The Third Movement Page 4

  The next thing Theo knew, he was flying high over Mineral Wells, and Emily was floating beside him. In the moonlight, her hair lifted from her head like seagrass swaying in an ocean current. The stars shone brightly, and the town below looked like the miniature play set in the front window of the toy store on Main Street. Theo was thankful that Kalagan was nowhere to be seen.

  “Follow me,” Emily whispered. And then they were swooping and diving, the night air whipping at their faces. They both yelled out, hollering as they dipped and rose up again, crisscrossing the night sky. Theo grinned, hoping his dream would not end too soon.

  The sound of cooing doves filled his ears. He looked around, assuming his birds had joined his and Emily’s wild flight. But then he realized that the noise was not coming from his mind. His eyes snapped open, and he sat up to find his doves nestled on his windowsill with only the screen separating them from his bedroom.

  He had forgotten all about them!

  Theo flung back his covers and shoved his feet into his slippers. Then he raced downstairs to the rear door, which led out to the backyard, where the bird coop sat, only partially filled.

  The air was cool and a breeze sent goose bumps across his skin. He glanced up at his window and, finding the birds still sitting there, he clicked his tongue, instructing them to come down. He opened the door to the pen and the three doves joined the others, who tittered and fluttered, annoyed at being awakened.

  Theo smacked his forehead. “Foolish, foolish, foolish,” he whispered to himself. How could he have just left his pets out there in the town green? The birds could have been eaten by cats! Or coyotes! Or bears! (Well, maybe not bears. Bears eat bigger things, like siblings, teachers, and parents. Quick, go warn them! Back again so soon? Whew. That was close!)

  Had Theo been too focused on Emily to remember the doves? Or had Mr. Vernon’s leaving been the distraction? Maybe all the madness that had come through Mineral Wells just that summer was beginning to take a toll, Theo worried. He could never admit this mistake to the Misfits. After his mix-up during their rehearsal, they’d start to wonder if something was truly wrong. He wanted them to believe that he was as perfect as anyone they’d ever known. He was certain that was why they liked to keep him around—because he impressed them. With his tuxedos. With his diction. With the secret of his levitating violin bow.

  But Theo had to admit: It was exhausting being so perfect all the time.

  A deep resonance filled the air around him, vibrating his already prickled skin. He turned to find Leo, his oldest brother, sitting in the garden, his cello propped between his legs. Theo held his breath. Leo pulled his bow across the strings, allowing them to sing mysteriously. His skin appeared almost indigo in the moonlight. After a moment, Leo looked up, catching his brother’s gaze.

  “What are you doing out here, Leo?” Theo asked.

  “I didn’t get in enough practice today, and I can’t play in the house right now. I’d wake up everyone.”

  “But the windows are open,” said Theo. “They will still hear you.”

  “Then let my music be a lullaby.” Leo smiled. “What are you doing out here, little brother?”

  “I… was just checking on my birds. I wanted to make sure they were all here.”

  “But they weren’t, were they?”

  Leo must have seen Theo call the birds down from the window ledge. Theo lowered his gaze and shook his head.

  “What’s going on with you, Theo? You haven’t been yourself since Gio, Cleo, Fiona, and I got here.”

  Theo wasn’t sure what to say. Did he even know how to be himself around his family? “Some strange events from this summer have been clouding my mind,” he finally said. “But it is nothing I cannot handle.”

  “I’m sure you’re right,” Leo answered. “But if not, you know what always helps bring my feet back to the ground?” Theo shook his head. “My music.”

  Theo held back a sigh. He knew where this conversation was going, and he did not want to follow.

  “Father says that your practicing has been slipping. Is it true?”

  “I have been practicing other things.”

  “Magic.”

  “Yes. Magic. My friends and I have gotten very good. Better than most in this little town.”

  “Impressive,” Leo said. “But children can be very good at things that they will have no use for later in life.” Children? Theo flinched at the word as if it were an insult. But his brother went on, “What do you plan on doing with… magic?”

  Theo wanted to say, Make people smile, spend time with my friends, protect this town from the evil forces threatening to overwhelm it. He knew this last bit might sound a little dramatic.

  “I’m not trying to tell you what to do.” Leo stood and put his arm around Theo’s shoulders. “But I know from experience that at your age, everything starts to change. And your musical talent is like the sea. Right now, the crest of a wave is rising. You either ride that wave into the future, or you miss it.”

  Theo was quiet for a beat. Then he said, “You sound like Father.”

  “Good,” said Leo. “You should listen to us. We’ve had experiences that you have not.” Theo stared into his brother’s intense eyes and thought, I could say the same. “Father and Mother told us that you’ve gotten into some trouble this summer? The ‘strange events’ you mentioned?”

  Dizziness crept into Theo’s head. Leo was talking about Bosso and Sandra and Kalagan. “So that is what this is about,” he said.

  “Everyone just wants you to be safe,” said Leo. Theo let out a long breath. “You’re frustrated with me, I can tell. And that’s fine. I’ll say no more about it except this: Friends come and go, but we’re your family, and we always will be. I’ve been watching you since you were born, and you have real talent, Theo. Talent that could last a lifetime… but only if you practice.”

  Theo nodded, feeling his frustration disperse into the cool darkness. Songs of crickets and tree frogs swelled from the nearby woods. He hugged Leo good night, went back inside, and crept into his bed.

  As he closed his eyes, he listened to his brother’s mournful melody playing in the garden just outside, and he considered what Leo had said about keeping his feet on the ground.

  There would be no more dreams of flying, at least not that night.

  FIVE

  In the morning, Theo played the violin for his father, who gave him pointers and encouragement. Theo enjoyed their time together and could see that his father was pleased as well.

  So when Ridley called and asked him to go with her up to the resort, Theo kept his expression neutral. He didn’t need any more confrontation with his family. The phone was located in the crowded living room, and he did not want his siblings to know that he was speaking with one of his magical friends. “Izzy and Olly have something they want to show us,” Ridley said. “They say it’s important.”

  Theo dressed in a clean tuxedo and then told his mother where he was going. “Make sure you’re home to set the table,” she said quietly, so the others would not hear. “No excuses this time. And no emergencies.”

  “Yes, Mother,” he said. And with that, he was out the door to meet Ridley, Carter, and Leila, heading for the road that would take them to the Golden twins.

  The Grand Oak Resort was perched high on the hill overlooking the town of Mineral Wells. With its white clapboard siding, green shutters, and dark gabled roof, it had an air of country elegance, which made it stand out from the few other hotels in the county. People came from far and wide to participate in an array of activities at the resort: dancing, swimming, sailing, gymnastics, tree-climbing, and lounging in the mineral-rich waters of the natural spas that bubbled up from deep under the earth. The resort had stood since long before Theo was born, and he was certain it would still be standing by the time he was grown. There was the main building filled with guest rooms, a restaurant (run by the Other Mr. Vernon), a grand auditorium that held performances both large and small, and several
outer buildings where the guests danced, lounged, took classes, and played games.

  The Magic Misfits had recently learned that the resort was filled with decades-old secrets and mysteries, including the fact that Mr. Vernon’s old magic club, the Emerald Ring, used to meet in the decrepit rear wing of the lodge, a portion of the main building that was now mostly abandoned. Earlier in the summer, some guests had been worried that the place was haunted, but after exposing Madame Esmeralda—Sandra Santos—as a fraud, the Misfits had been able to put that rumor, and several others, to rest.

  However, one rumor that the Misfits had trouble removing from their minds was that a young Dante Vernon had been responsible for starting a fire that had ruined the rear wing in the first place. One of the bellhops had shared that information with the kids several weeks earlier, and it was a doozy. None of them could imagine that their kindly magician mentor would have done such a horrible thing. When they had asked him, Mr. Vernon had implied that Kalagan was the real perpetrator. But he was still less than forthcoming with answers.

  Waiting by the elevator in the lobby with Ridley, Carter, and Leila, Theo asked, “Does anyone know what the twins need to show us?”

  Leila shook her head. “They were very mysterious about it on the telephone.”

  Ridley rolled her eyes. “I bet this is just the setup for one of their elaborate practical jokes.”

  “At least we get to see where they live,” Theo said with a smile. The elevator dinged, and the doors parted. Theo followed everyone into the car.

  This would be the first time he would meet the twins in their suite, and he didn’t know what to expect. Plaid wallpaper? A recorded laugh track that played when you walked through the door? A metal floor that made tap-dancing sounds when you stepped on it?

  “Did everyone have a good night?” Ridley asked as the doors shut with a ding.

  “Absolutely perfect,” said Theo with a thin-lipped grimace.

  “That’s so nice!” Leila answered, missing his expression. Her brow dropped as she added, “Our house felt strange without my dad there. He never did call to let us know that he arrived… wherever he was going.”

  “I’m sure he’s fine,” said Carter, his voice wobbling with the opposite of sureness.

  “He’s a smart cookie.” Ridley nodded. “I trust he knows what he’s doing. Who’s watching the magic shop?”

  Leila smoothed her hair. “Poppa decided that the shop should be closed while Dad is on his business trip. Hopefully it won’t be for too long. Presto will miss talking to the customers.”

  “And Change-O will miss throwing things at them,” sighed Carter. “I’m working on getting him to stop that.”

  The elevator doors opened and the group moved into an opulent hallway. The floors were dark wood, and long runners with intricate ochre and brown swirls covered most of them. Copper-and-glass sconces clung to the walls. Stripes of shadow appeared every few feet, providing enough mystery to keep everyone on their toes.

  “This way,” said Leila. “I think.”

  The group followed her until they reached a doorway marked 315. Vintage big-band music was blasting from within. Carter knocked and knocked but no one answered. “Are we sure this is their room?”

  Ridley raised her right hand. “Sure as a seashell in the shade.”

  “That sounds pretty darn sure,” said Theo.

  She smiled up at him. “Really? I just made it up.”

  Theo blinked. It wasn’t like Ridley to smile much. “How are we going to get in if they cannot hear us?”

  “How are we going to get in?” Carter echoed in mock disbelief. “Have you forgotten about the talents of my lovely cousin, Leila Vernon?”

  Leila already had her lockpicks out and was going to town on the contraption just below the doorknob. “This is a simple one.” Within seconds, the door was open a crack and the music spilled out into the hall, all trumpets and clarinets and snare drums and the crackle-snap of a record spinning on a turntable.

  “Forgive me, Leila!” Theo exclaimed. “I should have known better.”

  Leila winked, pushing the door open to reveal an enormous room with high ceilings. Tall windows let in the blinding morning light. Mirrors covered practically every surface except for the ceiling and the floor. There was a silver-colored couch off in a corner with a reflective table in front of it. The smell of coffee rose up from a silver set sitting in its center. A mirrored side table stood nearby, on which a record player was spinning a wide black disc.

  Reflected in all the shiny surfaces were four people, each dressed in a different plaid pattern: purple, orange, green, and yellow. There was a tall, thin gentleman with jet-black hair sticking out from underneath a straw hat. And a woman with perfect blond pin curls wearing a gown that twirled when she turned. And the twins, Olly and Izzy.

  The Goldens were dancing all together!

  The other Misfits watched as Mrs. Golden led her husband around the spacious wooden floor, dipping and swinging him. Mr. Golden took all of it in stride, as if he was prepared for every surprise she threw at him. The twins mirrored their parents, trying to keep up with the improvisation and doing an almost perfect job. The music grew to a crescendo, and the four suddenly turned toward the Misfits and formed a line. They burst into a sharply choreographed tap dance, their feet moving like lightning, their arms swinging, their fingers splayed. The movements became a blur, until the music hit its final chord and the family slid onto their knees, spreading their arms and wearing dazzling smiles.

  The Misfits burst into applause. What a greeting!

  The Goldens held their pose a moment longer before collapsing into a wheezing, laughing pile on the floor. Theo felt a pang of envy at their easy dynamic. His family would never be able to pull off anything silly like that, nor would they want to. But then he remembered all his siblings’ various talents, and he wondered what would happen if they did let loose a bit. Would family dinners be happier? Less tense?

  Olly and Izzy jumped to their feet, then helped their parents stand too. “Mom, Dad, meet the Magic Misfits!” said Izzy.

  “Our best friends!” said Olly.

  Mr. Golden frowned. “I thought your mother and I were your best friends!”

  “No, you’re our best parents!” said Izzy.

  Mrs. Golden patted Izzy’s head. “Thank you, darling. You two are our best kids!”

  “We’re your only kids,” said Olly.

  “Good thing you’re the best, then,” said Mr. Golden with a wink and a nod. He turned to the group in the doorway. “Welcome, Magic Misfits, to our humble-bumble abode. I’d ask you to pull up a seat but, well… we don’t have any chairs!”

  “My husband is just being silly,” said Mrs. Golden. “We clear the floor every morning for our family dance practice.”

  “You do that every morning?” asked Ridley, her jaw dropping.

  Mrs. Golden pressed one of the mirrored walls, and a large panel popped open. Inside was a collection of stools and ottomans and chairs. “Please come in. We’ve heard so much about you. Make yourselves comfortable. I have biscuits baking in the kitchen. Is anybody hungry?”

  “Of course they’re hungry,” said Olly.

  “Hungry for fun!” added Izzy.

  “And biscuits, I hope,” said Mr. Golden. “Because that’s all we have.” He followed his wife through a doorway and disappeared.

  “Sorry for barging in,” said Leila.

  “We did knock,” added Carter.

  “Even I’ll admit that routine was ridiculously amazing,” said Ridley. “But please don’t tell me it was the reason you called us up here.”

  “It wasn’t the only reason,” said Izzy. “Go on, Olly. Show them.”

  Olly did a cartwheel.

  “No, not that,” said Izzy. “The other thing.”

  Olly threw himself into a back handspring.

  “Not that either,” Izzy pressed. “The thing in the closet. The thing that’s super important.”

&nb
sp; “More important than gymnastics?”

  “Enough performing!” yelled Ridley in frustration. “Would you just show us already?” She pounded her fists on her wheelchair armrests for emphasis, accidentally sending a sudden spray of water from a secret compartment right into Olly’s eyes.

  Wiping his face but keeping his smile, Olly reached into the closet and took out a rolled-up piece of paper. Izzy held the top as Olly pulled down the bottom, revealing a full-size marquee poster. “We snagged one from the auditorium office downstairs,” said Izzy, growing serious for what felt like the first time ever. “The hotel is putting these up today. Does it look familiar?”

  On the poster was a picture of a man with wide eyes behind large circular spectacles. His brown hair was parted down the middle, revealing eyebrows that were raised in surprise. His face was trim and clean-shaven, and he wore a striped suit with a polka-dot necktie.

  Beside him was a ventriloquist’s dummy. The dummy’s hair was also parted down the middle, and its thick eyebrows were darting downward in a menacing way. Pink blotches covered the doll’s cheeks. He was dressed in a dark suit, white shirt, and puffy red bow tie. Formal, yet a tad frightening.

  The header at the top of the poster read: THE GRAND OAK RESORT PRESENTS ~ WENDEL WHISPERS AND HIS DARLING DUMMY, DARLING DANIEL.

  At the bottom of the poster were more words: OR, DARLING DANIEL AND HIS DUMMY, WENDEL WHISPERS!

  Also: NOW APPEARING AT THE GRAND THEATER!

  And finally: BAGFUL’S METRIC MIMICS PRODUCTIONS.

  “Which part is meant to look familiar?” asked Theo, confused.

  “I can guess,” said Carter. “Izzy asked me to bring this.” He opened his satchel and pulled out a picture frame. The Misfits crowded in for a closer look. Inside was a photograph of Mr. Vernon’s old magic club, the Emerald Ring, when they were young. Dante Vernon and Lyle Locke were chuckling together. Bobby Boscowitz was leaning in with a sly grin, and Sandra Santos sat clutching her crystal ball. On the far left, hidden in shadow, was the person they now knew to be Kalagan, the mesmerist who was causing all kinds of trouble in Mineral Wells (and who knows where else).