I Am Totally a Real-Life Wizard (Not Clickbait, I Swear!)

"You too." Valeri hung up, then opened up a maps app and started looking for libraries. Soon enough, she'd texted the address of the Cleveland Park Library to Vendetta and called an Uber.

"Alright, Cody, try not to let the driver see or hear you. And as for the weapons..." Valeri frowned. "Do you think you can conceal yourselves somehow?"

“You can smuggle us in under your coat?” Dawn stopped glowing. “That should work.”


Dusk sighed. “Yeah, if Valeri wants to stab themself.”

Valeri winced. "Yeah, not a fan of accidentally stabbing myself."

"Perhaps you both could fly ahead to the library and meet us there?" Cody offered.

"Perhaps. Lavender should be able to show us the way..." Dusk beckoned the pale purple arrow forward.

Lavender peered over at Valeri's phone screen and vibrated, gesturing for the weapons to follow them.

"Okay! That should work." Dawn gently tapped Valeri on the shoulder with a flat end of its blade. "Be safe."

"You too." Valeri smiled, then led Cody over to the Uber.

Soon enough, they were outside the Cleveland Park Library. Valeri tipped the driver generously, silently breathing a sigh of relief that he hadn't asked any questions about Cody and his makeshift hoodie disguise. Then they scanned their surroundings for Vendetta, the WANNABES, and the weapons.

Vendetta waved to them from near the entrance. "Over here! Thank goodness you're safe. Cody's escape is all over the news."

Cody all but sprinted to them. "Khalil. Where's Khalil?"

Vendetta sighed. "Xe's inside. But he's still a little... fragile."

Cody winced but nodded determinedly. "I'll... I'll be careful."

Suddenly, there was a rush of wind, and Dawn and Dusk swept down from the sky. "We were waiting for you on the roof!" Dawn glowed a bright blue.

"Ready to take Joe down?" Dusk twirled in the air.

Vendetta sighed. "Always, but I think we should wait for Khalil to get through the last of these upsets. I don't think he'd forgive himself if something he said hurt Cody."

Cody sighed. "That sounds like Khalil."

Valeri nodded. "Well then." They pulled open the door. "Shall we head inside?"

Vendetta nodded. “We shall.”

The three Ex-WANNABES sat at a table in the back corner. Amy looked visibly dejected for the first time, even the confetti in her hair droopy and sad. Wormy and Otto appeared to be trying to cheer her up, but it wasn’t working.

Khalil sat quietly beside them, rocking back and forth with xer eyes closed.

Cody immediately rushed to Khalil. "How are you doing, my star?" he asked softly.

Valeri and the weapons followed, trying to stay out of sight of the rest of the library patrons. Valeri glanced at Vendetta. "Is Amy alright?"

Wormy shook her head.

Otto deeply inhaled. “Nioj ot tsrif eht fo eno saw ehs. Deyarteb sleef ehs.”

Khalil looked up at Cody, face flickering with confusion. “Cody? Josephinzo didn’t invite you.”

Cody hesitated for a moment, then took a seat next to Khalil. "Josephinzo tricked you into that wedding. He used a love potion, remember? And we escaped, and now we're at a library." Cody searched Khalil's eyes for a flicker of recognition.

Valeri offered Amy a sympathetic smile. "Joe can be a smooth talker. But at least you saw the truth in the end, right? And together we can take that knockoff Dumbledore down."

Khalil paused. “Right. Yeah. That’s happening.” He blinked, still seeming lost and slightly dazed. “I’m supposed to love Josephinzo. But I don’t. It makes me sick to.”

Amy shrugged. “Maybe.” She picked a piece of confetti from her hair. It burst into flames and burned down to her fingers before stopping.

"Good," Cody said grimly. "Try to fight that feeling of 'supposed to'-- I suspect it's the remnants of the potion attempting to keep a hold on your emotions."

Valeri watched Amy and furrowed their brow. She'd never been particularly fond of the confetti girl with serial killer vibes, but if they were to bring Joe down, they'd need all their allies in top condition.