Book Four: Chapter 176

Dana smirked, then moved down the hall until she was at the door. She picked up Tick Tock and held the mimic to her chest.

“Quetzalli is in Mike’s room. She needs protection,” she said, and the mimic sprouted legs and raced down the hall.

She moved toward the door, curious at how its mechanisms worked, but froze in amazement at the interior.

The room itself was a giant conservatory made of several round windows, each one looking at a different patch of starry sky. Up above hung the remnants of an ancient telescope that looked as if it was in the middle of being repaired. All around the room were shattered mechanical parts, as if something complex had exploded and never been cleaned up. In the middle of the room was a small table, and the dark figure pored over a set of volumes that sat in the middle of the table before choosing one and picking it up.

“The Grimoire! You lose, Emily.” The man let out a laugh and then hugged the book to his chest. “All yo