Page 93 of Upside Down Magic

Mymouth opened and closed a couple of times beforeIcould formulate my thoughts.

Whatif we’d not only gotten the nature of the spell wrong, but also the location?

Whatif the reason we hadn’t been able to sense the spell in the shop wasn’t because it was a very crafty spell but because it wasn’t in theTeaCauldronat all?

“Whatif it’s something in theCornerRosethat’s spelled?”Iasked.

Everyoneturned toward the connecting wall.

“Theart gallery?”Huttonasked. “Why?”

“Itold you those things were cursed,”Drusaid with a shudder.

“Explain,Avery,”Dorseydemanded. “Ithought your shop was making people sick.”

“That’swhat we thought because all affected had been around the shop,”Iexplained, “but we couldn’t find the exact source.”

“Buteveryone who was here was also next to theCornerRose,”Alexremarked thoughtfully.

“Exactly.Whatif it’s not my shop that’s spelled but something in theCornerRose?”

“Ithought some witch cursed your shop,”Wyattsaid.

“Ifthe spell is not in the shop,”Isaid, “even if our potion works to cure the paranormals currently affected, it won’t stop the spell itself.Theplace will need to be shut down for sure.”Iswallowed hard at the idea. “Andpeople will keep getting sick until they start leavingOlmeda.”

“Eh.We’vegot plenty of paranormals here,”Wyattsaid. “Halfof them don’t even know about your shop.”

“Dude, that’s rude,”Alexsaid, peeved.

“Thankyou,Alex,”Isaid, my heart squeezing with affection. “Therewon’t be any more paranormals if word gets out the city is cursed.Whowill go to your bar then?”

Wyattscowled, then cursed.

“Maybeit’s a new arrival at the gallery,”Drusaid. “That’swhy it hasn’t affected anyone until now.”

“Oh, this is awesome,”Aprilsaid. “Acursed object—right out of a movie!”

“Thatmakes sense.”Itactually madeperfectsense. “Ithink you’re totally correct.”

Drushrugged one shoulder. “OfcourseIam.”

“Sonow what?”Huttonasked.

Iglanced at the wall then at all six paranormals surrounding me. “Anyoneknow how to break into a building?”

TWENTY-NINE

Theyall shook their heads.

Thatwas a bit of a bummer, especially sinceKey’smagic wasn’t working. “Noteven you,Wyatt?”

“WhywouldIknow how to break and enter?” he asked, offended.

“Thegirl has a point,”Dorseyagreed. “Yousure you don’t?”

“Whatkind of business do you thinkIrun?”

Drulet out a fake cough.“Delinquency.”

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