Turning away from the window, I grabbed my backpack and stuffed some clothes inside. I had no idea what to expect on this quest—if I even made it to Faythander in one piece—but I had a feeling this would be the hardest journey yet.
There was a reason no one had heard of the third world. It was because no one had ever returned from it and lived to tell about it.
My phone rang while I was in the middle of putting out a few extra scoops for Han. It was Brent’s ringtone, White and Nerdy. I’d planned to change the tune after we’d broken up, but had never gotten around to it. Now that Brent and I were sort-of friends, it stayed because the song still made me laugh.
“Hey,” I said as I answered the phone, propping it against my shoulder as I poured dry kitty kibbles into the bowl.
“Hi, Olive.”
“Why are you calling?” I asked.
“Because I figured you needed something,” he said, “so I decided to call in advance before you could start bugging me.”
“That’s totally untrue. I don’t need anything.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“Why are you calling?” I repeated. “For real, this time.”
“All right, fine. I wanted to tell you something.”
“Tell me what?” I asked.
“I’ve got a surprise.”
“Okay, what’s the surprise?”
“Well, you remember last fall when that fiasco with the murders happened at the Ren Fest?”
“Yeah, I remember. Kinda hard to forget being tied up in a cabin with a homicidal monster as your captor.”
“See, that’s the thing. After all that supernatural stuff happened, Detective Rapier wanted answers, but no one could give him any. Except me. So, with a little prodding, he set up a paranormal investigations unit led by yours truly.”
“Paranormal investigations? What could you possibly be investigating? Rogue fairies trapped on Earth?”
“Exactly.”
“And how many fairies have you caught?”
“Don’t knock it, Olive. You know what kind of damage that creature did at the Ren Fest. Who’s to say it wouldn’t happen again?”
“Fine, maybe it could happen again. But creatures from Fairy World rarely cross over and cause the kind of damage the bloodthorn did. I just hope this is worth your time.”
“It will be. At least, I hope so. Aren’t you going to congratulate me on my new position?”
“Sure. Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
“Before you hang up, could you do me a favor?” I asked.
He laughed. “I knew it! What do you need this time?”
“Watch my cat for me? I’m leaving again.”
“For how long?”
“Good question. Possibly indefinitely.”
“Indefinitely? If you’ll be gone that long, maybe I should just adopt the thing.”
“He’s not a thing; he’s a cat. And thank you in advance. Han and I appreciate your charity. The key is under the doormat.”
“Fine,” he grumbled. “I’ll come check on him in the morning.”
After exchanging good-byes, we hung up.
I stared at my phone. Brent and I got along so much better now that we weren’t dating, which made me realize I should have just been friends with him a long time ago. He still made me mad sometimes, but at least he got me. Plus, there weren’t a lot of people around clamoring to be my friends.
Han nudged my hand as I replaced his cat food under the counter. I scratched his ears, feeling nerves flutter in my stomach.
“I’ll see you again, Han, old buddy. I promise I’ll come back.” But it felt like a lie. This time, I wasn’t sure I would make it back alive.
I stood and crossed to my bedroom, then grabbed my backpack and slung it over my shoulder. After grabbing my temporary mirror case out of a drawer, I placed it on top of my dresser.
I wasn’t sure if I should cringe or laugh as I scanned my new mirror. I’d found it at the dollar store after a frustrating day of trying to create a new mirror box with no success. I’d bought it because it was absurd and to remind myself that it was temporary.
The plastic box was pink with the name BARBIE scrolled on the top. Inside was a foam liner that had once held five nail polish bottles. I’d cut the foam to make larger slots. Now, it held my five figurines that represented the races of Faythander: Dragon, elf, Wult, pixie, and goblin.
After unlocking the latch, I opened the lid. “You’re fabulous! Inside and out!” sang to me in a bubble-gum voice as I propped the lid open.
As I said, temporary solution. Extremely temporary. It had a mirror under the lid and was the perfect size for my figurines, so it worked. For now.
Scanning my figurines, I found the Wult and removed it from the foam, then propped it upright against the mirror. I needed to get to the Wultlands, and this would be the easiest way to do so.
I ignored the glittery scrolling along the edges of the mirror and focused on the glass. Taking a deep breath, I paused before touching my fingers to the mirror.
Months ago, the portals had started acting erratically. I’d thought the problem had been solved after we’d restored the fairies’ stone, but when I’d returned to Earth four months ago, the portal had almost torn me apart. I’d gotten several stitches in my abdomen because the crossing had been so violent. Since then, I hadn’t once been able to open a portal, but tonight, I had no choice. I needed to return to Faythander before the equinox, and I had one thing in my favor—I hadn’t tried opening a portal with my new Barbie box yet.
Here’s to hoping my luck improved, I thought. Then again, this was my luck we were talking about. Yeah, probably not.
Carefully, I placed my
