My immediate reaction was untamed laughter. "You want what?" I choked out between giggles.

Her response was the slick and smooth motion of pulling her cellphone from the pocket of her dress, which quickly shut me up. Brat.

The week following our conversation was tense, and full of silent snark, and glares as we struggled to negotiate the terms of our arrangement. Security concerns brought up by Michael and Cherie only made things worse and more difficult for me. By the end of the week, Willa had threatened to call my parents twice, and I was desperate.

Begrudging at best, I finally agreed to Willa's final term: I would not just drop her off at the club; I would accompany her. And buy her one book from my workplace every week, but that was the easy part. The difficult part came in when our overprotective bodyguards refused to agree to the last term.

So, being the responsible, good sister I am, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

"How are you doing, Willa?" I asked as I pulled out of the driveway at a speed that was slightly faster than the city speed limit.

"Eh." Her stare was blank as she turned her head back towards the window.

"Good talk," I muttered sarcastically under my breath.

***

When we arrived at the city library, it was still daylight. Rays of sunlight reflected from scarce window panes and dark shadows were cast on the sidewalks where the building was tallest.

"Hurry up! We're going to be late," Willa whined as she slammed my car's door shut.

"You know, for the time and effort I'm putting forth here, you could at least be nice to my car," I huffed as I gently closed my door.

"Oh, please." She rolled her eyes. "We both know you're only doing this so I won't tell mom and dad about your treason."

"Having a job isn't treason." I grit my teeth as Willa skipped near the entrance—happy and giddy with whatever Brandon spiked in her breakfast.

I would say an ice cream sundae, if I had to guess.

After a moment of further thought, I paused. Who was I kidding? I knew he did. It was a twin sense. There was no arguing that.

"What exactly are we here for?" I called after Willa as she pushed open the large glass doors. They were framed with dark, rusted metal that reminded me of the industrial plants in the northeast.

"Shush!"

I rolled my eyes at her dramatics and quietly followed her through the library. It was small by my standards, but I suppose most things were small when you lived in a mansion rent-free.

Like most libraries, it had a long desk to the right where people could check-out books, and rows of bookshelves that were too full for anyone to think they ever got any use.

"This way," Willa ordered.

She directed me to the back of the building, far away from the few people that were actually in the library at 9 AM.

"Bossy much?" I muttered under my breath in a voice that was too quiet for her to hear.

"Hurry! We're going to miss it!" Willa shouted.

Suddenly, to my surprise, Willa broke out into a sprint, racing to the back corner of the library. What on earth?

Squinting my eyes with confusement and quite honestly, judgement, I forced my legs to match Willa's pace, running towards what happened to be a very nice looking red brick wall.

"Willa . . ." I said nervously as she continued to approach the wall at full speed.

"Trust me," she said in a voice that was so sure, I almost believed her.

"This really isn't—" I continued.

She shook her head and cut me off. "Do you remember when I got sick?"

"Of course I do—"

"It wasn't with leukemia, Albany."

"Then what was it—"

"Poisoning. Magical poisoning."

My eyes were suddenly the size of saucers.

"Willa—" I started when my legs began to tremble.

"Don't talk! We don't have time! Just Jump!"

Without another word, Willa launched herself inside of the brick wall, and I was right behind her. Except, it wasn't a brick wall anymore.

It was a castle. A grand castle. Where children were singing and dancing, while guards smiled and laughed at each other nearby.

"Willa?" I turned to my sister with shaky hands.

"Don't speak," she quietly commanded. "Just look up."

And low and behold, hanging above the archway before the castle, was a banner with my little sister's face on it.