Yeah, that's kind of a long story.
Everythings a long story with u
Tell me about u and Constance.
No good, Alex, stop deflecting
Look, Anna and me spoke on the phone for like an hour.
Okay
Not deflecting but believe it or not serious shit is actually happening in Larkin Mills right now gotta go.
Claudia was perplexed and grateful. She wanted to know what Alexandra had done to convince Archie.
Alexandra told her, "I didn't do anything. I think it's you."
The conversation with Drucilla, when Claudia handed her the phone, was harder. Lucilla and Drucilla would quickly realize what had happened, so Alexandra told her the truth. There was a long silence on the line afterward.
"I know I should have told Diana to undo the curse," Alexandra said. "But I didn't. I didn't know what else to do. Archie wasn't gonna leave. So I let her do it. I mean, technically I didn't. But why did she offer to undo it?"
"To compromise you," Drucilla replied. "She could have just done it and left, and you would have been blameless. But she wanted you to own a share of the responsibility. Now you do, and you must live with that, Alexandra."
"Do you hate me?"
She almost welcomed Drucilla's judgment. Drucilla was harsher than her twin, and while she was not cruel, she was also not often kind. She was honest, direct, and rarely wrong.
"Of course I don't," Drucilla said. "Diana Grimm put you in a moral dilemma. She is undoubtedly conflicted herself. I can forgive her for struggling to come to terms with her own complicity. But I have a harder time forgiving her for intentionally compromising her niece. That was just spiteful."
"What will you do?"
"When Archie arrives, Lucilla and I will undo the Imperius Curse. Then we will sit down with him and Claudia and have a very long, serious discussion. We will take our time and let him and Claudia think about their options. I hope we will, in the end, persuade him to come with us to Europe. In the meantime, I can't say that I'm much happier than Claudia about you staying behind in Larkin Mills by yourself. A sixteen-year-old on her own is bad enough, but a sixteen-year-old who happens to be the second most-wanted person in the Confederation, and, well, no offense Alexandra, but—"
"Excuse me, but when I was your apprentice last year, didn't you say you'd treat me like an adult? And didn't I act like one?" When Drucilla was silent, Alexandra added, "Mostly?"
Drucilla's sigh carried over the line. "It's very dangerous for you, Alexandra."
Alexandra hesitated, then said, "Our father hasn't told you yet."
"Told us what?"
"I joined the Thorn Circle."
The silence was longer this time.
"There are things I have to do," Alexandra said. "And I can't do them by myself."
"You could come with us," Drucilla said quietly.
"No," Alexandra said. "I can't. Take care of Claudia and Archie, Dru. There's no one I'd trust more than you and Lucy."
"Foolish sister," Drucilla said, sounding more sad than accusatory.
"I'll talk to you again soon. Let me know when you decide what you're all going to do. And if you persuade Archie."
After Alexandra hung up, she looked around at the house that she had all to herself. Once, she had dreamed of being completely independent and unsupervised. Now, she only felt alone.
She knocked on Brian's window that night, but she could barely look at him when he opened his window.
"You might have texted," he said.
She nodded.
"You okay?"
She shrugged. "I can just undo the spell and go."
He looked at her a moment longer, then asked, "Do you want to come in?"
Alexandra wasn't sure which of them was using the other. All the thoughts roiling in her head, guilt and uncertainty and apprehension about what would happen to everyone around her, only went away for a little bit while she and Brian were together, but it was enough.
Brian didn't bring up their argument from the previous night. Maybe he just wanted sex. That was all right, she thought.
When she was about to leave the next morning, though, he said, "I want to call in my raincheck."
Alexandra paused, having just finished putting on her clothes. Brian was still lying naked under the sheets. She ran a hand through her hair, which was now as long as she'd ever let it grow, and sat down on the bed beside him. She let her hands fall to her sides.
"I think I know who took Bonnie," she said quietly. "And I'm going to ask my father to help me find him."
Brian's face turned serious and hard again. "He's a wizard? Is it that fat guy I told you about?"
"Yes."
"Who is he?"
Alexandra put a hand on his chest, but to her surprise, Brian caught her bandaged wrist. He released it when she made a face. "Sorry," he said.
Alexandra suspected that the potion her aunt had given her might not entirely remove the wound. She had not exactly spent all night sleeping.
When she didn't say anything, Brian said, "I want to know, Alex. I know you're gonna tell me some crap about how I'm not a wizard and I can't do anything, but I want to know." He sat up and leaned toward her, his expression so earnest and angry it made her heart hurt. "I want to be there."
"What?"
"You said you're going to talk to your father? I want to come."
Alexandra considered this, and said, "No."
He frowned. Alexandra held up a hand.
"What do you think it means when I say I'm going to find the wizard who took Bonnie?" she asked.
Brian hesitated. "If we catch him, we can bring him to justice."
"Justice." Her green eyes held his. "What does that mean?"
"I mean… he should go to prison, right?"
"How do you think a wizard is going to be sent to non-magical prison, Brian?"
"Don't you have wizard prisons?"
"Oh yes." I've been there. "But what he did… isn't a crime according to the Confederation. He works for the Confederation."
She watched his eyes as realization dawned. He swallowed. "So… what do you intend to do?"
"What do you think?" She didn't intend to make her voice sound hard, but he flinched.
There was some of the old Brian still underneath this newer Brian who fancied himself grown up and ready to join a war he didn't really understand. That Brian blanched and looked away.
"Can you… can you do that?" he asked.
"Do you want me to?"
He licked his lips nervously, and Alexandra realized that she was doing the same thing Diana Grimm had done to her. She was transferring responsibility for her actions to him. She cupped his face in her hands. "Brian." He couldn't look at her. His eyes were tearing up. "None of this is on you. But you need to know, there are so many other kids besides Bonnie that this is happening to. That's why my father is fighting the Confederation. I'm going to help him stop the Confederation from taking any more children. And if we can bring Bonnie's murderer to justice… we will. I'll tell you when that happens. But I won't take you to meet my father. I'm sorry, but you don't have a wand, and he wouldn't have a use for you."
Brian looked stubborn and conflicted. It was almost like arguing with Archie, Alexandra thought, except it was easier to get her way with Brian. She knew it had to be hard being told you couldn't help, that you were basically powerless, especially when your sister-in-law or girlfriend was going out to fight the battles you wanted to fight. But that was how it was. Alexandra pressed her lips to his, and he returned her kiss, still with a troubled expression on his face.
She stood, and picked up her wand.
"I'm taking away the soundproofing now," she said. "Until next time."
Brian nodded. Alexandra undid the charm on his room, and then Apparated home.
Alexandra arrived at the Pruett School just before dusk. She walked there this time—she'd become better at Apparating, but there was a small chance of splinching herself every time she did it, and Henry Tsotsie's insistence on hiking up and down mountains when they could have Apparated had definitely improved her fitness.
She walked through the fence and into the warehouse—in her mind, the building would always be the Regal Royalty Sweets and Confections Warehouse. She spent a little time poking around near the old boiler and Madam Erdglass's office, looking for Floo Powder. She almost didn't find the canister that had been hidden atop the boiler with a charm that made it blend invisibly with the black iron, until she spotted it with her Witch's Sight, and then it was as if it had been sitting in plain sight all along.
She didn't take the entire canister, but carefully poured a few handfuls into a jar she'd brought with her, and tucked that into her pocket. Then she went upstairs.
Goody Pruett demanded, "When will Livia return?" as soon as she saw her.
"Maybe never," Alexandra said. "Maybe the only company you'll ever have is me and the students at the Pruett School. You should get used to that and learn to be nicer."
A portrait couldn't "learn" anything. Goody Pruett's personality would always be what it was when the old witch had been painted—a judgmental bigot who prided herself on being one of the Elect. Alexandra resisted the urge to give the old woman the finger, and continued on into the studio on the top floor.
Her father wasn't there yet, so Alexandra paced the room, feeling out its boundaries, and letting herself once more see the crack in the world that ran beneath the warehouse and across Larkin Mills. She'd never opened the World Away here in town. Her previous attempts to open cracks in the world had been capricious or reckless. She'd been fortunate enough that they'd worked out, but she wasn't sure how to practice opening a rift that led to another world. It seemed like a useful thing to master, if it could be mastered.
She looked up to find her father studying her. He'd arrived silently while she was lost in contemplation. She wondered if he knew what she was contemplating.
"A pigeon for your thoughts," he said.
"Is that all they're worth?" Alexandra strode over to him, trying to act more confident than she felt.
Abraham Thorn smiled. He laid a hand on her shoulder. "I am very glad you have joined me, my daughter. It is not without a heavy heart that I welcome you to my cause, but I always knew you would someday see that there is only one way to fight the Confederation."
"I'm not so sure about there being only one way. But I also remember that when you first asked me to join you, you promised you'd teach me great magics."
"I did. But the war had not yet begun, and while I do have much to teach you, you would have to be at my side to learn it. Are you prepared to be my lieutenant, Alexandra?"
"What would that make Medea?"
"Medea is my second in command, and my partner."
"Would you really make me your lieutenant?"
"If you could take orders, from me and Medea."
Alexandra frowned. "I have something else I need to do first."
"Ah, yes. That's the problem, my dear. You place your own causes above others. You're more interested in pursuing personal vengeance than seeing the bigger picture."
Alexandra bit back the retort that sprang to her lips. Somehow she always found herself sparring with her father. Her defiance was reflexive; it had defined her relationship with him.
With a deliberate effort, she lowered her eyes.
"I need to do this," she said.
His grip on her shoulder loosened.
"I made some inquiries," he said. "Franklin Percival Brown, III is not well-regarded and he was never an important man. Ironically, it turns out that many Accountants are that sort: minor functionaries with little talent, unfit for more important work, but perfectly capable of drifting about choosing unfortunates who satisfy their schedules and the requirements of Actuaries."
"Do they decide who dies? Or are they told? Do they… do they perform the sacrifices themselves?" Alexandra clenched her fists, imagining Mr. Brown snatching Bonnie off the street and… and doing what?
"They are provided with actuarial information and certain attributes to look for, and a schedule. They have a limited amount of… flexibility in choosing their victims. Even after studying the Deathly Register that you acquired, I and my best Arithmancers haven't completely unraveled the formulas the Accounting Office uses, but we have an idea. Mr. Brown needed someone like your friend—probably her age and birth sign and sex—but he did not have to choose her."
Alexandra's fists became tighter.
"And the deaths?" she whispered.
"The Accountants take them somewhere where they are sent to the Lands Beyond."
Alexandra raised her head. Her green eyes were brighter than they had been since she stood in the throes of the Ozarkers' great Unworking last year.
"I want him," she said. "I will take him, like he took Bonnie. And after that… you can have me. I'm yours, for whatever purpose you want."
"Indeed?" Her father didn't look triumphant or even pleased. Alexandra wondered if it was because he still had doubts about her sincerity, or if perhaps she wasn't as useful to him as she thought.
"Lucilla and Drucilla told me you advised them to flee the country," she said.
"They are not fighters. They have done their part, and can do more to help abroad."
Alexandra frowned. "How?"
"After the Confederation falls, America will have to repair relations with the rest of the wizarding world. And many safeguards and magical concealments will vanish when the Deathly Regiment is ended. That will change much, for everyone."
"Oh." Alexandra had never thought about what wizards in the rest of the world might be thinking about the Deathly Regiment. "Well, I like the idea of sending them away, with Claudia. They wanted me to come. What about Livia? And Julia, and Ms. King?"
"Livia will not go. Julia and Thalia enjoy a certain amount of political and magical protection in Roanoke. I have done what I can, but the Governor-General dares not strike at them directly, at least not yet. Everything may change as the war proceeds in earnest."
"Then I'll protect them."
Abraham Thorn laughed. His laughter faded as Alexandra scowled at him.
"Forgive me, my dear. You are so fiercely protective of your sisters, and your friends. If power were equal to will alone, they could have no better defender." He turned. "However, as talented as you are, I would have you, too, protected. Even as I rely on Medea and other members of the Thorn Circle to watch my back, you cannot see everywhere and defend against everything by yourself. Thus I have brought an ally."
"An ally?" Alexandra repeated, as her father beckoned toward the far corner of the room. Alexandra hadn't noticed the shadowy figure standing there until she stepped forward. Then her face twisted in shock and recognition.
Abraham Thorn said, "Since you know each other already, I hope the two of you will work tog—"
"You!" Alexandra shouted, raising her wand.
"Yes, me." Hela Punuk held her wand tightly in one fist, glaring at Alexandra. Her scowl made her features, emphasized by scars carved across her cheeks, as fierce as ever. The girl from the mysterious "Thule" Culture of the far north looked exactly as Alexandra had last seen her in a dungeon beneath New Amsterdam, right down to her leather boots, hide pants, and fur parka.
One of Alexandra's fellow competitors, Hela had ended the Junior Wizarding Decathlon by releasing a dragon into Manhattan. Supposedly she had been doing Abraham Thorn's bidding all along, but Alexandra hadn't forgotten all the betrayals.
"You've got to be kidding me," she said.
"I am not," Hela said.
"I didn't mean you, bitch!"
Her father frowned. "Alexandra."
"Sorry, is my language displeasing? I meant lying, backstabbing psychopath!"
Hela bared bright white teeth. "Out of respect for your father, I will refrain from speculating how such a great man's daughter became a vulgar slattern barely worthy of a wand—"
"Hela," Abraham Thorn said warningly.
"Who are you calling a slattern?" Alexandra snarled.
"Everyone saw you chase a ten-year-old at the ball," Hela said.
"What?" Her father sounded surprised. This fanned Alexandra's rage.
"The ten-year-old drugged me, you ignorant cow! And I didn't chase him—her—Awesome."
"Oh, you were drugged by a child. I can see why your father thinks you need protection."
"Both of you—" Abraham Thorn said.
"I need protection from you! I don't trust you any farther than I can throw you!"
"Your skinny corn-fed arms couldn't throw anything heavier than your wand."
"I don't need to. I don't eat raw moose for my magic."
"Elk, you doltish Colonial. Elk hearts."
"THAT WILL BE ENOUGH."
Abraham Thorn's voice filled the room, though he did not yell. Suddenly neither Alexandra nor Hela could move.
"I see there is some bad blood between you," Alexandra's father said calmly, as the two girls both seethed helplessly. Alexandra struggled to undo the spell that held her, but she wasn't sure she'd have been able to free herself even if she were able to move or speak.
"I understand that you are not here willingly, Hela," Abraham Thorn went on. "But your elders sent you to me, and you swore to do my bidding. As for you, Alexandra, your conflict in New Amsterdam was over a petty competition that never mattered. Holding a grudge now is absurd. The Confederation is our true enemy. Put aside your differences and work together. Or else. I am going to release you both, and you are going to behave like civilized witches. I am not interested in listening to little girls exchanging insults."
Alexandra was able to move again. Her tongue was freed as well. She lowered her wand, and she and Hela stared daggers at each other.
"You will both agree to cooperate and do as I say," Abraham Thorn said. His voice was calm and steely.
Cowed, Hela bowed her head. "Yes, Lord Thorn."
"We are not of the Old World, and I am not a lord. 'Sir' will be fine." He looked at Alexandra expectantly.
"Yes, Father," Alexandra said.
"Splendid." He looked from one to the other. "Shake hands."
Reluctantly, Hela and Alexandra each extended a hand. As soon as Hela's hand gripped hers, Alexandra felt its crushing strength, nearly snapping her bones. A smirk lurked beneath Hela's impassive expression.
Alexandra cast a non-verbal spell that sent invisible needles stabbing into the other girl. Hela's eyes widened, and her face almost lost composure. The two of them stood like that, in agony, until they forcibly released one another's hands. Alexandra struggled not to wince and flex her fingers. Her hand felt as if it had been run over by a truck. Hela was taking long, shallow breaths. Her pupils were still dilated in shock.
Abraham Thorn said, "Hela will accompany you as you seek Mr. Brown, and she will also stay here in Larkin Mills as your partner and comrade-in-arms. You will protect and look after each other. I will be extremely displeased should either of you allow harm to come to the other."
"Seriously, why her?" Alexandra asked.
"Because I don't trust any member of the Dark Convention. And the rest of the Thorn Circle is busy elsewhere. How many witches and wizards do you think I can call upon to aid you in your personal pursuits?"
"It's not just a personal pursuit. I thought you said eliminating Accountants will help undo the Deathly Regiment."
"Yes, which is why I am sending Hela with you. If you prove able, it is something you both can do to assist our cause… covertly. Hela's family does not want her thrown into direct conflict with Confederation Regiments and Aurors, just as I do not wish that for you. I hoped you would appreciate working with a peer, but even if you don't, work together you will."
Alexandra hadn't taken her eyes off Hela. Neither of them wanted to look at him.
"So where do I start looking for Franklin Percival Brown?" Alexandra asked.
"Interestingly, he turns out not to be employed as an Accountant anymore. Nor is he listed under his cover position with the Department of Magical Education. In fact, after he recovered from your assault on him, at the Queen of Chicago Sanitorium, he seems to have disappeared. From my contacts within Central Territory's bureaucracy, it seems he may have been removed from duty, for malfeasance."
"You mean for leaving a student in a room with a Boggart? Did they actually fire him for that?"
"Oh no, no one cared about that. But we have had the opportunity to… question other Accountants." Alexandra felt a slight shiver when he said that. "Apparently, his last sacrifice went badly in some way—either he took the wrong child, or no child at all, and this very nearly undid the Deathly Regiment's schedule in Central Territory."
Alexandra frowned. "Who was the last name on his list?"
"A Muggle-born boy who I believe attended the Pruett School with you, briefly. His name was Roger Darby."
"Roger," Alexandra murmured. It was poor Roger's disappearance that had first made her suspicious of Mr. Brown, though she had had no idea of what it really signified. A polite, nerdy boy with dark hair and glasses, he had simply stopped coming to school one day. Alexandra eventually learned that he was one of the names written in Mr. Brown's little black book.
"No one knows where Mr. Brown is now," her father said. "Find him."
Alexandra frowned. "A test?"
"If you wish." He nodded. "It seems it will be a test in more ways than one. Both of you remember what I said. Among the Dark Convention, there are warlocks I despise more than anyone save Elias Hucksteen himself, yet I cooperate with them, to bring down the Confederation. You two will not let your personal animosity interfere with adult business, or you will cease to be treated as adults."
He drew his cloak around himself and disappeared, leaving Alexandra and Hela glowering at each other.
They walked through Larkin Mills Park, which was full of picnickers and skaters and people gathered around the pond to fish or sail radio-controlled boats. Alexandra had reluctantly offered to show Hela around, telling her she should at least know what the town looked like.
"Why are you still wearing a fur parka?" Alexandra asked. "There aren't any blizzards here in July."
Hela gave Alexandra a contemptuous look. "I suppose you expect me to dress like you?"
"Seriously, it's like ninety degrees and you look like you just stepped out of an igloo. People are staring at you."
Hela was indeed attracting attention from people who noticed the girl dressed for an arctic winter in the heat of a Midwestern summer. Hela just shrugged. "Muggles. Why should I care what they think?"
"Because we shouldn't be drawing attention to ourselves, that's why. And how can you stand wearing that? You're making me sweat just looking at you."
Hela's lip curled. "It's called magic. You might have heard of it?"
"You haven't even heard of half the magic I know."
"A bold statement from a little girl whose daddy sent me to protect her."
"Protect me like hell! I don't need you, and I kicked your ass, when you weren't using dirty tricks, or have you forgotten?"
"I have not forgotten you hexing me from behind."
"Don't forget the haircut I gave you. I see it's growing longer again—need a trim?"
Hela's eyes flashed with rage. Once, two long, thick braids had hung to her waist. Now her hair was tied in a tight bun that, loosened, would not even come to her shoulders. "Thank you for reminding me. Be sure I will collect on that debt eventually."
"You can try."
Hela rounded on her. "Only because of who your father is—"
"Don't let that stop you. We can declare Code Duello any time, and settle who's the alpha witch once and for all."
"Really, right here, in front of all these Muggles?"
"Of course not. But we can do it in the warehouse, or by Old Larkin Pond."
Hela grimaced, and shook her head. "Your father gave us a job to do."
"Hey, Quick!"
Alexandra groaned as the familiar voice yelled her name. Of all the times for Billy Boggleston to find her in the park. He had tried to bully her since she was eight, and he never seemed to learn. She turned to see the tall, broad-chested teen ambling over to them, smirking as his eyes went from Alexandra to Hela.
"What's with the Eskimo outfit?" he asked.
"I am not an Eskimo!" Hela snapped.
"Hela, this is Billy Boggleston. Who's leaving." Alexandra gave Billy an icy stare.
"Damn Quick, always so hostile." Billy grinned. "Where's your hot sister?"
"At home. A long way from here." Alexandra's glare failed to intimidate Billy.
"Too bad. So, who's Nanook of the North here?"
"None of your business. Get lost, Billy."
"What is a Nanook?" asked Hela.
"Damn, who messed up your face?" Billy asked, looking at Hela's scarified cheeks.
Hela's eyes turned angrier than Alexandra's. "There is nothing wrong with my face."
"Seriously? Have you looked in a mirror?"
"Billy," Alexandra said.
"You're a rude, stupid boy," said Hela.
Billy laughed. "And you're a crazy, ugly chick. Really, what's with the fur coat, Nanook? You lose a bet?"
Hela reached out, grabbed Billy's shirt front, and lifted him off the ground. Then she threw him twenty feet, into the center of Larkin Mills Pond. He made an enormous splash, and people all around the pond pointed and shouted at him. Some were also pointing and shouting at Alexandra and Hela.
Billy sputtered and shook his head, shocked but unhurt. He bounced on his toes in the middle of the pond, and began paddling his way back to shore.
Alexandra said, "Are you insane? You can't do things like that in public!"
Hela smirked. "Because we should be worried about the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy? Perhaps your father failed to explain to you that we are on the other side?"
"We're not on the other side from them." Alexandra gestured at the people around them. "They aren't involved." So far no one had approached them. Some adults were helping Billy out of the pond, and Alexandra realized with dismay that a couple of kids were taking camera phone pictures of her and Hela.
Hela gave her a condescending look. "In case you have not noticed, Alexandra Quick, there is a wizard war underway. It may have only just begun, but soon it will engulf the entire Confederation… and these Muggles as well."
She was right, Alexandra realized. Muggles were going to be involved. But she hadn't stayed in Larkin Mills just to protect Archie and Brian. As she looked around at all the people filling the park today, she knew they had no idea how close they'd come the other night to becoming part of the wizard war. There were forces gathering around them that no longer cared about wizarding secrecy, or Muggle lives. Alexandra probably couldn't hold back all of that by herself. But she would not surrender Larkin Mills without a fight.
She turned back to Hela. "They're why I'm here. These are my people." She stepped closer to Hela, getting almost nose to nose with her. She had seen the other witch's strength, but she didn't fear her, and it was Hela who looked away, beneath Alexandra's hard, unblinking stare. "You will not hurt them."
Hela's mouth formed a tight line. Then she shrugged, and turned away. "Why would I? But I will not suffer insults." She looked at Billy, who stood dripping with aquatic plants dangling from his hair. He stared at Alexandra and Hela as if he couldn't figure out what had just happened.
"Eskimo bitch is crazy!" he shouted.
Hela raised her fists.
"Let him be," Alexandra said. Hela was tiny compared to Billy, and the thought of letting her beat the crap out of him was tempting. But they were already drawing too much attention. She grabbed Hela's shoulder. "Let's get some food."
Hela glowered, but allowed herself to be led away.
Alexandra did not actually have very much money, which was something she was going to have to figure out soon. Archie had left so quickly, they hadn't discussed how Alexandra would pay bills. But she took Hela to a fast food restaurant, ignoring all the looks the other customers gave the scarred girl in the fur parka.
"I like this," Hela said, holding a hamburger in both hands.
"Great. We should probably buy groceries, unless you want to live on burgers," Alexandra said.
"Does that mean going to a Muggle market? How long do you intend for us to stay in this town? I thought we were here to hunt an Accountant."
Alexandra nodded. "Yes. But until we find Mr. Brown, I still have to live here."
"So where do you think we will find him?"
"I'm not sure, but I know where to start looking."
"Where is that?" Hela asked, nibbling cautiously on a french fry.
Alexandra wondered if there was any way to ditch this witch her father had seen fit to partner her with. "Charmbridge Academy."