by Elena Paige
Mr Kirby ignored him. “We all know who you are. A clever disguise, by the way. I suppose that rat Aden helped you with it.” He curled his top lip as though he’d eaten something sour. “I think it’s time to look like yourself again. Elouise, will you do me the honor?”
Elouise moved in front of Wesa and wiggled her fingers around her as though finger painting for the first time. “Abracadabra,” she said.
Wesa’s blonde hair turned black as night, and her big blue eyes darkened and narrowed. Toby ran toward her. He wanted to get Wesa away from Mr Kirby as fast as he could. But Elouise turned to face him and held up her arms, blocking him. He tried to run through her, but she was taller than he was and grabbed him around the neck with her long, slender arms. Her grip was surprisingly tight.
Toby looked at the Kirby triplets gloating in joy. Billy and Rod were kicking Thatch, gleeful now that he couldn’t retaliate. Toby noticed that none of them wore gloves. Billy’s, Jim’s, and Rod’s hands were covered in giant red welts.
Was this what Aden McDermott was talking about when he mentioned them not being a problem for a while? In any case, he had a fresh idea. He had to find a way to get one of them to touch someone else. Then they would be unable to activate the hat.
With Elouise still holding him tight, he looked toward Abby. “Hey, Abby, how’s your possessed doll feeling?”
Abby began defending her doll, creating just the diversion he needed. Catching her off guard, he pulled away from Elouise, toward Abby, grabbed her hand, and moved it swiftly in Billy’s direction. Billy started yelling and holding both his hands in the air, suddenly aware of what Toby was up to. Toby felt a hard knock to his back, which forced him to drop Abby to the floor. Abby’s doll had managed to hit him once again.
But Toby wasn’t about to give up that easily. Doubling back toward Thatch, he picked up the two small frogs from the floor and threw them at Billy and Rod. Catching the frogs, the two of them doubled over laughing. Billy carefully lifted the frog to his face. “Toby thinks touching you is the same as touching a magician. You’re more stupid than I gave you credit for, Roberts.”
“Clever boy, but not clever enough, I’m afraid,” sneered Mr. Kirby. “My boys haven’t touched any magicians other than you and your friends. And now Jim has touched Wesa, we have everything we need. Did you think frogs would work? You foolish boy. When my boys touch the hat in my quarters, they will activate it and this will all be over.
“As for your grandfather, whoever has him can kill him for all I care. He’s a meddling magician that deserves to die.
“Elouise, show the boys out for me, won’t you? And I think we’ll take Wesa with us for good measure.” He turned and walked back through the black wall, dragging Wesa with him. Abby followed along after summoning her doll. Billy, Jim, and Rod lingered behind to laugh at Toby and Thatch.
“You won’t stop us. We’ll come after you, I promise. We’ll stop you. All of you!” yelled Toby, feeling anger rise up in him. He reached into his back pocket for his wand, but it wasn’t there!
“Looking for these?” said Billy, laughing twice as hard. “See you later, dummy, and thanks for the spare wands.”
He had taken both Thatch’s and Toby’s wands! The triplets laughed harder still, and then ran through the wall, out of sight.
Toby turned to Elouise. He was filled with hatred. Thatch, now able to move, hit the wall. He seemed to be releasing a rage he hadn’t displayed until now.
“I’m to block your magic,” said Elouise, looking at them in turn.
“Sure, whatever. Take our magic. We don’t even have any,” said Toby, sitting on the ground in defeat.
“If you would let me finish—I’m meant to block your magic and make sure you go through this door. Then lock it so you can’t get back in. That’s what I’m supposed to do.” She glanced over her shoulder as though fearing the others might come back. “But I’m not going to do that because I’m on your side. Come on.”
She pointed her fingers at the door and said, “Abracadabra.” It opened with ease and she walked through into the darkness. “Are you two coming? I haven’t got all day.”
21
Home Once More
Toby’s shocked expression mirrored Thatch’s. The two of them walked through the doorway in slow motion. Toby closed the door behind them, plunging them into darkness.
He was going home. How strange and different he felt since walking through this very space earlier that day. He was normal then. Magic had only existed in books. Everything was different now.
But the lump at the base of his stomach reminded him they had lost the hat, lost their wands, and lost Wesa. There was nothing to deliver to the panther, and no way to get Grandpa back.
“Shame about those frogs,” said Elouise as they stepped into the darkness.
Thatch pulled a light trick from his pocket and illuminated the space.
“It would be a shame—if they were frogs,” said Toby. He couldn’t help but smile .
“I’ve got to give it to you. That move was brilliant,” said Thatch.
Elouise turned toward them, blocking their path. “What’s the joke? They weren’t frogs?”
“They were a couple of magician kids I accidentally turned into frogs,” said Toby.
Elouise smiled and jumped up and down. “So Billy, Jim, and Rod can’t activate the hat. They now have the energy of the two magicians they’re holding instead. You really are brilliant,” said Elouise, hugging Toby.
“Settle down. Sure, that’s good news, but we’re about to meet a panther without a hat to deliver. There isn’t much to celebrate. And Wesa . . .” Thatch pushed past Elouise and Toby and continued onward.
“I feel sorry for the frogs though,” said Toby.
“Jerica can turn them back later,” said Elouise.
Toby raised his eyebrows at her.
“Oh, she’s a mage who can transform things. Her act is radical. She transforms one thing into something else. She’ll be able to change them back, I'm sure of it.”
“So long as the Kirbys don’t squash them first,” said Thatch. “What are we going to say to the panther when we turn up without a hat? Maybe we should turn back.” But he still marched onward as though pulled toward the door.
“We’re not delivering the hat, you guys. That isn’t where we’re going. And what’s with a black panther?” said Elouise calmly.
Thatch turned abruptly and Toby stopped in his tracks. “So how do we know you’re really on our side and that Kirby didn’t send you to lead us into trouble? Why would you help us?” said Toby .
“Tell us now or we’re going back!” demanded Thatch.
Elouise stepped forward in front of Thatch. She was taller than him and looked down on him. “It makes total sense you don’t trust me. I didn’t expect you to. But your dad told me to keep an eye on you.
“I am on your side, Thatch. I have been all along. I was the one that let Toby in through this entrance earlier today.”
She turned to Toby and smiled, shrugging her shoulders. “And it wasn’t an accident. I knew he was coming.”
“You knew I was coming? How?” said Toby.
“Mrs. Inkwell is very well informed. She knew something had gone wrong when you came out of your house planning to join the line. You weren’t meant to be able to see it. She alerted me you were on your way. We decided it was best to let you enter after all. Especially after we knew your grandfather was taken.”
“We? How many people are in on this? It seems I know the least about everything! So who took Grandpa?” said Toby.
Thatch was flicking his lucky coin in the air. “My dad told you to look out for me? Why?”
Elouise ignored him and answered Toby’s question instead.
“That we don’t know. But we do know that whoever it is, is working against Kirby. They both want the hat, and we don’t believe they are working together.”
“But my dad’s a good guy, right?” said Thatch dropping his co
in.
“Yes, he’s a good guy. I swear I’m on your side. Come on. There’ll be time for explanations later,” said Elouise, pushing past them both .
“Wait. If we’re not going to deliver the hat, then who sent us the paper plane?” said Toby.
“I’ll let you see for yourself,” said Elouise. As if sensing his reservations, she blocked the door they were about to step through. “I am on your side. And you haven’t failed . . . yet.” She moved aside and let Toby open the door.
Toby stepped into Mrs. Inkwell’s front yard. He was nervous, excited, and scared all at once. The light hurt his eyes after being inside all day, but it felt safe to be back home. He felt like he’d traveled to the moon and back.
“Come on,” he beckoned, running across the street to his house.
As he reached the familiar red front door, he found it unlocked. He ran through into the kitchen. The house appeared empty. It held an air of abandonment.
Toby ran around the house, checking every room and calling out for Grandpa, but he found no signs of life. Forgetting that Eloise and Thatch were in the house with him, he ran to his bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him. He was panting as he looked out the same window he had excitedly looked out of this morning.
“Hello, Toby.”
Startled, Toby fell backward onto his bed, completely caught off guard. He stood back up and reached for his lampshade, the only thing close enough to be a weapon. Holding it above his head, his hand shook. What was the point of a lampshade when he was standing before a mage? The purple stars lining his cape moved as though in the sky when the magician came closer to him.
“I’m sorry if I startled you,” said the masked man.
“Stay where you are. Don’t come any closer,” warned Toby, putting the lampshade between himself and the magician.
“I’m not your enemy,” he replied calmly. He looked around the room as though it were familiar to him.
“I know who you are. Are you the one who took Grandpa? You better not have hurt him!” Toby threw the lampshade across the room, his anger swelling. He couldn’t believe Strebor was alive and hiding in his bedroom.
“Toby, please let me explain. I’ve been here waiting for you. You followed my paper plane, didn’t you? I was so hoping you would. I’m so happy to see you.”
“Happy to see me?” Toby looked around for something else to put between himself and the stranger. “Help! Thatch, Elouise, I’m in here!” He pulled some books off the giant bookshelf. The Never Ending Story , The Lord of the Rings . Not the best defense, but big enough books that they would hurt.
“Please, don’t call your friends.” Strebor hesitated. “Not before we talk at least. I—”
The door swung open, and Thatch burst through it, calling out for Elouise to follow. “He’s in here. What are you doing? Meditating?” Thatch dropped his smirk and tensed as he saw the magician behind the door.
Pulling his card deck from his pocket, he threw them instinctively toward the man. The cards formed a perfectly straight line and charged like an arrow for Strebor’s head. Instead of retaliating, the magician used no magic of his own. He swatted them aside like irritating mosquitoes.
“Nice one,” called Toby, grateful Thatch had come when he did and impressed with the way Thatch managed his card deck.
“Come on. This trick won’t last for long,” called Thatch, pulling Toby through the door. Toby slammed into Elouise. “Come on.”
“Wait. Wait! Please,” came the voice of Strebor behind them.
Toby threw the kitchen door open and ran through it. Thatch followed. “Where’s Elouise?”
Thatch looked worried. “She was right behind me.”
“He has her! We have to go back for her,” said Toby.
Thatch nodded in agreement.
As though off to face a firing squad, they walked back through the door into the kitchen.
“What?” Toby was completely caught off guard. Expecting to find Strebor holding Elouise captive, instead, she was sitting at the table opposite him looking calm and happy.
“He’s not our enemy, Toby.”
Thatch paced the room like a wild animal about to pounce. “Says who? You? You led us here to a killer?”
Toby nodded his head in agreement and kept his eyes on Strebor. He didn’t trust him one bit. He had to be the one who had taken Grandpa. He had created the panther as an illusion.
But Toby had no hat to swap with him. He had nothing to bargain with. He had to think of a new plan. “So where’s Grandpa?” he asked casually, hoping it would be as easy as Strebor telling him.
“I’m not the one who took him. I swear it,” answered Strebor. Although the black mask covered his face, something in his voice sounded sincere.
“Listen to him, Toby,” said Elouise.
“Take off your mask!” demanded Toby .
“Show us your face!” said Thatch, coming to stand beside Toby, crossing his arms. Shoulder to shoulder with Thatch, Toby could feel his support. He was never more grateful for a friend than at that moment.
“It was me who sent you the message on the chalkboard this morning. It was me that cleaned your room and left you a gold magician’s hat so you could enter the convention. I’m the one that threw Billy, Rod, and Jim off your trail when they found you in the foyer.”
He stood up and reached his hands behind his head to untie his mask. “I’m the one who sent Rufus to rescue you from Alexander. And I sent you the paper plane. I have been watching over you all day and helping you.”
He pulled his mask from his face. Tears glowed on his cheekbones.
The man before him looked identical to the photo that sat in his living room at home. “Dad?” said Toby, tears filling his eyes faster than ever before. It was unmistakably his father. He ran toward him and threw himself into the magician’s arms. “Is it really you, or is this another trick?” he cried, hugging his father to him.
“What? How?” Thatch looked at Elouise for an explanation.
Toby’s father pulled away. “I need to explain. Take a seat,” he instructed Toby and Thatch. “There’s more you need to know before you return to the convention.”
“I don’t understand how you’re still alive and where you’ve been for the last ten years. Does Grandpa know? Why do you look so young? You look exactly like you did in your picture. I don’t understand,” said Toby. All his thoughts spilled out at once .
“Let him explain,” said Thatch, gently hitting Toby with the back of his hand.
“It’s complicated,” added Elouise.
“Yes, complicated is the best word under the circumstances. I can’t explain everything now. There is no time. But what you do need to know is this: I know you’ve been told terrible things about me. Things I’m meant to have done. But I never did any of those things. None of them.”
“He’s telling the truth, Toby. Listen to him,” said Elouise.
Strebor continued his tale. “Alexander Kirby set me up. It was him all along. When I found out that he planned to blow up every illusionist entrance into the convention, I had to do something to stop it. I tried.” He shook his head as though the memories were pricking him.
“I know, Dad. Rufus told us the truth,” said Toby.
“I knew I shouldn’t go after her, but when I discovered she had taken you, too, I had to at least try to save you. Kirby had planted bombs in some of the mage entrances. And . . . I couldn’t let her take you.”
Toby’s brain was trying hard to piece together the pieces. “She” was his mother. She had taken him with her after all. She hadn’t abandoned him. His heart beat faster as he realized his dad had come after them to save him.
“But how did you save me? Why aren’t I dead like Mother?”
“Shh. Just listen,” said Thatch, hitting him again.
Toby watched his father cringe as he said “Mother.” He couldn’t imagine the humiliation and pain his dad must have felt when he realized she was leaving him and taking h
is son with her. Leaving him for Alexander Kirby .
“What I’m trying to tell you, son, is that I saved you. I saved you from being hurt.”
“And mother?” said Toby, gulping at the sound of his own words.
“I don’t know. I think she died, Toby.”
Toby turned his face away hiding his anguish. Holly had been half right. His father was alive, but his mother had died.
“Toby. There’s more. Stacy has been working undercover for us.”
“Stacy, the scatterbrained assistant, is on our side?” said Thatch, scratching his face.
Toby’s head was spinning. But determined to stay conscious, he took deep breaths into his cupped hands. How much more could he take?
“Did you ever tell Aden McDermott what was taken from you and would be returned for the hat?” said Strebor with a steady voice.
Toby looked up, feeling mortified. Thatch stood up, knocking over his chair.
“No! We didn’t,” said Thatch.
“But he knew Grandpa was taken. He knew. And I didn’t realize. None of us did,” said Toby punching the table. He hadn’t trusted his earlier intuition, and now it had backfired on him.
“We never told him what the panther had taken but he knew, and we were dumb enough to trust him.”
“Don’t be hard on yourself, boys. We weren’t sure ourselves, but Stacy has informed us that Aden may in fact be a shapeshifter,” said Strebor.
“He’s the panther?” said Toby, beginning to feel an empty sickness in the pit of his stomach .
“But why didn’t Aden take the hat when he had the chance? It doesn’t make sense,” said Thatch.
“We don’t know. We’re not even one hundred percent sure it’s him,” said Strebor.
“But it is him. I’m sure of it,” said Toby. “And we can still stop him.”
22
The Truth Revealed
“Aden McDermott could be spying on us right now as a wasp for all we know,” said Thatch, looking around.