“Why are you singing?” Daniel asked. “You’re just lying in the dirt and singing. That’s weird. I thought you were supposed to be some kind of scary monster.”

“Why aren’t you doing what I say?” Penn sat up, propping herself on her elbows. “Are the fireworks drowning out the song?” Then she glanced over at Harper. “No, she’s over there smiling like an idiot, so it’s working. What’s wrong with you?”

“There’s nothing wrong with me, but I don’t have time to argue about this.” Daniel grabbed Harper’s arm and attempted to drag her back the way they had come, but she wouldn’t move. “Harper, let’s go.”

“No, I can’t go.” She shook her head. “I have to stay here for … for…” She stared up at the lights flashing through the trees. “Fireworks.”

“What did you do to her?” Daniel turned back to face Penn, who’d gotten to her feet. “Undo it.”

Her eyes were no longer glowing and had gone back to their usual black. She crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips as she watched Daniel and Harper.

“You’ve never listened to me, have you?” Penn asked. “You’re the guy with the boat that intervened when we were talking to Gemma before, and you ignored us. Nobody ever ignores us.”

“I’m ignoring you right now,” Daniel shot back, and he put his arms around Harper to pick her up.

“Daniel,” Harper complained, pushing wanly against him. “I don’t think I should go.”

“That’s right, Harper,” Penn said, using her singsong voice. “You can’t go!”

“Daniel!” Harper screeched when he tried to carry her away. “Put me down!”

“Dammit.” Daniel sighed and set her down carefully, then he walked over to Penn and got right in her face. “I don’t know what the hell your problem is, but you don’t want Harper. You don’t need her. Let us go.”

“Why can’t I enchant you?” Penn asked, narrowing her eyes at him.

“You’re not that enchanting,” Daniel said. “What do you want? Why are you doing this?”

“I want you,” Penn decided. “I want to experiment on you and find out how you can resist me. Then I want to eat your heart. But first I’m going to kill your girlfriend.”

“That isn’t going to happen,” Daniel assured her. “I’ll kill you first.”

“Hmm.” Penn smiled. “Maybe I won’t kill you. It’s been so long since a man has stood up to me. I’ve forgotten how much fun it can be.”

“Let’s have some fun, then,” Daniel said, and he punched her again.