Nocturnal Academy 3 - Immaterial Girl

Worn out after her first three terms at the Nocturnal Academy, Alice Dibble finds she needs help to sleep and concentrate. At a low ebb, she accidentally allows some Immaterial imps to influence her thought patterns, and uses her superior mental powers to push her unhealthy father into exercising. When he collapses from a heart-attack, Alice is immediately overcome with guilt.

At the same time, Alice and her vampire friend Milly become involved with a Magick group at the Rainbow Tiger store in Appleton Mall. They are trying to open a portal to the Magick Earth. Although Alice has second thoughts, Milly travels through with them.

When Milly’s distraught parents arrive at the school, Alice is forced to reveal everything. Professor Abbacus proclaims that he and Alice will easily bring Milly back as he knows his way around the Magick Earth. Toby and Carla volunteer to go as well. However, only Alice, Toby and Carla make it through; the portal at the Rainbow Tiger contains a failsafe that prevents the Professor from following. The three children must track their classmate down on their own. They receive help from a wererat named Skittles, but discover that Milly has been captured and sentenced to die the very next morning!

Important Characters

 * Millicent Jorgenson
 * Alice Dibble
 * Professor Abbacus
 * Toby Thompson
 * Carla Hightower

Summary
The story opens with Alice, Carla, Milly, and Nancy waiting in line at the Rainbow Tiger on opening day. Milly finds a book called The God of Mirrors which she is very interested in. Outside the shop, George sees a homeless old man - later revealed to be Professor Abbacus - was outside the shop until the police force him to move.

Term 4 starts with a lecture from Professor Abbacus concerning soft sites. This includes the mall, to the shock of many. After the lecture, they have a recess. Milly is half-way through The God of Mirrors; Alice is still sad about what happened with Andre. She regularly has nightmares concerning the events of the first two terms. She sees a variety of teachers to help solve this problem. Eventually, Madam Nocturna is able to help her sleep, but it takes a lot of work.

One morning, she talks to Milly about The God of Mirrors. She wants her to get the second book - Incantations and Devotions for Crossing to the Realm of Magick. Alice asks about it at the shop, and meets Karuna, who explains that she needs to learn if they're responsible enough to have the book. Milly is disappointed with this. To try to satisfy Milly's curiosity, she later talks to Professor Abbacus about Magick, leading him to talk about combinations of science and Magick. Milly and Alice visit The Rainbow Tiger the next weekend. Karuna tells them about a Magick circle for crossing over. Milly is eager to join; Alice less so.

Alice also begins to use her mental abilities to force her dad to walk, smoke less, and eat healthier.

During the week, Alice asks Professor Abbacus about Karuna. He realizes that she's talking about Caroline Collins, a vampire who had broken into the Seniors' Library and tried to steal books. She was suspended and did not return. Milly and Alice visit the mall the next weekend, where they learn more about the incantation for crossing over. Alice tries to convince Milly not to be a part of the circle, but Milly talks about how her parents don't seem to care about her because she isn't as smart as them.

After returning from the weekend, Alice is immediately called back out. Her Dad has had a heart attack. She realizes that she was the cause of this. He needs triple-bypass surgery. Back at school, Milly is insensitive when Alice tries to explain. Alice soon talks to Madam Nocturna about what happened. She realizes that imps have been trying to influence her because of what she did.

End of year exams happen. Alice does fairly well, though is disappointed in her 75% on her Science exam. When Milly isn't at recess, they discover that she failed her exams. Alice realizes that she went to the Rainbow Tiger to portal to Magick Earth. Madam Nocturna forces the mayor to shut down the mall for the day, while Professor Abbacus and Alice hurry to get there. They discover an open portal to Magick Earth. Alice, Toby, and Carla go through to find Milly; while Professor Abbacus is supposed to follow them, his Undead nature makes it impossible for him to use the portal as it is.

With a bit of work, they end up in the equivalent of Sydney. They have to use glamours and steal clothes to fit in. Finally, they end up in the Church of the Great Cosmic Mirror. Milly is not there, though the rest of the Magick circle is. They leave to find her, and run in to Skittles - the Magick Earth equivalent of Jamie Bell's dad. He tells them about where Milly went. They go to the barracks to try to find her; while successful, Alice is also captured. They are to be burned at the stake in the morning.

Come morning, they're brought outside and are about to die. However, Skittles brings his rat-friends to help attack the priest and others; Toby and Carla also try to help. They all fail. Professors Abbacus and Longenfang finally show up and rescue them. They return to Science Earth with Skittles in tow.

At the end of year presentation, Alice receives an award for being top in her grade. Milly also receives on award for not succumbing to the Church of the Great Cosmic Mirror. Alice, Toby, and Carla also receive awards for their bravery.