Return to the Isle of the Lost - Melissa de la Cruz Page 0,22
of Auradon’s Top Tourney players in the lead-up to the Castlecoming game that weekend.
Jay followed her directions to the lamp, which was kept on a special shelf in the residence halls. Jordan’s lamp was smaller than her father’s, made of rose gold with delicate filigree carvings all over its surface. Jay wondered if he should pick it up and decided not to. Instead he called down into the lamp’s spout. “Hello in there! Jordan?”
“Just rub the front and you’ll pop in,” he heard Jordan yell from inside. “No need to shout! I can hear you loud and clear!”
He did as told and soon found himself comfortably seated on a pink velvet footstool across from a small octagonal coffee table. Green columns painted with gold swirls circled the spacious room, and heavy blue curtains draped dramatically from the ceiling. A striking purple-and-gold Oriental rug was centered on the floor, and peacock feathers were arranged in vases all around. “Neat,” he said. “It’s bigger than it looks.”
“Thanks, I like my space,” said Jordan, who was seated across from him on a purple footstool.
“Is it annoying that this is all the magic you can use at school?” Jay asked, picking up one of the many stuffed pillows.
“Not really,” said Jordan. “I’m actually glad for the restrictions. Magic can be wildly unpredictable, so even though it’s fun, it’s nice to have a break from it sometimes.”
“So no more granting wishes, huh?” he teased.
“Not today, anyway,” she said cheerfully. “Ready for your interview?”
“Hit me,” Jay said.
Jordan snapped her fingers and the lights went on. “Welcome to TourneyCenter!” she said, smiling into the camera. “Today we have Jay, a star player on Auradon’s Knights! Jay, so glad you could join us!”
“Great to be here, Jordan.”
“Are you excited about the upcoming game? Do you think the team is ready to win the tournament?” she asked.
“Very excited, and I think we’re more than ready.”
“The Lost Boys have a killer defense; how do you think the Knights will succeed?”
“The way we always do: we run hard, we dodge the cannons, we make the goals.”
“You’re confident.”
“I am, I know our team.”
“What about the rumors that King Ben won’t be back in time to play the game? We’ve heard he left earlier this week on some secret official business,” Jordan said keenly. “Can you tell us anything about that?”
“I can’t speak to the rumors, but I know Ben wouldn’t want to let us down. I hope he makes it back in time, but if not, we’ll carry on.”
“I’m sure you will,” she said, rifling through her index cards for the next question. She smiled back up at the camera. “One of the things we like to do on TourneyCenter is to get to know our players better. Can you tell us a little about yourself?”
“Well, I’m Jay, son of Jafar. I grew up on the Isle of the Lost, but I think everyone knows that by now.”
“That’s right, you’re one of the so-called villain kids. When did you move here?” she asked.
Jay perked up at the question. “At the start of the school year. A big old limousine picked us up and dropped us off at Auradon Prep’s front door.”
“How fancy,” said Jordan, leaning forward with a smile.
“Sure was. The amount of candy they have in the back of that thing, I’ve got to tell you, Jordan, I wish I had the keys to that limo in my pocket right now,” he said, rubbing his stomach.
“Jay! You know the rules!” Jordan said, looking worried. “You can’t say the word wish in my lamp. Otherwise…Check your pocket for the keys. You’ll have to return…” She trailed off as the entire room went topsy-turvy, and the two of them were thrown across the lamp like rag dolls.
“Must have been another earthquake,” said Jordan, struggling to right herself and her footstool. Lamps had crashed, pillows and peacock feathers were scattered everywhere. “They’re so annoying! Every time one hits, my lamp falls on the floor. When you leave would you mind putting it back on the shelf?”
“Not at all,” said Jay with a smile, noticing she had forgotten all about the limousine keys. He felt guilty for deliberately deceiving Jordan, and tricking her into using her magic. But since it was for a good cause, maybe that was okay? The villain kids were just trying to protect Auradon from harm. He’d have to ask Fairy Godmother about it next time in Remedial Goodness class.
Jordan wrapped up the interview and thanked him for stopping by.