“How big was the wart?” Anadil kneeled in the nook behind the Honour stairwell, lined with blue rosebushes. “You sure you saw it?”
Agatha had told the four she had seen a wart on Sophie.
Agatha nodded, biting her nails to stop their shaking. “She says she forgives me. She says she wants to go home—”
“It’s too late.” Crouched next to her, Hester crushed a rose. “Don’t you remember? Once the symptoms start, she can’t control her Evil. You have to kiss Tedros before she transforms into a witch or we’re all dead.”
Agatha shook harder.
“How long?” Agatha looked up at Hester. “How long until she turns?”
“The Beast was just a warning,” Hester said, thinking hard. “She hasn’t hurt anything real yet.”
“There’ll be more symptoms first,” Phoenix agreed. “But Hester’s right. We’re safe until she hurts something.”
Dot swooped in, chomping on rose-shaped yams. “Does that mean Agatha can come to Book Club tonight?”
“It means Agatha can still kiss Tedros tonight,” Hester groused, yanking Agatha towards the crowded hall. “But we have to act normal. No one can know she’s seeing him—”
“Wait a second—” said Agatha—
“Hester, one kiss and we’re back to Good and Evil,” grinned Anadil, cozying up to her friend as they wove through girls. “Henchmen Training, Death Traps, and maggoty gruel . . .”
“Hold on—” Agatha started—
“Never be so happy to see a Doom Room reopen,” Hester smirked to Anadil.
“Both of you, listen—”
“Book Club’s discussing Princeless but Fabulous,” Dot said, clacking behind, mouth full of yams. “I’d hate for her to miss it—”
Agatha whirled. “Is it ever possible to get in a word with you three?”
“That’s why a coven isn’t four,” said Hester. “Another reason why you need to kiss Tedros.”
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you! He didn’t say how to see him!” Agatha barked before scanning for eavesdropping butterflies. She lowered her voice. “Only that I should cross the Bridge.”
“Halfway Bridge?” Anadil said. “Are you sure you didn’t mishear?”
“Maybe he said ‘fridge,’” said Dot, returning the waves of two passing Evergirls. “Is there a magic fridge in the kitc—eeeyiii!” She grabbed her blue harem pants, which Hester had just ripped. “What was that for?”
“For trying to be an Ever and Never at the same time, you underfed twit,” Hester hissed, and turned to Agatha. “Dot’s right. He couldn’t have said ‘Bridge.’”
Agatha grimaced. “But that’s what he—”
“Suppose it’s a trap?” Dot asked, turning the torn piece of pants to spinach.
Hester and Anadil both stared at her.
“Listen,” Dot said, whipping back her hair. “I have self-esteem now, so if you act like cretins, I’ll move in with Reena and—”
YOU ARE READING
Fire Princess
Hayran KurguYears ago, once her fairytale had ended, Rapunzel married a prince who's entire family possessed the powers of phoenixes. That same power was passed onto her children. This is the story of her daughter, Phoenix of Firebirch, who attends the School f...
