I wish I could have this argument with her.…
I’ve read that bodies disappear completely in the desert. Good. I hope Mum never knows my role in this.
The gunshots go on for a while. Simon shouts.
And then he doesn’t.
It’s—
I can’t—
I slump forward against the front seat, choking on something that comes out half sob, half vomit. My lips are taped shut. My mouth and nose are full of bile. I see sparks.
This is it, this is what happens. This is not getting away.
There are more sparks.…
In Agatha’s lap, above her bound hands.
I look up at her face. Her chin is tilted back, and her eyelids are heavy. She looks like she’s casting a spell.
Magic? Where is Agatha gettingmagic? And how is she casting without a wand? Without speaking?
She sees me watching her. She looks so sorrowful. Her hands spark again.
AGATHA
Penelope is nodding at me.
Does she think I have a grand plan?
I’m sorry, Penny. I’m not getting us out of this. I was never a hero. I was never a very good friend—Ididtry to tell you.
She shimmies up next to me. The vampire in the front seat isn’t paying attention to us; he’s still on his phone. I jerk my head towards the window, towards the glittering parade. When Penny’s eyes widen, I know for certain that I haven’t hallucinated it. She pushes her face against my neck, and I feel my magic snap into focus, almost as if I’m holding my wand—the sparks above my hands catch into a flame.
Penny grunts. I pull back to look in her eyes. She nods again.
I lean forward and hold the flame over the front seat.
It happens so fast. He burns so bright.
I turn back to Penelope. Her face is damp. Her nose is running. She’s still nodding at me. I push my forehead against hers and close my eyes.
PENELOPE
Agatha, yes—you brilliant girl.
You’ve saved the day in the end.
59
SHEPARD
“My name is Shepard,” I say. “I’m from Omaha, Nebraska.”
“I told you to shut up!” the vampire says, pressing the nose of his gun more firmly into my temple.
He did tell me to shut up, but I think he’s probably going to kill me whether I shut up or not, so I may as well keep playing till I’m all out of cards.
