Squashy, Tangine?” said Amelia, beginning to lose her patience. “I really want to see him!”
“Squashy, Squashy, Squashy,” Tangine said in a high-pitched voice. His face was going red. “It’s all about Squashy! You didn’t come here to see me at all, did you? You just came here to take Squashy back!” He folded his arms. “I thought you wanted to be my friend.”
Amelia looked at the floor. Any sympathy she’d felt toward Tangine after reading the diary was draining away.
“You should go,” Tangine said. “Mindy will see you out.”
Amelia sighed. Deep down in that dark, spoiled boy there HAD to be some kindness. SOMEWHERE. She thought about the photographs of the happy toddler. But she couldn’t let herself feel sorry for Tangine. She needed to speak to Florence and Grimaldi. They would help her come up with a new plan to rescue Squashy.
* * *
Back at the Fang Mansion, Amelia tiptoed up the staircase to the fourth floor and found the green door with its moldy handle. She opened the door, jumped straight into the little boat on the River Styx and rowed to the Reapertons’ barge. Grimaldi was sitting outside with a shiny new scythe, chatting to half a worm.
“Hey, Amelia!” Grimaldi waved. “Look! Dad got me a new scythe!”
“Cool,” Amelia said quickly. “But jump in! We need to get Florence and make a new plan. Tangine won’t give Squashy back!”
“Oh, that big unicorn-face!” said Grimaldi, clenching his fists.
Amelia and Grimaldi arrived at the Spudwick Pit, where Florence was busy doing one-armed push-ups.
“HELLO, GUYS!” she puffed. “WANNA SIT ON MY BACK WHILE I EXERCISE? I’M BUILDING UP MY MUSCLES FOR WHEN I HELP DAD WITH PIT-DIGGING FOR HALLOWEEN.” She flexed her arms, revealing an impressive set of biceps.
“Sorry to disturb your training, Florence,” Amelia said, “but it’s an emergency!”
Amelia was about to tell her friends about Tangine’s secret. But then she stopped herself. She wasn’t sure how she felt about the Creatures of the Light now, and it would take too long to explain everything. Right now she had to concentrate on getting Squashy back.
“Okay,” she said. “Both King Vladimir and Tangine are coming to the ball tomorrow. THAT’S our chance to go to Nocturnia Palace and rescue Squashy.”
“How will we get to the palace without anyone seeing us?” Grimaldi said.
“I COULD DIG US A TUNNEL FROM THE RIVER SO NOBODY SPOTS US ABOVEGROUND,” Florence said.
“Florence, that is the BEST idea ever!” said Amelia, trying to high-five her friend but missing because she couldn’t quite reach.
“What if Tangine spots you sneaking off?” Grimaldi asked.
“Good point. I’ll need something to keep him busy,” Amelia said thoughtfully.
“WHY DON’T YOU LEAD HIM INTO ONE OF YOUR DOORS AND MAKE SURE HE GETS STUCK IN THERE?” Florence suggested.
“Stuck…,” Amelia muttered. “Now, that gives me an idea!”
“OOOH, I LOVE A GOOD PLAN!” Florence said. “MAKES ME FEEL LIKE A SECRET AGENT OR SOMETHING.”
“Okay, guys, I’ll see you both at the River Styx tomorrow at midnight!” said Amelia. “And leave Tangine to me.”
It was Saturday—the night of the Barbaric Ball.
The Fang household was filled with the smell of burning candles. Goblins Anonymous were preparing the Barbaric Buffet and Horrific Hors d’Oeuvres, and one unfortunate goblin had gotten himself stuck in the oven. While everyone was distracted, Amelia gathered the final things she needed for her plan.
The doorbell gong bellowed through the house, marking the arrival of the first guests.
“IT BEGIIIINS!” Countess Frivoleeta squealed.
Wooo whizzed past her and greeted a group of serpents in huge ruffled collars who were waiting at the front door. In their excitement, they had managed t
o tie themselves in knots. Wooo led them to the ballroom at the back of the house.
Back in her bedroom, Amelia felt her heart jump with joy at the thought of rescuing Squashy.
Suddenly, Countess Frivoleeta came bursting in.
“Amelia!” she bellowed. “Stop hanging around in the shadows and get to the ballroom this instant. Haven’t you learned anything from your vampiress etiquette lessons?”
“Yes, Mom.” Amelia walked as elegantly as she could out of the bedroom.
Countess Frivoleeta cooed in excitement. “Oh, my dreariest, you look revoltingly RAVISHING! I am so proud!”
As Amelia walked to the ballroom, she heard the thumping beats and AAAAH OOOOOOOOs of the Howling Wolf Band. She edged to the back of the room, trying not to draw attention to herself.
“YOU STUPID BIRD! YOU’RE FIRED!”
Tangine’s voice echoed through the house.
The Howling Wolf Band stopped howling, and the crowd gathered around the black carpet, murmuring excitedly.
The huge ballroom doors swung open and Wooo made the announcement:
“Count and Countess Fang are delighted to welcome some VERY special guests to the Barbaric Ball. After many years of absence, I present: KING VLADIMIR the THIRTEENTH!”
The crowd erupted. One skeleton fell apart with excitement.
King Vladimir walked in. His face was solemn, and his eyes had dark rings around them. He headed straight for the buffet, waving half-heartedly at the crowd as he passed.
“And now for our NEXT special guest!” announced Wooo. “Our future king…TANGERINE!”
Tangine stopped midmarch and furrowed his brows. “It’s TanGEEEEN!” he hissed.
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry, Tanning Cream,” said Wooo.
“No! TANGINE, you transparent turnip!”
“I do beg your pardon,” said Wooo. “Follow me, Tin Bean.”
“AAARRRRGH!” Tangine gritted his teeth and marched along behind Wooo.
“Let’s hear it for TAMBORIIIINE!” said Wooo, and the crowd exploded with cheers and claps and slime.
Tangine shook his head and walked straight through Wooo in anger. Walking through a ghost was the highest level of insult.
The Howling Wolf Band started playing the “Dance Macabre.”
Amelia checked the clock. It was almost midnight. Maybe she could sneak out without Tangine seeing her….
“Oh, Ameeelia,” came his familiar voice.
Amelia’s heart fell to the tips of her pointy black boots. “Oh, hey, Tangine,” she said, trying to sound cheerful.
“I’m still angry with you,” he said, folding his arms. “And Squashy isn’t here, before you ask.”
Amelia kept calm. “Look, I’m sorry if I offended you last night…but I really hate dancing, and I’ve always wanted someone to hang out with at this boring ball! How about we play a game?”
Tangine frowned. “Is this another trick?”
“What about tag?” said Amelia, ignoring his question.
Tangine narrowed his eyes.
“TAG! You’re it!” Amelia tapped his arm, then ran off before he could stop her.
“What? Hey! Come back!” Tangine said, then ran after her. When she looked back over her shoulder, Amelia saw his frown slowly turning into a smile.
Amelia led Tangine down the staircase, away from the party. They passed a sprite tugging at a plate that was stuck to his face with goblin slime.
“Wait for me!” Tangine puffed. Giggling, he followed Amelia down a corridor, through a huge door and into complete darkness.
“Amelia?” he called, his laughter fading. “Where are you? I thought we were playing tag…not hide-and-seek!”
Amelia hesitated, catching her breath in the dark. “I’m sorry, Tangine,” she said, before throwing a bucketful of goblin slime over his head.
SPLOSH!
“AAAAAAARGGGHHH!” Tangine yelled. “WHAT’S GOING ON? I can’t see a thing!”
SPLOSH!
“GAAAAAAAAAH! I can’t move!” he bellowed as the goblin slime set like concrete. “Get me out of here this instant!”
The more he struggled, the more the slime hardened around him. “This isn’t how you play tag, Amelia! What’s going on?”
“I’m really sorry, but you’ve given me no choice…,” Amelia whispered. Then she stepped out and shut the door behind her.
Amelia made her way to the green door with the moldy handle and found Florence and Grimaldi waiting on the other side. She felt terrible for trapping Tangine, but it was her only chance to get Squashy back.
“Let’s go,” Amelia said. “Florence, are you ready to dig like you’ve never dug before?”
“ALREADY DONE IT.” Florence grinned. “YOUR UNDERGROUND PASSAGE TO THE PALACE AWAITS.”
“Excellent job!” Amelia said.
“It was amazing,” Grimaldi said. “Florence is a MACHINE!”
As the friends entered the tunnel, Grimaldi tapped his scythe and PING! It began to glow a luminous green.
“Whoa!” Amelia said. “That’s one fancy new scythe.”
“I know, right?” Grimaldi said. “It glows three different colors!”
The friends pressed on, and the tunnel got darker….
“How much farther, Florence?” Amelia asked.
Florence sniffed the air. “ ’BOUT THREE YARDS…”
She paused and tapped at the mud above her head. Amelia gasped as it fell away to reveal an opening.
Florence poked her head through the hole, then crouched back down. “LOOKS LIKE THE PALACE KITCHEN—FULL OF MUMMY MAIDS!”
“Okay,” Amelia said. “Let’s do this. You happy to keep watch, Florence?”
“ON IT.” Her friend smiled.
“And, Grimaldi, are you ready?” Amelia said.
“I’ve been face to face with a unicorn,” he replied. “I don’t think anything could scare me more than that!” He beamed. “Except maybe ladybirds.”
Amelia and Grimaldi coughed and spluttered as they emerged in the kitchen fireplace, covered in soot. Mummy Maids were scurrying about with overflowing plates and bowls. None of them noticed that a vampire and a grim reaper had just crawled into the kitchen.
Amelia and Grimaldi hid behind a shelf of jars full of various body parts.
“How are we supposed to get through without being seen?” Amelia whispered. “There are Mummy Maids EVERYWHERE.”
“Hey, I have an idea!” said Grimaldi, grabbing the end of a piece of grubby white cloth. The cloth was attached to a Mummy Maid, who began slowly unraveling as he moved around the kitchen.
The other maids started screaming and throwing dishes at the naked Mummy Maid. “OUTRAGEOUS!” yelled one, gripping a test tube so tightly it smashed. A nude Mummy Maid is not a pretty sight—all wrinkly, like they’ve spent too much time in the bathtub, but with added warts and a few stray eyeballs.
“Here’s our disguise!” Grimaldi grinned. “Climb on my shoulders and hold the end of the cloth.”
Amelia sat on Grimaldi’s shoulders while he twirled around, wrapping them both in the cloth until they looked like one very tall Mummy Maid.
Grimaldi wobbled his way through the kitchen, knocking over a few pots in the process. Amelia tapped his head and whispered, “Should we ask one of the Mummy Maids if they know where Squashy is?”
“Good idea!” Grimaldi said. “Let’s try this one.” He headed over to a very fat Mummy Maid who was mixing up a bowl of sludge.
“Oh, Sigmund!” the Mummy Maid rasped. “So glad you’re here! Could you be a dear and fetch that packet of Splattered Spleen from the top shelf?”
“Er, sure,” said Amelia, putting on a deep voice. She grabbed the most splattery-looking thing from the shelf.
“Thank you, Sigmund! Actually, while you’re here, p
erhaps you could fetch me some boogie bundles from Debra? I think this dish could do with a touch of boogie.”
Amelia was getting impatient. “Uh, so that pumpkin, Squashy…where’s he at these days?” she blurted out.
The Mummy Maid tutted. “I’d completely forgotten about that silly pumpkin! I was supposed to feed him ages ago!”
Amelia flinched, and a piece of cloth came loose at her nose.
“Would you feed him for me?” said the Mummy Maid, not looking up. “He’s in the cellar.”
Amelia couldn’t believe her luck! She tried to stay calm and balanced on Grimaldi’s shoulders.
Suddenly, the real Sigmund shouted from across the kitchen, “HEY! That’s not a Mummy Maid!”
Grimaldi didn’t wait to hear what was coming next. He ran as fast as he could, the cloth fast unraveling from around them. Amelia spotted a wooden trapdoor and yanked it open. A rickety staircase stretched down into complete darkness.
“Smells like a cellar to me!” said Grimaldi.
They jumped through the trapdoor….
Amelia couldn’t see a thing.
“Hold on…,” said Grimaldi, and the next second the cellar was lit up by the scythe’s green glow.
The cellar was a treasure trove of grotesque ingredients—from pots of earwax, bags of knees and inside-out brains to feet with eyeballs as toes.
When Squashy spotted Amelia, he squeaked louder than he’d ever squeaked before and bounced straight into her arms with one big pa-doing!
Amelia hugged him tightly. “Oh, Squashy! I’m SO happy to see you!” Squashy licked the tears that were running down Amelia’s cheeks.
Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball Page 5
