The Key (The Magnificent 12 3)

Dietmar did not smile back.

“Is this …?” Dietmar asked before his voice dried up.

“My friends call me Risky,” she said. “But I have many names.”

“And no friends,” Mack said.

“You know, I do have feelings, Mack, and that hurts.”

Mack almost apologized but managed to stop himself. She had no feelings. At least no decent, normal feelings. She was an evil creature. It was just that the red hair and the green eyes and the whole bewitching-beauty thing made her seem like she might have feelings. For just a second. But no: she didn’t.

And the little glistening tear that appeared in her eye was fake.

“I have to tell you, Mack, I’ve changed,” Risky said.

“Changed?”

“I have come to realize that my mother …” She paused, glanced at Dietmar, and explained, “My mother, the Pale Queen.”

Dietmar nodded. “Yes, I understood that.”

“Clever boy. Anyway, I have come to realize that my mother should not be allowed to emerge and crush all life under her heel and enslave all of humanity to her evil will.”

“No?” Mack asked.

“No. Instead, I should crush all life under my heel and enslave all of humanity to my evil will.”

“How would that be better?” Mack asked.

“Because it would be me,” Risky said, and added, “I thought that was self-explanatory.”

Dietmar said, “We don’t want to be crushed or enslaved by anyone.”

And Mack was left to say, “He’s right.”

“Then you’ll like this part,” Risky said in a conspiratorial voice. “I am willing to let you, Mack, and your little friends be my personal household servants.”

“No thanks,” Mack said quickly, trying to speak before Dietmar had a chance.

Risky ignored him. “It’s a good job. All you would really have to do is help me deal with Mom.”

“How would we even do that?” Mack asked.

Risky smiled, but it wasn’t her dazzling smile, it was a crafty and cruel smile. “You have the Key. I know you have the Key, Mack. Once you master it, you will have great power.”

“Great enough to defeat the Pale Queen—and you!” Dietmar said a bit fervently.

Another stop. More people on and off. And now Xiao moved close enough to see who Mack and Dietmar were talking to.

“Oh, it’s the littlest dragon,” Risky snarked.

“Ereskigal,” Xiao said darkly.

“Guilty,” Risky admitted. “So very guilty. Now be a good little reptile and let me talk to Mack and Dirtmore here.”

“Dietmar,” Dietmar corrected.

“Yes, the Key gives you great power. But not enough to stop my mother—not unless you truly become the Twelve. Right now you’re the Five. Maybe you can save the two here in Paris—although I doubt it—and then you would be the Seven. That leaves five, Mack. And one of those is already my servant.”