The Menagerie #2 (26 page)

Right. Or not.

“Nah,” Zoe said with a shrug. “Way too awkward. But you'll have to tell me everything. I want to know what her mysterious costume finally is. Plus you have to make sure Blue is nice to Jasmin.”

“I'm on it,” he promised. He hesitated. “Have you—has anyone heard anything from the SNAPA agents?”

“No.” Zoe sat down on the edge of the bathtub, frowning. “They took Miss Sameera away before we could even introduce her to the unicorns, like we promised. And they took Pelly, too, to run some scans and make sure nothing bad got into her system. Mom and Dad said not to worry, we'll get a chance to talk to both of them once SNAPA is done, but we have to follow official protocol or something like that. It's frustrating. I feel like there's someone out there, planning the next awful thing to do to us, but we have no idea who it is and our best chance of finding out is locked up in a secret SNAPA facility.”

“They'll find out what she knows, though, right?” said Logan. “Maybe they'll show up tomorrow, give back Pelly, and hand over the answers to all our questions.”

“Hmm,” Zoe said. Logan didn't really believe it, either. But surely SNAPA couldn't just make Miss Sameera disappear forever. They'd get a chance to talk to her sooner or later—and perhaps Pelly would be able to identify her kidnapper, too.

Downstairs, they found the Kahns and Blue in the kitchen with Keiko, who was glaring at them all defiantly. She was dressed in a sleek sci-fi outfit, but there were furry blue ears perched on her head and a carefully groomed bushy tail emerging from the back of her suit. Logan blinked a few times to make sure he was seeing it right. Yup. Keiko was a blue spacesuit-wearing fox.

“Keiko, this is a little . . . reckless, don't you think?” Mrs. Kahn was saying.

“I don't see why.” Keiko practically stomped her foot. “It's not like anyone will know by looking at my costume that I really am a fox.”

“But that's your actual tail!” Ruby exclaimed. “You dyed it blue!”

“It'll wash out,” Keiko snapped.

“What if someone asks to try on your tail? Aren't they going to be a little curious that you can't take it off?” Ruby put her hands on her hips.

Zoe rolled her eyes at Logan.

“No one would dare,” Keiko said. “I'll be fine.”

Mr. Kahn sighed. “It's okay, Ruby. Logan and Blue will be there to make sure she doesn't get into any trouble. Although I don't see why you have to go as a fox, Keiko.”

“I'm not just any fox, I'm Krystal from the Star Fox saga. You're the ones who are always telling me it's good to connect with my cultural roots. Star Fox was a totally popular Japanese video game, according to this old magazine of Matthew's I found. God.”

“She's got you there, Dad,” Matthew said, a smile hovering on his lips. Zoe's brother lounged against the counter, a bag of potato chips in his hand. He looked ten million times happier now that the qilin had been found.

“Okay, okay.” Mr. Kahn raised his hands in a placating gesture. “Just be careful.”

Keiko smiled smugly and sauntered toward the front door. “I bet I have the best costume at the party.”

Logan caught the wistful expression on Zoe's face before she could hide it. “Don't worry,” he said. “You won't miss anything. We promise not to have any fun.”

She laughed. “Oh, good.”

As they went down the driveway, Logan looked back over his shoulder and saw her standing in the doorway, leaning against Captain Fuzzbutt's furry leg. The mammoth had his trunk wrapped around her waist, making her look smaller than usual.

At least she's not alone
, he thought.
The saboteur is still out there, but we saved the Menagerie, for now. And I'm going to my first Xanadu party. Maybe it's okay to relax just for tonight.

Jasmin's house loomed out of the darkness, light shining from the windows and illuminating the curved paved driveway. Giant spiderwebs with giant spiders in them hung from the trees and a trail of jack-o'-lanterns carved like various spooky creatures lit the way to the front door. Logan reminded himself to act like he'd never seen the place once they got inside—even though he'd been in her house just last weekend with Zoe and Blue, trying to track down the last missing griffin cub.

“Act normal,” Blue said to Logan.

“Me?” Logan said as they climbed the front steps. Blue was practically humming with nervous energy. “You're the one who looks like he might steal one of their cars and make a run for the border.”

“Ha-ha,” Blue said, his eyes darting toward the garage as if that sounded like a fine plan to him.

“This is going to be so cool!” Keiko bounced in place on the front step as they rang the doorbell. Logan had never seen her so excited. It was actually kind of cute, in a younger-sister kind of way.

Keiko spun to face them before the door opened. “Okay, ground rules. Do not come near me once we're inside. I don't want you two losers dragging me down. When it's time to go, I'll find you.”

Logan rolled his eyes at Blue. So much for sisterly affection.

“Oh, hello,” Jasmin purred, pulling open the front door.

Blue would have fallen off the steps if Logan hadn't grabbed his arm to steady him.

Her hair was clipped back from her face with little pink seashell clips. She wore a pink-seashell bikini top, her midriff was bare, and from the waist down she was encased in a sparkly green-scaled tail.

Jasmin was dressed as a mermaid.

“Hi, Keiko,” she said. “Wow, you're a . . . blue fox . . . in a spacesuit.”

“Krystal,” Keiko said. “You know. From Star Fox.”

“Right. Okay,” Jasmin said. “Aww, and Logan is a wolf to match, right? Too cute.” Jasmin gave Logan a knowing look.

“Thanks for having me,” Keiko chirped, pushing past her into the main foyer and vanishing into the party.

Jasmin flipped her hair over her shoulder and smiled at Blue. “Do you get it now? I'm the mermaid and you're the drowning sailor that I saved! Although—” She surveyed his morbid makeup with raised eyebrows. “Hmm. It looks like I got to you too late.”

Logan glanced at Blue, but he clearly wasn't going to be capable of speech anytime soon.

“We thought he was supposed to be a zombie,” he said.

“Too funny,” Jasmin said. “I can work with that. Come on, Blue. Let's spray down your hair so at least you look like I just pulled you from the sea. You know, your classic zombie-mermaid story of true love. Tale as old as time, right?” She laughed, taking Blue's hand.

“Um. Um. Um,” Blue stammered. Logan nudged him in the ribs and mouthed “act normal!” behind Jasmin's back. “Is that really—do we have to—maybe I should—” The sound of Blue's voice trailed away as Jasmin tugged him down the hall.

Logan shut the front door behind him. He could hear people's voices from the den to his left, but Blue and Jasmin had disappeared toward the kitchen at the back.

He took a deep breath, realizing he'd have to go into the party alone. But if he could face dragons and charm a qilin, he could handle walking into a room full of his classmates, right?

The den was packed, although the crowd spilled over into the adjacent dining room. Everyone from their grade was there, except Zoe. Keiko seemed to be the only sixth grader, but she wasn't letting that slow her down. She sashayed—that was the only word for it—over to the couch and settled in beside two girls. They all started talking and giggling like they'd been best friends for years, but Logan knew Keiko had only moved here last year. How did girls do that? Or was that kind of confidence a special kitsune power?

Logan spotted Marco, dressed as a ninja, hanging out by the food in the dining room.

“Oh, hey, Logan.” Marco slapped Logan on the back. A tray full of miniature quiches went sailing by, and Marco somehow managed to snag about twelve at once. “Great costume. Just promise not to eat me. Ha-ha!”

Logan laughed.

“Yeah, right,” said one of Marco's soccer friends. Logan was pretty sure his name was Aidan. “You're far too stringy to make a good meal.”

“True. Plus who would want to deprive the world of my charming personality? I mean, this wouldn't even be a party if I weren't here. Logan, when I showed up the only decorations in here were sparkly pumpkins. How boring is that? I mixed it up, don't worry.”

“EWWW!” a girl cried from the kitchen. “Why are the walls all sticky?”

“Is that a cockroach?” another voice shrieked.

Marco grinned and, with a dramatic flourish, produced a ziplock bag of fake bugs and an empty bottle of goo. Aidan laughed, gave him a high five, and ambled off to the kitchen.

Logan nodded at Marco. “Pretty clever. Better hope Jasmin doesn't realize you're the one who slimed up her walls.”

“I can handle her. Hey, so . . . did you come with Blue and Keiko?”

“Yeah, Keiko's in the den and Blue's—”

“Cool. See you later.” Marco grabbed a handful of popcorn from the dining room table and headed purposefully toward the den.

Logan made his way into the enormous, gleaming kitchen and found Blue staring gloomily at a can of soda.

“Hey,” Blue said.

“You're alive!” Logan said.

“Barely. I think Jasmin just tried to drown me.” His hair was plastered to his head and the ends were still dripping slightly. The water formed little rivulets in his makeup as well, making him look like a melting zombie. Blue tugged at the collar of his shirt, lifting it up to wipe his hair. Logan glanced around to make sure they were alone.

“I didn't know merfolk could drown,” he joked.

“Hardy-har-har.” Blue's expression turned serious. “Do you think she knows?” he whispered. “About me?”

“No way. How could she?”

“I don't know. But why would she pick that costume? I'm kind of freaking out about it.” Blue's version of freaking out was so much calmer than Zoe's that it was almost hilarious.

“It's a coincidence,” Logan reassured him. “Don't worry. Come on, let's head back to the den and act like regular guys who didn't just spend a week rescuing griffins, hunting a qilin, arguing with a goose, and saving a dragon.”

“Check this out,” Marco was shouting as they entered the room. “I'm a ninja warrior! Hiya!” Marco whirled in place, kicking out one leg. Unfortunately, his foot snagged in a curtain and he toppled over, landing on Keiko and the other two girls on the couch.

“Aaahh! Get off!” Keiko cried, shoving at Marco's flailing limbs.

Jasmin sauntered in from the dining room, and the whole room seemed to pause for a moment as they all turned their attention to her. She smiled and tossed her hair back. “All right, everyone. Time to play Truth or Dare.”

“Ooh! Me, me!” Marco volunteered from the floor, where Keiko had dumped him. “I'll take any dare. I'm not scared of anything!”

“Okay, Marco,” Jasmin said. “I dare you to shut up for fifteen minutes. Who's next? Cadence, where are you?” Jasmin scanned her guests and Blue ducked behind a marble statue.

“I hate Truth or Dare,” Blue muttered. “I'm going to hide until this whole thing is over.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Logan followed him out of the room. “I know a great secret passage that's cozy,” he joked.

Blue perked up. “Hey, yeah, that would work.”

“I was kidding, Blue.”

“Mr. Sterling's study, then,” Blue said. “No one else will dare go in there, and if it's empty, we can wait out the game.”

Logan and Blue inched open one of the huge carved wooden doors and Logan peeked inside. “Coast is clear.” He and Blue slipped in and carefully closed the door behind them.

“Check out all this cool travel stuff,” Blue said, pointing at an antique globe in the corner.

Logan looked around the room, which he'd been in too much of a panic to fully appreciate on Sunday morning. Two of the walls were lined with bookshelves, and the one behind the ornate desk was floor-to-ceiling clear glass window panes. He could see the sunset painting the sky a bright pink and orange above the trees outside.

Blue flopped into one of the leather chairs and pulled out his phone to check his messages. Logan examined the miniature jade dragon on Mr. Sterling's desk. It was delicately balanced on its hind legs with one claw outstretched and its eyes were glittering rubies.

“They've got a great backyard,” Logan said. “They don't have any pets?”

“No.” Blue got up and joined him. “Jasmin's allergic. It's too bad. This house could sure use a puppy to cheer it up. It's so cold.”

“Yeah,” Logan agreed. The place was immaculate and everything in it was expensive and high-quality, but it didn't feel like a home.

“What are you guys doing in here?” a voice demanded from the door.

Logan and Blue whirled around, crashing into each other. Logan tried to right himself, catching the edge of the desk with his hand, but it slipped off, sending papers flying. He found himself sitting on the floor, Blue's leg pinning his knee.

“Ow.” Blue held his hand up to his head.

“Oh my gosh, are you all right?” Jasmin rushed over, helping Blue to his feet.

Logan was brushing himself off and starting to rise when something caught his eye. He froze.

One of the papers he'd knocked to the floor was a drawing. He could only see a corner of it—but that corner was clearly marked “Dragon Lair.”

He glanced at Jasmin, but all her attention was focused on Blue. Quickly he slid the paper out from under the others and unrolled it.

It was a map, like the kind you might see for a zoo or amusement park. In the center was a familiar-looking lake with an island labeled “Mermaid Retreat.” On the left were roads looping through something called “Unicorn Safari.” The northern end featured three caves in the side of a cliff, labeled “Dragon Lair,” and south of that was what looked like an enormous roller coaster called “Flight of the Griffins.” To the right of that was a “Frozen Tundra” with a small drawing of a mammoth in a cage. East of the lake was a large dome-covered building marked “Bird Lodge.”