by L. C. Miller
One at a time, Principal Bauble called their names to step inside the circles. Abby noticed how it sometimes took mere seconds for the gray mist to turn colors and others it took minutes. One boy was in there for nearly ten minutes before the mist turned green.
Abby cheered with the rest of her table as the new students took their seats. Mrs. Queenly came down to talk to the green table once all students had been through the circles. Abby barely paid attention as she talked to Paul, Viviane, and Martin.
“Aw, come on, please?” begged Viviane. Giggling, Abby changed her hair to bright purple, causing the new student sitting next to her to gasp. Abby also changed her nose to a pig snout and snorted at the girl.
A few students were still laughing as Principal Bauble rose again to speak. “I hope everyone enjoys their new houses but if we could, let’s stand and make some room, for I was told we would very much like the dance the Mystics will be performing.”
Several students rose and with a flick of her wand, Principal Bauble cleared away all of the tables. Mrs. Queenly came and ushered Abby down the hall. “You guys enjoy your dance,” Abby said to them, waving. Abby heard voices as she entered the classroom.
“Hey, guys,” Abby called out to the dancers.
“Hey, Abby,” a few said back, while others giggled because Abby’s hair was now hot pink.
Mistress Mia came forward. “I guess you don’t actually need this.” She handed Abby a small vial.
Abby grinned sheepishly. “I’m sorry, but thank you for going to the trouble.”
Mia glanced down at Abby and smiled. “Thank Teresa. She made it.”
Natt came up to Abby and dragged her to the rest of the group. “Did they tell you how we’re entering?” he asked her, jerking his head up to the blue jays flying overhead. Abby nodded, looking up to watch them. She then picked up a fake white flower that was on the table. All the tables and desks were covered in fake flowers of many colors. Samoan was trying to cheer Micah up, but was failing miserably because she was too busy laughing.
“What’s up?”
A grinning Rollen explained, “Micah got caught adding vine snappers with the other flowers. Now he has punishment duties for the next two weeks.”
“That’s not the half if it,” Micah said. “Do you know how long it took to catch them? It took days and days, and then the Madam throws them back into the marsh.”
“That’s terrible,” giggled Samoan as Micah glared at her.
“Look at the bright side,” said Abby. “Least now your hands can heal.” She tried not to laugh as Micah examined all the scratches on his hands.
Mia got everyone’s attention then, stepping into the middle of the room. “Is everyone ready?” The dancers nodded. “Okay, get in your places. The petals will open soon, and I need you guys in order.”
They stood in two rows with Teresa standing directly behind Abby. Looking over her shoulder, Abby said, “Thanks for the potion. It was very nice of you to do that.”
Teresa smiled at Abby. “It’s okay. You do nice things for people, so I thought I would try to help you. I forgot you can do that without any potions,” Teresa said as Abby changed her hair to red. There was a moment of silence before Teresa asked, “How does that feel? Changing your hair, I mean?”
Abby glanced back at her. “It kind of itches sometimes, depending how long I grow it, but I don’t feel anything when I change the color.”
Mia gestured for them to be quiet and waved a hand over the flowers on the tables. They immediately started to open and rise. “Oh, get over it,” snapped Samoan suddenly. Abby, Teresa, and Natt looked over to see Samoan wrestling with Micah over something in his hand.
“Ouch! Stop,” whispered Micah loudly as Mia looked over at them.
Abby tried not to giggle when Mia stomped over and jerked the vine snapper out his hand. “You just added another week of punishment duties!”
Teresa and Natt couldn’t quite contain their laughter, and Mia told them to hush. She made Micah rub a thick lotion on his hands and his scratches began to heal.
His happiness was short-lived, however, as his hands began to turn green. Laughter rang out at his sudden shout of dismay. “Serves you right!” laughed Samoan.
Mia gestured to the birds overhead and they started to swarm the students. When they appeared in the mess hall, Abby noticed the center tables had been moved. Students were sitting at their pushed-back tables, which were covered in tiny pots. The Madam gestured for the music to begin.
Chapter Forty-Two
The spring dance was one of Abby’s favorite dances. She relaxed as they performed and the flowers appeared over their heads. The students gasped when flowers began to zoom around the room. Every once in a while, Abby would touch one of the zooming flowers as it whizzed by while she danced.
Because the dance was one of the longest ones, it would be the only dance they would be performing. By the time the dance was over, each pot was full of flowers.
Abby smiled in Carly, Ethan, and Aaron’s direction, but did not immediately go toward them. Instead, she grabbed a flower and handed it to Brannon’s friend Michael, who asked, “Care to dance?” Brannon winked at Abby as he and Misty joined them on the dance floor.
“Are some of these real?” asked Paul, touching one of flowers. He had gone over to Teresa after they finished.
She shook her head. “I think they’re all fake.” She picked up one of the flowers. Looking at it, she seemed confused.
“Very good fakes then,” said Paul. “They feel real.”
Abby watched them talk. Teresa was the youngest of the group, just turning fifteen a couple of days ago. It seemed funny to Abby to see that she got along with the Wielders far better than the rest of the Dancers did.
Emilie and Jeremy pretty much stayed to themselves, as did Ciara and Damon. Abby was hoping that after the first dance they did here the Dancers would lighten up some, but since they still didn’t talk to Abby much when she visited, she shrugged.
“I do believe that was our finest dancing yet,” Natt proclaimed as he came by the table. He put a cup of purple juice in front of her. Abby peered into it; foam was beginning to form at the top. Natt shrugged. “Forgot the name. They said it was some kind of seasonal drink. Like spring something or other.”
Carly, Ethan, and Aaron soon joined them. Abby tried not to laugh at the way Micah kept trying to hide his hands as he and Samoan came to sit down. Arika, Teresa, and Paul also came to the table. Before long, all the tables around them were full of people from different houses.
Abby saw Brannon and Misty sitting next to Leah, a girl who danced behind Samoan, and her partner, Jacob. “Where’s Rollen?” asked Abby, looking around when she didn’t see him. Arika pointed across the room, where Abby could see Rollen talking to Emilie and Jeremy.
“Trying to get them to socialize,” said Micah.
Paul gazed at him questioningly. “Why? Don’t they want to?”
“Well, it’s because you’re—” Micah stopped when Samoan kicked him under the table. “Oh … um, well you know …” Luckily, the suddenly uncomfortable Micah didn’t have to answer because Brock and his friends came over.
“So, how do those twigs and berries taste? Doesn’t seem very filling to me, but if the best thing you can do is zoom flowers around the room, then maybe you don’t need to eat much.”
Micah jumped to his feet, forgetting to cover his hands. Laughter rang out from Brock and his friends. “Oh, I’m scared! The green-handed boy might get me,” squealed Brock while laughing. Samoan grabbed Micah’s arm and dragged him back beside her.
“Sit down!” she hissed in his ear. She jerked her head toward the teachers’ table where Mia watched them.
Abby twitched, realizing Natt had elbowed her. “Let’s dance, shall we, Gail?” he asked.
“Your hair was starting to change shades of red,” Natt whispered to her as he swung her around.
“Well, what he was saying made me mad! You didn’t have
to hit me that hard.”
Natt grinned. “You looked like you were going to send sparks at them.”
Abby smiled. “Yeah, I wish. You know how much trouble I would have gotten into?”
Smirking, he replied, “Yeah, but you know it would’ve been worth it.” Samoan tried to keep Micah clear of Brock the remainder of the night and roped Abby and Arika into helping.
Nearing the end of the party, Abby found Rollen standing near one of the food tables. “How’s it going?” she asked.
He shrugged. “Pretty good. They seem to take your second life rather well.”
Abby nodded. “Yeah, it doesn’t bother them the way it bothers others.” She looked at Jeremy and Emilie, still sitting alone.
Shortly after, the Madam gave the signal it was time to go. Abby was walking next to Arika when Samoan came up between them, putting her arms through theirs. “We should’ve gotten paid for tonight.”
Abby laughed. “For what? The dancing or keeping Micah at bay?”
Arika smiled. “The dancing I’ll do for free. Babysitting, however, is another story.”
“Poor Micah, he’ll be thinking of payback for weeks.” Samoan smirked.
Abby giggled as they stepped into the spare room down from Mrs. Queenly’s classroom.
“Beautiful dancing, ladies and gents,” exclaimed Mia after they shut the door. “Abby, here are your clothes.” Grabbing her bag, Abby threw her robe over her clothes. “Don’t forget, the summer festival is in two weeks. Be there or be square.”
A few people laughed as Mia opened the portal. “See you soon, Abby,” Arika and Samoan said before they stepped through it. Teresa waved when she went past with Jeremy and Emilie. Micah winked at her as he went past with Natt.
“Be careful, Abby,” said the Madam before she too stepped through.
Mia gave Abby a hug. “Excellent dancing,” she whispered.
Abby watched the light fade as the portal closed. Principal Bauble put her arm around Abby. “Ready to go?”
Abby nodded and they left the dark room behind them.
Once outside, Abby opened her Glider. Sitting down on it, she waited for Ethan, Aaron, and Carly. It wasn’t long before students came rushing outside. Abby smiled when she saw many of them holding flowerpots or handfuls of flowers.
“You missed another good time, Abby,” said Paul as he came up holding several blossoms.
“How was detention?” asked Viviane while she handed Abby a flower.
“Um … Fun as always,” Abby replied, looking around.
She heard Paul inhale heavily. “These smell too real to be fake.”
Abby stared at the flower in her hand and sniffed. “Hmm, it does smell real,” she said, surprised.
It wasn’t long before Ethan, Aaron, and Carly came out. “Man, that was so much fun! We ready to go?” Ethan asked.
Nodding, Abby rose into the air. Laughter rang out from the school as more students came out. “Sorry you missed the dance.” Abby glanced behind her to see Walt sitting on his broomstick.
She shrugged. “It’s okay. There will be more dances later on.”
Walt nodded to her before taking off.
Glancing back down, Abby saw Martin waving to her. “See you later, Abby,” he yelled before going back inside.
On the way home, Abby paid no attention to the cats patrolling on the ground or teachers in the air. “I guess Mr. Frump decided to forego the broom for the night,” said Aaron, seeing Mr. Frump walking around on foot. A sleek white cat kept pace with him. They were still laughing when they landed outside the Herrins’ home.
“You guys can stay over, right?” asked Ethan after they came inside. Aaron and Carly nodded. “Epic!” The four of them sat in a circle in Abby’s room, as it was cleaner than Ethan’s.
Fintz laid herself next to Bombers on Abby’s pillow while the four students hung out. “No school for nearly three months,” said Ethan, heaving a big sigh.
“When do we get our grades?” asked Abby.
“Not for another three or four more weeks,” Aaron stated. “Then about a week or two before school starts we get our schedules.”
“Tonight was awesome,” said Carly sometime later, after Ethan and Aaron had gone to bed. Mrs. Herrin had turned Abby’s bed into bunk beds for the night.
“Yes, it was,” breathed Abby, smiling. “Although, I don’t think Micah will forget his green hands anytime soon.”
Carly laughed. “I bet. Oh, did you see the looks on some of the new students when you changed your hair?”
Abby started laughing again. “Yes! You should have seen the girl sitting next to me when I changed my nose. She was so shocked.”
Carly started laughing again, and then sighed. “I wish you could go to camp with us this summer.”
Abby, still grinning, shrugged into her pillow. “If it would help with my riding skills on a broomstick, I would go, but I don’t think anyone can help with that.”
Carly giggled again. “You know, Abby, this has definitely been the most interesting and best year I have had in a while.”
“Me too.”
Abby had just shut her eyes when a loud sound shook the house. Jumping up, Abby fell out of bed, looking around, stunned.
“What was that?” demanded Carly as she got out of bed.
“I don’t know.” Abby grabbed Carly when the sound shook the house again.
The girls heard screams through Abby’s open window. “It’s the Mystics,” said Abby, running out of the room. She flew past Ethan, Aaron, and Brannon, who had stepped into the hallway.
“What’s going on?” Mr. and Mrs. Herrin were already outside when Abby got there. Mystics were running through the trees, screaming.
The sound, like thunder, shook the ground at their feet, causing many to stumble. It was then Abby saw blue humanlike creatures chasing Mystics. Lightning flew around them, the creatures’ eyes glowing red. “What is that?” Mrs. Herrin breathed.
“Rollen, look out!” screamed Abby. Rollen had been running when a dweller came up behind him. Turning swiftly, he threw something at the creature. Stunned, the dweller fell over, screeching.
“Where’s Rainy?” he shouted at Abby, looking around.
“Rainy!” Abby screamed. Ethan, Aaron, and Carly joined in yelling for Rainy.
“Get back!” demanded Mrs. Herrin as Brannon stepped forward. Her wand at the ready, she took aim at one of the creatures.
“Rainy!” Abby yelled when she spotted her friend through the trees. A lightning dweller had latched on to her arm and another one was coming up behind her.
“Change, Abby, change!” a voice said in her head. Abby suddenly remembered Rollen’s comment about what lightning dwellers were afraid of. Taking off, she changed into a large black cat. When she neared Rainy, she roared at the creature. It screeched and let go of Rainy. It shied away from Abby, and instead of attacking, ran back into the trees.
“Come on,” said Abby, changing back. Half dragging Rainy, they made their way back to the house. Rollen came running when he saw them. Brannon had seen how the creatures reacted to Abby’s cat form and had shifted, too.
His large eyes glared at the creatures as he hissed. Abby was near Mrs. Herrin when she flung a spell at one of the creatures. The spell dissolved as it slammed into their lightning shield. Turning, it latched eyes with Mrs. Herrin. “You are mine,” it hissed.
It began to charge her, screeching. Mr. Herrin, who had gotten separated from the group at the arrival of Principal Bauble and Mrs. Queenly, yelled in alarm as the creature rushed. Abby watched in horror while everyone flung out spells, and nearly all of them were stopped by the creatures’ shields.
It was then she remembered her own shield charm. Jumping in front of Mrs. Herrin, Abby raised her arm. The creature laughed as Mrs. Herrin yelled. When it was only a few feet away from Abby, the creature slammed into her shield and fell to the ground. It got back up and started ramming the shield, trying to break it. The creature’s shriek
s brought others to its aid.
Abby barely felt the added pressure as Mia and the Madam rushed to rest their hands on her shoulders. Stunned, Abby watched her shield begin to expand and grow. Soon it covered most of the house and yard; nearly all the Mystics were shielded. Thunder shook the ground at their feet as the creatures screamed, showing their fury at being unable to attack their prey.
It wasn’t long until a sound far more horrible rang out. Abby and many of the Mystics looked at the Madam, surprised. But she wasn’t paying attention to them. She was staring in shock at something. Cries filled the air as they watched the great white oak tree glow brilliantly in orange flames.
The dwellers had struck the tree on fire and put a lightning shield around it to stop anyone from coming to its aid. The dweller that had tried to attack Mrs. Herrin cackled at the Madam, smiling. Raising her arms above her head, the Madam’s spell flew out, swallowing the dweller whole before dissolving. Cats from the camp came running out of the trees then, hissing and clawing their way through. Abby saw North pick up a fallen log and whack a dweller with it.
The Madam started to run toward the stunned creatures. Many Mystics followed suit. Abby was about to follow when she heard it. Abby, please! Help us! You must help us! She glanced around in confusion; it wasn’t from any tree she had heard before.
“Did you hear that?” Carly asked. Ethan and Aaron nodded as they, too, looked around. Abby stared at the flaming tree as she heard the voice speak again. Please, help us!
“It’s coming from the oak tree. Come on,” Abby yelled, grabbing Ethan’s hand and pulling him with her toward the tree and lightning shield. There were few dwellers around since they had scattered when the Mystics attacked. Abby had her wand in her other hand and didn’t feel the gem glow brightly, burning the ribbon tied around it.
Letting go of Ethan, she slammed into the shield. Expecting to feel pain, she was surprised when the shield collapsed and she hit the ground near the base of the tree. The surrounding dwellers seemed shocked to suddenly see the four children standing in front of them.
Before they could attack, Abby dove for the tree, not realizing that Ethan had grabbed her cloak. Carly was latched on to his, and Aaron had grabbed a hold of hers. With the four of them connected, Abby touched the tree. Pain shot through her and a blast of bright green light blinded her before everything went black.
