Agatha

My parents and I are the last to arrive at Penelope's house. My mother insisted on touching up her make-up before we left. I told her the Bunces don't care, but she ignored me.

They don't know why I'm taking them here. I refused to tell them anything on the way. I was just trying to keep up the nerve to make it to Penelope's. All they know is that it's about Simon and that it's important.

Penelope led us straight to the dining room when we arrived. It is the only room big enough in the house for everyone to sit. Baz's stepmother, Daphne, was making polite chitchat with the Bunces while she drank her tea. Mr. Grimm was seated next to Daphne and across from Baz's aunt. Fiona looked like she was trying to touch as little as possible (including the tea that was quickly going cold in front of her) and Mr. Grimm kept frowning at his surroundings. I'm sure it's a far cry from the elegance of their own home.

My parents sit down next to the Grimms and I sit in the only remaining chair between Baz and Penelope. Our parents make a perfect 'U' around us, with Penelope's parents across from each other at either end of the table.

I assume this is what it would have felt like if I had testified before the Coven in person about the Mage's death. I feel like I am on trial now.

"Alright Agatha. We're here. What is this all about?" my mother says impatiently.

Baz and I look over at Penelope. She leans over and pulls out a few of the Mage's journals. I see Lucy's letter sticking out of the top one.

"Mum do you remember when you told us about your old friend Lucy?" she begins.

Penelope

I finish reading Lucy's letter aloud to everyone and pass it over to my mum. Her hand is shaking when she takes it and she puts her fingers lightly over her mouth as she reads it again silently.

We told our parents (and Baz's aunt) everything about what we saw at the cottage and gave a fuller account of what happened the night the Humdrum was defeated in the Chapel. We told them how we found the journals and the truth about how Baz's mum died. We did still leave out the part about Baz being turned.

Mr. Grimm barely moved when we spoke about the late Headmistress. That man is even more guarded about his emotions than Baz. Daphne had just taken his hand and rubbed his arm as he processed the revelation quietly.

Fiona was less quiet. "That bastard!" she yelled. Baz had to "Make a Wish' her palm before she lit our table on fire.

"Penelope," my dad says, taking my attention off my mum. "You mentioned Simon has been doing some magic again- since you came back from America. Like the rosebushes at the cottage."

"Yeah," I nod.

"Did Simon's magic anchor in you Penelope?" my mother asks, looking up from the letter. "You've been best friends since your first year."

I'm about to respond, but Daphne beats me to it.

"No," she says as she looks at Baz. She gives him a soft smile and nearly whispers "It's you, isn't it?"

Baz looks down at the table, and nods once silently. His dad takes his hand away from Daphne and he suddenly seems very interested in looking at something out the window. Agatha's parents both raise their eyebrows and lean a little away from the table.

My dad breaks the long stretch of silence. "It's curious," he begins to wonder and then seems to get lost in his own thoughts.

"What's curious?" I ask, trying to get him to refocus.

"My assistant phoned me yesterday. The dead spots are starting to shrink." Everyone looks at my father now.

He holds up his arms defensively. "Not by much, but some have shrunk a couple meters in the past week since Simon…"

"Since Snow started to use his magic again?" Baz asks hopefully.

"Yes- I believe so. He might be reversing the effects." He gives Baz an encouraging smile.

"Malcom!" Daphne exclaims. "We could move back to Hampshire with the girls!"

I think Mr. Grimm is still not thrilled about his son's relationship with Simon being discussed in public, but his eyes light up as he considers this possibility. I know Baz's family was devastated about moving. Even though they had a perfectly good back-up mansion up North. My sister Priya once told Baz she was mad that he didn't have any brothers so she could "marry rich and be set for life." Simon had laughed and told her not to worry- that he'd share his future allowance from Baz with her.

Thinking about Simon again brings me back to the grim reality that I might lose that memory (and all the other ones of him) forever.

"There's more," I begin again. "Simon was taken last night. By his uncle Christopher."

"Kit?" Agatha's mother asks surprised. "Last I heard he was working in a restaurant in London and completely infatuated with that guitarist boyfriend of his who only covered Def Leppard songs."

I pretend not to notice when Baz chokes on his tea at the word 'boyfriend.'

Agatha's mum continues. "It was quite the gossip at the time. It's not surprising Lady Salisbury stopped talking about either of her children after a while. But what in the world would he want with Simon?"

"It's not what Christopher wants with him," Baz says as he shakes his head. "It's the Mage."

Baz recounts what he learned about the Mage's resurrection and plan when he was dreamwalking (my mother was very curious about the spell we used- I can't wait to finally introduce her to Shepard after all of this).

I'm surprised when Mr. Grimm speaks next. He's barely uttered a word since he arrived.

"I'll light myself aflame like Natasha before I see that man in power again. I never trusted that Snow boy either. As soon at the Mage returns, there he is doing his bidding like a dutiful little-"

Baz gets up faster than humanly possible and slams his fists into the table. "Shut up father!" he yells.

The whole room freezes, but Baz isn't finished.

"Don't you get it? Simon isn't doing this out of loyalty to the Mage. He's doing this to save Lucy and the goatherd. To take back the dead spots he created. And to save me from both turning and losing my mother in the worst moment of my life!" he shouts.

The meaning of his words quickly register and Dr. Wellbelove stands up swiftly and points his wand at Baz. I reach for my amethyst, but am surprised to see Agatha has already moved to stand in front of Baz as a shield.

"Dad, don't," she says sternly. She has her wand out now, too. I stay seated, but my gem is in my fist, ready to go if I need it.

"He's a vampire!" Dr. Wellbelove shouts.

"He saved my life in America. He nearly died doing it." Dr. Wellbelove's arm lowers slightly as shock spreads over his face.

"So yes he's a vampire, but he's not a villain." Agatha juts her chin out like Simon does when he has the upper hand. "Let's focus our energy on the man that did try to kill me, shall we?"

Dr. Wellbelove looks around the room and quickly realizes he's the only one that seems concerned about sharing a table with a vampire. I'm starting to wonder if my parents already knew. They didn't even flinch at Baz's comment earlier. Agatha's mum hasn't moved, but I think it is more out of shock than acceptance. Her eyes are wide.

Dr. Wellbelove finally sighs and reluctantly puts his wand away as he sit down. His eyes keep shifting over to Baz warily, though.

I hear Fiona say "I like her," as she elbows Baz when he and Agatha sit down again.

Baz

My dad finally looks up at me. "Basilton, I'm sorry…" he starts to apologize but I hold my hand up to stop him and turn to address everyone at the table.

"Simon Snow is the greatest mage and man I have ever known. I'd trust him with my life. But he's wrong that our world would be better off without him. Both our mothers and Ebb wouldn't want the Mage to get his way in the end, even if it meant sacrificing themselves." I notice my aunt and Bunce's mother both nodding solemnly.

"As for me," I pause and take a deep breath. "My fate was sealed long before Simon entered my life. I had already lost so much by the time we met. But he found a way to make me whole. And I'll be damned twice over before I let the Mage take him away from me." I clench my fists on the table resolutely.

"Baz and I are going to confront the Mage with or without you," Bunce continues. "But since this spell will affect all of our lives, we felt you deserved the choice of whether to help us or not."

Daphne reaches out and puts her hand over mine. "I'm in," she says. "And not just to protect my daughters' futures, but also my son's." She smiles at me so kindly and full of love that I have to look away. I can only manage to turn my palm up and grasp her hand. She squeezes it back.

"Yes," my father agrees. "The Mage has taken enough from us. It's time to put an end to it." He puts a hand on Daphne's shoulder.

"Well I've been ready to fry the devil since I was a teenager. Might get my chance now," Fiona says as she claps me on the back. "When do we leave?"

"We can't go yet," Bunce's mum cuts in.

"Why?" I ask, aggravation creeping into my voice. "We've already wasted hours just talking. Snow doesn't have much time left."

"Davy was always obsessed with the extra magic of certain days and times. He won't start the ritual until after dark on the night of the new moon. If we try to get Simon before then, he won't be distracted. He'll be ready for us. And if they escape, we won't be able to find them again in time," she explains.

"You're going to help us?" Bunce asks looking at her mother surprised.

"Of course we're going to help you," her dad answers. "Simon was practically part of our family those months he stayed with us after the Humdrum was defeated."

"And it's what Lucy was asking of me," her mother adds, quickly wiping away a tear at the corner of her eye.

"Agatha," Dr. Wellbelove begins softly, "Are you sure you want to get involved in this?"

Wellbelove is quiet for a moment as she makes her decision. "Simon never hesitated to save me. I ran away once. I'm not doing it again." She looks over at me. "I'm not very powerful, but I'll do whatever I can to help."

"You were pretty powerful when we were burning those vampires to the ground in Nevada," Bunce chimes in. Wellbelove and I immediately glare at her.

"You were killing vampires in America?" Bunce's mother asks in that tone that only comes from a parent right before they issue a horrible punishment.

Bunce winces under her mother's scowl. I speak up on her behalf.

"If we succeed in saving Simon, I promise we'll tell you all about it," I say.

Fiona leans over and whispers into my ear "I'd like to be here for that."

Agatha looks up expectantly at her parents. They share a long look with each other and then her mother says shakily "We're with you darling."

Bunce lets out a heavy breath. "Okay, so the first step is how to get to Simon. As Baz explained, we know he's in the nursery, but no one's found it in years."

"I have a theory about that," Bunce's father says as he clasps his hands together on the table. He turns to me. "The day of the attack in the nursery- a vampire bit you, correct?" He asks me this directly, like a scientist going over the facts of a case study.

At the other end of the table, Dr. Wellbelove closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his nose. I ignore him. "Yes," I say.

"Your blood was spilled in that room. If it is spilled again, the room should reveal itself to you," he explains.

I think about all the times Snow would cut his hand to access our room at Watford instead of using his wand. Blood magic has always been very powerful, especially on Watford's grounds.

"Yes," the Headmistress confirms. "I was thinking the same thing." She sits up straighter and continues. "I'm going to work on evacuating the remainder of the school guard and faculty. Most of them have still not completely recovered from the last attack, and I won't put them at risk again."

She looks over at Bunce's father. "You need to tell Premal. He can stay here and protect the kids."

"What are we going to do with the girls?" Daphne asks my father.

"I can watch over them with you," Wellbelove's mother volunteers. She looks embarrassed for offering, knowing it will take her away from the fight.

Bunce's mum notices her expression and reaches over to take her hand. "It's okay. We need someone to get word to the Coven if we don't…" She doesn't finish her sentence. If we don't succeed, the timeline will change and it won't matter who fought. But there is a possibility of both sides failing and the Mage escaping. She's right that we need someone to alert a second wave.

"I have to be there," Daphne says firmly. "My daughters could disappear if the Mage prevails. I need to know I did everything I could for them." My father nods next to her in agreement.

"We'll bring the girls to you on our way to Watford tomorrow night. I think they'll be safer at your home," he says to Wellbelove's mother, who looks a little more confident now that she has a clear part to play.

"The sun sets at a quarter after nine. We should be in place outside the Weeping Tower at 9 pm. Be ready for a fight," Bunce's mother warns. "Davy was insufferable, but he was also unmoving when it came to getting what he wants. He will do everything he can to ensure the spell goes through. We need to be ready for anything." She stands up. "I have to go start making calls."

The rest of the parents and my aunt start making arrangements and discussing strategy. Bunce motions for Wellbelove and I to follow her out into the hallway.

When we're out of earshot, she says happily "Well, that went well."

Wellbelove looks at her incredulously. "Except when you mentioned us killing vampires in America, Penelope!"

"You had already told them Baz saved your life!" she exclaims and then points a finger into my chest. "And you told them what you are!" Her voice sounds aggravated, but her facial expression shows a hint of approval.

I shrug. "Now I won't have to hold back tomorrow."

Mentioning tomorrow turns the mood somber again between the three of us.

Wellbelove breaks the silence first. "I need to get my parents back home. I think I'll just stay with them until it's time."

Bunce nods and turns to me. "We should probably go make sure Shepard is still alive. Let me just go grab some things from my room." She leaves me and Wellbelove standing awkwardly in the hallway.

"Thank you," I say quietly. She looks up into my eyes but doesn't say anything. "For defending me in there and for helping us. I know you didn't want to stay…" She puts her arms around me and hugs me before I can finish my sentence.

"I'm part of the team now, remember?" she says with her chin resting on my shoulder. I smile and hug her back.