tripping even slightly as they entered the foyer.
A few minutes later, they were seated around the living room, fresh towels draped across the furniture so that the Misfits’ damp clothes wouldn’t ruin Mrs. Larsen’s expensive fabrics. Ms. Parkly perched in the middle of the couch and everyone listened as she explained. “I know that Dante can be less than forthcoming. And it must be frustrating to be kept in the dark. But he has his reasons. When he left Mineral Wells in August, it wasn’t only because he’d gotten news that the Magic Circle had been compromised. He was also gathering together a group of the most trustworthy members of our club to come home with him, to live in secret among you, to watch you six and make sure that no harm came to you. We suspected that Kalagan would continue to target you. It turned out we were right.”
Theo shook his head. “You mean… each of us has a secret guardian?”
Ms. Parkly nodded. “Can you guess who they are?”
Izzy gasped. “Gregor and Tara?”
“One for you and one for Olly,” said Ms. Parkly.
“They were at the mouth of the cave to help us?” said Olly.
“But they weren’t alone,” said Leila. “Quinn the concierge was with them. Along with another person. Someone I didn’t recognize.”
“Quinn has long been a secret member of Dante’s society. Since she was already in town, she agreed to keep an eye on Carter.”
“Quinn?” Carter blurted out. “Watching me? I didn’t even notice. And I usually notice.”
“Who is the other person?” Leila asked. “The one who is watching me?”
“She’s been staying at the hotel as a guest,” said Ms. Parkly. “Keeping a low profile.”
“And me?” Theo asked.
Ms. Parkly smiled. “You know how often you visit the pet store to pick up food for your doves?”
“Of course,” said Theo. “Quite often.”
“The clerk who sells you that food is a member of the Circle.”
Theo nodded slowly, as if it were all coming together in his mind. “I thought it was strange how many questions he always asks about my birds.”
Ms. Parkly raised her chin. “None of you realize that you’d met me before, do you?”
Ridley flinched. “Met you where? When?”
“At the beginning of the summer. I was doing some work for Dante, looking into B. B. Bosso’s shady operations at the Mineral Wells fairgrounds. I was going by a different name then.”
Carter’s jaw dropped, his lips making a popping sound. “Madame Helga?”
Ms. Parkly let out the smallest of laughs, though nothing like the high-pitched one Ridley was used to. “The one and only.”
“Wait, who?” asked Olly.
“You and Izzy weren’t there,” said Leila. “Madame Helga was the one who gave us our motto! Alone we are weak. Together we are strong.” She paused, then asked, “You’re not really psychic, are you?”
“About as psychic as Sandra Santos,” Ms. Parkly replied. “What you need to know most right now is that Dante Vernon cares greatly about all of you. What happened today at the ice caves was the result of several missteps. And for that, I apologize.”
Ridley squinted at her teacher. She wanted to ask if the missteps were actual missteps, or if maybe, the missteps had occurred on purpose.
Something knocked at the window. Ridley saw a bright green parrot staring in through the newly replaced glass. “Presto!” Leila exclaimed, leaping to her feet. The bird blinked at the group and then tapped the glass with her beak again. Leila unlocked the window and slid the sash up. Presto flew inside and landed on her shoulder. “What are you doing here?”
“Talking to mesmerist. Too big. Too mega. Dogma is phenomena worship,” said the bird. “Talking to mesmerist. Too big. Too mega. Dogma is phenomena worship.”
“She’s doing that weird thing again,” Izzy whispered to Olly.
“Don’t let her hear you calling her weird,” Olly whispered back. “Birds are sensitive.”
Ms. Parkly leaned toward the side table next to the couch and reached for the drawer. She noticed Ridley stiffen, and then explained. “I need a paper and pen. Dante must have sent Presto to deliver a message to us.”
Carter flinched. “What kind of a message is ‘Talking to mesmerist. Too big. Too mega. Dogma is phenomena worship’?”
“A secret message,” said Ms. Parkly. “One that needs to be deciphered.”
“Hold on,” said Leila. “My parrot has been speaking in code this entire time and I never knew it?”
Ms. Parkly nodded, smirking, as if proud of the little bird.
Ridley rolled her eyes and sighed. “One more thing he’s been keeping from us.” She opened the panel in