The Arcadia Oaks Museum had never looked less inviting.
Jim, Claire, Douxie, Blinky, NotEnrique, and Barbara arrived a hundred yards outside the building via shadow portal just as El Guerito sped by, followed by Newberry's Camry, which looked more like something from a video game than a car.
The vehicle passed so close to Jim the wind knocked him backward, one hand shielding his face.
"Steady," Blinky said.
"At least she didn't see us," Jim said. "Not sure how though."
The group sprinted for the museum and burst inside the ruined building just as Newberry turned down the only intact hallway in pursuit of the taco truck.
"Anybody know where this leads?" said Jim.
"Pottery." Barbara pointed to a lopsided sign that hung from the wall by one screw.
"I can portal us closer. We don't have to take the long way," Claire said between ragged breaths.
"No. You've portaled us everywhere today. You're exhausted," Jim said.
"Yeah, I am." A tremble in Claire's hand betrayed her fatigue. "Truth is, I'll be lucky to make it wherever we're heading. Go on without me if you need to."
Jim took her hand. "I'm not leaving anybody behind."
Everyone ran after the flying taco truck and Camry, Claire and Jim at the rear of the pack.
Halfway to the pottery exhibit, the Akiridion communicator chimed in Jim's pocket.
"Got—cornered. Get—quick!" Stuart's image was still grainy and choppy, which didn't make sense.
"This doesn't feel right," said Douxie as he matched pace with Jim and Claire. "We could be walking into a trap." He shot a glance behind them.
"That might be, but we've got to try," said Jim as they rounded the final turn and pulled up short.
Cornered in a deep, low-ceilinged nook was Newberry's Camry, high beams on.
El Guerito turned sideways, blocking her exit. Unless she rammed the ceiling or Stuart's truck, or tunneled through the floor, she couldn't escape, not even through the four-foot-square hole in the museum roof.
"Come on out," Stuart shouted over the taco truck's engine. "We're not gonna hurt you."
No movement from Newberry's car.
"Don't make us come get you," called Krel.
Still nothing.
"Eli, show her what we've got," said Krel.
From the back of El Guerito, Eli emerged with what appeared to be a small rocket launcher—likely Krel's invention—but on closer inspection, the thing fired bowl like blue discs that sizzled with energy. Eli took aim at the Camry and fired two rounds, one to the front bumper and the other to the driver's side door.
Both shots hit, and the Camry shuddered. Its headlights flickered out, and the vehicle clattered to the floor, lifeless.
Krel and Stuart swarmed the Camry.
"There's no one in here," Krel called to Jim. "Newberry's gone."
Jim dashed over. "What about a wooden box? You see one?"
"You mean this?" Bianca Newberry stood behind them in the entryway, box in hand. "You lot are so predictable. Truthfully, I'm insulted. A basic repellent charm? Even someone new to this business can recite every charm known to magic. I expected much more from you." She fixed a device to the wall and pressed an open palm to it before whispering something indiscernible.
A web of green energy danced across the exit and cut off access to the hole in the roof, trapping them inside the pottery exhibit.
"I want the forest child's heart." Newberry held out an open hand to Douxie. "Hand it over, or I'll take it, wizard."
"Nari gave her heart to me for a reason. I won't let you take it." Douxie's hand hovered over his magical bracelet.
"Try to stop me." Newberry took a defiant stance.
Douxie recited an incantation, but his bracelet didn't respond. He tried to summon his staff. Nothing.
"Get us out of here," Jim whispered to Claire.
"That won't work either," Newberry sang as Claire struggled to rip open a shadow portal, only to collapse, breathing hard. "Anyone else have something they want to try?"
With a blood-curdling yell, Blinky rushed Newberry, brandishing a slab of broken pottery in two hands. "Foul woman! Be gone from us and take your infernal magics with you!"
Newberry sidestepped, and Blinky crashed into the green webbing over the entrance, only to be hurled back into the room and land on his slighted rear.
"Eat this, crazy lady!" Eli fired three sizzling discs at Newberry, but she dodged them all with little effort.
Newberry shook her head. "The forest child's heart. Now. Before anyone really gets hurt."
Douxie stood his ground. "Not. Going. To. Happen."
Jim whipped out his amulet. His side ached from running, but he wasn't willing to let Newberry win. "For the good of all, Daylight is mine to command!"
The amulet didn't even tick.
Jim sped to the taco truck and grabbed his sword. If he couldn't use his armor, at least he had Excalibur.
Barbara took basic Krav Maga stance, and Claire looked ready to clobber Newberry with her bare hands.
"The old man was right. You lot are thick-headed. I'm disappointed." Newberry raised the wooden box over her head and hurled it to the floor.
It cracked open, and soil spilled into a scattered pile.
"Last chance to hand it over peacefully," Newberry said.
No one moved to obey.
"Guess I'll have to take it."