Of course, I now had a million questions flying through my brain, but before I could ask a single one, Greta shoved me again. And hard.
I struggled to see past her, hoping someone else would step in or speak up.
Parker studiously avoided my gaze.
Meanwhile Mr. Fluffikins summoned a blast of air so strong, it pushed me out into the empty hallway and slammed the conference room door behind me.
I landed on my rear with a heavy thump, just like I had last night when the bossy black cat had tested my magic by launching a sneak attack.
He’d said that if I’d had powers, I wouldn’t be able to stop the impulse to protect myself. If Greta ripping off my brooch hadn’t been proof enough that my magic was gone, my failure to counter the attack certainly was.
The pain radiating from my backside added injury to insult.
I struggled to my feet and tried the doorknob, but it didn’t so much as budge within my clammy grip. Stepping to the side, I pressed myself up against the glass-block column that looked into the room. “Let me in!”
I could hardly see more than shapes and movement past the 80s-tastic design feature, but even that was taken away when someone conjured a dark barrier to block my view
I stopped and listened.
Silence.
Had they also put up a sound barrier? Or had they all exited through that glass ceiling already?
Parker had mentioned power points, something about protecting the town from outside attacks. My guess was that wherever these points were, it wasn’t inside the dingy office complex.
They were on the move—or at least they would be soon. I was out of options here, so I ran outside, wondering if I had any chance of following on foot. Provided I was even able to spot them in the first place. I doubted both possibilities, given that my morning’s journey on the magic broom had taken me well above civilian speed limits.
They needed my help. I knew that deep within my bones, even if they didn’t. One way or another, I would find a way to—what was it Fluffikins had said?—to tip the balance.
Think, Tawny, think!
I knew Melony was either dead or in danger.
That her grandfather may also be involved, and if he was, that would be way worse than facing her by herself.
As the current holder of the town magic, Parker was at risk, too.
The board had discussed venturing to the power points to protect the town… And that’s where my definite knowledge ended. Everything I knew about power points had more to do with making slide presentations than warding off dark magic. I had no car, and Greta had taken my magic away, both of which left me stranded in this mostly abandoned modern office complex.
So what now?
In the absence of a plan, I chose to head home. After all, there was only one place I thought might have the answers I needed, and that was Mrs. Haberdash’s house. I went there now, not because I was giving up, but because I knew that eventually the board and their foes would make their way back to where it all began.
And when they did, they would need me.
The house knew that, even if they didn’t.
Why else would its magic have embraced me right away?
I found it especially strange that Greta had been the one to force me away. She’d seen the way the house opened up to me. She knew I was a part of this better than any of the rest of them did.
But they’d all been so quick to accept me into their group and even quicker to kick me to the curb. Why?
I slogged along the sidewalk, wishing I’d worn my running shoes so I could move a little faster to match the urgency of the situation.
I’d hardly made it around the block when a blast of burning light knocked me off balance and pushed me onto my poor sore bum once again.
Holding one hand over my eyes as a shield, I strained to see into the light. Was this a new enemy?
No, it was just Greta.
Okay, not just Greta.
It was Greta with enormous white wings stretched wide on each side. “Grab my hand,” she ordered, and I knew better than to argue.
As soon as our fingers made contact, she launched back into the sky, pulling me along with her. “What’s happening?” I managed to ask between frightened gasps for air.
“He’s lying,” she said with a quick glance my way. The flames had returned to her gaze, and she looked both beautiful and terrifying.
“What? Who’s lying? And wait, are you a… an…?”
“Yes, I’m an angel, and Parker was lying.”
Whoa. There was a lot to process there. I wanted to respond with something intelligent, but instead I just said, “Um, are you sure?” like some kind of mortal idiot… which I guess I was, considering the company.
“Almost everything he said was a lie, but I don’t know why.”
“So does that mean…?”
“Yes, Melony is fine. They never had a confrontation.”
Finally I found some helpful words. “Then why didn’t you stop everyone from going to ward the town?”
“Because something’s not right. I didn’t want to alert Parker to the fact I was on to him.”
“How did you know he wasn’t being honest?”
She pointed to herself and smiled. “Angel.”
“Right.”
“We need to act fast before he realizes that I haven’t joined the others. Do you still want to help?”
She probably should have asked that before she catapulted me into the sky, but whatever. I was in this to win it, even though I had no idea how victory might look or what it would ultimately entail.
“Yes. I’ll help. What do you need me to do?”
She flashed me a magnanimous smile that sent a shiver right through me. “You, my dear, are going to serve as our bait.”
Wonderful.