Inhaltsangabe
The second sweeping adventure by iconic Spice Girl, songwriter, and New York Times bestselling author, Geri Halliwell-Horner—now in paperback!
On the brink of discovering who—or what—lies behind her mother’s death, Rosie Frost begins a new adventure with a murder to solve, revenge on her mind, and more questions than she has answers.
It’s a new term at Heverbridge School, and Bloodstone Island is in turmoil: mutant animals are on the loose, jealous classmates want to bring Rosie down, and, even worse, there’s a black hole to deal with. Below the island’s surface, an everlasting star is growing in strength, and it just may end them all.
Rosie discovers the north side of the island, home to the alluring Imperium Palace. But is the palace one of scientific genius or deadly menace?
While she fights to know the truth about her past—and her family’s ancient ties to Bloodstone—Rosie begins to wonder if the price for the truth may be too high. She must discover what she’s really made of as a fresh danger puts her new home—and all that she loves—at risk.
*Books contain a web link with access to original songs by Geri Halliwell-Horner!
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Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor
Geri Halliwell-Horner is an accomplished singer, writer, producer, and actress who is widely recognized for her iconic place in British pop culture as an original member of the record-breaking girl group the Spice Girls. As Ginger Spice, Geri played a formative role in the band as they became one of the biggest-selling girl groups of all time. She is the successful author of the Ugenia Lavender book series in the UK and continues to work with the Royal Commonwealth to promote prospects through literacy to Commonwealth citizens. She was awarded an honorary doctorate of letters at Sheffield Hallam University and is an outspoken supporter of animals and an ambassador of the London Zoo. You can visit Geri Halliwell-Horner online at RosieFrostBooks.com or follow her on Instagram @GeriHalliwellHorner and on X @GeriHalliwell and on Facebook at Facebook.com/GeriHalliwell.
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Chapter 1
The Promise
Sunday, January 8th. 4:00 P.M.
Volcan Crag on Bloodstone Island.
Who killed my mum?
Rosie Frost dangled her ruby pendant in front of her. The blood-red crystal hung from a gold chain. It was the last link to her mum. Swinging back and forth in the wind, the size of a tangerine segment, it glimmered under the dying rays of the winter sun.
Rosie was standing on a slab of flat gray rock at the base of the Volcan Crag, the vast terrain of Bloodstone Island spread out before her. A hushing sound broke against the shore below, like secret whispers from the Atlantic Ocean. Olivine Bay’s sand was a strange green color.
From here Rosie could see Wildcat Woods, the wetlands where the Konik ponies grazed, and Bloodstone Swamp edged with mossy trees. In the center of it all sat Heverbridge School, with its red brick towers and turrets, and the frozen Black Lake stretching out in front of it. Everything was covered in a thick blanket of fresh snow. This was her new home, and so much had happened since she arrived—so much.
She held the necklace tightly out in front of her. “Tell me what I need to know,” Rosie whispered.
Nothing.
All she knew was that her mother had been killed nearly six weeks ago. Rosie had been pulled out of her old life in London and sent to this strange school with nothing but a mysterious red briefcase and some clothes. She looked out across the island, gripped the pendant, and frowned. The wind was picking up, whipping her wavy red hair against her face.
“I’m going to find out the truth, Mum,” she said. The air glistened with frost. “Someone took you from me, and I promise they’re going to pay.”
She fastened the necklace back around her neck, then checked her phone. Since she’d found out her mum’s death was deemed “suspicious,” Rosie had sent a ton of messages to the lawyer, Colin Fletcher, the one who’d bundled her off here. After fobbing her emails off with excuses and half-truths, he had finally promised her he would get back to her with some proper answers imminently.
NO NEW MESSAGES
Unless that had just been another tactic to get rid of her for a bit. She looked out at the moving tide, drawing back and forth like the breath of the Earth. She then pulled out her old diary, which Charlie and Bina had retrieved from the bins last year after it had been stolen. There was one blank page left to fill. Rosie bit on her pen, then began to write.
Dear Mum,
I miss you. Just in case you can still hear me. There is still so much I don’t know about this place; every day I learn something new. Bloodstone is so much bigger than I thought. There’s a palace! Yes, a real palace! I haven’t been there yet. It’s called the Emperium Palace—it’s this special place, centuries old, and is only for scientists and genius people and is on the north side of the island; that’s all I know for now . . . Did you go to it? There’s going to be a competition, too, a science one—Bina and Charlie might like it.
Mum . . . are you even listening?
Whoever did this to you—I’m going to find them. And make them pay.
I promise.
An icy sleet started to fall, stinging her face, and the diary pages flapped in the wind. The island was gently reminding her that she shouldn’t be up here. Rosie ripped out the last page of the book and tore it into small pieces. The wind licked them up into the breeze and they flew out over the ocean.
She closed her diary and put it back in her bag, then looked at her old Flik Flak watch. Yes, she should be getting back. Rosie took one final glance at the milky sky—darkness was coming.
Her old boots slipped on the snow and the wind blew hard into her face. Walking down a mountain was always harder than going up. She half jumped, half slid down a mossy bank where the track turned steeply down. She landed heavily on the firm ground, crouching down into a deep hollow protected from the wind.
Grrrrr . . .
Rosie stopped. There were wolves on the island, she knew that, but not ones that attacked humans. She stiffened, ears pricked.
Grrrrr . . .
The growl came again, louder this time and sinister, and was then eclipsed by a short, vicious bark.
Rosie bolted, plunging into the dense woodland.
Snarls and panting sounded behind her as the animal snuffled in her scent. Rosie ran faster, weaving through the trees. Her heart was thumping hard as she raced through the dense forest. Vines and spiny leaves swiped at her face.
Whatever it was, it was huge, racing through the frosted branches, and it was almost upon her.
She ran faster. Suddenly her boot caught on a root and she fell full-length onto the compacted snow. She twisted round, trying to pull herself upright, her feet scrambling, pushing herself away from the creature lumbering toward her.
It stopped dead in front of her. In the semidarkness, Rosie could make out huge yellow eyes and long white teeth. It towered above her, the size of a cow, and curled its lip. Rosie shuffled backward, and it took a slow step closer, still growling.
“Rosie, stay very still,” a familiar voice behind her whispered.
“Ms. Parr!” Rosie said, keeping her eyes on the creature, leaning back. “What is it?”
A torch beam pierced the shadows and Rosie gasped. It had a head like a wolf, but was as large and muscly as a bear, with a pointed nose and small ears, its dark fur flecked with gray and white.
“Be still—if you move it will attack,” Ms. Parr whispered.
Rosie swallowed, though every muscle in her body tightened, screaming at her to run.
The beast’s eyes glimmered in the light of the torch. It bared its teeth and growled as it lowered its head, lip curled, its hind legs ready to pounce.
“Baa! Baaa!” shouted Ms. Parr, thrusting her stick at it. “Get away! There’s nothing for you here!”
A strange-looking dog darted out from behind Ms. Parr and started barking frantically, standing between Rosie and the beast. Its front legs and one ear were made of a dull silvery metal.
The beast glanced at the dog, drool dripping from its mouth. Then it blinked, like it couldn’t be bothered, and turned away, loping off into the darkness. Rosie trembled, her heart still thudding so hard she couldn’t hear herself think.
Five seconds passed, then ten, and Ms. Parr seemed to relax.
“It’s gone,” she muttered.
“Was that a wolf?!” Rosie whispered.
“Yes, but a mutant one,” said Ms. Parr, with her hand on her chin. “Wolves don’t naturally grow to that size. Remember what I said about coming up here late in the day, Rosie? You shouldn’t. It’s dangerous.”
“I thought you just meant because of the vapors from Volcan Crag. I didn’t know I’d run into a mutant wolf!” Rosie said, shuddering.
Ms. Parr put out her hand and helped Rosie to her feet. The island’s guardian was dressed in an old, heavy waxed jacket, and had proper stout walking boots on.
“I’ve told you many times the island contains all sorts of animals, some of which can be dangerous to humans. Though the pack of Ethiopian wolves on Bloodstone are lovely creatures.”
“That thing was not lovely,” Rosie said.
“Yes, I’m not sure quite what it was. It looked very like a dire wolf, but they’re...
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