Cloud Magic

worry, she’d be back very soon, just in case they did come in and check under the covers. She hoped they wouldn’t!

    Taking a last look around her bedroom, she flew out through the open window. Her stomach turned over nervously. What if they were caught? We can camouflage ourselves , she reminded herself, remembering how the night before Allegra and Chloe had taught her how to vanish against the night sky. Feeling a bit better, she flew on.
    Chloe was waiting for her on the beach. ‘Let’s go straight to Lookout Point!’
    The two girls whispered, ‘ Camouflagus ,’ and set off.
    Erin’s heart beat faster as they flew towards the house. It was shrouded in darkness. As they landed outside the stables, a horse snorted.
    Erin checked over the stable doors. The chestnut was lying down and the bay was dozing, one hind foot resting.
    Between the stables and the woods there was a small stone barn. They went over to it. Chloe opened the door as quietly as she could. Inside there was a tidy, well-kept tack and feed room. Metal feed bins lined one wall of the room and there were bridles and head collars and keys hanging on hooks on the wall.
    Shutting the door, they flew round the back of the barn. ‘Let’s try the woods,’ Chloe suggested.
    Usually Erin would have felt really scared being in the woods at night, but now she was a stardust spirit she felt OK. It was strange, but as she flew among the trees she felt almost as if she belonged there. Her eyes scanned the area. Suddenly she spotted a small grey stone building in a clearing. She frowned as they got closer. There was something on the ground. An icy chill swept through her as she realized that it was a circle made of hagstones.
    ‘Look at –’ she started to say, but a whinny interrupted her. It came from the building. ‘Tor!’ Erin exclaimed, recognizing the sound instantly.
    She let her camouflage drop and raced to the door of the hut, her fingers fumbling with the bolt. ‘Tor! It’s me, Erin! Is that you?’
    ‘Yes!’ the sky horse’s familiar whinny rang out. ‘Can you let me out, Erin?’
    The door was bolted and there was a big metal lock holding the bolt shut. ‘No, the door’s locked,’ Erin said desperately.

    ‘And there aren’t any windows,’ said Chloe, looking around.
    ‘Who is that?’ asked Tor immediately.
    ‘Chloe. She’s my friend. Another stardust spirit.’ Erin rattled the bolt. ‘Oh, Tor. I can’t get you out.’ Tears of frustration sprang to her eyes. Her fingers curled on the rough wood. If only she could get to him.
    ‘Can you find the keys?’ he said.
    ‘But where will they be? Who’s got them? Who’s captured you? Who’s –’
    ‘Erin!’ Tor interrupted. ‘Quick! You and Chloe must go! The dark one is coming. I can sense it!’
    ‘But who is the dark one?’ Chloe demanded.
    ‘There’s no time! Go!’ Tor’s voice was full of alarm.
    Chloe grabbed Erin’s arm. ‘Come on,’ she said quickly.
    Erin didn’t want to leave the stallion, but Chloe tugged her upwards. ‘Erin, we have to go!’
    ‘ Camouflagus! ’ Erin whispered urgently. Chloe echoed it.
    They were only just in time. As they flew upwards, a dark, shadowy figure wearing a hooded cloak came striding through the trees.

C H A P T E R
    Seven
    The two girls flew as fast as they could back to the cliff top. ‘That was so scary!’ Chloe said as they landed and let their camouflage fade. ‘Did you see that figure?’
    ‘Yes.’ Erin’s thoughts raced, full of relief at having found Tor, but full of alarm and fear too. ‘I wonder who it was?’
    ‘We have to find out!’ Chloe said. ‘You’ll have to ask Tor when he speaks to you next.’ She shivered. ‘Oh, it’s so annoying we couldn’t stay for longer! What should we do now then? I guess we’d probably better not go back until tomorrow.’
    ‘No,’ said Erin in frustration. What she really wanted to do was fly straight back there and talk to Tor some more – maybe rescue him. But he had told them to go. ‘I suppose we could try using our stardust powers. It might be good to practise them in case we need to use them to rescue Tor.’
    ‘Good idea,’ Chloe said.
    ‘Why don’t you show me what to do?’ Erin suggested.
    ‘OK!’ Chloe replied eagerly. She pointed her hand at a dry twig on the floor in front of them. ‘Fire be with me!’
    The branch started to smoulder, a curl of smoke rising up from its surface. Chloe frowned in concentration and the twig burst