Sister Secrets (2 page)

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Chapter Two

Soon after Twink's mother left for home, the bird squad returned to the bottom of the tree. Teena and Zuzu mounted a pair of grey and yellow tits, perching on jaunty red saddles.

Twink hovered to one side. ‘Would you like me to fly up to Snowdrop Branch with you?' she offered.

Teena looked surprised, and a little embarrassed. ‘No thanks, Twink. I don't think any of the other girls are going up with their big sisters.'

‘
Nobody
would – wasps, how awful!' shuddered Zuzu.

Twink's lavender wings tapped together in irritation, but she told herself to just ignore Zuzu. ‘Well, make sure you hold on tightly,' she said to Teena.

The inside of Glitterwings Academy was like a high, golden tower, with corridors shooting off in all directions. Twink remembered the first time
she
had flown a bird up it – she'd been scared stiff!

‘Twink, I
have
ridden on a bird before,' pointed out Teena, her cheeks turning pink. ‘I'll be fine.'

‘I know, but –' started Twink.

‘Let's get going,' broke in Zuzu loudly. ‘Snowdrop Branch!' she ordered, nudging her mount with her pixie boots. Twink darted back as the two birds took off in a rush.

‘Wheee!' cried Zuzu, tipping her head back in the breeze.

‘See you later, Twink!' called Teena. She waved over her shoulder with a grin.

Forcing a smile, Twink waved back. Her smile faded as she watched the two birds grow smaller, spiralling up the inside of the school. Oh, wasps – Zuzu was
exactly
like Sooze.

‘Twink, there you are!' cried a voice.

Spinning about, Twink's face burst into a smile. ‘Bimi!' she squealed. The two best friends hugged tightly, bouncing up and down.

‘Are you in Violet Branch too?' asked Bimi excitedly.

Twink nodded, happiness flooding through her. Another year in the same branch together! ‘Come on,' she said, grabbing her oak-leaf bag. ‘Let's go and choose our beds!'

As the two fairies flew up the tree, Twink told Bimi about Teena and Zuzu. She had expected her best friend to be as concerned as she was, but instead Bimi's blue eyes looked puzzled. ‘Well . . . what's the problem?' she asked.

Twink almost dropped her bag. ‘Bimi! Don't you remember how badly Sooze let me down during our first term?'

Though Twink was still friends with Sooze – and had had some wonderful times with her in the past two years – she couldn't help feeling a sharp stab of hurt whenever she thought of how Sooze had treated her back then, when she'd needed a best friend so badly.

Bimi shrugged. ‘Of course, but that doesn't mean that Zuzu
would let anyone down. I think you should give her a chance.'

‘I suppose so,' said Twink doubtfully, remembering Zuzu's cheeky smile.

‘Besides, Teena seemed like an independent little thing when I stayed with you during the holidays,' added Bimi. ‘I'm sure she can make up her own mind.'

Twink shrugged. Teena might like being independent, but that didn't mean she was always going to make good choices!

The two friends landed on the ledge in front of Violet Branch. A cluster of rich purple violets hung over the doorway, scenting the air. Twink pushed open the door – and forgot all about Teena for the moment. Their new branch was beautiful!

Violet Branch was a large, crooked branch filled with sunshine, with sleeping areas both on the main floor and in two loft spaces. A canopy of bright purple violets dangled over each mossy bed, and a carpet of green moss lay underfoot.

Twink and Bimi quickly took two beds in one of the lofts, side by side.

‘Oh, this is lovely!' breathed Bimi, putting her oak-leaf bag on her bed. ‘Look, we've got a window right over our beds!'

‘It's glimmery,' agreed Twink, looking upwards. She could just imagine gazing out at the stars as she fell asleep.

Most of the other fairies had arrived by then as well, and there were squeals and hugs of welcome as Twink greeted old friends. Pix and Sili were in Violet Branch too, and Sooze and Kiki – and Mariella!

Twink blinked in surprise when she saw the pointy-faced fairy. Mariella had failed her Seedling Exams at the end of their second year, and Twink hadn't expected her to be in their class again.

.

.

Mariella blushed when she saw Twink looking at her. ‘I took extra classes all through the holidays,' she explained stiffly. ‘I passed in the end – I didn't think I would, but I did!'

‘I'm glad,' said Sooze, nudging her. ‘I never thought I'd say this, but it wouldn't be the same without you, Mosquito Nose!'

Mariella pulled a face, but looked pleased anyway.

Zena was the only one of Twink's friends who was missing. ‘She's in Pansy Branch this year,' said Sili glumly. ‘Isn't it too bad, being split up after so long?'

Taking her place was a new girl called Ivy. Twink glanced at her curiously. Ivy had a tumble of curly light green hair, and white wings with swirling green markings. She was perched cross-legged on her bed, drawing something in a petal pad as the others chatted.

At first Twink thought the green-haired girl seemed a bit stand-offish, but then she suddenly looked up and smiled – and Twink knew that she was going to like Ivy after all.

With a
huff
and a
thump,
Mrs Hover, the matron, arrived, looking stouter than ever. ‘Are we all here?' she asked, patting her bright pink hair. ‘Lovely! Come along then, girls – the opening session in the Great Branch is about to begin.'

Skimming to the door, the Violet Branch fairies took off into the trunk, joining the long line of fairies heading downwards towards the Great Branch. Bimi grabbed Twink's arm. ‘Look!' she gasped, pointing.

Twink caught her breath. The new girl, Ivy, was chatting with another third-year fairy – who looked exactly like her! Twink stared from Ivy to the other girl in confusion. If they hadn't been wearing different leaf-dresses, she'd never have been able to tell them apart.

The fairies swooped into the Great Branch: a long, wide space with polished wood floors and rows of mossy tables. Over every table dangled a brightly coloured flower for each of the school's branches, so that the room looked like a cheerful, sunlit garden.

‘Ivy, who's
that
?'
demanded Pix as Ivy joined them. The other green-haired fairy flitted over to the Carnation Branch table.

Ivy laughed. ‘That's Jade, my twin sister! We're identical.'

.

.

‘Ooh, identical twins! That's so
interesting
,'
breathed Sili as they all sat down.

Ivy looked surprised. ‘Is it? I've always been one, so it just seems ordinary to me. I wish that Jade and I were in the same branch, though. We always were at our old school.'

‘I suppose they want you to be your own fairy more, instead of just being a twin,' said Pix wisely.

Ivy pulled a glum face. ‘Yes, but I
am
a twin. It's awful being on my own. Jade's my best friend.'

All the talk of twins and best friends reminded Twink of Teena. Twisting on her mushroom seat, she saw Teena and Zuzu sitting side by side at the Snowdrop Branch table, their pink heads bent together. Summer sat at the end, chatting to a fairy with yellow wings. As Twink watched another fairy leaned in, laughing at something Summer said.

Twink frowned. Summer looked as if she was getting on really well with the other girls in her branch. If Teena didn't make friends with her quickly, the bright-haired fairy would soon be best friends with someone else.

‘Your attention, please,' called Miss Shimmery.

Twink turned with the rest of the school to face their HeadFairy. Miss Shimmery's rainbow wings glistened as she hovered at the front of the Branch.

‘To all our returning students, welcome back!' she said in her low voice. ‘And a very warm welcome to our new students, too.'

Twink listened attentively as Miss Shimmery made her usual opening statements: school uniforms were required from the next day, the First Years would have Flight lessons first thing in the morning – delighted whispers swept through the First Years at this – and no high-speed flying was allowed in the school.

Peeking across at the Snowdrop table again, Twink smiled at the gleam in Teena's eyes. She knew that her little sister could hardly wait to fly.

Miss Shimmery pulled off her sparkle specs. ‘Finally, I am pleased to announce that Glitterwings now has a star-gazing platform. Miss Twilight, our third-year head, will be teaching Star Magic to the Third Years and above.'

Star Magic!
An excited murmur rippled through the Branch. Not many schools taught the subject, and it had a fascinating air of mystery to it.

So
that's
what Miss Twilight had been so secretive about! Twink's wings tingled as she glanced at her teacher, looking more exotic than ever in a shining purple cape. Oh, she was so glad she was a Third Year – she'd explode with curiosity otherwise!

Miss Shimmery scanned the school with a serious gaze. ‘I must stress that although Star Magic is perfectly safe when you know what you're doing, it can be dangerous in inexperienced hands. Therefore, the star-gazing platform is strictly
off-limits
to our First and Second Years. Older students may only enter it during lessons; the door leading to the platform from the trunk will be locked at all other times. Is that clear?'

.

.

The school fell silent, staring solemnly back at her. A shiver ran down Twink's spine as she and Bimi exchanged a look. No subject she'd ever taken had been
dangerous
before.

After a moment, the HeadFairy nodded. ‘Good. In that case, I think it's time to eat. Butterflies commence!'

She raised her arm as she drifted back down to the platform. The doors to the Great Branch swung open, and a long stream of butterflies floated in, each carrying a platter of seed cakes or an acorn-shell pitcher of nectar.