Aran drained the last of his tea and set the cup on the table. “Even if it’s dangerous here, at least I’m doing something. Helping the magic.”
“The magic needs no assistance from you,” Thomas said. “The queen has more than enough power at her command.”
“Fine, then. Send me back.” Aran folded his arms, betting on the fact the bard couldn’t directly cross the queen. “I’ll go.”
Thomas gave him a long, weary look. “Would that I could, but your presence here is not so easily undone. Deep magic summoned you, and only deep magic can return you to the mortal world again. You missed one chance. Pray that you do not miss another.”
Nine by Night: A Multi-Author Urban Fantasy Bundle of Kickass Heroines, Adventure, Magic
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
The next morning, Spark ordered room service. She felt clumsy, and didn’t want to explain her injury. Or deal with the Terabins. As soon as her breakfast arrived, she pulled out her messager and keyed in Jennet.
:You there?: Spark sent.
A full minute later, the reply came.
:Barely. It’s two hours earlier here, you know.:
:Yeah, sorry. But I have bad news.:
:No luck getting into Feyland?: Jennet’s message appeared slowly. Clearly her fingers were slow to wake up, too.
:Oh, I got in-game no problem. I even found the person who was sucked into the Dark Realm.:
Spark paused, trying to think of how to phrase her next words. Ah, hell. Jennet was her friend. She deserved complete honesty.
:And?: Jennet prompted.
:And not only did it turn out to be the guy I met at SimCon, he’s still in the realm. I failed.: There, she’d gotten the worst of it over with.
:?! Give me a sec.:
Spark grabbed her tea and took a big gulp, then fiddled with the bunch of grapes on the room service tray.
:Did you lose a battle with the queen?: Jennet finally asked.
:No—I didn’t fail that way. Aran simply refused to return to our world.:
:So push him into the faerie ring.:
:I was hurt.:
:What? Stop already with the epic reveals. Are you all right?: Jennet’s messages were coming quicker now. Probably Spark’s news was shaking the drowsiness right out of her head.
:It’s just a sprained wrist. Hurt a lot, though.:
:Don’t do it again.:
:Yeah, well, I don’t know when I can get back in Feyland again. Could you and Tam—:
:Of course,: Jennet sent. :Though neither of us have heard even a whisper from the Elder Fey. We’ll see if we can find your guy and pull him out.:
:He’s not my guy.: Most definitely not, after their last encounter. :Let me know. And thanks.:
:Hey, friend, it’s what we do. Right?:
:Right. See you when.:
Jennet sent a smiley wave icon in farewell.
Still tired, Spark leaned back against her pillows to finish her tea. She hoped Jennet and Tam could succeed where she’d failed. After all, they were the experts.
After picking at her breakfast, getting packed, then burning an hour watching stupid cat vids, it was time to go. Spark was careful to stay behind the Terabins as they boarded the tour bus. With one hand out of commission, she knew she’d make a tempting target.
“Did you fall down?” Cora asked, looking at Jennet’s splint as she passed. “I know you’re uncoordinated, but I thought you at least knew how to walk.”
“She’s taking the easy way out,” Roc said, sprawling along a whole row. “Now she has an excuse for why our scores and gameplay will be so much better than hers.”
Spark felt her cheeks heat with anger, but she didn’t give them the satisfaction of a reply. Head high, she sidestepped Cora’s attempt to trip her and headed for the middle of the bus. Niteesh was already there, and Spark settled across the aisle from him.
“Nice timing on that,” he said, nodding to Spark’s splinted wrist.
“Like I sprained it on purpose.”
“No.” He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “But this way the Terribles can rule supreme without having to take you out. And you can still appear onstage at Bella Boingo’s concert tonight.”
“Oh joy.” The pop star’s music had never been to Spark’s taste. The singer’s fan base overlapped with hers, though, so VirtuMax had set up the special guest appearance.
Originally, Spark was scheduled to run a quick demo on the FullD, but her injury made that impossible. Vonda had scrambled and arranged for footage of Spark’s SimCon demo to be shown instead.
“I know why you sprained it.” Niteesh flashed her a smile. “You won’t have to sign autographs.”
“I’m right-handed, goof.” She rolled her eyes at him. “Still, it feels like a cheat, just to show up and do nothing at the concert.”