Bagsy Beetlehorn and the Vampire Affairs (The Bagsy Chronicles 4)

A Briefing

Looking at the sketch of the acting troupe's castle, it wasn't hard to guess where they conducted rehearsals.

Mezrielda knew they were still in the castle because, since the ball, the acting troupe's tent hadn't returned to school grounds. She'd also seen Primrose hop on a broom and fly off on multiple occasions without any explanation. Rebekah and Logan had murmured worriedly to each other about it, mentioning the name Lewis and the acting troupe multiple times, so it wasn't hard to guess where she'd gone and, as a result, in what direction the castle was located.

Mezrielda knew the second the acting troupe saw her they'd try to kill her, so her main priority was finding ways to dodge or block the killing curse. A counter-spell didn't exist, and the protego charm would do nothing, so she'd have to be creative about how to keep herself alive.

The only difficulty was, as much as she planned, she couldn't see a way to defeat the acting troupe alone. She was slowly re-learning all the spells she'd known before, now that she was actually trying and not giving in after a few attempts, but they weren't as strong as they'd once been. She knew it couldn't be her magic. Her talent for casting spells was as strong as ever, even if it needed to be re-forged. Her issue was that her replacement wand was a grain of sand to a mountain when compared to the wand of white-elder wood she'd had before.

Mezrielda had accepted that she couldn't do this alone, and settled on a small list of people who she'd try and bring onto the team.

'What's this about?' Teresa asked, looking around the Eagle Club room sceptically. 'How come you never told us about this place before?'

Nevis, sitting next to her, looked sheepish. 'Maybe she didn't want to?'

'I have my NEWT exams coming up,' Greenda said. 'And I am still head girl. I mean this in the politest way possible, but I don't really have time for this. You said it was important but—'

'I'm talking,' Mezrielda said, fixing them all, bar Nevis, with a cold gaze. Gathered before her was Killian, Fiona, Teresa, Nevis, Itsuki, Jon, and Greenda. Mezrielda paced in front of the blank chalkboard. 'At the vampire ball Bagsy was kidnapped.'

'This again,' Teresa muttered, moving to stand, but Nevis placed his hand on her shoulder, keeping her in her seat.

Greenda's eyes were wide. 'Kidnapped?'

Mezrielda nodded.

With an awkward shift in her seat, Fiona shared a disbelieving look with Killian. 'I heard about this,' she said. 'You created a lot of drama at the ball. But Witchment Enrichment said she's staying with the acting troupe willingly—that's why she's missing from school. She's rehearsing for the third episode.'

Tod, who was leaning against the wall in a shadowed corner of the room, took a step forward. 'I lied. It's a cover story from the Ministry. Not even the school knows the truth.'

Only just noticing he was there, the assembled students blinked in confusion.

'And it needs to stay that way,' Mezrielda emphasised. 'What we discuss in this room has to stay in this room. If a professor or Ministry official hears about what we're planning, we're all done for.'

It was Nevis, now, who looked like he wanted to leave. 'Is what we're doing... illegal?'

'Of course, it's not,' said Teresa. 'Don't be ridiculous.'

Mezrielda was quiet.

Teresa faltered. 'Tell me you're not planning something illegal?'

'The acting troupe are holding Bagsy in their castle. We're going to break in and rescue her.'