Sondre didn’t think that was the worst possible scenario, by far, but he hoped it was no more than that.
“With the barrier down, I don’t know if the area near home is at risk, either. Will our collective magic harm those nonmagical people nearest Crenshaw, too?” Prospero stared upward as if praying or seeking clarity.
At the same time, Sondre took in the disaster around them.How had we been so wrong?The effect of magic on regular people was a messy, dangerous thing. Maybe over time it would normalize, but right now, it looked like the admonishments were true. Witches needed to stay home.
“Jenn’s done, though. That’s two of four contained,” Prospero said in what felt like a forced cheer.
“What will happen to them?” Sondre asked. “Did Walt say anything to you?”
“Likely siphoned in Jenn’s case. She’s not happy in Crenshaw, so…” Prospero shrugged, looking away at the wrecked store. “We’ll siphon her and return her to this world somewhere. She’s been over in ours… I don’t know how long.”
“About five years?” Sondre guessed. “She could probably go back to her original life.”
“Aggie can’t. Allan, either.” Prospero looked exhausted for a moment. “I wish I’d been wrong, Sondre. We can’t keep the magic and come back here to live, though.”
“So maybe we ought to askeveryoneabout their desire to stay or go.” Sondre followed her toward the counter. If he had been so very wrong about the ability to return to this world, he was going to find ways to mitigate the problems in Crenshaw.
“Suggest it to Congress. I won’t oppose that idea.” Prospero had pulled out a stack of cash. She smacked the cash register a few times and jabbed buttons until she managed to get the drawer open. Once she did, she dropped the pile of money in it.
“For damages and… a few purchases.” Then she grabbed a couple bags and started collecting underwear and robes and whatnot. Without looking at him, she said, “You should grab a few things. Iboughtthese for everyone back home.”
“Maggie’s about your size,” Sondre said awkwardly. “Do you know what size that is in… these things?”
Prospero’s cheeks were as red as the sheer thing she picked up. “This one.”
After a few moments, he said, “This is a little weird. Shopping with you when there’s badgers everywhere and… Jenn’s like that.”
Prospero took an audible breath before saying, “If we’re sharing feelings… Ellie’s remembering things. I’m concerned.”
The hurried way that Prospero said it was the biggest clue that this was, in truth, another crisis to contend with. The magic that Elleanor Brandeau had was both impressive and deadly, and when she’d escaped, she’d had to have her memory erased.
“I thought once you did that to someone’s head, it stayed changed,” Sondre said awkwardly.
“Correct.”
“Well, you’re fucked, aren’t you?” Sondre glanced over at Prospero. The woman who had casually broken Jenn’s leg was currently looking at a drawer of underwear with open crotches.
“Not the only one she’ll be angry with,” Prospero said. “I thought you deserved a warning.”
“That’s incredibly… nice of you,” Sondre said awkwardly.
She snorted. Then she tossed a pair of panties at him. Sondre caught the slip of sheer material reflexively.
“Still not friends?” she asked as she looked back at him.
Sondre shook his head. “Damned if I know anymore.”
24Ellie
A memory came crashing over Ellie. The force of the accompanying emotions made her stumble and fall.
“Ellie.” Prospero took a step closer. “I’m relieved to find you.”
“No.” Ellie raised a hand, and the diner’s floor lifted up like the asphalt serpents and the forest serpents once had. This time, though, Ellie had better control of it. It was no illusion. No accident. She stared at the woman she’d been falling in love with, and Ellie willed that black-tiled floor into a cage. She willed the silvered barstools into steel bars around it.
Doubly caged, Prospero stared at Ellie. “You’re making a mistake.”
“Let me go. Don’t pursue us,” Ellie half begged, half demanded, and then she ran out the door and jumped into the waiting car. Maggie was seated there.
