by Sarah Noffke
Evan looked like he was ready to fall over from his fit of laughter.
On second thought, go drop me in the Pond, Sophia said, sliding a bit on the tail, the wind whipping her around in a truly ungraceful manner.
Chapter Fifteen
According to Wilder, Evan had ridden on Coral’s tail a time or two trying to get that move right. That made Sophia feel marginally better, but she still ducked out of the Castle as soon as she could, tired of Evan’s constant teasing.
He had taken to calling her Dragon Tail and making jokes about how she didn’t know she was supposed to actually ride on Lunis’ back.
She sought to shake off the embarrassment as she stepped through the portal into Los Angeles.
The bright colors of Santee Alley were a stark contrast to the rolling green hills of the Gullington, where Sophia had been minutes prior.
The noise of people jostling through the streets and cars passing at her back was deafening at first. Sophia’s heightened senses often took a beating when she entered new places. She was learning to dial down her senses when in overwhelming places, such as the fashion district in downtown Los Angeles.
Covering her nose, Sophia tried to breathe through her mouth. The scents of fried food, people, and pollution mixed together for a disgusting combination.
She focused on minimizing her senses like she was narrowing the range on a telescope. Sophia knew she was successful when she could hear, smell, and see only that which was in the immediate vicinity.
Good work blocking out, Lunis said in her head.
Thank you, she replied.
Sophia might have failed at her attempts to jump onto Lunis while running, but she hadn’t been deterred from their training. She figured that returning to the shop where she got the dragon’s egg was a perfect opportunity to work on their scrying.
It was harder for Lunis to see, hear, and experience her environment the farther apart they were. However, that was even more reason to practice it. Lunis wouldn’t be able to join Sophia in places like Santee Alley for practical reasons. A dragon simply couldn’t fit in the crowded lane. As they got better at scrying, he could offer insights on her experiences as long as they maintained the connection.
Sophia spun around, trying to get her bearings. It felt like a million years since she’d been to this place where she met her soul mate.
Head north, Lunis stated.
She scrunched up her brow. That’s not right, Sophia replied. The shop is east.
Shop? Lunis questioned. No, I want you to grab one of those tamales from that street vendor.
Lunis had been playing with the idea that they could also share tastes during scrying. It made sense because he could experience everything else that Sophia did.
No, you’re not getting tamales, she stated. You know that Mexican food gives you heartburn.
Worth it, her dragon replied.
Sophia shook her head. You’re the weirdest.
You are, he retorted.
Okay, I’ve got to focus on finding this shop, so shush it.
Why did you have to say that? Lunis questioned. Now you’ve thrown down the gauntlet.
Don’t, she warned, knowing what was coming next.
I have to, he stated.
You don’t…
This is… Lunis began.
Stop, she urged, used to this little game that he loved to play lately.
The song that never ends, he continued singing.
You’re the worst, she stated, sliding through the crowd.
It goes on and on, my friend, the dragon sang in her head.
I will sever our connection, she joked.
Some people started singing it not knowing—
Fine, Sophia stated. I’ll get a tamale. Just stop.
Thank you, Lunis said proudly.
But first, I’m going to Zuma Zat, she told him.
I vote tamales first. You know you work better on a full stomach.
No, I don’t, she argued. That makes me sluggish and sleepy.
Oh, right, he corrected. That’s me I’m thinking of.
Shop first, then tamales. Don’t threaten me with that song again.
I don’t have to, he teased. It’s already stuck in your head.
Yes, it is, she admitted with a sigh.
Mission accomplished.
The shop where Sophia had magnetized to Lunis’ egg was at the back of a seemingly normal place that sold hair extensions. Zuma Zat specialized in strange and unique magical items that couldn’t be sold in normal shops. The giant Rory had vouched for Sophia, getting her into Zuma Zat.
She was hoping that she’d be able to get in again since she had been the one to magnetize to a dragon, shocking the store owner. However, that was the least of her concerns when she came to the hair extension shop.
Santee Alley was filled with people, but the area around the hair extension store was deserted like it was a quarantined area, closed off to the public with invisible tape.
“What the…” Sophia said aloud, looking around.
Something is wrong, Lunis observed.
Sophia nodded, carefully approaching the store. It was closed down, all the windows covered up, preventing her from seeing what was going on inside.
Do you think they moved Zuma Zat? Lunis asked.
There is only one way to find out, Sophia responded, sticking her finger up to the lock on the door and muttering a single incantation. The door clicked, opening an inch.
Looking over her shoulder first, Sophia slipped into the closed shop and pulled the door shut behind her.
The smell of dust was thick. She remembered being overwhelmed by the array of strange and interesting objects displayed all over the first time she entered. Although it was dark, Sophia could easily make out the details of the bogus storefront. It had been cleared out, all of the shelves bare.
Sophia didn’t sense anyone in the shop as she approached the back.
The rear of the shop didn’t appear much different than before, but everything was covered in a fine layer of dust, distracting from the colors she’d remembered.
Weird flowers full of corkscrews and spikes sat in vases on the far wall. Music that made Sophia both sleepy and alert came from a flute hovering in the air like it was being played by an invisible elf. Gems and crystals hung from the ceiling, making it look like a starry sky overhead, and sparkling objects seemed to call for attention from all over.
Many strange magical objects were displayed all over the abandoned shop. Chusetors, bulsters, depours, and other exotic items that if Sophia had the opportunity, she would buy. However, there wasn’t anyone to buy anything from, which was the major concern.
The shop owner brought the case of dragon eggs in from the back, Sophia said to Lunis, indicating a doorway in the back.
He isn’t back there, Lunis stated with confidence.
I don’t think anyone has been here for a while, Sophia stated.
Which doesn’t mean the place is safe, Lunis offered.
Yes, because if they abandoned their shop, it was for a good reason, Sophia told him.
Exactly.
Whereas the front two parts of the shop had been abandoned or untouched, the back room told a different story. It had been ransacked.
Broken glass and debris littered the floor.
Someone was looking for something, Lunis stated.
Sophia’s eyes searched until she found the case where she’d first seen the dragon eggs. She strode over to it, noticing that it was slightly ajar. Cautiously she lifted the lid, confirming what she had suspected since entering the abandoned shop.
And it looks like they found it, she told Lunis, knowing he could see what she did.
The chest was empty. Someone had taken the five remaining dragon eggs.
Chapter Sixteen
Is it possible that the shop owner took the eggs and fled? Sophia asked Lunis.
Maybe, he mused. But why does it look like there was a struggle?
&nb
sp; It did appear that way, Sophia observed, noting the many broken objects strewn across the floor.
And if the shop owner took the eggs, why didn’t he keep them in the case? she wondered, looking around for more clues.
So either he fled with the eggs, Lunis stated, or someone fought him and took the dragon eggs.
Sophia noticed a heap of fabric in the corner. Tentatively, she pushed the material to the side, stepping back at once. Lying under the curtains was Shin, the man Sophia remembered showing her the dragon eggs.
His eyes were wide and his mouth was open like he had just seen something horrific. He was, without a doubt, dead.
I think we know what happened now, Sophia told Lunis.
The dragon eggs were stolen, he said.
She glanced around. But by who and where can they be now? Sophia suspected that the shop was full of clues that would paint a story, hopefully telling her where to look for the eggs. She just needed a chance to look around.
It will take more investigation, Lunis stated.
Do you think that Thad Reinhart is behind this? Sophia asked him.
He didn’t have a chance to respond because a moment later, she got a text message. Normally Sophia would have ignored it, but something told her to check the message. For one, her phone had been on silent mode, but it buzzed loudly from the alert. That was always cause for alarm. Only certain people like Liv knew how to override silent mode, making the phone ring.
Pulling up her phone, Sophia read the text message. It was perplexing. For starters, the message simply read, Hey, you!
But even stranger was that it was from someone she didn’t know: Leeve R. Naw.
That wasn’t too weird since magical tech made it possible to have anyone’s number. However, the name seemed awfully odd.
What do you make of this, Sophia asked Lunis.
I don’t think the actual message is what’s important, he stated.
You think it’s the person it’s from?
“Leeve R. Naw,” she said out loud, trying to think if she’d heard that name before.
Say that again, but faster, Lunis ordered, his voice urgent.
“Leeve R. Naw,” Sophia repeated.
Her eyes widened. “Angels above!”
Leave right now! Lunis exclaimed in her head.
Sophia didn’t need any more encouragement. She tried to make a portal, but the area was protected. Darting for the exit, she ran through the shop, nearly tripping on furniture and having to swerve around crowded displays.
Go, Sophia, Lunis ordered. Faster.
She didn’t know what she was running from, and she didn’t look back, but she noticed a few brownies disappearing when she tore through the hair extension shop. She burst through the shop door, continuing to sprint.
When she was only a few feet from the threshold, Zuma Zat exploded at her back, erupting with fire.
Sophia dove behind the nearest building and shielded her face with her arm, protecting herself from the magical blaze. The entire shop had been destroyed, all evidence gone.
Chapter Seventeen
Not wanting to risk her luck, Sophia portaled away as soon as she could, stepping through to a safe location.
She pressed her back up against the brick wall behind her and tried to catch her breath.
You’re okay, Lunis said more out of confirmation, rather than as a question.
Thanks to that strange message, Sophia related, glancing at her phone.
The brownies, Lunis stated.
She nodded. Yes, I think they are the ones who warned me. They must have known the shop was rigged to blow if someone tried to investigate.
It wasn’t that big a shock to Sophia that the little house fairies who usually secretly cleaned mortals’ homes had come to her rescue. They were everywhere, always spying for the good of others. Actually, the brownies were Liv’s main source of information when she was on a search. It appeared they were looking out for Sophia now too.
And although she was eternally grateful for the help, Sophia had her own source of insider knowledge, which was where she was headed.
She shook off the adrenaline and turned her attention to the nail salon, preparing herself to see Mae Ling yet again.
When Sophia entered the shop, Mae Ling was seated at a nail station. She pointed to the seat across from her. “I’m all ready for you. Come join me, Sophia.”
“Hi.” Sophia greeted the small woman with a smile. The shop was deserted, unlike the first time she’d been there.
“Let me see your hands,” Mae Ling ordered when Sophia took a seat across from her.
“Actually, I’m not here to get anything done,” Sophia said politely. “I’ve just come—”
“From near death,” Mae Ling stated matter-of-factly, waving her off. “Yes, I’m aware. But you need information, and you only get that if you have a service.”
“Right,” Sophia said, offering the woman her hands, which were covered in blisters and callouses from sparring and riding.
Mae Ling studied them with great interest. “Yes, you’re a Cancer. That explains a lot about you.”
“What?” Sophia questioned. “You can tell my zodiac by looking at my hands?”
“Well, of course,” she answered.
“And you miraculously knew that I’d just come from a near-death experience?” Sophia asked.
“You have ash in your hair,” Mae Ling stated, pointing a file at Sophia’s head.
She ran her hands through her strands. “Oh, well, I guess that makes sense.”
“I don’t know everything,” Mae Ling explained, taking Sophia’s right hand and inspecting her nails. “I mean, I like to think I’m a know-it-all, but my knowledge is somewhat limited. But let’s start with why you are here.”
“Well, there are some dragon eggs that have gone missing, and I was hoping you could tell me where to look,” Sophia said as Mae Ling began clipping her nails.
“Yes, someone who works for Thad Reinhart,” the nail technician said in a conspiratorial whisper, although there was no one else in the shop.
“Really?” Sophia said, nearly jerking her hand from Mae Ling’s. “Are you sure?”
The old woman pursed her lips at her, cinching onto her fingers. “Of course, I’m sure and if you can’t stay still, you can’t get a manicure.”
“Sorry,” Sophia stated. “So you know that someone stole the dragon eggs, and that someone works for Thad Reinhart? Do you know where I can find them?”
Mae Ling simply nodded.
“Will you tell me?”
The woman shook her head.
Sighing, Sophia twitched her mouth. “Do you need me to do you a favor?”
Mae Ling shook her head again.
“Well, what can I do to get you to tell me?”
“There is nothing you need to do,” Mae Ling informed her, moving on to the other hand, the right one strangely already trimmed, filed, and polished, although Sophia didn’t remember her doing it.
“Well, then I’m confused,” Sophia said, keeping her eyes on the left hand, wanting to see the process herself this time.
“Sometimes being confused is acceptable,” Mae Ling stated. “But for now, I can’t tell you where the eggs are. They are in transport, and it is unsafe for you to pursue them. If you did it now, the fight would result in the loss of the eggs.”
“Oh,” Sophia said, looking up at the woman. “It’s incredible that you know that. When can I go after them? It’s very important.”
“Of course it is, or you wouldn’t be here, and I wouldn’t be helping you,” Mae Ling said, pushing back in her seat.
To Sophia’s surprise, she’d finished with the left hand too, and she’d missed it entirely.
“I’ll send you a message when it’s safe to go after the eggs,” Mae Ling informed her, cleaning up her station.
“On my phone?” Sophia asked.
Mae Ling chuckled. “Oh, heavens, no. I don’t use that fandangled technology. I’ll
send you a message through basic means.”
“Like the mail?” Sophia questioned again, wanting to know exactly what to look for. She didn’t even know how to receive regular mail at the Gullington or if she could.
“Again, I’m not into modern communications,” Mae Ling stated. “But don’t worry. You won’t miss my message. I promise that.”
“Okay, well, thank you,” Sophia said, standing from the chair, again feeling strange about asking the nail technician for advice. “Are you sure there isn’t anything I can do to pay you for the service or information?”
“Would you pay your fairy godmother?” Mae Ling asked, her expression pursed.
“No…” Sophia guessed, unsure what the answer actually was.
“No,” Mae Ling said adamantly. She withdrew a sealed envelope from the apron fastened around her hips. “Now, after you find the eggs, and only afterward, I want you to read this. If you look at it beforehand, I won’t be able to help you anymore.”
“I won’t peek,” Sophia stated, taking the envelope. “Is it the location of other dragon eggs around the globe?”
Mae shook her head. “I can say no more right now. And it’s time you left.”
“Oh, sorry,” Sophia said, looking around. “I guess you were closed, weren’t you? Sorry.”
“No, I’m never closed,” Mae Ling stated. “But there is someone at the Gullington who needs your attention, and if you don’t hurry, you’ll miss it.”
“Miss what?” Sophia asked, leaning forward.
“Miss what they are doing,” Mae Ling answered, sweeping her hand forward, ushering Sophia from her shop.
Chapter Eighteen
“Lunis!” Sophia exclaimed in her head and out loud when she stepped through the portal, just a bit outside the Barrier to the Gullington. “Are you okay?”
Yes, why? he asked in her mind.
She took a calming breath. Mae Ling said someone at the Gullington needs my help. I was worried it was you.
I believe that what the mysterious woman said was “someone needs your attention” and if you didn’t hurry back, “you’d miss it.”