by Amy Boyles
I nodded. “That’s one reason we need to get it somewhere safe. I don’t know what Betty was thinking stealing it.”
“She could’ve gotten us all killed,” Cordelia griped. “Her and that stupid resistance of hers.”
“Hey,” Amelia said defensively, “it’s not stupid. She’s doing it to protect us.”
“She put us in more danger,” Cordelia snapped. “Here we are, outside after curfew, delivering this thing to the Vault—where you work, might I remind you. If Erasmus Everlasting finds out you’ve hidden contraband, he’ll be ticked. You’ll be in trouble. Fired at the least. Who the heck knows what’ll happen that’s worse than firing—imprisonment?”
Amelia stopped. “Maybe we should just risk the Order.” She turned around and started to head back to the house. Cordelia and I both hooked our arms around her elbows.
“Stop it,” I said. “Cordelia’s overreacting. Aren’t you, Cord?”
My cousin rolled her eyes. “Yes, I’m overreacting. None of those bad things will happen to you, so don’t worry.”
Cordelia had led us down our block. We were circling the neighborhood. Basically taking the long way to the Vault. It wasn’t a route I was familiar with, but it looked like up ahead there was a grove of dogwood trees.
“Those are so pretty,” I whispered.
Cordelia motioned for us to stop. We did. She glanced right and left and then at the trees. “This is the least likely route that Lacy and the Order will take to search the town. It’s out of the way and no houses.”
“Yeah,” I said, “why not take it? It’s so pretty.”
“Because of the barking dogwoods,” Cordelia said.
I frowned. “I’m sorry?”
“The trees,” Amelia clarified. “They bark.”
I stared at my cousins in surprise. “And I’m only just hearing about this now?”
“Like I said,” Cordelia added, “no one lives over here because of that. The trees can be loud, but we’ve got the thunder overhead and the fact that the Order should be a little bit behind us. It should be okay.”
I stared at the seemingly quiet trees skeptically. “To do what?”
“To cross through.”
“So we’re going to march through that grove, hope the trees don’t bark so loud they catch crazy Lacy’s attention, and haul butt to the Vault?”
Cordelia exhaled. “That sounds about right.”
I nodded. “Then let’s go.”
Amelia grabbed my hand. “They’re asleep now. But at the first sign that they’re going to bark, we need to run as fast as we can.”
Cordelia nodded. “They’re loud, and even over the storm they might be heard.”
“Okay,” I said.
The three of us clasped hands. I’d tucked the wand under my arm. It jutted out but was secure.
The grass was soft under my feet. The wind howled and thunder still clapped overhead but it was focused more toward the houses in town.
White and pink dogwood blossoms swayed in the wind. They were lovely as moonlight cast its luminescence over them. I wanted to reach out and touch the velvety petals, but I knew better.
“They’re so pretty,” Amelia whispered. “I just want to feel them.”
“No,” Cordelia snapped. “They’re enchanted, Amelia. You know that. Don’t touch them!”
Amelia blinked. She shook her head. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I lost myself.”
“Stay focused,” Cordelia said.
We trudged through, walking as quietly as possible. Several times we had to wedge ourselves between trees, holding our breath so we wouldn’t brush up against them.
“Almost through,” Cordelia whispered. “Just a few more steps.”
Something scurried over Amelia’s foot. She released my hand, threw up her arms and screamed.
The nearest dogwood tree reared back. The center of its trunk twisted into a snout, like an animal’s—or a dog’s, to be more precise—and half a breath later, a piercing bark splintered the night.
Suddenly the other dogwoods roared to life, barking and yipping. It was loud. It was earsplitting.
“Run,” I yelled.
The three of us hightailed it through the barking dogwoods. We were almost to the edge, where the grove stopped.
I glanced back in time to see a dozen witches from the Order’s ranks descend on the trees.
They would see us. We would be found. I had to do something. I yanked my cousins to a stop.
“What?” Cordelia said.
“We can’t run. They’ll find us.”
Amelia cringed. “What do we do?”
A wave of power flowed through me. Light engulfed the three of us. My hands elongated to branches, my torso became thick and hard and my breathing stilled.
The same happened to my cousins. I watched as their faces disappeared, becoming longs strips of bark attached to magically created trees.
The witches had been far enough away that they hadn’t seen the transformation. We were anchored to a spot thick with trees. The witches flew quickly, scouring the area within seconds.
If we’d reached the tree line, where it opened up to the Vault, we would’ve been discovered for sure.
Wizards and witches darted through the dogwoods, calling to one another and trying to coax out whoever had caused such a stir.
I held my breath when Lacy’s face popped up in front of me. “These three trees are strange,” she murmured.
“They’re exactly like the others,” another witch said.
“I didn’t say they were different,” Lacy snapped. “I said they were strange.”
The witch scoffed. “The same sort of strange you think that Betty Craple is?”
“That old woman is up to something. We didn’t find my wand with her, but I have a feeling she knows more than what she’s saying.”
“Half of the dimwit witches in this town do,” the witch said. I finally recognized her as Slug, who was running to take Bee’s open spot as one of the three. “If they only realized all of this is for show. It doesn’t matter what they want or how much they think they’ve got Pepper Dunn safe. No matter, you’re going to take what you want.”
“I know.” Lacy giggled. “Bee was so stupid to think she could outsmart me. That she could keep things hidden. Of course I knew she was going to meet Pepper and try to help her.”
Lacy threw back her head and laughed. “It didn’t matter, though, did it? She wound up dead, and we’ll have a new witch in her place. Hopefully someone who understands what it really means to be one of the three.”
“Poor pathetic little Sherman,” Slug said. “He doesn’t stand a chance. He thinks he’s living up to what his mother wanted by taking her place. He’s so stupid.”
Wait. What?
What an avalanche of information. Sherman was Bee’s son. Lacy was going to take me no matter what—that wasn’t exactly a revelation, I suppose. I knew that. I just had to find a way to stop her—really stop her.
Lacy wanted Slug to take Bee’s place. Did that mean Lacy had set everything up?
Gosh, it would be too easy if Lacy simply admitted to it, wouldn’t it? I mean, why couldn’t she just save me a ton of trouble and say, I did it. I killed Bee.
“Where’s Sherman tonight?” Lacy said. “You’re in charge of him.”
“He’s over by the Potion Ponds, guarding the place.” Slug threw back her head and laughed. “He’s out there while I’m over here, proving how much better I’d be at being one of y’all.” She threw her thick, luscious hair over one shoulder. “He’s such a moron, he didn’t even realize I was making him look bad when I gave him the assignment.”
Lacy shivered. “Come on. Let’s go. There’s nothing in these woods. It was a false alarm.”
Slug stopped right in front of me. She stared at my bark as if trying to see into it. “I think you’re right, Lacy. There does seem to be something strange about these trees.”
She wore a pointy conical like ev
ery stereotypical wicked witch wore in movies and cartoons. Slug pulled a long hatpin from the brim and moved to poke me.
“Come on,” Lacy said. “Don’t waste a poke on that tree. Use it somewhere else.”
Slug pushed the pin back into her hat. As the two witches walked away, an idea popped into my head.
If I’d had lips, they would’ve coiled into a smile. Well, well, well, it looked like Sherman Oaks might end up being our best ally in this thing yet.
We tucked the wand safely into the Vault, and Cordelia worked a binding spell to reinforce the glass case.
“Hope that works,” Amelia muttered. “Otherwise I’ll be in deep crap.”
Cordelia scoffed. “Erasmus will never even know you put it here. Don’t worry. It’ll be fine.”
Amelia shook her head. “I’m pretty sure the words ‘don’t worry’ have come before all major tragedies in the world.”
I elbowed Amelia. “I think what she means is there’s no point in worrying. Come on. I’ve got an adventure for us.”
“That was enough adventure for one night.”
“Oh no,” I said, “we need one more. We’ve got to go talk to Sherman Oaks.”
Amelia’s eyes widened. “He’s in the Order.”
“And he’s being betrayed. He’ll want to know.”
Cordelia clapped a hand on Amelia’s shoulder. “What’s the worst that could happen?”
Amelia rubbed her face. “Once again, words that come before great tragedy.”
I smiled widely. “Come on. Let’s go.”
We reached the Potion Ponds a few minutes later. Sherman Oaks stood at the edge staring into the glittering water. He looked like he was contemplating his life.
As he pondered that, Sherman took a couple of steps, tripping over his feet and nearly landing headfirst in the pond. He rose, brushed himself off and shook out his robes.
Sherman fixed his hair and whirled around as if to make sure no one had seen his embarrassing moment.
Cordelia cracked a smile. “This is going to be fun.”
“Follow my lead,” I said.
I strode out from a giant blooming azalea bush and whistled. Sherman jumped in my direction, his hands poised to karate chop me.
“Who’s there? Don’t come any closer. There’s a curfew.”
Having already figured out that I could work magical circles around this guy, I didn’t bother listening to his warning.
“Hi, Sherman. I’m Pepper Dunn, and these are my cousins, Amelia and Cordelia.”
Sherman studied us with suspicion in his eyes. “I could have you arrested. Lacy wants you.”
“Correction: Lacy wants my powers. Not me. I’m sorry about what happened to your mother.”
Sherman’s face darkened. “That’s right! Pepper! It was your dragon that killed my mother.”
He started to rush me. Cordelia raised her hand. Sherman stopped mid-run, frozen by my cousin.
“That’s enough,” she said. “My cousin didn’t kill your mother.”
“Oh yeah?” he said, straining against her power. “I don’t believe you.”
“Then believe this,” I demanded. “A few minutes ago the three of us overheard Slug and Lacy talking about you—about how you running for your mother’s vacant position is a joke. They’re playing you, Sherman. You were sent out here to make it look like you don’t care about being one of the three. They want to make it easy for Slug to defeat you.”
Sherman’s mouth twisted as if he was going to say something; then he shut it. When he opened it again, he spoke. “You’re lying.”
“She’s not lying.” Amelia walked right up to him and crossed her arms. “Now listen, I know my cousin has a lot going against her right now, but she’s not a cotton-pickin’ liar. None of us are. We don’t care about you or your Order. Heck, we want y’all out of our town ASAP. But seeing as how Lacy’s making a big stink of stealing my cousin’s powers for some werewolf/witch skirmish when there’s a ton of y’all who can fight, well, we just have to face off against her. We can’t let her win. From what my cousin says, your mama didn’t want Lacy to win, either.”
Sherman’s eyes widened the more Amelia spoke. His gaze washed over her from head to foot before he finally said, “Yes, ma’am. You’re right. I’m sorry. My mama, Bee, she did want you to be okay, Pepper. She was against Lacy’s plan from the start.”
I stepped forward and Amelia stepped away, but Sherman’s gaze trailed after her. “I saw you and your mother arguing the day she died.”
Sherman sighed. “She was starting to speak up against Lacy. I told her to be quiet, but she wouldn’t hear of it. It may have been what got her killed.” He sighed. “I’m sorry I said all that about your dragon. I know he didn’t have anything to do with it. I know he was set up. It’s obvious. Somebody else killed her. That’s why I want her seat. I figured if I was in a more powerful position, I could figure out who the killer was.”
Cordelia released the force field around him. Sherman rolled his shoulders. “Thanks.” He pointed toward town. “But as y’all can see, I’m not in any sort of position to help. I got stuck out here, away from all the action. When Lacy discovered her wand was missing, I asked to hunt for it. I was told no.”
“I’m sorry.” I gave him an encouraging smile. “But I wanted you to know what we’d overheard.”
Sherman shook his head. “It’s pointless. They’ll never let me be one of the three just the same as Lacy won’t let you go—at least not alive.”
I shuddered.
Amelia clapped her hands. “Then the two of y’all just need to figure out how to work together so that Sherman’s mother’s murderer is discovered, he takes her seat and Pepper is left safe and sound.”
Sherman picked up a rock and tossed it into the pond. “I’m game. I am. Nothing could be worse than what they’re having me do now, where I’m left by myself with no chance of having any leadership.”
I rubbed my chin. “We have to come up with a plan.”
“Sherman,” Cordelia said, “how’s your magic?”
He threw up his arms. “Awful. Horrible. I have two left feet when it comes to magic. I’m only part head witch, you see, and the only reason I’m in the Order is because of my mother.”
Cordelia’s mouth curled into a grin. “If you could wish for anything, would you wish to be a stronger wizard?”
Sherman exhaled a plume of air. “Would I ever!”
Amelia smiled. “Then we might be able to help you.”
Another voice cut through the night. “I may be of service as well.”
Rufus stepped out of the shadows.
“Rufus,” I hissed. “How long have you been there?”
His lips coiled devilishly. “I’ve been around since the barking dogwoods.”
“So you know everything.” It almost annoyed me that Rufus was so flippant about having followed us, but at the same time I knew he would’ve protected me and my cousins if need be.
“I had to make sure you were safe.” He turned his attention to Sherman. “And it looks like we’ve got a wizard to create. If we’re going to make him powerful and have you beat Lacy, then we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
I rubbed my hands together gleefully. I could practically feel the glint of mischief in my eye when I asked, “When do we start?”
SEVENTEEN
The best place we could figure out to help Sherman was none other than our house.
Betty was thrilled to add another member to her resistance. She was also excited to have another person to teach magic to. Since Sherman was only part head witch, Betty had given herself the job of tutor, which was fine by pretty much everyone except Sherman.
“Amelia, are you sure you can’t teach me?” Sherman said the next day.
Amelia’s eyelids fluttered. She scowled at the lopsided grin on his face. “I’m excellent at magic, but I wouldn’t be a great tutor.”
“Oh? Why not?”
“I don’t have the patien
ce,” she said pertly.
Sherman’s expression fell. Cordelia cleared her throat. “I have a surprise for you, Sherman, something that should help you with all this.”
His eyes lit with excitement. “Oh yeah? What is it?”
“In a few minutes our fathers are coming over.” She licked her lips. “They’re part genie, and if you make the right wish, they’ll be able to use their gifts to help you. You’ll have more natural ability.”
Betty dropped tobacco into her pipe. “He needs to learn the hard way.”
“We don’t have time for the hard way,” Cordelia snapped. “Sherman needs to be an expert in about five minutes if he’s going to give Slug and that other guy—”
“Widdon,” Sherman said.
“Widdon, a run for their money,” Cordelia explained.
“No one’s letting me wish my way into my magic,” I said.
“That’s different,” Cordelia explained. “You’ve been procrastinating your power. Besides, you have an actual magical duel to do. Sherman just needs to look good for a little while, earn the witches’ and wizards’ respect.”
Thanks for that, I thought. “Speaking of, I need to get working myself. I still have a lot to learn if I’m going to at least give Lacy a run for her money.”
I left my grandmother and cousins as they fussed over Sherman. He seemed to pay no attention to what they were saying as he stared at Amelia in wonder.
Wouldn’t it figure that Amelia was completely unfazed by him? I nearly chuckled at the development but instead decided to bite my tongue and work on my own magic.
I headed upstairs to grab my things and found Stevie and Mattie up there.
“Stevie, you’re back,” I said.
Stevie picked something off the floor and brought it to me. I gasped. It wasn’t as bad as the fake eye, but in some ways it was worse.
“Slug’s hairpin,” I said. “How the devil did you manage to snatch that?”
The guinea pig didn’t answer. Instead he nuzzled his nose against the back of my hand. I obliged him and gave the little guy a good scratch.
“Slug will rip me apart if she knows I have this.”
“It ain’t any different than Betty keeping that wand,” Mattie said, stretching into a bow.