Millie Morlock and What Happened At Nightshade Inn

By Marea Carey

The first of an exciting action-packed adventure series perfect for girls and boys aged 9 to 14, it deals with friendship, loyalty and courage in the face of seemingly hopeless obstacles ...

It’s the beginning of the summer holidays and thirteen year-old Millie Morlock is the only student left at Dundrum Castle Boarding School. She’s already fed up and bored, but her boredom quickly changes to astonishment when she rescues a real, live fairy from the school’s walled garden. But trouble is already brewing: although Dulcie looks like the proverbial good fairy, her personality doesn’t match!
The cunning fairy tricks Millie into going back to the enchanted Glens of Tir na Gleena with her, and Millie is suddenly catapulted into a world where magic is normal and anything human is barely tolerated. She’s devastated to learn that she won't ever be allowed to go back to Dundrum Castle, but when she finds out that she’ll also lose all memory of her human existence, her despair turns into determination to beat the cruel fairy laws.
At first she has only herself to rely on, but gradually she attracts a group of weird and wonderful friends who are willing to risk everything to help her. Not least among her new friends is Toad, a courageous boy whose own memories of his human life are practically non-existent. Will Millie and Toad overcome their dismal fate with help from fairies Sukie, BarnabusBart and YarabeeToot? Will they finally manage to escape from Tir na Gleena? Or will they be doomed to remain there forever and slowly grow old, unable to remember their previous lives when they were carefree youngsters with no knowledge of fairy trickery and deceit?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Marea Carey
• Release date: Jul 3, 2017
• ISBN: 9780995666900

Book preview

Millie Morlock

and

WHAT HAPPENED AT

NIGHTSHADE INN

Marea Carey

Millie Morlock and What Happened at Nightshade Inn

by Marea Carey

Copyright © 2017 Marea Carey. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted by any means, written, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author.

Cover design by Jean Murray

ISBN: 978-0-9956669-0-0

Reference: Juvenile Fiction

CHAPTER 1: WEIRDER AND WEIRDER

The summer holidays had barely started at Dundrum Castle Boarding School, but Millie Morlock couldn’t have felt less holiday-ish if she had tried. She tossed down her pen, sighed dramatically (a total waste of breath since there was nobody around to hear her) and re-read the journal entry she’d just made:

All the other girls went home yesterday. But I’m stuck here until Dad comes to get me. And that won’t be for another THREE WHOLE WEEKS! Why can’t he have a normal job like other parents??? Why does his work always have to be in the middle of nowhere?

I hate being the only student left here at school and I really miss my friends. Jasmine tried to talk her parents into letting her stay with me, but they said no. Then Deirdre said I could go to her place for three weeks, but Dad said no, he’d be happier knowing I’m safe here at Dundrum!

But moaning and groaning into her diary wouldn’t change anything, Millie thought miserably. So for the next three weeks her only company would be a laptop, a library of dusty old books and the two school custodians: cranky old Mr. Skulsludge, who barely talked, and cheery Mrs. Chilblain, who rarely stopped.

All things considered, she figured it wouldn’t take long until she’d actually be grateful for Mrs. Chilblain’s constant chatter. Pathetic.

Wrapping her arms around herself, she left her bedroom and started down the long, dim corridor, her footsteps echoing as she hurried past the rows of empty rooms that were normally full of laughs and squealing chatter. Rushing down the wide staircase, she went around behind it then tugged open the heavy oak door that led out to the school gardens.

Despite the low clouds, Millie instantly felt more cheerful once she was outside. Humming softly, she picked her way along the crooked path towards the walled garden where Mr. Skulsludge was growing all kinds of weird things, like flowers that blossomed in the rain and shrivelled in the sunlight, and … she suddenly stood still and tilted her head to one side, listening … listening …

A strange, shrill noise that sounded like an injured animal was coming from the garden. Standing on her tiptoes, she cautiously peeked over the high, moss-covered wall.

And instantly jumped back.

She shook her head and blinked. She had to be imagining things. Taking a deep breath, she looked over the wall again.

A tiny, perfect person with shimmering silver wings was lying flat among the strawberry plants. When she saw Millie she glared furiously up at her, then raised her head and chirped something that sounded like Essee twee! Help me!

Who ... who are you? Millie’s eyes opened so wide it felt as if they might pop right out of her head.

Help me! Get me out of here! The little person, who couldn’t have been more than two feet tall, pointed at the ground with a dull black stick. Away from all this yucky sleef! This yucky salt! Help me and I’ll grant you seven whole years. I promise! Then her head dropped back and her eyelids fluttered half closed.

Millie hadn’t noticed the white trail but now she saw a ribbon of salt encircling the strawberry patch. Hurrying through the gate, she kneeled down and lifted the little creature. She was practically weightless. What happened? Are you hurt?

"Put me down! Right over there. Now!" she ordered, squirming in Millie’s arms and pointing the black stick at the stone wall. Let me rest and I’ll be right as rain in no time. As soon as I get away from all that salt! Suddenly her fine eyebrows drew together and she hissed like a cat.

Millie set her leaning against the wall then hunkered down beside her. Dad had always told her never to stare, but right now there was no way she couldn’t stare. The little person was wearing a soft gold vest covered with pockets and a long, filmy lilac dress. Her feet were bare, a fine gold chain encircled one ankle and her eight miniature toenails (Millie counted twice) were blue. A ring of tiny yellow flowers sat crookedly on her long, black hair.

Millie shook her head: she had to be dreaming. She pinched herself, but with no effect: the little creature was still there. Then she bit the inside of her cheek, with the same result. What … who …?

The tiny stranger glowered up at her. What are you staring at? she demanded, her voice growing stronger with every word. I already said I’d grant you seven years, so what’s your problem? Twiss dandit loofah! I don’t lie! Her purple eyes glowed iridescent.

I didn’t say you lied, I just don’t know what you’re talking about. Seven years of what? It sounded sort of ominous, Millie thought, like seven years of bad luck for breaking a mirror.

Shaking her head in exasperation the small person brushed her hair from her eyes, drew a handful of sparkling blue dust from her pocket and before Millie realized what was happening, tossed it in her face.

Millie sneezed three times, hiccupped twice, and coughed once. Her eyes watered and her ears were ringing.

That’s better, the little person continued. Can you understand me now? Speaking human is just too tedious. You don’t have enough words. I don’t know why anybody even bothers speaking human!

What … what do you mean? Millie spluttered, rubbing her eyes. It felt like she’d been peeling seriously strong onions.

What do you think I mean? Now you can speak and read Bweelish. With just a smidgen of fairy dust, even a dumbly human like you can understand it!

Huh? Bweelish? Fairy dust?

Anyway, as I was saying, it’s all written in The Ancient Law of Faerie. Section B2, Paragraph 12. Or whatever, I can’t remember. I hate those stupid old laws. Sukie would know of course, because she just loves all that boring junk. I never paid any attention because I never got caught before. But now I’ll have to pay attention and it’s all your fault! A single tear rolled down her cheek and she scrunched her tiny nose as if she’d smelled something rotten, then began wailing like a banshee.

What are you talking about? What’s my fault? Millie said. This couldn’t really be happening. Seven years of what? Who’s Sukie? And who are you?

Leaning away from the wall the small figure sniffed loudly, straightened her shoulders and tilted her chin in the air. I, she announced grandly, am Dulcie, and Sukie is my twin. But even though everyone says we’re identical, I’m really much smarter and more beautiful than she is. As she spoke her silver gossamer wings unfolded from her back and she glanced over her shoulder, as if checking for damage. The wings’ edges were lined with tiny silver bells that tinkled softly as she flapped them.

Millie stared even harder. There was no doubt about it, she had to be dreaming. Because people who weren’t dreaming simply didn’t find miniature fairies lying in strawberry patches.

But it was an interesting dream, so she’d just go along with it. Not that she had much choice. And so you’re a fairy? she asked conversationally, as if meeting a fairy was a regular, everyday occurrence.

"Tsk! Of course I’m a fairy, what else could I possibly be? Can’t you see my wings? Humans can be so stupid. And look! The fairy shook the black stick. He even ruined this."

Who ruined what?

Nasty old lizard guts and his salt trap ruined my wand. She shook the stick again, then blew a loud raspberry.

Who’s lizard guts?

Frowning, Dulcie flapped her wings once more, then settled down as if about to recite a very long story to a very young, rather stupid child. It’s like this. I’d only eaten about ten strawberries when I began feeling quite queasy. Because I hadn’t noticed that awful horrible salt, and had landed right in the middle of it! That sly old goat had hidden it beneath the strawberry plants. It was a trap, don’t you know? But by then it was too late, because I was already weak as a firefly. Even my wand had lost its power!

Millie nodded at the stick. You mean to say that thing’s a wand?

Dulcie rolled her eyes. Of course it’s a wand! Anyway, it’s probably good that you came along, otherwise I don’t know what might have happened to me. I can’t even bear to think about it! Another tear suddenly rolled down the other cheek and she sniffed, then plucked a dandelion leaf and daintily wiped her nose with it.

So you mean salt makes you sick?

It does more than that! It destroys all my fairy powers. It’s totally devastating! Dulcie exclaimed, rubbing her stomach. The shimmering blue of her tiny fingernails changed to purple whenever she moved. But I still feel yechy. Maybe it’s the strawberries, she added, waving the wand through the air in a large figure eight with no noticeable result.

Maybe you just ate too much, Millie suggested. Dulcie’s face was turning pale green and although Millie wasn’t exactly sure what fairies’ complexions should look like, she was pretty confident that green wasn’t good. After all, ten strawberries is a lot for someone your size.

Maybe. Dulcie’s mouth turned down at the corners as she frowned up at Millie. Anyway, it’s getting late. Where do we go now?

What do you mean?

Dulcie put her hand over her mouth and burped delicately. You really don’t know much, do you? And suddenly she was in the air, hovering over Millie’s head then swooping around in a large circle before settling back against the wall with her thin legs stuck straight out in front of her. She’d turned an even stranger shade of green. Ughh! I need a dose of ground-up bat whiskers.

Bat whiskers? Why do you need bat whiskers?

Why do you think? Airsickness, of course!

So where can we get bat whiskers? Millie asked, while wondering at the absurdity of a fairy getting airsick.

We can’t get them here, stupid! I buy them at Wing’s Pharmacopoeia, even though that miserable old toad-brain charges about ten times what they’re worth. But if I didn’t go there, I’d have to fly all the way to the next Glen.

What Glen?

Dulcie just groaned, waved her wand dismissively and shut her eyes.

I have stuff in my room for motion sickness and upset stomachs. I’ll go and get it for you, Millie offered. As well as being weird, this dream was getting kind of long.

Wait! I’m going with you! Dulcie exclaimed, opening her eyes. She stood up and clutched at the wall. "I’m not staying here alone! What if I vomited? I absolutely detest vomiting! She fluttered up and settled on Millie’s shoulder. But you’ll have to carry me because I still feel quite flittish. And be sure to walk smoothly because I’m extremely delicate, so don’t bump!" she ordered, grabbing a fistful of Millie’s hair.

Ouch! Not so hard! Millie winced. She hadn’t realized that dreams could hurt.

CHAPTER 2: THE TRAP IS SET

Back inside Dundrum Millie carefully climbed the stairs with the fairy still perched on her shoulder. When they reached the second floor Dulcie hopped down then half-skipped and half-flew along the corridor, her tiny feet barely touching the floor. I’ve never been up here before. You must be very rich to live in such a huge place!

It’s not my –

And if you’re rich you must have oodles and oodles of gold and jewels, Dulcie interrupted. "Where do you keep it? I absolutely adore gold. And what do you do with all this space? Do any other humans live here?"

The other students all left for the summer, but I’m stuck here for three more weeks. That’s when Dad comes for me. He’s an archaeologist and he’s in the rainforest right now. His work’s at a really crucial stage, so he can’t come and get me until –

"Whatever," Dulcie interrupted again, obviously not interested in Millie’s father or the rainforest. I really don’t like it here, it’s way too quiet.

It’s not usually so –

Where do you store all your food? she demanded.

Downstairs in the –

Do you have any chocolate smoke puffs? Dulcie cut in once more. They’re my absolute favourites! Sweetspot’s Bakery makes the best smoke puffs in the entire First Glen.

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of them. But I could probably get some chocolate brownies from –

And where will I sleep? I’m extremely sensitive, so I need a very comfortable bed, or else my wings will hurt, Dulcie whined. Actually I’m quite tired now; I think a batnap would do me good. But I already know I’m going to absolutely detest living here! She looked along the hallway and pouted.

You mean you’re really staying? Millie’s eyebrows shot up. Then she reminded herself that this was just a dream.

"I already told you. I have to stay with you for seven years! Because you saved me." Dulcie made a face then abruptly tossed her wand in the air. It fell to the floor with a hollow thunk. Stupid thing, she muttered, fluttering over to retrieve it.

Where’s this Glen you mentioned? Millie asked as they reached her bedroom. It really was weird to be having a perfectly normal day-to-day conversation with a self-centred fairy. When she woke up she’d write everything in her journal before she forgot it, then in September she’d do an essay. Miss Mudie, the English teacher, was really into magic.

But Dulcie just ignored her and scowled as she looked around the room. I thought it would be much fancier than this. Don’t you have any place nicer where I can stay? She flew over to the bed, sank daintily onto a pillow then unscrewed one end of her wand. A stream of black powder instantly spilled onto the quilt. Fiddlystix! No wonder the stupid thing won’t work.

What’s that stuff? Millie said.

Dulcie sighed loudly, as if it were the silliest question she’d ever heard. What do you think it is? It’s wand fuel, and it’s supposed to be gold, not black! But sometimes it recharges itself, she added, blowing on the pile of dust so it flew back into the wand in a narrow stream.

Can you get more if it doesn’t? A broken wand wasn’t much use, even in a dream.

I could get some in Tir na Gleena.

Where’s that?

Tir na Gleena is made up of the Five Glens. I live in the First Glen. I could take you there for a visit, if you’d like. Then we’d come right back here, Dulcie added, glancing slyly at Millie. You’d really, really like it! And you could see all kinds of magical things. She was no longer green and she flitted to the top of the dresser where she spied a carved jewellery box that had belonged to Millie’s mother. She tapped it three times with her wand but nothing happened. She tossed the wand aside, pulled the box open and began rummaging through it.

Don’t damage that box, Millie warned, then remembered she was dreaming.

"What’s this? Jewels! And here’s your gold, I found it! Dulcie gasped, pulling out a bracelet. She fastened it around her neck then hovered in front of the mirror while she readjusted the flowers in her hair and admired herself. I think I’ll keep this. I look absolutely stunning!"

It’s not real gold, but keep whatever you like, Millie offered. It was easy to be generous in a dream.

"And this. And these!" Dulcie draped an amethyst necklace around her waist, and poked silver earrings into her hair. Then her eyes lit upon the opal pendant around Millie’s neck. A real opal! she squealed. That’s the most magical gemstone there is! Can I have it?

My Dad gave it to me; it was my Mum’s. Sorry, but I never take it off. Not even in dreams. Millie tucked it safely inside her T-shirt.

Dulcie scowled briefly then her eyes began roaming the room once again. She spotted Millie’s digital camera. "Look! Is that a really and truly cameron?"

You mean camera? I joined the school photography club this year and -

I’ve heard about camerons! Dulcie interrupted. "I always wanted to have a picture made with