The Book of Night... Book III,
From the Caz Klein Series
The Book
of Night Ten long months have passed since Caz
last went to Morphea and much has happened. Her father, Gus, is
mentally deteriorating and Dr Proteus, aided by Aunt Katarina,
has made himself an unwelcome presence in the Klein house. Trying
to put aside her worries, Caz determines to celebrate Halloween
with her friend Simon.
Just as she is ready to go trick or treating,
Proteus gives Caz an ultimatum: give him her magical necklace
or he’ll destroy Gus’ mind once and for all. Left
with no choice, Caz prepares to surrender her jewellery when,
who should appear and foil Proteus' plans, but the Harpy, Rapture.
Sent by the combined powers of The Gathering, Rapture is there
to bring both Caz and Simon back to Morphea. Caz and her necklace
are needed there. Not only does Hecate possess both parts of the
Charm of Dissolution, she has stolen The Book of Night from the
Wizards of Nyx and intends to use the Charm to destroy it. If
she succeeds, history will unravel and Proteus will be able to
return to Morphea.
And so, Caz embarks on a dangerous quest
to find Hecate and retrieve The Book of Night.
Travelling across sun-parched deserts, through
gloomy, unpredictable forests and across crackling glaciers, Caz
makes new friends and encounters many enemies.
Meantime, in Atlantis, Caz's mother, Cassandra,
is busy fighting her own battles. In trying to find out what was
keeping Atlantis submerged, the Adroit has uncovered a terrible
secret.
And all the while, against the background
of Halloween, Proteus is preparing to destroy the Kleins once and
for all. Learning that the necklace has been left behind in Doldreada,
a race ensues to see who will find it first – Gus or Proteus?
Unaware of the significance of the necklace she's found and now wearing,
Simon’s cousin, the little Jonquil, trots around the neighbourhood
with Caz’s twin Aunts, Magda and Marta, trick and treating,
ignorant of just who is pursuing her or why. For, whoever finds the
necklace will seal the fate of not just Morphea, but Doldreada too.
But no-one
could have foreseen the tragedy about to unfold nor how complete Proteus'
triumph will be…
The Extract from THE BOOK OF NIGHT:
"When the last of the
royal family and the retainers entered the clearing, everyone paused
in what they were doing and, as one, they turned and bowed towards
Caz. Uncertain what to do, Caz stood and clumsily returned the compliment.
Bending at the waist, she bowed. But, as she lifted her eyes, the
scene changed.
The translucent shapes transformed
into products of Caz's worst nightmares.
Wails and cries rang out. Flesh
peeled away from the faces of those before her, revealing whitened
bones and throbbing innards. Frozen in horror, Caz watched as the
masses clambered towards her, hovering above, crawling below, thrusting
forwards. Their once normal bodies began to disintegrate, becoming
emaciated and frail. Pulling great chunks of hair out of their heads,
noble ladies offered their lank strands to her and then, as she didn't
respond, reattached them and moved past, their nails tearing at their
faces, exposing their skulls. Screaming started, a long, high-pitched
whistle of utter agony, relentless and heart-wrenching. Caz began
to cry as still, others floated by with severed arms or legs, pleading
with her to help them. Dark grey fluid dripped from the jagged holes
where their limbs had once been. Headless ghosts, their arms flailing
in front, their hands curled in the last throes of agony, begged her
to help them find their heads. Backing into the trunk of a skeletal
tree, Caz trembled as the dead continued to torment her, their mouths
open, exposing their rotting teeth. Diseases grew before her eyes,
great pustules that burst in a stink of black liquid, spraying others,
but never her. Chunks of greying flesh fell from their bodies, landing
at her feet then disappearing.
Online Feature: Read
Caz's Diary! ...December 25th. Christmas. I thought
it was supposed to be a happy time. Dr Proteus came over and was saying
stupid things and pretending I'm not here. He’d only been in the door
a minute when he shoved this big needle in dad’s arm which made him
fall asleep for most of the day, not that I noticed any difference. I had
some cool presents from Santa... Click here to read more
of Caz's Diary!!
More From the Caz Klein Series
It's Time, Casandra Klein
It's Caz Klein's thirteenth birthday and, as usual, the family is gathered to watch her blow out the candles. Even her father, Gustave Klein, who is considered mad by the entire family, is present...
The Gaze of Gorgon
It is the last day of school before the Christmas Holidays and Caz has incurred the wrath of the nasty Deputy Principal, Miss Snodgrass, and been given detention. Caz dared to argue with her about the relative merits of Harpies.
The Kurs of Atlantis
Caz and Simon embark on their final and most dangerous quest yet, sailing to the Borders of Imagination to try and find the lost city of Atlantis. As they prepare to leave, the Castle of Sangreal is attacked, throwing their plans into disarray.
