A Different Class of Magic

by Adrienne Blake

  “Run,” I shouted, and we all turned on our heels, sprinting for the tunnel entrance.

  Furious, the she-dragon belched everything she had at us, but it was too late. Her flaming ire bounced harmlessly off the insulated backs of the two dragons who covered our rear, and with a sigh of relief, we dashed into the tunnel, safe and sound, our mission to treat the baby a complete success.

  Björn shifted into his human form almost at once. If not for Bo, he might have collapsed. It must have taken all his strength to maintain his dragon form this long. I loved him for what he’d done for us and resolved to thank him later.

  13

  Girl Talk

  Maisy walked out of the bathroom dressed in a cream robe, her hair wrapped in a towel. She sat down sheepishly on the end of her bed, dropping her toilet bag on the blanket beside her. Pike and Evelyn had been here when I arrived and had told me Maisy had dashed into the bathroom as soon as she came to her senses. I’d thanked them and assured them I’d look after her now. While the shower ran, I’d anguished over what to say, but then realized I’d have to take my cue from her. If Maisy wanted to talk, I’d listen. No witchcraft, no spells, just an old-fashioned sympathetic ear.

  Lost in thought, she stared at the floor. My heart ached for her.

  “It happened when I was nine,” she said. “I can’t even blame the dragon. I wasn’t supposed to be there, you see.”

  “Oh?” I said, just to let her know I was listening.

  “My dad was a fisherman, always out on the water, day and night. Sometimes I missed him so much it hurt. So, one day I snuck onboard his boat and hid under the tarpaulin. I knew he had to work, but I figured if he couldn’t be home with me, I’d go to work with him. It was supposed to be a surprise.”

  Maisy looked glum as she twiddled with a small signet ring on her pinky.

  “Dad was so delighted when he saw me, he threw me straight up in the air. I always loved it when he did that, and I remember chuckling like a complete baby. We hadn’t seen the dragon overhead, and I guess the sudden movement surprised it. Anyway, well.”

  Maisy finished her story with a flourish of her hand beside her cheek. “Of course, I learned how to hide it with magic, but fear always undoes the spell.” She shook her head. “I thought I had this under control. I thought that at last, I could face my demons. I told Carter as much, and insisted I wanted to come, and that everything would be okay. He tried to put me off, but in the end, I persuaded him, against his better judgment. I guess he was right, and I was wrong. Maybe I’ll never be ready.” She looked down at her hands again, glum.

  “It can’t be um, fixed?” I cringed as soon as I asked the question. What was the right thing to say?

  “Fixed? No, my dear. It’s dragon fire. There’s nothing any witch or warlock can do about that. I can conceal it for a while with enchantments and potions, but they never last more than half a day or so. I guess I won’t be needing this anymore.” She absently flicked the toilet bag, which glowed for a second, then grew dim again. “Not now… everyone knows. They’re probably all laughing behind my back out there.” She motioned over to the door.

  “I can absolutely assure you that no one is laughing at you,” I said. “Not a single person. They’re hugely concerned for you, they like you, lots. And they’re quite a nice bunch of kids, really.”

  “Maybe.”

  “So, how did Carter find out?”

  “Carter? Oh. We were at Yule together. I got a little tipsy and forgot to redo the enchantment one night so he and the whole university found out. Jeez, that sucked, I tell ya. But Carter was always very kind about it. He made a potion for me which makes the enchantment last a little longer. He’s such an angel. You ought to snap him up.”

  I was surprised by her sudden shift of topic. “I, um.”

  “Oh, don’t be coy,” she said. “I’ve seen how you two look at each other when you think the other isn’t looking. You’re worse than kids.”

  I smiled and felt like a total douche at the same time. All the things she had to contend with, and she was thinking about me and Carter. I’d been utterly and completely wrong about her. I was such a knob.

  “I thought you and he, maybe….”

  Maisy laughed out loud. “Me and Carter? Ha! No, never. What made you think that?”

  “Well, you’re always together.”

  She laughed again, and it was good to hear her chuckle. “He’s my best buddy, so yes, of course we’re close. But if he ever tried sticking his tongue down my throat, I’d kick him in the dingly-danglies. Me and Carter, how funny is that?”

  It was my turn to laugh, from relief if nothing else.

  “Come on,” I said. “Let’s get dressed and go join the others. That is, if you’re up to it?”

  “Sure.” She picked up her toiletry bag and looked at it wistfully. “I suppose I might as well not bother now my secret’s out.”

  “I dunno about that,” I said. “Either way is cool with me, but if I were you, I’d carry on just as before. If it makes you feel better, then why not? I wear a little eyeliner and lipstick, and that’s all you’re doing, putting on a bit of make-up to make you feel good. Screw what anyone else thinks––what do you want?”

  She thought for a second, then smiled. “I suppose it won’t hurt. And I’m going to have to face the world sometime, I suppose.”

  Maisy pressed her knuckles into the mattress and pushed herself up off the bed. I was pleased when she snatched up her toiletry bag and took it with her.

  She paused before closing the door behind me. “You know, if you want, I could put in a few words with our mutual friend. Or even concoct a love potion....”

  I laughed. “Thank you, but that’s okay. What will be, will be.”

  She smiled back, and nodding, closed the door softly behind her.

  14

  The WhaleBone Diner

  The cheering from inside the bus was deafening. Everyone was shouting and laughing, and Maisy hesitated, pulling her hoodie round her face. She turned to go back to our cottage.

  “I––I don’t think I can.” Her voice was faint. “I’m sorry, tell them to go without me. I’ll be fine on my own.”

  I looked back to the coach. There was certainly a lot of noise, but there were no faces at the windows, to me everyone’s attention was focused on whatever was happening inside.

  “It’s not you, Maisy,” I said. “It sounds like Björn and Bo are getting the hero treatment, as they should. Come on, let’s go join in the party.” I hooked my arm through hers, stopping her from leaving.

  Maisy bit her lip, but she straightened her shoulders. “Yes, you’re right of course. Come on, let’s do it.”

  I marveled at her resolve. Her glamor was restored, and her face looked as beautiful as it had before, but I sensed a deep inner disquiet beneath, and no wonder. Maisy had been unmasked, literally, and her confidence was badly shaken, but she was willing herself to go on. I didn’t know if I would have had the same courage in her shoes.

  The coach door was open, and we climbed inside.

  It was hard to get in; Björn was sitting in his usual seat at the front of the coach, and the students in the seats behind his were bombarding him with dragon questions. Something similar was happening at the rear of the coach with Bo, and I smiled when I saw Pike, right in the thick of things, joining in with her friends.

  As soon as the students spotted us, the coach exploded with applause and cheers.

  “Well done, Miss Beauchamp!”

  “Yay, glad you could make it.”

  They were clearly relieved to see she was doing well, and Maisy, touched to the core, scurried into her seat as fast as she could. And then there was another cry from the back.

  “Yo! Mrs. Candlewick, totally badass!”

  I tried to keep my face serious, but I couldn’t help feeling pleased. I bowed and gave them all a little wave.

  Pike’s face was flushed with embarrassment again, or was it pride this time? It
was hard to tell.

  “Do you want me to sit with you?” I asked Maisy.

  She shook her head. “No, I’m fine. Carter will be on in a minute. Thanks, though.”

  The second we were both seated, the noise settled down to normal again and we were soon forgotten. The hero worship reconvened.

  “What does it feel like to shift?” I heard one girl say.

  “Weren’t you scared going up against that dragon?” said another.

  “I heard you were a long time in the dark with that she-dragon,” one of the boys said suggestively to Björn.

  “Watch it!” The big man looked physically worse than he had this morning, but also a lot happier and was laughing. And though he was still big, he looked a lot smaller now that he was back in his regular form. I guessed shifting like that took a lot out of a man. “You must be kidding. Did you see the size of that thing? She would have snapped me in half, hey? Lucky, I got out of there when I did, I think.”

  The boys all grinned, delighted with his replies.

  “Oh, ja, I took your window seat, do you mind?” Björn asked me. “I thought I might try and sleep on the way to the diner. All this excitement has knocked me out a bit, I think.”

  “Be my guest,” I said, glad of the extra leg room in the aisle seat. Plus, it would be nice not to be crushed by his still-impressive bulk.

  “Err, how is she?” he whispered. Björn tipped his head toward Maisy. Right now, her head was turned away, and though her gaze was on the dark coach window, I suspected her focus was elsewhere.

  “She’ll be fine, I believe. She just needs a little time.”

  “Dragon fire, it’s a peculiar thing, I think,” he said. “I know traditional magic can do nothing for her.”

  “Yes, she knows. too.”

  “I was going to say––” Björn paused and moved in a little closer to me so he couldn’t be overheard. “Are she and Carter... you know?”

  I stared at him appraisingly, wondering if this was more than just a casual question. He’d seen how she truly looked when fear caused her glamor to unravel. Did it not bother him? Perhaps I was misunderstanding his question. Or perhaps Bjorn Van Asker was unusual in more ways than one.

  “No, I don’t believe they are. I had the same thought once, but Maisy says no.”

  “Could there be anyone else?” Björn asked.

  “I don’t know. You’d have to ask her, I guess.”

  “I had meant to,” he said, “but everything’s been a little bit crazy, I think.” He nodded toward Carter, who was only just now climbing onto the coach. “And you?”

  “Err, maybe.”

  Carter was dressed in a neat leather jacket and roll-neck sweater and carried a clipboard in his right hand. As always, he looked damned good, and I tried not to fangirl as he smiled my way.

  “Is everybody aboard?” Carter asked.

  “All present and correct,” Harrison said.

  “Thank you, Harrison. Okay, Murray, let’s rock and roll.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Carter sat down beside Maisy and touched her forearm, prompting her to turn her head to look at him. In the window glass, I saw his reflection smile at her. He held her hand and said something, perhaps telling her how happy he was that she was okay. Maisy gave him a tentative smile, and I knew she was going to be just fine. With friends like Carter Wells, who wouldn’t be?

  I watched as Murray swung the big wheel, steering the coach around and back to the road. I was struck once more by his odd appearance and thought driving a private coach this big was an unusual job for such a little man. He was smaller than some of our suitcases. Ah, well, to each their own.

  A few minutes into our drive, Carter turned to me and smiled. “I think the WhaleBone Diner is going to be something of an anticlimax after a fire-breathing dragon, don’t you think?”

  “Maybe,” I said. “Although after the excitement of today, I think your students are ready to eat anything, so I wouldn’t worry about keeping them amused. They’ll be living off this tale for years.”

  Carter glanced tentatively over his shoulder. There were more words on his lips, I couldn’t tell what, but he was evidently reluctant to express anything in front of the others.

  I smiled and nodded, showing I understood. Whatever it was he had to say, it could keep.

  Even though we’d called ahead to the diner to warn them of our numbers, they still flew into a disorganized frenzy on our arrival. For a few minutes, nothing could be heard over the sound of scraping chairs and tables, as the wait staff struggled to seat us all in one big group in the center of the restaurant.

  A tall, skinny man whose name tag read, “Leonard, Manager,” came skipping through the bustle. “I’m so sorry,” he said, “we can’t get you all around one big table, we had too many walk-ins before you arrived. Would you mind using a couple of booths?”

  Carter shook his head. “That’s fine. I don’t think the students care at this point. They just want to eat.”

  Leonard nodded in an overly obsequious manner. “Thank you, thank you,” he said, head bowed. “We shouldn’t be more than a few more minutes, I promise.”

  We stood chit-chatting for a few minutes, and then Leonard returned with two waitresses, a pile of menus stacked in their hands.

  “We’re ready to seat you all now.” Leonard beamed.

  We followed him to the large table, where they squeezed in what felt like a thousand students, though I knew there were just twenty.

  Delighted, I smiled as Pike took a spot in the center of the table, and Evelyn and Crystal chose to sit on either side of her. The waitress passed round the menus and started the drink order. Pretty soon they were laughing and giggling like old friends again. I couldn’t be happier.

  When all the seats were taken, a pretty little witch waitress ushered me into a booth. I was pleased Björn stepped aside to allow Maisy in first and was equally pleased when Carter squeezed in next to me. The waitress gave us our menus, and I hid my smirk inside mine.

  “What can I get you all to drink?” the waitress asked, revealing a set of white retainers.

  “Do you have hot chocolate?” Maisy asked.

  “Yes, Miss.”

  “I’ll have that, then.” Maisy put her menu down, and I wondered if she was going to eat anything.

  “Ja, me too,” Björn said, beaming.

  “So will I,” I said.

  “That’s four hot chocolates then, I suppose,” Carter said.

  “With or without cream?” she asked.

  “With,” we all said together, and laughed.

  She made another note on her pad. “The specials are in pen on the back page. Do you need a minute to look over the menu?”

  “Yes, please,” I said.

  The girl nodded and was off.

  Björn put his menu down and shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He looked at me, and I groaned inwardly, not returning his gaze. Please Gaia, don’t let him ask her here in front of everybody.

  It appeared Björn and I were not on the same wavelength.

  “I, um, there is something I want to ask you, Maisy, if I may.”

  Carter and I exchanged glances and I winced. This was going to be embarrassing.

  “Sure,” Maisy replied, distracted, clearly not on the same page. “What is it?”

  “Have you ever been to Norway?”

  I looked up, surprised. That was quite an excursion for a first date.

  Maisy seemed pretty intrigued herself. “No, I haven’t. Why?”

  “There are witches who live in the Jotenheim Mountains. They are called the magiske healere. Um, let me think... you would call them ‘magical healers.’ They know dragons and dragons know them. They may be able to help you, with your face, you know? If you wanted them to, that is, because I think you are beautiful just as you are.” He said the last part casually as he read his menu, as if it was the most natural thing in the world to say at the dinner table.

  Maisy put her hand to h
er scarred cheek, which right now appeared just a little flushed under her magical enchantment.

  Dang. He had gone and done it, but I had to give it to the big Norwegian, he had done it with style.

  “I, um, wow,” Maisy replied, her hand dropping to her chest. Was her heart fluttering? I know mine was.

  “We could explore the mountains together, if you like? I don’t know if the healers are real, but if you would want to go sometime, I could be your, err, guide? It might be fun, ja?”

  “Well, um, that’s a lot to think about.”

  “But you will? Think about it, I mean?” Bjorn was almost on the end of his seat, which was a tough thing for a big guy in a small booth.

  “I guess, maybe?”

  Still, I noticed she didn’t say no, and that was a start.

  Carter smiled, then raised his menu and began perusing the pages. After a while, he put it down and looked to where the students were just being served their drinks. His focus shifted to my daughter, and a shadow crossed his face.

  “I’ve been waiting for the right moment. You and I need to have a little chat.”

  Oh, Gaia, what now? I thought. “We do?”

  “Yes,” he said seriously. “It’s about Pike.”

  My heart sank. Just when I thought things were going well at last. “Oh, heck, what is it? Tell me now.”

  “No, not in front of everyone, it wouldn’t be right. Don’t worry, she’s not in trouble or anything, but I would like to talk to you about something after we’ve eaten.”

  Don’t worry, he says. “And you’re sure it’s not serious?”

  “No, and it’s not anything bad. I’d say it’s more important than serious. Can you meet me alone after dinner? It won’t take long.”

  I nodded. Like I was going to say no. “Sure.”