

Nocturnal Academy

By

Ethan Somerville

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SMASHWORDS EDITION

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PUBLISHED BY:

Storm Publishing on Smashwords

Nocturnal Academy

Copyright © 2007/2019 by Ethan Somerville

www.stormpublishing.net

Smashwords Edition License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the author's work.

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Chapter 1

In the playground of Appleton primary, Alice Dibble sat in the shade of the biggest tree and concentrated on eating her lunch. She was very still and quiet, and tried to make herself as small as possible, but she might as well have had a big red target painted on the back of her school dress.

Three large boys, led by a fat youth everyone called Chunky, homed in on her like sharks that had smelled food. "Hey, it's Malice Dribble!"

"Alice, Malice," his two dumb mates sang as though they had thought up the most imaginative name in the world. Alice had only been called "Malice Dribble" since Kindergarten. She hunched down further into the collar of her uniform, as though trying to disappear inside it.

Chunky and his friends, Toby and Stan, surrounded her. Other kids who had been sitting nearby decided to scoot away, not wanting to get involved. "What've you got for lunch today, Vampire Girl? A blood sandwich?"

Alice managed to cram the rest of the bread into her mouth before Chunky could grab it, filling her cheeks so she looked like a chipmunk. But the big boy still managed to snatch up her lunchbox. "Ooh, chips! Just what I need!"

Hardly, you fat slob, Alice thought, but kept her mouth shut. She had long since learned not to talk back. Arguing just made the boys pick on her even more. Out of the corner of her eye she noticed Mrs. Hobbs on playground duty. Of course she was looking the other way!

Chunky shared Alice's chips with Toby and Stan, then threw Alice's lunchbox on the ground. Laughing wickedly, the boys played a short game of footy with it. Alice simply watched and waited patiently. She bore their bad behaviour with silent courage. It had been going on for years, and although it upset her deep inside, she knew there was nothing she could do about it. She had learned to hide her hurt feelings.

"This is boring," Toby complained after a while. "Let's make some water balloons to throw into the girls' toilets."

"Yeah!" agreed Stan.

"Guys," Chunky protested. Picking on Malice Dribble was his favourite game! But his best mates were already walking off. For them, teasing Alice wasn't that much fun anymore.

Alice waited until Chunky had stomped off, and then grabbed her dirty, cracked lunchbox. Sighing she stuffed it back into her bag. Maybe today I'll be accepted at one of the other secondary schools, she thought hopefully. Anything so I won't have to attend Appleton High!

Alice had always been different, even as a little baby. It had taken her almost two years to start sleeping through the night. She hadn't woken up to cry for food, only to play and enjoy the darkness and quiet. Even now she didn't like getting up with the sun to watch cartoons, or run around outside. She loved staying up late, much to her mother's concern. Sometimes she would stay up all night, only becoming tired at dawn. Then Mrs. Dibble would have a terrible time getting her out of bed for school.

Alice loved dark clothes and always wore lacy black dresses outside of school. She loved rare steak. She burned terribly in the sunshine because of her very fair skin. In contrast, her waist-length hair was as black as night and always loose. It fell from a centre part and hid her face. No wonder those boys called her "Vampire Girl".

Alice preferred that name to stupid Malice Dribble. She wished she really did have vampire powers. Becoming a bat or wolf would be very handy when she wanted to go out at night, when Mum forbade her because twelve-year-old girls should never _ever_ wander around alone in the dark.

The vampire ability to hypnotise people would have been very useful as well, to stop Chunky from teasing her all the time, and snotty girls like Carla Hightower from picking on her clothes and hair. She would have loved to become invisible so she could listen for juicy gossip. And a misty form would have been handy for slipping in and out of places.

Even a vampire's great speed would have been welcome, so Alice could at least be good at one form of sport, like running. No matter how hard she pushed herself, she usually stumbled across the finish line last. Mrs. Parsons, her PE teacher, couldn't understand it. Surely a girl as tall and thin as Alice would have to be a natural athlete!

Fortunately for Alice, her last year of Primary was almost over. Because of her good grades, Mrs. Dibble was sure that Alice would be accepted into a selective high school, and had lodged applications for every last one in the state. So far she had received only rejection letters in reply. It seemed good grades weren't enough for schools like Bonny Blythe's and St Augusta's College for Gifted Girls. They wanted large amounts of money as well. Fortunately, some colleges were still to reply.

The afternoon bell rang, and Alice headed back to class. She made it through the rest of the afternoon with only one hassle from Carla Hightower, who bounced a screwed up bit of paper off the back of her head after she answered a difficult geography question correctly. When three o'clock finally arrived, Alice ran as fast as she could from school. Unfortunately she wasn't quick enough. Chunky and his friends spotted her and gave chase, even though she didn't live anywhere near them.

She had to walk the entire way along Granny Smith Street listening to their silly taunts. _Please_ let me have been chosen for another school, she prayed. If I have to endure another six years of that at Appleton High I'll go crazy! I don't even care if I have to go to a boarding school in another state!

She turned into her own street, Pink Lady Lane. It was a long, winding road, lined with trees and hedges, and meandered off into the green hills around Appleton. Alice's house was at number twelve, about half-way along. But first she had to walk past one of Appleton's other high schools, Madam Nocturna's Academy.

Mum had put Alice down for this school as well, though Alice didn't think she would be selected. It looked very exclusive, the sort of place that would only accept girls like Carla Hightower. From Pink Lady Lane Alice could only see hilly grounds and lots of tall trees, which she supposed hid distant buildings. A tall iron fence, lined with hedges, surrounded the property, broken only by a single gate with "Madam Nocturna's Academy" written on it in fancy letters.

Alice longed to stop at the gate and peer through. Maybe this time she could spot something in amongst the trees. But Pink Lady Lane was very quiet here, and if she paused Chunky and his mates would probably pelt her with apple cores, or something less nice. She kept on going, thinking about the mysterious academy and asking the same questions, over and over again. Why didn't she ever see anyone on the grounds? How come there were never any students or teachers coming in or out? The gates looked like they had been locked for a long time – they had rust on them. She knew the school was still running – it had been listed in the phonebook and even had its own website. That was how Mrs. Dibble had applied for Alice.

Fortunately the boys broke off their pursuit when Alice's house came into view. Her mother was working in the front garden, and looked up as she heard her daughter approach. She was a short, plump woman with curly blonde hair, tanned skin and rosy cheeks from working outside all the time. Alice looked absolutely nothing like her. She looked a bit more like her father. He now lived in a flat in the middle of town with an annoying woman named Janice.

"Hello dear!" Marlene Dibble called as she waved. Alice cringed, realising that Chunky would probably call her 'dear' all day tomorrow!

She glanced over her shoulder, but the boys were already slouching off, giggling.

"Friends of yours?" asked Mrs. Dibble hopefully.

"No way Mum! They hate me!" Alice cried with more anger than she wanted. She had to take a deep breath to calm herself.

"Now Alice, everyone knows that boys only tease girls when they like them."

Alice gaped. She had never heard anything so ridiculous. Of _course_ Chunky didn't like her! Once she had overheard him call her a "skinny, ugly bat" to his friends, and she was sure he hadn't known she was listening. But her mother seemed to believe it, and Alice couldn't think of any way to prove her wrong. So she simply sighed and headed up the path, past the neat rows of daisies, roses and other flowers blooming in all the colours of the rainbow. All sorts of lovely smells came with them. Alice especially loved the frangipani that grew near the front door, and the jasmine that made white blankets on the fences every spring.

But why did her mother have to be so happy all the time? Alice couldn't remember the last time she'd been really upset. She didn't lose her cool when rude people pushed in front of her at the supermarket, or cut her off in the street. She seemed to have endless patience, which – unfortunately \- Alice had not inherited either. When Dad had left to live with his new girlfriend Janice, Marlene had been quiet for days, but she hadn't cried. Maybe she only wept alone.

Alice stomped into the house, checked the mail piled on the table in the hall, and then headed upstairs to the study to switch on the computer. Mrs. Dibble didn't mind Alice doing her homework on the machine, but kept telling her 'not to spend too much time in chatrooms'. How little she knew about her daughter! Alice hated the silly, air-headed kids who gossiped in the local chatrooms. She spent her spare time looking up information about vampires, werewolves and other strange creatures of the night.

Alice logged on and checked the mail. To her surprise she found a response from Madam Nocturna's Academy. Her heart started to race with excitement. It's probably another rejection notice, she told herself. Don't get your hopes up! She wondered if she ought to let her mother open the letter. No – she couldn't possibly wait that long. She opened the email, and the Nocturnal Academy's letterhead came up. It was surrounded by flying bats and leaping wolves. A strange chittering and howling came from the computer's speakers. Alice shivered with a mixture of excitement and fear.

" _Dear Marlene Dibble,_

Thank you for your application for your daughter Alice Dibble to attend our school. I am pleased to announce that she has passed the initial assessment process and has been selected to attend an interview on the school grounds at 6pm on the 31st of October. Should she pass this evaluation she will be accepted and join the ranks of many generations before her who have already passed through this illustrious academy.

I am looking forward to meet Alice. She sounds like a very interesting young woman.

Yours faithfully,

Madame Elliana Nocturna

Alice couldn't believe her eyes. She had been granted an interview at Madam Nocturna's Academy! She checked the letter again, just to make sure. Her racing heart seemed to leap in her chest. 6pm, October 31 was _tonight!_

She leapt to her feet and raced downstairs, back out into the yard where her mother was still working and humming cheerfully to herself.

"Mum, Mum!" Alice shrieked, startling Mrs. Dibble with her excitement. It was very out of place for the naturally reserved young woman.

"What is it?" Mrs. Dibble gasped, thinking that Alice had broken something or poured hot water everywhere.

"I've been selected for an interview at Madame Nocturna's! Tonight!"

"Tonight? What kind of a school interviews children at night?" Mrs. Dibble exclaimed.

"At six o'clock! Oh, I hope I get in! Maybe I should change." Before her mother could respond, Alice had dashed back inside to strip out of her hated primary school uniform.

Marlene Dibble did not share her daughter's excitement. She had only put Alice's name down at Madame Nocturna's because it was so close to home. She had never thought Alice would actually be considered for such an exclusive-looking place. She remembered filling out a very strange form. Some of the questions had been very straightforward, such as 'list your child's best subjects', and 'name your child's hobbies', but others had been completely weird, like 'Does your child like the dark?', 'Does he/she like to sleep in and is he/she very hard to rouse in the morning?' and 'does your child have a connection to any animal? If so, name the creature.'

How could questions like that possibly be useful? Surely schools preferred children who loved daylight and liked to be up bright and early? And what was all that about animals? Was it one of those schools with a farm attached? She could only shake her head in confusion. But she would be ready to take Alice down to the Academy at six. She knew how much her daughter didn't want to go to Appleton High.

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Chapter 2

Alice and her mother left the house at quarter to six and headed off along Pink Lady Lane. The sun angled towards the horizon, turning the surrounding hills red. Groves stretched as far as the eye could see, filled with apples of all shapes and colours. A few minutes later they stopped at the Academy's rusty old gates. Mrs. Dibble peered through the bars. "I'm really not sure about this place, Alice," she murmured. "It looks so quiet and deserted."

"This is definitely the place," Alice insisted. "Number 9 Pink Lady Lane." But now she had time to peer more closely at the gate, it really did look old and disused. Vines grew around the hinges and long grass covered the rungs at the bottom. Then she heard a crunch of shoes on gravel, and whirled around to see two people approaching.

She gaped in horror on recognising one of Chunky's friends; Toby Thompson. He was a tall, skinny boy with knobby knees and huge hands and feet that looked like they had outgrown the rest of his body. He had let his curly sandy-blonde hair grow out over his ears to hide the fact they stuck out like mug handles. He was with a thin woman with a hard face. He looked so much like her that they had to be related.

"What are you doing here, Malice?" he demanded before he could stop himself. "They couldn't possibly have granted you an interview! There must be some mistake!"

Alice opened her mouth to respond, decided there was no point, and turned away.

"Now Toby, that was incredibly rude!" reprimanded the woman with him, in a high, shrill voice that carried across the hills. "You apologise to that young lady right now!"

Toby deflated like she'd stuck a pin in him. "Sorry Mum," he mumbled into his chest.

"Not to me, you foolish child, to the young lady!" Toby's mother cried. "Dear Lord, I have never _been_ so embarrassed!"

"Sorry M- Alice," Toby growled, in the sort of voice that meant 'just you wait 'till we're alone'!"

Alice knew it wasn't genuine, but she responded cheerfully, in the sweetest voice she could muster; "Apology accepted, Toby!" She glanced at her mother, who looked like she couldn't believe her senses. How could someone possibly be so rude to her little girl?

Then another pair appeared on the lane, and Alice stared in disbelief as Carla Hightower and her father appeared. This had to be some sort of horrible joke.

"Alice Dibble!" squealed Carla in horror. She turned to her father. "Daddy, I don't want to go to a school with _her!"_

"Now pumpkin – Madame Nocturna's Academy is the best school around. You have to go. I certainly paid a large enough donation for you," he added in a whisper that Alice certainly shouldn't have been able to hear.

Carla stamped a rather large foot. She was a prim and proper little miss, always dressed beautifully, with carefully groomed red hair and an upturned nose sprinkled with freckles. But no matter how hard she tried to stay thin, she always managed to fill out her clothes a little too much. Even though she was only twelve, she was very well developed, and boys were already taking notice.

Toby was no exception. Even though Carla was spoiled rotten, and had a loud, squeaky voice even worse than his mother's, he still gawked at her as though she was some sort of goddess.

But Mrs. Dibble wasn't impressed and folded her arms with a sniff. She had run into that one's mother more than once in town. It was obvious where Carla got her attitude from.

But scarcely had Carla arrived when an ominous creak sounded, and everyone turned to see the old iron gates swing open all by themselves. Alice could have sworn she saw the vines curled around the hinges tugging slightly before disappearing into the undergrowth.

A young man stood behind the gates, on a broad gravel path that definitely hadn't been there before. But only Alice seemed to realise this – the others were too busy staring at the strange youth. He was very tall, almost two metres in height, and built like a greyhound. There didn't seem to be any fat on him whatsoever. He had a long, thin face, bright green eyes and ears that were a little too pointy. His hair stuck out from his head in an impressive bush, and he wore a strange outfit made from something resembling brown leather.

"Hello," he said, in a polite deep voice. "My name is Mercurio. I'll be your guide up to the main building, where Madam Nocturna is waiting for you. Please accompany me, but stay close behind and don't stray from the path. These grounds can be confusing to newcomers." He paused for a moment, making sure that everyone had understood, before he turned and started walking.

While Mrs. Thompson and Mr. Hightower dithered, stunned by the strange boy's appearance and struggling to form questions, Alice immediately strode after him. She was determined not to show her surprise at any of this.

Mrs. Dibble had no other choice but to follow.

Then, with a flurry of activity, the others hurried onto the grounds.

Even though Alice was bursting with questions, she kept her mouth shut and took in everything around her. Mercurio led the little group on a strange, winding route through the grounds, following the path in front of him. They passed through small groves of trees and odd little gardens and just when Alice started wondering how much further they would have to walk, the Academy itself appeared from around a bend.

This time Alice couldn't hide her surprise. Surely a building that huge should have been visible from Pink Lady lane! It looked like a medieval castle with all those pointy towers and high walls!

"That is totally awesome!" gasped Toby, for once a surprised boy instead of a surly bully.

"Where on Earth did that come from?" exclaimed his mother. "It wasn't there before!"

Mercurio turned. "It has always been there. It's just that most people don't _look_ properly."

"I'm sure I've never seen a huge great castle on the local maps!" declared Mr. Hightower. "And I deal with maps every day!"

Mr. Hightower ran the Appleton Tourist Information Bureau. It was amazing how many people came from far and wide to visit Appleton's giant apple. It attracted a lot of New Yorkers. Also popular was Appleton's old cider factory, built in 1851 and rumoured to be haunted. It was the highlight of Appleton's famous Ghost Tour.

"Well, that's because it isn't on any local maps," Mercurio declared, as though Mr. Hightower was simple. Alice covered a smile.

"Now we mustn't keep Madam Nocturna waiting. She is a very busy lady."

He was about to head off across the grass towards a pair of very large metal doors, when a little boy ran up to him, gasping for air. He looked like a smaller version of Mercurio, and Alice could have sworn his bushy hair was green.

"Mercurio, the compost heap's loose again! Thatch and I tried to round it up but it escaped into the woods!"

Mercurio sighed. "Twig, I have to escort these guests to Madam Nocturna. Find Gumnut – she should be able to help. She caught it last time. Set the hose onto it, if I remember."

"Okay Mercurio." Twig ran off.

"The compost heap is loose?" exclaimed Mrs. Thompson. "What kind of nonsense is that?"

"No nonsense, I'm afraid. The heap is so old and has had so much rubbish dumped on it over the years that it's developed a life of its own. No need to worry – it's quite harmless. Just overly affectionate. Now we really must be seeing Madam Nocturna." He marched towards the entrance.

"Now see here!" called Mr. Hightower, but Alice and her befuddled mother were already following. Not wanting to be left out, Toby and Carla ran after her. No way were they going to show any fear!

The closer they got to the Academy, the larger its great grey walls seemed to loom over them. Made from enormous, uneven bricks, it looked far older and spookier than any local building, even the cider factory and town hall. The huge, iron-bound doors looked like they could stop battering rams. Large sections of the walls were covered with ivy.

As the little group approached, the doors creaked open, revealing a long dark passage. Alice kept walking, even though her heart fluttered and she really wanted to turn and run from this mysterious place. She felt her mother grab one of her arms and squeeze – a little too hard. Alice slanted a look at her companions, and saw they were still with them, even though they were all a little white-faced. It was obvious both Toby's mother and Carla's father did not approve.

Mercurio led the group through the doors and they entered a long, wide hall lit with flaming torches.

"Please follow me."

The elf-like Mercurio took them into the first of several large doorways. Beyond lay a waiting area complete with overstuffed sofas and a huge sandstone fireplace. Despite the warmth of the day a large fire crackled merrily in the grate. Enormous portraits hung on the walls. Some were of severe-looking old men with shiny bald heads, handle-bar moustaches and monocles, but others depicted younger, more attractive people. A very large canvas above the fireplace showed a dark, mysterious woman with long black hair and very white skin. Alice approached to take a closer look.

"This place is amazing," Toby whispered to his mother.

"You mean this place is insane," Mrs. Thompson snapped.

"It's one of the country's most exclusive schools, you know," declared Mrs. Dibble. "I hear only the best and brightest are accepted here. If any of our children are allowed in, we should consider it a very great honour."

"I'm sure this must be some sort of joke," growled Mr. Hightower. "A dirty great castle like this should be on all the maps."

Alice reached the picture and read the little brass plaque set into the frame. Elliana Nocturna – School Principal 1926-

If that's the year she was born, then she must be very old, Alice thought. She went to check on some of the other dates. Baron Angus d'Montfort's dates read 1876-1926, Lord Eric Van Rattenbottom's were 1801-1876, and Dame Jordana Allarenbach's were 1695-1801!

"No way," Alice said aloud. Who lived to a hundred and six in those days? Besides, this school couldn't possibly have been around before 1801 – Appleton wasn't founded until 1850, when squatter William Edgar Holloway decided to build an apple farm here! Before that, the entire area had been home to the Kyangalla tribe. Local history had been drummed into her head all year – she wouldn't forget any of it in a hurry.

Alice was about to check another picture when someone called her name and she jumped. She turned to see Mercurio, standing in a doorway she hadn't previously noticed. He was beckoning to her.

"Madam Nocturna will see you first, Alice."

"How come she gets to go first?" Carla hissed to her father.

"Because 'D' comes before 'H' in the alphabet," Mercurio answered cheerfully.

Carla went a beautiful shade of red that perfectly matched her hair.

Alice tried to walk with as much dignity as possible into the office, even though she wanted to gasp in amazement at everything. It was her mother who voiced surprise. Madam Nocturna's office was every bit as large as the waiting area outside; dark and cavernous despite the electric bulbs. Heavy curtains covered the windows, and more enormous paintings with elaborate gilt frames graced the walls. Tall shelves crammed with old-looking books stood between the windows, and strange artefacts hung from the ceiling: crystal balls, stuffed animals and weird skeletons. A small bird with a brightly coloured tail chirped from its perch beside a great wooden desk as big as a beached whale. Behind this enormous table sat the very tall, thin woman whose picture Alice had examined so carefully outside. She certainly did not look like she had been born in 1926! She rose with a smile, almost floating as she glided over to greet Alice and her mother. Her dress looked like it had been made from a mixture of lace and spider-webs, and it shifted in the slightest breeze.

"Ah, Alice and Mrs. Dibble. So nice to meet you both," she purred in a soft, smoky voice that matched her exotic appearance. Alice couldn't tear her eyes from her.

I hope I look like that when I grow up, Alice thought enviously.

"Please take a seat. This interview won't take long."

"It's ... good that you can see us in person, Madam Nocturna," Mrs. Dibble managed weakly, still awed by the principal's bizarre office.

"I interview all potential applicants personally. We only accept about a hundred students Australia-wide each year." Madam Nocturna sat back down at her gigantic desk. There were scattered papers all over it. And fat files bound with string. And some of those enormous ancient books, with covers that looked like they'd been made from animal skin. There was also a very strange looking computer. "Now I need to ask Alice some questions. They might seem a little odd, but believe me they are necessary."

Elliana Nocturna turned to her computer.

If such machines had been around in the 19th century, they might have looked like the contraption on the principal's desk. Although it had a large flat screen, it looked like it had been made from a single sheet of really old smoke-coloured glass, held in a metal frame with big iron rivets. Elaborate Victorian scrollwork decorated the edges, and cables tangled across the desk, disappearing into a small hole from which the occasional puff of steam issued. The whole thing throbbed as though alive.

"Er, what kind of a computer is that?" asked Alice's mother dubiously. "I can't say I've ever seen a model like that before."

"It's a bit of a hybrid, actually. Professor Abbacus designed the school's computer system, but sometimes I think it's more trouble than it's worth. He's the only one who knows how it really works."

As though on cue, a high pitched evil cackle drifted through the room. "What the-"

"And I think a ghost has just taken up residence in the machine. It keeps rearranging files and putting rude messages up on the students' screens."

"Er, you could have a virus," Mrs. Dibble suggested as Madam Nocturna started rattling on a keyboard that looked like it had been pulled off a hundred-year-old typewriter.

"No no. Our virus protection is very good. It's definitely a ghost. It calls itself Baron Jürgen Falkenstein. I think it lives down in the mainframe."

"Dear God," Mrs. Dibble gasped.

"Now Alice," Madam Nocturna looked up, fixing the young girl with her dark, green-eyed gaze. She didn't look at all worried by Mrs. Dibble's reaction. "Your mother mentioned in your application that you are a bit of a night owl. What time do you normally rise? When you don't have to get up for school?"

"Nine o'clock – because that's the time Mum comes in and starts pulling the covers off me!" Alice gave her mother an embarrassed smile, but Mrs. Dibble was still flustered from the mention of Baron Jürgen Falkenstein. "I don't know what time I'd get up if I was allowed to sleep in."

"I see. And are you sluggish in the mornings?"

"Very. It usually takes me an hour to wake up completely."

"You are more alert at night?"

"Definitely. It seems as soon as the sun goes down I'm much more with it. If Mum didn't make me go to bed at nine thirty, I'd probably stay awake all night."

"I see." Madam Nocturna made some more notes on her ancient computer. More steam puffed from the hole, and somewhere a whistle sounded. She hit a button and the noise stopped. "What about your taste in food – your mother mentioned that you like your meat very rare."

"Oh yes – just wave it over the flame."

"Mrs. Nocturna," Mrs. Dibble began.

"Madam Nocturna, please," she said amiably.

"I'm sorry Madam, but what is the purpose of all these strange questions?"

"My dear lady, it doesn't matter how much money you have, or how smart your child is, if they don't have the right affinities, they will not be accepted into this school. Our criteria are very specific. Alice," She directed her attention back toward the girl, who had noticed a strange flicker in one corner of the cavernous office. "How do other children treat you?"

"I'm sorry ma'am – I thought I saw something moving over there." She pointed, but the shadowy alcove appeared empty.

"Ah." Madam Nocturna made another note on her bizarre computer. "Very good. Sylphie – you may come out now."

Suddenly, a tall, slender woman shimmered out of thin air, as though she had been hiding behind an invisible curtain. She had long white hair and was dressed in gauzy robes. Mrs. Dibble actually yelped in horror.

"Being able to see my assistant is very promising. I'm sorry if she frightened you, Mrs. Dibble. She was just observing. What did you discover, Sylphie?"

"Alice has a very powerful aura, Madam. Great potential for good. But also great potential for evil, if not nurtured correctly. She stands at a crossroads and will need to make some good, close friends to remain on the right path. If she continues alone, she will fall into darkness."

"What on Earth are you talking about?" Mrs. Dibble gasped.

Madam Nocturna took a deep breath. "Dear Mrs. Dibble – your daughter is very special. I'm sorry, but because of security issues I can't explain more at the moment."

Mrs. Dibble rose to her feet, looking the most irate she ever had in her life. "I'm not sure I want my daughter going to this crazy school! From what I've seen so far, it seems like ... like a freakshow!"

If the Principal was put out by Mrs. Dibble's comment, she gave no sign. Her pale face stayed smooth and emotionless.

"Mrs. Dibble, let me assure you that there is a lot more to this school than meets the eye. We are not just a scholastic institution. We are the first line of defence in a war that has been going on since the dawn of time." Madam Nocturna took another breath and leaned forward in her chair, fixing Alice's mother with her chilly gaze. "Of course you won't remember any of this when you leave. I think that's enough for now. I have all the information I need."

Suddenly, Mrs. Dibble seemed to deflate like a balloon. All the anger left her. She sat back down and even smiled at the icy-faced Principal. "Of course, Madam Nocturna," she answered pleasantly.

"You may leave now. You should have my reply within a few days."

What is going on here? Alice wondered as she followed her mother out of the office, back into the waiting room where Carla Hightower was actually tapping her foot impatiently.

"Well, it's about time," she snapped. Her father had a look of long suffering on his face. "Why did you take so long? What could you possibly have to talk about?"

Of course Alice didn't bother to answer. But she felt like asking Mr. Hightower why he didn't give his annoying brat a good, swift slap on the backside every now and then.

The elf-like Mercurio escorted them out of the building and back along the path towards the gate. Now the sun had gone down there seemed to be a lot more people out. Alice spotted more elf-like creatures tending to the grounds and large, shadowy shapes moving about between the trees. There wasn't much light, but Alice had always had good night vision.

Only when the old iron gates clanged shut behind them did Alice approach her mother. "Mum – what did you think of that?" she asked nervously.

"She seemed nice enough. A little cold and distant, but very professional."

"Not crazy?"

"No."

"What about her office? That didn't seem out of the ordinary, did it?"

"No, although that computer of hers looked a bit old. I do hope the school is properly resourced."

It was too dark for Alice to see her mother's face clearly, but she could tell by the tone of her voice that she was serious. She really couldn't remember all the strangeness! What had happened? Had Madam Nocturna hypnotised her or something? So why do I still remember everything? Alice wondered. She wanted to talk more, but wasn't sure how much her mother did recall. She started wondering if she had imagined the elf-like Mercurio, the wandering compost heap and all the other bizarre things in that interview!

* * * *

Chapter 3

That night, Alice slept deeply, probably more restfully than she ever had in her entire life, and actually woke feeling refreshed. She greeted the sunshine with none of her usual grumbling, and wandered downstairs with a spring in her step. Her mother's cheerfulness didn't irritate her as much as it normally did, either. In the clear, bright light of the first of November, she began to feel that last night had been little more than a strange, but wonderful dream.

But when she arrived at school she found Carla Hightower surrounded by her usual gaggle of friends, talking excitedly about her night. Alice hovered as close as she dared, hoping to pick up some sign that the snooty girl had been through the same weirdness. But Carla was very good at covering her tracks, and kept saying general things like 'it's a very progressive school', 'with excellent resources', and 'well qualified staff'. When she noticed Alice, she glared angrily at her.

"What are you doing here, Dribble?" she demanded.

"My interview went smoothly – I just wanted to know how yours went?" Alice replied evenly.

"Surely she wasn't there as well!" gasped one of the girls, and suddenly the entire group were bombarding the embarrassed Carla with questions. Alice marched off with a small smile, but it quickly faded when she found Chunky, Toby and Stan lurking around the library entrance, talking in whispers. She decided against her usual morning read and retreated out of sight. She would have loved to listen in on their conversation, but there was nowhere to hide. If only I could become invisible like Madam Nocturna's assistant, she thought wistfully.

Alice's day seemed to drag even more slowly than usual. She had to endure several taunts from Chunky and his mates at lunchtime, but later in the afternoon during Maths, she caught Toby staring at her from across the room, and for once he wasn't wearing his usual disgusted look. He seemed more curious than anything. Beside him Chunky and Stan were playing knuckles and not paying any attention to their friend. Stan's hand was already bruised, but he didn't appear to notice. No brain no pain, Alice thought. Then Mrs. Henderson told the boys to cease their childish behaviour and Toby stopped looking at Alice to laugh at his silly mates.

I wonder if he wants to talk to me about last night, Alice thought. She still wanted to be assured that all the strangeness hadn't been in her imagination.

When she passed the Academy's gates on her way home they looked like they always had – old and rusty and entwined all about with old vines. She peered through the bars, trying to catch a glimpse of the enormous castle, but as usual all she saw were trees. Surely I should be able to see something above that foliage, she thought, remembering how big the school had been. But no matter how hard she strained, she couldn't make anything else out. She sighed and was about to continue along Pink Lady Lane when she heard a footstep. She turned to see a lone figure following her. It looked like Toby. But as soon as he noticed she had stopped, he spun around and almost ran back the way he had come. She opened her mouth to call after him, but he disappeared around a bend in the road.

He must have wanted to talk to me after all, Alice decided. If only he hadn't been such a coward about it.

She made it home and after calling a quick hello to her mother, out in the garden as usual, she raced upstairs to log on to the computer. When she saw a new message from Madam Nocturna's Academy, her heart immediately leapt with excitement. Her hand started shaking so much it took her several attempts to open the document.

" _Dear Mrs. Dibble,_

It pleases me to announce that your daughter Alice has been accepted into Madam Nocturna's Academy. She showed great promise during the interview. Never in all my years running this illustrious school have I met a young lady more qualified to join our elite ranks. All fees are waived. Please ensure that she is ready to attend the enrolment ceremony on the 6th of December of this year, at 6pm. You and one other may accompany her if you wish.

Madam Elliana Nocturna

Alice whooped so loudly that Mrs. Dibble raced inside immediately, thinking that she had fallen and hurt herself.

"What, _what?"_ she gasped.

"I've been accepted into Madam Nocturna's Academy!" shrieked Alice, more excited than she had ever been in her life. "I don't have to go to stinky Appleton High after all!"

"Why, that's excellent news!" Mrs. Dibble was quite overwhelmed. She had never seen her daughter so giddy! And over a school! The Academy had impressed her with its history and traditions, but surely not enough to turn her quiet, level-headed Alice into such a dancing dervish! "I hope we can afford the fees."

"Mum – there _aren't_ any fees!" Alice cried. "Read the letter!"

Mrs. Dibble scanned the short page. "Goodness! All fees waived! I don't believe it! You must have really impressed that headmistress!"

The next day Alice actually sought Carla out to tell her that she had already been accepted. Although Carla declared that Alice was lying through her teeth, she reddened furiously. It was obvious she hadn't received any news yet!

But when she overheard Toby talking with Chunky and Stan she realised that Toby had also received an acceptance notice. His mates actually looked disappointed, but they were good enough friends to congratulate him. Alice caught him staring at her again during a free moment, and she wondered if he would finally gather up the guts to talk to her like a human being. But at lunch time he joined Chunky and Stan in stealing her school bag and dumping it into the boys' toilet trough.

Well, so much for thinking that you'd matured, Alice thought grumpily as the playground teacher retrieved her dripping back pack. Opening it up, she found that several books were smudged and ruined, and her calculator broken.

"Do you know who did this?" asked Mrs. Boyle, the teacher currently on playground duty.

Alice sighed heavily. "It doesn't matter, Miss. It's almost the end of the year. I don't want any trouble."

"But they have to be punished!" insisted the teacher, who was still very young and innocent of tough playground rules. "Look at the mess they've made of your things!"

Alice simply shook her head. Escalating things now would only make the rest of her year even more unbearable. Better to keep her head down and hope the last six weeks passed quickly. She thanked the teacher and left, taking her smelly bag with her. All of November still loomed ahead, seemingly forever until the 6th of December.

Unfortunately, the boys' behaviour did not improve. They must have thought they had to get in as much teasing as possible before the end of year. At first Alice was able to bear it with her usual quiet resolve, but as the days grew hotter and began to drag in uncooled classrooms, her patience grew thin. Spit-balls bounced off her head. Thumbtacks found their way onto her chair. Glue was spread across her table. Her new schoolbag disappeared as well, only to turn up two days later, smeared with clay. And to make matters worse, whenever Carla happened to spot the boys teasing Alice, she joined in too. Although they usually called her 'Catty Carla', they welcomed her efforts.

Then Carla announced that she had been accepted into the Academy, and enjoyed telling everyone that because she was so smart and talented, her parents only had to pay three-quarters of the normal fees.

Even though Alice normally tried to avoid Carla, she couldn't resist butting in at that point; "My fees were waived completely!"

Carla looked furious, but only for a moment. Then a cruel smile oozed across her fat lips. "Of course, the school has to be seen taking on a certain number of charity cases!"

Trust Carla to think of that, Alice thought furiously. She couldn't be bothered arguing, and stalked off to the sound of Carla's nasty laughter.

Alice tried to last until the end of the year. She really did. But the last straw came one particularly hot and humid Friday afternoon in late November.

Normally the children had sport on Fridays, but it was far too hot, and everyone had been sent back inside. Mrs. Henderson tried to keep the youngsters entertained with art, but most of the boys weren't interested. Normally they didn't mind art, but they had been looking forward to their weekly rumble on the oval. Pestering Mrs. Henderson to let them play under the sprinkler hadn't worked, and they were now determined to be as disruptive as possible. Even though the teacher allowed the youngsters to paint whatever they wanted, after only five minutes of activity the paint-flicking began.

Of course they were very sneaky about it; only acting when Mrs. Henderson's back was turned. But it seemed to Alice that most of the globs were aimed at her. She tried to keep her head down, but when Mrs. Henderson had to leave the room for a minute, the multicoloured blobs flew thick and fast. A few reached other kids; Four-Eyes Johnson had to duck under a table, and Stutter-Rap Sam, who normally couldn't string three coherent words together, started swearing. But it was Alice who looked like a punk first. With purple and green drips splodging onto her picture, ruining it, she lifted a new sheet of paper over her face, trying to protect the rest of her clothes. Unfortunately that only made the boys double their efforts to cover her in colours. Then a particularly large, wet blob of red smacked her right in the ear and ran down into her collar.

Alice's normally endless temper snapped. On her table she had a new tube of yellow paint, and now she used her pencil case to point it upwards, aiming it across the room at her three laughing enemies. She slammed a small fist down, sending a canary-yellow blast arcing gracefully over Stutter-Rap's head and splattering right into Chunky's eyes.

Mrs. Henderson chose that moment to march back into the room. "What is going on here?" she screeched.

Chunky started howling like a two-year-old and trying to rub the mess from his face. He only succeeded in covering herself completely.

"Who started this?"

Half the class pointed at Chunky, Toby and Stan. The three boys, plus Carla and her friends, pointed at Alice, who had been caught red handed. Or rather yellow-handed.

"Charles, Tobias and Stanley – clean yourselves up and go to the Principal's office right now. You too, Alice." She clapped her hands. "I know it's hot, but that's no reason to for such babyish behaviour!"

The boys tried to argue by pinning all the blame on Alice, but it didn't work. Mrs. Henderson knew what the thugs were like. She suspected that Alice had only been retaliating, but the normally sensible girl still needed to be punished.

"I'm surprised at you, Alice," she told the multicoloured girl as she awaited her turn at the sink. Alice struggled to maintain the shreds of her dignity – a nearly impossible job while covered with paint.

Luckily the paint was water-based and very easy to clean off. Still, all four were dripping wet by the time they headed off up to Principal McNorton's office. Fortunately the heat made this actually feel quite pleasant.

This didn't stop the boys from swearing at Alice all the way, like the entire trip was her fault. She tried to retreat into her usual calm, but now her anger had been released, she found this almost impossible. She actually started grinding her teeth in frustration.

Principal McNorton was surprised that one of Appleton's most promising students had been sent to his office, but he put her on the bench with the three boys anyway. Alice folded her arms and tried to make herself as small as possible for the rest of the afternoon, not wanting any part of her body to come in contact with the youths. Since they were right outside the Principal's office, they didn't tease her too much. Also, the fact she was sharing their detention pleased them. It made them feel she had finally fallen to their level at last. Finally, they had got snooty Malice Dribble into trouble.

Unfortunately Principal McNorton had called Mrs. Dibble during the afternoon, and by the time Alice got home, her mother knew all the details about her crime. She received a very stern lecture, and any attempt to try and pin all the blame on the boys was soundly squashed.

"I'm surprised at you, Alice – so close to the end of term, and about to enter a very prestigious school!" Marlene Dibble scolded. "What on Earth got into you?"

"Mum – they started it-"

"I have told you time and time again, it doesn't matter who starts something! So long as you don't continue it! Now go to your room! I don't want to see you out until dinnertime!"

Fortunately for Alice, that wasn't such a serious punishment!

Alice started counting the days until her enrolment. Not even a weekend spent in the centre of town at her father's new place helped to make the time fly. She used to enjoy spending time with him, but that was before he met Janice the Tour Guide. She worked for Mr. Hightower at Appleton's Tourist Information Bureau, driving the Appleton Ghost Tour bus. Alice could only describe her as a ditzy blonde, all smiles and bouncy corn-coloured hair. She seemed forever laughing, even when things weren't even funny. At least her mother never screeched crazily at jokes Alice had stopped finding amusing at age seven.

Mr. Dibble and Janice lived in a tall block of flats with its own gym and swimming pool, which was usually full of noisy high-school boys who splashed too much. Alice only liked swimming alone, when there was no one around to comment on her milky white complexion and skinny legs.

Dad enveloped her in a huge hug as soon as she walked in. Genuinely pleased to see him, she hugged him back. She noted that he had gotten even bigger since her last visit – too much time sampling his own food. He worked as a chef for the Appleton Bowling Club. "How are you, Alice? What's been going on?" he gushed. He hadn't phoned her lately, and she never liked calling him in case she had to speak to Janice. Fortunately, she didn't appear to be home. Alice heaved a sigh of relief. Now she could relax.

"I'm okay Dad, but school's been getting right up my nose. You'd think the last few weeks would be easy, but noooo – lately it seems like everyone is out to get me."

"Surely not!" exclaimed George Dibble as he let her go and lumbered into the kitchenette to fetch them both a drink.

Alice flopped onto the lounge, which was new and smelled all nice and leathery. It made a nice change from the cloth lounge at home, which still whiffed like their old dog Barkley, despite three shampoos. "Some boys have been giving me a really hard time lately."

"They must really like you!" Mr. Dibble called from the kitchen.

Alice groaned. _Why_ did grownups always say that? "Yeah, right Dad. You should have seen what they did to my bag. And my hair in art class. Honestly, you don't do things like that to people you like. Unless you're some kind of weirdo!"

Dad came out with two glasses of lemonade. "So, do you know what school you're going to yet?"

Alice couldn't believe that she had almost forgotten. "Dad, I've been selected for Madam Nocturna's Academy! The enrolment's on the 6th! Can you come with Mum?" She said "Mum" just a little louder than the rest of the sentence, hoping he would understand that she didn't want Janice along.

He settled beside her. "The sixth! Oh dear – I think I have to work that night. But I'll try to get out of it. Madam Nocturna's Academy! Gosh, is that still open? It looks so old and overgrown!"

"It's definitely still open, Dad."

"But it's a private school – what about fees?"

Alice grinned. "No fees. They've been waived. Apparently I'm just that good."

But Mr. Dibble didn't smile. "You're joking! Private schools don't waive fees no matter how smart you are! Have you won some sort of scholarship?"

"Er ... you could say that," Alice managed, not sure how to explain. Dad sounded like he didn't believe her at all.

"Well, I hope you're right about the fees. I give your mother a very generous amount to keep you clothed and fed, but it certainly won't cover private school fees."

Alice pulled a face, annoyed that he had spoiled her good mood. And what was all this about a 'very generous amount to keep her clothed and fed'? Her mother certainly didn't think it was 'very generous'! "So where's Janice tonight?" she asked, trying not to sound sarcastic.

"She's driving the bus. Every Friday and Saturday night now, and at least three times during the week. The Ghost Tour is becoming very popular, ever since those American visitors spotted spooks in the old cider factory."

"What spooks?" Alice gasped.

"Oh, just some strange red lights, hovering in one of the storerooms. At first they thought it was kids who'd been paid by the tourist bureau, having some fun, but Janice was just as shocked as the rest of them. She's still trying to get to the bottom of the mystery, but meanwhile travellers from all over the place are coming in to visit the brewery. The place is doing a roaring trade. Didn't you say your school was going on a ghost tour? At the end of term?"

"The second last day, actually," Alice explained. She had already put her permission slip in, but wasn't looking forward to it. She didn't like excursions that involved long bus rides, crammed in with people who annoyed her. She had been intending to ask her mother if she could cancel, but the news of strange goings-on lifted her interest.

"Is that instead of the movie trip?"

"No – we're going to the movies too – second last week of term, I think."

"All those excursions! We never went on so many excursions when I was a kid!"

"That's probably because it cost so much to hire all those horses and carts for the kids."

"Cheeky!" Mr. Dibble laughed.

Alice giggled. "Ghosts in the cider factory sound interesting. Did Janice tell you what she actually saw?"

Mr. Dibble flipped a podgy hand. "She described some red lights that circled around, but I can't remember exactly. You should ask her tomorrow. She'll be happy to tell you. These days all she seems to talk about is that darn factory." He didn't sound too impressed about that!

"So what time does she get home?"

"Oh, not till after midnight. You'll be in bed by then, I hope! So," He rubbed his hands together, "what would like you like to do tonight? How about some movies? I could make us some salt and vinegar popcorn to eat!"

"Oh, we did that last time! Besides, there's nothing out that I want to see. I saw that new pirate movie last week. Why can't we go ice-skating? The rink's open until nine on Fridays!"

Mr. Dibble groaned. He hated activities that involved a lot of moving around. His doctor kept telling him to exercise, but it was so hard! He used to stay fit cycling from his old home into work every day, but now, living in the centre of town, he only had to travel two blocks to reach the club!

Alice gave him her most pleading look, complete with mournful dark blue eyes. "Please Daddy?"

"Oh alright! But don't expect me to be Torville to your Dean!"

"I think it's the other way around, Dad!" She leapt out of her seat and grabbed her bag, pulling out her skates.

"I see you came prepared!"

"Always. Come on!" She tugged on his arm, and he let himself be pulled along in her wake. He could see himself falling on his backside a lot tonight, but at least it was a warm evening, and he wouldn't freeze too badly.

Alice had only recently discovered the joys of ice-skating. She had longed to try it as a school sport, but was always pushed out of the queue on sign-up days, and had to make do with yoga. Mum had taken her a few times, and although she had spent a lot more time sprawled on the ice than actually gliding across it, she was starting to improve. She couldn't speed around backwards, but at least now she could slide around the rink without clinging to the railing. She was very pleased with her progress because she couldn't remember the last time she had actually done a sport long enough _to_ progress.

Her father made a valiant attempt to struggle around the side a couple of times, but then gave up and watched her for about an hour.

"You're doing very well!" he called. "Only three falls!"

"One wasn't my fault!" she yelled back. "That little boy tripped over right in front of me, and I couldn't stop in time!"

"Okay darling – that's enough for now. Shall we go home and have some popcorn?"

"Sounds great Dad!"

They went back to Mr. Dibble's flat and ate popcorn until Alice thought she would burst. She crawled into bed at eleven, worn out and full and quite relaxed. She hadn't had so much fun with her Dad for a long time.

The next morning, when Janice greeted her with an impossibly cheerful "Hellooo sweetie," and a totally gross wet kiss on the cheek, Alice didn't flinch and try to wipe her face on her shoulder. She actually wanted to talk to this irritating woman. Today Janice wore a shiny satin housecoat that barely covered her bottom and high-heeled slippers with little furry bobbles on them. Alice had no idea where someone would buy such dreadful shoes, and didn't want to find out. So she cleared her throat and asked, "Janice – Dad said you saw some strange lights down in the old cider factory. Can you tell me about them?"

Janice's face split in a huge grin. Alice realised she'd even put on eyeshadow and lipstick! She reminded her of a grown-up Carla, only skinnier. But Alice forced herself to listen to what she had to say. "That's a very interesting story, sweetheart. We saw the lights not long after the local historical society, who had been digging in the wine-cellar, discovered a secret storage room – have you been on the tour, love?"

"Er, not yet. We'll be going in a few weeks, at the end of term."

"Oh, you're in for a treat, darling. It's a wonderful place!"

"If you like mouldy old factories," Mr. Dibble muttered under his breath. Janice shot him an annoyed look, but he ignored it. Alice wondered if they had had a little quarrel earlier.

"George! Don't mind your father, dearie. He's not much of a history buff." Janice strutted around the tiny kitchen in her ridiculous slippers, making coffee for herself and Mr. Dibble, and hot chocolate for Alice. Her huge mass of permed, bleached curls hardly shifted on her shoulders as she moved around. Had she put hairspray on as well? "Now the discovery of this secret chamber caused quite a stir! No-one can quite figure out what it was used for, or why it had been sealed up. The Appleton Historical Society is still working overtime trying to figure out all the weird symbols on the walls."

"Weird symbols?" Alice gasped.

"Old runes. We think Mr. Holloway must have put them there, but we have no idea what language they're in."

"That does sound weird," Alice agreed.

Janice placed Alice's huge mug, with its frothy layer of whipped chocolate, in front of her. It smelled delicious, but she also received a powerful whiff of Janice's perfume. Alice couldn't believe her senses! What kind of a person dressed up so elaborately for breakfast? Her mother certainly didn't! If it was cold, Marlene Dibble simply threw on her tattered old dressing gown and worn out Ugg boots. How could Dad prefer this overdressed bimbo to someone so down-to-earth? Alice's mind reeled at the stupidity of adults.

"Anyway, only a few days later I was showing the American tourists around the factory – it was that stormy night a few weeks ago, the one with all the lightning and thunder," Janice continued cheerfully, "when they saw the lights. They had wandered from the group, something I advise against because of all the barrels and old equipment, and I didn't realise they'd gone until I heard a dreadful scream. I nearly jumped out of my skin, and a little girl in my group started to cry. I was just about to investigate when all three tourists came tearing up to me screaming about ghosts."

Alice nodded, wondering if Janice was exaggerating. She certainly seemed the type, considering the way she dressed. She glanced at her father, but he was busy with a crossword. "Did they actually say 'ghosts'?" Alice asked.

"Yes, but they also mentioned strange red lights that swirled around in circles. I asked my assistant Angela to mind the group while I went back with them. Only one of the tourists, a teenage boy, came with me. His parents were too scared." She laughed. "So the boy took me down the stairs into the little room – we had actually been coming towards it, but the impatient tourists had wanted a sneak preview – and there they were!" She paused for effect.

"Uh huh," Alice prompted.

"Little red lights like tiny comets, moving in a large circle on the wall at the back of the room. And I was holding the only light source, my trusty Dolphin torch. When I pointed it at the lights, they disappeared. When I turned it off, they were back. But only for a few more seconds. Then they vanished too."

"And you really have no idea what they were?"

"None, I'm afraid."

"Those historians didn't leave any lanterns behind?"

"No, they always take all their equipment with them at the end of the day. There was nothing in that room. Apart from the strange signs on the walls, that is. I think the lights were following their shapes."

"Have the lights come back since?"

"No. At least not that I've heard."

"Now I really want to go on that tour," Alice exclaimed.

"So Alice dear – what's new with you? Have you found out which high school you're going to yet?"

Alice was only too happy to tell Janice that she was going to Madam Nocturna's Academy.

"Really?" Janice gasped, genuinely interested. "My parents applied for me to go there when I was in sixth class. Unfortunately the application was rejected. I was sooo disappointed. My last boyfriend actually taught there."

George Dibble lifted his head at the mention of the word 'boyfriend'. "Oh yes? Who was he?"

"Albrecht Longenfang," she said wistfully. "He was such a strong, handsome guy."

But Mr. Dibble hooted with laughter. "Albrecht Longenfang? What kind of a silly name is that?"

"His parents were German," Janice retorted. "He had long curly blonde hair and shoulders you could have parked a bus on."

"Sounds like a big girl's blouse if you ask me," George muttered. Alice giggled. She couldn't help herself. So, there was trouble in Paradise, was there? She couldn't wait to tell her mother all about it!

* * * *

Chapter 4

Alice had never been particularly interested in clothes before, but on the 5th of December she asked her mother to take her shopping for a new dress. Mrs. Dibble was only too happy to accompany her.

Appleton may have been a country town, but the constant stream of visiting tourists meant Alice had several boutiques to choose from. Pleased to see her daughter finally taking an interest in her appearance, Mrs. Dibble bustled around racks of flowery dresses and frilly frocks that looked like meringues, pulling out the most sickening colours and styles. Alice pulled a face each time.

Marlene Dibble planted plump hands on even plumper hips. "Come on, they're all so beautiful! I thought you wanted a new outfit!"

"Yes Mum, but not one that looks like a wedding cake! Ugh!" Then Alice spotted something on another rack, and almost dived across the cramped little shop. She pulled out a long black dress made out of material that looked like spider webs. In places it sparkled with little jewels. It was long and very elegant, and looked a lot like the gown Madam Nocturna had worn. "This is more like it!" she gasped. "I'm going to try it on!"

"But Alice – it's so dark and depressing! Are you sure you wouldn't prefer this one?" She held out a cute little German barmaid's outfit, complete with puffy sleeves and tightly laced bodice. "I'll even buy you some long white socks and a pair of Mary Janes to go with it! You can wear your hair in two pigtails with little bows-"

Alice bolted before her mother could hold the frock against her. To her joy the long black dress fitted perfectly, and was very comfortable. Mrs. Dibble couldn't even complain about the cost – it had been reduced in price and was even cheaper than the barmaid's dress! Marlene made a few more attempts to entice her daughter into something brighter, but Alice's mind was made up. Alice even found a hairclip with a spider on it to match the dress.

The next night, when she was ready for her enrolment, she looked far older than her twelve years. She had brushed her long black hair until it shone, and in her web dress with spider clip, she looked very exotic. Her mother had to admit the outfit suited her slim build and pale colouring perfectly. But she still would have preferred to see Alice in frills and flowers! After all, she had named her Alice because her favourite book was Alice in Wonderland.

She took Alice down the road to the Nocturnal Academy, and for once the old iron gates were wide open. They still looked ancient and rusty, entwined all about with vines and foliage. But beyond the gates ran a broad paved road. Alice gaped. Last time it had been a simple gravel path! But her mother didn't look worried, and walked straight on in, beckoning for Alice to follow her. There were others walking ahead, and a large, stocky form wearing one of the ridiculous frilly frocks that Mrs. Dibble had tried to make her daughter try on. Between her parents, Carla Hightower minced along like she thought she was gorgeous.

Even Mrs. Dibble thought it was a little over the top.

At the open gates Alice clearly saw the Academy's massive buildings rising high above the trees. They're definitely not visible when the gates are closed, she thought. How do they do it? Magic?

Could there possibly be such a thing? She had seen so many strange things lately, that she simply couldn't explain. She really wanted to talk to someone, but who? Her mother couldn't remember any of the really weird stuff, and this time there were no strange youths dressed in green or shambling mounds of greenery to distract the eye.

The paved path bent away from the front entrance they had entered by last time, heading through the trees and gardens towards a large hall. Lots of people were milling about outside, waiting to be escorted in. There were children of all nationalities, most accompanied by one or both parents. Very few actually knew each other. Then Alice spotted Toby and his mother, and the boy was staring at Carla with his mouth open. He looks like a complete idiot, Alice thought. Any longer and that gaping maw will start attracting flies.

Then Carla minced past him, marching straight into the hall without stopping to wait her turn. Her long-suffering parents had no other choice but to run after her. Toby continued to stare, and Alice realised he was actually gawking at her!

Alice took her place in line.

Mrs. Dibble nudged her daughter. "I think that little boy fancies you."

"Mum!" Alice hissed in embarrassment. "Don't you remember last time? He was totally rude to me!"

Marlene rubbed her plump round chin. "Can't seem to recall much at all, actually. How strange. Normally I have such a good memory!"

Suddenly Carla Hightower flounced out of the Hall red-faced. "Wait my turn indeed!" she growled as she stomped to the end of the queue with her mortified parents behind. "What're you staring at, Malice?"

"Nice to see you could make it, Carla." Alice gave a little wave.

Then a pale-faced youth in a tuxedo, his hair slicked back with gel, stepped from the gloom and called out; "Sebastian Munrow?"

A big, swarthy boy who looked about to burst of out his Sunday best stepped forward. "I'm Sebastian," he said in a low voice, "But 'most everyone calls me Grizzer."

"Sebastian Munrow," the boy repeated, refusing to be intimidated by the enormous fellow. "Are you accompanied by a parent or guardian?"

"Oi, Mum!" the boy roared. "C'mon! It's time to go in!"

A tiny little woman who looked like a sparrow darted from a group of ladies she had been twittering with. The boy in the tux whisked the odd couple into the hall. Alice tried to see, but a thick velvet curtain hung just inside the doors. Scarcely had he gone when another lad appeared, dressed in the same kind of suit, with the same smoothed hair. "Millicent Jorgensen?"

A very tall, thin girl loped forward. She had long, silvery blond hair and a very pointed nose. She wore a dress that looked like it had been made from white cobwebs, like a reverse of Alice's only much finer. She was accompanied by a couple who looked just like her.

The first lad reappeared. At least Alice thought it was the first boy. It could have been someone dressed very much like him. "Ali Malouk?"

A very big, dark skinned youth stepped forward. He had a broad, slab-like face and rough skin that looked like stone.

"This is taking too long," whined Carla. "And why aren't they calling in any sort of order?"

Carla's long-suffering mother sighed and said with forced tolerance, "Just be patient, dear!"

"Alice Dibble!" one of the youths called.

Alice's heart leapt into her mouth as she stepped forward. Her mother followed as she entered the hall. The young man who had called her name held the curtain aside, and Alice stepped through into what felt like an entirely different world. The air was substantially cooler and smelled like jasmine. Light came from hundreds of candles set into the walls, but they didn't flicker like they should have. They were also brighter, allowing Alice to see all the way up to a highly-arched ceiling, like one might find in an old church. She noticed shapes flickering in the shadows up there, but couldn't make them out.

"This is awesome!" she gasped. "Don't you think so, Mum?"

"Very nice," Mrs. Dibble agreed absently. She looked a little confused.

Their guide showed them down a central aisle between two neat rows of chairs, and motioned for them to sit beside Millicent, the tall, thin girl with the silver hair. Alice and Marlene sat, and the boy returned to the door to show the next guests in.

Alice checked out the rest of the hall, from the stage with its old fashioned lectern in front, to the curtained windows, the statues she presumed were of previous principals, and the other students who had already arrived. She had never seen so many different faces. Appleton might have attracted many different nationalities during the peak season, but only a few children from other countries attended her primary school. Now she spotted Asians, Africans, Islanders, Middle Easterners, Hispanics, Europeans and some she couldn't name. They looked almost alien, like the skinny, pale girl beside her.

Then the strange, ghostly person spoke. "Hello."

Alice jumped in surprise. "Hi!"

"I'm sorry – I didn't mean to scare you." Millicent gave an embarrassed smile. "I'm Millicent, but everyone calls me Milly."

"That's okay – I was too busy gawking at everything!" Alice gasped. "I'm Alice. Everyone calls me Malice." She pulled a face. "I really wish they wouldn't!"

Millicent giggled, but before she could respond, someone sat next to Alice. It was Toby, and he still looked like he had run into a door a couple of times. Alice expected some sort of nasty comment, but he simply continued to stare.

"Mum told me the academy was starting up some special education classes this year," Millicent whispered into Alice's year. "He certainly looks like he would fit right in!"

Alice snorted. "I just think he's a little overwhelmed." Speaking of overwhelmed, Mrs. Dibble hadn't said a single word since their arrival, and continued to stare dreamily into space. When Alice scanned the rest of the audience, she saw a lot of parents with similar expressions. Others chatted with their kids or people they knew. These, she realised, were the more unusual individuals. They wore old fashioned clothes and had their hair in ridiculous and out-of-date styles. All looked like they had tried their hardest to dress up, but some resembled disco clowns. Alice spotted an enormous man, over two metres tall, dressed in a fluorescent-green Lycra body-suit with a red velvet cloak over the top. He was sitting beside Ali Malouk, the rocky boy, and talking to a tall, skinny guy with green hair who looked a little like Mercurio, her guide from before.

"There are an awful lot of very weirdly dressed people here," Alice remarked to Milly, hoping for an explanation. "And my Mum doesn't even seem to notice!"

Milly stared at Alice, and her eyes widened in surprise. They were shaped like almonds, tilted up at the edges, and had the colour of sunflowers. "Oh dear," she said softly, "you're in for quite a surprise then!"

"What, what?" Alice insisted.

"Um ... It would be best if I let Madam Nocturna explain."

Milly must have sensed her coming, because next thing she was there on stage, the tall, dark principal of the Academy, standing behind the lectern as though she had appeared out of nowhere.

"Welcome new students, ladies, gentlemen and assorted others," began Madam Nocturna in a voice that seemed to carry to every corner of the hall.

Assorted others? Alice wondered in confusion.

"It is good to see so many new students." Her gaze swept over the audience. Alice didn't think there were that many newcomers seated around her – no more than a hundred by her count. "And from so many different backgrounds! Your year promises to be one of the most diverse I have seen for a while." She took a deep breath, her pale face taking on a more serious expression. "There also appear to be more daydwellers among you, too. Due to the worsening interdimensional situation, I have been forced to recruit outside normal circles. However, I expect all born nightdwellers to treat the newcomers as equals, and I will not tolerate any bigotry. One day these daydwellers will be helping to save the Materium."

Alice couldn't believe her ears. What was Madam Nocturna saying? She glanced at her mother, but Marlene appeared to be listening intently, interested but certainly not surprised. Milly seemed interested too, but not as fascinated as Toby. He looked like a gentle breeze could blow him off his chair.

However, other members of the audience didn't even appear to be listening. Two girls with spiky black hair were discussing their black nail polish, some of the parents were checking their watches, and one great fat guy had fallen asleep. Alice soon realised it was only the unusual people who weren't surprised by Madam Nocturna's speech.

"Believe me, everything will be done to make your transition easier, newcomers, but it will still come as a great shock. Everything you have been brought up to believe in will be turned upside down, and you won't even have your parents to turn to. For they may be sitting beside you, hanging on to my every word, but they will only hear what they want to hear."

"Ah," said Alice out loud. Then, towards the back she heard a very familiar squeaky voice cry out; "What on Earth are you _talking_ about?"

Alice understood Carla's confusion, but it seemed even a dark Gothic hall couldn't frighten her into silence.

"Everything will be explained, Miss Hightower. Kindly remember to raise your hand next time you want to ask a question." Madam Nocturna had spoken softly, but her eyes still flashed forbiddingly at the lack of respect. Alice glanced quickly over her shoulder in time to see Carla flop down, her cheeks flushed. "All of you have been chosen for your special abilities. Some of you may have already come into your powers, but the newcomers among you will have only received dreams and visions. However, you all know, deep down, what your calling is to be. Because some of you still have a few weeks of schooling left, you will not undergo your final transformation until the new term starts next year. Let me assure you this will not be a long or painful process, but it will certainly be interesting, and you will receive all the support you need from our specially trained teachers. I will now read out everyone's name and aspect." As though by magic, Madam Nocturna suddenly produced a long scroll. Alice wondered if her invisible companion had just handed it to her. She could see other staff members present in the room, but none of them were up on stage. They seemed to be lurking in the darkness, as if they didn't want to show themselves to the students yet.

"James Adamson," called Madam Nocturna. "You are a tree-spirit."

Alice glanced over her shoulder and noticed two tall, very skinny people with slightly green skin fussing over their boy. He was grinning from ear to ear. All three of them looked a bit like Mercurio.

"Jing Bing Ai – you are a shapeshifter, although what kind is yet to be established. You will receive more information when you undergo your final transformation."

This revelation brought a gasp from a very normal looking Asian girl, seated between her equally as normal looking parents. She was shocked, but her folks simply looked pleased, as though Madam Nocturna had read out their daughter's grades.

"Cassandra Braga – you are an elemental spirit," Madam Nocturna continued, drawing more gasps from another unsuspecting girl.

"Jamie Bell, you are a wererat."

Some people actually laughed, and so did Jamie. He did not look surprised at all. He was sitting with his mother, and she looked very ratlike. She even had whiskers.

"Ke Ming Chen – you are an elemental spirit." Madam Nocturna rattled off a couple more names, and then called out "Alice Dibble."

Alice held her breath, her heart racing.

"You are a vampire."

Alice gaped. She could have sworn her heart just stopped dead in her chest. After all, wasn't that what vampire hearts were supposed to do? How could she be a vampire? They weren't real, were they?

No more real than tree spirits, shapeshifters, elemental spirits and wererats! she countered herself. Alice glanced at her mum, but she still didn't look worried. What on Earth was she hearing? Madam Nocturna describing some really long and hard study program?

Madam Nocturna continued calling out names. There were a lot of tree and elemental spirits, but more shapeshifters and were-creatures began to appear. Carla Hightower turned out to be a werecat. "How appropriate," Alice muttered.

"Millicent Jorgensen – you are a vampire," Madam Nocturna called out. Alice stared at the tall, pale girl beside her and she smiled. Alice thanked the heavens that she didn't show her any teeth. So far Millicent appeared to be the only other such creature.

"Ali Malouk, you are an elemental spirit, Sebastian Munrow, you are a werebear, Nora Nanphong, you are an elemental spirit..."

"There certainly seem to be a lot of elemental spirits," Alice ventured to Milly.

"There are heaps of different kinds. Earth spirits, air spirits, water, fire, astral, celestial... Don't worry, it'll all be explained eventually," Milly continued.

"Toby Thompson – you are a werewolf."

On Alice's other side, Toby gasped.

"One of the most powerful of all werecreatures," Milly whispered in Alice's ear. "Only werebears are stronger."

Alice stared at Toby. Now that she looked at him more closely, he did look a little wolfish; big and hairy with bushy hair and hunter's eyes. "Werewolf," he said out loud, but only enough so Alice could hear. "Cooool!"

Madam Nocturna finished her list, naming only three more vampires, bringing the total up to five. Alice strained to see the other individuals, but couldn't pick them out in the general crowd. She assumed the dim lightning was to blame.

"Don't worry, they're there," Milly told her, as though she had read her mind. "Unfortunately their glamour still works on you at the moment. They should have turned it off like Madam Nocturna did."

That just raised more questions than it answered!

"I know this is a great deal for you to take in at this time, and some of you won't even be able to turn to your parents for advice," Madam Nocturna continued. "For this reason you will be able to contact the School Counselling Service. I have some information forms up here on stage, which you can collect on your way out." She gestured towards a pile of documents, which seemed to have suddenly appeared out of nowhere. "I also have some information booklets on your new nightdweller aspects. Please collect only the one relevant to your situation, otherwise there won't be enough to go around." She gestured again, and this time Alice clearly saw the pile of pamphlets appear and plop down beside the first heap of papers. Then they began to separate out into piles. Alice realised that Madam Nocturna's invisible companion Sylphie was sorting them out.

Alice mopped some of her long dark hair out of her eyes. She had read plenty of books about vampires, but she couldn't wait to see what her booklet was about, and find out what was actually real. An icy shiver of delight trickled down her spine.

Madam Nocturna then introduced the head of each department. There was one for each nightdweller aspect, and he, she - or _it_ – was also responsible for a different department. Of course all the normal subjects were represented – Toby actually groaned when he realised he still had to do maths – but there were also some weird topics as well. Nightdweller Studies, Supernature and Immaterial Geography all sounded very interesting, but when she heard they would also be studying Demon Lore, she actually gasped out loud. _Demons?_ Were they actually real as well? And what on Earth did they need to study them for?

Alice's head spun. And some of those teachers made the Gothic Madam Nocturna look normal! Professor Albrecht Longenfang, Head of PE and the Werewolf Department, didn't even bother trying to hide his true aspect. He stomped up on stage on his hind legs, almost four metres tall and covered in silvery white fur. He folded enormous muscular arms across his chest and glared at the audience like he wanted to eat everyone.

So _you're_ the guy who used to go out with Dad's girlfriend Janice! Alice thought with a smile. No wonder she had raved about him. He was enormous!

"Now really – you think he would have at least put some clothes on for the occasion," remarked Milly's mother.

Alice could only gape in amazement.

History Professor Morpheus McDingley appeared quite normal at first – small, balding, bespectacled – until he performed a few changes for the audience's benefit, finishing as a giant snake that reared up to the ceiling, hissing menacingly.

The heads of the various elements all performed changes for the audience, even drawing gasps from the born nightdwellers. And all the while the daydweller parents watched placidly, occasionally smiling and nodding in agreement.

Professor Finnegan Florana, however, didn't change. He stalked across the stage, a very tall, skinny man with gnarled skin and bushy hair, and remarked in a dry, raspy voice like leaves blowing across concrete; "I can't change indoors, so you'll get no showy theatrics from me." With a meaningful glance at the other teachers, he marched off.

"Now this is Professor Icarus Abbacus, head of Science, Immaterial Geography and Demon Lore," Madam Nocturna continued, unruffled by Professor Florana's assertion. Alice craned forward, expecting to see a huge winged creature stomp on stage, complete with horns, hooves and long pointed tail. Instead she was disappointed to see a small shape swathed in a long overcoat – that is until the mysterious professor stepped into the light. At first she thought he was wearing an old fashioned diving helmet until she realised it only covered half his head. He looked like some sort of cyborg – if such creatures had been around in Victorian times. A big round lens replaced one of his eyes and glowed an ominous red. Steam puffed from a grill covering his mouth, and occasionally wafted from the back of his head, where various hoses stuck out of the metal. He lifted a hand, which looked more like a claw. Alice wondered just how much of him was steel – she couldn't tell from that enormous leather overcoat, which covered him from neck to ankles.

"Don't be deceived by Professor Abbacus' appearance – I have never met anyone more knowledgeable about the Immaterium and its inhabitants," Madam Nocturna declared. Professor Abbacus lurched off stage, his feet making a distinctly metallic clanking sound against the floorboards. "Finally, I come to myself," Madam Nocturna seemed to take a deep breath. "As well as being the headmistress of this school, I am also the head of the Vampire House and the Supernature Department." With a thin smile, Madam Nocturna transformed herself into a wolf, held its shape for a few seconds, and then became a bat that fluttered up to the ceiling. Finally the small winged creature vanished in a puff of mist. Alice lost it in the rafters, but the headmistress soon reformed on stage. "I hope you enjoyed the show, everyone. Believe me, when you students return in the new year, you will be in for a great deal more excitement." With that, she swept off stage.

Almost immediately, students in the front row leapt forward, grabbing booklets and pamphlets.

"So ... how did you find it?" Milly asked Alice with a smile.

Alice tried to rise on shaky legs. "I ... I don't know what to say!"

"I understand," Milly soothed.

"But how? Your parents are ... vampires!" Alice whispered the last word, still unable to accept that such things actually existed.

Milly brushed a hand across Alice's head, like she was her big sister. "Another thing vampires can do is read minds. Don't worry – when you join us you will automatically develop some shields. Then you will be able to keep me out and see through the glamour."

Alice stared.

"Mum – Dad, this is Alice," Milly explained to her parents. "She's one of us too, but still mostly daydweller at the moment."

Milly's parents smiled kindly at Alice, but she thought it didn't reach their eyes. Perhaps they still saw her as food. Becoming a creature of the night thrilled her, but she wasn't too sure she wanted to hunt people for blood. Wasn't that a bad thing to do?

"Well, that went on a bit – I wasn't sure all those teachers needed to spend so long on stage, doing nothing," remarked Alice's mother, "but I liked the sound of their syllabus. It's good to see a school that embraces old, traditional values, such as hard work and lots of homework!"

Alice could only laugh weakly. She made her way to the front to grab some brochures before they were all snapped up. The counselling book looked fairly ordinary, full of questions and answers, but the vampire book had a picture on the front that changed from a wolf to a bat and back again, like a hologram printed on normal paper. When Alice showed it to her mother, Mrs. Dibble simply nodded.

"Yes, I know you're in Virtue House. I was paying attention, you know!"

* * * *

Chapter 5

Alice wasn't sure how she managed to make it to Appleton Primary the next day, a Tuesday. Her head still whirled from the amazing enrolment. Still, she could understand why Madam Nocturna had wanted everyone to take one of the counselling booklets. She was bursting with questions, and there was no one she could turn to!

At least, no one she wanted to talk to. When she arrived at school she headed for the library, where she could tuck herself into a corner in peace, she found only one of her mortal enemies lurking outside. Toby Thompson was waiting at the top of the stairs, looking decidedly nervous without his two thuggish friends. When she saw him, Alice considered turning and heading the other way, but he was on his own. Maybe he wouldn't pick on her.

Squaring her shoulders, she marched up the stairs. As she reached out to push the glass doors in, Toby called out in a very loud whisper; "Hey Alice!"

She turned, opened her mouth to tell him to get lost, but then decided against being rude. He had actually called her by her proper name. Maybe he finally had something important to say.

Toby looked over his shoulder, as though afraid someone might see him talking to her. "What did you think of last night?" he asked in a voice so soft she had to strain to hear it.

"It was ... interesting. How about you?"

"You didn't think it was ... a bit strange?"

He wanted to see if she had experienced the same weirdness! "Well, that depends on whether you think vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters and cyborg teachers are out of the ordinary!"

Toby actually sighed with relief. "I thought I was imagining things! My Mum didn't see any of that at all! All the teachers looked perfectly ordinary to her!"

"Hey Tobe – whatta you doin', talking to Dribbly Malice up there?" a loud, rude voice called.

Alice dived through the library doors.

"Wait," Toby called, but Alice wasn't taking any chances. Now she knew Toby could be civil without his stupid mates around, she didn't want to see him revert to the idiot he had before.

Sure enough, their rough voices carried down to her as she submerged herself in the gloom between the tall bookshelves. "I wasn't talking to her, you idiots! I was hassling her out!"

"Toby's got a girlfriend, Toby's got a girlfriend! Wooo!"

_Morons,_ Alice thought gloomily.

Now Alice knew such a wonderful school was waiting for her in the new year, the rest of her days at Appleton Primary dragged even worse than before. She just wanted the rotten year to end, but three whole weeks loomed before Christmas. Three weeks for Chunky and Stan to get as much teasing in as possible. Toby joined in, but not as enthusiastically as before. Still, Alice wished he would grow some courage and stop being part of such an awful herd.

On the other hand, Chunky and Stan became even more malicious. Stealing her bag was no longer enough. They had to jump on it and use it for football practice as well. They started spitting in her hair in the stairwells. They even tried to trip her up, but she managed to avoid their clumsy attempts. She wondered if she had become more graceful since the enrolment.

To make matters worse, when Alice tried to approach Carla Hightower and maybe have a civilised conversation with her about the enrolment, the plump girl spat at her just like the cat she would soon have the power to become.

"Back off, fang-girl!" she snarled.

Well – at least she remembers what happened, Alice thought darkly as she hurried away. Still, that was uncalled for!

Alice tried to keep away from the girl, but this became more difficult when she continued to follow Chunky, Stan and Toby around. At first Alice thought she simply wanted to join them in teasing her, but when she caught Carla and Toby alone she realised the snobby girl also wanted to talk to someone about the enrolment. She backed off from the pair before they spotted her.

On Wednesday afternoon, as she headed off along her usual route along Pink Lady Lane, she paused by the Academy's gates for yet another look, but they were locked and overgrown just like always. She sighed. Obviously some very high-powered mojo going on here, she thought. She strained to see something – _anything_ – then, she spotted the briefest flash of a tall, old building rising above the trees, a broad stone path leading up to it. She blinked – and it was gone. She rubbed her eyes. Still nothing. But she realised that she had at last started to break through the glamour.

Then she heard a crunch behind her and whirled around to see Toby.

He lifted his hands, actually looking sheepish. "Sorry – didn't mean to scare you. I've become a lot quieter since learning I'm to become a werewolf."

Alice could only stare. Toby had never apologised to her before!

He looked away. "Maybe it's because I'm supposed to become a great hunter or something. I used to trip over my own feet."

With feet that size, I'm not surprised! Alice thought, but kept her insults to herself "Um ... can you see anything through the gates?" she finally managed.

Toby stared through the bars. "Nar. The building's gone. But we'll probably be able to see something once we ... you know. Change." He took a deep breath as though to say something else, but didn't. Alice struggled to think of something that wasn't a reprimand for all the years of appalling treatment she had received from the youth and his stupid mates. If she chased him away now, he might never speak to her again!

"So – what did Carla want?" she finally blurted. She could have slapped herself.

Toby actually pulled a face. "That loud-mouthed cow? She wanted to know what I thought about the enrolment." He suddenly grinned. "I should have told her I thought it was all perfectly normal, but I didn't. I thought weirdos like us should at least try to stick together."

"She still doesn't want to hang around me. She called me fang-girl."

Toby sighed and ran a hand through his unruly sand-coloured curls. "Yeah ... well, I guess not all of us are prepared to change. There are only two and a half weeks left – I'll try to stay out of your way until then."

"You don't think you could keep your thickhead mates on a leash, do you? They spread dog poo all over my bag today. I had to spend my whole lunch break scrubbing it clean!"

Toby actually looked sorry. "Gross! I never thought they'd go that far. They certainly never did anything like that before. It's funny, but they've been acting weird ever since the enrolment – they've started saying some ... really bad things about you."

"What bad things?"

"You don't want to know. I swear I haven't told them anything, but it's like they've figured out you're..." he lowered his voice "...different."

"I _know_ I'm different! Everyone keeps telling me!"

"More different than ... normal," Toby insisted.

"But that's impossible! Unless Carla told them! She's been following them around, you know."

"That's because she wants to talk to me!"

"No, I've seen her sitting with Chunky and Stan too. In fact I saw them today at lunch time. And they were thick as thieves."

Toby scratched the back of his neck. "Now what could she possibly have to talk to them about? They can't stand her. If she told them you really were a vampire, they would call her crazy."

Alice shrugged. "I just wish this year would hurry up and end. The sooner I never have to see your mates again, the better!" She turned from the gates and continued up the road towards the small cluster of houses up in the hills behind the school. There were footsteps behind her, and she realised Toby was following. She turned. "What?"

He looked away, running a hand through his curls again. "Um ... well ... I know it's probably too late, but I'm still sorry. You know – for all the bad stuff I've done to you. You're not such a bad ... person."

Alice didn't know how to respond to that! "Well, thank you," she answered, somewhat sarcastically. "I see you can be civilised after all!"

He started nibbling on a fingernail, struggling for something else to say, but nothing came out. Alice let him stew for a few more seconds, then said; "I really ought to be getting home now."

"Yeah – okay. Bye!"

She turned again, and this time he didn't follow her. Which was just as well, because she had a great big smile of triumph on her face.

Unfortunately Toby wasn't prepared to tell his mates off. He continued to follow them around as they tried their hardest to make Alice's days as interminable as possible. Something had happened to them, and she didn't like it one bit. Their new intolerance towards her was almost frightening. Their new names for her could no longer be repeated in polite company, and usually involved referring to her as a female dog or a part of a woman's anatomy. Once, the playground teacher overheard their language and sent them up to the Principal's Office.

That only made them angrier.

On the last day of the week all the students of Appleton Primary went on an excursion to the movies to see a new animated feature that had just started in town. It was one of Appleton Primary's final treats before break-up. The ghost tour, taking place during the last week, was only for sixth class and was their farewell present from the school.

Even Alice, who had never liked films about cute fuzzy animals, was looking forward to the movie. The main character was a polar bear who could punch through solid ice, which Alice thought was actually quite cool.

Just before the movie started, Alice hurried into the Appleton Cinema toilets to make sure she wouldn't have to go half-way through. She shut herself in a cubicle and sat down. She realised she was by herself in the toilets, but wasn't worried. Although the cinema doors were already open, there would be at least fifteen minutes of ads before the movie actually started. Then someone barged through into the girls' toilets, and Alice heard some voices that were quite definitely male. She opened her mouth to tell the rude boys to leave, when she realised who they were.

Chunky and Stan!

"Hello, Alice Malice," Chunky crooned, as best he could in his rough, deep voice.

"We know you're in here!" Stan echoed in the same sneering tone.

If she screamed, would anyone hear her? She could hear pounding music coming from the cinema next door as some action flick started up. The teachers probably didn't even realise she was in here. They had already taken roll-call.

"We're gonna getcha, fang-" Chunky said the female dog word again, and for the first time in her life, Alice was afraid of him. Not just annoyed or concerned, but genuinely frightened. He sounded like he could really hurt her. Did he know she was really a potential vampire? Or was he simply referring to her other nickname?

Either way, Alice didn't want to stick around to find out! The trouble was, she was shut in a cubicle with nowhere to go, and the boys were pushing open doors!

Alice prayed someone would come and stop the two youths, but no one did. She was alone in here with them!

"Come on Alice Malice," Chunky crooned. "We won't hurt you."

"Much," Stan added, and giggled insanely. Alice's heart lurched in her chest. She had never heard him laugh like that. It wasn't normal. More like the cackle of some evil monster.

I have to get out of here, Alice thought desperately, but how? Directly above her cubicle was a small air-vent, but she couldn't disappear into it unless she turned herself into a mouse or mist. Sudden hope leapt into her. Could she become mist like Madam Nocturna had on enrolment night?

Suddenly, Chunky thumped on her door, and it refused to budge. "Aha!" he crowed.

Alice clenched her hands into fists. Come on come on _come on!_ she willed herself, imagining becoming a thin streamer of gas, rising up towards that tiny escape route.

The two boys started kicking the stall door. Built of chipboard, it would soon give away beneath the youths' powerful blows. Both were very good at football, if nothing else.

Then Alice felt something burst inside her, and suddenly she became very light and airy, like a strong breeze could blow her away. But she was rising towards the vent. She could see it growing larger and larger. Then she passed through the metal grille as below, the toilet door flew in with a mighty crash, shaking the entire stall. Alice wafted into a small, dusty tunnel and willed herself to turn around so she could see out. She could feel her body, but it seemed like a mere echo, a memory of what she used to be. Her real form was soft and light, able to change shape at will. Despite the sight of the furious boys below, snarling like wild animals as they pounded the walls and kicked the toilet, she wanted to soar away into the air. Somehow she managed to stay put.

Then Mrs. Parsons, the girls' PE teacher, charged into the toilets to see what all the racket was about. "What are you louts doing in here? Can't you read? This is the ladies'! Out, _out!_ No movie for you, and the Appleton Ghost Tour's looking unlikely as well!"

"Aw Miss – Stan dared me to come in here!" Chunky protested.

"Did not, you liar!" The boys started a tussle.

Mrs. Parsons, who had hands like dinner plates, grabbed them both by their collars and marched them out, leaving Alice alone in the vent.

I'd better get out of here, she thought and willed herself to waft back out into the cubicle. I hope I can change back! She concentrated on becoming solid – and felt her entire body weight hit her like a runaway bus. She gasped at the unexpected sensation and nearly fell to her knees. She had to grab onto the broken door to steady herself. "That was bizarre!" she exclaimed out loud.

On wobbly legs she staggered out of the ladies' toilets, back into the main body of the cinema where Chunky and Stan were being disciplined by Mr. Saroufim, the boys' PE teacher. Chunky spotted her and gaped in amazement. He could have sworn he checked every stall!

"The movie's already starting, Dibble – take your seat," Mrs. Parsons growled at her as she hurried past. She didn't feel like watching a film now, but darted into the theatre. She wanted time to wrap her brain around what she had just done. She found a seat near the back and waited for the lights to dim. Then she realised the credits were already starting. Isn't someone going to turn the lights off? she wondered, looking around. But no one seemed worried, and she realised that there weren't any lights on. At least none she could see. So where was the strange grey glow coming from? Everyone looked so clear – she could see the backs of the heads down the front in detail. She could even count the flowers on a girl's hairclip!

Then a brilliant image appeared on the screen, so bright it was almost blinding. Alice gaped, covering her eyes. She felt like that white, white snow on the screen was searing her brain.

"What's wrong?" asked a girl nearby.

"Too bright," she moaned, blinking repeatedly. The pain cleared somewhat, but didn't fade until several minutes later. She tried to settle into the movie, but found the vast expanses of ice and snow very hard to deal with. When the main characters appeared they were far too colourful, almost sickeningly so.

"This animation's excellent," gasped the girl who had spoken earlier.

"It's over the top," Alice retorted. "They could have toned down some of those colours." She wasn't sure the girl heard her – the sound-system was cranked way up, almost deafening.

Alice was thoroughly glad when the movie was finally over. She staggered from the cinema feeling like a wrung-out rag. She squinted in the lights outside, and wondered why they had been turned up during the film. They certainly hadn't been so bright before!

Chunky sneered at her as he stalked past with Stan, and a pale-faced Toby followed behind. But Alice barely heard him, too concerned about the lights. As she followed the main group towards the front doors, the illumination became even more intense. A terrible glow was streaming in from outside, hot and white. Alice stopped in open-mouthed horror. Had someone dropped a nuclear bomb out there?

But her schoolmates continued walking towards the doors. They didn't seem to notice the awful light. Alice could feel it burning her skin, and when she looked down she saw blisters forming on the backs of her hands. They were already as red as beetroots!

She darted back into the now empty cinema, where the darkness felt as cool and refreshing as a drink straight from the fridge. Her head spun.

"What the heck is going on here?" she gasped out loud. "How am I going to get home?" Would she have to wait until night?

Then a thought struck her, but before she could dwell on it, a shadowy shape began to form beside her. Alice jumped aside as a young man appeared beside her. He had tousled blonde hair and was wearing baggy jeans and sneakers. There was something familiar about him. "Hello ... Alice Dibble, isn't it?" he asked politely.

"Er ... yes?" Alice answered guardedly.

"Madam Nocturna sent me. You seem to have uh ... changed a little early, so I'm here to help you. My name is Kevin Wardell." He pulled a face. "Bit of a wussy name for a vampire, but I can't change it until I turn eighteen. Greetings! I am Kevin the vampire!" He giggled, and Alice had to smile. So she had changed early! "I was there on enrolment day, helping people to their seats, but I looked a bit different then, all dressed up in my monkey suit. I'm actually a year 9 student at the Academy."

"Pleased to meet you," Alice managed, feeling overwhelmed.

He smiled again. He didn't appear to have any fangs. "Enough about me. I need to know if you have suffered some sort of big scare today."

"Well ... I was attacked in the girls' toilets by two bullies – I willed myself to turn into a gas to escape them and it happened."

"Ah, that would explain it. Sometimes, between the time when students are accepted into the Academy and the start of term, they can realise their true natures prematurely, leading to all sorts of problems. That's why Madam Nocturna likes the house captains to keep tabs on all potential students." Kevin unshouldered a backpack and started rummaging about in it. "Here," he pulled out an old-fashioned looking bottle and a book. The volume also looked ancient, with thick metal hinges and clasp holding it closed, but there was a handprint on the front and something that could only have been a tiny computer screen above it.

Dubiously, Alice took the two things.

"The bottle contains six weeks of Luminos protection. It's normally given to vampire students when they go home for the holidays, so they can go out during the daytime. One mouthful equals one day. Don't worry – the bottle is designed to let out only an exact quantity of liquid. Take some now."

Tucking the weird book under one arm, Alice unstopped the bottle and tipped it up. A thick, bitter fluid rolled into her mouth and she almost gagged.

"I know it tastes disgusting – I've seen what goes into it. Swallow it all, or it won't work," Kevin warned.

Alice gulped it down, and felt a strange sensation wash over her, like someone had just draped a thick cloak around her. "What on earth was that?"

"Like I said, protection. Now you won't catch fire when you go outside. Oh," Kevin went into his bag again. "You might need these." He handed over a set of sunglasses. "They're mine, but I have another way of getting back to the Academy. At the moment you need them more than I do."

"Th-thank you! Um ... what about the blood-drinking?"

He stared. "Blood-drinking? Vampires only do that in the movies! Or if they've been corrupted badly enough. Real vampires only need energy and can still eat normal food. Heat and light are best – it doesn't take much of either to replenish a vampire."

"But if we actually like light, how come we can't go out in the daytime?" Alice exclaimed.

"It's too strong. It swamps all but the strongest and oldest. For us it's like pushing a dehydrated man under a waterfall. He really enjoys the first few gulps, then he drowns. Now I really must be getting back, and you need to rejoin your class. When they realise you're missing, they'll send someone back in here looking for you!"

"But – but I have so many questions!"

"That's what the book is for. See you in the new year!" With that, Kevin the vampire vanished, disappearing back into mist.

And just in time. Suddenly the cinema door flew open, and two annoyed-looking girls from Alice's year marched into the cinema. "There you are, Dibble! Come on – the teachers are waiting!"

Alice stumbled after them, and when she reached the bright foyer, she put Kevin's sunglasses on. She could feel that dreadful light surrounding her, pushing at the strange shield protecting her. But at least it didn't hurt any more. A few people made rude noises at her as she joined the main group, and someone insulted her new spectacles. At least I still appear normal to them, she thought darkly.

"Thank you for finally gracing us with your presence, Dibble," growled Mrs. Parsons. "You just can't seem to be on time for anything today, can you?"

* * * *

Chapter 6

So now she was a real vampire! Alice couldn't believe her senses. On the bus back to school her eyes, ears and nose felt like they were being bombarded from all angles. Not only was the sunlight very bright, but all colours seemed over the top as well, sickeningly intense like the movie's animation. Carla's hot-pink jacket, certainly not part of her school uniform, almost seemed to glow. It made Alice nauseous whenever she glanced at it. The other kids' shouting and shrieking grated on her nerves, and every strange odour wafted up her nostrils and made itself at home.

Then there were the sensations she couldn't describe – the whispering voices at the very edge of her hearing. They seemed to bring weird images with them, which just popped into Alice's mind.

She wanted to crawl into a deep, dark hole for a few hours, but for some reason the ten minute bus trip seemed to take forever. Alice heard Mrs. Parsons mention to Mr. Saroufim that she looked a bit pale and sick, and then-

"But she always looks pale. _A pity we can't tell the kids to go out into the sun anymore!"_

Alice's head jerked up. That had been Mrs. Parson's voice, but spoken so softly she had only just picked it up. She stared at Mr. Saroufim, wondering what he had to say about the matter. But he simply nodded absently. No doubt he agreed.

Somehow she made it home without further mishap. She wanted to retreat into her room with the vampire book, but Mrs. Dibble insisted on hearing all about the polar bear movie first, and then told her to have everything ready for her visit to Dad's.

"Am ... am I going to Dad's tonight?" Alice gasped.

"What, don't you remember? He won't be able to see you for Christmas because he and Janice are going away on the 23rd, and this is the only weekend he isn't working!" Marlene clapped her plump hands. "Now hurry up and pack your bag – I'm taking you as soon as you're ready!"

Alice felt quite frazzled by the time she shut her door. She immediately yanked her heavy curtains closed. Normally this made her room as dark as a cave, but now she found she could see quite well, although everything was a murky grey.

She really didn't want to see her father tonight, not after her bizarre day, but what could she do? She couldn't think of any way to get out of the visit, other than coming down with some life-threatening disease. She doubted either parent would accept any other excuse. Besides, how could she let her father down? He probably had some big night planned, with lots of presents.

The thought of presents cheered her, and she stuffed some things into a bag, making sure to include the little bottle and vampire book. Perhaps she would get some time to look at them later.

When she wandered back downstairs, she noticed her mother was wearing one of her best dresses, and had pinned her hair up. She had even put on lipstick and powder. "Mum – what are you doing, all dolled up like that?"

"Well, since you're going to your Dad's tonight I thought I would go out," she answered, a little self-consciously.

"Go out? Where?"

"Oh, just to the Appleton Leagues club. It's karaoke night. _And I'm meeting Harry there!"_

Alice actually shuddered at the thought of her mother doing karaoke. She had heard Marlene in the shower. She made neighbourhood cats run for cover. "Okay Mum – I hope you have a nice time with Harry!"

Marlene smiled, then ushered Alice out to the car. Alice slipped her sunglasses back on. "Harry? I never said anything about a Harry! Where did you get those shades from? They look rather cool!"

"Er – my friend Kevin gave them to me," Alice answered, flustered. Of course her mother had just mentioned a guy named Harry! Why had she tried to deny it?

"Is that the boy who was staring at you at the enrolment?"

"Ah no. A different guy."

Marlene smiled. "It's good to see you're finally making some friends! _It certainly took you long enough. I was beginning to worry,"_ she continued as she ushered Alice out the front door, and towards the battered old Sigma parked in the driveway. _"I can't remember the last time you had someone over for a slumber party!"_

"That's because sitting up all night talking about boys and makeup is stupid," Alice growled under her breath as she flopped into the passenger seat. "I don't want to grow up into something like Janice," she added pointedly.

Mrs. Dibble slid into her seat. "Janice? So you have met her! What's she like?"

"She does her hair for breakfast and has high-heeled slippers. Need I say more?"

Mrs. Dibble actually stared in surprise. "Really? I didn't know they made high-heeled slippers!"

"With pom-poms on them."

"Goodness! How tacky! _Although I can see your father dating someone like that."_

"She's completely gross, Mum – not down-to-Earth like you."

Marlene sighed as she started the engine. It coughed and spluttered a few times before kicking over. Alice wondered whether it would go before the rust could finally claim the ancient thing. "Your father doesn't want down-to-Earth. He wants a silly, giggly thing. _Who will dress up like a complete tramp and look good hanging off his arm. It's called a midlife crisis. Well, you can tell him I'm not waiting around for it to wear off. I'm going out to have some fun of my own."_

She pulled out of the driveway with a screech.

Alice wasn't sure how to respond to that. Mum used to hide their relationship difficulties, but now she was coming out with more and more explanations about what was going on. Alice, being a very intelligent young woman, understood most of the situation, although a few details were still beyond her. "Janice is giggly, Mum – she never stops. I thought you laughed a lot, but she's much worse."

They drove from their quiet little street down towards the heart of town.

"She even laughs at his jokes," Alice continued.

This made Marlene smile. "Goodness! She sounds totally brainless."

"Yeah, you should have heard her when she started talking about an old boyfriend in front of Dad. He got so jealous! It was really funny!"

" _I hope she knocks his head in with a frying pan._ What does she do for a living?"

Gosh, that was a bit vicious for you, Mum! Alice thought. "She's a tour guide for the Appleton Tourist Board. I talked to her last time I went over. She said she saw some weird lights in the old cider factory. Have you ever been there?"

"Yes, just before you were born. It's nothing special. Just a lot of big old stone buildings full of barrels and abandoned machinery."

They pulled into Fuji Street, behind the main boulevard. Here stood all the new hi-rise flats with their gleaming coats of paint, carefully pruned gardens – and the one dirty mattress that always seemed to lie outside unit blocks. "Okay Sweetie, you have a nice time at your Dad's." Marlene kissed Alice on the cheek.

"And you have a nice night down the club. Don't be home too late!" she added cheekily.

Mrs. Dibble laughed as Alice grabbed her backpack and climbed out of the car.

She headed up to her father's flat on the fourth floor. Even though the apartments were only five years old, the stair-carpets were already threadbare in places, someone had sprayed graffiti all over the foyer, and there were huge holes bashed into the walls. Alice picked up all sorts of weird cooking smells wafting down the stairwell. She wasn't sure what any of them were, but her mouth started to water in anticipation. Perhaps her newly enhanced senses had something to do with this. In the past she rarely tried new foods, and stuck to the traditional Australian menu in Chinese restaurants.

A truly delicious odour billowed out of her father's place as he opened the door for her, and enfolded her in a huge hug. She hugged him back and smelled smoke. Had he started up again? The thought appalled her. After all the effort she had gone to, trying to make him quit!

"What are you cooking, Dad? It smells awesome!"

"Really? You think so? You used to hate my more adventurous meals. So what's with the sunglasses?"

Alice had completely forgotten she was wearing them! She whipped them off with a grin. "They're new. I was just trying to them out. So what's for dinner?"

"Curry."

"Thank God my room's next to the loo! So, can we go ice skating tonight?"

He groaned. "Not again! I'm still sore from last time!"

She gave him her usual beseeching look. He groaned. "Okay, but I won't be getting onto the ice this time! _I must have smoked an entire pack already!"_

"So you have started smoking again!"

"Ah – no, of course not!"

"You just said! And I can smell the smoke on you!"

He sagged. "Okay, okay. But it's just temporary. I've been a bit stressed lately. _And Janice certainly hasn't been helping."_

"Oh Dad! You were doing so well, too – no more smoke, long walks ... you really should come home. I'll get you healthy again!"

He smiled down at her, but shook his head, "No Alice. But I will come out on the ice with you if you want."

"It's okay Dad – you don't have to skate. You can sit and watch me."

_And all the other girls in short skirts,_ he thought.

"Dad!" Alice gasped in horror.

"What?" Mr. Dibble looked completely innocent. "I didn't say anything!"

Alice opened her mouth to retort, but he looked genuinely surprised, like he hadn't made that rude comment at all. She turned, her cheeks burning. Perhaps he hadn't. Perhaps he had simply _thought_ it!

Wait a minute – _vampires could read minds!_ Perhaps the reason why her parents were being unusually open was because she was picking up their thoughts! Come to think of it, all the questionable comments, such as Mum's reference to the mysterious Harry and Dad's desire to watch the girl ice-skaters, had come out in a softer, whispery tone.

Alice realised she had heard it before on the school bus. The teachers had been thinking, not talking!

This could prove very embarrassing, she thought. I wonder if there's some way of controlling it?

"Come on Alice – we'd better go. Doesn't the rink close at seven for the hockey teams?"

"Nice try, Dad. They don't play on Fridays."

Oh joy, Mr. Dibble thought, but kept his opinion to himself. After tonight he wouldn't see his daughter again for several weeks, while he and Janice went away across the country. However he had started to think that maybe their trip was a bad idea.

Janice had been acting really weird lately.

George took Alice down to the rink again. The twelve year-old squinted at the bright lights gleaming off the ice and put her shades back on. She still couldn't believe she had undergone such a fantastic change! But it seemed every way she turned she found her senses bombarded by new sights, colours, sounds and smells. And when she looked intently at her father, she realised she could hear the low-level whisper of his thoughts, simmering just beneath the surface. He was intent on a girl who had just slipped over, revealing her bright pink bike shorts.

Alice concentrated on lacing up her skates and getting out onto the ice as fast as she could. Got to work out some way to block that, she thought as she whizzed across the rink at incredible speed. Suddenly, she saw the far wall rushing up to her, and screeched to a stop in shock, water sluicing up from her skates in a great fountain. How on Earth did that happen? she wondered. One second I'm at the gate, the next I'm over here! She spun around, but no one had seen her amazing slide. Her father was staring in some other direction, no doubt at the woman who couldn't seem to stay upright. And no wonder! She was top heavy!

Alice pushed gently away from the wall, moving easily across the frozen surface. Too easily. She didn't have to exert much effort to speed up, and suddenly she was almost flying, passing other skaters like they were standing still. She overtook the woman who had her father's interest, and she fell flat on her backside again.

"Alice, what are you doing?" gasped Mr. Dibble. "How did you get so fast?"

"Um – I just polished my skates!" Although I doubt that would account for it! She thought to herself. Got to stay in control. This agility must also come from my vampire powers!

She slowed again, moving as gently as she could. Even so she was still skating faster than she ever had before. And with far more grace than she had ever thought possible. Gravity no longer seemed to have so much of a hold on her.

"I can't believe how much you've improved!" gasped Mr. Dibble.

"Neither can I!"

"How many times has your mother taken you since I last saw you?"

"Er – a few!" Slow down, she told herself again. You'll start to attract unwanted attention.

Alice returned to skating slowly, normally. But now her heart was racing she wanted to leap and dance! She wanted to fly across the ice. How she wished she had the place to herself! As she moved, she became aware of several newcomers sliding out behind her, moving up to skate along on either side. They kept pace with her, even when she sped up. She flashed a sideways glance and spotted a boy and girl, several years older than her, shadowing her every move.

You want to fly?

She was sure the girl had just spoken, but her lips hadn't moved. She was very tall and thin, with long golden-brown hair that sparkled under the lights.

_You want to fly?_ she asked again.

"Um, yes," Alice said out loud.

No need to talk. Just think. You are a newborn, aren't you? Shield yourself by imagining a mist shrouding your body, protecting you from prying eyes, turning their attention away.

Alice stared at the girl, still able to move despite the strange telepathic conversation. "Umm..." _What about my father?_ She formed the words inside her head, hoping the newcomer would be able to see them. _Won't he worry?_

Like I said, the mist will turn not only his vision, but his thoughts as well. He won't think about you at all.

Alice realised the girl was trying to instruct her how to use the vampire glamour. Could she do it? She thought about mist surrounding her, like she had been instructed, and felt a strange shift in the air around her. She blinked. She could still see perfectly, but everything had taken on a slightly bluish tinge. She slowed to a stop and watched someone skate up behind her. A plump boy, somewhat unsteady on his feet, slid towards her. She was about to jump out of his way when suddenly he swerved. But he hadn't even looked at her. He had just ... moved.

"What the..." she wondered out loud. "Can he still see me?"

Alice's new companions skated back to join her. "No – you're still shrouded," the golden-haired girl answered with a smile. Her teeth were very straight and white. Perfect. Alice realised her male companion looked a lot like her. He was also very tall and skinny, with short brown hair worn up in spikes. Perhaps they were brother and sister. "But you create an aura around yourself that pushes humans away from you on a subconscious level."

"Am I repulsing them?" she gasped.

"Sort of. But not because your presence disgusts them. It's difficult to explain. You really are new, aren't you?"

"I changed today! On my own!"

The boy and girl stared in surprise. "Goodness! Have you received any instruction from the Academy?"

"Yes, a boy named Kevin gave me a magic potion, some sunglasses and a book I haven't gotten around to looking at yet!"

The girl took her arm. "You need to read the book as quickly as you can. It's very important, because you're at a vulnerable stage right now. There are always dark forces looking for new blood."

"Dark forces?"

"Look, do you have a mobile?"

"No – so far I haven't seen the need for one!"

The girl found a piece of paper in her pocket and scrawled down a number. "My name is Desdemona, but everyone calls me Dessie for short. This is my twin brother Phil."

"Desdemona and ... 'Phil'?" Unable to help herself, Alice snorted.

Phil reddened. "Give me a break. I haven't thought up a cool vampire name for myself yet!"

"I'm Alice," she ventured. "I could call myself Malicia, I suppose."

"Excellent!" Dessie handed over the paper. "You look after yourself, Malicia. I'm afraid we have to be going – we've got some work to do for the Academy tonight."

"Thank you," Alice gasped, still a little overwhelmed by the meeting. She watched the two siblings skate off. Now she was protected by her own glamour, she noticed that they didn't look bluish like everyone else. So that's how we tell vampires and humans apart, she thought.

She thought about asking her father if they could leave so she could settle down in bed with her new book, but the urge to fly across the ice was far too great. Now she no longer needed to worry about what people thought, she could move as fast as she wanted. She began to cruise, gliding easily around slower skaters and slowly catching up to the faster ones. Soon she was overtaking the professionals and not even breaking a sweat. The wind rushed in her ears as she sped around the track.

Could she try some fancy moves? She had never skated backwards before. Could she do it now? She slowed and turned around. No shakes, no stumbles, no falls flat on her backside. She felt almost weightless! This was sensational! She felt like a supergirl. She dodged around the other skaters, rejoicing in the fact they couldn't see her. She screeched around corners, her skates carving out great plumes of water. She leapt into the air, her momentum taking her almost ten metres. She even tried spinning in midair, although it took some practice to get up to speed. Then, when she landed the last time she heard a crack, and suddenly she was sliding across the ice on her back, cold eating quickly into her body. It was almost crippling.

I'm really glad no-one saw that, she thought, wondering what had snapped. Fortunately she couldn't feel any pain, save the biting cold. When she checked her left skate, she found her acrobatics had torn the blade right off the shoe. "Mum is going to kill me," she muttered. "They're new!" She crawled to the side to pull her boots off, disappointed that her skates hadn't been able to handle her new powers. The cold was making her slow and shaky, and she began to feel ill, like she hadn't eaten for a while. Something was telling her to get off the ice.

She scrambled out of the gate and flopped down onto a bench. She no longer felt graceful – just weak and sick. Why did the ice affect her so badly? It never used to bother her so much.

It must have something to do with my new form, she thought as she pulled off her skates. She noticed her father avidly watching some other skaters, but thankfully his thoughts were hidden. Maybe the glamour blocks them as well, she thought. She concentrated on lowering the shield, and suddenly everything looked normal. A skater who had been about to sit down on top of her leapt back in surprise. "Where did you come from?" he growled.

"Ask my mother," Alice snapped back as she collected her skates and stomped up the tiers to join her Dad. He was just as surprised to see her.

As Alice was stuffing her skates into her bag, raised voices attracted her attention. At first she thought some boys were having a fight, but then she realised they were simply being loud and rude. With a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she realised she knew those tones.

She watched in horror as Chunky, Stan and Toby swaggered into the skating rink, carrying smelly old hire-skates over their shoulders. Of all the nights you lot had to come here, why tonight? she thought in anguish.

Then she remembered her glamour, and quickly shrouded herself in its mystery. At least now I have some way of shielding myself from them, she thought.

But as the boys looked left and right, searching for somewhere to dump their gear, their gazes fell on her, and she realised they could see her! Chunky and Stan's ugly faces split into big, cruel grins. Toby just looked at her curiously.

Oh no – _why_ doesn't it work against those clowns? Alice thought miserably. Has it malfunctioned? She grabbed her Dad's arm. "Come on – let's get out of here!"

"Hey, where you goin' Malice?" called Chunky. "Don'tcha wanna talk to your old school chums?"

"School chumps more like it," she muttered as she hurried after her Dad.

To her horror, he stopped and turned, looking for her. She realised he couldn't see her! The glamour was still working on him! Fat lot of good it's doing now, she thought and dispelled it. George blinked repeatedly. "Where did you go?"

"Nowhere – but we'd better leave right now! Those boys mean trouble!"

"Hey, Malice! Maaa-leece!"

"They sound like they just want to chat."

"Hardly. They hate my guts. They're always picking on me!"

"Come on – that just means they like you!"

Alice groaned as she followed her father out, the bullies still crooning her name. "That's not true!" she snarled at her father.

He looked genuinely surprised by her outburst. "Okay, okay – no need to fly off the handle, Alice."

I'm really starting to think they mean me serious trouble, she thought to herself. And the fact they can see through my glamour is very disturbing! Perhaps it's just not very good, she thought gloomily, her wonderful evening ruined.

* * * *

Chapter 7

Alice felt a little better after a big greasy meal of fried chicken from a famous takeaway shop. She couldn't remember the food ever being so delicious or filling. She scoffed four pieces of chicken and an entire bucket of chips, and then went up and bought dessert. Everything was so good! The ice-cream was soft and fluffy, with just the right amount of chocolate topping, her Coke was cool and bubbly and extremely refreshing. Her father asked if she wanted to hire out a movie, but the urge to look at her new book was much too great. "It's okay Dad," she told him. "I'm a bit tired after skating tonight. Is it okay if we open the presents tomorrow?"

He looked disappointed, and now she was no longer protected by her glamour she could once again sense his thoughts. She realised he was lonely. Janice wasn't due home until sometime after midnight, and he wanted to talk to someone. Marlene had always been good for a conversation...

Hurriedly Alice turned away. She didn't want to experience any more of Mr. Dibble's current train of thought. She considered staying up, but couldn't resist the urge to start reading. As soon as she showered and changed, she retired to her bed in the spare room.

At last! Alice thought as she flopped onto the narrow bed and pulled out the volume. She fiddled with it for a few seconds, trying to open the clasp. It refused to cooperate. It was locked tight, and she didn't have a key.

"Weird thing," she grumbled. Then she examined the handprint and little screen on the cover. It couldn't be that easy, could it? She pressed her palm against the print. A little message flashed up on the screen in strange gothic writing;

"DNA accepted"

Then the clasp sprang free, and Alice could open the book. It contained the same old-fashioned writing and brightly-coloured illustrations. They didn't look like paintings, but Alice doubted they were photographs. She settled back to read.

A historical account of the Vampire Clan by Adolpheus FitzHubert

Being a true and thorough re-telling of secret events unknown to the Daydwellers and never to be revealed to them on pain of eternal banishment to the Immaterium.

Alice looked up for a moment, her heart racing. She still couldn't believe she was now one of the Undead. Hang on – are they even undead in ... reality? she wondered. They don't drink blood – perhaps they aren't dead either. The thought cheered her. She had always liked vampires, but the thought of being a walking corpse never appealed.

She settled back down on the bed.

Vampires are known in the old tongue as Homo Sapiens Nocturnis. They are the night humans, the shadows of daydwelling folk, and the first line of defence against predators from the Immaterium. Although others, such as weres, elementals and spirits will deny it most vehemently, Vampires are by far the most powerful of all the nightdwelling races. Not only do they possess shapeshifting abilities, but some spiritual powers as well. They can become mist and even merge with the earth. They also possess great mental powers, and with practice an experienced vampire can read minds, confound the senses and create glamours large enough to cover an entire town. They are very strong, fast and the undisputed lords of the night.

And now you, dear reader, are one. For only you with your Nocturnis DNA could have opened this book. Heed the cover warning well, for within these pages are secrets the Daydwellers are not meant to know. Even though they have only negative opinions of us, they must be allowed to live with their illusions, believing they know all there is to know about us. The demons of the Immaterium can read minds as well, and through Daydwellers they can discover our strengths and weaknesses. That is why the penalty for revelation is so harsh. Embark now on the start of your journey.

Alice clasped the book to her chest in excitement, savouring the moment.

Vampire Myths

Vampires Drink Blood

Untrue - this is a myth started by the demon-lord Vladrakov in the middle ages, and it has terrified Daydwellers ever since. Vampires survive on energy, only requiring a little to survive. The sunlight of day can swamp a vampire, reducing a youngling to a crisp within seconds. Only the oldest and most powerful of vampires can venture out in the daylight. There are, however, potions and gadgets that can protect. Vampires can also eat normal food without ill effect, although they no longer need as much to sustain them. However, if a vampire doesn't eat at all, he or she will waste away to a walking skeleton – a very unpleasant image for daydwellers to witness, so please mind your eating habits.

Vampires are dead

This is also a myth, spread by Vladrakov's imps in the Middle Ages to frighten local peasants into thinking their dead relatives had risen from the grave. Vampires are as alive as Daydwellers, although they age more slowly and can suspend their breathing and other bodily functions in emergencies. Thus they can actually appear dead without being so. A vampire will age at one-tenth the rate of a human being. Vampires are also immune to most human diseases, but can still pass on viruses and bacteria. Please be mindful of your personal hygiene. Corrupted vampires have been known to spread plagues and diseases just to cause trouble.

Vampires are repulsed by crosses and other religious icons.

This untrue rumour was started by a medieval pope, possibly on advice from the Immaterium. However, vampires who have been corrupted by Immaterial forces may be repelled not by the religious relic, but by the psychic force of the person holding it.

Alice had to stop for a breather. This was heavy going. So much to absorb in such a short time! And she still didn't know what this Immaterium was, although it didn't sound like a nice place at all.

Vampires cannot cross running water

Yet another lie, although its origins are unknown. Vampires can cross rivers and streams without difficulty.

Vampires need to sleep in coffins

They don't, although coffins do offer some protection against the sunshine.

Vampires have fangs.

No they don't. What do they need fangs for? Although corrupted vampires have been known to sharpen their teeth to make themselves appear more frightening to Daydwellers.

Alice chuckled at this one.

Vampires don't have any reflections or shadows

Untrue. Vampires can see themselves in mirrors and cast shadows when in solid form. However when they become mist they are almost invisible. Perhaps this is where the rumour sprang from originally.

Vampire Facts

Vampires do need to stick to the night. They can adopt the shape of various animals. They can also become mist, merge with the Earth and master powerful mental disciplines. However, all abilities require training. None are innate, although some vampires will find various lessons easier than others. Vampires are very strong and fast, and must learn to control these aspects if they want to appear as daydwellers. Vampires can also see in the dark, and their other senses are more enhanced as well. Some vampires can even learn to fly, riding the winds like a wisp of smoke. This ability takes years of practice to master properly, so don't try it alone.

_Vampire reproduction_ (began the next section, and Alice leaned forward eagerly)

Vampires do not need to bite their victims to create new bloodlines, nor do they need to swap blood with a victim. In fact, none of the old legends regarding vampire creation are true. Like the genes of all other Nightdweller races, vampire genes also form part of the general Homo sapiens populace, usually lying dormant until some powerful external influence awakens them. Most people will never realise they contain Nightdweller genes. But you, dear reader, are one of the lucky ones. Something has brought your vampire bloodline forward, making it dominant. Perhaps a great shock? Perhaps you were initiated gently at one of the Nightdweller academies. Or perhaps you were born from two full blooded vampire parents, and are only reading this book for revision. It no longer matters. Now you are one of us, there is only one direction for you to travel.

Alice continued reading well into the night, absorbing more detailed chapters about vampire abilities, powers she might one day possess if she applied herself to her studies. She also read a brief overview of vampire history, closely intermingled with normal human history. She was very surprised to learn that some famous characters had actually been (and maybe still were) vampires! Other nightdweller races were named as well, but the book mainly dealt with Alice's new kind.

It seemed that all through normal human history, nightdweller races and the mysterious demons of the Immaterium were quietly pulling strings. Where human beings had appeared in control, Alice was shocked to discover other beings behind the scenes, controlling people like puppets. She began to feel slightly sickened at how the races treated daydwellers caught in the middle of their never-ending feuds.

But then she read a brief description of the mysterious Immaterium, and learned that the nightdwellers were actually spending most of their time trying to protect humankind from these awful creatures. The push-me pull-you war formed into a constant struggle to stop the world from sliding into total chaos.

The Immaterium was a dark, featureless realm, a shadow of the Earth, without heat, light or solid matter. Only brief glimpses of the real world could be seen from it, and these were always grey and unreal, forever out of reach. The Demons of the Immaterium, as they were called, were the insubstantial natives. They hated their gloomy dimension and desperately wanted to escape. They would do anything for freedom, but they couldn't exist outside the Immaterium. At least not without a body.

That was where human beings, and to a lesser extent nightdwellers, came in. The demons may not have had physical forms, but they were very powerful minds and could control people. They whispered during the dark of the night, when the barrier between the Earth and the Immaterium was thinnest, luring weak-willed individuals into their wicked schemes. They were very good at finding a person's weak spot and coercing them into doing their bidding.

You might wonder, Dear Reader, what possible desires can such incorporeal beings have? They are not troubled by flesh, but they want it. They want to feel what all humans and nightdwellers feel. They want bodies of their own. Bending people to their will only amuses them so much. Their ultimate goal is to plunge the Earth into eternal night. Then the barrier between reality and the Immaterium will fall, and they will be able to enter this realm at will. They will be able to take over whoever they feel like.

The young imps may seem chaotic, only taunting people to amuse themselves, but the older demons are very methodical. After all, they are completely immortal and have all the time in the universe.

Unfortunately, demonic influence is difficult to spot and only comes after years of experience. You might think someone is under Immaterial influence when they are simply angry or mad. Other times the most rational, reasonable being might be secretly plotting to start a war that will release untold pollutants into the sky, darkening it for months.

The majority of humans mean well, but are poorly equipped to deal with the Immaterium. Most have no idea that the Underworld even exists, and do not possess any ability to defend themselves from its inhabitants. Some might be able to sense the Immaterium, but think they are communicating with the spirit world. When they conduct their séances and channelling sessions, they do not understand the forces they are dealing with, and often open themselves to evil influences.

Only true spiritualists, or those Elementals affiliated with the Spirit World, the Astral and Celestial Elementals, can communicate with the dearly departed.

Alice shivered, suddenly realising that everything had gone quiet. Her father had probably gone to bed, leaving the flat eerily silent. She didn't feel like she had been reading for that long, but she had absorbed nearly half the book. Unfortunately it had raised more questions than it had answered. She wanted to know more about the Immaterium and its inhabitants. The thought that there was a whole realm of evil creatures out there, only separated from reality by a thin membrane, sent icy shivers racing along her spine. And this was the time when they were most powerful and influential, while the Earth lay in darkness and people slept with their eyes shut but their minds open.

Alice wondered if she dozed off at that point, for the next she was startled out of bed by raised voices in the hall outside. Her newly enhanced senses enabled her to hear every word.

"It's almost three in the morning!" snapped Mr. Dibble. "Your shift finishes at midnight! What on Earth were you doing all this time?"

"A group of us went out for drinks," Janice snapped back, and Alice jumped at the venom in her voice.

"I was waiting up for you, and really beginning to worry. After those women were attacked last week in the town centre-"

"I'm a big girl, I can look after myself! Besides, I was with Angela and Wally. Now leave me alone! I'm tired and I really want to go to bed!" The floor shook as she stomped down the passage.

"Janice, you could have at least called me. I tried your phone, but it was switched off!" George followed her, and Alice could still hear their voices as they charged into the master bedroom.

"My battery died, now stop being so possessive!"

Alice couldn't stop a wicked smile from crossing her lips. Mum had always called up when she was going to be late or delayed.

"I'm not possessive! Like I said, I was worried about you!"

"That's just an excuse to throw a leash around my neck! If I want to stay out until three in the morning, then that's my business! If you don't like it, go back to that frumpy fat cow you used to live with!"

Alice gaped in horror.

"Marlene isn't fat! She's just ... big boned!"

But she is frumpy, Alice thought to herself. Although she certainly wasn't earlier on tonight! She wondered if her mother had enjoyed herself at the club. Suddenly she remembered what her father had said about women being attacked. She would have to ask him about that tomorrow.

"I don't care!" Janice shouted. A door slammed somewhere, and Alice heard Mr. Dibble heave a huge sigh of frustration. She wanted to go out to him, but didn't think it would be appropriate. Some adult fights were best left alone. But it seemed they were in trouble. And the fact that her father had defended her mother was a good sign. Perhaps they could get back together ... one day.

* * * *

Chapter 8

Alice drifted off again, sliding deep into dreams. She dreamt she was lying on a lovely warm beach, sunning herself as waves crashed in the distance. It was an odd feeling, because she had never enjoyed sunbathing in the past. She felt so warm and wonderful, so contented that she could lie here forever. But gradually the sun began to heat up, and she could feel her skin burning, especially her face. She got up and dragged her towel into the shade of a big orange umbrella, but the heat continued to increase, and when she looked up at the sky she saw a great white sun filling up a quarter of it.

Suddenly, Alice jerked awake with a gasp. A thin shaft of light was searing across her bed like a laser beam. She was looking right at a mid-morning sun, blazing in through a chink in the curtains. For a second she lay frozen in terror, wondering what on Earth was going on. Then she flung herself off the bed into a cool shadow. Stupid girl, she told herself. You should have closed the curtains properly before going to bed! She scrambled about on the floor, eyes screwed shut against the brilliant light, and found her trusty backpack. Rummaging about inside she found the vial Kevin had given her. She tried to remember the last time she had taken the medicine. After the movie sometime. It hadn't lasted an entire day. She tipped a new dose into her mouth and felt the protective cocoon envelop her. She heaved a sigh of relief as the sun's terrible heat faded. She remembered her dream. That must have been what it felt like to absorb too much energy, she thought.

Alice crawled across the floor to the window and yanked the curtain shut, plunging the room into acceptable darkness. I'd better get up, she thought. Dad and Janice will be awake by now! She grabbed her sunglasses.

But as she crept out into the hall, she noticed their bedroom door was closed. Her father and his new girlfriend were still sleeping. At least she hoped they were sleeping. Alice crept into the lounge, where the blinds were drawn and all was quiet. Might as well fetch myself some breakfast, she thought as she crossed to the kitchenette. She passed Janice's work-bag on the way, tossed on the lounge and half its contents falling out. She noticed a thick book with a very old brown cover.

That looks interesting, Alice thought as she picked it up. It was very heavy in her hands, and felt like it had been bound in leather. There was a strange circular symbol embossed on the cover. It appeared to be a labyrinth and when she looked at it hard, it seemed to move on its own. But it had no title or name. "Weird," she muttered out loud. She opened the volume to find brittle pages with yellow edges like they had been burnt. A title had been printed by hand in pale, spidery handwriting;

Beyond the Portall, by William Edgar Holloway

The name was familiar ... suddenly she remembered. She had learned all about Appleton's founder during local history classes earlier on in the year. He was the eccentric squatter who had made his home in the area, setting up the cider factory and providing hundreds of jobs for local workers. The town of Appleton had grown up virtually overnight, and when one of William's sons found gold in the Brooke River, people came swarming in from all around.

He might have been our town founder, but he couldn't spell, Alice thought with a smile as she turned a page. The old volume was full of his cramped, illegible handwriting and hand-drawn pictures of strange creatures. At first she thought he was simply taking stock of the local Australian wildlife, but some of the animals had multiple heads and horns, and wings where there shouldn't have been any. Others were bizarre mishmashes of beasts with too many tentacles, eyes, teeth and claws. Alice squinted, trying to read some of Mr. Holloway's cramped, joined-up writing. "....some of the Monsters I met during my journey through the Portall. These forms are not real, but merely a conglomeration of beings they have met during their long existences. They have no real bodies of their own, and must take on those of other animals."

Alice looked up, remembering what she had read in her vampire book about the Immaterium. Could Mr. Holloway be talking about the same place? Could his "Portall" have led to the dark realm that lay beneath this one?

Suddenly a door banged down the hall. Alice dropped the book and darted into the kitchenette, pretending that she had been preparing her breakfast all this time.

Janice wandered out a few seconds later, her thick blonde hair forming a frightful bush around her head. She had washed off all her makeup and looked rather harsh without it, her lips pale and downturned, her brow furrowed with lines. When she finally noticed Alice was in the kitchen, she actually jumped, squealing in shock. "What are you doing here?" she gasped.

"Just making some toast."

"I didn't know you were over! Your father should have told me!" Grumbling under her breath, she lumbered over to make coffee. She put four spoonfuls in one cup. And it wasn't even a big mug.

Alice opened her mouth to say sorry, then thought better of it. She had every right to be here, visiting her father.

Janice filled the jug then flicked it on. She paused to stare at Alice. Slowly the tiredness drained from her face and she blinked, looking at Alice more closely. "Have you done something to your hair?"

"No, but I like what you've done with yours," Alice quipped before she could stop herself.

"I haven't done anything to my hair! It's a mess! I just got out of bed! If I'd known you were here I at least would have combed it this morning. No, you look ... different this morning."

Alice shrugged. Could Janice sense that she'd changed? Suddenly Alice thought about shrouding herself in her glamour. _I'm not here,_ she thought. _You haven't seen me all morning._

Janice turned, looking right at her. "D'you want some coffee too?"

Alice was too surprised to say no. Why could Janice see through her protection as well?

Then George Dibble lumbered into the kitchen wearing boxers and nothing else. Alice looked away in embarrassment. "Has Alice been up yet?" he mumbled. "She wants us to go to the walking track today, but I'm too tired."

It's obviously still working on him, she realised.

"She's right there, you fool," Janice growled. Then suddenly she switched moods, as though she had simply flung on a new outfit. "Why don't I take her out today? I would be happy to show her around."

George blinked, trying to see Alice. She dispelled her glamour. Almost immediately she could read the confusion in his mind. What if I concentrate on just blocking his thoughts, she wondered. She thought about a mist shrouding her father's mind, and suddenly, there was. Perfect, she thought, relieved. "Ah, there you are! I must still have some sleep in my eyes!" George rubbed them vigorously.

"Oh, I don't want to be any trouble. I'll just go to the library-"

"Nonsense! I'll be happy to take you! Just let me have my coffee and some breakfast, then I'll get ready and we can go."

What's gotten into this lady? Alice wondered. One minute ago she was ready to bite my head off! Now she wants to be my best mate!

After Alice had breakfast she got ready to leave. It only took her fifteen minutes. She had to wait an hour for Janice to finish primping. When the woman finally emerged, she looked like she had stepped out of a beauty parlour, although not a very good one. Her makeup was overdone, her hair looked like a giant mound of fairy floss, and her mallrat clothes would have made a teenager blush. She walked in her spiky-heeled boots like they were the most comfortable slippers in the world.

Alice couldn't resist a comment. "Are we still going to the walking track?'

"Of course! Did you think I'd changed my mind?"

"Well, I noticed that you'd put high heels on. A bit hard to hike in heels."

"Nonsense. I can sprint in heels."

I'd hate to see your feet in ten years time, Alice thought, shivering at the thought of Janice running in that outfit. But she didn't question any further. While her father returned to bed, Alice went out with Janice. She was nervous about the upcoming outing, because she really couldn't stand the woman, but curiosity got the better of her. She was determined to find out more about Janice's weird book, and for that she would force down her mistrust and put on a cheerful face.

True to her word Janice moved like the wind in her impossible heels, almost skating down the halls to the elevator. She took Alice into the basement, where her hot pink sporty coupe was parked. Lucky Dad didn't want to come, Alice thought as she slid into the little car's only passenger seat. I'd have been riding in the boot!

Janice drove like she walked, sliding into spaces barely wide enough to admit her. Alice made sure her seatbelt was tight and wished for a panic bar. "I drive a big, heavy bus so often it's wonderful getting out in a zippy little car!" Janice exclaimed, nipping in front of a taxi as she pulled onto the main road out of town. Someone honked their horn. Janice didn't hear. She seemed lost in her own little world as she chattered, and Alice wondered darkly if they would return home alive.

The walking tracks were located in Kyangalla National Park, which lay to the north of Appleton. On a fine December day like this, the carparks were packed and all the picnic benches already taken. Janice simply created her own parking space at the end of a full row of cars.

"Um, I don't think this is a spot," Alice ventured.

"Nonsense! There's more than enough room to pass!" She locked up and flounced off on those impossible heels. Alice had to run to keep up – and she was supposed to be the super-agile young vampire!

I bet you park in disabled spots too, Alice thought grumpily. Never had she met a grownup with such a disregard for the rules. Had she been a more rebellious child, she might have been impressed. But Alice had never liked breaking the law. It was her reaction against the type of people who picked on her. They were always thumbing their nose at authority. Once again Alice had to fight her dislike of Janice down.

Janice strode easily along the gravelled paths. I hope she twists an ankle, Alice thought. No I don't, she countered. Then I'd have to carry her back! "Lovely day," she ventured.

"Oh yes. Such a pity your father didn't want to come out. But he's not very energetic, I'm afraid."

"You got that right," Alice heard herself grumble, and then was appalled by her negative attitude towards her own Dad. "He's never liked physical activity. But at least when he was living at home, he rode a bike to work each day, and that kept him healthy."

Janice sniffed. Wrong thing to say, Alice thought. You're trying to stay on the good side of this woman! "So, which path would you like to take?"

They had reached the sign where various tracks broke away and meandered off into the bush. The air was alive with the sound of birds and children whooping with delight. The Grand Appleton Walk was ten kilometres. "That one." Alice pointed. Let's see how you like your heels at the end of that!

"Okay. That's a wonderful walk. It goes all the way up to Holloway Lookout. You get a wonderful view from Appleton up there."

"You've done this walk already?"

Janice flipped a perfectly manicured hand. "Oh yes. I've done all the walks. All the tour guides are expected to. It's quite hilly – I hope your little legs are up to it!"

I'll give you little legs, Alice thought as they started into the bush. Janice truly was agile, scampering up the rocky trail in her tall boots without a single trip. Had Alice not been a vampire, she would have soon been gasping for air and begging for a rest. Even though she was magically protected and wearing shades, the hot sun still beat down on her. She took advantage of every scrap of shade she could find.

"I hope you put on some sunscreen today. You're very fair."

"Don't worry – I'm protected!" Alice managed a smile. Although I could do with a hat! "So Janice – have you found out any more about Mr. Holloway's mysterious room in the cider factory?"

"Oh yes!" Suddenly she became animated, as though Alice had brought up her favourite topic. Alice stared at her as she spoke, and realised with a jolt that she couldn't read her thoughts! She hadn't put up her glamour, either. Alice was so surprised she almost missed half of Janice's story! "-what the history books won't tell you is that Mr. Holloway was very interested in spiritualism. He conducted séances at his house and reckoned he could talk to ghosts like I'm talking to you now. All the locals said they were scandalised by his behaviour, but most of them were present at his circles. Are you listening to me, Alice? This is interesting stuff – far more fascinating than the dry old dates they teach you at school!"

For once we agree on something, Alice thought. "You got that right!" she exclaimed.

Janice continued talking as they walked high into the hills, and the picnic area sounds died away into the more natural noises of the bush. "Now that secret room we found, the one I told you about last time, is where Mr. Holloway and his circle conducted their rituals."

"Really! How do you know?" Alice asked, hoping to tease out some information about Mr. Holloway's mysterious book.

But Janice was only too happy to tell her. "Well, we found a magic circle inside on the wall, and an old book behind a loose brick. Mr. Holloway must have hidden it there before he died. Anyway, it's full of information Mr. Holloway discovered about the spirit world, ghosts and its natural inhabitants. It also contains the rituals he conducted to contact the spirit world. They're quite detailed."

"Do they work?" Alice gasped.

"Well, we've only tried a few easy ones so far, but they appear to. We've managed to contact a couple of ghosts who are only too happy to talk and find out more about the families they left behind."

Alice couldn't believe her ears. She was so stunned she couldn't speak. Janice continued.

"They're very lonely, the poor things, unable to reach out of their cold, empty world. When we contact them, they nearly swamp us with their questions. They all want to return, none want to depart."

"Who's 'we'?" Alice finally managed.

"Well, me, Sura, Seb, Angela, Wally, and Wally's little brother Charlie."

"Chunky!" gasped Alice, remembering the bully's real name.

"No, his name's Charlie. He goes to your school. Do you know him?"

"He's only my worst enemy," Alice growled. "He and his two mates are always picking on me. They won't leave me alone."

"Really? But he's such a polite boy! And so interested in our little game. The ghosts have really taken a liking to him."

"Janice, he's anything but nice! Yesterday, at the movies with the school, him and his friends followed me into the toilets and tried to bash me up! I was lucky to escape! I think they really wanted to hurt me!"

"Surely not!"

"I didn't imagine it!" Alice shouted. "They're bullies! And Chunky's the worst of the lot."

"Well, if that's the case I will have a word with him the next time I see him, and tell him to lay off you. Though I can't imagine why he would be so mean to anyone." She tailed off, and they continued in silence. Even the birds had stopped, leaving the air hot and heavy, like the calm before a storm. Alice could tell Janice still didn't believe her, but she didn't feel like arguing any more. Despite her magical protection, the heat was really starting to get to her, and the brassy blue sky pressed down like a suffocating blanket.

They didn't say much more during the rest of the trip. When Alice's annoyance with Janice started to fade, nagging concerns about her story started to creep in. In all the movies she had seen, people who found ancient magic books and started messing around with the incantations inside, always woke up something really big, nasty and invariably hungry. And they could never deal with it, even if they were experienced intellectuals, without losing half their group in the process.

Alice doubted Janice and her cronies were experienced or intellectual!

"Are all the ghosts friendly?" Alice asked finally.

"What?" Janice looked like she had been deep in thought. Must be unfamiliar territory, Alice thought sarcastically.

"The spirits you contact through your circle. Are they nice?"

"Oh, they're all nice. Very eager to talk. Like I said before, they all want to return. It's very lonely being a ghost." She sighed.

"So these ones can't cross over? To the other side? They're trapped?"

"I guess all the ones we've contacted so far have unfinished business."

Something started to niggle at the back of Alice's mind, but she couldn't quite grasp it. There was something not quite right about Janice's story. "I certainly hope you know what you're doing," she muttered.

Janice ruffled Alice's hair. Alice cringed. "Of course we do! What could possibly go wrong?"

Now those would have to be _the_ most famous last words in history, thought Alice gloomily. How come she, the twelve year old, could see the dark side while the grown up was blind?

When they finally got home some time after lunch, Alice was pleased to find her father up and about, looking a lot happier than he had this morning. He greeted Janice with a big sloppy kiss, and then showed Alice a large pile of Christmas presents, more than she had ever received at home.

He had given her several books, a Goth doll, a vampire movie, some bat earrings and matching necklace, and two new outfits! And all she had for him was a Tom Clancy novel and a wonky pinch pot she had made earlier on in the year! She thanked him for all the presents, but felt embarrassed because she hadn't given him more. When she stared at him and learned his thoughts, she realised he was trying to make up for leaving the family.

Alice hurried back to her room as soon as she thought she could get away. There were still a few hours before dinner, and she wanted to finish reading the vampire book.

But as soon as she read the word Immaterium she realised what had been bothering her before.

Janice and her silly friends weren't communicating with friendly ghosts – they were speaking to beings – _demons from the Immaterium!_

* * * *

Chapter 9

No wonder those ghosts were all so eager to return to the land of the living! They wanted to escape their sad, dark world! Alice slapped the book down. She had to talk to someone, but who?

"Wait a minute!" she exclaimed out loud. She darted to her bag and rummaged about inside, searching for the mobile phone number Desdemona had written down for her last night. She found the crumpled up bit of paper, and clutching it in her hand, she crept out into the hall. Unfortunately her father and Janice were curled up on the lounge together watching a movie, looking all lovey-dovey. Obviously last night's fight was well and truly forgotten. The phone sat on the table beside them, far too close for comfort. Alice didn't want anyone listening in.

For the first time in her life, Alice Dibble wanted a mobile phone of her own. Perhaps there was a payphone down on the street.

"I'm going outside," Alice informed the pair on the couch.

"Okay dear," Mr. Dibble answered without looking up.

Alice made sure she had enough change, and darted out. She found a telephone on the corner. It was covered with graffiti, but fortunately still worked. Unfortunately, when she finally managed to reach Desdemona's number, a husky voice against howling background music informed her that Desdemona was currently indisposed. Alice couldn't leave a message because she didn't want anyone contacting her at her father's place!

She hung up without a word, and then ambled around the front of the flats for a few minutes, wondering what to do. It seemed she would have to wait until she got back to her mother's house tomorrow night.

But now she knew something was up, she didn't want to wait! Grumbling under her breath she stomped back upstairs to the flat. She didn't fancy joining George and Janice in front of the TV, so she returned to her book.

On Sunday they went out for a drive up into the mountains, but Alice's heart wasn't in the trip. She kept counting the minutes until she could return to her mother's. Fortunately Janice kept up a constant stream of blather so Alice didn't have to say much.

When she arrived home after five, Marlene greeted her with a huge perfumed hug. Alice couldn't believe her senses. Since when had her mother worn perfume? But Marlene was nicely made up, with neatly brushed hair falling onto her shoulders. She also wasn't wearing her usual baggy tracksuit, but a white blouse and long flowery skirt.

"You're all dressed up again!" Alice gasped.

"I was out all day today. I only just got back." She lifted a finger to her lips as George came up behind his daughter.

"Hello Marlene," he said, not meeting her gaze like a naughty schoolboy. "You're looking well."

"Thank you George. How was she?"

"Perfectly behaved as usual. A little quiet, but she's always been so, hasn't she?"

"Oh yes. Living in town obviously agrees with you."

Mr. Dibble patted his expanding belly. "A little too much, I'm afraid." He dithered on the doorstep, as though he wanted to say something more, but the words wouldn't come.

"Well, I expect Janice is waiting for you. Goodbye George." Marlene started to close the door.

"Goodbye Marlene." George turned and waddled back to his car.

"Goodness, he really is putting on weight!" Marlene whispered to Alice.

Alice giggled, and then started badgering her mother with questions about her weekend. She finally revealed that she had indeed met a man named Harry a few weeks earlier, and that she had spent Friday night, Saturday night and most of Sunday with him!

Alice managed a smile, glad she had worked out how to block other people's thoughts. She really didn't want to know what her mother had been up to. "He sounds like a nice guy, Mum."

"Did you have a good time with your father and Janice?"

"Yes. Dad and I went skating on Friday night – or rather, I skated and he watched. I went for a walk with Janice on Saturday – she's a complete fruit loop, Mum!"

"Alice!"

"Well she is! Some people get together for sewing circles – Janice and her friends have a magic circle! And they reckon they can talk to spirits!" She didn't mention the Immaterium.

"Really?" Marlene looked doubtful. She didn't believe in ghosts, but tried to keep an open mind. "Well ... so long as they're careful about it."

"That's just it – they're not. They found an old grimoire and just started casting spells out of it willy-nilly. That's not the way to do it!"

Marlene smiled. "Since when did you become a _hex_ -pert?"

"Oh ha ha Mum! I'm trying to be serious here!" But Alice had to laugh. What was she doing, pouring her woes out to her mother anyway? She couldn't help! "I've been doing some reading, that's all."

"Well, it's almost time for dinner, so wash up. I've made us some spicy Italian sausages."

Alice ate her supper with gusto. Because George used to prepare the meals, Marlene had had to take a crash cookery course after his departure. Her first efforts were spectacular failures, but Marlene was patient and mindful of the fact that Alice was a growing girl and needed her nourishment. So she resisted the temptation to feed her pot noodles and takeaways and started making proper meals. Alice gave the Italian sausages two thumbs up. "Great stuff, Mum. Most delicious meal I've ever had! And I mean that!" Really, she added to herself. I'm sure I can taste every single individual herb!

Marlene actually blushed. "Oh, you're just saying that. Your father will always be the better cook."

""Yeah, but he's had years of practice. And he gets paid for it. This is a meal of love."

"Okay," Marlene put her knife and fork down. "Are you looking for a pocket-money raise?"

Alice giggled. "No Mum! Although I wouldn't mind my own mobile phone..."

Later that evening, Alice waited impatiently for her mother to retire, and then crept downstairs to dial Desdemona. Darn, voicemail, she thought as the howling music started. What's the point of having a phone if you never switch it on? This time she left a message and gave her home number. She hung up and went back to her room. I suppose I'd better get my stuff ready for school, she thought. Only two weeks to go. Gosh they're slow! She laid out her school uniform and shoved books into her bag. She grimaced. Despite her efforts it still reeked. She shook everything out and dug up her old bag. It was tattered and covered with graffiti, but at least it didn't smell like a dog's backside. She considered the vampire volume. She still had a couple of chapters to go. But then she laid it aside. She couldn't risk taking it in case Chunky and Stan stole her bag again.

Suddenly, something clattered against her window, and Alice actually jumped, yelping in sudden terror. Her heart hammering, she darted to the thick curtain and nervously twitched it aside.

A figure stood on the gravel below. Since her mother always turned the outside light off before she went to bed, Alice knew she shouldn't have been able to see this person. But Toby's tall, fair-haired form was clearly visible. Carefully Alice opened the window.

"What are you doing out there this time of night?" she hissed. "Go home before you wake my Mum!"

"I ... I have to talk to someone," he hissed back. "Can you come down? Please?"

At least she hadn't changed into her nightie yet. But it seemed a very strange request – until she remembered that Toby was fated to become a werewolf. "Oh alright, but no funny business. I've discovered some very interesting talents since we talked last." She closed the window and padded from her room as quietly as she could. When she passed her mother's bedroom, all she heard was snoring. I hope I don't make noises like that when I reach her age, she thought with a shiver. She took a key from the cup on top of the fridge and let herself out into the cool but pleasant night.

Toby looked taller than normal, and was that stubble on his chin? Had he been shaving? He was only twelve!

He noticed the direction of Alice's stare and laughed self-consciously. "Yeah, I actually had to shave this morning. You should have seen my Mum – she was so happy about it." He rubbed his face. "Personally, I can't see what's so great about scraping sharp objects across my skin each morning. I feel like I've been peeled."

"Alright, I'm sure you didn't come here to discuss your face with me."

"Sorry Alice, but I just had to get out and talk to someone. Look," he pointed up at the sky, where a huge full moon shone down from the deep black. "I can already feel its affect on me. I want to take off across the fields and run until I can't run anymore."

"Is that all that's worrying you? It's probably just part of becoming a werewolf."

"There's something else." Finally he looked away. "Chunky and Stan. The way they're talking about you ... it's getting worse and really starting to worry me."

"Really? You used to join in!" Alice retorted. She started to walk from the house, in case her voice carried upstairs to her mother. Although over that snoring, she doubted it. Toby followed her onto Pink Lady Lane.

"Yeah, well – that was when it was good natured teasing. You know – the occasional hair-pull, name-call, missing schoolbag, that sort of thing. But now it's gotten out of hand. It's like..." he dropped his voice, "...they really want to hurt you for some reason."

Alice had experienced that first hand. "You know they came after me in the cinema on Friday, don't you?"

Toby gaped at her in surprise, and she realised he had no idea.

"They probably didn't tell you because they couldn't find me. Somehow I made myself turn into mist and hid up in a ventilation shaft. But they were so angry. I swear if they had found me they would have killed me. Maybe you can find out what's gotten into them."

Toby frowned. "I'll try, but I've noticed a change in them too. They were always a pair of punks, but they never used to be so..." he struggled for a word. "...cold!"

"Cold?"

"Can we take a walk? I don't feel comfortable, whispering outside your parents' house."

Alice didn't feel comfortable wandering around after dark, but the night was her world now, wasn't it? She had new powers, and had already proven that she could look after herself. Still, after all that had happened lately, she had become a little paranoid. "You're sure Chunky and Stan aren't hiding in the bushes over there, waiting for me so they can leap out and beat me to a pulp?"

Toby lifted his hands. "I already told you, I've had enough of running around after Chunky and Stan." To prove his point he walked over to the bushes on the other side of Pink Lady lane and started shaking branches. Apart from one very startled dove, nothing else leapt out.

They started to walk in the direction of the Nocturnal Academy. Alice began to realise just how much she could see in the dark. No colours, but detail in every shade of grey. She could have counted the leaves on the apple trees they passed. She could see for kilometres across the meadows. Quickly she turned her attention back to Toby, who was sniffing the air.

"Now, what were you saying about Chunky and Stan being cold?"

Toby sniffed the air again. "I can smell something burning," he murmured distractedly. "Maybe someone set fire to the oval change rooms again." Alice nudged him. "Oh yeah – sorry, my sense of smell has grown stronger too. About Chunky and Stan..." He rubbed the back of his neck. "It's like they've become different people. They've turned from trouble makers into..." He shivered. "Well, the other day I saw them chasing down a cat on their bikes. It got away by leaping over a fence, but I think if they'd caught it, they would have run over it."

"The poor thing!"

"They were really laughing about it, too. I'd never seen them so cruel. And when I didn't want to join in, they called me spineless. It's one thing to hunt for food, quite another to kill things for fun."

"And you say they never used to be like that?" Alice asked. She had always thought they were the sort who tied firecrackers to dogs' tails and blew frogs up in microwaves.

"No, not really. Oh, they used to take pot-shots at birds, but their aim was always off and they were never enthusiastic about it. Not like the other day with that cat. I think they wanted to skin it alive." He sniffed the air again. "The smell is getting stronger."

Suddenly, Alice noticed a strange puttering noise, growing steadily closer. Now she could smell the burning odour. Then a vehicle appeared, approaching at high speed. Alice pulled Toby back, but he didn't seem to notice the car – if that's what it was! It looked like an old-fashioned steam-powered contraption with a tall pipe sticking up behind it, but it had fat 4-wheel drive tyres and was travelling much too quickly for such an ancient-looking device. Great clouds of steam belched from the exhaust at the back. It chugged off into the distance and disappeared around a bend.

"What on Earth-"

"What, _what?"_ Toby insisted.

Alice was shocked. "Didn't you see it?"

"See what?"

"That bizarre car! It shot right past us! The smell was coming from it!"

"Didn't notice a thing. What kind of car?"

Alice described it as they continued on along the lane, but Toby really hadn't seen it, despite the noise and smell. She was stumped until they reached the Academy gates. They were just swinging closed. That must have been where the weird car came from, Alice realised. Then she looked up. In the strange, colourless light of night she clearly saw the Academy buildings rising up over the trees. "I can see them!" she gasped. "They're no longer invisible to me!" Now she could create a glamour of her own, she had to be immune to it.

"What?" cried Toby, nearly jumping up and down impatiently.

"The buildings!" Alice hissed. Then she realised that glamours still affected him. Although she suspected his superior senses were starting to penetrate their power. Otherwise he wouldn't have been able to smell the exhaust fumes. She opened her mouth to explain when a voice called out;

"What are you two doing out there?"

Alice gasped as the elfin Mercurio appeared. He had just been about to close the gates when he noticed the pair. One could obviously see in. "Oh – we're just taking a walk," Alice explained.

"Now you're talking to invisible people!" Toby shouted, at the end of his tether.

Mercurio gave a wicked grin, but decided to uncloak himself. Toby actually swore.

"Sorry," said Mercurio, but it was obvious he wasn't.

"How the heck did you do that?" Toby squeaked.

"Using the glamour is one of the first things we learn here," he explained. "It stops Daydwellers from being too nosy. You're still affected by it because you haven't transformed yet. Your friend on the other hand..." He stared curiously at Alice. "You must have changed on your own. That doesn't happen very often."

"It only happened on Friday. Kevin helped me, and so did a girl named Desdemona. She even gave me her number." An idea struck her. "Do you think you could-"

"Kevin Wardell?" Mercurio interrupted. "Honestly he should change his name. Kevin isn't very vampiric, is it?"

"I take it Mercurio isn't your real name?" Alice asked.

"Of course not. It's Cecil."

It was Toby's turn to laugh, still a little shocked by events.

"Don't be so quick to chuckle, Toby. Bit of a wussy name for a werewolf, if you ask me! Tobias is better."

Toby scowled.

"I'm going to call myself Malicia," Alice declared. "Hey – did you see a big steam-powered car go past?"

"Of course I did, otherwise no-one would have been there to open the gates for it, and there would have been a terrible mess. The brakes are no good. It belongs to Professor Abbacus. He's gone into town to chase up a rumour about Immaterium activity."

"Immaterium?" Toby cried. "What's that?"

"Oh my God!" Alice gasped. "Where? Down at the old Cider Factory?"

"He didn't say. You'd be surprised how many evil spirits and demons hang around our little town. The presence of the Academy attracts them. That's why Appleton has such a high crime rate."

"I thought it was because of the high unemployment," Toby muttered, still annoyed at Mercurio for ragging on his name. His late father had been called Toby. "Now what's this Immaterium?"

"It's where all the monsters, demons and things that go bump in the night hang out. Now you two had better be off." Mercurio made shooing motions.

"Um – is it possible we could get a quick tour of the gardens?" Alice asked in as sweet a voice as she could muster. She simply had to get inside. Maybe she could speak to Desdemona in person.

Mercurio looked horrified. "Professor Florana will dump weedkiller on me if I let in any unauthorised people!" Then a huge, conspiratorial grin spread across his thin face. "What the heck – you'll be students here soon enough." He stepped aside, and the excited children stepped onto the Academy's grounds once more.

* * * *

Chapter 10

Mercurio took such long steps that both Alice and Toby had to run to keep up with him. He wore the same odd brown leather outfit as before, and his hair stuck out alarmingly, like it hadn't been cut or combed for years.

"So - has the compost heap managed to escape again?" Alice asked.

"Oh no. Fortunately we managed to corner it in Professor Florana's office. Hosing it down in there made all the fungus and moss on the walls grow better. After that it came quietly. We had to get one of the earth elementals to excavate a better enclosure for it though." He led the pair through an area where Alice was sure she had seen gardens previously. But Toby asked before she could.

"Where have all the trees gone?"

"Oh, they're probably in maths right now. Professor Subrette is a really harsh teacher. She likes everyone to work right up until the end of the year. I only managed to escape because I'm on grounds-keeping duties tonight." Mercurio stopped and pointed out a long stone wall about waist height. "The compost heap is behind there. Do you want to see it?"

"Okay," Alice answered dubiously. "So long as it doesn't try to eat me."

"Don't worry. It only likes dead things." Mercurio led them over, and suddenly a revolting stench wafted out. But the two children were so curious they simply covered their noses and looked over the wall.

In a pit several metres down lay an oozing mass of leaves, grass, twigs and rotting vegetable scraps. Occasionally large bubbles burst on its surface. Sometimes it moaned.

"Oh gross!" gasped Toby. "I can smell practically everything that's been chucked down there!" He looked a little pale and feral in the moonlight, the stubble on his cheeks more pronounced than before.

"Wait until your transformation is complete. You'll be able to write books about it. Come on – it's not very interesting at the moment. The last hosing was by far the worst. The heap probably won't be jumping for months." Mercurio stalked away across the grassy meadow, heading towards some low buildings nestling in the shadow of the main castle.

"What's in there?" Alice asked.

"Oh, just some animals. Mainly rabbits, kangaroos and deer. Some of the were-creatures get a bit antsy if they can't hunt occasionally."

"But isn't that cruel?" Alice gasped.

"Cruel is letting weres go hungry." Mercurio actually shuddered. "They don't have much of a sense of humour when their bellies are empty. Anyway, I wouldn't worry about those creatures. We don't take any endangered species out of the wild."

"What about if someone's a were-kangaroo?" Alice protested. "Or a were-rabbit? If a wolf or cat ate one of his brothers then he'd be very upset, wouldn't he?"

Mercurio laughed. "I've yet to see a were-roo or a were-rabbit! Although a were-roo would be pretty awesome. Anyway, most weres are carnivores, and don't eat their own kind."

"We're not going to look at a bunch of silly rabbits are we?" Toby complained. "I thought you were going to show us cool stuff!" Although he was starting to find the thought of a fresh rabbit a lot more appetising than he had previously. And the moon really did seem to be pressing down on him tonight. He felt like he was carrying it on his shoulders.

"No, of course not. Ah, I knew she'd be around here somewhere." Mercurio spotted a small tree, little more than a sapling, perched alone on a hill. "Come on." He beckoned for Alice and Toby to follow.

Stopping next to the plant he pressed a hand against its trunk. Suddenly, the tree began to shrink, its branches and leaves drawing in. The rough bark smoothed and changed to an olive brown, the leaves became bushy hair, and the trunk separated into two long, thin legs.

Alice and Toby found themselves gaping at a skinny, elfin being like Mercurio, only shorter and more girlish. She had the same pointy chin and ears. She was also wearing the same well-worn brown leather.

"Hello Fern. Feeling any better?" Mercurio asked.

Fern sneezed in response. "Not much," she answered miserably. "Professor Florana thought it would be best if I spent more time with my roots in the soil."

"Maybe you need a bucket of soapy water," Alice suggested before she could stop herself. "My Mum always dumps the washing up water on her plants when they're sick.

Fern stared at her. "You could be right, actually! Who are you, anyway?"

"These are Alice and Toby – they'll be starting next year. They were hanging around the gate, so I thought I'd give them a little tour."

"I hope they've transformed, otherwise the Professor will ring-bark you!"

"He won't find out. Unless someone tells him!"

"Not me." Suddenly, Fern's bare toes lengthened, burying themselves in the soil, and the girl became a tree again, extending her branches towards the sky.

"Wow," said Alice.

"That was pretty cool," agreed Toby.

"There are heaps of cool things here at the Academy, but I doubt you'll get to see many of them. For example, Professor Abbacus keeps an open portal to the Immaterium in his office. Completely surrounded by all sorts of detectors, alarms and traps. Absolutely nothing is getting out of it. But it's still an open portal. And he won't let anyone see it. Not even us honour students."

Both Alice and Toby gaped at Mercurio in horror, wondering if he was toying with them. He smiled at their shock, but said; "I'm serious. If Abbacus ever catches anyone trying to sneak into his office, he puts them on detention for the whole _year."_

"What happens on detention?" asked Toby, who had spent many an hour picking up papers during lunchtime.

"Cleaning up the animal cages, helping Abbacus with his weird science experiments, tending to the compost heap, feeding the monsters – students have lost fingers down there, let me tell you!"

"Can we see the labs?" Alice asked excitedly.

"No, that's another out-of-bounds area. Basically the only things I can show you without getting into too much trouble are the grounds. Sneaking into the labs without permission can also result in detention. Some of those possessed creatures can be downright dangerous."

"Possessed creatures?"

"Oh yeah. Demons don't just go for humans. Animals and plants are fair game as well." Mercurio seemed to be enjoying himself, scaring the two future students. "Come on – I'll show you the obstacle course. It's harmless enough." He strode off across the grass.

Alice and Toby followed him down a gentle slope and into a valley where there was a large, very ordinary looking oval. A couple of trees grew out of the middle, but Alice and Toby suspected they weren't permanent growths. Beside it stretched a tangled forest, like untamed scrub. It looked dark and spooky, even through Alice's enhanced eyes.

Toby sniffed the air suspiciously. "Something's not right," he muttered in a deep, growling voice unlike his usual tone.

"Relax. There are a few demonic mutants on the course, but Abbacus has made sure they're under control. They haven't eaten anyone for ages. Anyway we're not going in. We're just taking a stroll around the outside." He led the pair towards the forest, and leaves and branches began to rustle, as though a wind was blowing through them. Unfortunately it was a very still night.

Alice could see the trees weren't normal Australian natives. They didn't even look like the European trees that had been planted around the centre of Appleton by the original settlers. They looked almost ... fleshy, with thick, rubbery trunks and branches like claws. As Mercurio, Alice and Toby approached, the branches twisted, as though trying to reach for them. A low moaning came from within the forest. Alice really hoped it was coming from a gentle breeze. Then a strange chittering noise started, followed by various chirps and grunts as creatures came awake deep within.

"Oh oh, they're a bit excited tonight. No-one's been through the course for weeks – too close to the end of the year. Perhaps we'd better not go any further."

Something growled, and Alice jumped in sudden fright, looking wildly around. It had been so near!

"Sorry! That was me!" Toby exclaimed. "I don't know what came over me."

Alice sniffed. "I smell wet dog."

Mercurio stared at Toby, who was looking scruffier with each passing minute. "You could be on the verge of changing. It might be best if you went home. You too, Alice." Suddenly, he was the serious Mercurio from their very first meeting. He turned and started marching back towards the gates.

"What's wrong with him changing now? I did," Alice protested.

"Weres can experience difficulties when they change, and they're very vulnerable to their emotions. Accidents happen when they're not supervised. They also become very susceptible to Immaterial influences. That's why Professor Longenfang likes to oversee all werewolf transformations. Come on."

"Is that why there are so many stories about werewolves attacking people? Because they change without help?" Toby gasped.

"Yes, and of course the usual Immaterium propaganda, spread by demons to scare daydwellers."

As they neared the gates, an old-fashioned looking intercom unit buzzed impatiently, and Mercurio cursed. "Looks like Professor Abbacus wants to come back in, and he's been there a while!"

"How come he doesn't have an automatic gate opener?" Alice called as Mercurio hurried over to the gates.

"Someone needs to be stationed near the gates at all times – in case unauthorised immaterial beasties try to sneak in. – state your identity, please!" he called into the intercom.

The response was scratchy and hard to make out, but must have contained several bad words because Mercurio flinched, his hair seeming to stand even more on end. "Sorry Professor, but I have to ask everyone! Standard security procedure – you taught me that."

More crackling and cursing. Mercurio hurriedly opened the gate, and that weird steam-powered vehicle chugged onto Academy property.

Toby's eyes widened. "Ah, _now_ I see it!"

The car, all riveted steel plates, cables and pipes belching mist, thundered past Mercurio and roared off towards the main building. "I'm sorry he didn't find the demons he was looking for, but he didn't have to take it out on me!" the tree-spirit grumbled. "Alright you two," he beckoned Alice and Toby forward. "Tour's over. Get yourselves home and into bed. Toby, I'll contact Professor Longenfang about how close you are to changing – he might send someone to look out for you."

"Er – thanks," answered Toby, not sure how his insanely neat mother would take some large, hairy wolf-boy hanging around the house.

Alice rounded on Mercurio. "I can't go yet, Mercurio – I really need to speak to someone first."

"Why?" he asked.

She took a deep breath, preparing to explain. It was a complicated tale. "Janice, my Dad's girlfriend, is a guide for the Appleton Tourist Information bureau, and during a tour she found a secret room at the old cider factory. I think it was used by Mr. Holloway for magic rituals. She said she saw some ghosts in there. On Saturday, I found Mr. Holloway's Beyond the Portal book in her bag and had a quick look. It was full of spells, and pictures of strange creatures he reckoned he'd met in the ... 'spirit world'. But I think he was talking about the Immaterium. Anyway, Janice told me that she and some friends ... including Chunky ... have been communicating with these ghosts!" She faced Toby. "No wonder Chunky is being so horrible to me at the moment! He's under Immaterial influence!"

"This is serious!" Mercurio gasped. "If you're telling the truth, then Professor Abbacus has to hear this right away! Come on – I'll take you to him."

"Can I come too?" Toby asked.

"Yeah, okay. But behave yourself." Mercurio turned and headed off across the grass. Both Alice and Toby followed at a run. Alice soon overtook him, and realised she was using her vampire speed. She had to slow down.

"Won't the Professor be getting ready for bed this time of night?" Toby gasped, his voice sounding even deeper than before.

"Are you kidding? This is the Nocturnal Academy! Everyone's awake during the night! We all sleep during the day! Everyone, that is except Professor Abbacus. He never sleeps."

"Oh!"

Mercurio charged into the huge main building near where they had been interviewed by Madam Nocturna, and sped down the broad corridor outside her office. Alice would have loved to have studied some of the pictures on the passage walls, but they were moving far too quickly. Mercurio was striding as fast as a sprinter now, Alice by his side. When she glanced over her shoulder, she noticed Toby was right behind them – running on all fours! And he looked even bigger! She wanted to call out a warning to Mercurio, but the elfin tree-boy took a corner at break-neck speed and disappeared. Alice darted after him, in time to see him skidding to a stop some metres down a side-passage lit only by a single flickering torch. He paused beside a huge, iron-bound door, and keyed a number into an old-fashioned pad beside it.

Alice had time to wonder how a keypad could possibly look old fashioned. They hadn't been around for that long, had they? Then the door creaked open, revealing a steep stone staircase leading down into damp-smelling darkness. "Only teachers and prefects get the passcode to the basement," Mercurio proclaimed.

Toby gave a deep, threatening growl. Alice yelped and jumped away from him. He was almost as tall as Mercurio and twice as wide, his shirt starting to split at the seams. There was definitely hair on his face now, and his ears had grown into points. "Um, Mercurio-" Alice began, trying to warn the tree-spirit.

But Mercurio was already running down the stairs three at a time!

"Are you okay, Toby?" Alice gasped.

"I'm fine," he answered, in a deep, growly voice. "What's the problem? Let's see this Professor dude!"

"Come on you two!" Mercurio shouted from somewhere below. "What's the hold up?"

Alice leapt into action, Toby close behind. Mercurio darted down two flights of stairs and into a narrow rabbit-warren of corridors lined with cables and pipes. There was a deep throbbing sound coming from somewhere. Mercurio took a few more turns, completely disorientating Alice and Toby, and finally stopped at thick steel door at the very end of a narrow tunnel.

"Why is his office so far away?" Alice gasped.

"Because of the open portal, of course. If anything does get out, it has to be contained as quickly as possible. Fortunately that hasn't happened yet." Mercurio grinned. There was a huge iron knocker on the door shaped like a dragon with a ring in its jaws. The tree-boy slammed it down a couple of times.

"Go away – I'm busy!" rasped a metallic voice.

"It's Mercurio, sir – I've brought a couple of visitors for you-"

"Make an appointment!"

"Sir – Alice says she has some important information about William Holloway's Grimoire! She knows where it is! She's seen it! And some people are using it to communicate with the Immaterium right now!"

There was no answer from behind the door. Alice held her breath. Toby growled again. It really was starting to smell very doggy around here. Then came the sound of several bolts being shoved across. The door swung open and Professor Abbacus poked his head out. There was a cloud of steam around it. "Did you say you'd seen Holloway's Grimoire?" he grated.

Alice nearly yelped again. She had forgotten just how strange the Professor looked. And now he was right in her face! He had one normal looking blue eye, that regarded her intensely, and one huge round metal thing bolted to his head with a blood-red light inside. More sweet-smelling steam wafted from the grille where his mouth should have been. He smelled like oil and hot steel and hydraulic fluid.

Toby growled again, but this time it rose into a howl. Alice leapt back as the boy burst out of his shirt, rising almost to the ceiling. Thick pale brown hair burst from his shoulders and back and his ears extended to points high above his head. His mouth and nose lengthened into a snout and dagger-like fangs bristled from his massive jaws. Enormous claws sprouted from his fingertips, shining wickedly in the half-light and his eyes narrowed, becoming bestial and hungry. He was now so big and hairy that he filled up most of the corridor, trapping Mercurio and Alice at the end.

A dreadful growl burst from deep inside his enormous chest as his gaze swept across the terrified children, and a red tongue as big as a washcloth flopped out in anticipation of a feast on fresh meat.

* * * *

Chapter 11

" _What the hell were you thinking, bringing an untrained were down here?"_ Professor Abbacus roared at Mercurio.

"I didn't know he was so close to changing, sir!" Mercurio shouted back. Abbacus growled something and darted back into his office.

Oh, you _liar,_ Alice thought, wondering what to do.

Then Professor Abbacus burst from the room carrying what looked like a fire-extinguisher. Before Alice could open her mouth to question, he had doused Toby in a misty white fluid that smelled like window cleaner. Almost immediately the angry wolf boy calmed and slumped to his haunches, whining softly. With all his bristling fur wet against his body he looked more confused than frightened.

"It'll disorientate him for a few minutes, but won't settle him forever. It's a full moon outside, in case you didn't notice!" Abbacus growled at Mercurio. "Hold this." He shoved the canister into the tree-spirit's arms. "Spray him if he moves. I need to call Longenfang."

He disappeared back into his office and slammed the door.

"I didn't think he'd shift so quickly," Mercurio moaned.

"You did mention that he looked close to changing," Alice reminded him.

Toby whined, shaking his massive head from side to side as though trying to clear it.

"What on Earth is that stuff, anyway?" Alice gasped.

"This?" Mercurio lifted the canister. "Beats me. Abbacus has all sorts of weird concoctions and formulas in his office, stuff he uses on demons and demonically possessed creatures. He is the Science Master after all!"

The office door opened and Professor Abbacus stomped back out, not looking happy. Although Alice suspected he never looked happy. Mercurio handed him the fire extinguisher. "Professor Longenfang will be here in a minute," he grated at the boy. "Get yourself up to Madam Nocturna's office. She'll want to talk to you about your irresponsibility in allowing an unprotected, uninitiated were to wander the grounds! I expected more maturity from a prefect!"

Mercurio hesitated.

"Um – sir-" Alice tried to interrupt and explain that the situation was partially her fault, but Abbacus drowned her out with a thunderous:

" _Now,_ tree-spirit!"

Mercurio fled, leaving Alice alone with the Professor and the drooling wolf. Toby started to shake himself and struggle to his feet. An angry expression started to creep across his face. Abbacus hosed him again, hitting him right between the eyes. Toby yelped in pain, falling on his backside.

"Come on, is that really necessary?" Alice cried.

The professor turned on her, steam hissing from the grille over his mouth. "Would you rather he tore you from neck to belly and ate your innards?"

"Icarus, that's quite enough!" bellowed a deep voice. "You and your confounded chemicals!" Professor Albrecht Longenfang came thundering down the corridor on all fours. He was far too big to stand upright. Alice supposed he wasn't in human form in case he needed to subdue Toby. "Leave the poor boy alone!"

"If he eats a student, _you_ can explain it to their parents!" snarled Abbacus.

Longenfang sniffed Toby all over, grimacing at the smell of the noxious substance Abbacus had sprayed on him. "I see you've added more wolfsbane to the mix," he growled.

"Wolfsbane has always worked the best."

Professor Longenfang helped Toby find his feet. He crooned something in the boy's pointed ear, and it seemed to settle him down. "Sorry lad, but you're going to need a bath. I'll take care of him now. Does his family know he's here? He may have to stay a few days until he acclimatises to his new form."

"I have no idea. Ask the girl who came in with him."

Alice backed up a few steps as the Professor's huge grey eyes focused on her. He sniffed her up and down with his enormous nose. His mouth was so big her entire head could have easily fitted inside it. And all those needle-sharp teeth would have made it a very uncomfortable experience! "Um..."

"Well? Speak up, vampire girl! Who knows you are here?"

"Uh, no one!"

"Why are you here, anyway? You're not a student here!"

"I ... I am enrolled. I start next year. I ... I'm here because I have some important information for Professor Abbacus. About some Immaterium activity going on in the town." Alice could see her wonderful future at the Nocturnal Academy flying away. Would she be expelled before she even began? What about poor Mercurio? If he lost his prefect status because of her, she would never forgive herself!

But Professor Longenfang's angry expression faded, and he nodded his enormous head. "Very well. I'll contact the boy's parents and explain things."

He led Toby away.

"You had better not be wasting my time, girl," Professor Abbacus growled at Alice. "I am in no mood to be mucked about any more tonight. Come into my office." He stomped back through the door. Gulping down her fear, Alice followed. She remembered what Mercurio had said about the open portal, but although Abbacus' office was huge and strange and full of weird and wonderful contraptions, she couldn't see any sign of it.

"Sit." Abbacus waved a steely hand at a metal chair in front of a large desk, also made of metal. It seemed everything in here was metal, glass or wood, with no soft edges or corners. Devices clicked and whirred on high shelves. Fluorescent lights buzzed in tangles of wires high above. Strange substances bubbled through masses of tubes and plopped into vials and flasks of all sizes. It truly was the strangest place Alice had ever been in. When the Professor turned his weird eyes on her, she wanted to get up and flee. But she gulped her fear down. This was important!

"Well?" Abbacus prompted. "I don't have all night! Tell me where you saw Holloway's Grimoire. I've only been searching for it for the last fifty years!"

"Er – my Dad's girlfriend Janice had it on Saturday. I saw it in her bag."

"How did you know it was Holloway's?"

"Er – I thought the book looked really unusual, so I took a peek. It – it was called "Beyond the Portal", and it was by William Edgar Holloway. It has all these weird pictures inside."

Abbacus' single visible eye gleamed. "You saw inside?" he whispered, with none of his earlier brusqueness.

"Yes – I did flick through it while no-one was watching. But as soon as I heard Janice and Dad moving about, I put it back."

"This Janice – do you know where she found the book?"

"In the old cider factory."

"I've been looking there for years!" Abbacus growled, starting to lose his temper again.

"Um – Janice and some tourists found a secret room, where they reckoned they saw some ghosts. They \- they found the book in there ... sir." She felt awkward calling him 'sir', but he would be one of her teachers, wouldn't he? And she used to think Mrs. Henderson was weird!

"A secret room!" Abbacus exploded. He leapt to his feet and started clanking around the room, his battered leather coat flapping like batwings around him. "That would explain it! No wonder I never found anything!" He rounded on Alice. "This Janice – does she work in the cider factory?"

"Not exactly. She's a guide for the Appleton Tourist Information Bureau. She conducts the ghost tour."

"Aha." Abbacus lifted a gloved finger. Alice wondered just how much of him was flesh under that enormous coat. She wasn't sure she wanted to find out! "Do you know if Janice has been using the book for what it was created for?"

"Um ... yes. She and some friends have been conducting séances. They think they are speaking to friendly ghosts."

Abbacus said a really bad word. Alice jumped. "That just made everything ten times worse! Alice, you have to try and get that book."

"M-me?" she gasped.

"Well, I certainly can't do it. I'm not allowed to sneak into people's houses. Even with a glamour on. It's against the rules." He sounded disappointed.

"But .... But I can't! I'm just..." she tailed off, not knowing how to continue.

"Just a what? A little girl? You said you were enrolled. You are now a member of the Nocturnal Academy. Students like you take risks all the time in the fight to stop evil. You said yourself that you know this Janice and have seen the book. You are in a perfect position to take it and bring it back here as fast as possible. Before something really bad happens."

"Something ... really bad?" she squeaked.

"Before those demons Janice and her idiot friends started communicating with break through and start possessing people! Believe me, it's happened before. Remember the Great Appleton damburst of 1987?"

"Um – that was before my time, sir!" Alice gulped. Somehow she would have to get herself invited to her father's place this weekend. "B-but I'll do my best."

"You'd better, or there'll be hell to pay. Literally. Look, I can monitor weak spots from my office and that old cider factory has been a soft site for years. But if a rupture does occur, I can't move quick enough to stop the monsters from pouring through. That's why it's best to prevent it from happening. At least you showed enough maturity to bring this to my attention. For that I might even forgive that little fracas outside and let that silly tree-spirit Mercurio off the hook. Good prefects are so hard to find. The last truly brave one got herself sucked into the Immaterium. Terrible shame."

Alice bowed her head. "Yes sir."

He hunted around his desk for a few seconds, then found a really old notepad with yellowed pages. Then he had to search for a pencil. He swore again. When he finally found a tiny stub in the bottom of a drawer, he scrawled down a number. He ripped the sheet off and handed it to Alice.

"My direct number. Don't you dare give it to anyone else. Call me as soon as you have the book in your possession, and I'll arrange a meeting to get it off you. Now off you go." He made a shooing motion.

Alice got up and hurried from the Professor's office. Her head spun. What a bizarre experience! She simply had to be dreaming! She stood in the dark corridor for a few minutes, trying to get her breath back, then headed back the only way she could. She hoped she could find her way through the rest of the rabbit warren of passages upstairs.

But at the big iron-studded door where Mercurio had punched in that code stood the tree-spirit himself, looking sheepish. "Madam Nocturna said I'm to escort you out when you're finished," he mumbled.

"It's okay, Mercurio – Professor Abbacus said you're off the hook. The news I had for him made his day. Unfortunately he's given me a little job to do, and I'm not sure how to go about it..."

Mercurio brightened at the news. "That's good, because Madam Nocturna was threatening to remove my prefect status as soon as she had the full story." He scowled at the thought. "I worked long and hard to get this far. Oh well – come on." He led her back through the passages and out of the building. It must have been class-change time, because Alice had noticed other students out, scurrying through the halls and across the grass outside. Some hadn't bothered returning to human form, and Alice jumped at the sight of various animal spirits loping along, clutching their books between their teeth!

Mercurio noticed the direction of her stare. "They must be running late. Much faster to move as an animal. So – what's the job Abbacus has given you? It seems a bit slack, assignments before you even start. But he's always been a harsh teacher. He assigned a fifty page essay once. I still have nightmares about it."

Alice wasn't sure how much to reveal, then she remembered he had been there when the Grimoire was mentioned. "He wants me to get Holloway's spellbook off my Dad's girlfriend."

Mercurio stared. "He doesn't ask much, does he? Let's hope your Dad's girlfriend doesn't realise the book's importance."

Alice sighed. "That's the problem. I think she does."

Mercurio gaped. "Oh dear. You're right, that is a problem. Especially if she summons up the Demon Prince Vladrakov."

"Who?" Alice gasped. She remembered that name from her vampire book.

"He's a very powerful Immaterial spirit who's caused us lots of problems over the years. I've heard there are detailed instructions to call him at the very end of Holloway's book. So the sooner you can get it, the better."

Alice felt sick. "I'm not sure I'm cut out for this."

"Old Abbacus must be banking on the fact your Dad's lady friend doesn't truly realise what she's got." They reached the gates. "Well – good luck Alice! You might need it!"

"Thanks," Alice mumbled. "Well, I'll be seeing you – I hope! Oh, and before I go, tell Desdemona to check her messages. I've been trying to get hold of her, but her phone's never on."

"No phones allowed on during class times. Abbacus has made sure of that. They blow up otherwise! That's how Puppy Robbins lost all the hair on his face."

"'Puppy'? I bet he hates that nickname!"

"You'd better believe it. Longenfang called him that during first year because he was mucking around, chasing his own tail, and it stuck. Even though he's almost as big as Longenfang now, he's still referred to as Puppy." Mercurio giggled. "Well, I've got some serious crawling to do now, so I'll be off." He waved.

Alice stepped through the gates onto the gravel outside. They clanged shut and Alice watched Mercurio hurry back towards the main building.

Alice turned towards home under an enormous full moon. She figured it was now early morning but she didn't feel tired. However she knew if she didn't get at least some sleep she would feel awful in the morning. But her mind was spinning in circles around the enormous task Abbacus had given her. Somehow she had to get back to her father's place, find Holloway's spellbook, and then bring it to Professor Abbacus. What if she wasn't allowed to visit? What if she was, but Janice no longer had the grimoire? What if she and her weird circle of friends called up the big nasty demon before she could stop them?

Now she wanted to throw up.

One step at a time, she told herself. One step at a time. Face each problem as it comes. She took a couple of deep breaths to calm herself, then started the walk home.

* * * *

Chapter 12

When Mrs. Dibble yanked open the curtains the next morning, Alice screamed as searing light burned her skin and scrambled desperately under the covers. "Mum! Too much light! I'm not kidding!"

"It's time to get up, Alice – I've banged on the door three times now! I don't need any mucking around this morning – I have an important job interview! Now get up!" She pulled on Alice's quilt. Luckily Alice was now strong enough to hold it over her. She was sure she could smell smoke. The morning sunlight shafted right into her room!

"Just close the blinds, and then I'll get up! I was up late reading, and my eyes really hurt!"

Marlene grumbled, but did as Alice wanted. "If I get this job, you'll have to start waking yourself up!" She stomped out of the room, clearly not in a good mood. Alice lifted the blanket a fraction. It was bright, but not unbearably so. She got up and groped around for the bottle she had come to call her Sunblock 5000. Even though the curtains were thick and closed, enough light still seeped in to cause Alice pain. She unstoppered the little flask, then it slipped from her shaking fingers and plopped onto the carpet.

"Oh no! You rotten thing!" She dropped to her hands and knees, scrambling for the bottle before all its contents could be lost. But only a few drops had escaped from the special lip. It was like a soy sauce bottle her mother owned. Breathing a sigh of relief, she upended another day's dose into her mouth. That strange feeling of cloaking enveloped her once more. Then she struggled into her school uniform, collected her bag and the vampire book, and hurried downstairs.

Because her mother was a whirlwind of activity upstairs, getting ready for her new job, Alice had to fetch her own breakfast. She wolfed it down, marvelling at how good the boring old porridge tasted this morning. Usually it was like eating glue. Then she hurried off to school.

She spotted Chunky and Stan in the playground and managed to duck out of sight before they saw her. With her enhanced hearing she could clearly follow their conversation;

"...Haven't seen him yet, dude. Wonder what's happened to him?"

"He's probably just running late. I expect he'll show up for roll call. Though I dunno what all the fuss is, making us come to school so late in the year. We're not doin' any real work, are we?"

"Whatta you worried about real work, anyway? You haven't done anything the whole year 'cept pick your nose!"

The boys started scuffling, and Alice dived into the library for a quick twenty minutes of reading before the bell. She wanted to go over the information about Vladrakov. She checked his name in the index, but found only the passing references to him that she had already read.

Then she remembered what Professor Abbacus had said about the Great Appleton Damburst of 1987. Perhaps there was something about it in the school library. Shoving the vampire book back into her bag, she hurried over to the computer. Thankfully no one was using it this morning. Opening up the library's database, she typed in "Appleton Damburst" under "Search" and waited. 5 results came up, in two mouldy old history texts, and 3 newspapers. The papers had been scanned in and could be accessed through the database. Alice called them up and started reading the articles.

She realised she had heard about the damburst before, during some boring history lesson earlier on in the year. But like most kids in her class she hadn't paid much attention. Mrs. Henderson simply didn't know how to make history interesting. Unless she included gory battles, none of the boys listened, and always started some sort of fight. The end of term test had asked only one question; "when did the Great Appleton Damburst occur'?

It seemed the Appleton dam, located to the northwest of town, had been filled almost to overflowing during a particularly wet winter in 1987. The mayor had been worried about weak spots in the dam wall, but couldn't do anything about them now the lake was so full. Then, after midnight on July 27, the weak wall burst sending an enormous deluge of water plunging down onto Appleton. Apple harvests were ruined. Houses were flooded and destroyed. Nearly all the caravans in the Jonathan Mobile Home Park were washed away. Five people drowned as their cars were swept into the river.

Immediately after the disaster, as people struggled to rescue beloved possessions and pets stuck up in trees, all kinds of weird things started happening. Strange lights appeared in the sky, and dozens reported eerie laughter like thunder. Five different individuals claimed they had seen a huge, evil face appear above the old cider factory. Then, for the first time in almost fifty years, it snowed in the middle of town, and the floodwaters turned into thick, dark ice that took weeks to melt completely. Some people were convinced the end had come, and a local preacher attracted a record following when he started on about the Apocalypse. People left the town in droves.

Even though many of the fields around it were ruined, the old cider factory, on its little hill, was one of the very few buildings left completely unharmed.

Alice shivered. She would have to ask her parents what they remembered about the disaster. Had it really been caused by the demon Vladrakov? All the newspaper articles said the damburst was the mayor's fault, because he hadn't looked into the dam's weaknesses earlier. He was forced to resign in disgrace.

Now the Appleton dam was at fifteen percent capacity and still falling. Water was being trucked in from nearby towns. There didn't seem to be an end to the drought in sight.

The bell rang and she was forced to log out.

Somehow Alice managed to muddle through the day without attracting any trouble. Her glamour mightn't have worked on Chunky, Stan or Carla, but they didn't make her life too difficult. Chunky and Stan were actually worried about Toby, who never showed up, and Carla was too busy showing off her expensive new Prada schoolbag.

I sure hope someone covers that in dog poop, Alice thought. She headed home and arrived at a dark, deserted house. Luckily she had her own key for just such an emergency. I wonder how Mum went at her job interview, she thought. She used the opportunity to dial up her Dad. He didn't start work until four thirty.

He picked up after five rings. "Hello?" he answered tiredly.

"Dad, it's me – Alice. How are you?"

"Alice!" he perked up almost immediately. "What's up Sweetie?"

"Um, well, I was wondering if I could come over this weekend, since I won't be seeing you over Christmas or all of January."

"I'd love to see you, Allie, but I'm working three nights this weekend. I won't be able to spend a lot of time with you."

Alice had to think fast. "Is there any night this week you're not working? I could come over for one evening."

"Well, I'm free on Thursday night. You're welcome to come for the evening. But you still have to go to school on Friday, don't you?"

"I can catch the bus. It's not a problem."

"Have you asked your Mum yet?"

"Ah ... not yet. But I don't think she'll mind. She's been pretty busy lately. Did you know she had a job interview today?"

"Really? What for?"

"Umm..." Alice was stumped. Marlene hadn't told her any details! "I don't know! I guess I'll find out soon enough – I can hear her car! Bye Dad – call you later!" She hung up.

Marlene Dibble came in red-faced and excited about her new day. She said that she had done so well at the job interview that they wanted her to start right away!

"So what is the job?" Alice gasped.

"I'm working on the reception counter at the Appleton Leagues club!" she answered proudly. "Harry helped me to get the job. I shouldn't have any problem making ends meet now."

"Ah," Alice answered, stunned by the news. "So ... um, when I can I meet this Harry fellow?"

Marlene smiled, her eyes sparkling. "Soon," she promised. "He's a very busy man, but I'll see if I can drag him away one evening. He said he wants to meet you."

"Oh, of course," Alice answered with more confidence than she felt. She knew from experience that adults who said stuff like that usually couldn't think of anything to ask a kid past 'so ... how's school?" Although she'd been having disturbingly detailed conversations with Janice. Ah, that reminds me. "Mum – is it okay if I see Dad on Thursday night this week?"

"Thursday? Don't you have to go to school on Friday?"

"Yes, but the bus runs right past his building," she lied. "I can just catch it in the morning. Come on Mum – I won't see him in January at all."

"I don't like the sound of you catching the bus by yourself. You've never caught it before."

"Please?" Alice mentally begged her mother to say yes because she was old enough, and suddenly she did.

"Oh alright, I think you're mature enough!" She smiled.

Almost my exact thoughts, Alice thought, stunned by her mother's quick turnaround. Then she wondered if she had somehow willed Marlene to say yes. With the power of her mind. She shivered at the thought. Controlling minds was scary. "Thanks Mum."

Stage one complete, she thought as she headed off to wash for dinner. Now she had to figure out how to get the book off Janice without her noticing.

Toby wasn't at school the next day either. Because she didn't want to ask anyone, and have them think she was actually concerned about him, she tried to listen in on a conversation between Chunky and Stan at recess.

"His Mum said 'he's sick' and left it at that," Chunky complained to his mate. "She wouldn't tell me anythin', the old bat!"

"Oh, his Mum's a mad old cow at the best of times, makin' him go to that snotty school on the hill and always on at him to wear long sleeves and a hat in case he gets burnt. We should just show up this afternoon. I'm sure he'd be happy to see us."

"I dunno, Stanley. He's been acting like a total freak lately. He never joins in when we hassle Malice any more. And I swear I saw him talkin' to her. Like a normal person. And I dunno if you've noticed, but I think he's growin' a moustache."

"Oh, you're jokin' man!"

"Boys, Malice is eavesdropping!" crowed a high-pitched voice.

Oh no – Carla Hightower! Alice realised she had nowhere to run, and ducked further down behind the bushes shielding her.

The two boys jumped to their feet and headed straight for her hiding place. Carla followed, a big triumphant grin spread across her fat face. Alice realised they would find her, and willed herself to turn to mist. Nothing happened. It was as though something was holding her in place, something that was supposed to be protecting her.

The Luminos Potion was stopping her!

Time to leg it, she thought. She leapt to her feet and burst out of the foliage as the boys ran up to the bushes. Fortunately, her enchanted shield didn't prevent her from sprinting like a Melbourne Cup horse. Some of the language that reached her ears was truly foul. She didn't want to think about what the boys would do to her if they caught her. Now Carla was caught up in their nastiness as well!

Alice rejoined the main playground crowd, and her three pursuers joined not long after. Had their eyes been lasers, the looks they shot her could have killed. She shivered, wondering what she could have possibly done to upset them so much.

Toby didn't return to school until Wednesday. Alice saw him with his friends when she walked through the front gate, and stopped in shock at the sight of him.

She was sure he hadn't been that tall before. Or that hairy. He was definitely sprouting a moustache now. He looked well into his teens! His school shirt was buttoned tight across his chest, threatening to split at the seams. Chunky and Stan were bombarding him with questions, and he looked like he wanted to run and hide in embarrassment. Chunky and Stan didn't see Alice as she crept past, but Toby did. He caught her eye and begged without words for her to rescue him.

But she hurried past, not wanting anything to do with the two thugs, and disappeared into the library.

However, he found her a few minutes later. "Ah, there you are!" he gasped as he stumbled across her secret reading place in amongst the shelves. She changed it every few days so the bullies wouldn't track her down.

"Toby!" she gasped. "You're enormous! You're almost as tall as my Dad!"

"Don't remind me! I really didn't want to come back here, but Mum insisted. If my uniform rips open, everyone will laugh!"

"Including me," Alice agreed. "So ... how did it go with Professor Longenfang?"

"He was great. He showed me how to meditate and control my changes that way. Unfortunately he couldn't do anything about the growth spurt. All weres are bigger than normal. Especially the rats. Something about animal hormones – I couldn't follow everything he told me. But he said I should be okay so long I stay indoors during the next few full moons. No more night time walks."

"Were you scared when you changed?"

"I was at first! All I wanted to do was run, and eat, and run and eat some more. Professor Longenfang told me I was very lucky he caught me before I lost control completely. Weres who go wild are extremely dangerous. They're like feral animals, only bigger and tougher. Imagine something the size of Professor Longenfang, rampaging around the countryside gobbling up everything in its path. He said once a were gets a taste for human flesh, he prefers it over all other meat."

Alice remembered how Longenfang had sniffed her up and down and shivered. "Do you remember changing down in the Academy basement?"

"Bits of it. That cyborg professor was down there, wasn't he?"

"Yes." Alice pulled a face. "He gave me an assignment. And I haven't even started there yet!" She explained how she had to steal a book from Janice, but didn't go into too much detail. She didn't entirely trust him. After all, he still hung around with Chunky and Stan. "Well ... I'm glad you're okay," she told him. "You had me pretty worried when you wolfed up back there. I thought I was going to be your first snack!"

He laughed. "I'm sorry I scared you."

Then the bell went.

Toby's school shirt lasted until lunch time, when the boys decided to play football on the oval. He dived for the ball and ripped the shirt from collar to tail. He had to borrow a new one from the lost property box. Chunky and Stan teased him mercilessly and started calling him "The Hulk". He started to look thoroughly irritated with the pair. Alice hoped he would tell them off, but he didn't. I wish you'd wolf up and eat _them,_ she thought during a moment of darkness.

The next afternoon, instead of walking home, Alice got on the school bus that took the kids back into town. Her father had asked her if she needed a lift from school, but she'd told him it was okay – she could make her own way to his flat.

But she hadn't counted on Chunky and Stan, who also caught the bus. As soon as she got on they started hooting and jeering. When Alice went to sit down on the first seat next to a little third-class girl, Chunky brayed; "Don't let her sit next to you! She has rabies!"

Even though everyone knew there were no rabid animals in Australia, the little girl still flinched away. The two boys howled with laughter.

"Oh, real mature," someone else declared, but the youths drowned him out with rude noises. Alice cringed, wishing she could make herself invisible to the boys. Why didn't her glamour work against them? What special talent did they have?

Chunky and Stan continued to gleefully harass Alice, making her trip into town seem like the longest journey she had ever taken. They were so loud and rude that everyone knew who she was by the end of the trip. Even kids who had nothing against her began to wonder if there was something wrong with her. Of course no one suspected that it was Chunky and Stan who had the problem. When the bus finally pulled to a stop just down from her father's street, Alice nearly leapt off. The hooting and jeering followed.

Chunky and Stan got off right behind her! Oh no, don't tell me they live around here, she thought with a dreadful sinking feeling in her stomach. She remembered how they had tried to attack her in the cinema. Would they try the same thing again out here? In broad daylight? Surely not!

But Alice had realised some time ago that Chunky and Stan were no longer thinking like normal boys. Something had made them crazy. Hunching into her shoulders, she started walking quickly towards her father's street. The main boulevard was very busy, but Fuji Street was narrow and quiet, with forbidding apartment blocks on either side. Even now they cast long shadows over the laneway. Alice heard some children playing in one of the yards, but couldn't see anyone nearby. The balconies seemed awfully distant, and the entrance to her father's block was dark and quiet – perfect for the youths to beat her to a pulp.

To make matters worse, he wasn't home. He had asked Janice to let her in.

Alice took a deep breath and hurried up to the flat. She stabbed the doorbell beneath her father's name, and then spun around to face Chunky and Stan. They sauntered towards her, hands in pockets, big grins on their faces –like they had all the time in the world. Alice had once thought those smiles were stupid. Now they looked as scary as a pair of sharks.

She was supposed to be a vampire, wasn't she? She was fast, yes, but was she strong? Could she stand up to these punks? Chunky probably weighed twice what she did, and Stan was tall and pretty beefy too.

"Don't look like anyone's home, Malice," Chunky jeered. "Don't worry – we'll keep you company 'till then." He moved in close, and Alice could smell his sweat. He smelled ... musky, like an animal. But not like Toby. Like ... something bad.

Alice drew herself up. "Okay you creeps. I give up. I don't know what I've done, but I've had enough. If it's a fight you want, you've got it."

The pair hooted with laughter. "There won't be a fight, you stupid witch." Only Chunky didn't say 'witch'. "There'll be a slaughter. And no-one'll be any the wiser, 'cause we've got the glamour too. No-one saw us get off the bus or follow you."

Alice's worry rose to become genuine fear. A dreadful shiver ran the length of her spine. "What have I done?" she asked, trying to keep her voice from trembling.

Chunky and Stan snickered again. "You are the enemy," Chunky declared, and Stan nodded. Then something flashed in his dark eyes, and a huge fist swung towards her. Alice saw it, but only just managed to dodge. The big brute was almost as fast as her! Then Stan came in with a kick and Alice leapt into the air. Suddenly, the icy terror that had clamped down around her heart flared white hot. She wasn't afraid any more. She was angry. And with her anger came speed.

Alice danced and leapt, avoiding the boys' fists. Then she managed to duck under a wild swung and land a good, solid punch in Chunky's guts. Unfortunately, that was where he had the most padding. He grunted, but didn't fall, and then he got angrier as well. His eyes blazed with fury. The bestial smell Alice had noticed got stronger. It was coming from both punks now. Then a fist that seemed as big as a Christmas ham smacked into Alice's chin, knocking her to the floor. Before she could scramble up, thick-soled desert boots started crunching into her ribs. All the air whooshed from her lungs. She curled up, covering her head as she struggled to breathe. But the attacks kept coming. They weren't even going to let her get up to give her a chance. She wondered what passers-by would see. A girl, curled up on a doormat of a unit block, looking like she was sleeping. She could only hope that someone would come and ask if she was alright...

* * * *

Chapter 13

" _What are you doing?"_ called a loud voice. Suddenly the boys leapt away from Alice. But she remained curled up, unable to believe the pummelling was over at last. "Are you _insane?"_

"She's the enemy!" Chunky retorted, in a voice so whiny Alice looked up in surprise. She could breathe now, but the air felt like knives in her throat. Her whole body ached.

She couldn't believe her eyes. Janice was striding across the grass towards them. She did not look happy. How on Earth did she manage to see through the boys' glamour? Alice wondered.

Then Janice did something even more surprising. She slapped Chunky across the cheek. The big, husky boy actually staggered back, falling on his backside on the dried-out grass. Stan simply stood off to one side with a dumb look on his face. "You idiots! You stupid, stupid _idiots!_ Not only is this the wrong time, but Alice here happens to be my boyfriend's daughter."

"Oh we didn't know!" Chunky continued in the same pathetic whine. Alice slowly picked herself up, unable to believe that she had actually been scared of such a loser.

Janice stepped forward and slapped him again. "You're going to mess everything up!" she hissed. "If our plan goes to pot I'm blaming you!" She glared at Stan. "I should have expected you to go along with him! You don't have a mind of your own, do you?"

"Duhhh..." Stan tailed off, proving her right.

Alice's pain had ebbed to a dull ache. She straightened carefully, wondering if she had been granted fast healing powers. She certainly didn't feel as bad as she should have.

"They told us to be careful, to keep a low profile and above all to keep our knowledge secret. And what do you do? Use your new abilities to beat up a vampire girl! I still can't wrap my head around your total stupidity."

Is this the same Janice who giggles uncontrollably and wears pom-pom slippers with heels? Alice wondered in confusion. The tour guide certainly didn't look like a bimbo now! And her voice was so deep and commanding! Chunky and Stan looked positively in awe of her.

Janice glanced at Alice and saw that she'd recovered. She ushered the boys across the grass towards the footpath, to where she thought they would be out of earshot. She might have known that Alice was a vampire, but she had no idea how strong her senses were. Alice could still hear them clearly.

"I want you two thugs to get your fat, smelly butts home right now! You're to leave this girl alone from now on! Better to have her with us than against us, do you hear me?"

"Yes Janice," Chunky and Stan chorused in quiet little voices. Alice had never seen them so well behaved. They didn't even give Mrs. Henderson so much respect.

"Now I have to undo all the damage you caused. How long have you been picking on Alice?"

"Oh, only since we found out she was a vampire girl!"

Liars, Alice thought.

Janice glared at the youths, and they seemed to wither under her glare. Stan cracked first. "Chunky started pickin' on her in first grade, Janice."

Chunky swore at Stan. "You helped!" The two boys started shoving each other. Janice grabbed each by a collar and knocked their heads together. There was a distinctly hollow bang.

"Owww!" they complained.

"You morons! Out of my sight!" She pointed, and they ran off like frightened dogs. "And don't even _think_ about coming back tonight!"

Alice massaged her forehead. She was glad Janice had scared Chunky and Stan off, but she now realised that her job had just become a lot harder.

Janice's new powers meant that she had been studying the grimoire. She knew what it could do for her. Alice doubted she would just hand it over. She would have to work out some way to steal it. Now, if only she actually had it on her... Alice hoped it was in the large, embroidered bag over Janice's shoulder.

"Unbelievable," she growled under her breath as she stomped over to Alice. "Are you alright?" she asked kindly. Alice stared at her. There didn't appear to be any hint of hatred in her eyes. Alice dropped all protection, trying to look into Janice's mind, but she couldn't read any thoughts at all. She was well and truly protected.

"I'm fine now," Alice answered carefully. "I take it ... you didn't get around to having that little talk with him."

"What?" Janice was confused. "Oh – oh dear! I'm so sorry Alice! I completely forgot you told me about him and Stan already! I've been so busy!" She looked genuinely upset. "Now I feel their behaviour today was partially my fault." She groaned heavily. "If only I'd spoken to them on Monday, when we last met, they wouldn't have attacked you today." She held out a hand to Alice. "Come on upstairs, and I'll make you something to eat."

Alice followed her into the building, struggling to work out a plan. She felt like everything was overtaking her. "So ... why did you call me a vampire girl?" she asked once they were safe inside her father's little unit. She hoped her matter-of-fact tone disguised her inner trembling.

Janice deposited her big bag on the couch and wandered into the kitchen. "The ghosts told me." she replied airily. "It's no use trying to hide your true nature. The ghosts have given me the power to see through glamours."

"The ghosts?" Alice gasped.

"Oh yes. They know a lot of what really goes on in this town. For example, did you know there's a werewolf boy who goes to your school? He changed the other night. And a girl with the potential to turn into a cat. And the mayor is actually a tree-spirit. Appleton is full of secrets. It's a hive of supernatural activity."

Alice sat down on the lounge beside Janice's bag. "Goodness!" She needed to get out of here. While Janice's back was turned she peered into the bag – and found a large folder labelled "Appleton Tourist Information Bureau", a lunchbox, wallet and water bottle. No leather-bound grimoire. Her stomach fell in defeat. Where was it? Stashed in the flat somewhere?

Janice brought in a plate of biscuits and two soft drinks, which she placed on the coffee table in front of Alice. "Now my sweetie, let's have a little talk, shall we?" She sounded kind but firm. She had well and truly shed her former airhead self. Alice began to suspect all that gushing and giggling had just been an act. The real Janice was as sharp as a razor-blade. "The rest of the Circle are coming over shortly, minus Chunky of course. He won't be allowed back in until he's grown up some more. Angela will be bringing the grimoire, which she's been studying this week, and we'll be communicating with the ghosts and trying some more spells." She slipped an arm around Alice's shoulders. It felt like a snake, about to crush her. "And I'd like it very much if you joined in. The Circle works best with six."

Alice stared at Janice in horror. "Oh no – I couldn't possibly! Did I ever tell you that I'm scared of ghosts?"

Janice laughed. "Don't be silly Alice – like I said before, these are friendly ghosts, like Casper!"

Oh, I bet they're not, Alice thought.

"Besides, you're a big, brave vampire girl now. Come on – it'll be fun."

"Uh uh – count me out. I really don't like the thought of messing around with magic circles – God only knows what will end up coming out."

"Alice – we're grown-ups. We know what we're doing." Janice took Alice's arm. Her fingers were ice-cold and as hard as steel. "There's no danger whatsoever. And the ghosts have so much to offer! Look what they've done for me already – I can see supernaturals such as you, and protect myself in the same way they do, so ordinary people can no longer see me. I am also stronger and faster than I was before. Just imagine what they can do for someone like you."

"I'm having enough trouble coping with what I have now, thanks."

"Think about it, Alice," Janice insisted. "You could be so much more. You could be even stronger and faster, with the power to shield yourself from even a supernatural's prying eyes. Imagine that! You could have beaten those boys, instead of curling in a ball and waiting for them to finish you."

Alice had to admit, Janice made the promises of power sound very tempting. "I don't suppose these 'ghosts' of yours give away such powers out of the goodness of their ...er, hearts?"

"Of course not, Alice – you might be young but you are pretty smart. You should realise that you never get something for nothing. But the price is very, very small. Little more than a trifle. The ghosts just want their freedom to return to Earth. They have been hovering in the cold and dark for so long, and they're so very lonely. They want to taste life once more. They want to be people again, to be solid and to touch things. To live, love and grow old, what they were denied when they lived the first time."

Oh, Janice was very, very good! If Alice hadn't known about the Immaterium she would have jumped at the chance. No wonder so many people fell victim to its influence! She could imagine what Chunky had been like, faced with his first offer of power. He would have been like a puppy with a huge bone dangling in front of it. "I still don't think-" Alice began. Janice's eyes flashed in sudden anger and she stopped in shock.

"Alice, I won't make this offer again. You must take it now."

Or suffer the consequences, Alice thought to herself. If you're not with us then you're against us, and you become the enemy. She realised that if she refused, Chunky and Stan, and possibly others would come after her. And with their new abilities they would probably defeat her. She sighed. Did she have the self-control to resist? Since Janice's friend Angela had the grimoire, she had to stick around. "Alright – I'm sorry. I guess I'm still a bit scared."

Suddenly, Janice was all smiles again. "Honestly Alice – there's no need to be. Like I said before, we know what we're doing."

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Janice jumped up and let in a plump woman with short brown hair. She would have looked quite motherly and friendly had it not been for the coldness in her small grey eyes. A coldness Alice knew had not been there before the "ghosts".

The woman was also carrying a large cloth bag, with a suspiciously grimoire-shaped object inside.

"Angie!" Janice gushed, and gave the large woman a hug. "Come and meet Alice – she's joining us tonight. She's George's little girl."

Little girl indeed, Alice thought as Angela glided over and gave her a big squeeze. "Welcome to our circle, Alice! You're in for a truly amazing experience. This won't be one of those silly fake séances you see on the TV, where they move glasses around a table and rap their knuckles to make knocking sounds – this will be the real thing. We speak to real ghosts."

Before Alice could respond, more people appeared in the doorway; a dark-skinned couple and a large youth who looked a lot like Chunky. Janice welcomed Sura, Sebastian and Wally with open arms, and introduced them to Alice.

"So you're Alice," Wally exclaimed. He didn't look at all happy to see her. 'Charlie's told me all about you."

Alice rose in anger. "Did he tell you about how he and Stan bashed me outside the units today?"

Janice grabbed Wally's arm, and he yelped in pain. She ignored him. "Wally, Alice is joining our circle. Your little brother had no right to do what he did, that's why I've banned him from the group. We are supposed to welcome all potential recruits, not use them as punching bags. Am I making myself clear?"

"Painfully," Wally gasped, trying to free his arm from Janice's vice-like grip.

"Did your thick little brother tell you that she is a vampire? And that it's far better to have a vampire working with us than against us?"

"No! Ow! You're really hurting me!"

"Really Wally! You're just as a big a sook as Charlie." She released him and he stumbled forward, rubbing his wrist. She had left red welts behind. "Now apologise to Alice and welcome her to our group!"

"I'm sorry," Wally mumbled without looking at her. He didn't say anything else. Bad manners must run in that family, Alice thought darkly.

Janice shut the front door and clapped her hands. "Now we don't have much time, so we'd best get started. Is the sun down yet?"

"Sunset was five minutes ago," answered the dark woman, Sura.

"Excellent!" Janice clapped her hands. "Angela? Have you read the relevant section of the grimoire?"

"Er, yes," Angela answered uncertainly, pulling the large, leather-covered volume out of her bag. Alice stared hungrily at it. "But it was pretty heavy going. Holloway has dreadful handwriting and he can't spell very well."

"Spell, ha ha, very funny," Alice said weakly. Everyone looked at her like she was weird. No sense of humour either, she thought and decided to clam up.

Angela plonked the big, thick book on the table and flipped it open. A familiar smell of dusty old paper wafted out. Janice craned forward to look. "Well, I hope you're up to it, Angie. I'd like you to lead the Circle tonight."

Angela gulped. "I'm not sure I'm ready, Jan."

"Of course you are. I have faith in you. And so do the spirits. They'll help you. Why, they practically take over in the end."

Oh, that really doesn't sound good, Alice thought, casting a glance over her shoulder at the door. Could she grab the book and run for it? Before these maniacs piled onto her like football players?

Professor Abbacus was counting on her.

"I'll give you a couple of minutes to go over the incantation while I get things ready. But we have to be quick. George is due back at nine, and we'll need everything packed up by then."

She started putting candles around the room. Alice noticed she was forming a circle.

Angela sat down with the book on her lap and started mumbling under her breath. Alice hovered uncertainly nearby. She would have to act before things got underway and those immaterial beings actually appeared. She wasn't sure if she had the power to resist them. Just because she was a vampire didn't make her immune, did it?

Janice lit the candles and then ignited an incense burner. A sweet smell of sandalwood started to fill the small unit. She dimmed the lights. Under normal circumstances Alice would have found it quite pleasant.

Then Angela put the book down and got up. "I think I need to use the little medium's room first!" She bustled off, and Alice seized her chance. Sura and Seb were muttering in a corner, Wally was in the kitchen sneaking one of George's beers, and Janice had her back turned.

Alice snatched up the grimoire. It felt heavier than before, and she almost dropped it. Then she bolted for the door. But a deadbolt must have slid across when Janice had slammed it before. Alice struggled with it – and Janice turned around in surprise.

"What are you doing, Alice?"

It was no use explaining. Alice managed to yank the door open and bolt out the door.

" _Stop!"_ Janice shouted.

Alice shoved the book under one arm and leapt down the stairs two at a time. When she reached the bottom, she was practically flying. But the others were hot on her heels. She heard several pairs of feet thundering down after her.

"Charlie was right, Charlie was right!" crowed Wally, somewhere at the back of the group. Alice reached the security door and yanked it open. Then she darted out across the grass in front of the unit block. The sky was dark above her now, with only a thin line of red in the west. Could she become mist and escape the group for good? She willed herself to change like she had that day in the cinema toilets.

At first she could feel her magical Sunblock protection tugging at her, holding her down like balloon sandbags. Then it broke away and she began to rise.

But something else started tugging at her. Holloway's grimoire. It seemed even heavier now, like a two-tonne lead weight. She realised the awful truth. She couldn't carry it with her!

Then Janice charged out of the building, followed by Sura, Seb, Wally and finally Angela, puffing heavily at the rear. They all looked angry enough to kill. Janice made a grab for the book, trying to tug it from Alice's hands. Alice had to abandon her misty escape attempt in order to hold onto it.

"No, no – I need it!" she gasped.

Suddenly, someone grabbed Alice from behind, wrapping thick, hairy arms around her shoulders. "She's against us! She has to die!" Wally hissed in an evil voice. Alice tried to elbow him, but he'd pinned her arms. She knew no one would come to help – the group would be protected by their own version of the glamour. Then Janice managed to yank the book from her grasp with a triumphant whoop.

"No Wally - we'll take her back upstairs and let the spirits decide her fate." She glared into Alice's eyes, and the girl only saw hate within. A hate that was truly out of this world. How much of the original Janice was left? How much remained of any of them? They all looked like slaves of the Immaterium now. Alice knew if they got her back upstairs she wouldn't be leaving.

At least not alive.

She struggled against Wally, stomping on his sneakered foot with one heel. But the ghosts had granted him superhuman strength, and he managed to hold onto her. Cackling like a comic-book villain, he began to drag her back to the flat. The others closed in around her, making sure she couldn't escape.

There was only one thing left for her to do. She concentrated and felt her solidity slip away. Wally was left clutching empty air.

"Hey!" he wailed in despair. The others tried to grab her, but their fingers flailed through nothingness.

"No, no!" Janice snarled. "She can't be doing this – she can't! She's just a newborn!"

But Alice was already soaring away into the cool night. The wind took her and carried her high into the sky, westward across the centre of town. She would have cried if she could have. She had failed.

* * * *

Chapter 14

When a wind gust dropped her low enough, she solidified, landed badly and rolled several metres across a rough, gravelled road. She landed in a ditch, which fortunately was dry.

"Oww!" she moaned. She lay for several minutes, sobbing and feeling sorry for herself. Then her pain and sadness melted into anger. Those rotten creeps! She was sure they would have killed her! Or let their spirits do something even worse!

Alice Dibble scrambled out of the ditch, brushing off her dirty, rumpled school uniform. She had come down in Appleton Park, a few hundred metres from her father's block. She could see bright lights through the trees and realised she was looking at the back of the Appleton Bowling club – where her father worked as a cook!

She had to tell him what was going on in his flat!

Alice took off at a run, moving through the night at full pace. Branches whipped her hands and face but she didn't care. Her enhanced vampire speed enabled her to reach the club only a minute later. Unfortunately, when she stumbled through the front entrance with leaves in her hair and her clothes scratched and dirty, a burly doorman immediately jumped out in front of her.

"Can I help you, young lady?" It was obvious he didn't want such a dirty little creature to take one step further!

Alice attempted to straighten her hair and school clothes. "I need to talk to my Dad – he works here in the bistro. His name is George Dibble. It's very important."

The doorman's hard face softened and Alice heaved a sigh of relief. He knew who she was talking about. He went back behind his desk and paged her father, asking him to come and see his daughter in the foyer. Alice waited nervously, hopping from one foot to the other.

"Are you okay?" the doorman asked her. "You look like you've been in a bit of trouble."

"It's alright – my Dad should be able to handle it, thanks."

George hurried out from the bistro, still wearing his white apron and cap. There was flour on his nose. "Alice!" he gasped on seeing her. "What happened? What are you doing here?"

"Dad, Janice and her pals are having a séance in your lounge room!" Alice blurted out.

" _What?!"_

Alice struggled to find a way of explaining that didn't involve her supernatural origins. "When I said I didn't think it was a good idea, they got really mad – and tossed me out of the unit! I ran all the way here!"

"You should have called me. Don't worry – I'll sort them out! Wait here – I'll be back in a sec."

Mr. Dibble ran back into the bistro, moving surprisingly quickly for someone of his impressive bulk. He tore off his apron and cap on the way. He returned a few minutes later, looking angrier than ever. "They owed me an early mark anyway. Come on Alice." He took his daughter downstairs, into the staff carpark under the club. Normally Alice would have had a go at him for driving such a short distance. Now she was glad he'd brought his car.

They were pulling to a stop outside the unit block just three minutes later. Mr. Dibble jumped out of his seat and didn't even bother locking up behind him. He bolted into the building, Alice following close behind. The sound of his key in the front door was the only warning Janice and her circle received of his arrival. When he flung the front door open they were caught red-handed, seated around the coffee table surrounded by candles. They were all holding hands.

There was a strange, ghostly white form floating in the air above the table. It looked like a small child with curly blonde hair. But then Angela broke the circle with a scream and the misty figure broke apart.

But not before everyone caught a brief glimpse of the ghost's true form. There was a tangle of slimy tentacles around a glaring red eye and a flash of yellow fangs. Then it was gone. A strange, foul smell hung in the air, like someone had just broken wind. Angela screamed again.

"How dare you!" George shouted, and Janice shrank back from his anger. "I tolerated your new interest in ghosts and spirits, but I warned you never to conduct your séances in here! And to throw Alice out of the flat! Out! _Out, all of you! I never want to see any of you again!"_

Alice stared at him in shock. He sounded close to tears. She had never heard her father cry.

Angela bolted for the door, genuinely frightened. Sura, Seb and Wally filed out like dogs with their tails between their legs. They looked more confused. Janice started putting out all the candles and incense.

"You too, Janice!"

"What?" She stared at him in horror. "You _can't_ be serious! I don't have anywhere to go tonight!"

"You should have thought of that before you started your little devil-worshipping session in here! And to throw Alice out!"

"We didn't throw her out! She ran off, tattling straight to Daddy the little brat!" Her eyes flashed, angry enough to kill.

George grabbed her by an arm and dragged her from the lounge. She might have had super-strength before, but it seemed to have left her. Mr. Dibble shoved her into the hallway with very little effort and slammed the door behind her. She howled in protest and started hammering on the door. "Let me in, let me in, George! At least let me get my book!"

Alice realised that Holloway's grimoire was still lying open on the coffee table! But her father grabbed the volume before she could react. He yanked the front door open and threw the book into Janice's arms. "You can take your stinking evil tome with you! When you decide to give up your silly magic circle I might consider letting you back in! But until then, _stay out!"_

He slammed the door in her face.

Alice couldn't believe her senses. Holloway's book had been right there! She couldn't take much more. She sank down on the lounge, still warm from where Sura and Seb had been sitting, and dissolved into tears.

"Oh sweetie, sweetie," George gasped, sitting down beside his daughter and putting an arm around her shaking shoulders. "It's okay, I'm here now. Everything's going to be alright."

But that just made Alice cry harder, because she knew that tomorrow Chunky and Stan would be trying to kill her again. And so would Janice and her Circle!

And then there was Professor Abbacus. What on Earth would he do to her because she'd failed him?

It seemed there was nowhere she could turn to for help. Finally she looked up, her eyes sore from crying. "I'm so sorry Dad – I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't mean for you and Janice to have such a fight! Please believe me."

He stared at her in concern. "Oh Alice – of course I believe you! That was all Janice's fault. She was fine before she became involved in all that raising the dead stuff. I thought I could tolerate it – I tried to be open minded. But I'm still old fashioned deep down inside, and I still believe in what I was brought up to believe in. Speaking with ghosts and spirits can only lead to evil. I hope you never become involved in such stuff."

Alice managed a weak smile. "You don't have to worry about me, Dad – I only met Janice a couple of times and I already saw a change in her."

"Yes, she used to be so sweet and girlish ... sort of like your Mum when we first met." He sighed wistfully. "Gosh, I hope she snaps out of it."

"Yeah," Alice agreed, and they lapsed into silence. The rest of the evening passed quietly. Alice asked if she could take Friday off school, and her father agreed. One day's grace, Alice thought. Then only one more week of school, and I can finally be free!

They watched a movie together. When it finished Alice waited until her father had showered and gone to bed, then crept out to call the number Professor Abbacus had given her. She really didn't want to speak to him, but didn't think she had any other choice. With trembling fingers, she punched in the number the Professor had given her. With her head pounding, she waited.

"Abbacus here. This had better be good," grated his distinctive voice.

"Umm – th-this is Alice Dibble," she stammered. "Re-remember me? You asked me to fetch a book for you."

"You'll have to speak louder – my hearing's been playing up since I accidentally drove into the Brooke River!"

"Alice Dibble, sir!" Alice cried.

"Ah. Did you get the book?"

She gulped. "Um ... no. There was a ... slight problem."

"Any problem resulting in me not getting my hands on that book isn't slight!" Abbacus snarled. "Explain!"

Alice dearly wanted to hang up and run for her life. But somehow she managed to blurt the story out. She knew the Professor was listening – she could hear a mechanical rasping on the other end. She made sure she left out the fact that her father had thrown the book at Janice before she could grab it. When she finished, the Professor swore. Alice winced. Unlike most of the kids in her form she rarely used bad language.

"I'm sorry sir – they got the better of me."

Abbacus sighed. "No ... you did the best you could under the circumstances. It seems that Circle is a lot further ahead than I thought. They have grasped the grimoire's true power and are hardly about to let it out of their sight now. It's only a matter of time before they link up for the last spell."

"A-and then what?" Alice gasped.

"Think Appleton Damburst, but ten times worse. Vladrakov will have his revenge."

"What can we do to stop it?"

"If we know exactly when the final spell will be cast, then we can stop it. But it sounds like this Janice and her Circle are going to be very secretive from now on."

"Yes sir. Dad threw her out and said he didn't want to talk to her until she gave up the Circle."

"Then they will never speak again. Once you become involved with the spirits of the Immaterium, they never release you. At least not of their own will." Abbacus gave a wheeze. "Since the Circle now know you're against them, your life is in danger."

Alice had suspected, but hearing Abbacus confirm her fears still sent a dreadfully cold shiver down her spine. She tried to respond but her throat closed up.

"I will arrange protection for you until the danger is over. But I fear, once Vladrakov returns, everyone will be in trouble. Expect someone at your address shortly. When they knock, ask 'friend or foe'. If they don't respond with 'A friend of the night, burning bright, with hope of the right' – don't let them in! Repeat what I just said."

"A ... a friend of the night, burning bright, with hope of the right!" Alice gasped.

"Good." Abbacus hung up. Alice nearly dropped the dead receiver. She was shaking all over, covered with icy sweat. He mightn't have chewed her head off, but his revelations had still shocked her to the core. If only she had managed to snatch that rotten book up off the table! If only she had been _faster!_

Now she was trapped in the dark with the rest of Appleton, waiting for the end of the world!

The buzzer next to the door went off, nearly scaring Alice out of what was left of her wits. She rushed over and pressed the button? "Yes?"

She heard nothing. Then she remembered what Abbacus had asked her to say. "Fuh-friend or foe?"

"A friend of the night, burning bright, with hope of the right," a girl's voice answered.

Whatever the heck that means, Alice thought to herself, and opened the door. She found herself looking at a familiar tall, thin girl with golden-brown hair.

"D-Desdemona?" she gasped. "Is that you?"

The vampire girl gave a reassuring smile. "Yes. Professor Abbacus asked me to watch over you."

"He said there are some very dark forces at work in Appleton right now."

Desdemona flipped a delicate hand. "According to Abbacus there are always dark forces at work in Appleton! Scarcely a day goes past without him chasing up a spirit sighting, allegation of Immaterial corruption or unholy plague of darkness. In case you haven't realised, Professor Abbacus is a panic-monger. He thrives on danger."

"He did say there was a distinct possibility that Vladrakov is being brought back."

"I guess that is a little more serious. But don't worry – the Nocturnal Academy has been fighting him for years. And Abbacus managed to banish him last time, when he showed up during the damburst of 1987."

Alice's head spun. "Abbacus sent him back?"

"All the professors can do banishings but he's the expert." Desdemona unshouldered a large backpack and started rummaging around inside. "Just give me a few minutes – I'll have everything set up."

"Set up for what?"

"Our direct link. So I can keep an eye on you without physically following you around."

"Oh..." Alice had thought that Dessie would be doing exactly that!

Dessie seemed to read her mind. "That would be hard to explain, wouldn't it?"

"I ... I guess so." Alice flopped down into her father's couch and watched the girl take a metal box from her bag. It was covered with lights and dials, and looked like it had come straight out of Professor Abbacus' lab. She twiddled a few knobs. "Alice, I need you over here so I can calibrate it to your DNA."

Alice got up on shaky legs. "This won't hurt, will it?"

"Of course not. But you may feel a slight buzzing sensation. Hold still." Dessie held the little machine up to Alice and a small radar-dish sprang out of the top. It spun around a few times before settling on Alice with a hum. She felt a vibration through her body almost immediately. Still holding the device, Dessie walked around Alice, then passed it up and down. "Just making sure of all your details – ah! That's a lock." She poked a few more buttons then shut the thing down. "Now you're directly linked to me. You can speak to me any time you want, and if you need my help, just call. In turn, I can communicate directly with you."

"Can we see each other?"

"If you concentrate. There's a trick to it. You have to look sideways."

"What, like this?" Alice tilted her head.

"Not literally. This device has created a dimensional tunnel between us, existing at right angles to this reality. If you're looking for it, it helps to try and look at the tip of your own nose."

Alice rubbed her forehead.

"Don't worry – it's easy once you know how. Now I really must be getting back – I have double PE in five minutes, and Longenfang gets really angry if you're late. He makes you do laps! Will you be alright?"

"I ... I think so," Alice managed, still overwhelmed.

"Excellent!" Dessie stuffed the machine back into her bag. Then she just stepped into nothingness.

"Dessie!" Alice gasped.

_I'm back at the Academy,_ came a disembodied voice that Alice felt rather than heard. _Don't worry – in the grand scheme of things I'm still in the room with you._

Alice still had so many questions, but she didn't want to bug Dessie anymore. She went back to the lounge and sank down. She tried to focus on the end of her nose like Dessie had instructed but only succeeded in giving herself a headache. Then exhaustion finally got the better of her and she fell asleep on the lounge.

* * * *

Chapter 15

Alice begged to be allowed to take the last week of school off, but Marlene insisted she go. So she trudged onto the grounds of Appleton Primary the next Monday, expecting to be ambushed by Chunky and Stan as soon as she passed through the gates. They appeared when she reached the library steps, but they didn't say a word. They just stared at her, and their eyes were cold. She wondered what Janice had said to them. What had they been told to do?

They didn't harass her during class either. Nor did they seek her out during recess or lunch! When Alice asked Toby if he knew what was going on, the wolf-boy simply shrugged his enormous shoulders. "They're not talking to me either. I think they suspect something's up with me too."

Alice wanted to tell him all about her horrible experience, but she didn't catch him alone until the end of lunch. "I need to talk to you – follow me home this afternoon, okay?"

"Sure thing, but Mum's got me on a really tight leash now – ha ha," he added when he realised what he'd said. "She thinks I'm turning into a delinquent!"

Alice hurried from school as soon as the bell went. She'd asked Toby to accompany her because she really wanted to talk to him, but also to help in case Chunky and Stan came after her.

But the youths didn't follow her, and when she reached Pink Lady Lane and checked over her shoulder, she saw only Toby hurrying to catch up with her. "Any sign of your old maters?" she asked.

"None. They caught the bus into town like normal. So, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Chunky and Stan are involved in something really nasty," Alice began. "My Dad's girlfriend – ex-girlfriend now – found an evil magic book and started a magic circle with a group of others, including Chunky and his big brother Wally. They've been summoning up spirits from the Immaterium."

Toby stared at her like she was crazy.

"I'm serious!" Alice cried. "It's because of these creatures that Chunky and Stan have been behaving so badly towards me! The spirits have been telling them that I'm the enemy and must die! Their minds have been taken over!"

"You're telling the truth, aren't you?"

"Why would I lie?" Alice yelled. "For pity's sake, Toby – you can see the change in them, can't you? Their natural stupidity and liking for violence made them easy targets for the Immaterium spirits!"

Toby whistled. "This is too big to wrap my head around."

Alice took a deep breath. "Okay – let me start at the beginning. But you have to promise not to tell anyone else!"

"Of course! No one else knows I'm a werewolf."

So Alice told him all about her disastrous attempt to retrieve Professor Holloway's book. Toby listened, his eyes slowly widening in shock. "And now I have an invisible portal linking me to Desdemona at the Nocturnal Academy!" she finished. "I can talk to her right now!"

"I find that hard to believe!"

Suddenly, a tall, thin girl with long golden-brown hair stepped out from behind Alice. "Believe it," she said. "I'm her lifeline at the moment, because the poop is this close to hitting the fan." She crooked a finger and thumb a millimetre apart.

Toby staggered back and nearly fell on his bottom on the road. "Okay, okay – I believe every word! Just don't do that again! I thought I was going to have a heart attack!"

"Big strong wolf like you?" Dessie scoffed. "There'll be lots more scarier than me around if Vladrakov gets out." She stepped back behind Alice and disappeared.

Toby whistled softly. "Professor Longenfang told me to watch myself. If I receive a big enough shock I could lose control and change."

"Even though the moon's no longer full?"

'Yep. He said I should avoid getting too excited. So what happens now?"

"Professor Abbacus said all we can do is wait for the Circle to make its next move. And it will, don't worry. But I thought it best to warn you, so you can be prepared."

"Great. I'm not sure how I'm going to do that!"

When Alice arrived for school the next day, looking out for Chunky and Stan, she found all the kids from her form milling around the front gates. Chunky and Stan didn't notice her as they whispered together off to one side. They seemed very intent on their conversation.

"What's going on here?" Alice asked.

"The ghost tour's today, stupid!" Carla Hightower sneered at her. "Did you forget, Malice?"

Alice's heart leapt in shock. The ghost tour! It had completely slipped her mind. She pushed past Carla and her laughing friends, looking for Toby.

Then a big white bus with "Appleton Tourist Information Bureau" stencilled on the side pulled up. The children surged excitedly through the gate towards it.

" _Wait!"_ thundered Mr. Saroufim, who seemed to have appeared as though by magic. He was closely followed by Mrs. Parsons, carrying the form roll under one beefy arm. "Roll call first!" He called out names while Mrs. Parsons ticked them off. Then everyone was allowed on the bus.

Because Alice didn't push and shove like everyone else, she was one of the last to get on. I'll probably have to stand, she thought miserably.

"Hello Alice," purred a familiar voice. Alice looked up, gaping in horror at the bus driver.

It was Janice! She was their guide today!

Oh, can this get any _worse?_ Alice wondered as she pushed with uncharacteristic roughness past the kids cramming the aisle in front of her. "Oh, do you know her?" someone asked.

Up ahead, Toby had muscled his way into a seat and as Alice approached, he lifted his bag. "Want a spot?"

"For me?" Alice couldn't believe her eyes.

"Sure. It's the end of term – who cares what people think?"

Alice sat down beside him to more gossip. Alice glanced over her shoulder and noticed Chunky and Stan a few seats back, gaping in total surprise.

"Besides, after what you told me about those two cabbage-head mates of mine, it's time I showed them where my loyalties lie. I've been a softie for too long, haven't I?"

Alice smiled. "Yes, you have!" _Dessie? Are you back there?_ she sent telepathically.

I'm here, Alice.

Can you see what's going on here? Janice the Circle leader is driving this bus! And we're on a tour to the Appleton Cider Factory where Holloway's book was found! Call me paranoid, but I think something bad is going to happen today!

You could be right. I shall tell Professor Abbacus.

Alice clutched her school bag close, her hands clammy with sweat. While her form-mates laughed and joked around her, she could only bounce nervously on her seat. The teachers got on, told everyone to be quiet, and took seats near the driver. Then Janice asked if everyone was comfortable.

"No,' Alice muttered during the roaring chorus of "Yes!" from everyone else.

Janice pulled away from the curb in front the school. She started to talk about the school's history, how the very first weatherboard building had mysteriously burned down one night late in 1882.

"And no-one knew who did it! They reckon it was a student who got a really bad mark!"

The kids laughed. Alice had to admit, Janice knew how to entertain unruly youngsters. As she drove the bus through Appleton's streets, she pointed out historic sites and told interesting little stories behind them. Alice couldn't be sure if this was really Janice talking, or the evil Immaterial entity that had taken over, but she kept all the kids in stitches. All the kids, that is, bar Alice herself!

"You don't seem to be enjoying yourself, Alice!" Janice called. "Come on, give us a smile!"

Alice hunched into her shoulders and wished the floor would swallow her up. Now everyone was laughing at her expense, especially Chunky, Stan and Carla!

They visited St Michael's church, built in 1875 and said to be haunted by the ghost of a priest who had led a very un-saintly life. They also visited the courthouse, where Rebecca Maynard was sentenced to death in 1891 for the axe-murder of her husband. Then they stopped at the graveyard, where everyone got out to make tombstone rubbings. By the time they were on their way to the cider factory, all the kids bar one were jumping up and down in their seats with excitement.

"You think that was exciting – wait 'till you see what we have in store for you up the factory!" Janice exclaimed. "It'll blow your minds!"

I'll bet, Alice thought miserably.

Janice stopped the bus on a wide gravel driveway in front of the main building, a huge old pile of sandstone with "1852" carved above a pair of big wooden doors. Apple orchards stretched off into the hills around it, and apart from some chirping birds and cicadas, there was no other noise. The town of Appleton, nestling in the valley below, seemed like part of another world.

"Everyone out!" Janice called.

"Time for recess!" Mrs. Parsons bawled. She and Mr. Saroufim made everyone sit down on the grass beside the carpark and have their morning tea. Janice looked a little annoyed at the interruption to her busy schedule and wandered off into the building, disappearing from sight. Alice forced herself to eat an orange. Someone asked how come Janice knew her, and she simply shrugged.

Janice returned five minutes later. "Everyone finished?" She clapped her hands. "Everything's ready for the presentation."

The PE teachers felt their charges needed more time, but Janice was impatient to continue. "Alright, recess is over."

The children surged to their feet and followed Janice into the big old building. Alice and Toby walked in last of all. As soon as she passed through the tall wooden gates Alice felt an odd tearing feeling, like someone was pulling on the back of her dress. She looked around – just in time to see the great doors slam closed behind her.

They had shut on their own!

Oh, that's not good, Alice thought. _Dessie?_ she sent. _Can you hear me? There's definitely something going on here!_

Desdemona did not answer.

_Dessie?_ Suddenly, in the middle of a crowd of children, Alice felt horribly alone. Somehow her secret line of communication had been cut. She grabbed onto Toby's arm, squeezing it so hard he gasped. "I can't talk to her anymore!" she hissed. "I have to get out of here right now!"

But before he could answer, Janice commanded everyone to look in her direction. She stood in the centre of the room, and directly behind her was a large platform draped with velvet cloths. Several candles burned in tall, ornate holders. She had been joined by three others – Alice recognised the brother and sister, Sura and Sebastian, and Chunky's big brother Wally. She couldn't see Angela anywhere.

"Today we are all going to participate in a real live séance." She giggled at the pun she had made. ""I need everyone to make a circle around me and the altar. I also need two people to help – Charles and Stanley? Please come here."

Chunky and Stan left the group to groans of disappointment from those who hadn't been chosen.

"What d'you want those thickheads for?" Carla demanded. "You should pick me!"

Alice backed up against the door behind her, groping for a handle. She couldn't find one. Her fingers scrabbled against the wood and a thick splinter pierced her thumb.

Janice ignored Carla's outburst. "Now, I need a focus for our energies."

"Me, me!" shouted Carla, jumping up and down.

Janice looked thoughtful, but Alice realised with horror that she was only pretending. Her cold-eyed gaze fell on the dark-haired girl at the doors. "Alice," she purred.

Alice spun around and started clawing at the doors, desperately trying to get them open. But there wasn't even a gap to stuff her fingers into. It was like the wood had sealed itself closed!

"Come on Alice – don't be scared. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"She doesn't want to do it!" shouted Carla. "She's a sooky baby! Pick _me!"_ she whined desperately. Even her friends were so embarrassed by her childish behaviour that they moved away from her.

"Would someone bring Alice up here, please?"

"I really don't think she wants to be a part, Miss," Mr. Saroufim protested, but he was quickly drowned out by the excited children. Alice's protests only made them more determined to push her into the centre of the magic circle. She fought off grabbing hands, but there were too many! And then Janice's own circle of friends waded in to help.

I need to become mist! she thought desperately as she was hauled into the middle of the group. But she had taken the Luminos potion this morning, and it held her back, keeping her imprisoned in solid form. And there was something else as well, seeming to press down on her. A forbidding presence that seemed to come from the very walls. This place held great power.

Chunky, Stan, Sura, Seb and Wally threw her down on the velvet covered platform and tied her down with bungee-cords they must have been carrying, hidden beneath their clothes.

"Now this is going too far!" exclaimed Mrs. Parsons, stepping forward. "I won't allow a student to be treated in this way!"

"It's just a game, ma'am," Janice crooned. "Alice will not be harmed."

"Come on miss!" Carla protested, and her friends joined in. "Where's your sense of adventure?"

All the kids seemed to want Alice to be a part of this! She struggled against the ropes, but the cords held her fast. The dark walls seemed to be closing in all around her, sapping her supernatural strength. She could almost feel the ancient forces of the Immaterium swirling around her, battering against the invisible barrier holding them back, demanding their freedom. When she looked into the faces hovering above her, she saw only hatred. No sympathy for her whatsoever.

She tried to look past them, maybe catch the eye of someone who could help her. But excited children pressed in all around. Where was Toby? She couldn't see him at all!

"Everyone stand back and join hands!" commanded Janice in a deep, booming voice. "We will now re-enact the exact-same ceremony conducted by William Edgar Holloway back in 1875, just before his mysterious disappearance! I need you all to be quiet and concentrate on our voices, or the mood will be spoilt."

The children shuffled back, and there were some complaints as hands were joined. "Eww, Jason's got sweaty palms!"

"Well, you've got warts!"

"Hey Toby – come away from the doors and take my hand!" someone shouted.

He's trying to get out, Alice thought with a burst of hope.

Then Janice, Chunky, Stan, Sura, Seb and Wally formed a tight circle around her table. Janice positioned herself right in front of her face, so she couldn't attract anyone's attention. They couldn't join hands so they pressed their palms down on the altar, and immediately Alice felt a deep vibration pass through her body. The stone slab began to grow warm, as though someone had lit a fire beneath it. That dreadful feeling of oppression grew even stronger, and Alice could have sworn the air rippled. All of a sudden reality felt very fragile, like a pane of glass that could be shattered at any moment. The pressure she could feel became the claws of desperate creatures, scrabbling against the partition between worlds.

How could these idiots think the spirits were friendly?

Janice started to chant in Latin. At least that's what Alice thought it was. It could have been some weird alien language. Where was the book? Had Janice memorised the last spell?

A deep howl started, and began rising slowly. Although the room was sealed, a powerful wind whipped through the Circle. Candles flickered, but didn't go out. Kids began to giggle nervously, and someone made a comment on the atmosphere. Then something growled and someone yelped in terror.

Alice felt rather than heard a crack of thunder. The air several metres above her seemed to tear apart, like someone ripping mosquito netting. Green mist wafted through, bringing with it an ancient smell of dust and decay, as though an Egyptian tomb had been broken open. The barrier between reality and the Immaterium had ruptured, and Alice could feel the dreadful hunger of the thing lurking beyond.

A creature that wanted to inhabit her body.

* * * *

Chapter 16

Alice had to escape. She renewed her struggles, tugging against the thick bungee-cords wrapped around her. The circle weren't even looking at her, their gazes fixed on the shifting fog above their heads. Their chanting rose towards a crescendo. The very air shook. Howls and shrieks filled the air as the children finally began to realise that something very bad was happening. A dreadful snarling, snapping sound was coming from somewhere.

Someone screamed. Then a great, hairy body passed right over Alice, knocking all the Circle members flying. Clawed paws the size of serving dishes scrambled across the altar, and one almost smacked her in the face as the creature fought to regain its balance.

Alice realised that there was a werewolf standing over her. A tongue like a big wet sponge momentarily covered her face.

"T-Toby?" she gasped, realising that the snarls she'd heard had been him changing. The stress must have finally gotten to him.

The big wolf panted, drool pattering Alice's cheeks. She was only centimetres from a mouth big enough to bite her face off. Then Toby grabbed one of the bungee cords in his mouth, tugging it from Alice's waist. He snapped it easily, and Alice was able to pull the rest from her body.

"You're too late, you stupid dog!" Janice shouted as she scrambled to her feet, her puffy hair in a complete tangle. "We've opened the gate! Vladrakov is on his way and there's nothing you newborns can do about it!"

Alice scrambled off the altar and looked up. The mists were parting, revealing two huge red eyes the size of beach balls. They were filled with fire. The deep vibration pulsed again, becoming a deep heartbeat-like throb.

"We have to get out of here!" Alice shouted, shoving past Janice. "Come on Toby – help me get the doors open!" Chunky and Stan, who'd managed to regain their footing, tried to grab her. Toby snapped at them and they jumped back.

"Holy cow, is that Toby?" Stan gasped.

"Puberty," Chunky agreed.

Mr. Saroufim and Mrs. Parsons, surrounded by children, were already struggling with the doors. But they wouldn't budge. "Out of the way!" Alice shouted. "Let Toby try!"

The crowd didn't need a second warning. One sight of the massive wolf, down on all fours and running towards them at a full charge, was enough to send them falling over each other in their haste to get out of its way.

Toby hit the doors with a crash that shook the building. But they remained stubbornly closed and he bounced off and bowled over several children. He rolled back onto his feet and shook his head to stop the ringing.

"Thank Heaven the giant wolf's on our side," muttered Mr. Saroufim.

"The doors are magically sealed!" Janice shouted. "You won't get them open with brute force and ignorance! You might as well sit back and enjoy the show!"

"Shut up you bleached-blonde cow!" shouted Mrs. Parsons, at the end of her tether. "I'll see you rot in gaol for this!"

Janice planted her hands on her hips. "If there's any rotting to be done, it won't be by me!"

The heartbeat sound grew stronger. The red eyes pushed through the mist. A huge mouth appeared, lined with hundreds of needle-sharp teeth, several rows deep. A throaty laugh filled the air.

Janice flung out her hands. _"He comes! Welcome, Vladrakov!"_

Toby hurled himself at the door again. The hinges rattled, but they remained obstinately closed. They should have been broken into kindling by now.

The enormous hovering mouth shifted into an angry snarl. "Where is my sssacrifice?" hissed a terrible voice that seemed to fill the entire room. Several children shrieked. "I must have my body!"

"She's still here, sire!" Janice shouted. "She's over there, next to the doors."

"Too far, cannot reach," growled Vladrakov. "Will take ... _you!"_

Janice gaped in horror at the floating monster above her head. "N-no-" She started to back off, but Vladrakov sent a tentacle of ectoplasm shooting down towards her wide open mouth. Suddenly, she couldn't move. The occupants of the room could only watch as the ghostly creature streamed into the paralysed Janice.

Alice realised she had gotten what she deserved, trusting such a vile thing. But there was no desire for revenge in her heart. Only a desperate urge to be a million kilometres from this dreadful place. The rest of the children were clustered around the door and walls, as far from the altar as they could get. Only Chunky, Stan and the rest of Janice's circle remained where they were. They were staring, starry-eyed, at Janice. The fact Vladrakov had taken Janice instead of Alice didn't seem to be worrying them at all.

So long as their new lord and master was free.

There was a mighty bang on the doors, and Alice thought that Toby must have renewed his effort to break out.

Vladrakov finished filling Janice's body and started laughing, a terrible screeching cackle. For a brief moment Alice saw a flicker of terror in Janice's eyes, as the tour guide pleaded desperately for help, then it was gone. Janice was gone. Where to, Alice didn't want to think.

"Pathetic, cowering fools!" Vladrakov thundered from Janice's body. He - or was it she now? - stepped away from the altar, flanked by the remaining members of the circle. Chunky, Stan, Wally, Seb and Sura looked blank-faced now, like they had also lost their personalities. "Now I shall feast on the one who was first promised to me! Vladrakov pointed a long finger, capped with a bright pink nail. Lightning flashed towards Alice!

There was another crash against the doors.

Alice tried to dodge the power, but it slammed into her chest and arced around her body. All the air was driven from her lungs, and she collapsed to her knees, dizzy and unable to catch a breath. With a snarl, Toby launched himself at the monster.

A lightning bolt dropped him with a thud.

Another slam against the doors. Alice wondered dimly how the werewolf could still be trying to escape when he was lying semi-conscious in front of her.

Then she realised. _Someone was outside trying to break in!_ Flooded with renewed hope, Alice tried to struggle to her feet. Vladrakov had momentarily forgotten about her and was laying into poor Toby with more energy blasts. Toby twitched and howled in pain. Janice's face was distorted with dreadful alien fury.

"Help me with the doors!" Alice croaked. "There's someone trying to come in!"

The two teachers and a dozen children surged forward, grabbing onto the doors and pulling wherever they could. There was another deafening boom from outside, and Alice thought the doors would hold. But then they broke apart with a sizzle and flash of sparks and a large vehicle roared into the room. Alice and the two PE teachers only just managed to scramble out of the way. The machine screeched to a stop in the middle of the room, only centimetres from where Toby lay. Vladrakov leapt backwards, snarling in rage.

Alice realised she was staring at Professor Abbacus' weird steam-powered car.

Then the Professor himself leapt out of the driver's seat, clutching something in one hand. He was wrapped in his long leather trench coat, a broad-brimmed hat pulled low over his eyes. Two other figures also surged from the car. A tall woman in black seemed to glide from the passenger's side, and a huge, hairy monster burst from the back. Madam Nocturna brandished a long staff pulsing with energy, and Professor Longenfang bared his teeth and claws, ready for a fight.

"You're too late! I'm free now!" snarled Vladrakov. "You might as well put your pretty toys away and submit to my power!"

Icarus Abbacus held out the boxy device in his hands, and three long, spindly legs sprang from its base, giving it support. At the same time a sharp nozzle shot from its front, pointing directly at Vladrakov. It immediately began pulsing with power. Abbacus gripped two handles in gloved hands. "Bring it on," he hissed through a thick scarf covering most of his face. He could almost have passed for a normal human.

Elliana Nocturna glided forward as though on a cushion of cloud, hefting her staff so it also pointed at Vladrakov. Bright blue bands of power pulsed up and down her weapon, increasing in speed and brightness. 'You will not leave here," she proclaimed in a loud, clear voice.

Albrecht Longenfang dropped onto all fours and stepped over Toby's body, preventing Vladrakov from hurting him anymore. The young wolf lay still now. Alice hoped he was still alive. The Professor didn't speak. He simply growled, all the hair bristling around his neck and shoulders, making him look even bigger.

Vladrakov mightn't have been afraid, but the rest of the Magic Circle were having second thoughts. Nervously Chunky, Stan, Wally, Seb and Sura started backing away from their leader. It sure is nice to know who your friends are, Alice thought. She realised that the teachers and most of her form were still in the room with her. Even though the doors were now wide open, they wanted to stay and see how this bizarre show ended. For the first time Alice felt like she belonged with her classmates. Such a pity it took something like this to bring us closer, she thought bleakly.

We may only have a few more minutes to live!

Now he had a solid, human body, Vladrakov commanded all the powers of his immaterial form. He lifted his hands and more lightning sparked between his fingertips. Then he let fly with a bolt of bright green energy at the three teachers. It slammed into some sort of invisible barrier surrounding the group and sprayed out in a fountain. Vladrakov snarled in fury.

Abbacus and Madam Nocturna fired their weapons, bathing Vladrakov in blinding halos of red and blue. The creature inside Janice's body staggered but didn't fall. Then Longenfang launched his enormous body at the intruder. Paws like tyres swiped at the evil spirit, but he swatted them aside as though he was being attacked by a playful puppy instead of a wolf the size of an elephant.

"I have established myself!" Vladrakov roared. "You won't get rid of me so easily now!"

"Only for as long as that body lasts," Madam Nocturna warned.

Professor Abbacus swore at his machine and started fiddling with knobs and buttons on its sides. Madam Nocturna changed settings on her staff and a sharp point sprang from its end, bursting open in a bright flower-shaped device. Energy blazed from its centre. "Let's see how well you fare against the disincorporator!" She fired.

Amidst the commotion Alice heard a moan and noticed Toby stirring, struggling to get to his feet. He would rise right in the middle of the fight and probably get cleaned up in the process. Alice motioned for him to stay down.

But Toby was still in wolf form. He remembered the beating he'd taken and immediately sprang up in fury, charging toward the enemy. "No!" cried Alice, running forward. "Toby!"

Energy blasts sizzled around her and Toby as the teachers and Vladrakov continued to exchange fire. Alice ducked and dodged, using her superior speed to get to the young wolf. Toby leapt at Vladrakov, who wasn't looking in his direction at all. He was too busy swiping at Longenfang again. Toby's paws slammed into Janice's back, dropping the human body to its knees. Vladrakov's last blast went wild, exploding a hole in the ceiling. Dirt and dust rained down on the teachers. Abbacus cranked up his machine again and slammed Vladrakov with another blast. Snarling he struggled to rise, but the beam seemed to be holding him down.

"That's it, that's it – I've got his new frequency now!" Abbacus shouted. "But I need more power to banish him! You'll need to soften him up some more!"

Madam Nocturna fired her staff again. Her disincorporator beams were weakening Vladrakov, removing wisps of his alien spirit, but in human form he could regenerate almost instantly. If only she could take off more than he could renew, then she could destroy him! But he seemed so much stronger than she remembered. What had he done?

Wishing she had some sort of range weapon, Alice waded in to help. Dodging past Professor Longenfang and Toby, who were leaping and swatting at Vladrakov, she made a fist and launched a punch.

It was like hitting a brick wall. Instead of soft flesh, her knuckles met a hard, cold surface, completely unyielding. In taking over Janice, Vladrakov had made her superhuman!

Slowly, Vladrakov found his feet. Despite the punishment, he was recovering. He glared at the teachers, his eyes blazing like a pair of supernovas.

"He's too powerful for my staff!" Madam Nocturna shouted.

"He's also overridden my banishment beams!" snarled Professor Abbacus.

"I am too strong for all you!" Vladrakov howled with laughter. _"Now I will destroy you all!"_

The two wolves leapt at Vladrakov, but he slammed them both to the ground with two well-placed bolts of energy. They fell heavily, their thick fur smouldering, but somehow they still managed to struggle to their feet. "Playtime's over!"

It seemed hopeless! If the professors couldn't beat Vladrakov, then who could? Alice backed off, trying to sort out her thoughts. Why was the demon so strong? What had he used to give himself such power?

"Oh my goodness!" Alice gasped aloud. Surely it couldn't all hinge on that! But where was it? Alice hadn't seen it since their arrival!

She darted around behind the altar, and there it was on the floor. It couldn't be seen from the front, where the battle was raging. Holloway's grimoire lay open on the very last page, where Alice could clearly see the instructions for summoning an immensely powerful being with the ability to grant superhuman qualities.

Yeah, only if you let it take you over, Alice thought.

The book was pulsing with energy, but she scooped it up. It sizzled in her hands and she yelped, almost dropping it. Got to destroy it, she thought. She gripped it hard, ignoring the pain in her palms, and tried to rip it in half.

Nothing happened. Despite her own enhanced strength she couldn't tear it a centimetre! She dropped it back behind the altar so Vladrakov wouldn't realise she had found it. "Toby!" she shouted. "Toby – come here now!"

Toby swiped at Vladrakov a couple more times, and then backed off with a growl. He bounded over to Alice. She pointed behind the altar and he craned forward.

"Rip it in half!" she hissed.

Vladrakov's full attention was on the three professors. A well-aimed energy strike shattered Abbacus' machine, reducing it to a pile of smoking, molten parts. The teacher backed off. That had pretty much destroyed his arsenal. "I will take the rest of your body this time, Abbacus!" Vladrakov thundered, blonde hair standing out from his head like flames. Then the Immaterial Lord flung another beam at Madam Nocturna, sending her staff flying across the room. It smashed against a wall and the flower-shaped tip shattered, emitting a blinding ball of fire. Both Alice and Toby had to dive out of the way. Toby clutched the book in his claws.

Professor Longenfang leapt in, teeth and claws bared. His fur was singed, matted and bloody from all the hits he had taken, but he refused to give up. Then a flash like lightning from the heavens felled him to the ground, and he didn't move.

Vladrakov realised one of the wolves was missing and swung around, looking for Toby.

Toby's huge muscles strained as he tried to tear the book.

Vladrakov's triumphant expression changed to one of wide-eyed horror. "No! How did you – _put that down!"_

The book resisted even Toby's great werewolf strength. He hooked his claws in.

Vladrakov advanced towards him, but didn't dare fire in case he blasted the volume. Toby backed off, Alice beside him. "Come on, come on – _you can do it!"_ she urged him.

Suddenly, there was an agonised shriek like a cut tree falling. The book ruptured along its spine and bright green light spilled out. A similar line appeared the length of Vladrakov's body and he stopped in his tracks. He screamed in agony.

Gnashing his fangs, Toby tore the book in half.

And Vladrakov's body seemed to split along the same line. Green light spilled out and boiled away like steam. The stolen form fell to its knees as the invader poured out. His dreadful bellowing filled the air. Then Janice's body pitched forward onto its face and lay still. The shrieking stopped and Toby was left holding the two halves of the book. But only for a few seconds. The pages disintegrated into scraps of ash that fluttered away into the wind.

Then there was only silence.

* * * *

Chapter 17

Then someone started clapping. Alice couldn't believe her senses. Another person joined in. She realised the PE teachers were applauding. Soon the entire 6th class were cheering and whooping. The only ones who appeared to be missing were Chunky and Stan. The youths and the rest of Janice's Circle must have fled sometime during the battle.

Madam Nocturna glided forward, lifting her hands. She looked tired and haggard, but had lost none of her authority. "Thank you, thank you, but we wouldn't have succeeded if it hadn't been for Alice and Toby's quick thinking." She glared at Professor Abbacus. "You're losing your touch, Icarus – you should have figured out the book was the key to his power!"

Alice couldn't tell if Professor Abbacus was ashamed or not. He simply folded his arms. "Well, I had a lot on my mind," he grated. "Damage control's on the way."

Mrs. Parsons stepped forward, somewhat tentatively for the normally confident woman. "Who are you people? What was all that about? Demon summoning in our little town? Can you please explain?"

"Of course," Madam Nocturna smiled. "As soon as ... the authorities arrive. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to check up on my colleague, Professor Longenfang." She glided over to the fallen werewolf.

The police? Alice wondered. What can they possibly do? Then she heard a moan behind her. Turning around she saw Janice stirring. Was she still alive? She hurried to the tour guide's side, and Professor Abbacus joined her. He helped to roll the woman over. Her eyelids flickered and she focused blearily on the faces hovering above.

But she didn't say a word. Her gaze was blank. She didn't recognise Alice at all.

"As I suspected," Abbacus growled. "Vladrakov wiped her mind."

"What's going to happen to her?" Alice gasped.

"An indefinite stay in a lunatic asylum, I expect. She hosted a greater lord of the Immaterium. Not much chance of recovering from that, I'm afraid."

Even though Janice had caused so much trouble, Alice still felt sorry for her. She had stumbled into events far beyond her control and now she was paying the terrible price. "The poor thing!"

"Restoring a lifetime's worth of memories is almost impossible."

Meanwhile, Toby had picked himself up. Now the battle was over he was able to return to his human form. Unfortunately he was buck naked, having torn his uniform to shreds when he changed. Mr. Saroufim immediately threw his jacket around the boy's shoulders. Fortunately he was a very big man, and it was long enough to cover the youth from the stares and jeers of his classmates.

There was a crunch of tyres on gravel as a vehicle pulled up outside, and everyone poured from the building, expecting to see the police. Instead a large white van with no markings had arrived, and several people leapt down. Alice thought they looked familiar. Were they more teachers from the Nocturnal Academy?

"Gather 'round, gather 'round," Madam Nocturna called, and her powerful voice was impossible to disobey. "I'm going to explain everything, and you don't want to miss a thing. Alice and Toby – you might want to step back. You already know what's going on. And Carla – you'd better back off too." She gave the plump girl a meaningful look.

Carla stared at her in surprise, but did as she was told, retreating from the group.

Alice spotted someone unloading a large machine from the truck, which extended legs to support itself like Professor Abbacus' device had. A large aerial sprang from the top and a radar dish unfolded. It began to spin around, and a soft whine increased in volume.

The teachers and children clustered around in fascination as the noise increased to become almost unbearable. Alice and Toby returned to the cider factory, where Professor Longenfang had regenerated from his wounds, and was sitting on his haunches, looking annoyed. Nearby Janice was sitting up, looking baffled.

The whine became a screech. Then there was a flash. Alice gasped, feeling like someone had bitten into her brain. Toby swore.

Then silence.

"What the heck was that?" Toby demanded.

"Memory conditioner," Longenfang rumbled. Toby wondered how he could talk in wolf form. He certainly hadn't been able to form words with his elongated snout. Well, at least he could remember being a wolf now. Perhaps he was finally learning to control himself.

"Their memories have been wiped?" Alice exclaimed.

"No, that would cause no end of problems. The minds of your teacher and classmates would have simply been reconfigured to remember today's events as an entertaining show instead of real life." He got to his feet and shook himself. Then he padded over to Janice and sat down beside her, watching her until she could be moved.

Alice and Toby went back outside, to where their classmates were talking excitedly about the theatrics and marvelling over the awesome special effects. Madam Nocturna and Professor Abbacus were standing to one side, arguing while the new arrivals from the Nocturnal Academy packed away their machine.

"I'm very disappointed in you, Icarus," Madam Nocturna told Professor Abbacus. "You didn't forget about Holloway's Grimoire, did you? You're not that stupid!"

"I don't know what you're talking about, Elliana."

"You didn't want to destroy it to defeat Vladrakov because you wanted it for _yourself!"_

Abbacus sighed. "It's an extremely powerful magical artefact. I could have learned from its spells."

"And as a result of your selfishness, that poor woman in there has lost her mind!"

"Oh, she deserved it. Now, if you'll excuse me – I really should be getting back to class." Professor Abbacus practically ran back into the cider factory, where his car was still parked.

"Ouch!" Toby exclaimed.

Professor Abbacus departed in a great hurry, leaving an enormous smelly dust cloud behind. Madam Nocturna planted hands on her hips and sniffed in disdain. "Sometimes that man is a real worry," she muttered. "Now we have to decide what to do about this poor woman. Normal insanities are reparable, but not those caused by possession." She knelt down beside Janice and examined her, looking onto her eyes and checking her head for bruises. Alice was sure the vampire principal was also reading her mind. Janice stared blankly at her, drool dribbling from one corner of her mouth. "There are fragments, deep inside," she murmured. "They can be drawn back together but it'll take time ... we may have to keep her in the Academy Infirmary for a while. Does she have any next of kin?"

Alice shrugged. "I don't know. My Dad might though. They were going out together before ... all this."

Madam Nocturna straightened. "Take her to the Academy, Albrecht – see that she's admitted to the Infirmary. I'd better start mopping up around here. Obviously the cider factory will need to be closed and examined for any remaining weak points. And then we'll have to chase down the remaining Circle members ... and then there are all the follow-up checks to make sure none of the children are suffering any after-effects..." She sighed heavily as Professor Longenfang gently lifted Janice into his huge hairy arms and carried her from the building. Outside he set off at a run and disappeared across the hills almost immediately. Madam Nocturna faced Alice and Toby.

"Well, you two have excelled yourselves, and you're not even students yet!" She smiled. "Keep up the good work, and you'll fit in perfectly at my school."

"Is that sort of thing normal for the Academy?" Toby gasped. "Magic circles, demon summoning, possessions?"

"Oh no. Most of your time will be taken up with study and routine work."

"Nuts! I actually enjoyed that!"

"But rest assured, you will also have your fair share of adventures. There are places within the Academy's walls that will make your hair stand on end. Just wait and see. Next year will be the most exciting year of your life."

* * * *

The End

Thanks for reading Nocturnal Academy!

The adventures of Alice will continue in Nocturnal Academy #2 - Teacher's Pet.

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