everything in its place!” The trash disappears. “Hmmm…” She points at me again. “Now you see it, now you don’t!”
Nothing happens.
Baz shoots his wand into his hand and points at my new sofa. “Tickled
pink!” The sofa turns pink.
“Hey…” I say.
Baz points at me. “Clean as a whistle! Did that do anything?”
“I don’t know,” I say. “I was already clean. Should I feel dirtier?”
Penny has stepped closer to me. Her fist is still out. “Float like a
butterfly!”
My feet stay on the ground. “Hey, you guys, slow down…”
“Roses are red!” Baz shouts.
Then Penny— “Violets are blue!”
Baz— “Cat nap!”
Penny— “Cat got your tongue!”
“For fuck’s sake!” I grab her wrist.
“Simon…” she says. Her glasses have slid down her nose. Her eyes are huge. “I think you might be immune to magic.”
Penelope makes me sit down. Like I’m experiencing a shock. I suppose I am —what does it even mean to be immune to magic?
She sits down next to me, rubbing her chin and staring at my wings. “It’s got to be that spell he cast on you…”
Baz is pacing. “I’m going to murder Smith-Richards. I’m already going to jail for Philippa’s voice. I may as well add this to my crimes.”
“Smith didn’t know this would happen,” I say. “Oh God—we have to tell him.”
“Fuck Smith,” Baz says. “He shouldn’t be casting spells on people if he doesn’t know how they’ll work!”
“The spell works on magicians! He thought I was one!” I lean back on the sofa and fold my arms over my eyes. “I can’t believe this … I’ll never be able to hide my wings again.”
Penelope pats my leg. “You’re having them removed anyway.”
Baz huffs. “Not helpful, Bunce.”
“You’re right, I’m sorry.” She pulls my arms away from my face. “I’m sure it will wear off, Simon. I’ve never heard of a permanent shield. Even temporary shields are notoriously hard to cast.”
“Do you think that spell would have the same effect on any Normal?”
Shepard asks. He’s been sitting quietly at the other end of the sofa, leaving us to it.
Penelope twists around to shout at him. “Oh my words, Shepard, I’m not letting you anywhere near that man!”
“I’m just saying, your mom spelled me unconscious five minutes after she met me … I wouldn’t mind a shield.”
Baz stops pacing in front of me. He looks agitated. “Simon … love, I’m sorry. I know this is serious. But I have to catch Philippa before she leaves. I just…” He shakes his head half a dozen times and hitches the bag higher on his shoulder.
“You’re right.” I stand up. “I’ll get a coat.”
“No—you don’t have to come. Especially not now.”
“Baz, I’m coming. This doesn’t really change anything, even if I am immune to magic or whatever. When was the last time you guys cast a spell on me that wasn’t just to hide my wings?”
“We’re coming, too,” Penelope says. “I’m not letting you fall on your sword for this, Baz.”
Baz looks frustrated. He’s licking his bottom lip. “Neither of you are treating this situation with the gravity it deserves.” He glares at us. “I’ve done something really bad, and you’re just shrugging it off!”
“We’re not shrugging it off,” I say. “We’re coming with you.”
Penelope looks unimpressed. “Do you want us to say that you’re bad?
Fine, you’re very bad.”
“That’s not—”
She rolls her eyes. “You did something unconscionable because an adult you trusted said it would matter. Join the fucking club, Basilton.”
“You’re not in this club, Bunce.”
“No, but Simon is, and I was right there cheering him on, casting every spell I could to help.”
Baz holds his bag out. “I was trying to hurt Simon with this thing.” His voice is high and desperate. “Shouldn’t you be angry about this?”
Penny folds her arms. “I don’t believe you wanted to hurt Simon. I’ve never believed that.”
It’s true, she didn’t. Even when I was the one trying to convince her.