Page 60 of Crossing Quinn

“It’s every child’s right to experience the wonder, the fun, the excitement, the fireworks, and the mouse,” Mami countered.

Papa grabbed Mami’s chin and forced her to look at him. “You cannot and will not take Clio, a Katanic shapeshifter, to that theme park. You do remember how much trouble Xenia caused?”

I winced. My illusions of the big, bad wolf and a fire-breathing dragon had sent people screaming from the park. Papa had been furious.

“It’s a wonderful experience for children.” Mami’s lower lip quivered.

“For Earth children.”

“For all children. Xenia had so much fun there.”

“Tell that to the people who were injured in the stampede to get away from Xenia’s very real-looking illusions,” Papa said.

Quinn raised an inquiring eyebrow. “What did you create?”

“Want a demonstration?”

“I do.”

“You got it.” I concentrated, and poof! An eight-foot purple-and-black dragon appeared. It emitted an ear-shattering roar and spat flames.

Wulf stared in open-mouthed astonishment.

Clio giggled in delight.

“Very realistic,” Quinn remarked.

Zarek added, “A useful talent.”

I let the illusion vanish.

“Do again. Do again,” Clio exclaimed.

I summoned the cartoon version of the big, bad wolf. It prowled the bridge and howled.

A second later Clio morphed into a smaller version of the wolf. “More. More.”

I created a princess.

Poof!Clio became the princess. “Me sparkle.”

“Yes, you do.” Mami picked her up and danced her around the bridge, singing, “You are so pretty. Such a pretty sparkly dress. Such a pretty toothy smile. Such pretty little tentacles.”

My mother can’t sing. She sounds a bit like a screech owl with its wing stuck in a shredder.

Papa rubbed his forehead as if he had a sudden headache.

Wulf and Quinn winced.

Zarek grimaced when Mami hit a high note and broke the link.

Papa was always looking for new ways to harass the Tai-Kok. He once transmitted Mami’s warbling across all the monsters’ communication links. Within an hour, the quadrant was Tai-Kok free.

A tentacle shot from Adan, wrapped around my waist, and dragged me over to him. “I need your help.”

“What kind of help?” I didn’t trust him at all.

“I have Tai-Kok metal bits stuck in my back teeth,” Adan whispered.

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