A moment later, she followed.
Dan and Axell were alone together in the library again.
“Do we tell him?” Dan asked.
“Doyouwant to fight with the scary witch?” Axell countered.
They were quiet for several moments, and Dan thought about thethings he knew—things that seemed dangerous to know. Then he shook his head. “Sounds like they’ll fix the water problem.”
“Eventually.” Axell was still holding Dan’s hand. “Are you still wanting to stay here?”
“Yes.”
Axell nodded. “I would like to not tell them that I can vanish us.”
“Seems wise.” Dan looked around the library, not quite sure what to do or think. Then he noticed that the door was back. “Let’s borrow a couple books and hide away for a few hours.”
“Excellent idea,” Axell agreed.
It wouldn’t undo any of the horrible things, but sometimes getting lost in a story was exactly what Dan found was the best medicine for his fears or anxiety. Apparently, that hadn’t changed even though he was living in a magical world.
45Ellie
Ellie woke with a crick in her neck from sleeping in a moving car. She blinked, looked around, and realized that they were darting between cars at a speed that seemed anything but legal.
At least we’re on a freeway.
“Mags?”
Her friend had what Aunt Hestia used to call “bad idea eyes” as she glanced over at Ellie.
“Are we being chased?” Ellie stretched, trying to pull out the pinch in her neck and tightness in her shoulders.
“We are whether we see them or not. I got the IDs, and you were asleep, so I decided.” She sounded as manic as she looked. “My cousin liberated my life insurance policy. Added that to our stuff. We have plenty of cash. If we need we could get a new car, maybe an RV. I thought about that for once we get your aunt and Craig and—”
“Where are we?” Ellie interjected, trying to make sense of where they were.
“Headed north again. If we can get to your place, we’ll know if they messed with her head the same way or—”
“Walk into a trap?” Ellie was wide awake now, adrenaline chasing the last of the sleep away. “If they realize we were at your son’s house, they’ll know—”
“Why do you think I’m driving so fast?” Maggie shot her a mad-eyed look.
“Watch the road!”
Maggie continued unperturbed. “Well, that and the espresso and other caffeine drinks.” Her hands white-knuckling the wheel, voice sounding somewhere after dangerous, Maggie looked like a woman who found the proverbial do-not-cross line and gleefully zipped past it.
“Maggie…”
“Might be easier to kidnap your aunt, too, if they messed with her head. Old lady and all,” Maggie offered with a grin. “I was thinking about cult deprogramming. No way that witch erased everything. Once I can get Craig to sit and listen, I could explain enough things that only I would know.”
“Maggie.”
“Then we could go to Alaska.… Get an RV. Go to Alaska. No one can find you if you get lost there. I had a client who was going to be found guilty. She sent a postcard from Alaska. I don’t know where she is out there, but I think that’s where she went.”
“Maggie!”
Maggie glanced over.
