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Dewey shook his head as he zipped along the halls. “No, I grabbed the backpack and disappeared into the secret passage when Helen and the werewolf came in to get you. I hid it in the library.”

“Let’s hope it’s still there,” Paige said as they hurried through the wide hallways, their footsteps muted by the thick runners.

They passed the entryway with Dewey in the lead. He darted through a set of double doors and swung them shut as Paige raced in behind him.

She scanned the room, spotting a fireplace set. She grabbed the poker and slid it into the handles. “I hope that’ll hold any of our friends at bay.”

Dewey retrieved the backpack from the storage area under one bookcase. He tossed it to Paige who slid it onto her back.

Dewey flitted to another bookshelf, studying it while rubbing his chin with his finger. “It was somewhere on this shelf.”

“How did she open it?”

“Pulled a book.” Dewey tugged on one.

It did nothing. He threw it down on the floor and tried another.

Paige started on the opposite end, sliding books from the shelf in search of the one that triggered the panel.

“Are you sure it was this shelf?” she asked as the books began to dwindle.

“Yes.”

They pulled the last books from the shelf.

“Okay, so maybe it was this one.” He lowered himself to the shelf below and began pulling books from the shelf.

The third book triggered the bookshelf. It popped open toward them.

Paige grasped the decorative trim and pulled the heavy bookcase back.

Dewey retrieved the flashlight from the backpack and clicked it on as they entered the dark passage. Lit candles glowed along the corridor that sloped downward. They trudged downward, deeper under the castle until the passage spilled out into a large chamber. Torches burned around the perimeter.

Paige stiffened and grabbed Dewey’s arm, pointing a finger at the center of the room. “Look!”

“I see it!” Dewey breathed.

She pulled her lips back into a smile. “The mirror!”

CHAPTER 35

Paige took a step toward the tall mirror standing in the center of the chamber. Sculpted metal twisted around the reflective surface in swirls, curling into two horns that poked from the top.

She took in a shaky breath as she caught her reflection in the glass.

“Wow,” Dewey whispered, flying closer to it and waving at his reflection. “Amazing to think I could pull another me from in there.”

Paige gave him a sideways glance. “Frightening, in my opinion.”

Her lips curled into an amused grin as he shot her an annoyed glare, his horns wiggling.

“Hey! I’ll remind you I just saved your life.”

“I’m kidding,” Paige said as she circled around the mirror, running her hand over the metal. “Looks heavy.”

Dewey approached and tugged at one side. He clenched his teeth, groaning as he tried to lift it. “Whew! It’s heavy.”

Paige tried to lift it, managing to get it off the ground a few inches. She puffed her cheeks out as she set it back into its stand. “Whoa. How are we going to get this out of here?”