they had already developed. And he couldn’t help but think about how he would fare against them. This wasn’t like math or science class. Real life was at stake, just like Camilla had said. He knew that as well as anybody. Maybe these kids weren’t even all followers of Elohim. Were some of them loyal to Abaddon instead? He finally raised his hand.
“Yes, Jonah?” Camilla responded. The other kids cocked their heads around to get a glimpse of him again. They also seemed to be sizing up Eliza. He tried to ignore the stares.
“Mrs. Aldridge,” he said, “this . . . um . . . angel school . . . is it going to meet here? I mean, just looking around this place, it doesn’t seem like there is any space for this kind of thing.”
“ Angel School . . . Well put, Jonah,” she replied, looking thoughtfully at him for a minute. “To keep current with your regular schooling, the nuns have agreed to tutor you here in the convent.”
All of the quarterlings groaned at the same time. Camilla waited until they were quiet again.
“We, however, have arranged a different space for our lessons. Since there are only thirteen of you, you will all be taught together. We have some very gifted teachers who will be instructing you. I can’t wait for you to meet them.”
Rupert raised his hand tentatively again. He looked like he was going to be sick. “So this begins now, then?”
Camilla snapped her fingers. “I’m glad you brought that up, Rupert! Actually, it begins tonight.”
A buzz swept through the kids again. School at night ?
“Now, enough questions for today,” she said. “A special brunch has been prepared for you by the sisters of the convent. I hope you will use the day as a time to rest and get to know one another. You’ll start your regular classes tomorrow. But we will meet back here tonight at nine o’clock, for the beginning of Angel School . . . Yes, we’ll call it that.” She glanced at Jonah and smiled. “You will get more answers to your questions tonight, I am sure.”
With that, she flapped her wings ever so slightly and hovered toward the back of the room—whether she was walking or floating Jonah couldn’t tell—and disappeared through the open door.
NINE
C LASS B EGINS
C amilla Aldridge was waiting in the meeting room when Jonah, Eliza, and Jeremiah arrived at nine o’clock. A few of the quarterlings were there, and the others trickled through the door.
“Hurry along, students,” she said. “You cannot be late to our session—you will miss class. And there is much to see tonight.”
Frederick stood right beside Camilla, listening attentively. Jonah caught his eye briefly, and Frederick glared at him. Jonah wasn’t sure why the other boy seemed to hate him so much, but he knew he should try to rise above it. Jonah quickly looked away, shoving his hands in his pockets. He tried to focus his attention on their new leader.
Camilla was wearing the same blue, shiny robe, and she spoke both with an authority and enthusiasm that drew all of their eyes.
“Before we do anything, we shall ask for Elohim’s blessing,” she said. “Let’s pray together.” All of the students bowed their heads. Camilla raised her hands in the air.
“Father Elohim, we are blessed by Your presence tonight. Lead us together. Help us learn about one another—and about You. Give us the strength to fight the good fight of faith. Protect these children and their parents. Thank You for the gift of hospitality from our sisters here. In Your Son’s precious name, amen.”
Jonah and the rest repeated amen quietly.
“Okay then,” Camilla said, clapping her hands together loudly. “The best way to get to where we are going is by entering into the hidden realm. Now, is there anyone here who has not done this before?”
A handful of kids raised their hands, including Frederick.
“Your first lesson, then,” she said, smiling. “Nothing to worry about. It is as easy as breathing. After a little
“Yes, Jonah?” Camilla responded. The other kids cocked their heads around to get a glimpse of him again. They also seemed to be sizing up Eliza. He tried to ignore the stares.
“Mrs. Aldridge,” he said, “this . . . um . . . angel school . . . is it going to meet here? I mean, just looking around this place, it doesn’t seem like there is any space for this kind of thing.”
“ Angel School . . . Well put, Jonah,” she replied, looking thoughtfully at him for a minute. “To keep current with your regular schooling, the nuns have agreed to tutor you here in the convent.”
All of the quarterlings groaned at the same time. Camilla waited until they were quiet again.
“We, however, have arranged a different space for our lessons. Since there are only thirteen of you, you will all be taught together. We have some very gifted teachers who will be instructing you. I can’t wait for you to meet them.”
Rupert raised his hand tentatively again. He looked like he was going to be sick. “So this begins now, then?”
Camilla snapped her fingers. “I’m glad you brought that up, Rupert! Actually, it begins tonight.”
A buzz swept through the kids again. School at night ?
“Now, enough questions for today,” she said. “A special brunch has been prepared for you by the sisters of the convent. I hope you will use the day as a time to rest and get to know one another. You’ll start your regular classes tomorrow. But we will meet back here tonight at nine o’clock, for the beginning of Angel School . . . Yes, we’ll call it that.” She glanced at Jonah and smiled. “You will get more answers to your questions tonight, I am sure.”
With that, she flapped her wings ever so slightly and hovered toward the back of the room—whether she was walking or floating Jonah couldn’t tell—and disappeared through the open door.
NINE
C LASS B EGINS
C amilla Aldridge was waiting in the meeting room when Jonah, Eliza, and Jeremiah arrived at nine o’clock. A few of the quarterlings were there, and the others trickled through the door.
“Hurry along, students,” she said. “You cannot be late to our session—you will miss class. And there is much to see tonight.”
Frederick stood right beside Camilla, listening attentively. Jonah caught his eye briefly, and Frederick glared at him. Jonah wasn’t sure why the other boy seemed to hate him so much, but he knew he should try to rise above it. Jonah quickly looked away, shoving his hands in his pockets. He tried to focus his attention on their new leader.
Camilla was wearing the same blue, shiny robe, and she spoke both with an authority and enthusiasm that drew all of their eyes.
“Before we do anything, we shall ask for Elohim’s blessing,” she said. “Let’s pray together.” All of the students bowed their heads. Camilla raised her hands in the air.
“Father Elohim, we are blessed by Your presence tonight. Lead us together. Help us learn about one another—and about You. Give us the strength to fight the good fight of faith. Protect these children and their parents. Thank You for the gift of hospitality from our sisters here. In Your Son’s precious name, amen.”
Jonah and the rest repeated amen quietly.
“Okay then,” Camilla said, clapping her hands together loudly. “The best way to get to where we are going is by entering into the hidden realm. Now, is there anyone here who has not done this before?”
A handful of kids raised their hands, including Frederick.
“Your first lesson, then,” she said, smiling. “Nothing to worry about. It is as easy as breathing. After a little
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