“I’m the Diplomat, so it’s up to me to decide who can see it and when.”
“So it wasn’t the brooch before? Just you.”
“I’m far more impressive than a tiny piece of jewelry,” he scoffed. “How do you think the magic got in there in the first place?”
“Oh,” I mumbled, at a loss for words.
“Oh,” he mimicked and rolled his eyes. “Now pin the asset to your shirt and follow me.”
This time, I did as instructed, then trailed after him as we returned to the board room.
“Shut the door,” he told me, once we were inside. He’d already jumped up onto the long table and started stalking back and forth. “Lower the screen.”
“What screen?” I asked, searching the walls and ceiling but seeing nothing beyond the room, bare furniture, and swirling pink magic.
“Not you,” he said coldly.
The pink magical essence that connected Fluffikins’s board to the others around the world swirled to reveal a large projector screen. An image came into focus of Fluffikins standing on the table with the screen behind him.
“What the…?” I started, but then let my words fall away.
“The magic of technology,” he revealed with a satisfied smirk.
That’s when it hit me. He hadn’t given me a single drop of magic, just a fancy piece of surveillance equipment.
5
I clenched my jaw in irritation.“So you don’t actually need my help. You just need someone to wear the cam for you.”
“Exactly.” The cat bobbed his head enthusiastically. “We need someone unremarkable that other magical folk won’t notice. That’s where you come in.”
“Gee, thanks.” He’d insulted me many times before, and he would insult me many times again. I couldn’t base my entire self-worth on what one stupid cat thought, even if he was the one in charge.
He marched down the table and stopped in front of me, whiskers twitching contemplatively.“Although what were you thinking with that hair color? It’s not quite as forgettable as the rest of you.”
I reached up and touched my bubblegum pink hair. It was the one piece of evidence that I’d ever had any magical abilities at all. I’d tried to turn myself into a flamingo—long story—and instead wound up with this unique and vibrant new hairdo. It had really grown on me, too.
“I’m not changing my hair,” I said between gritted teeth. Okay, maybe I was still a little sensitive, but no one liked to be insulted. Right?
“I’m not sayingyou change it.” Mr. Fluffikins spun in a tight circle and then pointed his paw at me dramatically. “I’ll do it for you!”
I shot up from my chair in protest.“You can’t do that. Magic or not, I have rights!”
Fluffikins’s mouth fell open and his eyes widened as he glanced down at his pointer paw.
“What?” I demanded, almost afraid to learn what had unsettled the normally blas? feline.
He didn’t answer, but he did look from me to his paw several times as he murmured to himself under his breath. I thought I heard the words, “not possible” somewhere in there but couldn’t be too sure.
Still, I needed to know what was going on here, so I ripped the brooch from my chest and pointed it at my face. A flash of a second later, my image filled the projector screen, bubblegum pink hair and all.
“Oh,” I said, watching myself talk on screen. “You tried to change my hair, but you couldn’t. Does that mean I’m stronger than you?” I couldn’t help but laugh at this unexpected turn of events.
Mr. Fluffikins hissed.“It was just a joke. I was never going to change your stupid hair.”
We both knew that was a lie. But I still didn’t understand how my accidental trick performed with very temporary magic could withstand the bureau-cat’s attempt to undo it. He was the strongest magical creature in the entire region, unless…
“Okay, enough gawking,” he spat, turning tail and marching toward the back of the table. “It’s time for your makeover.”
“No. You’re not changing my hair,” I reminded him with a scowl. His inability to change it just now was most likely a fluke. In the greater scheme of things, I had far more important things to focus on. Like getting through this assignment with both my sanity and my sense of self intact.
“The hair can stay, but the rest of you needs an upgrade.” He hopped off the table and trotted over. “Now stand.”
I clambered to my feet. Part of me was offended, but the other part was too intrigued to resist. What might a magical makeover entail?
“I may be out of my element here,” the cat admitted as he walked circles around me. “Summon Connie,” he enunciated these two words better than I’d ever heard him say anything before. He actually paused after each syllable.
As soon as he’d given the command, the screen disappeared from the center of the room and that same sparkling pink magic shot through the roof like a golden retriever giving chase to a ball.
“Should just be a few moments,” Fluffikins informed me, jumping up and plopping his butt down on the table, then licking a paw and dragging it over his forehead.
“Connie’s Commerce, right?” I asked, remaining standing as my best to remember who everyone was. I hadn’t gotten to know anyone the last time around, other than Parker, Greta, and my present company. Fluffikins was in charge of the board, but it also comprised six other important magical figures for the community. In addition to the chairman, there was the Town Witch and liaisons to the force, schools, cemeteries, agriculture, and commerce.
While I hadn’t gotten to know Connie very well during our previous adventure, I remembered she’d been very well-dressed and a bit brusque in her speech. She certainly wasn’t afraid to contradict Fluffikins or anyone else, either.
And a few minutes later, she floated down to join us in the board room. Despite the early hour, she looked as if she’d just spent the past couple hours in the salon. She had on a full face of makeup and wore her hair perfectly coiffed. Despite her larger size, she moved with effortless grace. So entranced was I that I almost couldn’t look away.
“What is it?” she snapped in the cat’s direction.
“I’m sending Tawny here out to investigate the disappearing field agents. She needs to look the part.” He seemed unbothered by her rudeness, even though he always gave me heck whenever I made a snide remark.
“Hmmm.” Connie bit her lip as she studied me. A small droplet of blood blossomed from the resulting pressure, and her tongue shot out to lick it off.
I took a giant step back in fright.
“What? You never see a vampire before?” she asked, then bared her fangs completely, much to my surprise and horror.
I took another step back until my back pushed into the wall and let out a low, guttural whine. Was this really how I would die?
6
“So talking cats, witches, and angels are all A-OK, but you draw the line at vamps, huh?” Connie’s words were playful, but her expression clearly conveyed irritation. Perhaps even a hint of hostility.
“I…” What was I supposed to say?No, no, no. You’re just fine. Please accept my blood by way of apology? Because that was not going to happen.
“Sorry,” I squeaked.
Connie shook her head with a frown.“Sorry isn’t good enough.” She stepped closer, eyes focused on the wild pulse beating within my neck.
Mere inches separated us now. Backed into the wall, I had no means of escape. I gulped hard, willing myself not to stress vomit all over Connie’s designer heels.
“Please don’t eat me,” I whined pathetically, clenching my eyes closed and holding my breath.
Connie and Fluffikins both burst out laughing at my obvious terror.
“Please don’t eat me, you big scary vampire!” the cat cried out in a nasally voice that was apparently meant to sound like mine.
I opened my eyes again. Now that I was no longer quite as afraid, I was livid.
“Normies,” Connie said with a sigh, a slight smile playing at the edges of her lips. Her blood red lips.