HEY, THIS IS PRETTY COOL, Rachel said in Fort’s head. AND I’M GLAD YOU WEREN’T MAKING UP YOUR IMAGINARY FRIEND. THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRETTY SAD. LIKE YOU SAYING YOU HAD A GIRLFRIEND IN CANADA.
SPEAKING OF GIRLFRIENDS, DOES ANYONE WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE GIRL FORT USED TO DANCE WITH IN FRONT OF HIS GRANDPARENTS? Sierra asked, and Fort immediately felt Rachel’s burst of excitement.
No! he thought as loudly as he could. Next to him, Jia coughed to hide a laugh, but he could feel her own joy at the idea in his mind. Everyone needs to be serious. This is important! And Sierra can’t keep track of everyone’s minds if we’re all talking at once.
ACTUALLY, I TOTALLY CAN, Sierra broadcast in their minds. THIS SORT OF THING IS EASY, ASSUMING I DON’T HAVE TO WIPE ANY OF YOUR MEMORIES OR TAKE OVER YOUR BODY. THAT ’S WHEN THINGS GET MUCH MORE COMPLICATED. I COULD CONNECT THE WHOLE SCHOOL LIKE THIS IF I HAD TO. SO BACK TO THE DANCING—
We’re coming up on the hallway, so no time for that now, Fort thought quickly, stopping around the corner from where Cyrus had said they’d be able to ambush Dr. Opps and the two guards carrying the books of Mind and Summoning magic. Wires hung from the ceiling where cameras were still being installed, so Cyrus had been right: This was the perfect spot.
Fort felt Jia’s joy turn into anticipation as they reached their destination, and he remembered what Rachel had said about Jia looking for thrills. Jia flattened herself back against the wall and squeezed her hands together to keep them from shaking. “Are you ready?” she whispered to Fort. “Because I’m ready. I’m so good to go. We’re going to nail this. Isn’t it exciting? We’re making the world a safer place, and all it took was breaking a few rules!”
“That’s right,” he whispered back, not thrilled to be deceiving her. “Once they’re gone, only Damian will have the power to bring the Old Ones back, and we already know we can handle him. The last thing we need is for the military to decide they need mind control or to summon something and teach some new student. They’re too dangerous.”
Jia sighed. “I know, though it’d still be fun to play around with them for a little bit. Not long, but just, like, one or two spells, you know?”
I THINK THEY’RE ALMOST THERE, Cyrus said in their heads. MY VISION GETS ALL WONKY AROUND THE BOOKS, SO IT’S HARD TO TELL FOR SURE.
The reminder of Cyrus’s “wonky” vision around the books wasn’t great at this moment, but footsteps sounded from down the hallway, so Fort couldn’t worry about that now. Cyrus is right, I hear them, he thought to the others. Everyone ready, and know what you’re going to do?
I’M GOING TO PARALYZE THE THREE OF THEM FIRST, Jia said, grinning widely at him. THEN I’LL TAKE THE MIND AMULETS OFF OF DR. OPPS AND THE SOLDIERS, WHILE YOU GRAB THE BOOKS, REPLACE THEM WITH YOUR FAKE ONES, AND MAKE YOUR WAY TO RACHEL.
Fort looked down at the two roleplaying books that Rachel had donated, even if she hadn’t been happy about it. Unfortunately, they were the only thing even close to the size of an actual book of magic, and Sierra had said that would help with the spell to disguise them.
YOU STILL OWE ME FOR THOSE, NEW KID! Rachel yelled in his mind, and Fort winced, forgetting she could still hear him. THOSE ARE CLASSICS.
Sorry! he thought. So, like Jia said, I take the books to you, Rachel, two halls down on the right from here, in an unused kitchen.
A KITCHEN THAT SMELLS LIKE FEET FOR SOME REASON.
Fort immediately smelled exactly what she meant through Rachel’s nose. Everyone on the mental “call” groaned in disgust.
Thanks for that, Fort thought as the footsteps came closer. I should be there, like, thirty seconds after Jia hits them with the paralyze spell.
RIGHT, Rachel thought. AND THEN WHILE I’M BURNING THE BOOKS, WHICH IS THE LAST TIME I HOPE TO EVER SAY THAT, SIERRA IS GOING TO ERASE THEIR MEMORIES OF SEEING US AND ENCHANT THEM INTO THINKING MY INCREDIBLY PRECIOUS ROLEPLAYING BOOKS ARE THE BOOKS OF MAGIC.
IS “ENCHANT” THE RIGHT WORD? Sierra asked. CAN’T WE CALL IT SOMETHING COOLER, MAYBE MORE SPY-ISH? LIKE I’M MAGICALLY COVERT ACTIONING THEM INTO THINKING THEY’RE RECEIVING THE DROP WHICH WE’VE INTELLED INTO… HEY, YOU KNOW I CAN HEAR ALL OF YOUR JUDGMENT, RIGHT?
Shh, they’re just around the corner! Fort thought to the others, and he saw Jia tense up, her hands starting to glow a cold blue. Everyone ready?
READY, Jia said, shuddering with excitement.
READY, Rachel said.
READY, BUT IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO RETHINK THIS, Sierra said, and Fort let her feel his annoyance. OKAY, OKAY, FINE, YES, READY.
UM, FORT? Cyrus said in their heads. WE MIGHT HAVE A—
“Now!” Jia shouted, and leaped around the corner. Whatever Cyrus had been about to say would have to wait as Fort ran out behind her, ready for anything.
Dr. Opps’s eyes widened in shock as Jia hit him with her Paralyze spell, freezing his body in place. Before the two guards could make a move, she hit them as well, and they stopped dead in their tracks.
Only, none of them were carrying books.
Um, Cyrus? Fort thought, panic beginning to take over his mind. Where are the books of magic?!
THAT’S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, Cyrus said, guilt coming in waves from his mind. SOMETHING CHANGED SINCE I LAST LOOKED, BUT I COULDN’T GET A SOLID VIEWING OF THE FUTURE BECAUSE THE BOOKS WERE TOO CLOSE TO EVERYTHING. I THINK… I THINK SOMEONE SURPRISED THEM AND TOOK THE BOOKS ALREADY.
You think?! Fort shouted in his head, unable to stop his frustration from boiling over
STICK WITH THE PLAN, Rachel said. GET THEIR AMULETS OFF SO SIERRA CAN WIPE THEIR MEMORIES. CYRUS, YOU KEEP TRYING TO FIND THE BOOKS!
ON IT! Sierra said, while they could all sense Cyrus nodding.
Fort grabbed the amulet from around Dr. Opps’s neck as Jia handled the guards. He caught Dr. Opps’s eyes and winced, giving the doctor an apologetic shrug. “Sorry,” he whispered. “We didn’t have a choice.”
Dr. Opps just glared at him, and Fort was happy that the paralysis spell kept the doctor from speaking.
OKAY, I’M IN THEIR HEADS, Sierra said, and Jia canceled her spells. All three men instantly relaxed, but didn’t otherwise move.
I FOUND THEM! Cyrus said. I FOUND THE BOOKS. THEY’RE… UM, UH-OH.
Don’t say “uh-oh,” Fort told him. Just tell us where they are.
YES, RIGHT. WELL, LIKE I SAID, I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THIS, BUT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL… COLONEL CHARLES HAS THEM IN HIS PRIVATE OFFICE.