“Not really,” she said. “He spends most of his time talking to himself at lakes nearby. I’m not really sure what he’s doing.” She shrugged. “Anyway, I’m going to try to heal all these kids’ minds, both because it’d be cruel not to, but also so we can figure out where the book is. They got all riled up when Damian turned into a dragon, so we figure we’ll go somewhere a lot less public when we get the book, so Damian can learn Time magic in peace. It’s not easy hiding ourselves here in the middle of the school as it is. Dr. Opps is helping, but still. He’s been pretty anxious too, but he won’t say why. He and Cyrus have been talking a lot, so who knows what prophecies Cyrus has been telling him.”

“You should listen, if Cyrus gives you one,” Fort said, looking away. “He warned me I’d lose someone if I went after my father, but I thought that meant a friend would be left behind, not that Gabriel would turn on everyone.”

“He needs to learn to be more specific,” she told him, scrunching up her nose. “And if it makes you feel better, Gabriel probably would have taken the book if you hadn’t. And this way, you got your father back. Besides, at least you got to visit a different dimension. Look at how boring this school is.” She waved a hand, and the dark area around Fort lit up, showing a pleasant hallway lined with windows that opened on a green countryside. “Almost makes me jealous of that puke-green color there.”

“Stop trying to cheer me up,” Fort said, and she grinned at him.

“Just wanted to keep you from wallowing a bit,” she said, patting his leg. “Anyway, I have to go save all these kids, because I’m amazing. You keep healing, okay?”

Fort nodded. “Say hi to Cyrus for me, will you? And, um, don’t go disappearing on me this time. I might have missed having you around.”

She beamed, then leaped at him for a hug. He yelped when she slammed into him, then realized he wasn’t injured in his mind, and hugged her back. “I missed you too, Fitzgerald,” she said. “But don’t worry. I won’t be gone long this time. If all goes well, we should have the book and be heading to London in an hour or two to get off this island. And then we’re heading for…” She trailed off, then shrugged. “Actually, I have no idea where the sixth book might be. But that’s why we’re getting the Clairvoyant book now, so we can use it to see where we go next!”

Fort laughed. “That doesn’t make sense, you know?”

Sierra winked. “That’s why they call it magic, New Kid.”