The Dance in the Dark

Copyright

First published in Great Britain by HarperCollins Children’s Books in 2016

HarperCollins Children’s Books is a division of HarperCollinsPublishers Ltd,

HarperCollins Publishers

1 London Bridge Street

London SE1 9GF

www.harpercollins.co.uk

Scarlet and Ivy: The Dance in the Dark

Text copyright © Sophie Cleverly 2016

Illustrations copyright © Manuel Šumberac

Jacket illustrations © Katie Forrester 2016;

Cover design © HarperCollins Publishers Ltd 2016

Sophie Cleverly asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work.

A catalogue copy of this book is available from the British Library.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins.

Source ISBN: 9780007589227

Ebook Edition © 2016 ISBN: 9780007589234

Version: 2016-04-27

Praise for

“This is one of the best books I have ever read. It was exciting, funny, warm and mysterious.” Lily, aged 9

“The whole book was brilliant … after the first paragraph it was as though Ivy was my best friend.” Ciara, aged 10

“This book is full of excitement and adventure – a masterpiece!” Jennifer, aged 9

“This is a page-turning mystery adventure with puzzles that keep you guessing.” Felicity, aged 11

“A brilliant and exciting book.” Evie, aged 8

“The story shone with excitement, secrets and bonds of friendship … If I had to mark this book out of 10, I would give it 11!” Sidney, aged 11

For all my Superheroes. The show must go on …

Contents

Cover

Title Page

Copyright

Praise

Dedication

Chapter One: Ivy

Chapter Two: Scarlet

Chapter Three: Ivy

Chapter Four: Scarlet

Chapter Five: Ivy

Chapter Six: Scarlet

Chapter Seven: Ivy

Chapter Eight: Scarlet

Chapter Nine: Ivy

Chapter Ten: Scarlet

Chapter Eleven: Ivy

Chapter Twelve: Scarlet

Chapter Thirteen: Ivy

Chapter Fourteen: Scarlet

Chapter Fifteen: Ivy

Chapter Sixteen: Scarlet

Chapter Seventeen: Ivy

Chapter Eighteen: Scarlet

Chapter Nineteen: Ivy

Chapter Twenty: Scarlet

Chapter Twenty-one: Ivy

Chapter Twenty-two: Scarlet

Chapter Twenty-three: Ivy

Chapter Twenty-four: Scarlet

Chapter Twenty-five: Ivy

Chapter Twenty-six: Scarlet

Chapter Twenty-seven: Ivy

Chapter Twenty-eight: Scarlet

Chapter Twenty-nine: Ivy

Chapter Thirty: Scarlet

Chapter Thirty-one: Ivy

Chapter Thirty-two: Scarlet

Chapter Thirty-three: Ivy

Chapter Thirty-four: Scarlet

Chapter Thirty-five: Ivy

Chapter Thirty-six: Scarlet

Chapter Thirty-seven: Ivy

Chapter Thirty-eight: Scarlet

Chapter Thirty-nine: Ivy

Chapter Forty: Scarlet

Chapter Forty-one: Ivy

Chapter Forty-two: Scarlet

Acknowledgements

About the Author

Also by Sophie Cleverly

About the Publisher

Chapter One

IVY

As new beginnings go, it was a good one.

The sun was making its first attempt at shining after the long dark winter. I had my twin by my side – Scarlet was lounging on the grass, pretending it was warmer than it really was. Tall trees towered over us, their fresh buds stretching towards the sky.

And, well, we were back at Rookwood School. That part wasn’t so good, but things were better than they were last term. Mrs Knight, the interim headmistress, welcomed us in the foyer with a big smile on her face. The school hadn’t had much luck with headmistresses and headmasters of late – Miss Fox was still on the run after being accused of embezzling money, not to mention hiding my sister in an asylum and pretending she was dead. And Mr Bartholomew had been no better. The cruel headmaster had finally been locked up for his involvement in the death of a pupil decades ago. Now the school was headless, so to speak, and Mrs Knight was left in charge.

We’d had our first day of lessons of the spring term, and there hadn’t been a caning in sight. All the teachers seemed happier. Even Violet seemed happier, and that was a feat in itself.

“Everything’s rather good, isn’t it?” I said to my twin with a happy sigh. I was a little chilly in my thin uniform, and the grass was damp, but the view down the long driveway of the school was beautiful now that everything was turning green again.

Scarlet looked up at me, unimpressed. “Aren’t you forgetting something?”

I wasn’t, but I was trying my hardest to be airy and cheerful. Of course, Scarlet had to bring me right back down to earth with a bang. Ariadne. Our best friend had been expelled before Christmas, after she was blamed for the fire that Mr Bartholomew had set to cover his tracks. Even after her name was cleared, her parents didn’t want her coming back to Rookwood.

It felt like there was an Ariadne-shaped hole beside us. Several times that day I’d gone to tell her something, or expected her to pipe up with a jolly comment, only to be met with silence.

“I’m sure she’s happy at home,” I said weakly.

Scarlet sat up, grass stuck all down the back of her dress. “Oh, come on,” she said, giving me a gentle shove. “Cheer up, Ivy, things are better. Let’s make a list.” She pulled out her pen and a tatty notebook, the one she’d been using in place of her old diary. “One: no headteachers are going to try to murder us. Two: no more nasty punishments. Three: everyone’s getting on. Penny has even stopped hating Violet.”

Penny Winchester and Violet Adams were former archenemies of Scarlet, and they’d had their own massive falling-out last term. It was true that they had finally made up, although that mostly involved not speaking to each other. “I’m not sure whether that should be on the list of good things,” I said. “Do we really want them teaming up again?”

My twin chewed the end of her pen thoughtfully. “Good point. All right, scratch that one. Now we need a new number three.”

“Well,” I said, “Christmas was nice.”

We’d been allowed to spend Christmas with our Aunt Phoebe, Father’s scatterbrained sister, after she’d found the courage to stand up to our meddling stepmother. I’d lived with our aunt for years before I came to Rookwood, when Scarlet was away at the school. Although I didn’t like to admit it, she’d always seemed to prefer the company of my twin, which was rather strange given how opposite they were.

“Three: Christmas,” Scarlet said aloud as she jotted it down. As an afterthought, she added, “excellent plum pudding.”

I smiled. It had been so strange for me, seeing Scarlet in the cottage where I’d lived when I believed her to be gone forever. Strange but wonderful. I hadn’t even minded when Aunt Phoebe burned the turkey, or when she’d given me the exact same knitted scarf that she got me last year. This time, Scarlet got one too.

“Four,” she said. “The weather is getting better.”

“Ha!” I exclaimed. “Not as much as I would like. My dress is getting damp. And look at those clouds!”

Scarlet pouted at me and put the notebook away in her pocket. “Ah, but this is different. This is a new year. The promise of spring is in the air!”

She stood up, spread her arms wide and took a deep, relaxing breath.

A raindrop landed on her nose.

We both laughed as we ran through the sudden downpour, back into the school and into our new beginning.

Life went on. And for the first time, school was simple. The weather was a little warmer and brighter. Scarlet and I were woken by the bell each day, went to lessons, ate a disappointing lunch, went to more lessons, and ate tasteless stew for dinner. Straight to bed with no night-time excursions.

I was happier, and I kept telling myself that. After all, there were no secret diary trails, no ghosts to hunt, no teachers waiting round the corner to give you a caning. That was better, wasn’t it?

One March morning, Scarlet sat down next to me in assembly and practically slammed her head on my shoulder. “Ivy,” she declared. “I am utterly bored.”

I let out a sigh, glad that I hadn’t been the one to have to say it. “Me too.”

“For goodness’ sake, let something interesting be announced this assembly,” she moaned.

“Like what?”

Nadia Sayani leant over from the row behind. “Perhaps an untimely death,” she said, wiggling her eyebrows.

“No!” I said. “No more untimely deaths!”

Nadia giggled and sat back again, and my twin grinned mischievously. Then the teachers began their usual round of shushing, so we sat up and paid attention.

“Good morning, girls,” said Mrs Knight, and waited for everyone to chorus their good mornings back. Our head of house had often taken assemblies before, but it was somehow different now that she was in charge of the school. “I have a special announcement for you today.”

Our ears collectively pricked up.

“As I expect you all know, your practice examinations will take place at the end of this term …”

We all groaned. Surely this couldn’t be the special announcement?

She waffled on for some time about the exams. Sunshine was spilling in through the hall windows – even though it wasn’t very warm outside, it was heating the room and all of us inside it, making me drowsy. I was usually a careful listener, but that day I tuned out most of her words.

“And now for the announcement,” Mrs Knight said in a more cheerful voice. “Miss Finch?”

I turned my gaze to the side of the stage, and saw our ballet teacher. She had started using a cane recently, as her old injury was playing up worse than ever. But nonetheless, she gave the hall a friendly smile as she climbed up to the lectern.

“Hello, girls,” she said. “I’m pleased to announce that we will be having a special performance this term from the ballet students.”

I grinned at my twin. That was us!

“They will be dancing the famous ballet Sleeping Beauty. The auditions will be held in a few weeks, and the roles will be chosen by a small judging panel of teachers.”

I swear Scarlet clapped her hands in excitement, a gesture which reminded me a little of someone else.

“And if that wasn’t exciting enough,” Miss Finch said playfully, “it will be taking place in the Theatre Royal in Fairbank. All students and parents will be able to purchase tickets, should they wish to.”

Scarlet’s eyes sparkled with the lights of fame. She was hooked, I could tell. This was her big chance at ballet stardom.

I was excited too, of course, and nervous, but my excitement was dampened. My twin’s enthusiastic response reminded me of the sad, Ariadne-shaped hole on the bench beside me. What was excitement if you had no best friend to share it with?

All Scarlet talked about was the ballet recital for the rest of the day. Not least in ballet class, where she spent more time going on about how brilliant it would be than actually practising.

But my sadness was increasing. By the time we went up to our dorm room to get ready for dinner, I felt like crying.

“What is it, Ivy?” said Scarlet, plonking herself down on the bed beside me. “You’ve been quite the sourpuss all day. Aren’t you happy about the ballet? It’s what we’ve always dreamt of!”

It’s what you’ve always dreamt of, I might have thought, but my mind was elsewhere. I was staring at my bedside table, where a pile of letters from my friend sat. I wasn’t sure whether to admit to my twin what I really felt, but before I could stop myself it came pouring out. “I miss Ariadne,” I said. “I just wish she was here! Things are so dull without her!”

“Oh, thank you very much,” said Scarlet. “Aren’t I good enough for you?”

“You know what I mean,” I replied.

She sighed and lay back on the bed, her head almost hitting the wall. “All right. I miss her too.”

“There’s got to be a way to get her back.” I bit my lip. “I swore that I would. But after what Mrs Knight said …”

“I know. Her father wants her to stay at home.”

I undid my school tie and twisted it round my fingers. “It’s not fair, is it? She did nothing wrong. Her father should let her come back if she wants to.”

“He won’t,” said Scarlet. There was always a hint of anger in her voice when she spoke about it. “She’s his precious daughter. He wants to wrap her in cotton wool and never let her out again.”

It was hopeless.

I blinked back tears as I walked down the hallway to the lavatories. I didn’t want to be soppy in front of Scarlet. I’d only just convinced her that I wasn’t as wet as she’d always thought I was.

But as I walked into the lavatories, I saw someone else I really didn’t want to cry in front of.

Penny stared right at me. “Well, if it isn’t the crybaby,” she sneered.

I said nothing, and tried to ignore her. She hadn’t picked on me so far this term. I had been hoping it would stay that way.

“I’m talking to you, crybaby,” she said. She shoved me, and I fell back against the cold sinks.

“Ow! What was that for?” I said.

“I’m sure you think you’ve won,” she said, narrowing her eyes. “You and your sister may have got away with everything, but I don’t forget.”

Penny had a memory like a particularly vindictive elephant. Well, two could play at that game.

“I don’t forget either,” I said, trying to be brave. “I haven’t forgotten that you tried to tell on us to the headmaster, or that you pushed Violet into the lake.”

“We made up,” snapped Penny. “It doesn’t matter any more.”

“Then why are you picking on me again?” I asked. Every time I thought Penny had changed, her old horrible self reappeared just as quickly as it had gone.

“You’re going to shut up and stay away from me,” she growled. “Before I give you something to really cry about.”

Chapter Two

SCARLET

Ivy seemed shaken when she came back into the room. “What’s up?” I asked.

“Nothing,” she said. “Let’s go down for dinner.”

I shrugged. I guessed she was probably still getting herself upset about Ariadne. But what could we do? We didn’t even know where Ariadne lived, so sneaking her away was out of the question. And I didn’t think her father would be easily persuaded to change his mind.

We trudged downstairs, Ivy still being quiet. Maybe we were just going to have to move on. Ivy and I would be a team of two once more.

I took her hand and squeezed it gently, but she didn’t squeeze back.

We made it to the dining room, and joined the queue. I thought maybe a bit of humour might cheer up Ivy, so I put on my poshest voice. “What is it today, Miss?” I said to the dinner lady on duty, who was skinny as a rake and wearing a filthy apron. “Are we having coq au vin? Maybe some steak tartare?”

She frowned at me. “It’s stew,” she said.

I feigned surprise. “Really? How original! What will you come up with next?”

She dumped a ladleful on my plate, spilling half of it over the rim, and then thrust it towards me. “You’ll eat what you’re given,” she said.

I nudged Ivy in the ribs. “I’m sure we’ll enjoy this culinary delight, won’t we, dear sister?”

“Hmm?”

Not even a giggle. The dinner lady was looking at me like she was about to put me in the stew. I sighed. “All right. Fine. I’ll move along.”

We got to our house table, Richmond, and I plonked my tray down.

Prefect Penny was already there, waving her fork about like she was conducting an invisible orchestra. “It will be simply magical,” she was telling Nadia. “I have to be given the role of Aurora. It was practically made for me.”

I glared at her. “Really? Because I’m pretty sure I’m the best ballerina here.”

She turned to me, narrowing her freckle-rimmed eyes. “And, as I expected, Scarlet Grey is already jealous. She knows I’m perfect for the part.”

I would have jumped across the table and slapped her, if it wasn’t for Ivy jamming her fork into my leg. “Penelope,” I said bitterly. “The day you win the lead role in a ballet over me is the day Queen Victoria herself comes back from the grave and dances the Sugar Plum Fairy.”

That got a few titters from around the table.

“Girls,” said Mrs Knight, bringing out her warning tone. “Let’s be sensible, please.”

Penny turned back to Nadia. “She’s just bluffing,” I heard her say quietly. “She knows she’s not up to scratch.”

I had to ignore them if I didn’t want a telling-off from Mrs Knight and another fork-stabbing from Ivy. So instead I just wolfed my stew down angrily. What did Penny know, anyway?

I lay awake that night worrying about Penny’s stupid words.

Now, I know I shouldn’t have given a jot about the nonsense Penny came out with. But something she’d said had struck a chord.

She knows she’s not up to scratch.

It was true. I was out of practice.

After all, I’d been locked in an asylum for months.

I shuddered and pulled the sheets up over my shoulders. I didn’t want to think about the asylum again, not now, not ever. It was endless, horrible and dull being trapped there. And worse, the feeling of abandonment, that you were never going to escape …

I shook my head into the pillow. Those thoughts had to be shut out.

I looked over at Ivy, wondering if I should wake her and ask her about my chances. She was snoozing peacefully, a half-finished book dangling from her fingertips. Somehow I wasn’t sure if I could. I always felt that I had to be the strong one, no matter how confident she got. And besides, she probably wouldn’t understand. She loved ballet, but not for the same reasons I did.

For me, it was my dream. It was my ticket to fame and fortune. And I wasn’t about to let anyone take it from me.

I had to be the best.

I was going to find a way to beat Penny and win that role.

Eventually, I don’t know how or when, I fell asleep. And that was when the nightmare came.

I was on stage, the spotlight pouring on to me. There was no music, but I knew the dance anyway. I leapt and twirled, my limbs flowing gracefully.

But something was wrong. Someone out there in the darkness was watching me. Out of the corner of my eye, I kept catching a shadow flitting between the seats. In between each silent phrase of the score, it appeared and then vanished again.

I ground to a halt. I suddenly became aware that the theatre was full of people, all staring at me with blank faces. None of them could see the shadow as it passed behind them.

I shielded my eyes from the spotlight. “Who’s there?” I called.

The shadow didn’t reply. It was lurking, hiding. A person made of smoke, not flesh.

I looked around. I had stopped mid-performance. And now I couldn’t remember where to start again.

From all around me came the sound of hissing.

It was the audience, I realised. They were hissing at me like snakes.

“No,” I tried to say. “It’s not my fault. I’m a good dancer! But there’s something watching me! Can’t you see it?”

The hissing got louder and louder, until it was deafening.

“No!” I yelled, and clamped my hands over my ears.

The shadow swooped out from behind a seat, and began to stalk towards me.

And that was when I toppled from the stage, and into the blackness below.

Chapter Three

IVY

If there was one thing Scarlet hated, it was not being the centre of attention.

I’d had my taste of the spotlight when I was forced by Miss Fox to pretend to be my twin for a term at Rookwood School, and I’d found it exhausting. It brought stares and gossip and trouble. Especially from people like Penny.

But it hadn’t been all bad. For the first time in my life I’d changed things and made things happen, and I had even made a real friend of my own. I’d felt noticed, like I was no longer just a reflection of my twin.

So the centre of attention was a nice place to visit, but I wasn’t certain I wanted to live there.

The moment they announced the ballet recital, I knew Scarlet was going to obsess over the lead role. It was her chance to prove to everyone what she was worth, not just to our fellow pupils but to the teachers and parents and – just maybe, as she excitedly told me on the way to lessons that morning – potential ballet talent scouts. I honestly had no idea if there even was such a thing, let alone whether or not they came to school performances.

“I’m telling you,” said Scarlet, “I’m the best ballerina in the school. Penny’s nonsense doesn’t faze me. She’s like a parrot.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Colourful and feathery?”

“No, you clod!” Scarlet shot back, giving me a jab in the arm. “She’s all squawk. She doesn’t know what she’s talking about. Not up to scratch. Pah!”