“That was the point.”

“Why-?!”

The front lock clicking interrupted them and Abel stepped in. He froze, looking between the two of them.

“Mr. Abel!” she shouted. “Tell that butthead to give me back my guitar and let me go!”

“Uh… sure.”

Awkwardly, Abel shut the door and held up his hands. He shot Hansel a desperate look and Hansel made a motion in front of his face. Like he was pressing something. Abel grimaced.

“Hansel, you really shouldn’t antagonize Miss Aka like that.”

“She’s not listening to reason.”

“Sometimes reason isn’t the best solution. I’ll get your, uh, guitar, Miss Aka.”

With his hand in his pocket, Abel walked toward the furious Aka. As she turned to give Hansel a look of grim satisfaction, Abel pulled his hand out of his pocket. She jerked her head back in surprise as he stuck something in her face.

“What’re you-”

He pressed the button and squirted the perfume bottle.

She coughed twice and swayed.

“Koff…Mr… Ab-”

She toppled over, and Abel caught her.

He gave Hansel a dirty look. Hansel shrugged.

“Problem solved. Did you get the tickets?”

“I hate you. And yes, I got the tickets. Train leaves in an hour.”

“Then we better pack up. I’ll take her.”

Abel huffed. “I’m not sure I should leave you with her. You have a way of riling her up.”

“Do you want to explain to Gretal why you were carrying another woman?”

His partner groaned, and finally, grumbling, allowed Hansel to take Aka from him. Then he stomped around as he gathered all their bags while Hansel carried the woman downstairs.

***

Aka

We’ve been on this darn train for two days now. And the only time the pair leaves me alone is when I’m in the bathroom.

I haven’t even been able to take a shower because, apparently, only the VIP cars have them. And sneaking back home for any time longer than it takes to use the restroom could rat me out.

Meanwhile, we’re getting further and further away from where I’d found the baby the first time.

I wanted to scream!

Aka, calm down. This might be a good thing. I might be getting closer to them.

No, I’m probably getting further away. If they want the tribe, they’ll stay close. Especially now that they can’t find the tribe.

I groaned and banged my head back.

And this stupid bracelet!

I figured out what it did within an hour of waking up on the stupid train.

No magic.

At all.

I can operate the House key because it's imbued with its own magic, but my magic is zip.

No illusions, no growing plants, and no casting spells.

Which means I can’t make a potion or make a new tracking orb.

I can’t even sense magic, which might be a really big problem.

I sighed, and I shot Agent Miller a hate filled glare. I should’ve just run away. Risk to my life or not.

Agent Miller didn’t look up from his newspaper.

Ok, Aka, calm down. Ghana is talking to Croix and the other goblins. Maybe someone, especially the older ones, can think of a solution for the bracelet. Meanwhile, they’re also gathering as many of the potion ingredients as they can.

My trips to the bathroom had resulted in a quick run to the attic for a ‘forbidden’ book and another book for the potion. And then whatever else I needed to pull out to explain to the goblins what I needed them to find.

Doing it in three-minute bursts sucks.

As soon as they figured out how to get rid of the bracelet, I was running.

No, I wouldn’t wait for that.

As soon as I saw an opportunity I was running. We can worry about the bracelet later.

“You still have an hour before I’m willing to take you to the powder room again.”

He still didn’t look up. But he must’ve felt the poison in my glare. I smirked and slumped back in my seat.

At least I’d managed to annoy him with the frequent bathroom trips.

“How much longer?”

He flipped a page.

“We’ll be there before evening.”

Oh, good. If the platform is as crowded as the last stop, I might be able to slip away.

I grinned and picked up my guitar.

I’m sooo glad I decided to carry both my bag and my guitar. Just in case I was caught and they wondered what I did with all of that junk. And if I needed something, slipping it into my bag from House was easier than trying to explain where I got it.

I strummed and tuned for a few minutes, then sang a few folk songs.

I’m glad I got that giant book of folk songs from my music teacher. Most of them were appropriate for this setting without awkward questions like, “What’s an airplane?”

Since that stupid bracelet was keeping my magic from leaking out, I also had fun imagining what visuals I’d put to the music. Without accidentally doing it.

“I’ve been working on the railroad…”

“Can I see that?”

My fingers stuttered on the guitar strings and I glared at Miller for daring to interrupt. Then I rolled my eyes and grudgingly handed my guitar across the aisle.

He frowned as he ran his fingers over it. Testing the strings a few times.

“Where’d you get this?”

“My Gran gave it to me.”

Which wasn’t a lie. Gran could be scary, really scary, but she did things like randomly coming home with a $2000 guitar.

Oddly, he started feeling the wood rather than the strings. Most people would play with the strings. Was he some sort of guitar aficionado?

“Where did she get it?”

“I dunno? Probably a salesman somewhere.” Also not a lie.

“Has anything odd happened while you’ve played this?”

Uh.

I screwed my face up in confusion as he turned the guitar over and studied the back.

“No…?”

“This whole thing is saturated in some sort of active magic. Has anyone gotten sick while listening to you? Do you feel strange? Have you or others had odd urges after playing?”

I felt my stomach clench.

Crap.

He could sense spells?! Dang it.

Dang, dang it, dang it!

He must feel my preservation spells.

That made me look at my clothes in panic.

If he could feel the guitar’s preservation spells, if he touches my clothes… if he touches any of my things… he’ll know they’re all ‘saturated’. I was probably only saved until now because the other witch from before had blasted enough magic to swim in.

Or maybe he was just too distracted to notice?

Why couldn’t he be normal?!

What am I going to do?! I can’t even take the spells off with this dang bracelet!

“Miss Aka?”

“I’m thinking.” To hide my trembling hands, I folded my arms and leaned back in my seat. Ok, let's see if I can get away with a smidgeon of the truth. “The only weird thing I can think of is it never breaks. Could that be what it is?”

“Hmm.”

He stood up and turned my guitar into a club, ramming it down on the floor between us.

“What are you doing!?”

I jumped to my feet and grabbed the guitar neck.

“It seems you are probably correct.”

I yanked my guitar away, glaring at him.

“Are you crazy?! That’s my guitar! I can’t get another one!”

I was tempted to club him with it.

“Calm down, Miss Aka-”

The door slid open and in came Mr Abel holding a tray of food in one hand. He stopped, took in the scene and our body language, then groaned.

Despite my outrage, I saw the humour in the situation. Mr Abel has the worst luck.

“I’m going to patrol. Try not to kill each other.”

He put the tray on my bench and went back out. Closing the door with a click.

For an instant, neither of us moved. Then I burst out laughing. Plopping back on the bench seat and hugging my guitar as tears rolled down my cheeks.

Agent Miller stared at me blankly.

Let him be confused! I didn’t know why I was laughing either. But it felt good.

I wiped my eyes and kissed my guitar neck. Just to mess with him a little more. Then I put it aside.

“Agent Miller,” I said. “Can we call a truce?”

He sat down and folded his arms again, leaving the newspaper where he dropped it.

“If you’re capable,” he said dryly.

Wow, this man. If he could keep his mouth shut, I’d enjoy just looking at him.

I rolled my eyes.

“Even with you baiting me, I think I can manage.”

“I’m not trying to bait you, Miss Aka.”

“Agree to disagree.” I folded my arms and leaned back. “Tell me about yourself. Do you have any family? Any lovers?”

His eyebrows shot up.

“Why would you go straight to lovers?”

“I didn’t go straight there. I asked about family first. But if you want to go straight to lovers, be my guest.”