“Thoughts on going in the secret passageways?” Nicole asked. “If everything is intentional, us not having any spare time to actually explore them might be as well. Maybe we’re not supposed to go in them because we’re supposed to set the freebies aside for the time being.”

“It was a pretty elaborate reveal. Why bother giving it to us if we can’t use them?” Alex asked.

“It’s almost as if she was trying to hide them,” Stella said quietly to herself. She was sure that was in fact the case. Jewel didn’t want someone to know they had access to the passages. Their getting caught running around in there would be a dead giveaway, so Jewel kept them out by scheduling challenges directly after meals and extending mealtime rules to 10:00 P.M. That was too controlled to be a coincidence. But she couldn’t put her finger on why it needed to be a secret. Not yet.

“Maybe it’s written like that because she wanted us to focus on the function of the keys first,” Luna said. “They exist to unlock the freebies. Recipe step solved; please wait for further instructions.”

“I can second that,” Nicole said. “It sounds plausible.”

“Onward,” Stella said. “Step four: for the birds.”

“Wait, what did you say?” Luna asked.

“I’m sure you heard me,” Stella teased.

“Yeah, I did, I just—um, never mind. That’s what my bracelet says.”

“Bracelet, you say? Like this one?” Stella pushed up her sleeve to show hers. She’d never been the gold-wearing type, and now look at her. Two different pieces of gold jewelry that looked fabulous on her skin.

“Yes! I was wearing it this morning when I woke up and asked Alex to take it off for me,” Luna said.

“I’ll get it,” he said, and ran to his room.

“Obvious choice”—she picked up Nicole’s iron box—“birds on the wrist have something to do with birds in the box.”

“The bracelets have chains. That could be the whip.”

“Can I see?” Luna asked. Stella passed the box and her bracelet, just as Alex returned with the second one.

“Anyone know what a psychopomp is?” he asked.

Stella said, “It’s a guide to the underworld.”

“Jesus,” Nicole breathed, shaking her head.

Luna yelped, shrinking back toward Nicole. Her mouth hung open as she stared upward.

One of the metal bird skeletons hovered above their heads, eyes glowing red. The wings didn’t flap. No hum of a motor keeping it airborne. And yet, there it was, mocking gravity.

“Now, how did you get up there?” Stella mused.

“Okay, that’s really cool,” Alex said, smiling.

“It’s the bracelets!” Luna pointed inside the box. “That little empty space right there? The bar part of the bracelet fits inside perfectly!” She passed the box to Stella—and the bird moved.