Flunked (Fairy Tale Reform School, #1)(46)

“You conjured up a dance partner?” Harlow asks, and her sister shrugs.

Jocelyn takes a deep breath and closes her eyes. Her lips begin to move, and I feel a sudden gust of wind. Moments later, a mirror that looks much like Harlow’s is in Jocelyn’s hands. I grab it and slide it into the poufy sleeve of my dress.

“Great. So you’ve got a mirror,” Jocelyn says mockingly. “How are you going to get out of here, Cobbler, when my sister can’t make that happen?”

“With my help.” Wolfington walks into the light and Harlow steps back, preparing to do magic. “I think we have bigger problems at stake then you and me, don’t you agree, Professor Harlow?” he asks calmly. “Save the magic for our bigger concern.”

“How can you help, Wolfington?” Harlow says with a sigh.

Wolfington moves closer to our cage, ignoring her. “Students, we don’t have much time. Whatever procedures we had in place to deal with Gottie or Alva are now null and void, thanks to Harlow.”

“Not helping,” the Evil Queen hisses.

“If Professor Harlow can’t break you out, maybe I can break in, but it will be risky.” Wolfington strokes his beard.

“You’re not suggesting…” Harlow is flabbergasted.

“I am,” Wolfington interrupts. “There’s no full moon tonight, but if you help me turn into the Wolf Man, I can break through those bars. Once I do though, none of you will be safe.” I shudder.

Jax smiles grimly. “It’s the only shot we have. We have to take it.”

Harlow looks at me. “You’ll have seconds to take that phony mirror of yours and swap it with Alva’s. You’ll probably get yourself killed trying, but if it gives my sister a chance…”

“Please try, Harlow,” Jocelyn says.

“Glad to see the Evil Queen hasn’t gone soft under pressure,” Ollie mutters.

Harlow looks at Wolfington. “Ready?” He nods. With a flick of her wrist, she produces a bottle of something blue and hands it to our professor.

He holds it up to us in a toast. “For luck,” he says and then downs it in one gulp.

The transformation happens quicker than I would imagine, and Harlow hurries out of the way as Wolfington’s clothes begin to tear, his hair begins to grow, and he falls to all fours before letting out a wolf howl that makes me shiver. When he looks up again, his eyes are yellow. We make eye contact for a moment and then I hear him growl. His teeth begin to gnash and we all move back. I can’t believe I’m looking at the same person.

“Wolfington, think!” Harlow yells as he heads right toward her. With one furry hand, he swipes and the Evil Queen zaps him. It stuns him for a second before he lunges again, knocking her down. Jocelyn screams.

“Hey! Wolfie! Over here!” Jax yells, using a copper cup on the floor to bang on the bars. Wolfington stops and turns toward Jax.

All I can see is Harlow’s mirror lying on the floor. If I can get to that mirror, I’ll have more options when Alva returns.

“Everyone move!” Ollie says, pulling Maxine into a corner. Jax moves in front of her, and Jocelyn closes her eyes and begins to chant. Within seconds, a shield rises in front of them. The shield does not include me. Typical. Wolfington lunges and I dodge, sliding to the side as he barrels through the cage, breaking right through it. The Wolf Man lunges for the shield and gets shocked by electricity in the process. Ah, now I see what Jocelyn’s doing. I cringe, thinking of Wolfington hurt, but I can’t worry right now.

“Harlow? What is going on down here?” Alva falters when she sees the Wolf on all fours. He springs toward her and Alva holds out her mirror, zapping him to the floor.

That’s when I make a break for Harlow’s mirror, diving on top of it. Alva screams, and I take that moment to perfect the sleight-of-hand move I’ve used countless times in the village. I take the fake mirror out of my sleeve and place the real one inside it. Then I prepare to crunch the phony one with my work boot. “Take one more step and I’ll break the mirror,” I tell her. “You won’t be able to cast the spell without it.”

Alva begins to cackle. “You foolish child! That mirror is made from fairy’s blood. It can’t be broken by human hands.” She uncurls her fist and places her palm up. “Give it to me.” I hold the mirror tighter, feeling my heart beat inside my chest. “I have to do everything myself,” she grumbles, and I feel the mirror fly from my hands to Alva’s free hand.

I hold my breath and watch as the Wicked One caresses the mirror in her hands. Her eyes widen. “Why, you little thief!”

“Gilly, now!” Jocelyn screams and I watch as she tries to put a shield up around me.

Sliding Harlow’s mirror out of my sleeve, I aim it at the real mirror in Alva’s other hand. A silver ray flies out before Alva can react. The connection causes an explosion that sends us both flying backward to the ground. The ground shakes and large chunks of the ceiling begin to cave in. I feel slightly dizzy and my ears are ringing. Above us, I can hear screaming. Alva stands back up, clutching her side, which is bleeding, and I worry I’m done for. I don’t think I could get up right now if I tried. We lock eyes as we hear the sound of people and footsteps heading our way.

“Down here!” I hear Pete shout. Better late than never.