Dino Paganuzzi’s ancient green Land Rover turned into the prim, brick-paved drive, and he grated his way up a gear.
Taggie resisted rolling her eyes heavenward. Her father had spent over fifty years in the Outer Realm, but he’d still not got the hang of gears. Another squeal of anguished metal, making her wince, and they came to a halt in front of Mum’s house. It was an ultra-modern new-build in a village just outside of Stamford, with solar panels on the roof and half the walls made out of glass. A little automatic mower edged slowly along the front lawn.
Taggie had hated saying goodbye to the First Realm and all the friends she’d made there, even though Dad assured her that she would only be away while she was at school. ‘You will return – it is your duty and destiny,’ he promised. He would sit on the shell throne in her absence, until she finished school and grew up.
‘But I can visit in the holidays,’ she persisted.
‘You will be required to visit in the holidays,’ he assured her.
So yes, it was awful coming back. But seeing Mum’s house brought a small lump to her throat. It meant her life would be calm and ordinary for a while. Which, she was beginning to realize, was no bad thing either.
Jemima was first out of the Land Rover. She sprinted round to the back of the house and slid the big glass door open. The kitchen inside was perfectly neat, with every work surface polished to a gleam, and all Mum’s amazing cooking gadgets in their proper place. ‘Mum, we’re home,’ Jemima yelled. She thought she heard Mum moving around upstairs.
A big silver-edged card on the mantelpiece caught her eye. She went over and took it down, reading with growing excitement.
THE CHIEF EQUERRY TO
HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II
CORDIALLY REQUESTS THE PLEASURE OF
MISS AGATHA PAGANUZZI
AND
MISS JEMIMA PAGANUZZI
FOR TEA AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Jemima’s eye shone with wonder. ‘She remembered!’ And wasn’t Taggie going to be so cross when she saw her actual name written on the invitation! Jemima giggled in delight.
There was a soft rustling sound behind her and she turned round . . .
Taggie carried two of her bags, while Dad sagged under the weight of all the others.
‘Did Jemima bring some of her gifts back?’ he grumbled. ‘These certainly feel like they’re stuffed with gold.’
‘No, Dad,’ Taggie said, hoping he didn’t spot the necklace she was wearing. But it had come from Earl Maril’bo – the pendant was a spark of starlight from the Fifth Realm, he’d told her when he’d given it to her. No way was she leaving that behind. And the same went for the friendship braid of bright red hair from Sophie that was currently swishing gently round her right ankle. Thankfully Dad agreed that she could wear the charmsward in the Outer Realm. ‘Just in case,’ as he put it. ‘It’s not just the denizens of the Dark Universe that are dangerous these days.’
‘This is a nice garden,’ Felix said as he bounded along at their feet. ‘I think I’ll enjoy camping here.’
‘I’ll open the window so you can get into my room,’ Taggie assured him.
‘That’s very kind, Majesty, but I promised the Blossom Princess I’d sleep in her room.’
‘Oh,’ Taggie said, only slightly put out. ‘OK then.’
‘You can look after yourself,’ Dad said. ‘I’ll be happier with Felix keeping an eye on Jem.’
‘Sure,’ Taggie said as they went round the corner of the house on to the patio. ‘Seriously, though – how are we going to explain what happened to Mum? I didn’t phone her once. She’ll be so cross.’
‘Leave your mother to me,’ Dad said.
‘Well, all right,’ she said, and shoved the kitchen door open with her elbow. ‘That’s nice, but I’m the one who’ll have to—’ She jumped in shock.
Jemima was standing perfectly still at the far end of the kitchen. Lord Golzoth stood behind her, holding a glowing violet blade to her throat.
‘One word,’ he hissed through his silver-tipped teeth, ‘and I slit her throat. If any of you move, I slit her throat. If I see that diabolical bracelet begin to turn, I slit her throat. Do you understand?’
Taggie nodded. She could see the fear and misery in Jem’s eyes. It was all she could do not to rush over to her sister.
‘You . . .’ Golzoth growled dangerously. ‘Weldowen skunk. Don’t think I don’t see you skulking about down there. Get up where you’re in full view.’
Felix hopped up on to the kitchen’s shiny marble work surface, his little black eyes glaring at the Karrak Lord.
‘What do you want?’ Dad asked calmly.
Taggie heard someone coming down the stairs. Her gaze flicked to the door to the hall. There must be something she could do to stop Mum coming in. But she knew how intently the devilsome Karrak was watching her.
‘What do I want?’ Golzoth asked. ‘Your daughter slaughtered my brothers and sisters, and you ask what I want? My only sorrow is that I cannot extend your pain as I originally promised.’
‘Really?’ Dad said in a voice that was almost mocking. ‘Look, you’ve still got time to get out. Be smart – forget all this, just walk away. That way, no one gets hurt.’
Lord Golzoth’s teeth started to stretch out into silver fangs as he hissed in annoyance.
‘Let Jem go,’ Taggie blurted. ‘Please. It’s me you want.’
‘Indeed I do,’ Lord Golzoth said. ‘And my dearest Queen of Dreams, making you watch your family die in front of you will be no small gratification for me. One I intend to fully enjoy. Almost as much as I will enjoy your death. Ah, now who is this come to join us?’
‘Don’t do it,’ Dad urged.
The door handle turned, and Taggie watched helplessly as her mother walked into the kitchen. Mum stopped abruptly and looked at the Karrak Lord in his swirling smoke cloak the way she stared at their cat whenever it left muddy paw prints across her clean floor. ‘What is going on here?’ she demanded. ‘Who are you?’
The Karrak Lord laughed. ‘I am death,’ he snarled, and brought his arm round and up, to point his long, bone fingers at Mum.
‘No!’ Taggie screamed.
The Karrak Lord’s blue death spell spat across the room. Taggie watched in horror, unable to do a single thing to stop it. But the flare of deathly wizard light crunched to a halt centimetres from her mother. And suddenly Mum wasn’t dressed in a pretty summer dress and pink cardigan any more. She wore imperious robes with a jewelled collar that rose above the top of her head – a head that was crowned in a tiara carved from a single diamond. Taggie thought she looked utterly breathtaking.
The death spell withered away.
Lord Golzoth managed to grunt: ‘Oh.’
And Mum was just Mum again. ‘Go away,’ she said. And clicked her fingers.
There was a flash of darkness, sucking all the light out of the kitchen. Taggie blinked. There was no Lord Golzoth any more. Instead, soft twinkling ash was drifting down everywhere. All Taggie could think was how cross Mum would be about so much dirt messing up her precious kitchen.
Dad winced. ‘I did try and tell you,’ he said to the thin sparkly cloud which was now all that remained of the Karrak Lord.
Felix’s teeth were chittering in astonishment. A Third Realm sorceress!’ he gasped. ‘Your mother is a Third Realm sorceress? When were you going to tell me that?
Jemima let out a yelp, and ran across the room to Mum, who folded her arms around her. ‘There, there, darling. It’s all right, that dreadful buffoon won’t be annoying anyone again.’
Taggie was so stunned she simply couldn’t move.
Mum smiled reassuringly at her. ‘Now then, young lady, I think you’d better tell me what you’ve all been up to. Start at the beginning, and don’t leave anything out.’
THE END . . .
. . . of The Secret Throne. What happens next to Taggie, Jemima, Felix and Sophie will be told in The Hunting of the Princes, the second book in The Queen of Dreams trilogy.