Hidden Charm Read online

  Maia woke up in bed, her heart pounding.

  “Maia?” said Bracken, sitting up, too, his fur ruffled.

  Maia glanced at the clock. It was six a.m. “I was dreaming about the Copper Kettle. I saw someone breaking in, only it didn’t feel like a dream. It felt real!” She pushed the covers off and jumped out of bed. “I need to go and see what’s happening!”

  She started pulling on her clothes.

  “What about your parents?” Bracken said.

  “I’ll leave them a note saying I’ve gone out for a walk,” said Maia. “Oh, Bracken, I hope Mary’s OK – she lives above the café.”

  “Be careful!” he said anxiously as she pulled open her bedroom door.

  Maia ran through the peaceful streets of Westcombe. Dawn was breaking and the birds were singing. The streets were deserted but, as she turned on to the main road, she saw Mary standing outside the Copper Kettle, looking at the broken window. Maia sprinted over.

  “Mary, are you all right? What happened?”

  Mary looked shocked. “I was asleep when suddenly I heard the sound of breaking glass and then the alarm went off. Someone broke into the café! Thank goodness I had my grandma’s journal upstairs with me so they couldn’t steal that and they didn’t take any of my antique teddies or dolls.”

  “So, what did they steal?” asked Maia.

  “Just some cakes,” said Mary. “I’d put them under the counter ready for when I opened this morning and now they’ve gone. The strange thing is, the intruder put them in boxes and left money on the counter.”

  Maia blinked. The thief had paid for them!

  “Oh, this is awful,” said Mary, looking close to tears. “I guess I’d better get this glass swept up and ring someone to come and repair the window.” She gave Maia a puzzled look. “What are you doing out at this hour?”

  “Just having an early-morning walk,” said Maia. “I can help you clear up.”

  She and Mary set to work sweeping up the glass.

  “Are you going to make some more cakes?” Maia asked hungrily, looking at the space under the counter where the stolen cakes had been displayed.

  “Luckily I have some more in the back,” said Mary.

  “Can I have a slice?” Maia asked eagerly.

  “For breakfast? I don’t think your mum would approve,” said Mary with a smile. “How about one of my breakfast muffins instead?”

  She fetched Maia a muffin. “Thanks,” Maia said, her heart sinking as she took the muffin. She didn’t know why but she just really felt like eating cake and nothing else. “I’d better go home now. I hope you get the window sorted.”

  Maia walked back, munching on the muffin. It was tasty but nowhere near as nice as one of Mary’s cakes.

  “Where have you been?” her mum asked as she went in through the front door.

  “Didn’t you see my note? I went for a walk. I was passing the Copper Kettle and guess what? It was broken into last night! Someone stole Mary’s cakes.”

  “There are some left, aren’t there?” her mum said apprehensively. Maia nodded.

  “Phew!” Her mum looked relieved. “I was going to buy us one for tea.”

  “Don’t leave it too late,” said Maia. “Mary sold out of everything yesterday by mid-afternoon and I have to have some more cake today!” Her mouth watered at the thought of eating Mary’s chocolate cake. She wished she could have some right now!

  “Who breaks into a café to steal cakes?” said Ionie when they were all sitting in her bedroom later that morning, their animals beside them.

  “And leaves money for them,” Lottie pointed out. “Why not just wait until the café opens?”

  “It’s so weird,” said Sita. “Though I would really like some cake right now.”

  Willow nuzzled her. “I told you that you should have had some breakfast.”

  Sita shrugged. “I didn’t feel like cereal. I just wanted cake.”

  “You didn’t have breakfast either, did you, Maia?” said Bracken, nudging her with his nose.

  “No.” Maia had looked in the cupboards and fridge but, just like the day before, nothing had really appealed. Hunger pangs were now gnawing at her stomach, making her feel grouchy.

  “Have you tried using your magic to see who the thief was, Maia?” Ionie asked.

  Maia was too busy picturing a chocolate cake to reply.

  “Earth to Maia!” said Ionie, waving a hand in front of her friend’s face.

  “What?” said Maia.

  “Weren’t you listening to me? I said why don’t you use magic to see what happened at the café?” Ionie said impatiently.

  Maia scowled. She didn’t want to do magic. All she really wanted to do was to eat cake but she saw that everyone was looking at her expectantly.

  She took out her mirror. They really should find out who had broken in and stolen the cakes. She pictured the cakes that had been taken and her tummy rumbled loudly. Mmm. Chocolate cake…

  “Maia!” Lottie exclaimed. “What are you doing?”

  Maia realized she was staring into space again. “Oh … um … sorry.” She forced her mind to concentrate and connected to the magic current. “Show me who stole the cakes,” she said to the mirror.

  The magic showed her a tall, thin man dressed all in black, just as she had seen in her dream. He threw a brick through the window of the café. “Show me the thief’s face,” Maia said but, although the magic zoomed in, the man’s face was hidden by a woolly balaclava pulled over his head.

  “I can’t see who the thief is,” she said. “It looks a bit like Mike judging by the size and shape but it can’t be. He’d never break in anywhere.” She watched as the thief climbed in through the window and then reappeared, carrying two large cake boxes. Where had those cakes gone? Had the thief eaten them? Might there be some left? Maia’s mouth watered and then she realized the image had vanished from the mirror.

  “You know, I think I really need some cake,” she said, jumping to her feet.

  “Cake?” Ionie echoed.

  “Yes, right now.”

  “Me too,” said Sita, getting up. “Shall we go to the Copper Kettle?”

  Maia nodded.

  “Are you both feeling OK?” said Lottie in astonishment.

  “Yes, we just want cake,” said Sita, an unusually determined look on her face.

  “You’re both cake-obsessed!” said Ionie, rolling her eyes.

  Willow and Bracken shared a concerned look. “Sita, maybe you shouldn’t go,” Willow said.

  “Yes, Maia. This is getting a bit odd…” Bracken began.

  “We’ll be back soon,” Maia interrupted. “Come on, Sita.” Sita didn’t need any persuading.

  Ignoring everyone else’s puzzled looks, they ran down the stairs and out of the house. “I don’t know why but I can’t stop thinking about cake,” said Sita as they jogged along the street. “It’s all I can think about.”

  “I know. Me too!” said Maia. They hurried up the road and turned towards the Copper Kettle.

  Maia’s heart sank as she saw the queue of people inside but, just as they reached the door, her mum came out, holding a large cake box. “Maia!” she said. “I got here early and I’ve got a cake! A big one!”

  “Oh, wow!” gasped Maia. “Can we have it now?”

  Her mum nodded. “Hop in the car.”

  “The others will wonder where we are,” Maia said to Sita as they got in.

  “Who cares!” said Sita, her eyes fixed on the cake box.

  As soon as they got home, Mrs Greene cut up the cake and they each had a slice. Clio came in while they were eating. “More cake? Seriously? I’m beginning to worry about this family. What’s so good about these cakes anyway?” She reached over to take the remaining slice.

  “No!” Mrs Greene grabbed the plate and pulled it away from her. “It’s mine!”

  Clio blinked in shock. “OK,” she said slowly. “You can have it, Mum.” She backed out of the room as Mrs Greene started to
greedily devour the last slice.

  “Me full,” said Alfie, patting his tummy.

  Maia nodded and sat back in her chair with a loud, contented sigh. Her grumpiness had melted away. All she’d needed was cake! “Should we go upstairs?” she asked Sita. She was feeling a little guilty that they had rushed off, leaving Ionie and Lottie. She pulled out her phone to text them and saw that Ionie had sent a message an hour ago.

  Where are u? L and I went 2 the CK but we cdn’t find u. It’s really busy! We’re going 2 offer 2 help. Ixx

  Then there were several other messages from her.

  Maia?

  Maia? Why aren’t u answering?

  Where ARE u?

  “Ionie’s left me loads of message,” Maia said guiltily.

  “Me too,” said Sita, checking her phone.

  “We’d better reply,” said Maia, as she started to type.

  Hi. Sorry. We met my mum and came back 2 mine 2 have some cake. Do u want to come round? Mxx

  Ionie’s reply came back in just a few seconds.

  We’re coming now. We think we have an idea about what’s going on. Stay where u are! Ixx

  Maia’s fingers flew over her phone.

  Really? What? Mx

  We’ll talk when we see u. Ixx

  Maia put her phone down. “They’re both coming here. Ionie says they’ve had an idea about what’s happening.”

  Sita flopped on to Maia’s beanbag. “I guess that’s good, only right now I feel so full I just want to sleep.”

  “Me too,” said Maia with a yawn. “We could have a lie-down while we’re waiting.” She lay back on her bed with a sigh and the next moment was fast asleep.

  Buzzzz! Buzzzz! Maia heard her phone vibrating and blinked her eyes open. She’d been deep in a dream where she had been at the Copper Kettle, eating an entire cake on her own. It tasted delicious! For a moment, she struggled to remember what day it was and what she was doing. She saw Sita curled up on the beanbag and remembered.

  Picking up her buzzing phone, she saw Ionie was ringing her. She answered the call, feeling groggy. “Hi.”

  “Where are you?” said Ionie. “We’ve been knocking on the door but no one’s answering!”

  “Sorry! Sita and I fell asleep. I’ll come and let you in.” Maia got up and shook Sita’s shoulder. “Sita, the others are here.”

  Sita shrugged her off. “Mmm, cake,” she murmured in her sleep.

  Maia went downstairs, wondering why her mum hadn’t let Ionie and Lottie in, but as she passed her parents’ bedroom she heard her mum and Alfie snoring. That was weird. Her mum never had naps during the day.

  “Hi,” she said, opening the door and letting Ionie and Lottie in. “Sorry about that. We had cake and then we all fell asleep.” She saw Ionie and Lottie exchange looks. “So what’s your idea?”

  “Let’s talk in your room,” said Ionie. “We can call the animals then. I think we need them with us.”

  As Maia turned to go upstairs, she glanced through the open kitchen door and saw the plate that the cake had been on. There were still some crumbs and scrapings of chocolate icing on it. She felt gripped by the desire to eat them.

  “Wait a sec.” Going into the kitchen, she reached to scoop up the remains of the crumbs and icing with her finger.

  “No!” Ionie and Lottie said together.

  Ionie raced over and grabbed her arm. “Don’t do that.”

  “What? Why?” Maia said in surprise.

  “Just don’t,” said Ionie.

  Maia started to feel anger build up inside her. “But I want to.” Pulling her arm away from Ionie, she lunged for the plate. But Ionie grabbed it and lifted it out of her reach before she could get to it.

  Maia felt rage fill her. She wanted cake – she needed cake! “Give it to me!” she cried angrily.

  Ionie dodged round the other side of the table. “No. You’re not having it!”

  “Why?” Maia cried.

  “Don’t you see, Maia?” Lottie exclaimed. “The cake from the Copper Kettle is making you act really weirdly. It must have some kind of magic in it.”

  “Dark magic,” added Ionie. “Everyone who eats those cakes is becoming obsessed with them.”

  Shock stopped Maia in her tracks. Magic in the cakes!

  “We really need to talk,” Ionie said. “Let’s go to your room.” She put the plate down and then she and Lottie took hold of Maia’s arms and marched her upstairs.

  The four girls and their animals sat in a circle on the floor in Maia’s bedroom. Maia had Bracken on her lap and, as she stroked him, she felt the longing for cake fading away slightly.

  “Keep cuddling Willow,” she advised Sita. “It’ll help.”

  Sita wrapped her arms round Willow. “So it’s not someone trapping Shades to cause trouble, it’s someone doing something to Mary’s cakes,” she said. “That’s why Maia and I have been affected – we’ve both eaten the cakes there.”

  “My mum, dad and Alfie, too,” said Maia.

  “I thought it was peculiar that you kept wanting to eat more cake,” Bracken said to Maia. “And that you were dreaming about it.”

  Looking back, Maia could see how odd it was that she had wanted cake quite so much.

  “They are nice cakes, though,” sighed Sita. “That chocolate one. Mmm…”

  A picture of one of Mary’s chocolate cakes oozing with icing leaped into Maia’s mind and she felt hunger start to swirl up inside her, blocking everything out. She buried her face in Bracken’s fur, breathing in his sweet smell until the longing faded.

  “It’s such a weird feeling,” she explained to the others. “It’s like all you can think about is cake. It fills your thoughts. You want it so much you feel as if you’d do anything to have it.”

  “You feel like you’d fight someone to get cake,” Sita added. “Nothing else matters.”

  “What sort of magic is this?” Ionie asked Sorrel.

  “I suspect a charm,” said Sorrel. “A spell brewed with herbs could have been put into the cake mixture.”

  “So, the images of the Copper Kettle that I’ve been seeing maybe aren’t to do with the Shades after all,” said Maia. “The Star Magic could have been trying to warn me that someone was using magic in the cakes at the café.”

  “Mary?” said Lottie.

  “Possibly, but the magic hasn’t shown me her,” said Maia, confused. “The only person I’ve seen is Mystic Maureen. Do you think the dolls and the magic cakes are linked? That Mystic Maureen is responsible for both things?”

  Ionie looked thoughtful. “We know she goes to the Copper Kettle. Maybe she wanted to upset Mary and snuck into the kitchen and added something to the flour or sugar.”

  “Or maybe it’s not Mystic Maureen – perhaps it’s Desmond Hannigan?” Lottie put in. “We know he doesn’t like Mike so he could have put the Shades in the dolls, and Maia and Sita both saw him in the café acting strangely.”

  Maia gasped. “Perhaps he and Mystic Maureen are in this together!”

  “They could be working as a team!” exclaimed Bracken.

  Juniper jumped around, chattering excitedly. “Yes! Yes!”

  “Wait!” said Sita. “It doesn’t make sense. Why would Mystic Maureen or Desmond Hannigan want to make people desperate to eat Mary’s cakes?”

  “I can see that Desmond Hannigan might want the cakes to taste horrible so no one would go to the Copper Kettle, but why would he want to make them taste so good that people can’t stop eating them? You’re right – it doesn’t make sense,” Ionie reasoned.

  “The spell doesn’t just make people want to eat cake, though,” said Maia, thinking of her family. “It’s making people really angry. Maybe that’s why he was doing it.”

  “But it’s meant business is booming for Mary and his café is losing custom,” said Ionie.

  “It’s all so confusing!” said Lottie in frustration. “Are the Shades and the cakes linked?”

  “Maia, why don’t you use magic an
d see if it shows you anything that can help us work this out?” suggested Willow.

  Maia pulled her mirror out of her pocket and drew on the magic current. “Show me anything that can help,” she told it and an image appeared.

  “I can see the Copper Kettle,” she told the others. “It’s heaving with people. Ooh.” She blinked as she took in the whole scene. “Two people are fighting over a cake and there’s lots of arguing. Mary looks really worried.”

  The image changed.

  “It’s showing me something else,” Maia said. “It’s that picture I’ve seen before of Mystic Maureen in front of a mirror with lights all around it.” Maia saw something she hadn’t noticed before. On the dressing table, there was an old brown book. It looked just like Mary’s grandma’s journal…

  She frowned. Why did Mystic Maureen have Mary’s grandma’s journal? She noticed there was some faded gold writing on the cover.

  “Show me the journal in the picture,” she told the magic.

  “What journal?” asked Ionie, who couldn’t see anything.

  Maia waved for her to be quiet as the magic zoomed in on the journal so she could read the words on the cover properly: Magic Recipes.

  “Magic!” she gasped, looking up at the others. “Mary’s recipe book from her grandma has magic recipes in it!”

  The animals leaped to their feet and the girls started talking all at once.

  “That journal’s not just a book of baking, it’s a book of magic!” Sita gasped.

  “No wonder she was worried that someone might try to steal it,” said Maia. “Mary always says there’s a bit of magic in the ice cream. I thought she was joking but she must have been telling the truth!”

  “A bit of magic in the ice cream and a lot in the cakes,” said Ionie. “Mary must be making magic cakes! But why would she want to make people angry?”

  “And what have the cakes got to do with the dolls and the Shades?” said Lottie. “Mary is really good friends with Mike and Ana – she wouldn’t want to upset them. And the magic showed Mystic Maureen with the book, not Mary. Are we looking for two people doing dark magic or one?”