Arija shook her head, her black, silky fur catching the starlight. “No, Alex. They were made to forget.”

“What, you mean …”

“Magic.”

Alex stood there, blown away by what he was hearing. Magic? In Quill? He shook his head in shock. “But … who? Who would do such an awful thing, taking people’s memories?”

The ladies were silent, and then suddenly they stood at attention, peering into the shadows beyond Alex.

“Me,” said a voice from the dark.

On a Dark Night

Come, walk with me,” Mr. Today said, stepping out of the shadows. “We have a lot to talk about.”

Alex froze. He felt now like he had felt every time he’d been discovered committing an infraction back in Quill. His heart sank as he turned around slowly, only to find a grim look on Mr. Today’s face. Caught.

Mr. Today waved to the girrinos and began walking across the lawn toward the mansion. He didn’t appear worried that Alex would follow, and it was Mr. Today’s nonchalance that compelled Alex to tag along after him rather than run away or hide. Alex hurried through the grass and caught up to the mage’s brisk pace.

“It’s a gorgeous night.” Mr. Today breathed deeply the salty air. “I should remember to come out more often at this hour. I love the sound of the sea in the dark, when all the other creatures are quiet, don’t you?”

Alex swallowed hard. “Yes,” he said. And then, because it sounded funny, that word hanging out there alone, he added like a dutiful student, “It’s sort of musical. Like a new kind of instrument.”

“Indeed!” Mr. Today said approvingly. “My, but you’ve come a long way in almost a year. Can you see it in yourself, my boy?”

Alex was quiet for a moment, pleasantly confused by the turn in events, but a little suspicious all the same. “I suppose I can, sir.”

“Of course you can.” The old mage stopped at the shore and looked out over the sea. “Have you discovered Claire’s boat in the lagoon?” he asked. “She’s a real beauty.”

Alex squinched his eyes shut. “Um, y-yes.” Was that the right answer? Alex wasn’t sure.

“One day we’ll go for a cruise, maybe to one of the neighboring islands with whom we used to trade goods. I’ve been wanting to go back for years,” Mr. Today said, almost as if to himself. “But I imagine they had hard feelings when we cut off our communications with them.… I wonder if anyone there would remember me.” And then he roused himself from his thoughts and turned sharply, back toward the mansion. “But first we have some business to take care of.”

Alex stumbled after him. “We—we do?”

Mr. Today reached the walkway, climbed the steps, opened the mansion door with a sweeping gesture, and ushered Alex inside. “To my office,” he said.

“Your office?” Alex blushed as he entered the mansion. “Um, I guess I don’t know where—”

Simber cocked his head at Alex and growled.

Mr. Today held up his hand and chuckled. “No need, Simber. The boy needs his dignity.”

Alex stumbled up the staircase as his face burned. Without another word Mr. Today nimbly took the stairs two at a time and walked into the secret hallway. Alex hesitated, turned and looked down at Simber, and realized how stupid he had been to think no one had ever seen him go in. Simber grinned cheekily at the boy.

Alex shook his head and followed Mr. Today. “I’m such a dolt,” he said.

Mr. Today laughed, and then held out a finger at the glass shield. It shimmered, splashed to the floor, and disappeared. “We all have our moments, my boy. Come, have a seat.”

“Thank you,” Alex said. He sat down heavily in one of the office chairs and tried with all his might not to stare at the blackboards above Mr. Today’s head.

Mr. Today looked at Alex. “Let’s be honest with each other, shall we?”

Alex blinked. “Okay …”

“Do you miss your brother?”

Alex stared. His heart quickened. “No.”

Mr. Today regarded Alex for a moment. Then he turned toward the blackboard. “Alex,” he said, “is it true that your brother was creative like you?”

Alex blinked. “Well, he did try to draw once.” Alex remembered the time in the backyard when it rained.

“What happened?”

“My father got us mixed up. He thought Aaron was me—I was always the troublemaker, and it was pouring rain, and we’re identical. It was a simple mistake,” Alex said. He felt like he had to defend his father.

“And Aaron went along with it. He let you get written up for his infraction?”

Alex shifted uncomfortably. “Mr. Today, I’d already had several infractions. I knew I’d be Unwanted. One more infraction wouldn’t have made a difference to me.”

“And one would have made a difference for Aaron.”

Alex’s eyes teared up. “Yes—I mean, no. I mean … it’s all so confusing.”

Mr. Today leaned forward. “You would have done anything for him. That’s the way it is with twins, isn’t it?”

Alex nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Finally, he whispered, “I wish I hadn’t.”

“Because then he might be here, is that it?”

“Yes.”

“Alex, you did a noble thing, thinking you were saving him. Believe me, I understand. And I think very highly of you for it.”