“No, not about the numpties—but, Simon, think it through, what’s going to happen when people find out about you?”
“I don’t care about people!” he growled.
I shushed him. My little brothers and sisters were still downstairs. “You care about the Mage,” I said. “What’s going to happen when he finds out you’re stealing magic?”
“I’m not stealing it!”he whispered.
“Whatever you’re doing!”I whispered back. “What’s going to happen?”
“I don’t know! The Mage will decide.”
That’s when I probably should have given up. But instead I stood in front of him and reached for his hand. He let me take it.
“Simon,” I said, “maybe we should justgo.”
He looked confused. He clenched his sword in his other hand. “Penny. That’s what I’m saying. We have to go.”
“No.” I stepped closer to him, squeezing his hand. “I think this might be our only chance to… to leave.”
He looked at me like I was mental.
I kept at it: “Everyone has already connected you to the Humdrum. When they figure out what’s actually happening, even the people who care about you—you’re a threat to everyone, Simon. To our whole world. Once they find out… Maybe this is our last chance toleave.We could just…go.”
He shook his head. “Go where, Penny?”
“Wherever we have to,” I said. “Away.”
SIMON
Away. There is no away.
There’s only here and Normal. Did Penelope think that would be an escape for me—to run away from magic?
I don’t even think it’s possible. Iammagic. And whatever I’m doing, running away won’t stop it.
“I have to fix this,” I said. “It’s my job to fix it.”
“I don’t think you can,” she said.
I let go of her hand. “I have to. It’s why I’mhere.”
But maybe that’s not why I’m here. Maybe I’m just here to fuck everything up…
It doesn’t change what I have to do next.
PENELOPE
“I’m going to talk to the Mage,” he said.
“Simon,” I begged, “please don’t.”
But he’d already stopped listening to me. Dark red wings were unfolding from his shoulders, and that arrowlike tail wound its way down his thigh.
He looked at me with his jaw set. And then he took off.
That’s when I called Baz.
He pulls up now in a burgundy sports car. I climb out from the bushes, and Baz has already leaned over to open the car door.
