A Kind of Magic (19 page)

“Was this what you expected to happen?” Emily asked. “You were using me as bait?”

“You were never in real danger,” Nana said. “My guards would have helped you. But you’ve told us a great deal.”

“Like what?” Emily asked. “You don’t think the mean girls there are your traitors? A traitor would have to be really stupid to pull a stunt like that.”

“Whether or not they’re traitors, they’re not very loyal, so they’re guilty of something, and perhaps I can make an example of them. Then again, I suppose you’ve already done that, proving that they can’t take anyone, even a human, at face value without there being consequences.”

“So I have magical powers now?” Emily was still a little stunned by what had just happened.

“You always did, honey. You simply needed to find them. Now, tell me everything you saw and heard.”  She took Emily’s arm and led her away from the throne room, back to the garden. Emily wished she could tell if Nana was pleased or angry. She seemed far too neutral for comfort. When Sophie got this way, it was best to take cover. Emily had the strongest feeling that Nana was working her way up to the magical equivalent of the “so, you’ve become a woman” talk.

“You knew I have powers?” Emily blurted when she couldn’t stand the tension of waiting any longer.

“It was likely. You have the same heritage as Sophie.”

“Yeah, but I’m also more than six inches taller than she is. We have the same heritage, but not exactly the same genes.”

“You may not be as powerful as she is, but you also haven’t gone through what she has. Taking the throne and the crown gave her knowledge and skills you can’t get otherwise.”

“Considering what’s happened to her because of all that, I’ll pass. But what should I do about it?”

“Talk to your enchantress friends about some training. Otherwise, don’t worry about it.”

“What would have happened to me if they’d succeeded in putting me on that throne?”

“I honestly don’t know. Now, let’s eavesdrop on my throne room and see what’s going on behind my back.” Nana led Emily to an ornamental pond and waved a hand over the surface. The pond became a window overlooking the throne room. “I wish I’d been able to do this back home,” she said with a wistful sigh. “I’d have had all the good gossip.”

The throne room had settled down somewhat from the earlier chaos, but people were definitely talking. Unfortunately, the image didn’t provide a soundtrack. Still, you didn’t have to be a lip-reader to tell that people were riled up. Emily found herself following the woman in the old-timey maid’s uniform. The mean girls had been ignoring Maeve, so Emily would have expected her to show some sign of smug vindication. But she didn’t.

“Man, Maeve looks pissed,” she muttered.

“Language, young lady. And yes, she does look rather irate. Something tells me this little escapade wasn’t part of the plan. I suppose I should have been watching her more closely, but I thought she was trapped here.”

“That didn’t stop her from conspiring with Niall before,” Emily reminded her.

“That girl just never learns,” Nana said with a mournful shake of her head. “Now, you ought to run along home. I can keep an eye on Maeve. You’ve been so helpful.”

The Huntsman returned Emily to the human world. She walked home from the park, mulling over what had just happened. She had magical powers! Or did she? Maybe it was an only-in-the-Realm thing. When she got to her apartment, she sat at her dining table and focused on a pen. Holding her hands out in front of her, she wiggled her fingers and said, “Presto, change-o, allakazoo!” Nothing happened.

Obviously, that wasn’t a real spell. Did they even use spells? Sophie just waved her hand, and stuff happened. Emily tried giving a casual wave in the direction of the pen, willing it to rise. Nada. With a sigh, she turned on the television and began flipping through channels. “I guess the pen has to have me in fear of my life before it’ll do anything,” she said to a snoring Beau. “Or else my magic only works in the Realm.”

To be honest, she wasn’t sure whether or not she wanted powers. It would be cool, but the opportunities to use magic without giving herself away would be limited, and she might be called into action more often. The last thing she needed was to get drafted into an enchantress circle.

The Antique Shop

Tuesday, 11:00 a.m.

Sophie had time to kill after her morning dance class and before the evening’s dress rehearsal, so she dressed up and went to help out in the shop. Since the sisters were letting her live with them rent-free, she thought it was the least she could do. As a proper southern belle, she knew her china and silver patterns. Once Amelia and Athena were convinced that Sophie was up to the task, Athena took advantage of the opportunity to work on some holiday craft projects in the back room and Amelia sat at the table to work on the bookkeeping.

There was slightly more business than Sophie was used to seeing, which meant more than two customers came by in less than half an hour. Sophie was adjusting a display when she heard the door open without the bell ringing. She didn’t have to turn around to know who had just arrived.

Without looking up from the place setting she was arranging, she said, “Josephine! Nice of you to drop by. Is there something we can do for you?” Only after she had the place setting just so did she turn around to face the newcomer.

Josephine gave no sign that anything was amiss—well, no more amiss than had been in their previous encounter. She regarded Sophie frostily, but she wasn’t screaming about how Sophie was actually a fairy princess infiltrating the enchantresses. Then again, Sophie realized, she must have known that all along, at least as long as she’d had fae allies. That would explain a lot. She hadn’t been targeting a nobody novice enchantress. She’d been targeting a crowned queen of the Realm.

“I’m here to speak to your superiors,” Josephine said, turning away from Sophie and heading toward the back to Amelia, who was taking her time finishing what she was working on before acknowledging Josephine.

Sophie was tempted to say something about the meeting in the park she’d seen the other night, but that bit of information was one of the few things she had that gave her an advantage. She knew Josephine was working with the fae and that she’d therefore know who Sophie was, but Josephine didn’t know she might know that. But it was so frustrating keeping her mouth shut when she knew she had an advantage.

She focused on her work while straining her ears to hear what the enchantresses were discussing. “Are you ready to see sense?” Josephine demanded of Amelia.

“Sense about what?” Amelia asked.

“The fae threat. It seems to be focused on this city.”

Athena came bursting through the beaded curtain from the back room. “Oh, no!” she cried out. “Really?” Sophie wished she could tell if Athena was being sarcastic, but she didn’t seem to hold the same resentment toward Josephine as her sister did.

“I’ve called in the sisters from elsewhere on the East Coast,” Josephine said. “Perhaps if we all pull together we can smash the threat here and save the rest of the world.” She paused, and the back of Sophie’s neck tingled as though someone was staring straight at her, but she refused to turn around. “Though I am worried that not all may be as loyal as I’d prefer.”

“Don’t mind me! I’m dancing every night this week,” Sophie called out breezily. She managed to keep her tone light, but she had to step away from the display she’d been working on because her hands were shaking so badly.

“I have no doubts about Sophie,” Amelia said firmly. “She has no designs on leadership within our group.”

“We had to talk her into joining us in the first place,” Athena added.

“Hmm, I suppose we’ll see about that,” Josephine said. “But keep your eyes open and be prepared.” She whirled and left the shop.

“My, but that almost sounded like a threat,” Sophie said as calmly as she could. “I think she’s planning to out me.” Inside, she had to admit that she was worried. It wasn’t so much the fear of losing her enchantress status—in fact, she wouldn’t mind that one bit—but her life was about to become very public, and anything untoward happening around her could derail her dance career.

“I don’t think she was threatening you,” Athena said, patting Sophie on the shoulder.

“I’m not so sure about that,” Amelia said darkly.

“She has to know who I am if she’s got fae contacts,” Sophie said. “If she’s bringing in other enchantresses, you know she has a demonstration planned. And the problem is, it’s the truth. I really am part fae, so she can prove it.”

The bells on the door jingled, and Emily entered. “Wow, who died?” she asked when she got a look at them.

“No one yet,” Sophie said.

Emily’s eyebrows rose. “Yet? Where do I buy tickets?”

“Isn’t this awfully early for you?” Sophie asked, making it clear from her tone that she was changing the subject.

“I was off last night. And I’m ready to start training.”

“Training?” Amelia asked immediately, before Sophie had a chance to.

“Well, yesterday I was in the Realm after Nana sent for me, and I managed to do magic.”

“Magic?” Sophie, Amelia, and Athena said, practically in unison.

“I’m not sure it works all the time, or if it only works under pressure. I couldn’t do anything last night when I got home,” Emily added.

“I’ll get the binders!” Athena said gleefully and scurried to the back room.

“Binders? There are binders?” Emily said, looking dismayed.

Sophie fought back a smile, even as she wondered what Nana had wanted with Emily. “Oh yes, binders full of lessons,” she said.

“If you’ve manifested any powers, they need to be trained,” Amelia said. “There are tests to determine your aptitude, and then we’ll work on the basics. Of course, it all depends on whether your powers are fae, enchantress, or both.” As she spoke, she guided Emily toward the back of the shop, and once the diversion was over, Sophie went back to thinking about what happened next with Josephine. The first thing she needed to figure out was how an enchantress was most likely to out her as a fairy princess so she could be prepared.

The Antique Shop

12:30 p.m.

Emily had started out snickering at the primer-style magical instruction binder Athena gave her, but she had to admit it made a lot of sense and was easy to understand. If only it was just as easy to actually do the magic. She hadn’t yet been successful with any of the elementary exercises. She wasn’t even sure she felt any magic. The book said there should be a tingle or sense of power, but she was afraid whatever she felt was only her imagination.

Though it would have helped if the atmosphere had been a little quieter and more conducive to studying. Whatever Josephine had said or done had really riled up the sisters. They’d been jabbering at each other nonstop from the moment Sophie left, and while they tried to keep their voices low, every so often they forgot themselves and shouted.

“But what will it mean for us if she does?” Amelia’s voice, tight with worry, rang through the shop. In the ensuing silence, both women turned to face Emily, who didn’t even try to pretend she hadn’t heard anything. She was a good actress, but there was no way she could fake that level of obliviousness.

“How are the lessons coming?” Athena said a bit too brightly. “Do you have any questions? I know that material is written for a younger audience.”

“It’s fine. It’s good that it’s easy to understand. But, well, um, is it supposed to actually work when I do the exercises?”

“What do you mean?” Athena asked, coming over to where Emily sat.

“Are the exercises just exercises to get used to thinking and doing certain things, or is there supposed to be magic happening?”

“Nothing’s happening?” Amelia asked, joining her sister.

“Not that I can tell. I don’t think I even feel anything. You know, there’s a chance it was just a fluke. It may not even have been me. Eamon was there and being a little standoffish, so maybe he’s not okay with publicly being friends with me and he wanted to help me without obviously coming to my rescue.”

“With your heritage, you should have at least some talent,” Amelia said.

“But it can manifest in very different ways,” Athena added with a comforting pat on Emily’s shoulder. “This curriculum is about enchantress magic. It’s possible that your magic is entirely fae, so it would be stronger in the Realm.”

“Or you might require extreme circumstances to draw upon your power,” Amelia suggested.

“That kind of makes it hard to train if it has to be a life-or-death situation,” Emily said wryly. “But if it’s fae, how do I learn that?”

The sisters looked at each other, then back at Emily. “We don’t know,” Athena said. “It may be entirely innate. That would be a question for your sister, your grandmother, or your fae friends. We counter fae magic. We don’t know how it’s worked.”

“And if you can’t make anything happen, that makes it difficult for us to tell which kind of magic you have,” Amelia put in.

Emily slammed the binder shut and leaned back in her chair. “So I guess studying is a waste of time.”

“Learning is never a waste of time,” Amelia said, sounding a lot like Sophie when she went prim. “Even if you can’t use the magic, knowing some of the basics of how it works could be useful. At the very least, you’ll be able to recognize when someone else is using it.”

“Maybe I’ll study more later. Now, are you going to tell me what’s up with Josephine and Sophie?”

The sisters exchanged a look, then Athena said, “Josephine likely knows who and what Sophie is. We’re worried that she’s going to try to reveal Sophie’s fae heritage to keep her from being an enchantress.”

“Then you’d better have eyes on her at the ballet. That’s going to be really public.”

“We’ll be there,” Amelia said.

“I’ll give Michael my tickets,” Emily said. “But we’d probably better have fae backup, as well. If Sophie has to use fae magic, having a fairy there might make a good cover. I’ll get a message to Eamon.”