In contrast, I pinched my lips together. “That’s great, but it doesn’t give you the right to be talking about me!”
“Something big is happening on The Side of Magic, and somehow you’re involved, whether you know it or not,” Emiko said.
I scowled at Holly. “You wanted me to go snooping around Lakeshore’s office, and look what happened. He was killed, and we nearly were, too. Do you think I want to put us all in danger like that again?”
You’re the one having me snoop around the library. You must be considering a little danger in your future. Nine flopped himself onto my fluffy pillow, flung out his back leg and licked at it.
“My future . . . not everyone’s here!”
“If The Side of Magic is in danger of being attacked by something even bigger than the Morelli, then it is all of our futures,” Aspen piped in.
“Nine told us that you need some kind of magic to find the entrance to the secret library,” Holly said. “Aspen is the strongest among us.”
All eyes turned to Aspen, and he put up his hand chest high in surrender. “I’m okay, but I’m only a second-year student. It’s not as if I’d consider myself a powerful wizard yet or anything.” His eyes dropped to me. “And actually, when she can access it, I think Josy is much more powerful than I am. She took out the entire Morelli army and slammed Rosalee on her—”
“I know all that,” Holly interrupted. “But you control your magic better for now. We need to get Josy in there so she can learn to control hers.”
I shook my head. After what had happened with Rosalee, I kind of wanted to lie low for a while. “I don’t want to get expelled . . . or any of you kicked out.” I gripped the diary and closed my eyes for a second. Part of me was afraid to fully realize the Morelli magic within me. What if something terrible happened? My uncle hadn’t always been evil, but he’d changed. The magic might change me, too. But what if not doing this meant that circumstances would remain as they were—the Morelli trying to take over The Other Side, the Directorate hiding something, and maybe some unknown evil targeting us all. There was so much more at stake than just me, or any of us keeping our places at the Academy.
My attention fell on the photo of my parents at my bedside. If figuring out how to control the magic inside me could help people like them, and others too, then I needed to do this.
I released a long sigh, stood, and walked to the window. Outside the snow had picked up and was coming down heavily. It didn’t look like it was going to stop anytime soon. The other building across the way was barely visible even with the walkway lamps. I turned back to my friends, who watched me silently. “With the storm, it means that no one will be out tonight to catch us.”
Holly’s mouth dropped open, and I looked her up and down. She was a bit hard to take seriously in her cat pajamas and bunny slippers. “Now? But I’m already in my PJs.”
Despite the twisting of my stomach, I shrugged. “What? Are you backing out now?”
Chapter 8
I’m not going out in this when there’s a warm bed to be slept in! Nine complained from the windowsill.
In my mind, I had to agree with him. The weather was horrible. The snow was falling so hard by one a.m. that visibility was only a few feet.
The cat started to turn back, but I caught him around the middle. He made a little squeak. “Since when do you really want to stay home when others are going on an adventure? For all your complaints you always end up trailing along in the end.” I thought of tossing him out the window into the snow, but it was getting pretty high. I also knew that Nine might hold a grudge and stake out under my bed for a sneak attack in the future when I was least suspecting it.
True, he agreed.
I tucked Nine into my coat and let his paws and head peek out the unbuttoned top, showing off the ribbon Emiko had tied around his neck. His body relaxed and settled in. He knew I was right.
I adjusted the backpack containing Henrik’s diary and checked the ruby ring on my finger. Both those items were tied to my Morelli past, so bringing them seemed like a good idea. After a last scan of the darkened room my eyes fell on Merrygold, who still sat in her chair.
“Good luck,” she said. “Tell me everything when you get back.”
I only hoped I would get back, but I didn’t say that to Merrygold. “Thanks.” I climbed out the window to my other waiting, bundled up friends.
“You all ready?” I squinted against the snow pelting my face.
Holly and Emiko had a few extra scarves, hats and gloves in their room, and we each had taken them. Even Aspen hadn’t turned down Holly’s lavender scarf and glove set. The weather was that bad.
Each of them nodded, and Holly reached up and slowly closed the window. Even though it would be freezing, she left it open a crack so we could get back inside later without using the front door and risking capture.
I took the lead since Nine was the one who knew how to get into the library from the top floor. With no discussion and trusting me in a way that I was not used to, the others followed.
The lights along the path cast eerie shadows over the snowdrifts as we trudged through the snow toward the library. I was completely right that there was no one out tonight—no guards that I could see and definitely no other students or faculty. The wind and snow froze my face, but Nine’s body was warm against mine under the coat.
Finally, despite the storm, I spotted the tree Nine had climbed to get into the library attic. The limbs did stretch to the building, but barely.
“Can you show us the opening?” I leaned my chin close to the top of Nine’s head.
If you get me to the tree trunk. I don’t want to get permanently lost in a snowdrift.
I waved the others to the tree and Emiko came in close to us. She wiggled her fingers and spoke a few words under her breath. Nine’s ribbon glowed green against the dark night. I freed Nine from my coat, and using his claws, he scaled the trunk and snow-and-leaf-covered limbs in no more than a minute to the top of the library’s second floor. His black body was barely more than a shadow, but the green glow of his ribbon stood out against the darkness.
“He’s almost there,” Aspen said from behind me.
Nine balanced himself near the end of a branch, and his silhouette with the glowing ribbon leaped from the end toward the building. When he disappeared, I gasped and waited for the worst to happen. Holly grabbed my arm and squeezed.
“Is he okay?” she whispered in my ear.
Before I could answer, the ribbon, along with the shadowy figure of Nine’s head, appeared under the roof’s overhang.
This opening is even smaller than I remember. I don’t think even you are going to fit through, Josy. Nine’s voice entered my head.
My stomach sank as I scanned the side of the building. There was no way up there without the tree—no fire escape or ladder. Not that I’d thought we’d be able to climb that tree and get inside as humans, but I had hoped that some miracle would happen and the whole thing would be easy. I glanced to Aspen. “You still think you can try what we talked about?”
The tree, which looked like one that would lose its leaves in the winter on The Other Side, still had a fairly full appearance. It must have been some evergreen variety we didn’t have there. The foliage created an umbrella from the snow, which was a welcome relief.
Aspen rubbed the flecks of snow off his face. “I’m good at changing myself into a wolf, not a—”
“You told us you could do this,” Holly said, teeth chattering. “It’s freezing out here, and we need to get inside that building!”
“Fine,” Aspen conceded. “But I have no idea how long this spell will last, and you three don’t want to be caught up in that tree returning to your normal state. You’re going to be confused at first. Shake it off as soon as you can and get moving.”
Holly bobbed her head. “Yes, yes . . . you told us all this back at the dorm. Just do it.”
Emiko stepped up. “This was all a waste unless we try this
. And even with the storm, I’m sure a guard will show up here soon if we don’t hurry.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you if something weird happens.” Aspen removed Holly’s lavender gloves and stuffed them in his coat pocket. Blue magic illuminated his fingers and settled into his palm.
“Me first.” I raised my hand slightly. “You can test it on me and then change everyone else. If it goes badly, get me to Professor Magnolis for help.” I checked my backpack to make sure it was secure but wasn’t too concerned. Aspen had told us that we didn’t lose any clothes or anything attached to us during the shift. It would return when I changed back.
Aspen flared his nostrils and nodded in agreement. He closed his eyes and whispered Latin words under his breath. The only one I made out was Felis before my skin began to tingle.
The spell took hold, and my body felt as if it were going to turn inside out. I collapsed to my hands and knees. The voices of my friends faded to nothing. Inky darkness spread over my consciousness, fading from gray to black and back again. My body condensed and at the same time stretched in ways I never knew that it could. Hair sprouted everywhere on my body, while something grew at the base of my spine. The pressure shocked me back to the present.
I tried to scream “Help!” but all that came out was a hideous yowl. I swung my head around, but I found myself leg-deep in snow with gigantic pant legs in front of me.
“It’s okay, Josy.” Aspen’s voice boomed from above me. I was sure he wasn’t yelling, but it sounded as if he was. “It worked. You just need to focus.”
A hand reached down and grabbed me under my belly. My heart pounded as I remembered everything. I craned my neck around to my white fur-coated back and my long, fluffy, twitching tail. Aspen had turned me into a cat so I could climb the tree and fit through the opening.
Aspen held me up to his face. “You remember what you have to do?”
I meowed in response and twisted my entire body toward the tree trunk. Aspen placed me next to the bark, and cat instinct mixed with the brain of a human took over. I scaled the trunk, my claws clinging into the bark. When I reached the top, I turned toward Nine, whose wide eyes reflected the walkway lamps and glowed bright yellow. Nine said nothing, as if he were in shock at the sight of me or something. He’s a friend, I thought, fighting the urge to skitter away.
I took my first step onto the branch and walked it like a tightrope to the overhang. Keep your eyes on the opening, I reminded myself. If I fell, it would be into the snow, but the impact might break the spell.
The branch thinned as I came closer to the hole. To compensate and stay upright, I crouched, clung to the wood and used my tail for balance. Scraping sounds came from behind and I looked back to see three more cats—one black with bright blue eyes, a short-haired orange tabby and a ragdoll.
I returned my attention to the opening, wiggled my behind and took the leap with my powerful back legs. For what seemed like an eternity, I flew through the air, legs extended, and then popped through the opening that was no more than twelve inches wide. I threw my claws into the wooden floor and skidded to a stop, but not before tumbling head over heels.
A little low on the grace, Josy. Nine shook his head.
I didn’t have time to hiss at him before the other cats flew through the opening one by one. Their entrances weren’t much better than mine, but we’d all made it. So far, so good.
Blue magic emanated from the other black cat, and a moment later, Aspen was human again. He stood and conjured the magic in his hand, turning each of us back. Holly had been the tabby and Emiko the ragdoll.
I twisted to look at my backside, which no longer sported a tail. Part of me actually missed it.
Collectively, we let out relieved sighs. No one spoke for a few moments because I think we were all afraid it might come out as a meow.
Nine stared at our group, his back slightly bristled. That is not a sight I’d choose to see again. He shook his head. People as cats? The horror.
Chapter 9
I resisted the urge to lick away the bits of snow dotting my shoulder and instead dusted it off with my hand. While there, I checked to make sure I was actually still wearing my backpack. It was there, just like Aspen had said it would be. “That was really weird.”
Wide-eyed, Holly and Emiko nodded in unison.
Aspen shrugged. “You get used to it after a while. I’m just glad the spell held.”
A small window was at each end of the attic, and I scanned around at the boxes and stacks of books lining the walls. In many places, they were stacked to the ceiling.
Holly lit magic in her hand as a flashlight the same way she’d done in Professor Lakeshore’s office. Aspen did the same.
A thick layer of dust coated the books, and the light cast shadows that made several cobwebs appear huge along the paneled walls and corners.
“Do you think it could be up here?” Emiko asked. “We had to use magic to get to the attic, like Lakeshore said you would.”
I scanned around again and pinched my lips together. “The professor told me that the place I wanted was under the library. There must be a basement entrance.”
I’ve searched the entire perimeter, and there is no basement entrance from the outside. Nine trotted to what must have been the attic’s exit. Lines on the floor formed a large rectangle. But that is why we need to go to the main library. Maybe we can get to the basement from the inside. He pawed at a notch on the side of the wood. Little help here?
We joined Nine at the trapdoor’s edge, and Emiko pulled it open. The hinges creaked, and my heart sped up at the sound. Leading down from the opening was a narrow set of stairs and a wooden door on the level below.
Silently, each of us made our way down the stairs by the light of Holly’s magic hand flashlight, and Aspen secured the attic door.
“Where to first?” Holly asked before we entered the main library.
I ran through all the possibilities in my head. In my free time, I’d scoured the areas open to the students and found nothing.
“The librarian knows everything going on in here,” Aspen offered. “Believe me, I’ve probably dealt with him a hundred times. He always has answers. If there’s any information about a secret book collection under the library, the answer is going to be in his desk or office.”
Visions of the skinny man who kind of looked like a rat ran through my mind. He was forever shushing me when Aspen tutored me here.
I must have been making a face because Aspen said, “You know, Mr. Bay is a pretty nice guy. He’s always been helpful.”
Nine stood on his back legs and pawed at the closed door.
“Well, Mr. Bay is not even here tonight, so we only have to get inside his office.” Holly pulled out the same lockpick she had earlier, displayed it to us and returned it to her pocket. “Let’s stop talking and get going.”
I took a deep, settling breath and twisted the door handle. Quickly we jogged out to the approved area for students on the second floor. It was completely open in the middle and lined with a railing made of carved wooden spindles. Along the walls were wooden bookcases filled with fictional books about magic as well as books about The Other Side.
We quickly made our way around to the opposite side and descended the staircase. On the first floor, the walls of the library were lined with books shelved floor to ceiling. A rolling ladder allowed students to retrieve books on the top shelf. To our right and left were five or six long rows of books on spells, the history of magic, herbology, illusion, and probably a hundred other topics I hadn’t made my way through yet.
In the open center of the library were tables meant for students to study at. I’d sat at those tables many times, trying to get the hang of my magic.
Holly and Aspen held out their illuminated hands and led the way to Mr. Bay’s desk. Nine galloped ahead and took a flying leap onto the top, scattering several papers onto the floor.
“Nine!” I scolded. He paid no attention and started rooting throu
gh more of them.
I gathered the stray papers and laid them on Mr. Bay’s desk. Behind it was a door with a brass plaque that read “Leonard Bay, Librarian.”
“Let’s try in there.” I pointed to the door.
Holly brought out the metal lockpick from her pocket and started for the door.
Aspen sat on the edge of a nearby table and rubbed his chin with his hand. “I know this was my idea, but now that I think of it, we might be going about this all wrong. If Lakeshore said it was going to take magic to find the secret library, then things like lockpicks and digging through papers on a desk are never going to get us there.”
“What do you suggest?” Emiko asked. “Do you have a spell in mind?”
He pushed up from the table. “I already told you, I’m not the strongest here. Josy is.”
My chest tightened at Aspen’s words. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
“Yes, you do.” Aspen walked toward me, his eyes trained on my ring. “Something about that ring helps you channel your magic, and you know that you can absorb energy from others to make it stronger. You did it at the battle and with Rosalee. Magic is not as complicated as you think, but you have to be ready for it to flow through you. That’s the part that takes time and practice, but most of all the willingness to let it happen.” He glanced around at Holly and Emiko. “You have three of us here who have at least some magic skills. I did my part and got you in here. Now it’s time for you to use your abilities.”
I bit my lip, my attention wavering among my friends. My backpack seemed to grow heavy all of a sudden, and I twisted my shoulders to release the straps. Something in me wanted to bring the diary out into the dim light—maybe it was needed too for the magic to function. “If this doesn’t work, Holly is going to break into the librarian’s office.”
Spellcaster Academy: Episodes 1-4 (Spellcaster Academy Omnibus) Page 21