Sparkling Steps by Sue Bentley Page B

disappeared, but the kitten was still there. Perhaps it belonged to the lodge.
    She bent down. “Hello, aren’t you gorgeous? Don’t be scared. I won’t hurt you,” she crooned gently, reaching out her hand. “What’s your name, then?”
    â€œMy name is Prince Flame,” the kitten meowed. “Can you help me, please?”

Chapter TWO
    Olivia almost toppled over. She jerked her hand back and stared at the kitten in complete shock.
    â€œDid . . . did you really just speak?” she gasped, looking around wildly to see if anyone was hiding nearby. She wouldn’t put it past Lucy to play a trick on her.
    The fluffy kitten was trembling all over, but it sat up straight and pricked up its ears. Despite its tiny size it didn’t seem to be afraid of her. “Yes, I did. I am Flame, heir to the Lion Throne. Who are you?”
    â€œI’m . . . um, Olivia Goddard,” Olivia stammered, her curiosity beginning to get the better of her shock. “Where did you come from?”

    â€œI am in disguise,” Flame meowed softly. “I come from another world, far from here.”
    â€œWhat? Like from outer space? But if . . . if you’re disguised as a kitten, what are you re—” Olivia began and then stopped as a scary thought occurred to her. Maybe Flame was really an alien, with warty skin and millions of octopus arms! “Wait! Maybe I don’t want to know . . . !” she gabbled.
    But it was too late. There was another flash, so bright this time that for a moment Olivia couldn’t see a thing. She rubbed her eyes. When she looked again, she saw that where the tiny kitten had crouched now stood a regal, young lion with glittering white fur.

    Olivia backed away in amazement. “Flame?”
    The lion looked at Olivia with its emerald eyes and nodded slowly. But before she could say anything else, he vanished in a shower of sparkles and appeared once more as a tiny, fluffy, blue-gray kitten.
    â€œWow! You really are a lion prince!” Olivia gasped, relieved and impressed at the same time. “But why would you need my help?”
    Flame gave a small, shaky meow. “My uncle Ebony. He is very powerful and has stolen my throne. He rules in my place and sends his spies to search for me and kill me.”
    â€œKill you?” Olivia asked, horrified.
    â€œYes. I must hide. Will you help me, Olivia?”
    Olivia’s heart went out to the tiny kitten—she knew exactly what it was like to feel all alone. “I’d love to help you, Flame, but pets aren’t allowed in ballet school,” she said, biting her lip. “I don’t even have my own room. There’re eight of us in the dormitory. It would be impossible to hide you.”
    Flame tilted his little, round head. “Not if I made myself invisible. Then no one will see me, except you.”
    â€œReally? Well—if you can do that . . .” Olivia came to a decision. She picked Flame up gently and stroked his silky ears. “Okay. You’re living with me. I won’t let anybody hurt you! The only thing is, I have to go back out soon. My teacher will be wondering where I am, so you’ll have to become invisible right away. Is that okay?”
    Flame didn’t reply, but his whiskers crackled with electricity and his fluffy blue-gray fur glittered all over with silver sparkles that fizzed against Olivia’s hands. She felt a warm tingling sensation down her back. It felt very strange, but not unpleasant.

    â€œIt is done. Only you can see me now,” Flame purred happily, as the sparks slowly faded away. “Thank you, Olivia.”
    â€œYou’re welcome.” Olivia smiled. “I wonder what Tamsin will say when I tell her about you.”
    Flame stiffened. He stretched up one tiny, blue-gray paw and touched her face.
    â€œNo! You must not tell anyone about me.”
    â€œReally? I’m sure Tamsin’s not like the other