Jam protested, but Simon insisted, and soon enough he joined Nolan up front. Several of the bigger boys snickered, and if looks could kill, the one Garrett gave him would have had him six feet under in half a second flat.
Simon shoved his hands into his pockets and ignored their jeers as Malcolm led the way up a well-worn stone path. When the trees gave way to a large meadow, Simon stopped. The Beast King’s Stronghold wasn’t just a mansion—it was an actual castle, built of black stone and iron. It rose several stories and expanded across the entire meadow, but though the main section stood tall, the wings tapered off into mountains of rubble. No wonder the school had been abandoned. But what really caught Simon’s attention was the huge iron door that stood at the entrance, bearing a crest that looked strangely familiar.
Before Simon had time to think about it, someone ran into him from behind. “Watch it,” said a girl as she brushed past him. Ariana, he realized a second too late. By the time he began to ask how she was, she had disappeared into the crowd, and he had to trot to catch up to Nolan.
The iron door opened into an entrance hall that rivaled those of castles Simon had seen in movies, with high ceilings, dark corners, and flickering lights that led the way deeper into the Stronghold. There was no sign of destruction here, even though Simon had the uneasy feeling that the ceiling might cave in at any moment. Malcolm called for the stragglers to keep up, his voice echoing.
They stopped in the middle of what had once been the Beast King’s throne room. Scattered throughout the room were paintings of both humans and animals, along with glass cases full of artifacts. Peace treaties written on ancient parchment, swords with handles carved into animal silhouettes—even a collection of tiaras and crowns that had once belonged to the rulers of the five kingdoms. If he had the entire day to explore on his own, Simon would still never have been able to study it all.
Thankfully Malcolm didn’t seem to be paying too much attention to Simon now that they were safely inside, and he slipped away while Nolan and his friends were laughing at a painting of a bear crushing a hawk under its paw. Winter stood in front of a glass case that held a silver scepter, her brow furrowed as she examined it.
“The . . . Predator,” said Simon, reading the label on the case. It didn’t look like anything terribly interesting.
“This is how the Beast King conquered the entire Animalgam kingdom,” said Winter. “That single weapon is responsible for the deaths of countless people.”
Simon blinked. Suddenly it didn’t seem so boring. “But it’s just a scepter—there isn’t even a sharp edge.”
“That’s because this isn’t the whole thing.” Winter set her hand on the glass. “When all the pieces are in place, the Predator can absorb the power of everyone it kills and transfer it to the person who holds the scepter.”
“That’s what made the Beast King so dangerous,” said Jam. He’d made his way through the crowd, closer to where Simon stood. “He killed so many different Animalgams that eventually he could shift into anything he wanted. Lion, whale, ladybug, python, woodpecker—you name it. But I don’t think this is the real thing.” Jam pointed to the end of the scepter and squinted. “It’s a very convincing replica, but I’m pretty sure the grooves on the end are supposed to be deeper. That’s where the pieces go.”
“Where are they?” said Simon, while Winter stood on her tiptoes to examine the scepter.
“No one knows,” said Jam. “When the rulers of the five kingdoms killed the Beast King, they tried to destroy the Predator, and the end shattered into five pieces. They each took one and hid it in their kingdoms. Without all five, the scepter is as harmless as a stick.”
“There are tons of legends about people trying to hunt down all five pieces,” said Winter, dropping back down on her heels. “No one’s found any of them yet though.”
“Because it’s impossible,” said Jam. “My father’s the general of our kingdom, and he said ours is moved every generation so that no one can track it down. That’s how it should be. If anyone put the Predator together, they could gain the power of the Beast King, and we’d be at war all over again.”
And they would be able to wipe out their enemies completely. The knot in Simon’s chest tightened. Suddenly he was glad the scepter was just a replica. “I don’t see why no one smashed their piece so it couldn’t be used at all,” he said.
“You can only destroy the Predator when it’s completely assembled,” said Winter. “And no one wants to risk putting it together to try.”
A loud whistle pierced the air. “Simon, up here,” called Malcolm from the front of the room. Simon winced, and he offered his friends an apologetic look before trudging back to Nolan and the other mammals. His brother didn’t seem to notice his return, but Malcolm gave Simon a stern warning to stay nearby.
Shortly after, the adults ushered the students into an empty room, though at first Simon didn’t understand—there was nothing to see here. But when the lights in the center of the room dimmed and the walls illuminated, his eyes widened.
An elaborate mural decorated the walls, wrapping around the entire room. Even though he didn’t know much about the Animalgam world, he instantly recognized what it illustrated: the Beast King’s defeat. Mammals fought mammals. Birds fought birds. Spiders trapped their own kind in webs, snakes squeezed their brothers to death, and, on another wall, sharks leaped out of the sea, catching dolphins in their massive jaws.
In the center of it all, surrounded by loyal Animalgams fighting to the death, was a wolf. No—Simon took a step to the side, and the figure shimmered into an eagle. Another step, and the eagle was replaced by a spider. Again and again, as Simon moved through the room, the figure shifted into a seemingly endless number of animals. None of the others changed forms—just the Beast King.
Vanessa, the pack member who had checked Simon’s nose the night before, stood on a platform in the center of the room. “Today, on Unity Day, we remember not only those who died so that we might have a future but also the power we have when our five kingdoms come together as one,” she said. Nolan and his friends snickered, but Malcolm appeared out of nowhere and dragged Nolan closer to Simon. “Had the five great leaders not put aside their differences and animosities, we would never have achieved victory over the Beast King, and today we honor their triumph by working together once more.”
From her pocket she pulled what looked to Simon like a glass Christmas ornament in the shape of a five-pointed star. It meant nothing to him, but the other students began to whisper excitedly.
“The Heart of the Predator,” she announced. “You will split up into teams of four and search for it throughout the island. But be careful who you choose—without a member of each of the represented kingdoms to help you, I guarantee you will lose.”
Immediately chaos broke out as everyone scattered to find their friends and create teams. Simon started toward Jam and Winter, but Malcolm set his hand firmly on the back of his neck. When Simon glanced up, he noticed Malcolm was holding Nolan in place, too.
“You said I could do the hunt,” said his brother, trying to jerk out of Malcolm’s grip.
“That was before I knew the danger you’re both in. Today, you stay in the Stronghold with me.”
Nolan’s mouth dropped open. “But—”
“No buts. I am your Beta, and you will listen to me. Is that understood?”
Glaring at Simon, Nolan muttered, “This wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t shown up.”
Simon stayed silent. There was no use trying to tell Nolan how he would have given anything to go back to yesterday morning and never come here in the first place.
While the rest of the students formed teams and filtered outside to eat before the start of the hunt, Malcolm led Simon and Nolan down a hallway and into a small library stuffed floor to ceiling with books. “Stay here,” he said. “I’m going to grab lunch for us.”
Simon didn’t argue. The books in the room must have held the entire history of the
Animalgam world, and he eagerly explored the shelves. Nolan, on the other hand, paced the length of the library for several minutes before finally huffing and heading for the door.
“Where are you going?” said Simon as he climbed a ladder, hoping to explore the higher shelves.
“You can stay here like some caged animal, but I’m joining the hunt,” said Nolan, and he stormed out of the library, leaving Simon on his own.
Simon started after him but stopped before he reached the door. Following him would be pointless. Malcolm was keeping them inside because he was afraid of Orion’s flock, but Simon knew there was no real danger, not when Orion was only trying to protect him. And Nolan wouldn’t listen to him, anyway.
Simon returned to the shelves, trying to distract himself with a volume entitled The Spy in Spider: Secrets Untangled, when a voice boomed from the doorway.
“Where’s Nolan?”
He jumped, nearly dropping the book. Malcolm stood by the door, holding a tray with three sandwiches and drinks. “He, uh—he said he was joining the hunt.”
Malcolm swore and set the tray on the nearest table. “Don’t move,” he ordered, and headed back into the hall, snarling under his breath.
Simon turned back to his book, sure Nolan would somehow find a way to blame him for this, when a sharp psst filled the air. “Simon!”
He whirled around again. This time Jam stood in the doorway. “What are you doing here?” said Simon. “Aren’t you supposed to be hunting?”
Jam shrugged. “I’d rather spend the day with you. Besides, Winter—”
She appeared beside Jam and walked deliberately through the small library. Stopping in front of a bookcase located behind an old desk, she stood on her tiptoes, as though trying to read titles too high for her to see.
“What are you looking for?” said Simon. “There’s a really cool book on how to tell whether a snake is venomous or—”
She reached for a large unmarked book Simon hadn’t touched, and instead of pulling it off the shelf, she tilted it like a lever. Something clicked, and suddenly the bookcase creaked and swung open.
Simon’s jaw dropped. “Is that—”
“A secret passage? Yes,” said Winter, and she gave them an annoyed look. “Are you coming or what?”
“But—how did you know—”
“Do you really want me to answer that now?” she whispered, glancing at Jam, who was crossing the library toward them. Orion must have told her, Simon realized.
“Have you been here before?” said Jam as he came over to inspect the entrance to the tunnel. An empty metal cylinder that looked like it was meant to hold a torch was mounted to the stone wall.
“My grandfather told me about it,” said Winter, and she stepped inside. Simon hesitated. If he left, no doubt Malcolm would panic the way he had when Nolan disappeared. But technically he wasn’t leaving the Stronghold. Or the library. And Winter was going whether Simon went with her or not. It was his fault they were stuck in this situation in the first place—the least he could do was make sure nothing happened to her.
“What’s down here?” he said as he followed her through a narrow passageway that seemed to wind in on itself.
“I don’t know,” said Winter, though the edge to her voice made it clear to Simon that she knew exactly where they were going. He didn’t press her though—not in front of Jam. As much as Simon trusted him, there must have been a reason Winter wasn’t willing to explain where Jam could hear her.
Somehow she had acquired a flashlight, and as the tunnel darkened, she turned it on. Eventually the passageway descended into a spiral staircase that must have gone below ground, because the temperature dipped the farther they went. When Simon was sure they couldn’t go any deeper without his ears popping, Winter finally stopped. In front of her stood a dirt wall with a thick wooden door in the center. A rusty iron ring hung from it in place of a modern knob, and Simon got the distinct feeling that they were the first people to see this place since the L.A.I.R. had moved beneath the Central Park Zoo.
“This must be below the part of the Stronghold that the flock destroyed,” said Jam, and he looked back up the spiral staircase. “It could crumble in on us at any moment.”
“Stop being such a chicken. If it hasn’t caved in yet, we’ll be fine,” said Winter, and she pulled on the rusty ring. Something squeaked, but the door remained steadfastly shut. Growling, she tried again. Nothing. “Are you really just going to stand there, Simon? It’s not like I haven’t done anything lately to help you.”
Simon wanted to ask her what was on the other side, but with Jam lingering so close, he couldn’t risk it. She’d told Simon to trust her, so he would. “Fine—we’ll try together,” he said. Winter handed her flashlight to Jam, and she and Simon grabbed the iron ring. “One . . . two . . . three!”
Together they pulled, and Simon braced his foot against the wall, trying to use it as leverage. The door squeaked, and he pulled even harder.
“Come on . . . ,” he muttered, throwing his whole body into it. At last, with a squeal, the door burst open.
“Yes!” cried Winter, but something above them rumbled, cutting her victory celebration short.
“Uh, guys?” said Jam, eyeing the ceiling. “I’m not so sure this is a good ide—”
Suddenly the walls trembled, and a shower of pebbles and dust rained over them. Immediately Simon pushed Winter through the doorway and grabbed Jam’s sleeve, dragging him inside.
It was a good thing, too, because the instant they passed over the threshold, chunks of rock began to fall, some as big as Simon’s head. Grunting, he shoved the heavy wooden door shut, and the three of them stood huddled together in the darkness while the walls quaked.
“There goes our way out,” said Jam.
“My grandfather said there’s another tunnel,” said Winter, though she didn’t sound entirely sure of herself. “We’ll find it.”
“We have to,” said Simon. “Unless you want to spend the rest of our lives trapped beneath the—”
“Open this backpack at once!” an enraged voice squeaked from behind Simon.
“Felix?” he said, and he quickly set down the bag and opened the pocket. The little mouse emerged, his whiskers bent and his fur sticking straight up.
“You have a pet?” said Jam, pushing his glasses up his nose. “That’s so cool. I’ve always wanted one.”
“He’s my friend, not a—” Simon stopped and sighed. “Sometimes they’re more trouble than they’re worth. What are you doing here, Felix?”
“What am I doing here? What are you doing here?” he said, looking into the darkness and shuddering. “You could’ve been killed. What is this place?”
“I—” started Simon, but he faltered. “Uh, Winter, where are we?”
“We’re exactly where we’re supposed to be,” she said, taking the flashlight from Jam and shining it against the wall to reveal a switch. She flipped it, and the buzz of electricity filled the air. Light flooded the darkness.
They stood in the front of a hall as big as the throne room upstairs, with a ceiling made of rock. In it were dozens of huge bookcases rising several stories high and displaying hundreds of years’ worth of texts, all of them far older than any Simon had ever seen before.
“Whoa,” said Jam as he stepped forward to touch one of the spines. “This looks handwritten.”
“We need to find that second passageway immediately,” said Felix, and he scrambled out of Simon’s backpack onto the stone floor. “Since no one else is bothering to look, I will.”
“I’m right behind you,” said Simon, skimming the titles. He paused at Hybred: The Bridge between Two Kingdoms. “Winter, you have to see this.”
No response. He turned around, but she wasn’t there.
“Winter?” he called. He heard the shuffle of footsteps, and he snatched his backpack and darted after her, leaving Jam to explore the books. “Winter, slow down.”
In the distance he spotted her dark hair be
tween the shelves, and he darted down a particularly musty aisle, barely suppressing a sneeze from all the dust.
“Winter—”
He skidded to a stop in front of an alcove that, at first glance, looked to be full of junk. Someone had thrown together broken furniture, a stack of empty portrait frames, and even several gutted book covers, and hidden them behind an ancient tapestry. Winter knelt beside a wooden crate, digging through it.
“I take it we’re not down here to read books,” said Simon. “You need to tell me what’s going on, Winter.”
She ignored him and continued her search, tossing aside bound scrolls of parchment and something that looked like the hilt of a sword. In the time it had taken Simon to find her, she had somehow managed to get through two crates. Hissing with frustration, she pushed the current one aside and started into another.
Within seconds, she crowed triumphantly and pulled a metal rod out of the crate. No, not a rod, Simon realized.
The scepter. She was holding the scepter.
13
HEART OF THE PREDATOR
“That’s the Beast King’s scepter,” said Simon in disbelief, inching closer to Winter as they stood in the dusty library alcove. Beaming, Winter finally turned to him, hugging the scepter to her chest.
“The Alpha doesn’t have it. I thought for sure she did when I saw it in the case, but of course that wasn’t the real thing.” She must have seen the confusion on his face, because she added, “Before the Alpha ran Orion out of the Stronghold, he hid it from her so she wouldn’t be able to find it. He must have made a copy, too.”
Simon inspected it. Like the replica in the throne room, the real thing was still just a scepter. “I don’t see what Orion’s afraid of, unless he thinks the Alpha will throw it at him.”
“Why do you think she’s been taking over the kingdoms one by one?” said Winter. “It isn’t just to control them. She wants their pieces of the Predator, too.”
Simon blinked. “But—the only reason she would want the pieces is if she were trying to reassemble it.”