CHAPTER 52

“How’s your head?” Penelopee asked from behind me.

I spun around, never so glad to see anyone in my entire life. But only because of what she held in her hands. The wooden jewelry box with the magic pea looked freshly dusted and polished, thanks to the princess with an apparent cleaning fetish. “Good,” I said, reaching out to take the box carefully from her.

She held on to it for a few seconds, her eyes searching my face. For what I didn’t know, but something warned me I’d better let her down easy and quickly before she ended up boiling my goldfish. I vowed to do so as soon as I got back from rescuing Izzy. But first I needed her help.

“Penelopee,” I said, “can you do me a big favor?”

“Name it,” she said with a smile.

And I did. She listened intently, her lips curling with disgust as I outlined my less than brilliant plan to save Izzy.

“Are you sure?” she asked when I finished.

I nodded. “It’s the only way.”

“I don’t like this,” she said, tears filling her eyes.

I shot her a quick grin. “Trust me, Princess; you’re not the only one.” With those final words, I picked up the jewelry box and headed out of my apartment for what would probably be the last time.