Read Online Emily Feather and the Secret Mirror by Holly Webb - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Holly Webb
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Robin obviously planning to take some sort of revenge on Katie. But the girl was the most important. Emily could still see her white, frightened face, and the way her fingers had clung to the rock.
If she hadnât promised her parents, she would have gone down to the landing right now and tried to open the door inside the mirror. Emily had almost gone through it once, when that same river-fairy girl had beckoned her in. Except that now, of course, the guard spells on all the doors had been strengthened. Emily wasnât sure that sheâd be able to open it but she had to go back somehow, and help. She would have wanted to, even if it didnât feel like paying back a debt. There had been such fear in the girlâs silvery-green eyes. She couldnât leave her there, being hunted.
But her dad had said she wasnât to go. The worlds donât mix, heâd said. In other words, stay out and donât interfere. It was no good asking him or Mum for help.
She glanced round. There were light footsteps on the stairs. Her mother, at a guess. And the tappity-tap of claws, so she had Gruff with her. Emily smoothed the hair over the tiny bare patch on her scalp and tried to look not in the slightest bit like she was planning a trip through a forbidden door.
Her mother opened her purple bedroom door and smiled at her. âEmily! You and Robin should have come and told me you were back. I was working on a design for a scarf and I didnât see the time. I only knew you were home because Robin came and told me he wanted toast and heâd already eaten all the bread at breakfast.â
âOh, there are some chocolate muffins left, in the tin in the cupboard.â Emily started to get up, but her mother sat down next to her on the window seat and pulled her back with an arm around her shoulders. Gruff sat down next to them and leaned lovingly on Eva. He adored her, and she loved him dearly, despite the dark hairs he left on all her fabric samples.
âRobin can find them himself. You know him, Emily, heâs probably on his second muffin already. Just because Robinâs hungry, it doesnât mean you have to go running to feed him! You let him push you around too much. They all do.â
Emily gave a tiny shrug. It was true â but then, they were special, and she wasnât.
Her mother leaned down and grabbed her shoulders. âI saw you think that! Donât you dare!â
âI like cooking for all of you,â Emily murmured.
âI know. But you need to stand up for yourself sometimes.â
âIâm trying,â Emily said, with a sigh. First Rachel, then Robin, now Eva. Everyone seemed to be ordering her to stand up, be strong, and not let people push her aroundâ¦
âGood. Now, we have to ward your room, remember? To stop you travelling in your sleep.â
âOhâ¦â Emily stared up at her mother in dismay. She had completely forgotten what Eva had said at breakfast. She had been depending on her dreams to help her rescue the river fairy from the painting. She had travelled before, after all. And now she needed to. Surely it would happen again?
âDonât worry!â Eva stroked her cheek. âOh, Emily, donât look like that. I didnât mean to scare you. Iâm sure youâre not likely to travel, not now weâve strengthened the guard spells. But just in case, we should make sure.â
Emily nodded slowly. âWhat do we have to do?â
Her mother looked around the room. âAll you have to do is sit on your bed. And stop looking so worried!â
Emily managed a small smile, but she was thinking furiously. Was there any way she could defeat the spell? To leave a chink in its armour somehow? Even without the river girlâs desperate need, Emily hated the thought of shutting herself away from that amazing, magical place. She couldnât help feeling that she belonged there too, just a little.
But there was
If she hadnât promised her parents, she would have gone down to the landing right now and tried to open the door inside the mirror. Emily had almost gone through it once, when that same river-fairy girl had beckoned her in. Except that now, of course, the guard spells on all the doors had been strengthened. Emily wasnât sure that sheâd be able to open it but she had to go back somehow, and help. She would have wanted to, even if it didnât feel like paying back a debt. There had been such fear in the girlâs silvery-green eyes. She couldnât leave her there, being hunted.
But her dad had said she wasnât to go. The worlds donât mix, heâd said. In other words, stay out and donât interfere. It was no good asking him or Mum for help.
She glanced round. There were light footsteps on the stairs. Her mother, at a guess. And the tappity-tap of claws, so she had Gruff with her. Emily smoothed the hair over the tiny bare patch on her scalp and tried to look not in the slightest bit like she was planning a trip through a forbidden door.
Her mother opened her purple bedroom door and smiled at her. âEmily! You and Robin should have come and told me you were back. I was working on a design for a scarf and I didnât see the time. I only knew you were home because Robin came and told me he wanted toast and heâd already eaten all the bread at breakfast.â
âOh, there are some chocolate muffins left, in the tin in the cupboard.â Emily started to get up, but her mother sat down next to her on the window seat and pulled her back with an arm around her shoulders. Gruff sat down next to them and leaned lovingly on Eva. He adored her, and she loved him dearly, despite the dark hairs he left on all her fabric samples.
âRobin can find them himself. You know him, Emily, heâs probably on his second muffin already. Just because Robinâs hungry, it doesnât mean you have to go running to feed him! You let him push you around too much. They all do.â
Emily gave a tiny shrug. It was true â but then, they were special, and she wasnât.
Her mother leaned down and grabbed her shoulders. âI saw you think that! Donât you dare!â
âI like cooking for all of you,â Emily murmured.
âI know. But you need to stand up for yourself sometimes.â
âIâm trying,â Emily said, with a sigh. First Rachel, then Robin, now Eva. Everyone seemed to be ordering her to stand up, be strong, and not let people push her aroundâ¦
âGood. Now, we have to ward your room, remember? To stop you travelling in your sleep.â
âOhâ¦â Emily stared up at her mother in dismay. She had completely forgotten what Eva had said at breakfast. She had been depending on her dreams to help her rescue the river fairy from the painting. She had travelled before, after all. And now she needed to. Surely it would happen again?
âDonât worry!â Eva stroked her cheek. âOh, Emily, donât look like that. I didnât mean to scare you. Iâm sure youâre not likely to travel, not now weâve strengthened the guard spells. But just in case, we should make sure.â
Emily nodded slowly. âWhat do we have to do?â
Her mother looked around the room. âAll you have to do is sit on your bed. And stop looking so worried!â
Emily managed a small smile, but she was thinking furiously. Was there any way she could defeat the spell? To leave a chink in its armour somehow? Even without the river girlâs desperate need, Emily hated the thought of shutting herself away from that amazing, magical place. She couldnât help feeling that she belonged there too, just a little.
But there was
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