by Amy Boyles
Cobblestone kept pulling, kept yanking, kept nudging while I continued to counter each and every movement he made. I couldn’t keep up for much longer.
The flare of magic I normally felt was down to a flicker. I was nearly tapped out. To heck with this, I figured.
While Cobblestone was pulling to the right, trying to wedge the ball from the center, I threw the last of my power at the ball and yanked it from the center. It spiraled toward me, cutting through the room until it landed safely in my arms.
I shot out a breath of air and collapsed to my knees. My lungs burned as if I’d just run a marathon. I figured I was out of the contest because I had pretty much broken the rules of what I was supposed to do.
Silence blanketed the air. Faint clapping came from the judges’ table.
“Well done,” came the male voice.
“That’s what I call improvisation,” my grandmother said.
“Good job,” Gladiolas said.
My jellied knees wobbled as I pushed myself up. Wow. So I wasn’t in trouble for breaking the rules. Cool beans.
I peered down and away from the lights focused on the stage. I saw Cobblestone, his long hair draped over his shoulders. “You’re excused.”
I matched the voice to his face.
“Thank you,” I said.
The walk across the stage was slow. I did my best to keep my shaking legs moving. Let me tell you, I was spent. If the rest of the competition took this much out of me, I didn’t know if I’d make it through the next two trials.
I exited backstage. Reid and Sera rushed up to me. Sera must’ve noticed that I was beat, ’cause she directed me straight to a chair.
“Are you okay?” she said.
“Yeah, you look like someone drained the blood right out of you,” Reid said.
I raked my fingers through my hair. “More like the magic. That was rough. Good, but rough.”
Reid pulled her burgundy curls through a hair band and pushed up her sleeves. “What do I need to know to prepare?”
I shook my head. “Nothing. There’s nothing for me to tell you. Just do your best.”
Reid raised her hands in frustration. “But I need to know what to do! How am I going to make it through the competition?”
“You won’t be doing the same thing I did. Mr. Devlin said the assignments were picked at random.”
Reid’s face turned bright red. “But I have to know!”
Sera and I leaned far, far away from our baby sister, who appeared on her way to a meltdown.
“It’ll be fine,” I said. “Don’t worry.” I waved them away. “Listen, Reid, if you really want to prepare, go sit and meditate. That’ll help.”
Her eyes sparkled. “Really? Do you think that’ll help?”
I nodded. “I know so. Take Sera with you.”
Reid grabbed Sera by the arm. Sera glanced over her shoulder as our little sister dragged her away. “What?” she said, confusion spreading over her face.
A giggle escaped my lips. Sera saw it and shot me a scathing look. She did not want to meditate with Reid; I knew that for a fact. But I also wanted a minute to breathe, to regain my focus, and I couldn’t do that with my sisters hovering over me.
I sat in the chair for a minute, watching the other contestants. Most of them huddled to the side, their frayed nerves obvious from the looks on their faces. I rubbed my hands down my thighs and rose. I needed to get some blood pumping through my muscles.
I wandered around toward the stage. I didn’t know who’d gone on after me, and I kinda wanted to see what the heck their trial was. I mean, did we each have to do the same thing?
I peeled back the curtain and peeked out. In the center of the stage stood Henrietta. Dark stringy hair hung in her face. She didn’t look at the judges as Gladiolas made the announcement this time.
In a regal voice the councilwoman said, “You must keep this fire lit.”
With a swoosh, a burning coal appeared in front of Henrietta. At the same time, a clear bowl of water appeared right beneath it. I watched as the coal sank into the water.
Holy moly. Boy was I glad that hadn’t been my trial.
Henrietta raised her hands. Tendrils of flame flared up from the coal as it descended into the liquid. The fire hissed and spat as the water enveloped it.
But Henrietta was good. I mean, really good. Orange and red fingers of fire licked at the water, causing it to boil and bubble. Steam rose into the air. Henrietta had this one.
Then more water dumped down into the bowl, drowning the coal. The fire quivered, retreating under the pressure of the liquid. But Henrietta fought. Mad concentration fixed on her face. The flame flickered up.
Henrietta’s fingers curled. A fresh flame sputtered to life, spitting bits of coal out onto the floor. The fire shuddered, and I thought it would flare high, but it did exactly the opposite.
The flame died with a whimper.
“Thank you, Henrietta,” Gladiolas said. “You are dismissed from the competition.”
My jaw fell.
Thundering footfalls smashed across the floor. A meaty hand swept the stage curtain back. Lucinda crossed to her daughter. She pounded a fist into her palm.
Her voice shook the rafters. “How dare you disqualify my daughter. You don’t know what you’re doing.”
The lights shook from her booming voice. Dust floated onto the stage, looking like a strange sort of snow.
“There will be no interference,” Gladiolas said. “Your daughter is dismissed.”
“No interference,” Lucinda roared. She pointed in my direction. “Tell her that. Dylan Apel has been standing in the corner the whole time. It’s her fault my daughter didn’t make it.”
“Oh?” Cobblestone said. “How’s that?”
The hatred in the woman’s gaze ripped right through me. I shivered. I didn’t know what she was about to say, but I knew it would be bad.
“That woman,” Lucinda said, “sabotaged my daughter. Dylan Apel cheated, and I have proof!”
NINE
“I didn’t sabotage Henrietta,” I said. “I promise.”
Gladiolas, Frederick Cobblestone, and Grandma glanced at each other. I had joined them at the judges’ table. The house lights had been turned on and the theater lights extinguished. Damon Devlin was with us, his hand rubbing the bottom of his chin in thought. He glanced at me.
“Give us a moment.”
The rest of the contestants stood in the wings. Since I’d been dismissed, I figured I’d do some snooping. After all, clearly I was the one person who could keep Roman from going to jail, right?
And pigs can fly.
Taylor Cobblestone stood off to the side. When he saw me coming, he rolled his eyes and flipped his back toward me.
Little did he know I wasn’t going to be discouraged by a bad attitude.
“Glad to see you made it into the competition. Must be nice having a powerful father,” I said.
“Whatever.”
“Glad to see you’re simply a cheerful person. So who told Devlin that you’re a Cobblestone?”
He arched a severely sculpted brow at me. “What’s it to you?”
I fumbled over my words, looking for an answer. “I have a friend who may want to compete next time.” I clicked my tongue. “Problem is, they’re not great at magic, so they might not make it in. I just thought whatever strings you pulled, they might be able to use them, too.”
Taylor spat on the floor.
I stepped back. “Ew. Is that part of your mating ritual?”
He narrowed his dark eyes and leaned back against the wall, making sure to jut his Speedo out. Like way out. It was so far out I stepped back.
Ew once again.
Taylor laughed. Like it was a genuine sound, not something made up when someone says something that’s supposed to be funny but isn’t so you politely kinda laugh. Or when you can’t understand someone who’s talking, but you get the fact that something they said must’ve been funny because someon
e else laughed, so you join in, too, but the sound is super fake ’cause, you know, you really can’t fake a great laugh. You just can’t.
At least I can’t.
“My dad found out and told Devlin,” he said.
I shrugged. I felt I had him. The brick wall surrounding him had cracked a little bit. “Why would you need this competition? Don’t you have eternal life or something? That’s what people say.”
Taylor shook his head. “We did have it. Like a century ago or something, but then it got lost.”
It was my turn to quirk a brow. “Lost?”
He nodded. “All these people, they think my family has everything.” He brushed a piece of dirt off his bare chest. “We’re just as normal as anyone else.”
“I thought you were a superhero or something.”
Taylor’s gaze flickered over toward the judges. “It’s what my dad wants everyone to think.” He leaned over so close his hot breath stung my face. “My family is a lie. We don’t have much power, and we definitely don’t have eternal life.”
I crossed my arms. “Why are you telling me this?” I mean, I know I asked, but the guy didn’t have to say anything. I figured he’d spit blood at me and walk away.
“Because you’re the only person who’s asked.” He snickered. Taylor’s mouth curled up into a sneer. “Everyone else here is afraid of me.”
I shook my head. “Think the hissing helped?”
He laughed again. “You’re okay. What’s your name?”
“Dylan.”
From behind me, someone clapped their hands. I looked to see Damon Devlin waving me back over. I cut a path of doom down toward them. I know I’m being dramatic, but that’s how I am, okay? I’m dramatic. It runs in my blood.
I joined the judges. Devlin cleared his throat. “It’s the decision of the judges that though we cannot prove that you have cheated, you will sit out the second wave of competition.”
I frowned. “So you’re not kicking me out but you’re disqualifying me from the second part?”
Devlin nodded.
“But I’ll need those points to move on to the third round. If I don’t have the points from the second round, there’s no way I can win.”
Cobblestone flipped a lock of hair over his shoulder. “It’s not impossible, but unlikely.”
“So that’s it?” I said.
The three nodded.
Okay, well, whatever. I had a mystery to solve anyway.
“All right,” I said.
“And you’re excused for the rest of the day,” Devlin said. “You won’t be allowed to watch any future competitors.”
“I got it,” I said.
I left the theater and stepped out into the hall. I found my sisters there.
“What happened with the judges?” Sera said.
“I can’t compete tomorrow,” I said.
Reid’s grimaced. “Oh no! So they didn’t throw you out?”
“Not completely.”
Sera gave me a hug. “It’ll be okay. You can still win.”
I shook my head. “No, I can’t. But that’s okay. Y’all win it for me.”
Reid shouldered her purse that was so full of yarn and needles they were practically vomiting out the top. “We can’t both win.”
I rubbed my forehead. “I meant one of you win. I know both of you can’t win.”
Reid nodded enthusiastically. “That makes more sense.”
“Anyway, I’m going back to the room. I’ll see y’all later.”
When I got back to my bedroom, I found my grandmother Hazel waiting for me. I did a double take.
“You’re supposed to be judging at the competition. What are you doing here?”
She fluffed the bottom of her hair. “I wouldn’t be a very good witch if I couldn’t be in two places at the same time.”
I felt the pressure in my face as my brows tugged together. “I can’t be in two places at the same time.”
Grandma shrugged innocently. “You’re not a very good witch.”
“Thanks. But seriously, how’re you doing that?”
She picked up a bottle of hairspray, bent over and proceeded to spray her hair to make it stand straight up. She talked while she worked. “It’s just an image of me. If something interesting happens, I can see it, but otherwise I’ve checked out, Dylan.”
She tipped her posture back upright at a geriatric pace. Though the roots of her hair stood at attention, the top half of it sagged over. It kinda looked like she wanted to be punk-rock cool but just ended up being a nerd.
“So an image of you is at the contest?” I said.
Grandma fisted the air in triumph. “That’s exactly right. I’m there and I’m here. It can be confusing, but if you’re like me, you live in the fast lane.”
“The fast lane as in the cafeteria line at Big Bob’s Restaurant?”
My grandma loved cafeteria-style restaurants. Don’t ask me why, but there must’ve been something magical about pretending to eat at a hospital every day.
“Dylan, I can't sit at the Magical Abilities contest all day. What a drag. Besides, I’m sure one of you girls will win.”
“I just got kicked out of tomorrow’s competition.”
She shrugged. “Maybe Sera or Reid will stand a better chance.” She threw open the wardrobe door and riffled through until she found a long, lightweight cardigan. She shuffled into it and pushed the sleeves up.
“Isn’t that Sera’s?” I said.
Grandma dismissed me with a wave. “She’ll never miss it. Now, what sort of trouble are we about to get into?”
I laughed and plopped down on the bed. “Well, there’s tons going on. Roman has to catch the Never Forget thief unless he wants to go to jail.”
Grandma sat on the edge of the mattress. “Witches have strange rules. Now, what else?”
I lifted my hand and squeezed my thumb and forefinger together. “Oh, and we’re this close to figuring out who killed Roman’s mother. Roman has a pact ring. All we need to do is slip it on the right person’s finger, the stone will turn red, and bam! We’ve got ’em.”
Grandma rose. “What are we waiting for? The entire who’s who of the witch kingdom is here. Right now. We need to be moving and shaking, getting everyone to try on this ring.”
I rolled my eyes. “Grandma, it can’t be that simple.”
She leaned over, a sparkle in her eyes. “Try me.”
“We need the pact ring.” We’d cornered Roman in the castle. He’d been poring over clues, but with the use of technology, aka cell phone texting, we’d found him.
He glanced suspiciously from me to my grandma. “Why?”
Grandma leaned in close and whispered, “Because we’re going to catch a killer. Don’t worry. We won’t lose it. I’ll get it back to you in one piece.”
“Shouldn’t you be judging the competition? Won’t someone notice you’re gone?”
She waved a hand. “No one outside the competition knows my schedule. It’ll be fine.”
Roman shook his head. “I’m not going to be able to say no to this, am I?”
I shot him a feeble smile. “I don’t think so?”
“Why are you saying it like it’s a question?”
“Because I don’t know yet?”
Grandma elbowed me in the ribs.
“Ouch!”
She clapped my shoulder. “Buck up, kid. If you want to hang with ex-witch police like me, you’ve got to be strong. Now listen, Roman, we won’t keep it long, just long enough. You can trust me. I’ve never lost anything in all my life.”
“Just your brains,” I mumbled.
“What?” she said.
“Nothing. Seriously, Roman. We won’t keep it forever, but we do have a plan that should help us narrow down the killer pretty fast.”
He scrubbed a hand down his tired face. Dark circles cut into the skin beneath his eyes. “This doesn’t mean you’re going to go around putting this ring on everyone’s finger, are you?”
“Of course not,” I scoffed. “That’s a horrible plan.”
He dug the ring from his pocket and handed it to me. “Keep it safe.”
“I will.”
He planted a kiss on my forehead. “Want to have dinner tonight?”
I cupped my hands together and brought them to my heart. “That sounds heavenly.”
“Pick you up at about seven.”
“I’ll be ready,” Grandma said.
We gave her confused looks.
“I’m just messing with you kids.” She grabbed my arm. “Come on, we’ve got work to do.”
Once we were out of earshot, I said, “So what is your plan? How’re we going to use this thing?”
“We’re going to put it on everyone’s finger and see when it turns red.”
Grandma led me to the queen’s solarium. Sunlight filtered through tall, wide windows, spilling into the room. The rays bounced off a large glass prism that dangled from the center of the ceiling. Shards of rainbows scattered across the floor and walls.
Milling about inside was every witch who’d arrived the day before. They were talking and laughing, having a good time conversing.
I took a deep breath. “You’re kidding, right? You want to cruise the room and get folks to try on this ring?”
Grandma wiggled her fingers. The ring shuddered. The gold seemed to melt in her hand, lengthening and hardening. Grandma slipped the ring onto her finger. The glass remained the same clear shade.
I released a breath. “Whew, I’m glad you’re innocent. For a second there I was worried.”
Grandma gave me a dirty look and flipped her hand over. Extending from the bottom of the ring was a cuff. She took my hand like she as going to shake it and then grabbed my arm with her ringed hand. The gold glided over my skin, squeezing against me slightly.
I glanced down. “What’s this?”
Grandma threw me a smug smile. “This is what we do. The ring is extended into a bracelet. You and I are going to work the room. Since I know most everyone in here, give or take a few, I’ll lead. When I shake someone’s hand, I’m going to slide this cuff onto their arm. If that person is the one we’re looking for, the stone should turn—what color was it again?”
“Red.”