Enchanted Ivy

done if I'd lost you. Can you stand?'

'Yes, sir.' Jake struggled to his feet. His hair was plastered to the sweat on his forehead, and his face was waxy and pale.

'Get yourself to Vineyard Club and see the doctor immediately,' Mr. Mayfair said.

'Thank you, sir.' Jake dredged up a smile for Lily. 'I hung in there like you said. Knew you'd be back for me. You truly deserve to be a knight.'

She had to speak. If he left, she'd be alone with Mr. Mayfair. She'd wasted all her other chances. Lily began, 'Jake—'

'Tell the doctor to wait for my orders before transferring Richard Carter to the hospital,' Mr. Mayfair said. 'I'd like to be there to ensure that he's in good hands.' He smiled at Lily. 'Was there something you wanted to say, my dear?'

Numbly, she shook her head.

She watched Jake limp across the yard.

As Jake rounded Nassau Hall, Mr. Mayfair patted her on the shoulder. 'One item left on the list: the humans.' He steered her back through the side entrance and through the blockade of security. As they passed the guards, Mr. Mayfair nodded to them. 'Tell your men that they can stand down. The threat is over. Humanity is safe.'

The nearest guard saluted. 'Sir, what are your orders for the civilians?'

Keeping Lily close to his side, Mr. Mayfair detailed plans for what to tell the people who had seen more than they should have. He barked orders, and campus security sprang into action. The battle at Forbes was to be explained as a maintenance issue. Prospect Avenue was closed for 'renovations.' They were to contact the media to begin damage control, monitor the Web for photos and other incriminating evidence, and compile a list of all potential leaks. Vineyard Club would be bringing all of their considerable resources to the cover-up, but security had to plant the seeds now. It took Mr. Mayfair fifteen minutes at most to disperse the guards. While he talked, Lily tried to form a plan. There had to be a way to escape, save Tye, and protect Grandpa. She just had to think of it. She was supposed to be smart, Ivy League smart. Think, Lily! she ordered herself.

But Mr. Mayfair was stronger and faster, and he held all the cards. She discarded every plan that sprang into her head. None of them would work. She couldn't do this alone.

As the guards dispersed, Mr. Mayfair said to Lily, 'Let's check on your friend in the chapel, shall we?' Leading her away, he seemed as pleased as a cat in sunshine. Of course he is, she thought. He's won. He was whistling as he ushered her toward the chapel. With each step, she became more convinced that she was going to die.

I need a miracle, she thought.

Staring up at the chapel spires, she prayed for one. But instead of avenging angels coming to save her, all she saw was the dragon writhing on the stone facade. Tears rolled down her cheeks. 'Please ...,' she began.

And then, across the plaza, she saw her miracle: her grandfather, hobbling toward them, with Jake at his side. Jake waved to them.

'Grandpa!' Lily cried. Oh, thank you. She was saved. She started to laugh and cry at the same time. When they met in front of the chapel, Lily threw herself at Grandpa and wrapped her arms around his neck. He was awake. He was alive. He was here. Everything was going to be okay. Grandpa would fix everything.

Jake was beaming. His cheeks were a healthier pink, she saw, and he wasn't swaying as he stood anymore. 'I went to talk to the doctor, as you said, and Mr. Carter was there. Pulled out his own IV and insisted on coming once I brought him up to speed.'

Grandpa staggered under the force of Lily's hug and then patted her back. 'I'm all right, my tigerlily. Everything's all right.'

'Richard,' Mr. Mayfair admonished, 'you should be resting.'

Lily noticed that Grandpa's muscles were trembling.

Grandpa frowned at Mr. Mayfair. 'Joseph, we need to talk. Is it true that you returned my Rose to the magic world?'

'Your daughter is fine,' Mr. Mayfair said soothingly. 'She's with family.'

'I was supposed to accompany her. She was supposed to be reintroduced gradually and carefully,' Grandpa said. 'She has no memory of who she was. She'll be frightened.'

Mr. Mayfair's voice dripped with concern. 'Don't upset yourself, Richard. Your health is fragile. I did what was best for everyone. You were not available to consult, and it was my place to decide.'

His health was fragile. Taking a step back, Lily studied him. One arm was bandaged from shoulder to wrist. His face was a sunken mask of wrinkles. He wasn't Superman, she realized, and he was in no condition to save the day. In fact, by coming here, he had put himself at risk. 'You should be back in bed,' Lily said. 'I'll take you.' Looping her arm around him, she began to walk fast, pulling Grandpa with her.

'Lily, not yet,' Grandpa said. He dug his heels against the stone. Even weakened, he stopped her. 'There's something that I've come to say to Joseph, and it isn't right for me to delay.' He turned to face Mr. Mayfair.

'Grandpa, whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait....'

'Joseph, you know I have the utmost respect for what you've done for Princeton, indeed for humanity, over the years,' Grandpa said.

Mr. Mayfair executed a half bow. 'Thank you. I appreciate your—'

Grandpa held up a hand. Lily noticed his fingers shook. 'Lately I have watched you, and I have been disturbed by what I've seen. There has been no new research added to the library in decades. There have been no trips to the magic world, no summits with their leaders. The gargoyles have been marginalized. But worse, you have shown lapses in ethics that are alarming. I am sorry, Joseph, but when the knights convene tonight, I must call for a vote of no confidence.'

Stunned, Mr. Mayfair stood as still as the statues on the chapel.

Jake stammered, 'B-b-but ...'

Lily thought that she had never been more proud of her grandfather. He'd seen the clues to Mr. Mayfair's corruption, even if he had no idea how truly evil his friend was. In as calm a voice as she could manage, she said, 'Grandpa, we need to run now.'

Grandpa, Jake, and Mr. Mayfair all looked at her.

'He'll kill you,' she said. 'He'll kill anyone who stands in his way. He killed Jake's parents. He killed your son.' She tugged on his arm, the one not in bandages. 'Please, Grandpa!'

Throwing his head back, Mr. Mayfair laughed. 'Oh, my dear. You have had a rough day, haven't you?' To Grandpa, he said, 'Your granddaughter is a lovely girl, but she has had so much happen to her in the past twenty- four hours that she's obviously misunderstood much of what she's learned.'

'He had an alliance with the leader of the Feeders,' she said.

Sputtering, Jake said, 'H-how can you say that? My grandfather is a hero!'

'Your grandfather was going to let you die,' she said.

Jake shook his head. 'You're wrong,' he said firmly. 'Tell her she's wrong.'

Mr. Mayfair's smile was tight. 'Of course she is,' he said. 'She's imagining plots and conspiracies where none exist.'

'He wants to close the gate between worlds permanently,' Lily said. 'Grandpa, he plans to kill me.'

Grandpa patted her hand. 'Lily ...'

He had to believe her. 'Dragon! Chained Dragon, wake up!' she called. 'Tell them how he used the fairy to make a deal with you. He promised you freedom in exchange for killing a baby half dryad by FitzRandolph Gate. He was responsible for all those deaths.'

The dragon lashed his tail. 'Free me, and I will avenge myself on the traitor!' His voice made her feel as if she'd swallowed a snake. It twisted and writhed inside her.

Grandpa was pale. 'Rose always suspected a knight.'

'Death to the betrayer!' The dragon screeched and scraped stone. Bits of the facade crumbled under his claws, but the chain held tight. 'I will see you suffer as I have suffered! Your blood will paint the stones!'

Mr. Mayfair's smile vanished. 'Richard, you cannot seriously believe—'

Lily said to her grandfather, 'He's lied to you. All these years.'