And they wouldn’t let her.
Like, they couldn’t just let her be. She died in a war she had nothing to do with. There’s no opting out of the World of Mages. There’s no “no, thank you.”
I don’t know why she came back to save my life. I’d hardly even spoken to her.
Penny says I should honour Ebb’s memory by helping to build a better World of Mages.…
But maybe I’ll honour her memory by fucking right off, the way she tried to.
She told me to run.
* * *
I still have the picture of the Mage and Lucy. I stuck it in the mirror on my bedroom door. And I think about her sometimes when I’m getting dressed.
She’s the one who got away.
I wonder if she’s still here, in California. If she’s got a family now. Maybe I’ll run into her at Trader Joe’s. (I won’t tell her that I named my dog after her.)
I think I’m going to send the photo to Simon someday.
I’m not ready to talk to Simon yet, and I’m not sure he’s ready to get a photo of the Mage in the mail.…
But I think Simon might be the only person who really loved the Mage. I know he killed him, but he’s probably the person who was saddest to see him go.
SIMON
Even though I’m the only one here with no magic, no one is helping me carry boxes up four flights of stairs.
“You,” I say to Baz, letting a box drop on the couch, “even have superstrength. You could probably do this in half as many trips.”
“Yes—” He pulls the lid off his Starbucks cup, so he can lick the whipped cream directly. “—but then your Normal neighbours would start to wonder, and they’re already curious about the handsome young man haunting your door day and night.”
“The neighbours don’t even know we’re moving in. They’re all at work.”
“Well, they will wonder, once they get a look at us. We’re cool and mysterious and better-looking than any couple has a right to be.” He looks up at me and pulls the cup away from his mouth. “Speaking of, come here, Snow—one of your wings is showing.”
I thought the wings would fade away or even fall off after I gave the Humdrum my magic. But Penny says I used my magic to make them, and just because I gave my magic away doesn’t mean everything I did with it is going to come undone.
I still have the tail, too. Which Baz won’t stop mocking:
“It’s not even a dragon tail—you gave yourself a cartoon devil’s tail.”
“I’m sure I could have it removed,” I say. “I could talk to Dr. Wellbelove.”
“Let’s not do anything hasty.”
Penny’s been casting These aren’t the droids you’re looking for on me every morning, so the Normals don’t notice my dragon parts, but the spell never holds all day. I’m afraid they’re going to pop out during a class.
“Just tell people you’re in a show,” Baz advised.
“What kind of show?”
“I don’t know; it’s what my aunt Fiona always told me to say if anyone ever noticed my fangs.”
I sit in front of Baz now, on the coffee table—which I carried up by myself. He hands me his cup, and I take a sip. “What is this?”
“Pumpkin mocha breve. I created it myself.”
“It’s like drinking a candy bar,” I say. “I thought we were going to have tea.”
“Didn’t Bunce buy you a kettle? You have to start figuring this stuff out, Snow. Self-sufficiency.” He holds his wand over my shoulder and taps the wing. “There’s nothing to see here!”
“Oh, Baz, come on. You know I hate There’s nothing to see here. Now people are going to be running into me all day.”
“Beggars can’t be choosers—I don’t know that robot spell of Bunce’s.”
Penny walks out of her bedroom. “Simon, have you seen my crystal ball?”
“Should I have?”
“It’s in a box marked Careful—crystal ball. Oh, hey, Baz. What’re you doing here?”
“I’m going to be here all the time, Bunce. I’m going to haunt your door day and night.”
“Did you come to help us move in?”
He puts the lid on his drink. “Hmm. No.”
Baz and I talked about getting a flat together after he was done at Watford. He went back to finish second term, but I just couldn’t. I mean, I could have, even though I was under house arrest; Penelope’s mum would have let me.
I’ve only been back once, for Baz’s leavers ball in the spring. Maybe I’ll go again someday. When it all feels further away. I’d like to visit Ebb’s grave, deep in the Wood.
Agatha didn’t go back to Watford either. Her parents weren’t going to make her. She’s going to school in California now. Penny says she has a dog. I haven’t talked to her. I didn’t talk to anyone for a while, except for Baz and Penelope.
There was a three-month inquiry into the Mage’s death. In the end, I wasn’t charged. Neither was Penny. She had no idea that I’d say what I said after her spell—and I had no idea that what I said would kill the Mage.
I thought the World of Mages would fall apart without him. But it’s been seven months, and there hasn’t been a war. I don’t think there will be.
The Mage hasn’t been replaced.
The Coven decided the World of Mages doesn’t need one leader, at least right now. Dr. Wellbelove suggested that I run for the Mage’s seat, and I tried not to laugh like a madman.