At least they haven’t forgotten all the old stories. They still know who I am. They’re still waiting for me.

The Chosen One.

The Greatest Mage.

The Power of Powers.

The one who will come to save them from the greatest threat to the World of Mages.

I will save this world.

And Simon Snow will help me.

45

SHEPARD

Penelope doesn’t even have to cast a spell to find her dad; she’s got a key that will take her right to him. There’s a piece of yarn looped through it. “My mum made this,” she says. “When I was a kid, they made me wear it around my neck.”

She hangs the key over a map of London. “Mum meets with the Coven tonight, so we should be able to catch Dad alone.”

“What’s the Coven?”

“Not even a little bit your business.”

The key twitches. “Not at home…” she says. “Not at work…”

It settles near the British Museum. I’ve always wanted to go to the British Museum.

“Come on,” she says, “let’s try to catch him.”

We get into a cab, which I predict she won’t pay for. Penelope plays fast and loose with goods and services. I feel so guilty about it that I can’t make eye contact with the driver.

She keeps holding the key over the Maps app on her phone to keep track of her dad.

“Why can’t you call him again?”

“I can’t risk him telling my mum.”

“Won’t he tell her anyway? Eventually?”

“I’m going to plead my case in person.” She frowns at her phone and mumbles, “Or spell him if I have to.”

“You’d do that to your own father?”

She shrugs. “Well, I haven’t yet—He’s moving again!” She leans forward and raps on the Plexiglas screen between us and the driver. “Here is fine!”

The driver lets us out at the corner. Penny knocks her gem on his credit card reader and says, “Fair enough!”

“Do you ever pay for cab rides?” I ask her, as the taxi drives away.

She’s scanning the street. “I only take cabs when it’s an emergency.”

“So, that’s a no…”

“There he is!” She starts waving.

There’s a small, gray-haired white man crossing the street ahead of us. I guess Penelope did say she was biracial. Her mom’s Indian, I think.

“Dad!” she calls.

The man looks up. He gets across the street and waits for us.

“Penny,” he says. “Your mother’s been calling you.”

“Dad … I need your help.”