Secrets and Sapphires Read online

  “Then we’ll say no more about it,” said Angel Gabriella. “Now, how far have you gotten with your picture?”

  “Not very far.” Poppy bit her lip. “In fact, I . . . I haven’t even started.”

  Angel Gabriella sighed. “And class is almost over now. You’ll have to stay inside during break to finish it.”

  “Of course, Angel Gabriella,” Poppy said. She walked sadly back to Ella.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll stay and help you, Poppy,” Ella whispered.

  “That’s very kind of you, Ella,” said Angel Gabriella who had overheard, although Ella hadn’t meant her to. “And for that I’m going to award you a second halo stamp.”

  “I could stay and help too,” Primrose joined in hastily.

  “Thank you, Primrose,” said Angel Gabriella. “But I think one angel helping Poppy is quite enough.”

  “I didn’t mean I would help Poppy,” Primrose said. “But my friend hasn’t finished her picture yet either. Veronica . . . Veronica,” she called across to the desk where Veronica was sitting. “You haven’t finished, have you?”

  “Yes, I have,” said Veronica, looking puzzled.

  “No you haven’t,” said Primrose, going over to her.

  At that moment, Jewel let out a little cheep and Angel Gabriella was distracted. Quickly, Primrose pulled an eraser out of her pocket and erased a little bit of  Veronica’s picture.

  “Hey!” cried Veronica.

  “Shush,” said Primrose, placing a neat little white ballet slipper on Veronica’s foot to stop her from saying anything.

  “Ouch—that hurts!” Veronica spluttered.

  “What was that, Veronica?” Angel Gabriella turned back to the class.

  Primrose gave Veronica a sharp look.

  “Nothing, Angel Gabriella,” Veronica said meekly.

  “Okay, now where was I?” Angel Gabriella said. “Oh yes, Veronica . . . Primrose was saying you needed to stay and finish your picture too. Is that right?”

  “Yes, Angel Gabriella.” Veronica sighed.

  “Remember that I said I’d stay and help her,” Primrose reminded Angel Gabriella.

  “Oh yes, yes,” Angel Gabriella said distractedly. “That’s very kind.”

  “So, do I get a halo stamp too?” asked Primrose eagerly.

  “Well,” Angel Gabriella hesitated. “You’re not really supposed to get them for asking, but I suppose on this occasion, it’s all right. Primrose, one halo stamp for you as well.”

  Primrose waited until the teacher had turned away and then flashed Ella a smug look.

  “Great!” Ella muttered under her breath to Poppy. “Now we have to put up with Primrose during break time too!”

  In no time at all, the classroom was cleared and soon it was just Ella, Poppy, Veronica, and Primrose left in the heavenly animals classroom with Angel Gabriella putting her things away. Ella could see that Poppy was still upset about Jewel and she wanted to cheer her up. She picked up a pencil and balanced it on her upper lip.

  “Look!” she whispered, nudging her. Poppy giggled, so Ella did it again, moving her lip and making the pencil move up and down like a mustache.

  “Stop it, Ella,” said Poppy, trying to ignore her. “I’ll never get this finished.”

  Ella took the pencil and pulled a loose thread off her dress. She tied it onto the end of the pencil like a tail and put the pencil back on her upper lip again.

  “Now what are you doing?” Poppy hissed, glancing over.

  Ella grinned. “It’s a mouse-tache!”

  Poppy snorted with laughter. Angel Gabriella looked around. Quickly, Ella stopped what she was doing, but it was too late. The teacher had caught her with the pencil on her lip. Ella groaned inwardly, waiting to be scolded, but Angel Gabriella simply shook her head and smiled.

  “I’m not even going to ask you what you’re doing, Ella. You know, you might not be the most angelic angel, and you might not have the most halo stamps, but life would certainly be a lot more boring without you around!”

  Ella felt taken aback. “What do you mean, Angel Gabriella? Angel Gabriella . . .”

  But Angel Gabriella had already left the room. Ella turned to look at Poppy, wondering what her friend had made of the comment, but Poppy was still busy trying to finish her picture. Ella rubbed her forehead. She knew she wasn’t a perfect angel, but she wasn’t sure she really liked hearing a teacher say it out loud. What exactly had Angel Gabriella meant by it? Had she meant it in a nice way, or had she been scolding her? Maybe she thought Ella would never be a perfect angel?

  Primrose flew over. “See, even the teachers know you’re a bad angel!” she whispered. “They know you’ll never get a diamond halo. I bet they think you won’t even get a sapphire one!”

  Ella jumped to her feet and glared at Primrose. But Primrose was already flying swiftly toward the door. “I’m going now!” she called to Veronica.

  “What about helping me?” protested Veronica.

  Primrose shrugged. “You’re almost done. You can finish it on your own. I’m going to get my halo stamp from Archangel Grace.”

  Ella watched her go. Her mouth felt dry. She knew Primrose was just being mean, but maybe she was right. Maybe her teachers did think she’d never make it to guardian angel level.

  “Ella, can you help me draw the wings?” Poppy asked.

  “Of course,” Ella said, turning her attention to Poppy and the drawing. She tried to forget Primrose’s comment, but no matter how hard she pushed it away, it just wouldn’t leave her mind. . . .

  CHAPTER 3

  A Special Guest

  AS SOON AS POPPY HAD finished her drawing, they went outside. Tilly and Jess had told them that they were going to spend break time helping in the greenhouses, so they went to find them.

  The greenhouses were at the bottom of the garden next to a few small wooden toolsheds. They were very large and ornate, and their panes of glass sparkled in the sun. Ella and Poppy started flying across the grass when they saw Jess and Tilly hurrying over.

  “Look! They’re carrying something.” Ella turned to Poppy. “What is it?”

  “I don’t know,” said Poppy. “But it looks fluffy.”

  Sure enough, as they got closer, they could see that Jess had an animal in her arms—a brown fluffy bundle with two long ears and a twitchy nose. It had a white chest and pretty white markings on its back in the shape of stars.

  “What is it?” Ella called, flying down.

  “A celestial bunny,” Jess said breathlessly. “We found him over by the greenhouse just when we were about to go in. He’s a baby one. He’s been hurt.”

  The little animal’s ears moved back and forth and his long whiskers trembled.

  “He was really scared when we found him,” Tilly said breathlessly. “So I used a calming spell. He’s still a bit anxious, but at least he let us pick him up.”

  “That was a really good idea to use a spell like that,” said Ella.

  “We used a healing spell too,” said Jess. “His paw was bleeding. It’s stopped now but the wound is still there.”

  Ella nodded. Now that she looked, she noticed that Jess had a few spots of blood on her white dress. “We should get him inside,” she said. “Let’s find Angel Seraphina. She’ll know what to do.”

  “Good idea,” said Poppy. Their class tutor was always full of good ideas.

  They hurried back towards the school. As they went in through the back door, they bumped into Primrose coming down the staircase from Archangel Grace’s study.

  “What have you got there?” she exclaimed and broke off. “Ew!” she squealed dramatically. “Is that blood on your dress, Jess?”

  “It’s only a few spots,” said Jess. “We found an injured bunny. We managed to heal the wound.”

  “Yuck!” Primrose shuddered.

  “Have you seen Angel Seraphina?” Poppy asked Primrose.

  “No. Why do you want her?”

  Ella stared at her. “Maybe for this
hurt bunny?”

  “Can’t you just let it go in the gardens?” said Primrose. “It’s only a silly little bunny.”

  “No we can’t just let it go!” Ella said crossly. “It’s been hurt.”

  “I wonder where Angel Seraphina is,” said Tilly anxiously.

  “Did I hear my name, girls?”

  Ella breathed a huge sigh of relief as a beautiful young guardian angel came flying along the corridor, her gossamer wings gleaming, her halo shining with diamonds.

  “Angel Seraphina . . . you’ve got to help. Tilly and Jess found a bunny . . . a baby one,” Ella said breathlessly. “He’s been hurt—his paw was bleeding. We’ve used a calming spell to calm him and a healing one for his paw,” she explained. “Or rather Tilly and Jess did,” she said, anxious not to take the credit for something she hadn’t done.

  “That was quick thinking, angels,” said Angel Seraphina. “Let me take a look. . . .”

  Jess released her hold on the bunny and, startled, it leaped into Angel Seraphina’s arms. Angel Seraphina stroked the little creature and started to check him over.

  “You did well to use the healing spell,” she said. “The paw’s already on the mend. If you hadn’t acted so quickly, he would have lost quite a lot of blood.”

  The baby bunny looked a little less startled now, Angel Seraphina’s voice was so calming. Its nostrils had stopped twitching as it started to relax.

  “Three halo stamps each, Tilly and Jess,” said Angel Seraphina.

  “Three halo stamps?” said Tilly, surprised.

  “Three WHOLE halo stamps?” Primrose exclaimed. “Just for looking after a bunny!”

  “Yes, Primrose . . .” Angel Seraphina looked at the angel in surprise.

  “But—” Primrose went to speak but Angel Seraphina held up her hand to silence her and turned back to Jess and Tilly.

  “You can collect your halo stamps from Archangel Grace later,” she said. “Right now we need to deal with this baby bunny. He’ll need to rest for a week before we release him, just to make sure he’s healthy and well enough to survive in the wild. He’ll need looking after while he’s staying with us. Would any of you be kind enough to volunteer?”

  “Me . . . Me! I’ll look after him!” Primrose broke in, even before the final word was out of Angel Seraphina’s mouth.

  Ella looked surprised. Only five minutes ago Primrose had wanted to let the bunny go in the garden. She also felt a flash of real disappointment. She would have loved to have looked after the sweet little creature.

  “Please, please, please, Angel Seraphina,” Primrose pleaded. “I’ll take really good care of him.”

  Angel Seraphina smiled. “Thank you, Primrose. And a halo stamp for volunteering.”

  “Glittersome!” cried Primrose. “Just two more stamps to go!”

  “All right, Primrose,” said Angel Seraphina, looking slightly displeased. “That’s quite enough. What happened to the golden angel rule—angels must never show off.”

  Primrose looked embarrassed. “I’m sorry, Angel Seraphina,” she apologized meekly.

  “That’s all right, my dear. Now, do we have a name for this bunny?” Angel Seraphina started again.

  “Star,” burst out Ella who’d been thinking about it while they’d been talking. She reached out and stroked his fur. “I think he should be called Star—after the markings on his back.”

  “Very good.” Angel Seraphina nodded. “Star it is.” She let Ella hold him and give him a cuddle. “Now, I’ve got a class to get to so, Primrose, why don’t you take Star out into the gardens. There’s a potting shed over by the greenhouse that should make a nice home for him. It’s quiet and cozy and there’s plenty of hay nearby. You’ll find a spare hutch in there too.”

  “Of course. I’ll take him there right away, Angel Seraphina,” Primrose said.

  And that was that. As the teacher swept out of the room, Tilly, Poppy, and Jess followed her, leaving Ella and Primrose alone in the room together. Primrose made as if to leave as well.

  “Er, aren’t you forgetting something, Primrose?” Ella said quickly.

  “What?” said Primrose.

  “Four legs, two ears, a twitchy nose . . . something you’ve just promised to take care of, remember.” Ella held out the bunny.

  “Oh, him.” Primrose looked disgruntled.

  “Yes, Star! Whatever happened to all the ‘please, please, please,’ ” Ella went on, doing a pretty good impression of Primrose’s voice.

  “All right, all right.” Gingerly, Primrose went to take Star from Ella. She hesitated.

  “What’s wrong?” said Ella.

  “It’s just, well, won’t his claws scratch my dress?”

  “Oh for goodness sake, Primrose.” Ella rolled her eyes. “I’ll carry him to the shed if you’re worried about that.”

  She cuddled the bunny close and gave him a little scratch behind his ears. His dark eyes gazed trustingly at her. “Come on, Star,” she whispered. “Let’s get you settled into your new home. . . .”

  CHAPTER 4

  Sparkling Sapphire

  ELLA HURRIED OUT IN THE direction of the greenhouse with Primrose following. “I don’t know why you said you would look after Star if you don’t even want to carry him,” Ella said. “Did you really only offer so you could get a halo stamp?”

  “What’s it to you, anyway?” said Primrose haughtily.

  Ella cuddled the baby bunny. “I’d have looked after him even if I hadn’t gotten any halo stamps for it. Look, why don’t you let me care for him, Primrose?”

  “No! Then you will get halo stamps!”

  Ella only just held on to her temper. She felt like shouting at Primrose, but she’d had halo stamps taken away in the past when she had become angry with the other angel and she wasn’t about to risk that again. Not when everyone was so close to getting their sapphire halos.

  “Fine,” she said abruptly. “Just make sure you look after him well.” She kissed the top of Star’s head and felt him nestle closer.

  They carried on in silence and rounded the corner. The potting shed lay there before them. Ella pushed back the door and stepped inside. It was warm and inviting. Rays of sunlight slanted in through the small window and there was a hutch in one corner, as well as some bags of hay and straw and food. “Can you get the hutch ready while I hold him?” Ella said.

  Wrinkling her nose in distaste, Primrose pulled some hay from the bag and started putting it into the main bit of hutch. “No!” Ella stopped her. “The straw goes in there, not the hay. He eats the hay. Haven’t you ever looked after an animal like a bunny before?”

  “Of course I have!” said Primrose. She shoved the straw and hay in haphazardly. “All done. Put him in.”

  “Um . . . and what about some water? And food?” Ella said. She saw Primrose’s blank look. “Okay, okay, I’ll do it.” Gently, she put Star inside the hutch, spreading out the straw into an inviting thick bed with one hand and soothing him with the other. Then she shut the door, filled the water bottle, and put some of the dry food in a little dish.

  “This will do for him for now, but he really needs vegetables, too, like carrots and cabbage. Will you make sure you get him some from the gardens?” said Ella.

  “Mmm,” Primrose said distractedly as she examined her reflection in a little gold hand mirror. “Sure, sure. I’ll get whatever he needs.”

  Ella wasn’t convinced. The bunny looked at her and twitched his nose. “You know that he needs feeding three times a day?”

  “Yep,” Primrose said, inspecting her face and twining a curl around one finger.

  “And his water needs changing every day,” said Ella.

  “Uh huh,” said Primrose.

  “And he needs lots of cuddling,” said Ella.

  “Yes, all right, I get it,” Primrose said crossly, snapping her mirror shut. “Now, can you leave me alone? I said I’d look after him, didn’t I?”

  “Okay.” Ella hesitated. She was reluctant t
o leave Primrose, but Angel Seraphina had given Primrose the job so there really wasn’t anything she could do. She shouldn’t interfere. . . .

  Ella flew slowly back in the direction of the Guardian Angel Academy. She couldn’t stop thinking about Star. She hated leaving Primrose to look after him. I’ll make sure I keep an eye on her, she thought. She was so deep in thought that when she reached the door to the Academy, she didn’t notice another angel flying out.

  “Angels and wings! Watch out, Ella!”

  It was Jess!

  “Whoops, sorry, Jess,” Ella said. “I was miles away.” She realized her friend had a massive beam on her face. “You look happy.”

  “Oh, I am! So happy!” said Jess. “I was just coming to look for you. Come quickly . . . Tilly’s got something to show you. She’s in the common room. You’ve got to see it!”

  “See what?” Ella said, puzzled.

  “I can’t believe you haven’t realized,” said Jess, giggling. “Come on!” She raced back into the school with Ella flying after her. They flew down the maze of hallways before arriving at a door. Ella pushed it back . . . and stopped in her tracks.

  “Tilly!” She gasped.

  There in front of Ella stood her friend, but instead of her usual pearly white dress, she was head to toe in pale blue and her halo glittered with sapphires!

  “Do you like it?” Tilly did a little twirl. “I’ve just come back from Archangel Grace’s study.”

  For a moment, Ella couldn’t do anything but gape. “Oh . . . w-w-wow!” she stammered. Of course—those extra three halo stamps for helping Star would have filled Tilly’s halo card. Ella was overwhelmed with emotions. She was delighted for Tilly, but at the same time, deep down, she felt a stab of jealousy and worry. Tilly had gotten her sapphire halo! Jess would be next. Then Poppy.

  What about me? she thought as Angel Gabriella’s words came back to her. What if I never get my sapphire halo?

  Tilly looked at her expectantly. Ella realized she was waiting for her to say something. In fact, so were Jess and Poppy.

  “You look, um . . . angel-tastic,” she said with a weak smile. Even to her ears she didn’t sound very convincing.