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The massive, warty, and hairy back of a troll faces JJ and me as it grunts, pulling something gnarly apart and stuffing pieces of it into its mouth.
Ghosts, I’m not a big fan of, but a Cinderbeast and now a troll? I can handle them no problem. In all cases, the solution is the same. “Run!” I whisper-shout. I don’t even bother to look back.
To be honest, I could use a break from all of the beasts, creatures, and spirits. I’m thinking of a relaxing hammock on a Jamaican beach. The waves lapping softly, the gulls cawing, the palms swaying. I’d read a good book or three, eat my grandmother’s delicious cooking, play cards, and go shopping... Maybe forget all my cares in the world.
But that’s impossible, mostly because I care so very much. And because I’m suddenly lifted into the air. The troll has me by the shoulder, shaking me like a ragdoll.
“Let me down,” I holler.
Each time I almost catch a glimpse of JJ, the troll waves me in the other direction. It’s pulling my hair out and my shoe is about to fall off. Also, the stench is worse than a swamp full of rotten eggs.
I dig the wand out of my pocket. “Last chance buddy. Put me down.”
He lifts me higher and we’re eye to eye. Or eye to mouth as he opens it wide. His teeth are rotten and he drools. But the smell is the worst. I’m afraid that alone will kill me. Imagine...no, never mind. Don’t. I wouldn’t wish experiencing this rank smell on anyone.
“You need to see a dentist, buddy.”
The troll belches and dangles me closer to its mouth.
“Nope. You’re not going to eat me.” I raise the wand and say, “Here goes nothing.” A streak of red lightning zips from the wand, blasting the troll back. I fly in the other direction, landing hard on the ground.
Again, I don’t look back or offer to help the troll up. It was going to eat me. Of greatest concern at the moment is the fact that the farther we get from the cemetery the fainter JJ becomes. He’s like an instant camera photo but in reverse. Or perhaps it’s the coming dawn, lightening the sky around the edges along with him.
The ground doesn’t shake and the troll doesn’t grunt in pursuit, so I stop in the orchard, recalling when JJ rescued me from the clutches of the demons.
“What can I do to help?” I ask.
He blinks at me as though he doesn’t quite see me.
“JJ, do you have enough energy to bring us back to Skerry Street?”
He doesn’t answer. It’s as though he’s slipping away. Even though we’ve stopped running, my breath comes quick.
There’s only one thing to do. Carry him back to campus myself. If I can get him that far, I’ll figure out what to do next. Thankfully, he’s as light as a feather, given that he’s a ghost, though awkward given his size. I pop his top hat back on his head and sort of drag him. I’ll have to apologize for getting his coat muddy later. Because there will be a later. I didn’t just go to the otherside-underworld for nothing. Also, I like JJ, maybe more than like. My heart stutters a beat.
I take a deep breath and use all my will to get us both back to campus.
Without the usual bustle of students in uniforms, performing simple magic along the paths, and the scent of pie baking from the dining hall, Riptivik seems abandoned, almost like a relic from a time long past.
A worrisome thought flits through my mind: I hope we returned to the same time we left because campus seems a lot like when we went back in time via the portal in the alchemy classroom.
Worry turns into anxiety. Although I didn’t know about magic, a school for the magically talented, or that vampires, nymphs, and changelings were real—no less existed—, up until last fall, I can’t and don’t want to imagine it ceasing to exist. What’s more, I never expected helping save it would rest on my shoulders—or that I’d have the weight of a liminal being resting on my shoulders, sort of.
I reach the main path winding through campus and take another deep breath while I consider going to the infirmary or the administration building and West’s office. After the hostage situation at the last rumpus game, everyone was evacuated, but surely someone must be here. Then a little light in the woods flickers like a beacon. West’s cottage.
Using my last bit of strength, I trudge up the hill and knock on the door. A man with silver-streaked hair and a long robe answers.
“You’re back?” I ask when Chancellor West steps back from the door. Last I saw him was at said rumpus game right before he vanished. Poof.
Without a word and with great haste, he helps me bring JJ inside. We rest him on a bed in the back room. West swiftly closes the door behind him, leaving me standing alone in the hall. Flashes of silver brighten the cracks along the edge of the door as West mutters low incantations that I can’t make out.
He must be using some hardcore magic. Moments later, he steps outside and puts his finger to his lips in the universal symbol for quiet. I’m not sure if he means because JJ is recovering or that I shouldn’t ask questions.
“Tea?” he asks when beckons me to the kitchen of the cottage, which looks exactly as one would expect a wizard’s cottage to look: like an Ikea showroom with modern, clean, and sleek lines along with plenty of storage space. Just kidding. It’s exactly as it was on my first visit—rustic yet open and airy. There are still loads of books, papers, glass objects, metal devices, cauldrons, snow globes, and other ephemera covering every available surface.
West passes me a cup of tea. “You asked if I’m back. Not officially.” He looks me over carefully. “However, I see we’ve both made recent journeys. Glad you and JJ returned safely.”
“I used a wish. My last wish. All my wishes.” I tell him about our trip to the otherside, the encounter with JJ’s father, and our escape.
West takes a slow sip of tea. “Don’t be too sure of that. Most wish witches only have three wishes, but of course, there can be exceptions, magicals evolve, and things change. There’s no knowing the extent of our purpose in this life. Perhaps another wish or two will be summoned.”
“That doesn’t seem overly likely.”
“Maija, remember your power rests in your belief.”
“Will he be okay?” I ask, glancing toward the other room.
“For now, but you must reverse the curse.”
I pull out the wand and set it on the table between us.
West’s eyebrows lift as he rolls it in his hands. He closes his fingers around it, lowers his eyelids, makes a low sound of affirmation, and then says, “It is indeed made of a rare stone from a comet that came to earth.” He holds it up to the light. “And contains elemental fire. That’s different than the regular twelve forms of carbon-based fire. Typically, that course of study begins second year, which will prove very helpful to you and your wish witchery.” He sets the wand back on the table. “Now that this is back in this realm, I assume she’ll be along any time to collect it.”
“Who? Imogen?”
He nods. “Magicals are joined with their wands. If separated, they will always seek each other out. Kind of like a built-in homing device.”
Laughter drowns in my sudden anxiety. “What if she gets the wand? She’s really powerful.”
West cocks an eyebrow. “Aren’t you as well?”
The question gives me pause. I never thought of that. “Not yet. I haven’t studied enough. I don’t know—”
“You just rescued JJ Thorne from the underworld. I’d say you’re plenty powerful. People often get caught up in preparation, studying, accumulating the gear. Often experience is our greatest teacher.”
“But I used my last wish.”
“Maija, what have I mentioned about believing?”
I sigh. It all feels so big. Maybe even impossible. “Who am I to undo a curse and potentially battle with some batty old witch who’d like nothing more than my youthful energy?”
“Maija?” West says plainly. “Who are you not to?”
Mic drop.
Silence passes between us.
“You are welcome to stay here the night. Everyone will be returning to campus tomorrow.”
“Did you catch the Marauders?” I ask.
He shakes his head. “Not just yet. Their services are still needed.”
“What do you mean? They held everyone in the arena hostage. They, well, they did something to you. I saw you flash silver and then disappear.”
“They tried to incurbate me and failed. Same as JJ.” West looks fondly toward the door behind which JJ rests. “He’s an immensely strong, determined, and bright boy. Well, young man. The world needs him.”
I blush because I might need him too.
West nods as if he understands.
“Now, I have some business.”
“Wait, shouldn’t the Marauders be held accountable?”
“They will be.”
He’s not making sense. It’s not adding up. “With all due respect, Chancellor West, what’s going on. What are you hiding? What do you know?”
He counters, “I’ve made no attempt to hide the fact that I’m using the Marauders to get to the Hive.”
“Then why not confront them? Penalize them? There are magical laws, right? Give them an ultimatum, like, if they don’t reveal the identities of Veda, Valerius, and whoever, they’ll go to the Iron Tower?” My voice is pleading. “Then again, it probably has a giant hole in the side.”
He holds up three fingers and says, “Screven, is the third leader of the Golden Hive. I’ve resisted doing the obvious for that very reason—it’s obvious.”
I have to think about this a moment. “Clever. But what if there are more attacks? What if things get worse?”
He nods at the wand. “In this instance, I thought it best not to do what was expected of me. However, I believe we’ll soon find matters resolving. Furthermore, our meeting here should be kept secret for now.”
I can no longer keep my secret. I tell West everything except for the wish I granted Magog.
“You’re turning the tide, Maija. Well done. But there are still trials ahead of us.”
“Like exams? Do classes resume tomorrow? Do we have seminal seminar?” I ask rapid-fire.
West chuckles. “Not just yet.” He gets up and puts his hand on the door.
“Are you leaving?”
“As I said, officially, I’ve not yet returned.”
“But what about the rumors that you abandoned us or that the Marauders defeated you? What about protecting the campus?”
Poof. Again, West is gone.
Just then, a groan comes from the other room.
