IN THE ABSENCE OF RUBY SLIPPERS

This is the worst idea ever," Lend shouted from behind the closed door as Arianna finished pinning my hair under a brunette wig.

"I've been having a lot of those lately, but one of us wouldn't be here if it weren't for my most recent one."

"Well, you look the part, at least," Arianna said, standing back to admire her handiwork. I was in a fitted, sleek black pantsuit with a blouse underneath. The blouse was white. I hated it already. That, combined with the too-dark hair and colored eyebrows making my tragically pale skin even whiter, and I was not loving life. Still, sacrifices had to be made.

Jack was lying on the bed with his head hanging over the side, his face slowly turning more and more red as the blood rushed to it. He looked phenomenally bored for someone about to break into a secret international high security facility.

I slipped into my favorite stilettos, took one step, and fell over. "Ouch." Shaking off the shoes, I rubbed at my still-tender feet. The stilettos were so not happening. That did it. If I didn't already want to destroy the Dark Queen, the fact that she had ruined my ability to wear high heels put her at the very top of my hit list. She was so going down.

But not right now. With a longing look at my pile of heels brought over from the apartment by Jack, I instead turned to the other pile and put on plain black ballet flats.

I heard a thunk that sounded like Lend's head against the door. "This is stupid. Let my dad take care of it. He's been contacting everyone he knows who is still with IPCA, and-"

I walked over and put my own head against the door, pretending there wasn't anything between us. "And it doesn't matter. IPCA isn't the same. There are new people in charge, and they aren't messing around. I can help her. Raquel would do the same for me. She has done the same for me."

"I don't see what good it's going to do for you to waltz back in there and-"

"Can I tango back in there, instead? So much sexier than the waltz."

"Evie, I'm serious! You just broke out of IPCA! You're going to get tased and tagged again."

"I really doubt it. Faerie backup, remember?" I went to the window and looked down into the yard, where Reth stood in the midst of the dead brown grass, looking like a god of spring and sunshine who had seriously lost his way. He was staring straight up at me, although how he knew I'd look down right that instant I had no idea. Creeper.

I shivered a little, still not breaking eye contact with Reth. I was in over my head, I knew that, and I knew I'd owe him even more after this. I had no doubt I'd pay in a way I really didn't want to, and soon.

The door shook as Lend kicked it. "Pretty much the only idea I like less than you walking back into IPCA is you walking back into IPCA with only Jack and Reth for protection."

"They owe me."

"True," Jack said, standing up and swaying slightly as he shook his head to clear it. "Plus, I'm pretty sure Reth's threat to remove my hands if I don't help Evie is still under effect. And I'm always up for making hell at IPCA. It's a favorite pastime of mine."

Lend kicked the door again, harder. "Along with abandoning people in the Faerie Paths?"

"One time! I do that one time and no one's going to let me live it down? Just off the top of my head I can name five worse things I've done in the last year."

I put my hand on his shoulder. "Probably not the best way to get back in our good graces."

My phone buzzed on the dresser and I ran to it, hoping against hope it was from Raquel and none of this would be necessary. Maybe they'd let her out! Maybe...No such luck. Carlee had written: "omg met a guy soooooo hawt older 2 im dying merry xmas to me CALL." I twisted half my face into a smile, wishing I could call her for details. Alas, more people I loved needed rescuing. "Txt me details, cant talk now, xoxo." One of these days my life would be normal and I could be a good friend again.

The doorknob twisted. "I'm coming with you."

I ran over and held it shut. "No, you are so not. We can't carry your unconscious body around the Center. Besides, I need you here. If something goes wrong, I can't handle you getting hurt."

"Wait, so it's okay if I get hurt?" Jack asked.

"Yes," I snapped at the same time as Lend and Arianna.

"As long as you're sure, then," Jack muttered.

Lend jiggled the doorknob. "What about you getting hurt?"

"I've already broken into the Faerie Realms and stabbed the Dark Queen. After that, a bunch of government suits? Not so intimidating."

"Please tell me stabbing does not factor into your strategy."

I laughed. "Of course it doesn't. I left my knife in her neck, anyway. I think I'm just going to run around and punch people, see if I can't find a teenage girl to tase me." I knocked teasingly on the door.

"If you really want to get Raquel out, then you need me. You can't turn into anyone and everyone you see. I can. So if you really want this covert mission to be a success, why on earth are you leaving your best asset at home?"

"I-Because you-"

I looked at Arianna for help, but she shrugged. "He's right."

"GAH!" I shouted, throwing my hands up in the air. "Fine!" He was right, of course. I couldn't risk Raquel's freedom on anything less than our best effort, and Lend should be part of it. Much as I hated to admit it.

"None of this would be a problem if you'd followed my plan to send all the faeries to hell," Jack said, his voice laced with annoyance.

"Do you really want to bring that day up again?" Lend asked, the door doing nothing to muffle the threat.

"So!" Jack said, clapping his hands and grinning at me. "We ready to go? What's the transportation plan?"

"I guess I'll go with Reth, and-"

Lend shouted, "No, you're not going anywhere alone with Reth."

"Fine, I'll go with Jack, and-"

"That doesn't work for me either."

I laughed drily. "Okay then, I'll click my heels together three times and say, 'There's no place like the Center, there's no place like the Center,' and then magically appear there!"

He was quiet for a few seconds. "You'll probably be safer with Reth." It sounded like he was speaking through clenched teeth. "And I can keep a better eye on Jack."

"Well, I for one am thrilled to spend more time with Lend. That's the top of my Fun Things to Do list. We should come up with a secret handshake!" Jack said, pushing me to the side and throwing the door open, which resulted in Lend falling to the floor immediately unconscious. "Oh, whoops." Jack smiled, his eyes gleaming. "Too bad. I like him so much when he's talking."

"Very funny. Keep him safe, okay? I don't think Raquel's in the Iron Wing-she would have heard me shouting. Look anywhere you can think of. They might have her in a random room somewhere. We'll meet in Raquel's old office in two hours, whether we've found anything or not."

He nodded, not looking at me as he poked Lend repeatedly with his foot.

"And, Jack? That threat Reth made about your hands? I'm going to apply it to Lend, too. Keep him safe. Or else."

I took one last long look at Lend, wanting to touch him but knowing it'd only make me feel worse because he couldn't touch me back. Then Arianna wished us luck, and I went downstairs and out the door, where Reth was waiting, hand outstretched. He was holding Tasey, the rhinestones sparkling in the early morning light. "You dropped this in the Faerie Realms. It seemed a pity to part you two."

I wrapped my fingers around my trusty friend, maliciously hoping I'd get the chance to use her on someone.