It had been a week since Baz left. Penny was busy researching new spells (When life gives you lemons) and Baz was at university. I was bored out of my skull.
I had been trying not to think about Ebb. She was so powerful! And yet… she knew what she wanted. Goats. I guess that it's my fault she's dead. Or is it the Mage's fault?
So I'm not left with much to do… and after Watford, I have no idea what's next.
University? Nah. Too late to sign up. See Baz? Nope. He's at his dad's trying to find some of the Mage's old supporters.
There's not much room for a magician without magic. I was right from the beginning—I am—a Normal.
What do I do now?
I guess I could call Baz.
I punch in his number—555-VAM-PIRE and hit CALL.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
"Hey Snow. Why'd you call?"
"I have nothing to do. Once you save all the World of Mages…"
"Not much left for you to do? No, I get it."
"Where are you?"
"Driving to Cheshire. I'll see you later."
He hangs up. I sigh.
That's when he—Baz—comes crashing through the window above my head.
His arm was bleeding. He looked terrible. He looked me in the eye.
"Simon. I'm coming. Don't trust me. Bye."
He closes his eyes. Penny enters the room, wide-eyed.
"Did you hear that?"
"Yeah. We'd better get him up to a bed. Are we there yet?"
He hovers up the stairs, blood dripping everywhere. I follow her as she mutters healing spells. We walk into her bedroom and she closes the door.
"But I called him less than a minute ago! It's impossible that he could've answered in this state!"
"Weird. And then he said he was coming. Unless—"
The doorbell rings.
I go and get it.
It's Baz, of course.
"Hey Snow. I was just wondering how you are, so I stopped by. Can I have some tea? It's eleven o'clock."
I decide to prepare the tea. I turn around so I'm not facing Baz, make the tea, but when I turn back around, Baz is gone.
What is going on?
"Penny?"
"Penny!"
"PENNY!"
She doesn't answer. I go up to her room, where she and Baz were last, but now Injured Baz is there, unconscious, and Penny's gone. Her window is open. I look at Baz.
What the hell just happened there?
I pat him gently. I run my fingers through his hair. I talk to him.
He doesn't wake up.
I close the window. It's obvious that Door Baz must have taken Penny somewhere. But why?
I sit down on Penny's bed, next to Baz. The blood on the floor has congealed.
But how? It's been less than five minutes?
The doorbell rings.
I don't answer it.
I search for clues. The congealed blood, the fact that Window Baz is still here, and that Door Baz must've not seen him…
And the fact that there's more than one Baz…