Island of Graves (9 page)

Once the costume making was well under way, Alex returned to the mansion to brood about the state of things.
Tugging at his mind was the question Sully had asked following Alex's announcement about intending to take down Gondoleery. “And then what?” Sully had asked. And indeed, Alex hadn't thought about that. Would the island become one land or stay separate? Who would be in charge? Perhaps Alex should leave it as it is and put Haluki back in charge of Quill.

“It depends what the people of Quill want,” Alex muttered, but immediately he knew that was more difficult than it sounded, because the people of Quill didn't know how to make decisions. They'd been trained to have no opinion. They didn't know what they wanted. They only knew what was familiar. And he doubted his own ability to motivate them in any way, especially after what Sully had said about nobody trusting the people of Artimé.

» » « «

A few days later, as Alex studied the pile of books he'd selected from the Museum of Large's library, trying to find the most deadly spell possible, he heard a noise. He turned to look, and gasped.

“Sully,” he said, alarmed, wondering how the man had found his way into the somewhat secret hallway. But then his surprise faded, and he grinned. “Lani, I sure hope that's you!”

“It is,” she said in Sully's voice. “Hope you don't mind me leaving the 3-D
doorway up so I can get up here. How do you like it?”

“It's good!” Alex said. “Even your voice. How did you do it?”

“Concentration, imagination, and a little help from Mr. Appleblossom's junk drawer,” she said mysteriously. “Not sure how long I can hold it—I'm figuring that part out now. It seems easy enough as long as I concentrate and stay in character, though. No ten-minute limit on this spell.”

“It's really weird seeing you like this,” Alex admitted. “You've even got his little eye twitch down.”

“You think it's close enough?”

“Definitely,” Alex said. “How are the others coming along?”

“Their costumes are ready. Just waiting on the plan of attack.”

Alex nodded. “I've been studying some of Mr. Today's books. Found a journal here that's fascinating, but he wasn't into deadly spells until our group of Unwanteds showed up, I guess.” Alex frowned. “He didn't seem to be too worried about Artimé being discovered until I came along.”

“We know you wrecked it for all of us,” Lani teased.

Alex didn't smile.
He would never quite get over the fact that it was his fault the fighting had happened in the first place. And while he tried to push past the guilt as Mr. Today had told him to do, it still hung there in the back of his mind. He sighed. “Anyway . . .”

Lani, still disguised as Sully, gave a crooked smile. “Anyway,” she agreed. “Look forward, Al. Here's your chance to create a surefire spell just to destroy Gondoleery.”

Alex nodded and closed the book he'd been reading. “You're right. And I think I have just the thing in mind that will do the job.”

Lani rubbed her man hands together. “What is it?”

But Alex only smiled. “You'll see,” he said. “But I want you to know I got the idea for it from you.”

L
ater that day, Sky found Alex standing barefoot on the beach, staring at the sand and occasionally moving his feet through it. “What are you looking for?” Sky asked. “Did you lose something?”

Alex looked up, his heart quickening at her unmistakable voice. She had her long hair piled on top of her head, the natural highlights like thin rays of sunlight bursting from a knot there. Her light brown skin drank up the sun, and her orange eyes sparkled despite Sky's earnest intentions to help him find whatever he was looking for.

“I found it now, thanks,” Alex said, looking at her, and then
blushing because he sounded ridiculous. He hastened to say something less stupid. “Where've you been? I've hardly seen you in days.”

“I've been learning my way around Quill and practicing being a person from there,” Sky said. “What a horrid place. Mr. Appleblossom has been helping me. He even made a pair of disguise eyes to cover up my orange ones.”

Alex smiled sadly. “I hate that you have to cover up your eyes, even for one day.” He reached out and ran his thumb over her bare shoulder.

She smiled back at him. “Oh, don't be so dramatic about it.” She put her arms out and pulled him into a friendly hug.

Alex laughed, surprised that she would hug him, as it had been a while since she'd acted so friendly. He relaxed into her, resting the side of his face against the side of hers, and closed his eyes, his heart longing for something he couldn't describe. He knew that whatever it was, he didn't have it. But this was close. He slid his hands around her waist and held her, and they stood together like that for a long moment.

Alex wished he had a clue about what might be on Sky's mind. He could smell her skin, tropical and sweet, like
pineapples and coconut. Without thinking, he pressed his lips against the curve of her neck.

Sky stiffened. “Alex,” she whispered.

It brought him around. Hastily he pulled away and stepped back. “I'm sorry.”

She looked at him, brow furrowed, and her lips twitched. Alex thought he saw longing in her eyes, or maybe that was just what he hoped to see. As much as he wanted to kiss her, he knew she was not going to give in and let him, or kiss him back. Alex had caused their breakup, and if he ever wanted the chance to kiss her again, he'd have to first figure out how to lead a nation without messing it up, while having successfully deepening relationships at the same time. And then convince Sky that he'd succeeded in doing it.

Unfortunately, at this moment Alex had a crucial spell to create, and he couldn't afford to make a mistake. He dropped his gaze and focused on the sand once more. “I was actually looking for a small stone,” he said gruffly, and cleared his throat. “Just the right kind of stone, the kind that you can see through as if it's glass. I've seen a few in the past, which made me think it would be perfect for . . . for something, but there aren't very
many of these particular stones, and they're hard to find. Because they're clear, I mean.”

Sky, grateful for the distraction, walked a few steps away and began sifting through the sand with her toes. “What's it for?” she asked.

“A spell component.”

“A new one?”

“Yes.”

Sky glanced at him. “Is it for Gondoleery?”

“Yes.” Alex didn't say more. It was going to be the most formidable spell he'd ever created, and he was already deep in thought over how to do it just right.

After several minutes of searching in silence, Sky spied something sparkling in the sunlight. She picked it up and examined it, squinting at it. “I think I found one,” she said.

Alex looked up eagerly and hurried to Sky's side to take a closer look. She dropped it into Alex's open hand. “Is this the kind you mean?” she asked.

“That's it!” Alex said, peering at it. “Thank you. It's the perfect component for the spell I have in mind.”

“Do you need a few more?” Sky asked, raking her toes
through the sand once more. “Since you're putting all this work into creating a new spell, I mean. Seems a shame to make just one. What if you misplace it?”

Alex thought about how he'd feel if he lost such an important and deadly item and shook his head. “If I misplace this component, I'm not fit to run Artimé,” he said in earnest. “It'll be extremely dangerous if it gets into the wrong hands.” He pinched the stone between his thumb and forefinger and slid it carefully into his robe pocket for safekeeping.

Sky tilted her head. “Well, then. If you're sure.”

“Yes,” he said decisively. “I'm sure. I don't want any more of these things to exist. Ever.” He gave a resolute nod. “I'll have this ready by tonight. Tomorrow we'll put our plan in action. I'll alert Charlie. Can you let the others know?”

Sky nodded. “We'll be ready.” She reached out to give his arm a squeeze, then stopped and instead dropped her hand to her side. “Good luck,” she said with a half smile.

“Thanks. And . . . I'm sorry about before.” He held out his hand in friendship, and awkwardly Sky shook it.

The two walked to the mansion together. Inside at the foot of the staircase they parted ways: Sky continuing on to the
tubes, and Alex ascending the steps to the upper level, where he would attempt to fill the tiny glass spell component with the darkest, deadliest magic he had ever tried to create.

» » « «

In the morning, the team assembled. Alex left his colorful robe with Claire so he wouldn't stand out, and wore a component vest dyed gray to blend in with the clothing colors of Quill. He carried his typical arsenal of spell components in his vest in case he ran into trouble with the palace guards, along with the small bit of glass that sat alone in one pocket. He tied his hair back and wore a brimmed hat so he wouldn't be easily recognized or mistaken for Aaron as he lurked around the palace.

Lani still looked like herself but wore a driver's uniform that was way too big for her, having decided that if things moved quickly, she didn't want to have to take the time to change into it. She loosely pinned up the fabric so she could walk properly.

Alex tried not to worry too much about Lani, but he couldn't help it after what had happened to Meghan. “Are you sure you can do this?” he asked.

“Yep,” said Lani. “I'm still sure. Just like the last time you asked.”

Samheed, Carina, and Sky were dressed in the gray, threadbare clothing of the Necessaries. In the colorful world of Artimé they looked eerily out of place, like refugees from Quill. Carina and Samheed hid components wherever they could find space in their clothing, while Sky declared she preferred fighting her way, with her wits and her fists, if the incident called for it. And Charlie, who was already communicating with Matilda, wore nothing, as usual, and awaited the signal that would tell the Artiméans that Gondoleery was planning to go out.

“Everybody ready?” Alex asked, offering approving glances at each member of his team. “I sent instructions to your blackboards this morning. Are we clear on the plan?”

They all nodded.

Samheed took a step forward. “I've been working on something for you,” he said, and held out a handful of strange-looking scatterclips to Alex. “I call them stickyclips,” he said. “I just perfected them last night using some of that rubber cement stuff we got from Ishibashi's island. Thought they might come in handy at the palace, Al. You just throw them like scatterclips, but instead of them sending your enemy flying backward and pinning him to the nearest solid object, these will actually
hit your target and pull him directly to you wherever you are. That way you can do whatever you need to do to him while remaining out of sight.”

“Great thinking, Samheed,” Alex said, taking the clips and looking them over. “These are excellent. Thanks.” He secured them inside his bulging vest pocket and looked up. “Okay, it's time to go. Lani, you and I will head out along the shore with Charlie. Sam, Sky, and Carina, you'll go to the desolate area as discussed, and take your places. Have components ready, but remember—you're Necessaries in trouble, waving down the vehicle, and you don't know how to do magic. Don't fire any spells if you don't have to, or Gondoleery will know something's up.”

“Got it,” Carina said.

Samheed echoed her. “Got it.”

Sky shoved her hands into her empty pockets and nodded.

Alex continued. “If all goes according to plan, I'll pull Sully out, Lani will replace him, and once Lani's safely on the move with Gondoleery, Charlie and I will sneak around to Haluki's, take the tube back here, and meet you guys in the desolate area well before Lani gets there with Gondoleery. I'll be ready with the special spell.”
He patted the nearly empty pocket of his vest. “She won't know what hit her.”

“What's the spell called?” Samheed asked.

Alex frowned. “I don't even want to say its name aloud until I have to,” he said.

And with that, the parties dispersed. Before Alex set off, he let Florence and Simber know they were heading out. The rest of Artimé remained for the most part oblivious to the plan that could leave Quill without a leader and change the island forever.