Welcome to Wimbly's, page 28
part #1 of Misfit Magic Series
Mr. Crawford looked up. “Eh? Just waiting. Should be any moment now.”
“Any moment for wha—”
The library door creaked open, cutting her short. Out stepped Quinn Lynch, but the Quinn Lynch before her had completely changed from the Quinn who raced inside minutes ago. Once Quinn had brown eyes, wide and curious and not so different than any other boy his age. But now his eyes glowed with a raging power that was blue as the sea and hot as the sun’s heart. Power radiated from his body in gentle waves. The force of his will pressed upon her, and she struggled against it. She knew this power. She’d experienced it radiating from Donal Ward.
“The trial,” she said. “Dear God, you’ve actually done the trial.”
Ms. Velvet clapped, bouncing on her heels. Nehemiah nodded approvingly. He raised his hand and snapped, and the misfits attacking the school fled to the shadows and the sky. The librarian smiled, bowing to Quinn. “Welcome back to the world of magic, Quinn Lynch. Tell me, how does the power feel?”
Quinn looked at his hands, dirty and covered in soot as they were. “I’ve never—I’ve never felt anything like it.”
“None have ever felt what you have.” Nehemiah gripped his walking cane. He stepped toward Quinn, slowly circling the boy as he stared at his hands. “Because none have the raw power you have.”
“Principal Ward had it,” Quinn said.
“Not quite.” Nehemiah paused before Quinn. “Donal had the power of the trial.”
Quinn ripped his gaze from his hands. “This isn’t the trial?”
“Yes and no.”
Maisie’s eyes widened. Her hand went to her mouth, and she shook her head as she realized what the librarian suggested. “No…it can’t be.”
“Yes, Ms. Callahan,” Nehemiah continued. “Quinn, when you were young, you were blessed with talent. Then, it was tortured from you. Tonight, you gained it back from the trial. You have been crowned, Quinn, because the three paths of magic have blessed you. You are the one foretold by prophecy. You are Quinn Lynch, the Misfit King.”
Quinn’s face paled. His chin and hands quivered. “But I don’t want to be the Misfit King. I’m not—I’m not evil.”
“But aren’t you?” Nehemiah asked. “Look at what you’ve done. You’re only here because you cheated, ruining one boy’s life to make your own better. You lied your way through school, all the while knowing your actions put everyone in danger. Yet you still continued on your merry way. Your friends…” Nehemiah motioned at Heidi and swung his arm in Billy’s direction. “…You pulled them into your conspiracy and put them in danger for your own benefit. If that isn’t evil, Quinn Lynch, then what is?”
“But,” Quinn whispered, his hands shaking harder. “I never meant…why are you doing this?”
“Because I want you to come with me.” Nehemiah held a hand out. “Join me. I know the secrets of arcana and can teach you the knowledge I’ve collected over generations. Be my pupil, and you will do mighty things. This world could be yours, and all you need to do is take my hand.”
For a single, horrible moment, Maisie could see the boy consider Nehemiah’s offer. She rushed forward, dropping to a knee and taking Quinn’s hands. “Don’t believe him for a second. Nehemiah’s been lying for ages, probably longer than you and I have been alive. This is a plot. You’re not the Misfit King. He wants you to think it, but you aren’t.”
“I never wanted anyone to get hurt,” Quinn said, his eyes searching hers. “Please believe me.”
“I do,” Maisie said. She smiled and brushed a lock of hair from his forehead. “You’re not evil. Donal knew that. He saw that. Even when others said so, he believed in you. And you know what? He was right. I believe in you, Quinn. I trust that your heart is good, like Donal did.”
Nehemiah cackled. He clicked his walking cane on the courtyard and sighed. “Oh, Maisie Callahan, you’re so typical of talented magicians, always having your head in the sand like some wand-waving ostrich. Quinn is the Misfit King! There’s no denying it. Three paths of magic blessed him. And clearly Donal’s powers of perception aren’t too terribly keen. He is a statue now, after all.”
Maisie took a deep breath. She patted Quinn on the cheek and rose to her full height. “You’re wrong, Nehemiah, and I think you’re lying. I’m a counselor for a reason, and it’s because I’m very good at reading people.” She scowled at the arrogant old man. “And when I look at you, I see a snake trying to sell us its oil. No, Quinn is not the Misfit King. You are. You are the one blessed by three paths. Bound by talent, allied with misfits, and teacher of the trial. Quinn is a byproduct of your plans, and because of his power, you fear he’ll fight against you so you fill his head with lies while you take away his hope.”
Nehemiah strummed his walking cane. He smacked his lips, his jaw clenched like he wanted to swallow something sour but couldn’t quite get it down. “You’re wrong, and you’ve interfered quite enough for tonight. Perhaps its time you joined Donal as a monument to the fall of Wimbly’s.”
Mr. Crawford raised his walking cane, its end flaring with the cursed spell that would turn her to stone. She knew she couldn’t fight Nehemiah. She couldn’t run or flee. So she turned to Quinn and smiled instead. “I should have been there for you. I’m sorry I wasn’t. But you’re not the Misfit King. You’re not.”
“Wait!” Quinn swatted the cane away. It felt like his heart might leap from his throat and thrash into the night, but he swallowed it down and gathered all his courage instead. “Don’t. I’ll go with Mr. Crawford. I’m sorry, but he’s right, Ms. Callahan. I’m a liar and a cheat.”
Maisie’s shoulders slumped. Seeing her angry would have been one thing. Seeing her disappointed broke his heart. He walked away from her, avoiding the pained, defeated look in her glassy eyes.
Nehemiah beamed a bright and cheery smile. “I knew you’d see reason.”
“Simply wonderful,” Ms. Velvet said, turning away. “Come along, Heidi. We’ve got much work to do.”
Heidi stared at Quinn, shaking her head. “You can’t do this, Quinn. They’re bad people. They’ll hurt you.”
Ms. Velvet grabbed Heidi’s collar and yanked the girl to her side. Heidi slipped, and Ms. Velvet dragged her across the courtyard while her daughter kicked at the bricks.
“Insolent girl,” Ms. Velvet snarled, “You’ll need some lessons in manners.”
Quinn stepped toward them both. “It’s okay, Heidi, you don’t have to fight anymore.”
Ms. Velvet paused. Heidi stopped struggling. “But Quinn…”
“I said it’s okay. Tonight’s been a bad night, and I know you wish your problems would just hop away, but they won’t. We have to face our problems. And in the end, if we want to solve them, it’ll be us who has to make them hop away.”
She frowned, blinking. For the briefest second, her eyes widened. He flashed his own eyes, hoping she realized his plan. Heidi stood, slowly brushing off her jacket. “You’re right,” she said, turning to her mother. “I’ll go. I’m sorry.”
Quinn smiled. He turned to Nehemiah. “I want to learn power. I want to learn the secrets of arcana.”
“Good.” Mr. Crawford spun on his heel. He angled his arm for Quinn to take. “You will take the magic world by storm. You will be a force to be reckoned with. My secrets will be yours, and all will fear the great Misfit King when he comes calling.”
“Yes, yes they will.” Quinn watched Ms. Velvet pull Heidi toward the courtyard’s edge. “Mr. Crawford?”
“Please, call me Nehemiah. What is it?”
“You should know by now never to trust a liar and a cheat!” A spell burst on Quinn’s fingertips, flashing in blinding brilliance. He slammed his palm onto the startled librarian, the hopper spell activating on its target, Quinn ramming as much of his newfound power into the spell as he could manage. He shoved Nehemiah before the librarian could react, and the hopper spell rocketed the man into the sky in a blast that sent Quinn flying into the library wall.
Ms. Velvet twisted around, screaming. Heidi’s eyes narrowed. Her own fingers danced with the hopper spell, and she slammed her palm against her mother’s thigh.
“Why you—” Ms. Velvet roared as the spell activated. The Witch Queen of the West blasted after Nehemiah, her scream fading into silence.
Quinn took a few deep breaths. He pressed his hands into the courtyard bricks, the snow frosting the ground a welcome chill against his sweaty palms. He smiled and let a laugh slip, scrambling to his feet. “We did it!”
Maisie turned. She smiled, though it was only half-hearted. “We did.”
Quinn’s overflowing joy slowed to a trickle. “For now.”
“For now. They’ll be back in minutes, I’m afraid.”
Heidi jumped to her feet. She ran to Quinn and wrapped her arms around him. “You had me scared for a minute. I thought you’d join them, but then the hopper—what an idea! I bet Mr. Crawford doesn’t hit the ground until he’s in Canada!”
“I thought Nehemiah might be looking for an offensive spell. He never expected a leap spell.”
“A leap spell from you might as well be offensive. He probably still doesn’t know what happened,” she said with a giggle.
Billy burst from the crowd of students and sprinted across the courtyard. “That. Was. Awesome!”
He reached Quinn and playfully punched him in the shoulder. “Look at you with the glowing eyes. You’re a magician now, Quinn, just like you wanted.”
Quinn turned in the direction Nehemiah disappeared. He knew, somehow, the librarian would survive. Already he could feel the old man’s power thumping like a giant’s heartbeat on the horizon. “He’ll be back, though.” Quinn stared at Maisie. “I can’t stay here. You know I can’t.”
“I can try to keep you safe,” she said, but like her smile he knew she only half meant it.
“I know you’d try, but it’s not me I’m worried about, it’s all the students. Besides, the talented think I’m the Misfit King now. They’ll put me in prison. I came to Wimbly’s to get away from that and I’m not about to let it happen now. You’ve got a few minutes. Get everyone out of here.”
“What will you do then?” Maisie asked. “The misfits want your power. They’ll hunt you down. You can’t do this alone.”
Heidi straightened. “He’s not alone.”
“Yeah,” Billy chimed in. “He’s got us.”
“Absolutely not,” Maisie said, crossing her arms.
Billy faced Quinn. “Listen, we’re in this together. We can’t just go back to the way we were before this all happened. No one will ever trust Heidi again seeing as how her mom’s the Witch Queen of the West, and I’m guilty by association. If they don’t put me in prison they’ll use me to get to you. You know that.”
“I never meant to bring you into this,” Quinn said.
“Get over it, geez.” Billy rolled his eyes. “I’m going with you because I want to. It’s my choice as your friend. Got it?”
Maisie cleared her throat. “Did you not hear me? Your parents—”
“I’m sorry, Ms. Callahan, but you know I’m right.” Billy crossed his arms. “You can’t stop us, not unless Quinn wants you to.”
Her lips twisted in a frustrated line and her cheeks flushed red. She glared at Quinn. “Quinn…”
“We’ve got to make things right,” he said. “I’m sorry, Ms. Callahan, but we have to go and you have to get the other kids out of here. Nehemiah will be back, and if we’re with you everyone’s in danger. He’ll use Heidi and Billy against me if they stay here. I’ve got to keep them safe.”
An argument bubbled on her lips, but instead of shouting she shook her head and asked, “What will you do, then?”
Quinn glanced at Donal’s statue. “There has to be a way to stop Nehemiah. We’ve just got to find it before the misfits take over.”
“Fine.” She twisted away and marched toward the other talented magicians. She paused halfway, glancing over her shoulder. “You’re right, though. Magicians and misfits will be hunting you. Once you leave the island, you’re on your own. Consider this my last piece of advice: No librarian has ever broken the bonds that tie them to their library, and a librarian’s power alone is greater than any talented magician’s. Don’t think for a second that because you gained magic from the trial you’ll be his equal. You are a threat, and threat’s and equals are two very different things. If you really want to stop Nehemiah, you’ll need to learn as much about him and the binding ritual as possible. Good luck, Quinn Lynch. I’m sure we will speak again.”
Quinn nodded. Maisie’s gaze flicked toward Donal’s statue one last time, her brow contorting in a sea of emotions that she quickly tucked away. She reached Egon and Cynthia. Mr. Pennington scowled at Quinn. Ms. Doyle lifted her chin and stared darkly through her spectacles. Maisie turned them toward the children, and together they began casting the spells that would take Wimbly’s former students far from the fallen school.
Quinn cracked his knuckles and wagged his fingers. “Ready?”
“So ready,” Heidi said.
“Ready,” Billy echoed. “Let’s go save the world.”
Quinn cast his hopper spell. He grabbed Heidi and Billy and stomped hard as he could against the courtyard. Their feet left the ground, and the island shrank into a speck in less than a second. Clouds swallowed them, and the campus vanished. Quinn closed his eyes and said goodbye to the Wimbly School of Arts Arcana, knowing full well his life and all the danger it would bring had just begun.
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A. B. Bradley, Welcome to Wimbly's
