Thanks for the reviews, everyone!

Mell: Yeah, I am trying to change up my usual writing style. Story flow has always been an issue with me, so I'm trying to slow down the pace by adding in more thoughts and description. And of course, thank you so much for your other nice compliments. :)

ThePenIsMighty: Thanks for your review! Harper is not going along with the Russos, but I will be switching between them and what's going on back home.

Chapter 4

Much to Alex's frustration, after hours of spell-casting and searching the Wiz Web, they'd made absolutely no progress whatsoever in finding their parents. Impatiently, she flipped through a magazine while her brother sat at the kitchen counter using the computer, running yet another locator spell application. Max sat on the couch, looking through the spell books they'd brought up from the lair, attempting to make sense of the advanced texts. Since Justin had taken over, Max was determined to make himself useful, even if it meant staring at a page for an hour, or until he understood it.

Feeling useless, Harper had gone back down to her room, claiming she wanted to work on a dress. Reluctantly, Alex suspected it was also an excuse to avoid Justin, who had been acting odd whenever Harper was in the room. Alex was even more perplexed when her older brother actually let out a sigh of relief when her best friend left.

What's going on there?

Then again, she probably didn't want to know. And she couldn't worry about meddling until this emergency situation was over.

"Is it done now?" Alex finally asked Justin. Unsure how else to be productive, she'd been looking through a magazine as usual, trying to think of other resources they might be missing. But since she didn't have any more ideas yet, the wait for their latest attempt was driving her crazy.

Already frustrated, Justin glared at her. "Oh, yeah," he deadpanned. "I totally found Mom and Dad. I've just been waiting for that perfect moment to tell you."

Alex rolled her eyes. "Sarcasm is very annoying on you, Justin."

"Isn't it for everyone?"

"No, on me it's adorable," Alex retorted with a smile. She then put down her magazine and went over to look over her brother's shoulder at the computer. The page was blank except for a rotating hour glass. "That's it? We've been sitting here for an hour!"

Justin sighed. "I know. I think Judgment is interfering here. Every application has been like this." He put his head in his hands. "And I'm not sure what else to try."

As she stared at the screen, Alex remembered another time they couldn't use the Wiz Web to locate someone. And their backup plan. "The Jack-in-the-Box!" she exclaimed.

"You broke it, remember?"

"Oh. Honestly, I just assumed you'd fixed it."

Shaking his head, Justin replied, "I haven't needed it. I always used the Wiz Web."

Curious, Max looked up from his book. "What are you guys talking about?" When they explained about using the magical Jack-in-the-Box to find Stevie's brother, Max frowned, upset they couldn't use it anymore. "Are you sure you can't fix it?" At his siblings' negative answers, he said, "Too bad we couldn't just toss it into the magical wash tub that fixed my wizard robe."

"Yeah, too bad..." Alex began, then her eyes widened and she glanced at her older brother, who was having the same thought.

Justin shrugged. "Couldn't hurt to try."

Minutes later, they'd carried the wash tub up to the loft, and gotten the broken Jack-in-the-Box from the lair. Max drop the two pieces, puppet and box, in the tub. They held their breath, anxiously waiting as the water bubbled. And when they pulled it back out...sure enough, the Jack-in-the-Box looked like new again, better than it did even before Alex broke it.

Max smirked triumphantly. "See? Some of my ideas are good ones."

For once, his siblings couldn't disagree.

"Okay, here it goes," Justin said. He began winding the Box, letting the music play for a good minute or two, before finally stopping. They gathered around, eagerly waiting for the clown puppet's results.

When the top popped up, "Jack" smiled up at them. "Thank you for fixing me!" he first said to Max...then glared at guilty Alex, clearly remembering what she had done to him.

"Yeah, sorry about that," Alex said. It took all of her willpower to keep the sarcasm out of her voice, as she apologized to a doll. "My bad."

The apology accepted, Jack happily announced, "Jerry and Theresa Russo are in one of several Wizard Council Locations."

Then he ducked back in his box, and the lid slammed closed. Alex and her brothers stared in disbelief. "Way to be specific," she remarked.

Wizard Council Locations. Oh, guano.

Justin tried not to let his nerves distract him from his search while he tore the lair apart, looking for a magical object he hadn't even thought about in a long time. His siblings had been mystified by the Box's results, and true, he'd also been a little confused. But for a much different reason.

How could this happen?

"Locations" were meeting areas in the Wizard World specifically created and reserved for the Council, which used them for ceremonies that required top security, like transferring of power, or inducting important members. They were protected by the top security magic out there, to provide a safe haven against the Council's many enemies, who always tried to strike at such ceremonies, when all the VIP members were gathered in one place.

What puzzled Justin was that these Locations were so secret, so secure, that even Judgment should not have been able to use one of them for its own convenience. Sure, the Council wasn't against this odd, mysterious being, but as far as Justin knew, they weren't allied with it either. In fact, Justin suspected the Council feared unknown Judgment...and so, wouldn't allow it access to their precious Locations. So, either the Council had a rare change of heart, or...

Judgment was more powerful than the Wizard Council.

Double guano.

But since that newfound understanding didn't really change his current problem, Justin put it aside for the moment and continued his search. When he was learning about the Council in one of his WizTech classes, he'd discussed the topic with his father, who'd been very involved in wizard politics before giving up his powers. After a class on the Locations, his father had revealed that he had a highly-coveted Key thanks to his association with Professor Crumbs and the Council. The Key enabled wizards to create a portal wherever they were, and transport to the Location where the current meeting was being held.

Fortunately, Jerry had told Justin where he'd hidden the Russo family Key.

Unfortunately, Justin didn't remember exactly where that was.

"Where would Dad hide something..." Justin said to himself, just standing and looking around. He'd already checked in all of the books and most of the magical knickknacks. At least he knew it was in the lair, so he had to stumble across it eventually. Of course, his first thought was to use magic somehow, but chances were that his father had made sure such an important object couldn't be detected by amateur spells.

But Justin was willing to try that anyway if he didn't find this stupid key in the next five minutes.

Soon after he resumed his search, Justin was startled when Harper walked in. He'd been so wrapped up in looking for the key, that he nearly jumped when she appeared in his line of vision. "Hey Justin," she greeted. "What do you want for lunch? Max and Alex are making their sandwiches. They didn't care what you wanted, but I figured I'd ask since the cold cuts are still on the counter."

"Oh, uh, thanks Harper," Justin said, realizing he was getting hungry again. "I'll be out in a second, just want to put some of these books back on the shelf."

Harper shrugged. "I'll make you a sandwich if you want. Not like I've got anything better to do."

"That's nice of you, but I need a break anyway," Justin assured her. At first he'd been annoyed at his siblings for quitting the search a half hour in. But they had the right idea. Finding the key was turning out to be a more lengthy task than they thought, so frequent breaks would keep them all from getting too frustrated.

"Yeah, um..." Harper began quickly, a nervous tone to her voice. "I have another question." At Justin's anxious, but curious, expression, she asked, "Are we okay? You've been a little weird ever since...well, Friday, I think. Are you mad at me? Did I do something to make you mad somehow..."

Embarrassed, Justin lowered his eyes, and his heart started racing. He felt awful she thought that, but at the same time...well, what was he supposed to say? That he'd been wondering what it would be like to date her? "No! Not at all! I've...I...I guess it's just this whole mess," he lied. "All I can think about is this Judgment, so..."

"Oh, right! Duh! Look at me, being all self-centered," Harper said with a forced laugh. "Sorry! It's just that, we're friends now, and I wanted to make sure we were cool."

Justin nodded. "Yeah, we're, uh, very cool."

Then, suddenly, there was tension again. An uncomfortable silence that made them both look at the ceiling, floors, anywhere but each other's eyes. Determined to get past it, they made direct eye contact. Not sure what they were doing, they moved closer, slowly, and Justin found himself thinking this would be the perfect moment for their first, real kiss...

Their trance was broken when they both realized what they were about to do, and snapped out of it. They shook their heads, gasping, in disbelief of what had been about to happen. "Zeke!" Harper sputtered, unable to form a coherent sentence.

"Right," Justin agreed as he waited for his heart to slow down. "Zeke."

Later that afternoon, Harper was still in shock, replaying the scene in her head, wondering if her imagination had tricked her into thinking the discussion had been more than just that. Had Justin really been about to kiss her? She'd fantasized about it happening so much over the years, that she didn't trust her perception of their interaction in the lair. Maybe all that tension had been in her head, and she was overreacting as usual...

But no. Even as they sat in the loft, with Zeke in the same room, she caught Justin looking at her, guilt on his face. Even Alex noticed, glancing between her brother and her best friend, clearly wondering what in the world was going on between them.

All this would have to wait until the Russos returned, though. If they returned.

While it broke her heart, Harper watched as the siblings gathered around the dining area table, putting supplies into their backpacks, trying to think of what survival gear they might need. Justin warned them that Wizard Council "Locations" limited the amount of magic a wizard could use, so they would need backup potions and power enhancers. However, Harper noticed that Max was filling his backpack with mostly snacks and, oddly enough, clean underwear.

Reluctantly curious, Harper went over to the table. "Um, Max? I don't think you'll be gone that long." She paused. "And frankly I'm shocked you change your underwear every day."

Max shrugged. "Mom was mad at me for not bringing underwear to Puerto Rico."

"Okay then," Harper replied, then walked away. That's what you get for knowing you shouldn't ask, but asking anyway, she thought. She went back over to the living area, where Zeke and Mason were sitting down and chatting. They'd been informed of the Russos' impending journey, so they made sure to stop by before their friends left.

Since the boys were into their discussion, Harper sat next to her boyfriend on the couch. "Okay, dude, important question," Zeke was saying. "Werewolves versus robots. Who would win? I say robots."

"Excuse me?" Mason exclaimed, insulted. "You really think a tin can is superior to a half-man, half-beast? I could rip into a robot just as easily as a cute, delicious little deer in the forest."

Zeke shook his head. "You're forgetting one thing. Robots have lasers."

"Guys, are you serious?" Harper finally interrupted. "Your friends..." She pointed at Mason. "Your girlfriend. They're about to go charging in to a life-threatening situation, and you're just sitting here..."

"Uh, Harper?"

Embarrassed, Harper turned around at Justin's call. "Yes?"

"We," he said, indicating himself and his siblings, "still have some stuff to talk about. So it's actually better that you guys aren't standing around, staring at us."

At that, Zeke and Mason instantly resumed their conversation. Harper shook her head, then went over to where the Russos were talking about their trip. "Okay, I have to ask," she said. "What's the deal with these 'Wizard Council Locations'? Are they dangerous, or are you just going to check each one and be home by dinner?"

"It's...it's complicated," Justin explained. "First, we'll have to hope that Council security doesn't pick up that we're not supposed to be there. Then, well...see, Council members only use each Location a few times each year, if that. So when a Location is empty for a long time...other...things...tend to use it as a hideout or a lair, since the security only picks up wizard magic. Actually, I was just explaining that to Alex and Max."

Alex nodded. "Yup. But I'm not worried. Vampires, dark angels...whatever that thing was that we found under Max's bed...we've seen it all."

"Yeah, that thing under Max's bed was pretty scary," Justin agreed. "But yeah, I'd say we've handled more than the average wizards-in-training. If anyone can do this, it's us."

His head tilted in thought, Max asked, "What did happen to Slimy?"

"You named it?" Alex asked, amused.

"Well, he was under my bed for a while," Max replied. "It would've been rude if I didn't give him a name." He paused. "Or her, I guess."

The others shook their heads and resumed packing. Justin took out what looked like a hotel room key, except it was made out of smooth, polished wood, and glowed with moving, purple light. "Okay, this is a Location Key. I found it under Dad's recliner seat cushion in the lair."

"Ew," Alex and Harper chorused, knowing how often Jerry took naps there.

"Yeah, I know," Justin said with a grimace. "Anyway, this key will let us into one of the nine Locations. From there, we'll have to look for the hidden door to get to the next one. The key will change color when we find it. Thanks to Judgment, the Location with Mom and Dad will no doubt be the last one we check."

As she looked at her friends' worried expressions, Harper was reminded of how serious this was; how they might not be returning. Despite their claims that they'd be fine, the Russo siblings were thinking about their parents, and their own questionable fate. Harper wished she could go with to help them somehow. But realistically, she knew that as a mortal, she'd only get in the way. Briefly the siblings had considered asking Mason to go with them, since he had werewolf abilities, but Justin had argued against that idea. Judgment had targeted them, and Mason would definitely put himself in harm's way if he went along.

"It doesn't seem right," Harper remarked. "Why does the Council let this thing push wizards around? I know you said it's this ancient force is supposedly good, but...kidnapping, putting people in danger for no reason at all... Doesn't sound so 'good' to me."

The siblings traded glances, knowing she had a point, but not sure what to say. Justin shrugged. "Not much we can do about it, Harper."

About a later, the Russos were finally ready to leave. They'd changed into more appropriate clothes - sweatshirts, jeans and boots that would hopefully endure whatever they were thrown into. Their backpacks on, they at least looked like they were prepared for their search. While Justin and Max said good-bye to her and Zeke, Alex and Mason went off to the side, silently hugging each other.

Harper made herself remember to breath when she faced Justin, who was also uncomfortable. "So, uh...good luck," she began. She wasn't sure if she should acknowledge their possible feelings for each other, or leave it ignored, and hope somehow they'd be back to normal when he returned.

Apparently, Justin went for the first option. "Look, um, I'm really sorry about...earlier. It won't be a problem when I get back, I promise."

While she wanted to believe him, she really did, Harper just couldn't when he didn't sound so confident he could make that happen. "Don't even think of it," Harper assured him. "You'll have more important problems, I'm sure."

Soon enough, the three wizards stood together, while their friends nervously looked on. Justin took out the Key, held it in the air, then dramatically slashed it down. Much to Harper and Zeke's amazement, a frameless doorway appeared, just big enough for the siblings to step though, the other side nothing but swirling purple light that matched the Key's design. With one last glance back at their friends, the siblings stepped through, and the doorway instantly closed behind them.