Wish Trap Read online

  Contents

  In the Star World

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Also in the Series

  Extract from Star Friends: Mirror Magic

  About the Author and Illustrator

  Copyright

  The meadows and mountains, hills and valleys all glittered with sparkling stardust. The animals who lived in the Star World were going about their business but one snowy owl – Hunter – was watching something very important. In a pool, under a waterfall of stars, he could see what was happening in the human world.

  He hooted softly: “Show me the Star Animals!” Peering curiously into the pool, he watched the images form, fade and re-form.

  First he saw a fox cub curled up on a bed beside a girl with dark-blond hair. His muzzle was resting against her cheek and she was stroking his fur. Next, a squirrel scampering along the rail of a bunk bed, chattering to a girl with black curls. Then he saw a gentle deer being cuddled by a third girl with long dark brown hair. In a fourth image, a wildcat was weaving between the legs of a girl with red hair and clever green eyes.

  The owl nodded in satisfaction. Four of the young Star Animals who had recently made the journey from the Star World to the human world had found Star Friends. They would now teach those children how to use the magic that flowed between the Star World and the human world to do good deeds. Together the Star Animals and their new friends would try to stop anyone using dark magic to cause unhappiness and hurt people. They would help keep the human world safe.

  As the owl watched, the image in the sparkling pool changed again, this time showing a person in a hooded cloak holding up a glittering black pendant above a small, squat shape. The owl stiffened and gave an anxious squawk as he watched shadows swirl about the shape. Dark magic was happening! There was no doubt about it – someone was about to cause trouble near to where the new Star Friends lived. Would the Star Friends and their animals realize? Would they be able to use their powers to stop the dark magic before people got hurt? He watched as the images continued to shift and change…

  Maia Greene lay on her bed with Bracken the fox cub snoozing in her arms. Stroking his russet-red head, she felt her heart swell. It was hard to believe that she and Bracken had known each other for such a short time. But it was just two weeks and two days since she had seen him in the woods for the first time. Two weeks and two days since her life had changed forever.

  Maia hugged Bracken closer. To start with she had thought he was just a young fox with unusual indigo eyes. But then he had spoken to her and she had found out that he was a Star Animal – a magical animal from a faraway place called the Star World.

  Bracken’s eyes blinked open. Seeing her gazing at him, he put his head on one side. “What are you thinking about, Maia?”

  “When you first told me you were a Star Animal,” Maia told him softly.

  Bracken wriggled into a sitting position. “You should have seen your face when I first spoke to you,” he teased. “You looked really shocked.”

  “Of course I did. It was the first time anything magical had ever happened to me,” said Maia.

  Bracken licked her nose. “And now you’re my Star Friend and know all about magic.”

  Maia nodded. It was amazing and she could still hardly believe it. Every Star Animal who came to the human world had to find a child to be their Star Friend. Star Friends were able to hear and see the Star Animals because they believed in magic. Together they used the magic that flowed between the human world and the Star World to do good and to stop bad people who used dark magic to make others unhappy. Whenever Maia wanted Bracken, she could call his name and he would appear – but he was always careful to vanish when there were other people around.

  Maia had been absolutely delighted when her best friends, Lottie and Sita, had also become Star Friends. Lottie’s Star Animal was an energetic squirrel called Juniper and Sita’s was a gentle deer called Willow. They were all having a brilliant – if sometimes scary – time learning about magic together.

  Bracken jumped off the bed and shook himself. “Why don’t you practise your magic? The more you practise, the better you’ll get at it.”

  “OK,” Maia said. Jumping up eagerly, she went to her desk with Bracken bounding around her legs. The desk’s surface was covered with animal magazines, animal stickers, pens, pencils and books. Pushing them to one side, she leaned forwards, staring into her mirror.

  One of the first things that Maia had learned when she started doing magic was that different Star Friends had different magical abilities. Her own magic was to do with sight. If she looked into a shiny surface, she could see things that were happening in other places. She could also see glimpses of the future and Bracken had told her that if she kept on practising she would be able to see into the past one day, too.

  Focusing on the surface of the mirror, Maia let the rest of the world fade away and opened herself to the current of magic. It tingled through her body, making her feel like every centimetre of her skin was sparkling. What should she ask to see? She thought for a moment and then decided.

  Show me the future. Show me something I need to see.

  Her own reflection faded and a picture of a girl appeared in the mirror. She was crouched on the ground, hugging her ankle and crying. Maia frowned. The girl seemed to be wearing the red and grey uniform of Maia’s school but Maia couldn’t see her face. Who was she? What had happened to her?

  I want to see more, Maia thought. But instead of the image becoming clearer, another image appeared. This time it was a different girl on a climbing frame. Maia couldn’t see who it was but she was swinging from the top bar by her hands. As Maia watched, she lost her grip, cried out and fell.

  Maia caught her breath as the girl hit the ground.

  “What are you seeing?” Bracken asked curiously. Only Maia could see the images in the mirror.

  “Two girls, in two separate images,” Maia replied. “Both getting hurt. Wait, the image is changing again…”

  Shock jolted through her as a new picture appeared – a skinny girl with shoulder-length black curly hair. She was staring at something that was coming towards her and she looked terrified.

  “It’s Lottie!” Maia exclaimed, recognizing her friend.

  The image disappeared, leaving Maia looking at her own reflection, her wide green eyes staring back at her and her dark-blond fringe falling across her face. She swung round. “There was something coming towards Lottie and she looked really scared. Do you think she’s OK?”

  “Use your magic to find out,” Bracken urged.

  Maia turned back to the mirror. I want to see Lottie wherever she is right now.

  A new image appeared in the glass – Lottie was in her bedroom, practising handstands, her black curls brushing the floor. To Maia’s relief, she looked just fine. A red squirrel with a fluffy tail and bright, inquisitive eyes was scampering along the top of the bunk bed.

  Maia’s breath rushed out. “It’s OK, she’s with Juniper in her bedroom.”

  “What did you ask the magic to show you when you saw those images?” Bracken said.

  “I asked it to show me something in the future that I needed to see.”

  Bracken looked troubled. “Then the magic will have shown you those things for a reason. Maybe they’re going to happen because of dark magic.” His ears flattened.

  Maia stared at him. “You mean, you think there might be another Shade nearby?”

  Bracken nodded and Maia’s heart beat a littl
e faster. People who used dark magic could conjure horrible spirits called Shades from the shadows. The Shade would then either be set free to bring chaos and unhappiness wherever it went, or it could be trapped in an object and given to someone who the person doing dark magic wanted to harm.

  Maia had already encountered one Shade, which had been trapped in a make-up compact. It had talked to Clio, her older sister, from within the little mirror, twisting her mind and making her feel jealous of her best friend. Thankfully Maia, Lottie and Sita had managed to defeat it and send it back to the shadows. But only with the help of another Star Friend, Ionie.

  Bracken padded round anxiously. “I think you should talk to the others. If there is another Shade, we must try and stop it.”

  “You’re right. I’ll get them to meet me at the clearing.” Maia picked up her phone and typed in Lottie and Sita’s names. After a moment’s hesitation, she added Ionie into the message, too.

  She and Ionie used to be friends when they were younger but they didn’t get on at all now. Still, like it or not, Ionie was a Star Friend and had helped send the last Shade back to the shadows. Maia had to include her. She tapped in her message.

  Need 2 talk 2 u all. It’s important. C u at clearing in 45 mins. Mx

  She pressed send.

  Going downstairs, Maia heard Clio calling out to their mum. “I’m going to babysit Paige for a few hours, Mum. I’ll be back at seven.”

  “OK,” Mrs Greene said, coming to the kitchen door with Alfie, Maia’s little brother. “Say hi to Paige’s mum and dad for me.”

  “I will,” said Clio.

  “Train!” said Alfie, spotting his model train by the bottom of the stairs. Mrs Greene put him down and he toddled over to it.

  Maia smiled at him. “Chooo-choo!” She pushed it across the floor and he followed it, giggling in delight.

  Maia unhooked her coat from the pegs by the door. “I’m going out, too, Mum. Is that OK?”

  “Where are you off to?” her mum asked.

  “To the woods to meet up with Lottie and Sita. Ionie might come, too.” She’d already had texts back from Sita and Lottie saying they would meet her there but she hadn’t heard from Ionie yet.

  Her mum smiled. “So you and Ionie are friends again now?”

  “Um … kind of,” Maia said, wondering what her mum would say if she told her the truth – that she was only including Ionie because they were all Star Friends and could do magic.

  Her mum looked pleased. “I’ve always liked Ionie. You were such good friends when you were little – always playing make-believe games about magic and animals. I’m glad you’re becoming close again now you’re in the same class at school.”

  At the start of the school year, the teachers had shuffled the classes around. Sita and Lottie had been put in one Year Six class while Maia was in the other. As if being separated from her best friends wasn’t bad enough, she had also ended up sitting next to Ionie. Ionie was really clever but she was impatient and seemed to love pointing out any mistakes that Maia made. Ionie didn’t have many friends in the class and spent most of her lunchtimes reading.

  “Why don’t you have a sleepover next weekend and invite Ionie, Sita and Lottie?” Mrs Greene went on. “You could have a bonfire in the garden and toast marshmallows.”

  Maia wasn’t sure that was a good idea – Lottie found Ionie even more annoying than she did! But her mum was looking at her expectantly. “OK, thanks, Mum. I’ll ask the others,” she agreed. “Bye, Mum. Bye, Alfie.”

  “Chooo-choo!” said Alfie, waving his train at her.

  Maia shut the door behind her and did up the zip on her coat. Although the autumn sun was shining, there was little warmth in its rays and the wind was blowing fallen leaves into piles.

  As she wheeled her bike out from the garage, Maia caught sight of Clio heading down the street just ahead. Maia cycled to catch up with her.

  “Oh, hi,” said Clio as Maia jumped off her bike. “Where are you off to?”

  “The woods by Granny Anne’s cottage,” said Maia.

  “Again?” said Clio in surprise. “Why don’t you all meet at home where it’s warm?” She shivered and dug her hands into the pockets of her coat.

  “We like it there.” Maia wished she could tell Clio it was because of the Star Animals – it was where they had first appeared and it was a particularly good place to do magic. It was private and overgrown and hardly anyone ever went there.

  “Doesn’t it make you feel sad – going past Granny Anne’s cottage all the time?” Clio said curiously.

  “Only a little bit,” said Maia. Their granny had died just over a month ago. At first Maia hadn’t liked going near the cottage at all. But since she’d found out about the Star Animals, she’d started to feel differently. She suspected her granny had been a Star Friend, too. Granny Anne had always told Maia to believe in magic, and she had been very kind and helped lots of people in the village. Thinking that she might have been a Star Friend helped Maia feel close to her still.

  Clio sighed. “I really miss Granny Anne. Paige does, too. She was talking about her last time I babysat. I think it’s harder for her – she’s only seven.” Paige was Granny Anne’s goddaughter and had been very close to her.

  “Look, there’s Paige,” Maia said, pointing down the street.

  Paige was bouncing on a trampoline in the front garden, turning effortless somersaults. Spotting them, she waved, and by the time they reached the driveway, she had scrambled off the trampoline.

  “Hi.” She grinned. Her brown hair was tied in two bunches and she had a smattering of freckles across her nose.

  “Hi, Paige. I’ll just go and tell your mum I’m here,” said Clio.

  “Are you going to play with me, Maia?” Paige asked as Clio headed into the house.

  “Sorry, Paige, I can’t stop today. I’m going to see my friends,” said Maia.

  “Are you seeing Lottie?” asked Paige eagerly. She and Lottie went to the same gymnastics club, and Maia knew Paige really admired her.

  She nodded. “I am.”

  “Say hi to her for me!” Paige said.

  “Maia!”

  Maia looked round. “You can say hi yourself,” she said with a smile as she saw Lottie and Sita cycling down the street towards them.

  “Lottie!” Paige squealed in excitement.

  Lottie and Sita got off their bikes, and Paige ran to give Lottie a hug.

  “Hi, Paige,” said Lottie.

  “Do you want to see how good my backwards walkover is getting?” said Paige. Without waiting for a reply, she put her arms over her head and dropped back into a bridge. “What do you think?” she said, the ends of her brown bunches dangling down.

  “That’s really good, Paige,” said Lottie.

  “I’ve been practising every day,” said Paige proudly as she flipped back to her feet. “I really, really want to be in the gym display team like you. I want it so much!”

  “Keep on practising and I bet you will be,” said Lottie. “You’re already third reserve.”

  Paige looked hopefully at her. “Do you want to have a go on the trampoline – we can practise somersaults?”

  “We really should get going,” said Maia, catching Lottie’s eye. As she turned to leave, she noticed a pottery gnome tucked beside a nearby shrub. He was about as tall as her knees and had a little red hat, a green waistcoat and the words “Make a Wish” on his brown belt.

  “That’s a cute gnome,” Maia said.

  Paige patted his head. “One of Mum’s friends gave him to us at the weekend. Mum’s been trying to decide where to put him. I like him here by the trampoline. I’ve told him I really wish I get on the gym team!”

  “I hope your wish comes true!” Lottie said, smiling at her.

  They said goodbye and headed off. As they cycled towards the clearing, Maia told them about the bonfire sleepover her mum had suggested.

  “That sounds fun!” said Sita.

  “There’s only one
catch,” Maia said. “Mum wants me to invite Ionie, too.”

  Lottie’s face fell. “Do we have to?”

  “Oh, Lottie, don’t be mean,” said Sita. “When we practised magic together on Wednesday after school, she was fine.”

  “You mean apart from saying she was surprised Maia couldn’t see into the past properly yet. Oh, and telling me that she was glad she didn’t have agility as her magic skill because doing stealth magic and being able to shadow-travel was much cooler.”

  Sita frowned. “She didn’t exactly say that. She just said she wouldn’t want to run and jump and climb like you do. And when she was talking to Maia, I think she wanted to see if she could help.”

  “Maia doesn’t need her help,” said Lottie. “She’s brilliant at doing her magic.”

  Maia shot her friend a grateful look. It was lovely that Lottie was so loyal, even if Ionie was right about the fact that she hadn’t managed to see into the past.

  “I don’t think Ionie means to be annoying,” Sita said. “I think she wants to be friends and she’s trying to get us to like her. She just doesn’t always go about it in the right way.”

  “You can say that again,” Lottie muttered. She caught Sita’s eye and sighed. “OK. I won’t be mean and I’ll give her a chance. But I’d much rather it was just us – and I don’t like that cat of hers at all.”

  Lottie was talking about Ionie’s Star Animal, a very smug wildcat called Sorrel.

  “I know what you mean,” Maia said. “I don’t particularly want to invite Ionie but Mum really wants me to.” She pushed the problem to the back of her mind. “I’ll decide later. Right now, we’ve got other stuff to talk about.”

  “What sort of stuff ?” said Lottie.

  “Important magic stuff !” said Maia. “Come on!”

  Putting their heads down, they cycled as fast as they could to the clearing.

  The village where Maia and her friends lived was called Westcombe, on the North Devon coast. Most of the village was on one side of the main road, set back in a maze of little streets. On the other side of the road were a few houses, as well as the woods that led to the clifftops, the shingle beach and the sea.