Chapter 9
“Korrin, I mean it, stop that this instant! Trip! Trip! TRIPOD.”
For the umpteenth time, Trip went racing through the house with the sprite on his back, the two of them careening through the living room like they were the Pony Express and the mail was late.
How Korrin had gotten Trip to go along with it, Sabrina had no idea. Trip was a very easygoing cat who generally loved everyone, and like most cats, he did occasionally get the zoomies, but this was something very new and different.
They zipped past again, Korrie’s laughter echoing through the house.
They were never going to listen. She rolled her eyes and went into the kitchen to find a snack, despite her dinner of macaroni and cheese with ham and peas. Korrin had eaten a good bit of that too. Maybe he was trying to burn off the carbs. Although Trip was the only one getting any exercise.
She settled on a bag of sour cream and onion potato chips and took them to the couch. She planned to watch The Secret Bachelor, her new favorite dating reality show, then go to bed to read.
Trip and Korrie were now lying on the carpet next to each other looking completely worn out. Trip’s eyes were half shut, and she had no doubt he’d soon be asleep. Korrie was staring up at the ceiling, his hand on his chest, smiling.
She sat and gave them a look. “Are the shenanigans over now?”
Korrie sat up. “That was the most fun I’ve had in a hundred years.”
She ate a chip and shook her head. “I don’t get it. You said it’s been eighty-five years since you were last out of the music box, but there doesn’t seem to be any gap in your understanding of modern life.”
He tipped his head toward the television. “The music box was on a shelf near one of those. I could see and hear all the shows as well as everything going on around me. Just because I was trapped in it doesn’t mean I was completely in the dark.”
“But you didn’t eat anything that whole time?”
“Didn’t need to when I’m in that limbo state. Would have liked to. I enjoy food very much.” He eyed the bag of chips. “What are those?”
“Potato chips. You want one?”
A second later he was landing on the couch beside her, hand out. She gave him a small chip.
He crunched into it loudly. Right away, he nodded. “These are good. I’ll have another one.”
“Finish that one. And don’t get crumbs on the couch, please.”
He wiped his hand on his shirt, which was no great loss. The shirt was basically a rag.
That got her thinking. “Maybe I can find some new clothes for you. The ones you have on are looking pretty scruffy. I wonder if doll clothes would fit you or if I’ll have to hand-sew you something.”
He sat down, still working on the chip. “I can shrink the clothes.”
“Oh, right. Like you shrank the pen. Did you make it full size again? Gideon probably won’t be happy about that if you don’t.”
“Not yet. I will.” He ate the last bite and held out his hand.
She gave him another small chip.
“He’s got some issues, that one.”
Sabrina shrugged. “We all do.”
“You don’t.”
She snorted. “You don’t know me. You don’t know what I have going on.”
“Maybe so, but it’s nothing like whatever’s going on with him. He’s uptight, grumpy, short-tempered, and he doesn’t like me, which is literally crazy. I’m adorable.”
She sighed. “He doesn’t like what I’ve gotten him into. Honestly, I didn’t know what I was getting myself into.” She looked at Korrie. “The woman I’m supposed to be repairing your music box for is a very powerful witch.”
He stopped eating. “You can’t tell her about me.”
“I’m pretty sure she already knows. In fact, I think you’re the whole reason she bought the music box.”
“This isn’t good.”
“Why not?”
“I’m a very magical creature. She might have nefarious plans for me.”
“Anything is possible, but generally, Amelia only does good with her magic. Like she created this town. The whole idea, from what I’ve been told, is that the sun never shines here so that it would be safe for her beloved, who’s a vampire.
He was missing for a long time, but now he’s back.
That alone ought to put her in a good mood. ”
He frowned, obviously unconvinced. “Maybe creating the town used up all her magic and now she’s going to take mine.”
Sabrina chuckled. “She made Shadowvale years ago. If that used up her magic, she’s had ages to replenish it. I doubt she’d suddenly need it now.” An odd thought popped into her head. “Although it’s possible Pasqual might need some magic. Word has it his recovery has been slow.”
“Who’s Pasqual?”
“The vampire. He was ensorceled in a tiger. At least that’s what Julia told me. She works for me at the shop. She’s a witch, too, but doesn’t practice.”
His eyes narrowed. “Does she know about me?”
“No. To be honest, I’m trying to keep you a secret. I don’t really want Amelia to find out I released you. I didn’t even know you were in the music box! But she did tell me not to touch the magic inside it.” She exhaled at how complicated this had all become. “I just need to get paid for this job.”
“You need money?”
“Doesn’t everyone? Yeah, I need the money. My shop does okay but nothing great.” She smiled. “It’s no big deal. I’ll be fine. But this job with Amelia could change everything. It would get the name of the shop out there, maybe get more people to hire me to fix things. Might really do some good.”
He looked sad, and she didn’t know why. “So if I don’t go back into the music box …”
Her stomach dropped. “Please don’t say that, Korrin. You already told me you would if I helped you do the things on your list.”
Chip gone, he stood up. “But what if she does something terrible to me? Are you just going to let that happen? I thought we were friends.”
She bit her lip. “Of course, I don’t want anything to happen to you. We’ll figure out something, okay?”
What that something might be, she had no idea. She hoped a good night’s sleep would help her think. Maybe a solution would come to her in the morning.
Maybe she could even talk to Gideon about it. Although she doubted he’d have any guilt about sticking Korrin right back into the box and turning it over to Amelia.
She sat back, pondering the dilemma she’d gotten herself into. Trip rolled onto his back, all three legs in the air. Must be nice to live such a carefree life.
Wasn’t like she could ask Amelia what her intentions were for Korrin. Sabrina might as well get a bullhorn and announce she’d freed the sprite despite being told not to touch the magic in the box. Then she’d be out of a job and Korrin would be on his own.
Amelia couldn’t really be planning on doing something bad to the sprite, could she? Sabrina had no idea how witches came by their magic.
Did she dare bring Julia into this?
If Sabrina did, she might at least get some questions answered and have a better idea of what Amelia was up to. But involving Julia would be making her an accessory. And Gideon probably wouldn’t like someone else knowing he was part of this scheme.
Granted, he was only a part of it because Sabrina had asked for his help.
She sighed and pressed her hands to her eyes. She should have told Amelia up front that she didn’t have the expertise needed to fix the mechanics. Sabrina blamed her curse for the lie she’d told.
When something broken was in her sight, it was impossible to resist or think rationally. This wasn’t the first time it had caused her to lie, but this was definitely the first time she might end up in serious trouble because of it.
What would she do if things went really wrong? Would Amelia force her to leave Shadowvale? Where would she go? She’d spent every cent of her small inheritance and meager savings to buy this little house and start her business.
This was supposed to be her new life. Her chance to live in a place where her curse wasn’t such a big deal. Where maybe it would even become a good thing.
Without Shadowvale, she’d have nothing.
The thought sent a cold dread through her. She had to figure this out.