Green with Envy Read online

  “So much fun!” Violet threw an arm around Bella. “Thank you for inviting me! This is one of the best nights ever!”

  “Aw, I’m so glad!” Bella said, hugging her cousin back.

  Bella accepted an empty plastic cup from Ben and peered at the bottom. “Sunray and cranberry juice with ice, please,” she said. Immediately two ice cubes appeared in her cup, and it slowly filled with orange-red liquid until it was just full enough. Bella took one sip and then another. Sunray juice was so good! It was sour and sweet and unlike any other fruit in Crystal Kingdom.

  Ben and Bella chatted about Glimmer’s green transformation.

  “Uncle Frederick explained it to me,” Ben said. “That’s so amazing, Bella. I can’t even imagine having a unicorn so in tune with me that she changes colors if I’m feeling something so strong.”

  “In this case, it was kind of a curse,” Bella said, shaking her head. “But I hope if Glimmer ever changes colors again that it will be from a good emotion that I’m having.”

  “Hey,” Ben said, touching Bella’s arm. “No one’s perfect. You must have worked it out, because the last time I saw Glimmer, she was purple.”

  “I had a little help from my dad,” Bella said. “I finally did the right thing and I learned my lesson.”

  After dancing for a while, everyone headed to the Bamboo Garden. A giant movie screen appeared in the air as the students plopped down onto lounge chairs, blankets spread on the soft ground. During the movie, trays with dozens of delicious desserts floated to everyone. At the end of the movie, the credits rolled and the music began again.

  Soon the sun had set, but everyone was going strong. Violet, a new social butterfly, flitted from group to group, and Bella couldn’t help but grin as she watched her cousin. Violet and Adrienne, a cheery girl in a tangerine-colored dress, were off to the side of the floor talking.

  The party was perfect. Bella couldn’t have asked for anything more. She hoped that Violet would go home with new friends and maybe convince her parents to invite kids of Foris’s castle workers to school at the castle.

  “Bella,” Ivy called out, almost having to shout to be heard over the music. “Some lady in a Crystal Castle uniform wants to talk to you. I feel like I’ve seen her before, but I don’t know why.”

  “I bet she’s one of the party planners. She probably can’t find my mom or dad,” Bella said.

  “She said she would be waiting for you by the food tent,” Ivy said.

  “Thanks, Ivy,” Bella said. “Be right back.”

  Bella hurried down the platform steps and peered inside the massive tent. The red canvas covered the banquet tables full of food and drinks.

  “Hello?” Bella called.

  “Over here,” a pleasant voice replied. Bella spotted a blond woman waving and smiling.

  Bella walked over to the woman. “If you’re looking for my parents, they’re around here somewhere,” Bella said.

  “Oh, no, dear,” the woman said. Her blond hair started turning black at the roots, and her rosy cheeks paled. Ruby-red lips and eyes that glittered black stared at Bella.

  “I’m not looking for your parents.” The woman continued to change in front of Bella’s eyes. The princess gulped. Goose bumps covered her arms. It felt as though the temperature had dropped fifty degrees!

  Black hair cascaded down the woman’s back, and the ends were red. The Crystal Castle uniform was replaced with a black cape and a long black dress that touched the ground.

  The sweetness was gone from the woman’s voice. A hard edge with a rough tone was in its place.

  “I’m looking for you.”

  Queen Fire was here.

  10

  IOU

  “What are you doing?” Bella asked the evil queen, heart thumping. “My father forbid you from ever setting food on our land again. The second guards see you, they’ll take you right to a jail cell.”

  Even as she said the words, Bella knew that she couldn’t call security. If she did, Queen Fire would certainly tell Bella’s parents about their encounter in the Dark Forest. The king and queen would be beyond furious if they ever learned of Bella’s trip onto the forbidden land.

  Queen Fire laughed. It was an eerie cackle that sent shivers down Bella’s spine. Bella glanced around, worried that someone might have heard, but the tent was empty. Everyone was dancing onstage or talking on the sidelines. Bella was grateful that none of them were near Queen Fire. She hated that her aunt had just spoken to Ivy.

  “No one can see or hear us,” Queen Fire said. “See the black ring?” She nodded toward the ground. There was a circle of black powder around them.

  “What is it?” Bella asked.

  “Just a little privacy wall spell,” the queen said. “I would have hated for security to come. I know my dear twin sister doesn’t want to see me. Pity that I must cast a spell to be allowed to speak to my niece.”

  Queen Fire had Bella cornered and she knew it. Bella clenched her hands into fists, willing herself to stay calm. “You did this to yourself,” Bella said. “It’s not my parents’ fault that you aren’t part of our family.”

  “Oh, Bella,” Queen Fire said. “You have so much to learn about the truth behind my exile from Crystal Castle. But that is a story for another day. I have another matter that brought me here to speak with you.”

  Bella’s mouth went dry. Her thoughts raced back to that day in the Dark Forest. She knew why Queen Fire was here. The only thing Bella wanted was to make Queen Fire happy so she would leave without anyone ever knowing she had been there.

  “I want you to leave,” Bella commanded. “This party is important to all of my friends. What do you want?”

  The queen smiled at the princess, her lips coated in red lipstick. “I’m here to collect, Bella. You did promise me a favor, after all.”

  Bella tried to slow her speeding heart rate. “What is it?” She couldn’t think of anything the queen didn’t already have or couldn’t get on her own.

  Queen Fire laughed. She took a step closer to Bella. “No, not money or jewels.”

  Bella’s eyes widened.

  Queen Fire pointed an index finger at her. The long nail, painted bloodred, matched her lipstick. “Silly girl. I want you.”

  HERE’S A SNEAK PEAK AT BELLA AND GLIMMER’S NEXT ADVENTURE:

  The Hidden Treasure

  Princess Bella stared at her evil aunt, Queen Fire, trying to look brave. Bella had been having a great time with the rest of her classmates at a fun dance that her parents, King Frederick and Queen ­Katherine, had planned to celebrate the end of the year. But Queen Fire had been a not-so-fun party surprise.

  “How long does this”—Bella pointed to the black powder that hid them both from the other guests—“last?”

  “Dear niece, don’t worry about our privacy,” Queen Fire said in a sugar-sweet tone. Bella’s aunt had raven-black hair that hung down her back, glittering eyes, and matching ruby-red lips and nails.

  “Did you have to come during my party?” Bella asked.

  “I can come and go whenever I please,” Queen Fire said. She glanced away from Bella, taking in the happy chatter and fun as Bella’s classmates danced nearby.

  Bella started to say something, but she bit her lip to keep quiet. Had she imagined the flicker of sadness on Queen Fire’s face?

  “Please let me go,” Bella begged. “This is the last day I can spend with my cousin before she goes home. I know I owe you a favor, though, and I am not going back on my promise.”

  Images flashed through Bella’s mind—picture after picture of that horrible time when Glimmer, her unicorn, had run away to the Dark Forest. Bella and Glimmer had just started to get to know each other after Bella had been matched with ­Glimmer on her eighth birthday. But ­Glimmer had run away, and when Bella had found her in the scary Dark Forest, they were suddenly in
the path of Queen Fire’s dangerous unicorns. Bella and ­Glimmer had been seconds away from serious trouble before Queen Fire saved them. In turn, Bella had pledged to help her aunt if she ever needed. And if she did not help her aunt, her aunt was going to take Glimmer away.

  Queen Fire crossed her arms. “I had a feeling you would back out of our deal.”

  Bella felt like she was underwater—like someone had stuffed cotton balls in her ears. The class party felt very far away, and Bella did not know what to say to her aunt.

  “Fine,” Queen Fire sighed, waving a pale hand in the air. “Go back to your party, dear. I’m getting rather tired of hiding, though. I want you at my ­castle tomorrow by noon.”

  Bella chewed on the inside of her cheek. She didn’t want to ask more questions that would keep the queen here longer, but . . .

  “Can I come on Sunday? Please? Tomorrow is my last day with my cousin before she goes home to Foris.”

  Queen Fire stared, unblinking, at Bella. “Sunday. Noon. Or I’ll have my guards begin to ready a stall at my stables for Glimmer.”

  “Not a cha—”

  Queen Fire vanished before Bella could finish her sentence. Bella looked down, and all the black powder had disappeared too.

  Okay, pull yourself together, Bella. You can’t let anyone see that you’re upset.

  Bella glanced down at her shaking hands. She walked over to a crystal punch bowl floating in the air.

  “One cup, please,” she said, testing out her voice. She thought she sounded like her usual self.

  A ladle dipped into the bowl, filling a cup with red punch. The cup lowered itself in front of Bella.

  “Thank you.” Bella took the cup and sipped, trying to shake off Queen Fire’s visit. She smoothed her sparkly teal dress with her free hand.

  “Bella?”

  A familiar voice called her name.

  “Over here,” Bella said as she forced a smile onto her face.

  Her best friends, Ivy and Clara, along with her cousin, Violet, surrounded her.

  “Did you help that lady who was looking for you?” Ivy asked.

  Bella nodded, grabbing Ivy’s hand and tugging her forward. “Yes. Let’s go back to the party.”

  The princess accompanied her friends out of the tent and made a silent vow never to let Queen Fire that close to her friends ever again.

  About the Author

  Jessica Burkhart (aka Jessica Ashley) is the author of the Unicorn Magic and Canterwood Crest series, which you can learn more about at CanterwoodCrest.com. She is a former equestrian who writes from her apartment in Brooklyn, New York. (It’s not the size of Crystal Castle, but Jess tries to decorate like a princess!) Jess’s aura would be hot pink and she loves glittery things. If she had a unicorn, it would be named Sparkle. Visit Jess at www.JessicaBurkhart.com.

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  Don’t miss any of Bella and Glimmer’s adventures!

  BOOK 1: Bella’s Birthday Unicorn

  BOOK 2: Where’s Glimmer?

  Coming soon

  BOOK 4: The Hidden Treasure

  This book is a work of fiction. Any references to historical events, real people, or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual events or places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  An imprint of Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing Division

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  www.SimonandSchuster.com

  This Aladdin paperback edition December 2014

  Text copyright © 2014 by Jessica Burkhart

  Cover illustrations copyright © 2014 by Victoria Ying

  Interior illustrations by Victoria Ying

  All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form.

  ALADDIN is a trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc., and related logo is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc.

  Also available in an Aladdin hardcover edition.

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  Cover designed by Jessica Handelman

  Interior designed by Mike Rosamilia

  The text of this book was set in Arno Pro.

  Library of Congress Control Number 2014952850

  ISBN 978-1-4814-1107-3 (hc)

  ISBN 978-1-4424-9826-6 (pbk)

  ISBN 978-1-4424-9827-3 (eBook)