Amelia Fang and the Barbaric Ball. Laura Ellen Anderson

eat up before your falafels get cold, then off to bed,’ said Countess Frivoleeta, prodding at Amelia’s cheeks. ‘We must keep your skin looking pale and death-like!’

      ‘But Muuum, it’s the final of The Great Gothic Gravestone Carve Off tonight! Can’t I stay up for just a bit longer?’ said Amelia.

      Suddenly a huge

      BOOOOOOOOOONG!

      echoed through the house.

      ‘Drake, my little sweat gland, are we expecting visitors?’ said Countess Frivoleeta. ‘Wooo!’ she called, without waiting for her husband’s reply. ‘Please answer that immediately.’

      Moments later, Wooo appeared holding a gold envelope.

      ‘You have a letter, Countess. It appears to be from the king.’

      CHAPTER 2

      FLORENCE

      AND GRIMALDI

      ‘THE KING’S COMING TO THE BALL?’ yelled Florence, Amelia’s best friend. This was normal speaking volume for Florence, who was six-feet tall, huge and hairy from head to toe. Everything about her was BIG. Even her voice was big. But so was her heart. Which was also very hairy.

      Amelia, Squashy and Florence Spudwick were sitting under the Petrified-Tree-That-Looked-Like-a-Unicorn, where they met every night before school.

      ‘THAT’S WELL EXCITING!’ bellowed Florence, gobbling down a bowl of Unlucky Arms cereal.

      ‘And he’s bringing the prince!’ Amelia said excitedly. ‘I’ll finally have someone my OWN age to hang out with at the ball! Although I still wish you and Grimaldi could come.’

      ‘S’ALL RIGHT,’ said Florence, putting a hairy arm around Amelia’s shoulders. ‘I’D SHOW EVERYONE UP WIV MY STUNNING LOOKS!’ She grinned, revealing a mouthful of spiky teeth pointing in every direction.

      The two friends burst out laughing.

      Squashy bounced up and down, blowing raspberries with his tongue, before nuzzling into Amelia’s tummy for a belly rub.

      ‘Hi, guuuuys!’ came a high voice from across the graveyard. It was Grimaldi Reaperton, Amelia’s other best friend.

      Grimaldi was small and cute, and Death

      was his middle

       name. No, really, it

       was. He dealt with

       the deaths of small

       creatures, like squished

       toads, but when he was

       older he would take over

       from his grimpapa and

       deal with bigger, messier

       beings.

      ‘Grimaldi!’ said Amelia excitedly. ‘I have BIG news!’

      ‘Is it about The Great Gothic Gravestone Carve Off?’ said Grimaldi. ‘Because I really thought that William W—’

      ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa! Don’t tell me. I haven’t seen the final episode yet . . .’ said Amelia, covering her ears.

      ‘So what’s the news?’

       said Grimaldi.

      ‘THE KING’S COMING TO THE BALL . . .’ Florence blurted out.

      ‘Wow! Nobody’s seen him in years,’ said Grimaldi. ‘I was worried he’d died . . . Grimpapa keeps checking his diePhone in case he missed him. Happens sometimes.’

      Suddenly, the Catacomb Academy welcome bones rattled, announcing the beginning of school.

      ‘But that’s not all,’ said Amelia quickly. ‘Prince Tangine is coming too!’

      ‘Maybe you’ll actually have FUN this year!’ Grimaldi smiled.

      ‘I hope so,’ said Amelia. ‘Do you think Prince Tangine likes playing Goblin Tag?’

      ‘Amelia!’ shouted the head

       teacher, Miss Inspine.

       ‘Florence, Grimaldi! Hurry

       up! You’re going to be late for

       Abominable Assembly!’

      Amelia and her friends

       wound their way down to

       the Catacomb Academy

       crypt.

      ‘Whose lap do you want

       to sit on today, Squashy?’

       Amelia asked.

      Squashy immediately

       pa-doinged into

       Amelia’s arms and

       started licking her

       face.

      ‘I think that’s settled!’ she

       said, laughing.

      In the crypt, the music

      teacher, Mr Blob, was playing the ‘Death March’ on the organ. Then he exploded, marking the beginning of assembly. An eyeball landed in the hood of Grimaldi’s cloak.

      ‘EVERY time!’ Grimaldi grimaced.

      ‘OK, class, take your plinths please,’ said Miss Inspine. ‘Firstly, I’d like to make a very special announcement. As

      you all know, the Barbaric Ball is taking place in a couple of nights. And I’m happy to announce that King Vladimir will be attending with his son, Prince Tangine, after all these years!’

      The students muttered excitedly.

      ‘I have ALSO been informed that, as of tonight, Prince Tangine will be joining Catacomb Academy as part of his king training, to get to know the young creatures of Nocturnia!’

      The whole crypt exploded in squeals and burps of delight.

      ‘Oh, wasn’t it just AWFUL that his mother was EATEN by a fairy?’ cried Frankie, who had stitches over her face and bolts in her neck.

      ‘There will be NO mention of the fairy incident,’ hissed Miss Inspine. ‘The prince

      is probably anxious enough,

       leaving the palace for the first time in years.’

      ‘So brave!’ said Frankie,

      fanning herself with her detatched ear.

      ‘The king has requested,’ the head teacher continued, ‘that Amelia Fang show Prince Tangine around the school and look after him while he settles in.’

      ‘That’s only because he used to be best buddies with Amelia’s dad!’ Frankie spat.

      Amelia muffled a groan.