to them both as proof before reading out the passage. “‘Once the creature’s soul is returned, it is automatically banished back to beyond the gate.’ See, all there in black and white.”
“But what’s to stop it from sticking its soul right back in the box?” Emma wrinkled her nose.
“About five dark priests and a lunar eclipse,” Brenda said as she held the book out. “Apparently it’s not exactly an easy—or pain-free—ritual to perform.”
“Er, so how do you know the key will work?” Curtis asked, and Brenda, who realized that she wasn’t going to get a chance to study the textbooks just yet, looked up and let out a resigned sigh.
“It’s like a skeleton key. You have heard of one of those, haven’t you?”
“Of course,” Emma assured her in a tone that let her know that her sarcasm wasn’t appreciated. “So you’re saying that if something has come through the gate and put its soul in a box, then all we need to do is get the soul back out and restore it and it will be banished?”
“Er, yes, like I’ve just told you three times.” Brenda looked at them like they were idiots before narrowing her eyes. “Why are you asking, anyway?”
“It’s nothing. Just something extra that Curtis and I are doing.” Emma gave a casual shrug.
“For the assignment?” Brenda suddenly looked concerned. “I didn’t know we could do anything extra. Man, where’s Loni? I really need to discuss this with her stat.” Then without another word she jumped up and hurried toward the front of the library. The minute she’d gone, Emma started to scoop the books away before turning to Curtis.
“So at least we know how my mom got rid of it. I mean, it all makes sense now. She fought it, couldn’t find the kill spot, so she opened up the soul box instead and banished it.”
“Yes, but you’re forgetting that even if the darkhel has put its soul in a box, we don’t have a clue where the box would be. It will be like looking for a needle in an evil-infested haystack.”
“So, what are you saying? You think we should just forget about it altogether?” Emma demanded. “And maybe while we’re at it, we should go and work on our stupid assignment instead?”
“Hey, Jones, where is this coming from? I’m on your side, remember?” Curtis protested, his dark eyes clouding over. “And of course I don’t think we should go and do the assignment. In fact, I’ll be happy if I never see another fairy again, because—”
“That’s it.” Emma turned to him in excitement. “The fairies. We can go and ask them.”
“Go and ask the darkhel to tell us where his soul box is?” Curtis frowned and shook his curls. “You know, I don’t think he’s going to tell us.”
“No, I mean the little fairies. The annoying ones with too much backtalk. And as for telling us or not, well, who said I’m going to give them a choice?”
“But if what Brenda says is true, then the soul box must be somewhere nearby the Gate of Linaria and apparently that changes location all the time. It could be in Siberia for all we know.”
“All the more reason for us to get going. Now come on. Let’s go and see Mrs. Barnes about a pass-out so we can go to the mall. Because the sooner we talk to the fairies, the sooner this thing is over.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
No, absolutely not,” Mrs. Barnes said as Emma stood with Curtis in front of her desk.
“But we haven’t even asked you anything yet,” Emma protested as Mrs. Barnes shook her head and continued to type, her green-framed glasses perched high on her head. “Besides, this has nothing to do with Principal Kessler and trying to find out when he’ll be back. All we want is a pass-out so we can do a Saturday patrol for our assignment.”
“And the answer is still no. Emma, you’re on detention, and also it’s Induction tomorrow, which means no one is doing any patrolling. Parents don’t like it when their children look all beaten up in the photos. It’s bad for yearbook sales.”
Emma, who was still struggling to catch her breath, just stared at her for a moment and wondered what her chances were of diving for the drawer where the passes were kept. After all, Mrs. Barnes had to be at least fifty; she’d never be able to catch them. Next to her Curtis seemed to stiffen as if reading her mind.