Читать книгу Magic Ballerina 13-18 - Darcey Bussell - Страница 12

The minutes ticked by. Holly watched the dancers starting to practise the dance that was performed at the end of the wedding in Sleeping Beauty. It was a lively dance with lots of skipping and galloping and turning round in pairs. As the music played, Holly could feel her feet itching to join in. She was sure she could do it …

She was just edging closer when Lila came hurrying out of the palace. “Where’s the White Cat?”

“He went after you,” replied Holly, surprised.

Lila looked alarmed. “I didn’t see him. Oh, no! We have to find him!”

She ran inside the palace. Holly raced after her. “What’s the rush? He said he’d come back.”

But Lila was too busy calling for their missing friend. “White Cat! Where are you?” Holly spotted a piece of paper on the floor.

“What’s that?” She picked it up.

I’ve gone home. Tell them to cancel the dance.

From the White Cat.

“Look!” Holly gasped. “But the White Cat wouldn’t just leave!”

“Of course he wouldn’t,” said Lila. “Oh, Holly, this is dreadful. I think the Wicked Fairy has kidnapped him – along with Goldilocks and Red Riding Hood.”

Holly’s stomach felt as if it was full of icy water. “Why? Because she wants to ruin the party?”

Lila nodded. “Look, I’m going to tell you a secret,” she said in a whisper. “I told King Tristan about it a while ago. He asked me not to tell anyone else, in case people got worried. However, when I asked him just now he said I could tell you and the White Cat. He’s hoping you can help. You see, the Wicked Fairy has a very good reason for wanting to stop the dance from happening.”

Holly’s heart was pounding. “What is it?”

“Well, you know the prince broke the Wicked Fairy’s curse when he woke Aurelia by kissing her?” Lila asked.

Holly nodded.

“The truth is he only half broke it,” Lila sighed. “Being Aurelia’s special fairy godmother, I knew that the wedding dance had to be repeated at sunset today, exactly a year on from the wedding. If it isn’t, then the Wicked Fairy’s curse would fall again and everyone would go back to sleep. And this time there would be no one to save us. We wouldn’t ever wake up.”

Holly stared at Lila. “But that’s awful!”

Lila nodded. “I’m sure the Wicked Fairy thinks that if enough people disappear, then everyone else will realise that she’s up to something, panic and leave before sunset.”

“So the dance won’t happen and then her curse will fall,” said Holly. “Oh, goodness.” A thought crossed her mind. “But how can you be sure it is her?”

“When I was with the king we used my magic to look at her castle. We saw Red Riding Hood and Goldilocks trapped in the tallest tower. It won’t be long before the White Cat’s taken there too.” Tears filled Lila’s eyes. “Oh, Holly, I don’t know what to do!”

Holly’s mind whirled. A picture of the White Cat filled her head. She remembered the fear on his face before he bounded into the river to save her. Now she had to be as brave and save him — and the others.

“We have to go to the Wicked Fairy’s castle and rescue them, before anyone notices they have all gone,” she declared. “How do we get there?”

“We can use my magic,” said Lila, “but I don’t know how we are going to get them out of the tower.”

Holly thought for a moment. “Could we take a rope ladder?” she suggested.

“That’s a brilliant idea!” exclaimed Lila. “There’s a rope ladder in the store cupboard in the cellars.” She ran off and came back a few minutes later with a coiled-up rope ladder. She took Holly’s hands. “Are you ready?”

Holly nodded determinedly.

Lila waved her wand. “Then let’s go!”