stood up on my arms, kind of like static but without the stinging crackle. This felt warm and ticklish in a bubbly way, like immersing myself in a soapy bath. I was pretty sure this didnât happen every time two people held the sword.
âNot to tell anyone that the person I see before me, Chase Turnleaf, is half Fey, half human. Not by voice, or written text, or insinuation . . .â
I repeated all this after him, more and more ticked off with every word.
âNot even Mom, Dad, and that scary woman Amy. Not even Lena.â
I hesitated. âLenaâs really smart. Sheâs going to figure it out.â And get really mad at me for keeping such a big secret from her.
Chase shook his head. âNo, her head is full of her inventions. She wonât solve a mystery sheâs not looking for. Finish repeating it.â
He was being kind of a jerk.
I was tempted to stop repeating right then, but . . . he was just so freaked out.
I sighed. âNot even Mom, Dad, and that scary woman Amy. Not even Lena.â
Something invisible rushed over my arms and into the sword, like warm water swirling down a drain. I didnât know why I was even surprised. Of course he could do magic. He was half fairy.
âThat was a spell?â I said sharply.
âYeah. A Binding Oath.â He sagged. At first I thought the spell thing had taken more out of him than I expected, but when he smiled at me, his biggest grin, the one that took up half his face, I realized it was just relief.
âWhy didnât you tell me you were casting a spell?â I said, but that wasnât what I really wanted to know. I wanted to know why my word wasnât good enough for himâwhy he felt like I needed to be enchanted to keep his secret.
His relieved smile shrank.
Then the door flew open, and someone launched herself at me so fast I staggered back. âI knew I would find you here!â Lena said triumphantly.
I hugged her back, glad she had interrupted. I wasnât sure if I was ready to know Chaseâs answer. âDonât you have school?â
âNot really. But I did it! You have to come see.â She tugged me back to the courtyard.
âLena, please tell me that youâre skipping class,â Chase said, following us outside. His voice gave me the creeps. He sounded so normalâteasing, cockyâlike the last half hour hadnât happened. âThat would make my day. It would mean Iâve corrupted you forever.â
âNo, just study hall. I donât know who scheduled thatâastudy hall last period on Friday before spring break. ButââLena stamped her foot on the grass impatientlyââyou guys arenât looking.â
About twenty feet from the Tree of Hope, a doorway-size rectangle hung in the air. The edges were on fire, the inside darker than the rest.
âCrap! You made a portal!â Chase yelped, and Lena looked very pleased.
Iâd never heard of a kid making a portal. Actually, Iâd never heard of any Characters making a portal into EAS besides Ellieâand she only did it using the Door Trek doors that ringed the courtyard, and only when the Director said it was okay.
Beside the flaming doorway Melodie stood on Lenaâs humongous duffel, scowling. She clearly didnât appreciate being left behind. âLena, you really need to invent me some legs.â
Lena nodded, but I couldnât tell if she was agreeing with the harp or just excited. âI got the idea last year, up the beanstalk. If the Snow Queen could make one from the Glass Mountain to Matilda Searcasterâs desk using just a letter, then technically you should be able to make one into EAS the same way. Itâs a simple spell if youâre not linking it up to an existing Door Trek system. It just takes a lot of power.â
The breeze wafted some of the doorwayâs smoke toward us, and I wrinkled my nose. Only dragons and their