The witchs apprentice, p.15
The Witch's Apprentice, page 15
“That’s right, Junior,” Dutch says, giving my shoulder a playful punch. “If you ever need a lift, the UR is at your disposal.”
That gives me an idea. “Actually, I do need to pick up my friends back in Brooklyn. And I need to say goodbye to my mom.”
“I’m ready when you are,” Dutch says with a smile. “And with that feathery fireball in your pocket, we’ll be back in Chicago before you know it.”
“No more hiccups?” I ask with a sly grin.
“Now that the phoenix has hatched, its energy isn’t trapped. This time the ride will definitely feel like a slingshot. Round trip in an hour—maybe less.”
The phoenix chirps happily and gives my neck an affectionate rub. Suddenly, Blue bursts into our circle, rubbing his palms together and grinning from ear to ear.
“I see you’ve already started to plan your mission. You’re better than a Boy Scout, Jax! I need to head downtown to open the gate, so I’ll take my leave now. Vonn, please deliver Jax and his friends to Millennium Park by, shall we say, nine o’clock?”
Vonn nods and walks off with Blue to discuss our departure. Quayesha and Dutch escort me out of the ballroom. As soon as we head downstairs, the glamour starts to wear off, and the Forum returns to its dilapidated condition. Quayesha and Dutch magically switch back to the clothes they were wearing when they left the rooming house this morning.
“What about the gala?” I ask.
“I’m going home to change right now,” Quayesha tells me. “Dutch can change and meet me here when she gets back from Brooklyn.”
I wait until we’re out on the street before calling Vik and Kenny. I don’t divulge too many details, but my friends trust me, and we agree to meet at the lamppost in Prospect Park. Once we’re face to face, I’ll explain everything. I’ve already committed myself to the mission, but I really hope Kenny and Vik will come along.
Before I hang up, I make one request. “Kenny—remember when Jef managed to connect us with L. Roy using that sphere?”
“Sure, I remember. Why?”
“Think you could do the same thing on your own?” I ask. “I really need to talk to L. Roy.”
“I’ll give it a try,” Kenny promises, though he sounds less than confident. “What should I ask?”
“I need to reach my grandfather, so just see if L. Roy knows where he is.”
“Got it. See you soon, Jax.”
I hang up and consider calling Mama next, when I sense someone standing behind me. I turn and find Ma and Mrs. Benjamin waiting to speak to me. I’m not sure what to say, but Mrs. Benjamin surprises me by taking the lead. She reaches for my face and holds her rough palm against my cheek for a moment. Then she looks into my eyes and almost manages to smile at me.
“You’re a brave boy, Jaxon. Not everyone could so easily embrace a new destiny.”
“I didn’t have much choice,” I tell her.
Mrs. Benjamin twists her lips and grabs hold of my chin. “You always have a choice. Remember that, boy.”
I nod, and she releases me. Ma steps forward, and Mrs. Benjamin goes over to join Dutch and Quayesha.
“I think you’re making a mistake,” Ma says with a sigh. “But I just want you to know that you can always come to me if you need help. I may not be your boss anymore, but I’ll always be your friend, Jax.”
I blink fast to stop the tears that are threatening to fall. I’m an ambassador now, with important responsibilities. I don’t have time to cry on Ma’s shoulder.
I clear my throat, but my question still comes out quieter than I hoped. “Did you ever believe that I could become a witch someday?”
Ma doesn’t have eyebrows, but the wrinkles above her eyes go up. “Course I did! Soon as your mama handed you over to me that day, I knew you had potential. But there were signs that you were meant to do something else, and signs can’t be ignored.”
“What kind of signs?”
“Mrs. Benjamin has the gift of second sight. She knew long before she ever laid eyes on you that it wasn’t meant to be. Even Sis told me back in Palmara that you weren’t cut out for the job, but I thought we could prove her wrong. And you impressed us all by tracking down the stolen dragon. You brought me out of my sleeping spell. I thought we could make it work.”
“Then why did you stop teaching me how to become a witch?”
Ma sighs heavily. I’m not sure I’ve ever seen her look so tired. “Mrs. Benjamin knew you’d never join our coven, but even after consulting her bones, she couldn’t see exactly where you’d end up. If I gave you certain skills…if I taught you how to handle magic, there was no way to know how you might use it once you left me.”
My stomach sinks. “But…I’d never do anything to hurt you, Ma.”
“Not on purpose—no. But you’re special, Jax, and I’m not the only one who’s figured that out. People may try to get close to you, to influence you….” Ma shrugs. “I know you wanted to learn spells, and I was sorry to disappoint you. I tried to teach you things that might help you no matter what path you found yourself on. Things that would help and not harm others.”
“Yesterday I found some silver root growing in Washington Park,” I tell her. “My friend’s grandmother needed something to stop her from falling asleep.”
Ma nods, and I think I see a glimmer of pride in her weary eyes. “You got a good heart, Jax. You genuinely want to help others, so let that impulse guide you. When you find yourself wondering what to do, ask yourself what would help most.”
I swallow hard and say, “I will, Ma. I promise.”
Just as I open my arms to give Ma a farewell hug, a sleek black sedan with tinted windows and spinning rims pulls up to the curb. Vonn gets out of the driver’s side and comes around to open the back door. Mrs. Benjamin gets in first, and then Ma slowly shuffles over to the car. Vonn tries to help her, but Ma irritably shrugs his hand off her elbow. She tosses her cane into the back seat and grabs hold of the roof and the open door to steady herself.
Suddenly, all the tears I’ve been blinking away and holding back start pouring out of my eyes. It’s like a dam has burst inside of me, and with a silent sob, I throw myself at Ma’s back. For a few seconds she lets me lock my arms around her puffy coat. I want to say something—anything—but I can’t get any words out.
“Time to let go,” Ma says quietly.
Quayesha gently peels my arms away so Ma can finally get in the car. I’m blubbering like a baby just a few feet away, but Ma looks straight ahead. Vonn closes her door and opens the front one.
Quayesha hugs me tight and kisses the top of my head. “Everything’s going to be all right, Jax. I promise.”
Then she climbs into the front seat, and Vonn closes her door, too, before going back over to the driver’s side.
“I’ll see you later, Brooklyn,” he calls before slipping into the car and driving away.
Dutch puts her arm around my shoulder and tells me it’s time for us to leave, too.
“Come on, Junior. Your carriage awaits.”
14
By the time we reach the elevator hidden inside the George Washington monument, the tears on my face have dried. Dutch doesn’t try to chat or cheer me up. She just lets me be sad for a while.
Dutch was right about the ride back to Brooklyn. Just as I nod off and hear the strange man from my dreams—“The wait is almost over, my son”—the UR glides to a halt under Prospect Park.
Dutch swivels in her conductor’s seat and nudges my foot with her own. “You awake, Junior?”
I yawn, stretch, and check my phone. It’s quarter past seven. We left Chicago just before six and there’s a one-hour time difference. “You weren’t kidding—we got here in less than half an hour!” I exclaim. Then I turn to the dozing phoenix and say, “Thanks, little buddy.” There are other benefits to being around such a powerful energy source—I haven’t had to charge my phone once since the phoenix hatched!
“So—what’s the plan?” Dutch asks.
My throat still feels a bit raw, so I pull the water bottle out of my knapsack and take a few sips. What is my plan? How will I convince Mama to let me go to Palmara on my own? Trub is already over there, but I have a feeling he might be in trouble, which means he can’t help me if I end up in trouble, too.
“I should probably go home, but…”
Dutch seems to read my mind. “When it comes to magic,” she says, “I keep most folks on a need-to-know basis. How much does your mom really need to know about your mission?”
I think for a moment. I guess Mama doesn’t need to know that Ma won’t be going with me. I could tell her that the Supreme Council declared it safe for me and my friends to travel to Palmara on our own. That should reassure Mama, shouldn’t it?
“Of course, you could always send her a text instead,” Dutch suggests. “Saying goodbye in person can be messy sometimes.”
I blush a little, remembering the scene I made outside the Forum. “You’re right. I’ll text my mother before we head back to Chicago. Ma will be home in a day or two, and she can explain everything to Mama. That just leaves my friends. I asked them to meet me at the lamppost next to the tunnel at seven-thirty.”
Dutch stands and says, “You better not keep them waiting.”
By tugging a tree root snaking out of the earthen wall of the cavern, Dutch brings down the paving stone staircase. I dash up it in search of my friends and find them standing in a pool of golden light at the mouth of the tunnel.
“Jax!”
I run into the open arms of Vik, Kenny, and Kavita. We’re so happy that we’re hugging and hopping and dancing in a circle. Finally, we relax and release one another.
“I missed you all—a lot,” I say with a smile so wide it makes my face ache. “There’s someone I want you to meet.” I pull down my hood to reveal the tiny phoenix snuggling against my neck.
Kavi gasps. “It’s so cute!”
“It’s not much bigger than Jef,” Kenny remarks.
“I see you’ve figured out how to keep your feet on the ground,” I say.
Kenny laughs and says, “I’m finally getting the hang of it, I think. When you said you were going on another mission, I was hoping you’d ask us to come along. It’s a good time to get outta Brooklyn.”
“Because of the sleeping spell?” I ask.
Kenny nods. “New Yorkers can handle just about anything, but no one besides us knows what’s causing so many grown-ups to fall asleep. The mayor’s told everyone to stay inside, but not everyone’s following his advice.”
“Neighbors are looking out for each other, though,” Vik says. “I saw one man who went to mail a letter, and he fell asleep on top of the mailbox! His address was on the letter, so some kind strangers took him home.”
“I don’t think it’ll last much longer,” I say hopefully. “Blue just wanted to make a point.”
“What is the point?” Vik demands impatiently.
“He wants kids to have a say about the future of our world. This is our chance—we can go to Palmara and persuade Sis to unite the realms.”
“Yes!” Kavi cries. “I want to see Aunty and Mo again. I miss them so much!”
“So do I, Kavi,” Vik says calmly. “But how are we going to get there? I thought Sis sealed all the portals?”
“She did, but…her brother, Ol-Korrok, has found a way to move between the realms. It’s some sort of bridge,” I explain.
Kavi’s eyes open wide. “Sis has a brother?”
I nod. “They’re twins! But they had a big fight a long time ago, and Sis locked him up in a tower so she could rule Palmara on her own. He escaped somehow, though, because he was at the trial today.” I open my mouth to tell them about Ol-Korrok’s amazing transformation from a bird into a man. Then I think about the warning Jef passed on to Kenny and change my mind.
“Whoa,” Kenny says. “That’s some serious family drama.”
Kavi still seems excited about the journey, but Vik looks skeptical. “What if we cross the bridge and can’t get back again?” he asks. “What if it’s a trap?”
I hurry to reassure him. “It can’t be a trap. Ol-Korrok wants us to liberate the creatures Sis stole and bring them back to this world.”
Vik frowns and folds his arms across his chest. “What about what Sis wants? Has anyone considered that? I don’t suppose she’ll just let us walk into Palmara and take the creatures she’s meant to protect—especially if she finds out we’re working for the brother she hates.”
Everything Vik just said makes sense, but I still try to persuade him. “Technically, we’d be there on behalf of the Supreme Council. And we have special powers now. We can stand up to Sis.”
Vik isn’t convinced. “She can turn into a giant dragon, Jax. Remember?”
Kavi laughs. “Ha! So can I…sort of. I’m not scared of Sis,” she says, planting her hands on her hips. “Someone has to help Mo and the others. I say we take a vote. All in favor of rescuing the magical creatures, raise your hand.”
Kavi sticks her hand up and Kenny does, too. I want to raise my hand, but first I have to make sure my friends know why.
“There’s something else—something I haven’t told you.”
“What?” Vik asks warily.
“I have to go to Palmara because I have to find Trub. I think he needs my help.”
Vik unfolds his arms. “What happened?”
“I’m not sure,” I admit before turning to Kenny. “Were you able to open a communication bubble?”
Kenny shakes his head. “Sorry, Jax. I think I need wings to do that. Remember when Jef did it? He beat his wings really fast.”
“Probably to generate energy,” Kavi says.
Suddenly, I remember what Dutch called the phoenix: a “feathery fireball.”
“I’ve got an energy source,” I tell my friends. I lift the phoenix from my own shoulder and set it on Kenny’s. “Try opening a bubble now,” I urge him.
Kenny takes a deep breath and closes his eyes. We all step back to give him more room. Kenny stands on the tips of his toes and then lifts a few inches off the ground. He raises his arms above his head like a ballet dancer and then draws a circle in the air with his hands.
“It’s working!” Kavi cries.
She’s right—a large violet sphere has formed in front of Kenny. It floats like a bubble, and then we hear a man’s voice.
“Who’s there? Can you hear me?”
“L. Roy!” I cry. “It’s Jax. I’m here in Brooklyn with my friends, but we’re coming to Palmara. I need to speak to my grandfather. Is he with you?”
L. Roy looks a little shifty with his eyes darting back and forth behind his round spectacles. He tugs at his white mustache and says, “Uh…no…Trub isn’t here right now. Can I take a message?”
Now I’m really starting to worry. “Is he okay?” I ask.
L. Roy clears his throat and says, “Sure! I mean, probably. I haven’t heard from him in a while, but Trub can take care of himself.”
I shake my head. “I think he needs our help, L. Roy.”
“Well, er, that might be true. Sis sent him out on a mission a few days ago, and…well, no one’s heard from him since.”
“I knew it!” I say to my friends. “Something’s happened to Trub.” I turn back to the bubble. “We’ll be there soon, L. Roy. But don’t tell Sis.”
He just laughs. “Boy, I can’t keep secrets from the Guardian. Besides, she already knows you’re coming—and that you’ll be crossing a bridge designed by her brother. I’ve been appointed head of the welcoming committee, so I’ll see you soon.”
The violet bubble dissolves as Kenny drifts back to earth and drops his weary arms. “Phew!” he cries. “That sphere sure was heavy.”
I pat him on the back and say, “You did great, Kenny! Thanks for that.” Then I turn to the others, but really, I’m talking to Vik.
“So, you see, I have to go. I’m not just an ambassador—I’m a grandson, too, and my grandfather needs me.”
For a moment, none of us says anything. Then Kenny throws his arm around my shoulder.
“I don’t trust Sis or her brother, but I’m definitely going with you!” he declares.
Kavi turns to Vik and clasps her hands together. “Please, Vik,” she begs. “Please come with us. I know I haven’t been myself lately…and I know I get you into trouble sometimes. But I really think I can help this time. And I know that Aunty will show me how to control my temper. If she can train a dragon like Mo, then she can train me, too,” Kavi adds with a smile.
Vik looks from Kavi to Kenny to me. “I want to help, Jax, but I don’t have magical powers like the rest of you. Are you sure you even need me on this mission?” he asks doubtfully.
“Yes!” I insist. “We need someone who thinks things through and doesn’t lose their temper. I need someone loyal that I can trust. That’s you, Vik.”
Kavi takes her brother’s hand and says, “I know I don’t always listen to you, but you’re the smartest boy I know, Vik.”
Kenny throws his other arm around Vik and draws us closer together. “Don’t quit the team, Vik! If there are four of us, maybe we could split up when we get to Palmara. I’ll go with Kavi to talk to Sis, and you can help Jax find his grandfather,” Kenny suggests.
Vik smiles and says, “Sounds like a plan, Kenny.”
We do another group hug, and then it’s time to head belowground.
“Ready to go?” I ask.
“Ready!” they reply.
I’m so grateful for my friends that I almost start crying again.
“I told my mom I was sleeping over at Vik’s place,” Kenny says with a sheepish grin.
Vik chuckles. “And we told our parents that we were staying over at Kenny’s house. That means we’ve only got one day before they figure out that we lied and start to worry.”
