Stella, Jack, and Arnie sat around the small kitchen table and ate salads and sandwiches, making small talk until Arnie asked about the magic.
“Darcy’s still here, isn’t he?” Arnie glanced between Stella and Jack. “He knows the rules, but without me around to keep everyone accounted for... is everything still okay in the library? No mishaps?”
Jack caught Stella’s eyes, and their shared gaze was enough to alert Arnie.
He wiped his mouth slowly with a napkin. “What’s going on? Did something happen to Darcy?”
“No, nothing happened to Darcy,” Stella assured him. “He’s safe and sound in the library.”
“What is it, then?” Arnie asked. “What aren’t you telling me?”
Jack nodded his encouragement. Stella took a drink of her Pepsi before speaking. “A few things actually.”
Arnie shifted in his chair.
“Percy and Ariel know.”
Arnie’s bushy eyebrows lifted. “Why would you tell—”
“I used the magic and brought out Captain Hook,” she blurted. “They saw Hook fall from the balcony, but that was only after I stabbed him by accident. I also brought out Robinson Crusoe, but he was helpful—he and Darcy both—and the reason I had to tell Ariel and Percy about the magic was because they saw Hook die. I mean, Hook’s not dead, of course, but hediedin the fictional way.”
Jack had stopped eating and gaped at her.
“Percy is extremely unhappy with me,” Stella continued. “He thinks this is too dangerous and I’m irresponsible and incapable of using the magic. He also demanded I send all the characters back early, including Jack. And, Arnie, it was horrible watching Hook die. I can’t do that again, and I don’t want to.”
Arnie lifted his water, and the liquid quaked inside the glass. He drank but said nothing.
Stella’s stomach twisted. “Well... say something.”
Arnie cleared his throat. “It was bound to happen, I guess, other people finding out. We’ll have to swear them to secrecy. Ariel seems the trustworthy type—”
“She is!” Stella agreed.
“Percy won’t tell anyone because they’ll think he’s lost his mind,” Arnie said. “And he cares too much about what other people think.” His gaze went to Jack. “You didn’t caution her first?”
“I did!” Jack said.
Stella placed her hand on Jack’s. “He did, Arnie. I ignored his warning because I didn’t believe him, and by the time you explainedthings to me, it was too late. I’d already brought out Hook and Crusoe, except I didn’t know it at the time. Not until I got back to the library and things were... We handled it.”
Arnie cleared his throat again. “You handled it, did you? Before or after it was bedlam?”
Stella glanced away, and Arnie’s laugh surprised her.
“Did you tell her about the time I brought out the White Witch?” Arnie asked, still chuckling.
“You did not!” Stella exclaimed.
Jack and Arnie both shuddered. “That was a lesson I could have lived without. Was Hook surprised to see you?” he asked Jack.
Jack smirked. “He was. Righteously angry too.”
Arnie chuckled, and then he returned to seriousness. “I’ll talk to Percy.”
“Are you mad?” Stella asked.
“Mad?” Arnie shook his head. “We all make mistakes, Stella. The magic comes with rules, but... we don’t always follow them as closely as we should. We can’t see how our decisions will ripple into the future or create consequences we aren’t prepared for.”
Stella relaxed against the chair back. “I’m sorry I used the magic foolishly. Thanks for not being furious.”
