Weava the Wilful Witch Read Free Page B

looked like a kitten, but it was spikierthan any kitten should be. ‘What’s that thing?’ she asked.
    â€˜I’m not a thing. I’m the kit-fae,’ said the creature. It stretched two furry wings.
    â€˜Uggg …’ said Jemima. ‘It talks!’
    â€˜It’s fairy-breed, like me,’ said Weava. ‘There are lots of us about.’
    â€˜Then how come I’ve never seen any before?’ asked Jemima.
    â€˜That’s ‘cos we use DNM, or Don’t Notice Me, spells to make sure you don’t,’ said Weava.
    She frowned. ‘Well, mostly. My sister isn’t using hers now. She’s living like a human. She wants me to do it, too. I’m trying to force her to do a spell so she’ll have to stop pretending. But it’s difficult.’
    Jemima felt as if her brain was being stretched out of shape. ‘Um…what kind of spell?’ she asked.
    â€˜I was going to give you some black magic cake, so you’d get a tummy ache,’ said Weava. ‘I thought Merry would do a spell to fix that, but instead she threw the cake away. She didn’t need magic for that.’
    â€˜It was mean of you to hope I got a tummy ache!’ said Jemima. ‘I’ve never done anything bad to you!’
    â€˜That’s the point,’ said Weava. ‘I have to do something really naughty, otherwise Merry will ignore it. Besides—I must do a bad deed so I can win my Badge of Badness. I can’t get into the Abademy without it.’ She smiled at Jemima. ‘The Abademy of Badness is a special school for fairy-breed. Once I’m there, I’ll be happy.’
    â€˜I’d be happy, too, if Mum would stop trying to make me have fun,’ said Jemima.‘I wish she’d listen when I tell her I don’t want to go to costume parties.’
    â€˜Your mum and my sister should stop meddling,’ said Weava. ‘Maybe you could help me teach my sister a lesson, and I’ll do the same with your mum?’
    â€˜It’s a deal,’ said Jemima.
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    * Fairy-breed use special ‘Don’t Notice Me’ spells to stop humans noticing them. They are called ‘DNM’s for short.

6. Battle for the Broomstick

    â€˜I’ve thought of a wandiful bad deed, Jemima,’ said Weava. ‘It will teach your mother a lesson, and force Merry to do something witchy.’
    She jumped off the bed. ‘Broomstick time! We’ll ride around this building and in and out of the windows. Everyone will see us. Your mother will be scared, and Merry will have to do a spell to get usdown. Then she’ll do a forgettery-spell on everyone who saw us.’ *
    The kit-fae was delighted. ‘Now you’re talking, witchling!’ it yowled. ‘That’s big. That’s bad. The hags love a grand performance.’
    Weava took her broom in one hand. ‘You come, too,’ she said to the kit-fae. It sprang up and crawled under her cloak. ‘Come on,’ she said to Jemima.
    They walked into the lounge room.
    Merry was labelling bottles. ‘Are you going to be good now?’ she asked, without looking up.
    â€˜Of course not,’ said Weava. ‘Jemima and I are going for a broomstick ride.’
    Merry jumped up, goggling at Jemima. ‘Where did you come from?’
    â€˜Through the window,’ said Weava.
    â€˜Through the…’ Merry’s gaze shifted to the broom in Weava’s hand. ‘No!’ she said. ‘Weava, you can’t take that broom outside. And take your costume off!’
    â€˜Give it up, Merry,’ said Weava. ‘Jemima knows you’re a witch, and she thinks it’s wandiful, don’t you, Jemima?’
    Jemima nodded.
    Merry took Jemima’s hand and drew her aside. ‘Weava sometimes tells fibs. Don’t encourage her.’
    â€˜I heard that!’ said Weava. ‘Come on, Jemima.’ She tugged Jemima’s other