“Are you going to tell Happily Ever After Scrolls how awesome we were?” Ollie asks eagerly, rubbing his arm where it was bandaged after Jocelyn’s shield singed him. “Or pardon us and let us leave early like Harlow was going to do with Gilly?”
Headmistress Flora shakes her head. “I’m afraid that wouldn’t be wise. Alva knows who you are now, and the safest place for you is here at FTRS with us.”
Alva is coming for me. She pretty much said that. And no one I know is safe until she’s taken care of. I think of how we fared against her when we worked together. Kayla’s wings got damaged from Harlow’s magic and she won’t be flyable for a while. Maxine got away with a slight concussion. I have some more nicks and bruises, and Jax had some rocks fall on him during the explosion and is on crutches. Still, we’re alive.
“Have you heard from Professor Wolfington?” Maxine asks. “I always liked him, even if he did try to bite me in the dungeon.”
Flora shakes her head. “He’ll resurface when he’s ready. I know he is inconsolable about letting his dark side out. It isn’t easy letting the world see the monster you once were and hoped to never be again.”
“Professor Harlow has no problem with that,” I mumble.
Flora raises an eyebrow. “No, I’m afraid she doesn’t. Hence her living assignment in the dungeon until further notice.”
“I can’t believe you let Jocelyn go,” Jax complains. “She practically let Harlow kill Gilly!”
“Jocelyn is a troubled girl,” Flora agrees, “but she has assured me she was not aware of her sister’s actual doings with Alva.” We start to protest, but Flora cuts us off. “Until I know otherwise, it is my job to believe her. She will stay here as a student—under my watchful eye, of course.”
I’m not sure that’s smart, but we have bigger problems than Jocelyn. No one knows when Alva will strike again or what she has planned next. Jax hasn’t been able to find out anything from his father. He’s made us swear not to blow his cover with Flora. For now, we have to keep some secrets of our own. I’m sure the formerly Wicked Stepmother is doing the same.
“My job is to watch over all of my students, including you, Kayla.” Flora puts a hand on Kayla’s shoulder. “I know all about your deal with Rumpelstiltskin, and I promise that together we will find a way to lift the spell on your family.”
Kayla tears up. “Thank you.”
“So what’s our next move?” I ask.
“Your next move is to go back to being students,” Flora says. “Take a day off from all these dark doings and have fun.”
Fun? We look at her like she’s grown three heads.
“Miri, tell them what I have planned,” Flora says.
Miri’s brass mirror begins to glow. “There’s a picnic lunch set up in the garden and a game of dodgeball waiting to be had in the courtyard, which has just been cleared of debris. And I’m told the ice cream is melting, so you don’t want to wait too long to get out there.”
“I’m up for that!” Ollie cheers.
“Good! Now go before I change my mind and have you write a paper!” Flora jokes. I never thought I’d see the day. “Oh, but first, I have something for Gillian.” She pulls a note with a royal seal out of her desk drawer. We gather around to read it.
Miss Gillian Cobbler, thank you for your help once again in keeping evil at bay. Flora has told us of your father’s shoemaking woes. Because of that, we would like to commission all glass slippers for the royal palace from his shop from now on.
—Princess Ella
“Wow. Does that mean someone in the royal family is actually nice?” Jax says, feigning shock as he shifts from one crutch to the other. “Who would have thought that would happen?”
I give him a look. “Thanks,” I say, blushing as I look at our headmistress. “I’m sorry for calling you a stepmonster. And for, you know, thinking you were a villain again. I still have a lot of questions though.”
Flora looks mildly amused. “Apology accepted, and I promise to answer more of your questions when your professors are back. You know, Gillian, villains think they have power, but the mistake they always make is the same—they have no idea how to use it.” She scratches her chin. “True power is learning how to put others first and not judge a book by its cover, so to speak. I think you’re doing a good job of that here at FTRS.” She pauses. “But you still have a way to go before your stay is up.”
“That’s okay,” I say. “I don’t mind it here anymore.”
Miri’s mirror starts to glow again. “Flora? Call from the castle. Are you free to talk to Rapunzel?”
“Yes, please put her on hold, Miri.” Flora points to the door. “Now all of you go and let me worry about villains for the rest of the day.”
I watch Miri’s mirror glow green, then purple, and close the door.
“Ice cream?” Ollie asks.