I gazed through the chink in the planks towards the school. I sat up straight.
‘Listen,’ I said. ‘I think I’ve got a plan.’
10
ANNA FIGHTS BACK
The next morning, I was already awake and dressed when the key sounded in the lock. A second later, Grizz stamped in.
‘Time to get to work, girl,’ she snapped. ‘Don’t give me any trouble. Chop chop.’
I leapt to my feet and stood to attention, smiling.
‘Certainly, Aunt,’ I said, and placed my pointy black hat on my head with care.
Grizz stared at me, confusion clouding her grey face. I beamed back at Grizz, then I skipped out of the attic and scampered down the stairs. Grizz followed, frowning.
‘Morning, Aunty Wormy!’ I chirped, as I skipped into the kitchen.
‘Right, you two,’ said Grizz. ‘Enough of this chit-chat. Wormella, I want that spell cooked and bottled within the next ten minutes. And as for you, girl …’
‘Yes, Aunt?’ I said, grinning at Grizz, who scowled back.
‘I want you to wipe that smirk off your face, for a start,’ she said. ‘Make the beds and dust the furniture and wash the floors and, and … oh, just get on with it.’ Grizz threw a duster at me.
‘Certainly, Aunt,’ I said.
Once outside the kitchen door, I drew a deep breath. My plan was working so far. Grizz clearly couldn’t stand the sight of me today, and now I had a few minutes to myself.
If I was going to act on my plan, it was now or never.
I tiptoed down the stairs, towards the cellar. I let myself in, lit a candle and glanced around.
Everything was just as it had been. Cobwebs hung in long strings from the ceilings and the animals’ cages and tanks were again covered.
In the flickering candlelight, Ancient Evil looked more like a vicious animal than a book – one that was crouching on the worktop, ready to spring …
I ran to the cages and tanks. I grabbed all the rags and threw them on the stone floor.
Inside the cages, the rats, mice and guinea pigs all squeaked in terror.
‘Shh!’ I said. ‘I’m not here to hurt you!’
I fumbled with the cage doors and opened them one by one. Every creak from upstairs made my heart miss a beat. Finally, with trembling fingers, I flung opened the last door on the last cage.
‘Now’s your chance!’ I hissed. ‘Run!’ But the frightened little rodents just stared at me.
‘Run, you dimwits!’ I hissed.
I rattled all the cages. The animals scuttled in every direction, diving into corners and searching for escape routes through the piles of rubbish.
I looked at the snakes curled up in the tanks. Their forked tongues slithered in and out of their mouths.
‘Sorry, snakes,’ I whispered. ‘I’m not letting you go just yet. Maybe later – once I find out if you’re poisonous!’
The maggot bucket was empty. I tried not to think about where they might be …
I picked up Ancient Evil and held it at arm’s length. It weighed a ton and stank worse than a thousand rotten fish-heads. I dumped it in a metal bucket. It made a huge clatter, and my heart jumped into my throat.
Was that a sound on the stairs?
I had to work quickly – Grizz would come looking for me soon … I bent down and held the candle flame to the book’s yellow pages.
‘Let’s see you magic your way out of this, you horrible thing,’ I said.
I leapt back as Ancient Evil burst into flames with a roar. Red, green and purple sparks flew up to the ceiling as it burned. There was a strange high-pitched squealing sound, as if some living thing was being burnt alive. As the pages blackened and curled, the sick flutter in my stomach died down.
Within seconds, the book had shrunk to a smouldering heap of ashes in the bucket. My eyes were watering from the smoke and stench, but I clenched my fists and turned back to the worktop.
‘Now for the final job,’ I muttered. I braced myself against a pillar, put both feet on the edge of the worktop and pushed with all my might.
‘It gives me great pleasure …’ I said through gritted teeth. ‘To declare this laboratory …’
I strained as the whole thing tipped on one edge.
‘BROKEN!’ I shouted as the worktop crashed to the ground.
There was an ear-splitting sound of smashing glass as the bottles, dishes and jam jars all hit the stone floor and exploded in to a million pieces. The gooey green and yellow contents spilled everywhere, creating a lumpy, stinking, sizzling lake.
There was a heartbeat’s silence. Then I heard the thud-thud-thud of footsteps racing towards the cellar.
11
MORE MAGIC
Grizz burst through the door, wild-eyed.
‘My lab!’ she cried. ‘My own beautiful lab!’
She sank to her knees and gazed at the devastation. When she saw the remains of Ancient Evil, she screamed.
‘My book! My precious book!’ she wailed.
Grizz buried her face in her hands. Sobs shook her thin shoulders. Wormella crept into the cellar. Her wide, shocked eyes met mine.
But I wasn’t finished yet. I wanted Grizz to understand what it was like to feel small, and frightened, and alone.
I stepped inside one of the stars chalked on the ground. I pointed at Grizz and made up the first rhyme that came into my head,
‘Snot of squid and leg of louse,
Turn Aunt Grizz into a mouse!’
After a heartbeat’s silence, I felt a surge of power coming from the floor through my legs and into my whole body. There was a blinding flash of blue light.
When I opened my eyes, a thin, grey mouse was sitting on the step where Grizz had been.
Wormella screamed.
‘Anna, what have you done?!’ She pointed a shaking finger at me. ‘You’re a … you’re a …’
‘Witch,’ I said. ‘Yup, it certainly looks like it!’
I scooped up the mouse in my hand, and barged past Wormella. I ran up the steps and into the kitchen.
Charlie was sitting on the window sill. As soon as he saw the mouse, his back arched. His eyes narrowed to slits and he licked his lips. The mouse squealed and tried to run inside my sleeve.
Maybe I shouldn’t have done it, but all I could think of was how cruel Grizz had been to me, and how lonely and unhappy I had been. I really, really wanted to get back at her.
So I dropped the mouse on the floor near Charlie. Then I walked out and slammed the door.
12
MRS WINKLE’S SECRET
It was playtime at St Munchin’s. Across the playground, there were children screaming, laughing, kicking footballs, and chasing each other. One small figure peeled off from the rest, and pelted across the playground in my direction.
It was Mary.
‘You’re out!’ she panted. ‘I called at your house!’
‘Yeah, I heard,’ I said. ‘So you met my aunt Grizz?’
‘Yeah,’ said Mary. She rolled her eyes. ‘What a nightmare!’
‘Tell me about it,’ I said.
‘So what’s your next move?’ said Mary.
‘I’ve got to see Mrs Winkle again,’ I said. ‘I need her help and I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to get here today.’
‘Here she comes now!’ said Mary. She squinted at the large figure striding across the playground.
‘She doesn’t look too happy,’ she said. ‘I’m off!’
Mary raced across the playground and disappeared behind a tree. I straightened my shoulders, and turned to face Mrs Winkle.
‘Anna Kelly!’ she boomed.
‘Good morning, Mrs Winkle,’ I said. ‘I have come to ask you …’
Mrs Winkle peered over her glasses at me. Her blue eyes bored into my skull. She held up her hand and started counting on her fat fingers.
‘First, you aren’t in school when you should be,’ she said. ‘Then you aren’t at home when you should be. Now you are in school
when you shouldn’t be …’
‘I’m sorry, Miss,’ I said, slightly louder. ‘But I’ve been a bit busy, what with learning magic, and getting locked up, and freeing animals, and destroying an evil book, and setting fire to cellars and …’
Mrs Winkle held her hand up and I stopped talking. Her eyes glinted.
‘Learning what?’ she said. ‘Did you say magic?’
I gulped. What had I said that for? She’d think I had really lost it and she’d have me locked up …
But Mrs Winkle threw back her head and laughed.
‘I knew it!’ she said. ‘I knew there was something different about you!’
There was something different about me all right – but how did Mrs Winkle know? As if reading my mind, she leaned forward.
‘Sometimes,’ she whispered. ‘It takes one to know one.’
My mouth fell open.
‘You don’t mean you’re a …’
I couldn’t quite get the word out, but Mrs Winkle nodded slowly.
‘But you wear a suit,’ I said. ‘And you’ve got a proper job. You’re a head teacher, for goodness sake!’
‘Despite what your aunt Grizz thinks,’ said Mrs Winkle, ‘it’s not all pointy hats and broomsticks, not these days.’
She smiled.
‘Come into my office. We have a lot to discuss …’
13
ANNA GOES HOME
Ten minutes later, I was racing down the school corridor, past Miss Roland’s classroom and out though the school gates.
I had just had the most interesting conversation of my life. Mrs Winkle told me all about modern witches, and how they didn’t fly about on broomsticks or eat frogs and toads, or even make spells in a cauldron!
She told me that she was a natural-born witch, like me. And she promised that if I went to school and worked hard, she would help me with my magic!
‘Yippee!!’ I shouted, as I raced down the road.
But back at 13 Crag Road, I leaned against the front door. I was worried. There was always a result to any action – and now I had to face the results of my actions in the cellar.
‘Oh, lordy,’ I whispered. ‘I only wanted to teach Grizz a lesson! I hope she’s not dead!’
I heard a soft miaow and a rustle in the bushes and, a moment later, Charlie leapt out. He trotted over to me, purring like an engine. Was it my imagination or did he look a little fatter, as if he’d had a big meal?
‘Oh Charlie,’ I said. ‘Please, please tell me you didn’t eat Grizz.’
But Charlie just looked at me with innocent golden eyes and yawned. He was giving nothing away.
A lump formed in my throat. If Grizz was dead, it would be all my fault! I walked into the house and peeped around the kitchen door.
Wormella was sitting at the table as usual – but she was stroking something in her hand.
It was a thin, grey mouse.
‘Thank goodness!’ I said. A massive wave of relief washed over me. After all, I may be a witch, but I don’t want to be a murderer!
‘So there you are!’ said Wormella. ‘Anna, how could you?’
‘Yes, Aunty?’ I said.
‘After you left,’ said Wormella. ‘I heard all this yowling and squeaking. So I rushed into the kitchen – and Charlie was throwing poor Grizz in the air over and over again!’
‘Oops,’ I said, trying to hide a smile.
‘You are naughty, Anna,’ scolded Wormella. ‘She is my sister, after all.’
‘She doesn’t look like anybody’s sister at the moment,’ I said. ‘And it serves her right. She’s been really horrible to me, you know.’
‘I know,’ said Wormella. ‘But she’s not really that bad underneath. It was Ancient Evil that did it.’
Wormella put her hands over the mouse’s ears.
‘And I’m glad it’s gone!’ she whispered.
‘My pleasure, Aunty,’ I said, bowing.
‘But Anna,’ said Wormella. ‘You should have told me you were a witch.’
‘I didn’t know myself until a few days ago,’ I said.
‘Well,’ said Wormella firmly, ‘You can just use your powers to turn this rodent back into my sister.’
‘I’ll do my best, Aunty,’ I said. ‘But I’m just sort of making it up as I go along.’
I took some white chalk from the kitchen drawer and drew a five-pointed star on the floor. Then I stepped inside, and pointed my right index finger at the grey mouse, I tried hard to think of rhyme that would change it back into Grizz.
Nothing came to me. My mind was completely blank. I stood there for ages until my legs went numb.
‘Well?’ said Wormella.
‘I’m really sorry, Aunty,’ I said. ‘Nothing seems to be happening.’ I stepped out of the star and sat down. ‘I don’t think I’m very good yet.’
‘You can say that again,’ said Wormella. She sighed and stroked the little grey mouse. ‘Grizz really is quite sweet like this, though, isn’t she?’
‘A lot nicer, in my opinion,’ I said.
Our eyes met.
‘No, Anna,’ said Wormella. ‘We can’t just leave her like this!’
‘But she’ll be all right for a while,’ I said. ‘At least until I can work out how to change her back. And it would certainly give her plenty of time to think about her evil ways.’
‘I suppose so,’ said Wormella. ‘Just make sure you keep Charlie away from her.’
I took the mouse from Wormella and wagged my finger at it.
‘You can stay in one of the old cages, Grizz,’ I said. ‘And after I turn you back – if I turn you back – you’d better behave!’
The mouse squeaked a bit and stuck its nose in the air. I handed it back to Wormella.
‘What now, Anna?’ said Wormella. She lowered her eyes and her chins began to wobble. ‘I expect you’ll want to leave, won’t you?’
‘No, Aunty,’ I said. ‘I’m staying.’
‘Really?’ said Wormella, beaming.
‘But there are going to be a lot of changes around here,’ I said. ‘I’m going to St Munchin’s, and I’m going to make friends and have a normal life – that is, as normal as possible in the circumstances. You’re not going to try and stop me, are you?’
Wormella looked at me to the mouse and back to me.
‘Wouldn’t dream of it, dear,’ she said. ‘In fact, I feel quite jealous. I’d love to go back to school.’
I had a bright idea.
‘Why don’t you, then!’ I said. ‘There are loads of evening classes for adults at St Munchin’s!’
Wormella’s!’ mouth dropped open.
‘Could I, Anna?’ she whispered. ‘Could I, really?’
‘Yes!’ I said. ‘You could sign up for an art class, like you always wanted! And let’s face it,’ I poked the mouse with my finger, ‘she’s not going to be able to do anything about it, is she?’
‘I suppose not,’ Wormella said, giggling.
‘And even when I manage to change Grizz back into human form,’ I said, ‘She still won’t be able to do anything to us.’
‘Why’s that, dear?’
‘Let’s just say I’ve got to know some powerful people…’ I said.
Wormella’s eyes went wide and curious.
‘Who on earth do you mean?’ she said.
I tapped the side of my nose, which meant ‘mind your own business’. I didn’t want to get in trouble with Mrs Winkle for blabbing about her.
‘Sorry, Aunty,’ I said. ‘Can’t tell you at the moment. Top-secret.’
‘Very well, dear,’ said Wormella. ‘If you say so.’
She put the mouse on the table, got up and put her apron on.
‘Well, I can’t sit about chatting all day,’ she said. ‘Your tea isn’t going to make itself, you know. Sausage and chips all right, dear?’
Sausage and chips! At last! A decent meal! It sounded like music to my ears.
‘Yes, please!’ I said. ‘But, first, I’ve just got to pop outside
for a second.’
I ran into the garden to the dustbin. I lifted the dustbin lid, took off my black hat, and threw it in. Then, with a smile, I slammed the lid shut and ran back inside.
READ ANNA’S SECOND
ADVENTURE, THE WITCH IN THE WOODS.
TURN THE PAGE TO READ THE FIRST CHAPTER...
I. ANNA’S MAGIC MISTAKE
Last Thursday started off like any other Thursday. First I overslept, then Aunty Grizz marched around the kitchen telling me off, while Aunty Wormella tried to shovel porridge into my mouth. Finally, I raced out of the house to school, buttoning my shirt as I ran.
As the iron gates of St Munchin’s clanged shut behind me, I had a horrible thought: My maths homework was due in this morning, and I’d forgotten to do it again!
Mrs Winkle, our head teacher, was definitely going to kill me this time. So as soon as I could, I grabbed hold of my best friend, Mary.
‘Can I copy your maths homework into my workbook at break?’ I whispered during register.
‘Forgotten it again, have we?’ she smiled. ‘Yes, of course you can.’
But when I looked at her workbook at breaktime, there was loads of copying to do! It was going to take all day!
And that’s when I decided to give myself a little extra help – magic help!
You see, I’m a natural-born witch. Or, to be more precise, I’m a natural-born witch who doesn’t like doing her homework – any homework, whether it’s magic homework or normal homework.
Being a witch and being lazy is not a good combination – especially when you’re only an apprentice like me. It makes you do really stupid things – like what I did next.
I took our workbooks and locked myself into an empty classroom. I chalked a star shape on the floor and jumped inside. Then I opened both our workbooks, placed them on a desk, pointed one finger at each of them and made up a rhyme:
The Witch Apprentice Page 4