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THE NEXT MORNING ELSIE AND I JOIN A BUNCH OF trainees at the youthdormitory elevators. We found our uniforms—a gray suit for me and awhite lab coat for Elsie—waiting for us in our closet. I nearly panickedwhen I saw my moonstone badge sparkling on the front. How did it evenget out of its case? Doesn’t matter. No way am I walking around with ashimmering “Look at Me” badge attached to my jacket. I took it off andreattached it under my lapel to keep it hidden.All around us kids talk excitedly. Once again, I’m thankful for thedistraction because no one pays much attention to me and Elsie whisperingnear the back of the crowd. After last night, we’ve still got a lot to talkabout.“I think Dylan was telling the truth about the letter,” says Elsie. “He’sbeen honest for as long as I’ve known him. I’ll bet whoever took VanQuishtried to trade them for Moreau.”“But that would mean the Bureau ignored a chance to get my brotherback.”Elsie frowns. “They’d have to. Otherwise, every bad guy in thesupernatural world would start kidnapping agents to make outrageousdemands.”I hate that Elsie is making so much sense. Because it doesn’t make mefeel any better at all.“What are you going to do about magiciangirl18?” Elsie continues.A jolt of unease zips through me again. How did magiciangirl18 evenknow I’d made a profile? “I already told you, I’m not doing anything aboutit.” “But what if she’s the same magician the Bureau is looking for?” Elsie’sface goes red. “What if she’s Moreau’s apprentice?”“Why would that magician want to be nice to me?” I ask. “I’ll bet it’sactually somebody pretending to be a magician just to mess with me.” Likewhen Emily Grant and her friends sent me friend requests out of nowherejust so they could post mean things on my page. “Besides, Director VanHelsing already thinks I’m a criminal. That message is the excuse he needsto kick me out.”We find a spot on a packed elevator next to a large group of boys inscuba gear. Clearly they’re headed to the Department of UnderseaRelations.Two girls in safari gear squeeze on last. Their nametags say they’retrying out for the Department of Creature Control. “You don’t think they’llmake us walk through the Woodland Predators section, do you?” one ofthem asks. “Maybe,” says the other. “When my uncle was twelve he wenttotally bald after getting too close to an African lighting bird nest during histour.”My stomach is doing flips thinking about what my own first day will belike. Supernatural Investigations is the most dangerous, most competitivespecialty there is.“I’m pretty sure the first day is just a tour,” says Elsie, giving me a softnudge with her elbow. “Nothing to be worried about.”“Thanks,” I say, remembering that she can see just how worried I reallyam. I don’t think I’ll ever totally get used to Elsie knowing exactly how I’mfeeling. But right now I need a little reassurance. Director Van Helsing’swords keep replaying in my head. Surely you can’t fail a tour, can you?I shake out my nerves. I’ve got to focus on why I’m here. I need to findout if Dylan was telling the truth about the stuff he told me last night. Elsiemight believe him, but the way he turned on me in front of his dad makesme worried he might’ve just been messing with me.I’ll just have to find out for myself. Which means the plan stays the samefor Elsie and me—find out as much as we can.And this tour is the perfect time to learn my way around Quinton’sdepartment—like where Quinton and Maria’s office is located and where allthe files are kept.As for how we’ll get into those places? We’ll figure that out later.By the time the elevator arrives at the Department of SupernaturalInvestigations, it’s half full. Around thirty kids in light gray suits all standshoulder to shoulder.Seeing the lobby for the first time feels like I’ve somehow stepped intoone of those old blackandwhite movies. The floors are covered withblackandwhite tiles. The walls are glistening white, and two black pillarssurround a white statue of Abraham Van Helsing driving a stake intoVladimir, one of the Night Brothers.“Good luck,” Elsie says as the elevator doors slide open. She gives metwo big thumbsup.“Thanks,” I say, stepping off. “You too.” If I wasn’t nervous before, Idefinitely feel it now. I gulp as the elevator lifts Elsie away. You’re on yourown now, Amari.“It’s not too late to turn back,” sings a voice I recognize. Lara VanHelsing smirks at me from beside her brother at the far end of the line.Nearly all the kids from her table at the social are here too.“See that statue?” Lara adds. “That’s how the Bureau feels aboutmagicians.” She and her friends laugh. Only Dylan keeps a straight face.I ignore them and find a spot at the opposite end of the line. The lobbystays pretty quiet except for the whispers coming from the twins’ littlegroup. Everybody else looks just as nervous as I feel.After a few minutes, there’s a loud click and a section of the back wallslides away. Agent Fiona steps into the doorway. “The Red Lady,” someonemurmurs. It’s easy to see how she got the nickname. Unlike yesterday, herblazing red hair is flowing and wild, falling down over her shoulders like itmight bite anyone who comes too close with a comb. Those piercing blueeyes dart around the room like they’re watching everything at once.“So none of ye are any good at heeding warnings?” asks Agent Fiona.No one dares to answer.“Well, don’t go losing your nerve now,” she says, pacing back and forthin front of us. “If ye can’t find your voice in front of me, what chance do yehave against a forest of tree zombies closing in for a bite? Or a score ofstoneskinned gargoyles circling above ye with ill intentions?”“I’m sure you’ll see to it we’re ready for whatever comes our way,” saysLara Van Helsing, stepping forward from the line. “And I, for one, am readyfor the challenge.”Ugh. Lara is so full of herself. Agent Fiona stalks over, stopping directly in front of her. She towers overLara, sizing the girl up. “You’ve got the look of a lass who’s hunting glory,little Van Helsing. And trust me, there’s a good bit of glory to be found asan agent. But there’s no surer way to fail at this than to go seeking it out.You’d do well to remember that. Ye all would.”I’m enjoying the embarrassed look on Lara’s face when those blue eyesfind me. My heart skips a beat.“Peters,” Agent Fiona calls out. “Step forward.”And here I was hoping to stay invisible today. But I do as I’m told.The way I feel as Agent Fiona approaches me is how gazelles must feelwhen a lion shows up. She puts her face really close to mine, staring intomy eyes. It’s completely different from how she looked at me yesterday andit’s all I can do just to stand my ground. Did I do something to make hermad?“I suppose ye think you’re special with your fancy badge. Better than therest of us?”I shake my head. “No, I—”“No?” says Agent Fiona. “Then can ye tell me what on earth made ye putdown Junior Agent when ye ain’t got a supernatural ability to speak of?”“I do have a supernatural ability,” I say. “It’s just . . . illegal.”“Same difference in the end,” says Agent Fiona. “When a werewolf ’s gotye by the throat, ye can be sure he won’t be giving ye the courtesy of atimeout to let ye work out if it’s okay to use your illusions or not. So, tellme, why are ye here?”Agent Fiona read my intentions yesterday, so there’s no point in lying.“Tto ffind my brother.” I hate how shaky my voice sounds.“So ye don’t want to be an agent to help others—only yourself. Thatright?”“I . . .”“And if I said you’re wasting your time? That in all my years of trainingagents I’ve never seen a worse prospect?”A few kids snicker at that. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Lara clap ahand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud. Agent Fiona might aswell have punched me right in the gut. It’s the same as always, somebodylooks at me and thinks that I’m not good enough. I drop my head.“Nothing to say, lass?” Maybe I’m not Quinton, but I bet I could be a decent agent if I decided tobe. I’m tired of being underestimated. “You’re wrong about me,” I squeakout.“What’s that?” she says.“I said you’re wrong about me. I can be an agent.”“So ye mean to prove me wrong, then?”“I will prove you wrong.”“That so? Well it ain’t just me doubtin’ ye.” Agent Fiona points to therow of kids behind me. “They doubt ye too. Same goes for all the higherupswho were so eager to tell me to turn ye away. What have ye got to say tothat?”“I don’t care. I will be an agent.”The Red Lady’s expression softens so that she looks more like thewoman who fought for me yesterday. She lowers her voice so that only Ican hear her. “Keep that wildfire burnin’ inside ye, lass. And let all of theirdoubts become kerosene. Because ye know what I see when a lass ismaligned for something she can’t help and yet she still shows up anyway?”I shake my head.“Courage,” says Agent Fiona. “And that’s what separates the wannabesfrom the agents in the end. Quinton didn’t nominate ye ’cause he needed arescuer, he nominated ye because he believed ye can thrive here. Onlyyou’ve gotta believe it before anybody else will.” She leans back andunclips my moonstone badge from beneath my lapel to place it back in itsoriginal spot. “Now, back in line with ye.”I glance at the other trainees as I step backward. A couple look back atme with hesitant smiles, but most everyone else looks wary or even mad. Itdoesn’t matter. Agent Fiona is right about one thing—I can be brave. I haveto be.Agent Fiona cracks a wicked smile and opens her arms wide. “Welcometo Junior Agent tryouts. Of all the trainees who wrote down Junior Agenton their cards, the thirtytwo of ye are considered the cream of the crop.Those fancy badges ye carry signify you’ve got plenty of potential, butyou’ve already come as far as those’ll take ye. For the privilege of wearingthis suit you’ll have to prove your worth in the tryouts. Now then, thename’s Senior Agent Melanie Fiona and, as ye may have gathered, I’m theone in charge of training and tryouts. There’ll be three tryouts in all, designed to evaluate whether or not you’re cut out for this. Simple enough.Any questions?”“Can you really tell a person’s intentions just by looking at them?” asks aredfaced boy with a gulp.“Aye . . . Billy Pogo,” answers the Red Lady, reading his name tag. “It’smy supernatural ability. And plenty useful when it comes to interrogatingbaddies.” Her eyes f lash. “Right now it’s telling me ye can’t wait to get thistour over with so ye can get back to that slice of sweet potato pie ye gotstashed back in your room.”“You’re amazing,” says Billy, wideeyed.Agent Fiona gives him a wink. “Don’t I know it.”“Could you give us a clue about what these tryouts are?” This is fromDylan Van Helsing.“Not a chance!” The Red Lady laughs. “Ye should know better than mostthat these things are very wellkept secrets. And even if I did tell ye, who’sto say I won’t change me mind later?”“Is there anything you can tell us?” I ask nervously.“Three things,” Agent Fiona replies. “For starters, while it’s true we’ll betraining ye before and between the tryouts, your ability to pass won’t just bea matter of how well ye learn. You’ll need to have the right stuff alreadyinside ye—the kinds of traits ye can’t teach.“Second,” she continues, “the last tryout is called the finale. It’s aculmination of all the training you’ve received. Comes in three parts. Anexam on supernatural facts. A display of technique while dueling with SkySprints and Stun Sticks, and finally a demonstration of your supernaturalability. Don’t expect ye to be masters, but you’ll need to have gained somelevel of control over what ye can do. Peters, we’re still debating what you’lldo if ye make it that far.”“And the third thing?” blurts a very anxiouslooking girl.“Aye,” answers Agent Fiona with a smirk. “First tryout comes thisFriday. Meaning it’ll be a short summer for a lot of ye.”The announcement sends the lobby into a commotion. Friday is less thana week away.“I know there were eight spots last year,” says Dylan Van Helsing. “Howmany spots are available this time?” The lobby quiets, waiting for ananswer. Agent Fiona frowns. “We had a few older agents who were set to retirebut decided to putter on for another year. Means we can only offer fourspots this summer.”If there was a commotion before, this sends the group into an alloutpanic. I feel it too. Am I really capable of beating out twentyeight otherkids?Agent Fiona raises her hands and the lobby goes silent. “Quit yourwhining and carrying on. Ye all knew this was the most competitivespecialty.” She grabs a short stack of paper from behind the Van Helsingstatue. “Now then, let’s get these schedules handed out.”I’m the first to get one, so I take a quick look. JUNIOR AGENT TRAINEESUMMER CAMP SCHEDULEWeek 1–Supernatural Investigations Tour–Supernatural Knowledge Exam–Intro to Sky Sprints–Supernatural ImmersionFIRST TRYOUT—Thirty-two trainees drop to sixteen!Weeks 2 & 3–Sky Sprints-Wallrunning & Aerial Maneuvers–Supernatural Immersion–Intro to Stun Sticks–Supernatural Knowledge (Self-Study)SECOND TRYOUT—Sixteen trainees drop to eight!Week 4FINALE—Eight trainees drop to four Junior Agents!Weeks 5–8JUNIOR AGENT TRAINING BEGINSIf I manage to get through the first tryout, I’ll have two weeks to find outwhat happened to Quinton before I’ve got to prove myself again. But is thatreally enough time? It’ll have to be.“Now that you’ve had a moment to review your schedules,” Agent Fionacalls out to the whole lobby, “let’s get ye all separated into tour groups.When I call your name, come and stand beside me. Peters, ye stay put.”It’s just my luck that I get picked for the first tour group along withDylan Van Helsing. Why does he even need a tour? He must’ve seen thisplace hundreds of times growing up.Agent Fiona addresses my eightperson group. “You’re encouraged to askquestions while we tour the department, but more than anything you’ll needto keep out of the way. A lot of important business is being conducted thatcan’t be disturbed. Ready? Then follow me.”When Agent Fiona punches a code for the door, it hits me that I’m aboutto walk the same halls, see the same sights, that Quinton did. The thoughtputs a warm feeling in my chest, but it also makes me miss him terribly.The door slides open and Agent Fiona leads us into a wide hallway. It’s afastmoving river of gray suits, SWAT team gear, and fatigues going in bothdirections across a blackandwhite tiled floor. “This is the main hall,” callsAgent Fiona over the noise. “Leads from one end of the department to theother, making a giant U. Every area in the department can be reached fromthis hallway. If ye ever lose your way, simply seek out this hall to rightyourself.”We start up the left side of the U, keeping close to the wall to stay out ofeveryone’s way. I stare up at the various wanted posters and Agent of theMonth plaques. Agent Fiona brings our group to a quick stop when agentscome bustling through a doorway struggling to control a tenfoot tall furrycreature in ripped blue jeans and a green Save the Trees Tshirt. It’s notmaking things easy at all for the agents, squirming and kicking its feetwildly as it howls, “I’m innocent. I swear! It was a Sasquatch, not me!”Agent Fiona shakes her red tangles. “Again, Bigfoot? What’ve ye goneand done this time?”The agents wrestle Bigfoot through another door on the opposite side ofthe hall. Agent Fiona tells us to stay put and follows them inside. Half aminute later she sticks her head back through the door and waves for us tofollow.“Line up just there and keep quiet,” says Agent Fiona once we’ve allcrowded into the small room. Bigfoot is nowhere to be found. “I’ve askedto take over so I can give ye a glimpse at what we do here.”A few minutes later, an angry little bearded man in a green suit is broughtin. He looks like the grumpy uncle of the guy on the Lucky Charms box.“Is that a real leprechaun?” I blurt out. I’ve really got to stop doing that.The little man turns around. “Well, I ain’t a bloody fake, that’s for sure!”Agent Fiona shoots me a look.“Sorry,” I mouth.Dylan Van Helsing chuckles beside me.