“You need a distraction,” Lani said. “An adventure. A little holiday, maybe.” Her eyes danced.

Samheed gave Lani a curious look.

Alex bit his lip and checked the clock. “So you’re okay?” he asked, feeling like a jerk, but he was getting anxious about his meeting.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” Meghan said. “Go on. Learn something amazing.” She smiled.

“We’ll take good care of her, don’t worry,” Lani said, grinning wider than she had in a while. “Have fun, Alex! We’re going to go on an amazing adventure to cheer Meghan up.”

Alex, who had already turned and started walking, looked over his shoulder, a pang of jealousy slicing through him. “I wish I could go,” he said softly. “I really kind of miss you guys.”

But Lani was already chattering excitedly and pulling Meghan and Samheed in the other direction, so they didn’t hear him.

» » « «

While Alex hurried to Mr. Today’s office, Lani spilled her plan to Meghan and Samheed as she guided them across the lawn.

“So, what do you think?” she asked as they half ran down to the shore toward the jungle. “Are you guys in?”

Meghan chuckled and let Lani pull her along. “I’ll probably regret this, but okay. I’m so frazzled I don’t really care what we do at this point. Sam?”

“Duh. I’m totally in. Why didn’t we do this, like, a hundred years ago?” He grinned. “You’re so conniving, Lani. I can’t believe I didn’t know this about you.”

“It’s because you were too busy thinking I was annoying, just like Alex thought.”

“But how are we going to start it?” Meghan asked.

“Alex said it was magical. It shouldn’t be too hard to figure out. He said that once Mr. Today said the spell, he just pointed the boat in the direction he wanted it to go and it went. No components or anything needed.”

“Sounds easy enough,” Samheed said. “If anybody can figure it out, it’s us.”

When they finally reached the lagoon, the three hesitated, looking at one another for a moment.

“Are you sure Mr. Today and Ms. Morning won’t be mad?” Meghan asked.

“They never said we couldn’t use the boat,” Samheed said. “Mr. Today has only ever given us two rules. Besides, we’re just going for a little ride. It’s practically begging to be used.”

Lani grinned. “If he doesn’t want us to use it, I’m sure he has some sort of lock on it.”

With an air of mischief, the three friends stripped off their shoes, rolled up their pants, and then waded out through the warm, shallow water to the gleaming boat.

Awake

Inside the mansion Alex started up the stairs to Mr. Today’s office, but stopped short when he heard a buzz of voices in the hospital wing. There stood the mage along with a small throng of others, including the nurses, a few residents, Ms. Morning, and Eva Fathom, with whom Mr. Today was talking earnestly.

Alex turned around and headed toward them. “What’s going on? Did something happen?” His chest tightened as he thought of the silent visitors. He hoped it wasn’t bad news.

“The girl is awake,” Ms. Morning said. She motioned for Alex to come in, and made a spot for him to stand near the bed. Alex approached, his stomach flipping with excitement, and wondered if all their questions would soon be answered.

He gazed down at the girl, who was now propped up on three fluffy pillows. But there was no way she could look comfortable with that necklace of metal thorns. Her face was turned away from Alex, toward the boy’s bed, as if she were waiting, pleading for him to wake up too.

“She’s scared,” Ms. Morning said. “Too many adults swarming around. Maybe you can talk to her.”

Alex nodded. “Hello there,” he said softly. He reached out and touched the girl’s arm to get her attention.

The girl turned her head sharply and reared up in the bed, staring at Alex, her face filled with fear.

Alex pulled his hand away and took a step back. When he saw her eyes, he sucked in a breath. The girl’s irises were a deep golden orange, like a marigold thrust into the sunset’a color Alex had tried dozens of times to perfect. He heard a reaction behind him, but it seemed very far away as he focused on the visitor, mesmerized by her odd appearance, her glittering eyes piercing into his, the necklace of thorns moving almost fluidly with the turn of her head.

They held each other’s gaze for a long moment, and the room fell silent. Alex’s heart raced. He held his hands up to show her he wouldn’t hurt her, and he smiled, hoping to appear friendly and not at all scary. “Hello,” he said again.

She didn’t move.

Alex’s eyes flitted to the bedside table. “Would you like something to drink?” he asked. He moved slowly so he wouldn’t startle her as he poured some water from a pitcher into a glass, and then offered it to her.

Her body tensed, and then she reached for it. She brought it to her nose with a shaky hand and sniffed at it carefully, her eyes never leaving Alex’s. She opened her parched lips and sipped from it. And then she leaned forward, eyes narrowed, and spat the water into Alex’s face.

“Whoa!” he cried, taking a step back. “What . . . the world!” He put his arm up to protect himself from further spewing. Then the girl opened her mouth as if to scream at him, but no sound came out. She struggled to get off the bed, her body tangled in the sheets and her neck band caught on a pillowcase. After a moment of shock the nurses reacted, coming to her side and soothing her. The girl gave another halfhearted attempt at escape, but then she sank back down, unable to do anything with so many people around. She turned away from Alex, closed her eyes, and pulled the blankets over her head.