The Magic Book Series, Book 4: Mystery of the Missing Book

By Elsa Bridger

Felicity is really mad with her twin, Sophie, who accidentally left their Magic Book up at the stables and by next morning it’s vanished! Felicity holds Sophie firmly to blame, but is she?
Finding one remaining torn page and its special pen, it’s just strong enough to write a poem to help them in their search. But with very little magical power, the words are all jumbled up and it’s more of a riddle than a poem.
Three friends arrive for a sleepover, leaving the girls no choice but to enlist their help as it seems The Book is in grave danger! But it’s cleaver, and has left a trail of pages and poems for the girls to follow - right through a waterfall, into a concealed land beneath a lake! An amazing discovery, involving their own two ponies and a past acquaintance, means things continue to get even weirder as, together, they enter this murky, unwelcoming world.
Majestic, but resentful, Unipegs await them - standing in their way to recovering their Book. With time running out, tempers begin to fray; it starts to look like The Book isn’t going to be the only casualty in, what could turn out to be, Sophie and Felicity’s last adventure!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Elsa Bridger
• Release date: Dec 25, 2017
• ISBN: 9781311334312

Elsa Bridger

My twin girls, Sophie and Felicity, told me this weekend that I’m still a teenager! Yay! They added that it’s not just because I scrape in at a petite five foot tall, still love to ride ponies and roller skate (well, my husband does have a roller skating club!) But that I also write great stories filled with magic, fairies, mermaids and Unipegs (horses; half Unicorn, half Pegasus ) all on their request! They didn’t mention whether my looks are those of a teenager, other than my height - and I wasn’t brave enough to ask! My plan was for just the one book, but I happily went on to write book two then three and now there is a fourth. Okay, I admit it, I’m addicted to writing! It’s absorbing, mind-stretching and exhilarating - especially when I see my children become so excited as I read to them. Unless, of course, I’m trying to get them to sleep, that is. So be warned; they’ve (happily) been described as ‘page turners’ by my readers - and that includes the parents who enjoyed them too. In fact, I'm really excited to be able to share with you that a recent Bloomsbury critique of my first two books, has described them as: "Plot-driven, imaginative stories, that I can see having real appeal for younger readers." And as having, "vivid characterisation and an inventive world." Very encouraging feedback from such a well respected, mainstream publisher! I also enjoy my time out on school visits, 'book-ish' fun days at bookshops and working as an Ambassador for The Publisher's Association, helping to promote reading - of which I'm passionate about! I hope you enjoy reading and sharing my stories with your children for years to come, as much as I have enjoyed creating and sharing them with mine :) Right, on with book 5!

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Mystery of the Missing Book

Published by Elsa Bridger

Copyright 2015 Elsa Bridger,

Smashwords Edition

Copyright illustrations and cover image by Margaret Alford, 2015

All rights reserved

Licence Notes:

The author, Elsa Bridger, and illustrator, Margaret Alford, assert their moral rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author and illustrators of this work. This ebook is licenced for your 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 recipient. If you are reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

Dedicated to Joan Bridger and Pearl Bartlettbundy, with much love.

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Contents

Torn Apart

Hearing Voices

More to Redster than Meets the Eye

Riddle Me This

Operation ‘Distraction’!

Fun and Games

Five Heads are Better than Two

Things That Go ‘Neigh’ in the Night

Let the Paperchase Begin!

Showground Showdown

Fishing for Clues

Moonlit Swim

Home Turf for Smokey

Facing Down the Past

Redster Reaches New Heights

Cornered!

Mortal Hero

Flying High

Hopes and Dreams

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About the Author

A Note from Elsa

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Joining Sophie, Felicity and their Magic Book

for the first time?

If so, a quick catch up on what’s happened so far might be useful, so here goes:

In ‘Saving the Fairies of Serenia’, twin sisters, Sophie and Felicity, happened across what appeared to be an old notebook at their school. They soon discovered that it isn’t just ‘any old notebook’ - it’s magic!

I’ll not spoil the plots for you by telling you any more - other than to say, that using an equally special Pen that lives in its spine The Magic Book has been vital in helping fairies and merpeople already!

As you can imagine, the sisters have become very attached to their Book. Only, sometimes, have you ever had the best intentions to take the greatest of care with something, but you still somehow manage to lose it? Sophie and Felicity are no exception and, unfortunately, they are just about to have a very nasty shock!

Torn Apart!

I can’t believe you could’ve been so stupid! Felicity snapped at Sophie; thick puffs of dragon-breath in the cold air added drama to her fury.

It wasn’t my fault! Sophie retaliated, kicking a frozen tussock of grass, sending a spray of ice crystals into the air as they made their way across the field to check on their pony, Redster. She pushed her tightly balled hands deeper into the warmth of her coat pockets.

So whose fault was it then, that The Book got left here at the stables yesterday? You had it last, Felicity accused.

You were carrying the bag we keep it in when we left here, Felicity. How was I to know it was empty?

Girls, that’s enough now, their mother scolded, as she zipped her car keys into her coat pocket before scrambling over the frost-encrusted metal gate to catch them up.

Because you hadn’t put The Book back into it? Duh! Felicity spat back, seemingly oblivious to her mother’s request.

Girls - didn’t you just hear me tell you to stop? Their mother was fast losing her patience.

Sophie grabbed a sleeve of Felicity’s thick winter coat and wrenched her round to face her. Well, I’m sorry - Okay?! You happy now? Sophie bellowed- pushing her face right up to Felicity’s.

GET OFF ME! Felicity shoved Sophie hard in the chest with her free hand, before twisting her other arm from her grip.

ENOUGH! their mother yelled, putting herself between the two of them and held them apart by the backs of their coats. If you think you’re getting that book back - either of you - you’ve both got another think coming! Not when you behave like this! I’m beginning to wish I’d left the pair of you at home. Releasing her hold, she walked on ahead, trying to ignore the fact that they were still sniping at each other under their breath.

Sophie strode purposefully over to the wooden mounting block that their father had made. Her throat began to constrict with tension as it became clear that The Book was no longer there. I sat here just before we left yesterday… it should be here, she mumbled, biting the nails on one hand, and running the other over the top step as if to check it hadn’t somehow turned invisible.

I’m going to climb the tree; I don’t see why I should help you look! barked Felicity.

Don’t start again! their mother warned, her voice muffled from being inside the barn, preparing the horses’ breakfasts. Redster, back up - I don’t need you taking the lid off the feed bin and helping yourself. Smokey! Stop biting Red’s bottom! I’ve got yours here; go into your own stable and then you can have it. Looks like I’ll have to split the both of you up as well. Honestly, between you two and my children, I’m going to need a lie down in a darkened room to regain my sanity when I get home!

Felicity had stomped off, through the little homemade metal gate that separated the yard from the small orchard behind the barn. It now hung at an angle by only its top hook hinge after Felicity had thrown it open. It swayed agitatedly like it was already exhausted by the tension in the air.

Sophie, now on her knees, scrabbled around the steps, hoping to find that The Book had just got pushed off the back, into the crisp, brown leaf litter that had collected behind it.

A sudden ear-piercing scream, coming from Felicity, had Sophie up like a shot and running with her mother round behind the barn. Images flashed through their minds of Felicity lying on the ground clutching a broken leg, having fallen from the horse chestnut tree they liked to climb.

What is it? their mother called out anxiously.

The Book…! gasped Sophie. She stood stock still as she absorbed what she saw, with total horror!

Felicity was holding up what was once their wonderful Magic Book. Only one piece of paper remained, having been torn from its bindings by the look of the ragged edge. Its discoloured, warped page was frozen rigid.

At least I haven’t got to worry about you arguing over The Book again, their mother said curtly, more to herself than to her daughters.

Mum! shrieked Sophie, before bursting into tears.

Oh come on, I can buy you another one. She’d softened her voice a little.

Felicity, meanwhile, was balancing on one foot and moving the other in a sweeping movement, skimming over the long, scrubby grass around where she stood. Half bent, she peered down, intently following the sweep of her foot with her eyes. I was hoping The Pen would be here too, but it’s gone… she began to sob too. We’re never going to find it in all this grass, and I can’t even ask The Book for help to find it when all we’ve got is this! Felicity held up the one remaining, slowly thawing page between thumb and forefinger as if to rub in the sorry state of what was left of their Book.

I’m so sorry Felicity, I really am… appealed Sophie. Mindful of her mother’s presence, Felicity just shot Sophie one of her deep scowls but managed, with great effort, to bite back what she really wanted to say.

Come on, you two. Let’s go into the caravan, and I can make us a hot chocolate while we think about where we can buy you a replacement.

You can’t, muttered Felicity.

What was that, Felicity? their mother asked, stepping closer to hear her.

Nothing, Felicity said.

Hearing Voices

Their mother put a guiding arm around the slumped shoulders of each child and gently steered them towards their old caravan. With its travelling days over, it stood nestled close against the end of the wooden barn, offering a place of shelter from the elements. She squeezed past the girls who were wriggling out of their boots just inside the narrow doorway, and carefully relocated a sagging cardboard box. It threatened to spill its contents of bbq utensils and paper plates, onto the