The Quest of the Prodigy (The Alchemist of Time Book 1) Read online

  Mimi thought about asking, but then decided she didn’t want to start a conversation with him. “Bas, didn’t you say this was 1927?”

  Bas nodded. “Must you doubt everything?”

  “What? No, it’s not that. I just ask, because, well...the Prohibition? That doesn’t look like root beer they’re drinking to me,” Mimi observed with disapproval.

  “Well, little lady, that’s why I love the Roaring Twenties! No one gives a flipping tailcoat if drinking is illegal or not. It’s brilliant!”

  Mimi had known bootlegging was popular, she had recently studied this era in history class. She was surprised people were so open about breaking the law. Maybe it hadn’t been a good idea to bring Albert here.

  The song changed to another lively tempo, and the Duke began singing, his voice deep and soothing. Mimi felt instantly content.

  “This club is the kind of scene I always picture whenever I hear Michael Bublé singing,” she said with a dreamy sigh.

  “What about crème brûlée?” asked Bas, and Albert nearly choked with laughter.

  “No, Michael...never mind.”

  “Let’s grab a table and something to eat until the Duke and his orchestra take a break,” suggested Bas.

  They had just located and sat at a vacant table when a spotlight shone down on them. Mimi held her arm up to block the light and blinked in confusion. She could just see Bas beaming into the shadows, his teeth looking qualified for a Crest Whitening Strips commercial.

  “Ladies and gentlemen of the Cotton Club, this is a surprise!” Duke Ellington called as the number stopped.

  Mimi glared at Bas and he shook his head at her, his surprise was evident.

  “Oh come on, don’t tell me a cool Mac like you suddenly turned shy? Come on up here, Bas Barkley. Give these folks a real show!”

  Bas stood up from their table, glancing back at Mimi. She wondered if there was any hope of returning the trumpet without making a scene. “Actually, Sir Duke, I came here to confess—”

  “Confess? Boy, this ain’ no church!” Duke cried. The audience booed.

  Bas smiled, but shrugged his shoulders at the Duke. The man nodded and slammed his arm onto the piano, making an awful clamor that quieted the Cotton Club. “People, people! I want to hear him play as much as you do, but let the Mac talk!”

  Mimi could hear whispers around her. People were telling their friends about Bas’s incredible talent on the trumpet. She watched as Bas strutted up to the stage, followed by the flood of spotlight. He joined the trumpeter of the orchestra, Bubber Miley.

  “My confession is this: it wasn’t me who played last week. I cheated, and I’m sorry.”

  There were a few gasps from the crowd followed by heavy booing. The Duke looked confused, as did the trumpeter Bubber Miley, but Mimi was proud. Aimon frowned at her, as if silently asking if this is what she had wanted. He seemed unsure what was going on. Mimi nodded at him.

  “But we saw you play. Your fingers were on the keyholes!” Bubber argued, scowling.

  Bas hesitated. Mimi wondered how he would explain away his futuristic gadget.

  “Come on, son. Cat’s out of the bag now!” the Duke said. The band laughed.

  Bas looked into the audience, and his eyes landed on Mimi. An evil grin split his face, and he walked to the back of the stage and pulled back the velvet red curtain. “A friend of mine was playing for me. They stood behind the curtain while I pretended to play. I’m sorry to trick you. I only wanted to meet this incredible band.”

  “So who really was playing?” Bubber asked over the loud murmurs of disapproval.

  The evil grin spread wider and he pointed to Mimi.

  A second pool of spotlight shone down on her, and she sank lower in the chair, wishing she could disappear. Aimon looked more confused than ever, and Albert couldn’t hide his wide grin.

  “Mimi Mockel. Let’s give her a round of applause, ladies and gentlemen, for wasn’t she brilliant? I didn’t mean any harm really; she was too shy to play. But I knew she was good, so I agreed to pretend to play for her as she played behind the curtain backstage. No evil was intended, Sir Duke,” said Bas.

  Thinking the white lie to be the truth, Duke clapped, encouraging the audience to cheer. Mimi couldn’t remember a time she had ever felt so mortified. She could see Albert pulling out a bag of kettle corn chips he had gotten at Golden Hope Island.

  “Well, if you can’t play trumpet, what can you do? Surely a cool cat like you has got talent!” cried the Duke.

  Bas cleared his throat and the crowd grew silent, “I can sing.”

  The audience clapped and cheered, demanding a demonstration.

  Smiling, Bas gestured for them to hold the applause. “All right, all right. But first, there’s something I have to do.” He held up the golden trumpet. “Bubber, I think this belongs to you.”

  Bubber looked confused for a moment, likely recalling a brass trumpet. Aimon was now eating some of Albert’s chips, both boys looking content to watch the show. The trumpeter put the golden instrument to his lips to test it out.

  The audience burst into applause again as Bubber performed a lively solo. Finishing, the trumpeter clapped Bas on the shoulder in a gesture of thanks. “You may have been stupid to cheat, but this one’s all right by me! Now let’s hear you sing, son!”

  After a few minutes of whispering, the band began a lively tune and Bas burst into song. Mimi slapped her forehead, recognizing it a main song from a famous play. Albert dissolved into a puddle of laughter, and Aimon looked as confused as the rest of the audience.

  She coughed loudly. “Chicago!” Cough. “1975!” Cough.

  Bas stopped mid-song and looked at her in surprise. “How do you know all this?”

  The audience looked even more confused.

  “What about Dr. Jazz?” called Mimi.

  Bas and the band nodded and jumped into the song. The time traveler pointed at Mimi and then at the stage. She looked away, but Albert nudged her arm.

  “What?” she asked her brother.

  “Go up there, Mimi! You know how to dance, Teagan practices with you all the time!”

  “What if they laugh at me?” she asked shyly.

  “You’re in the 1920s, Mimi!” Albert cried. “Why don’t you actually be here if you’re going to be here? What’s the fun in just watching?”

  He was right. No one knew her here; there was no reason to be shy, no reason to feel embarrassed. Duke Ellington and his band were rocking the tune, and feeling giddy, Mimi danced her way on stage to join one of the most famous jazz bands in history.

  DUKE LAUGHED and shook Mimi’s hand as the band dispersed for a quick break. “That was some nice improvising, little lady. Sure saved this cat’s skin,” he said with a wide grin as he pointed to Bas.

  “I just don’t know many jazz songs,” Bas explained, embarrassed.

  Duke laughed harder. “Boy! There’s more to the world than jazz! And we play more than jazz. There’s swing, bebop, ragtime, stomp—too many choices to choose just one genre! That’s why I say me and my band play American music, not just jazz.”

  “Of all those genres, though, I do like jazz the best,” Bas insisted. “It’s so deep, so many layers to unpeel—like a musical onion!”

  Mimi did another face palm. The Duke and Bubber laughed and Bas quickly changed the subject. Aimon and Albert climbed onto the stage, and the group laughed together as Bas cracked a few jokes.

  By the end of the break, Bas had Bubber and Duke roaring with laughter. Mimi couldn’t stop giggling and even Aimon looked entertained. The pure happiness Mimi felt made her wonder if time traveling could always be like this.

  They all shook hands when the break was about to end. Bas told them they had to get going, which surprised Mimi.

  “Feel free to come back to the Cotton Club anytime. We’ll always be here,” Duke said with a warm smile. Bubber nodded his approval.

  Mimi frowned, wishing that were true. She knew from school that in
1940 there would be a fire that would burn down the Cotton Club. It wouldn’t be reopened until the seventies. Ellington would move back to Washington, maintain his successful career, and live to a ripe old age. Much later, President Nixon would honor him with the Freedom Award to add to his many other prestigious awards. His legacy would live on after his death in 1973, thanks to his son Mercer Ellington and grandchildren Paul and Mercedes Ellington.

  Bubber, sadly, would choose a different direction. Despite his unbelievable talent, his addiction to drinking would be his downfall. His Ellington years would prove to be the highlight. He’d start his own orchestra after parting with Ellington in 1929, and die at the tragically young age of thirty-two. Perhaps there was something to the idea behind the Prohibition after all.

  “I hope you’ll be here forever too, because I’d love to come back,” she said. “It was an honor meeting you, Sir Duke.” She shook his hand. “You too, Bubber Miley,” she added with a wide grin as she shook Bubber’s hand as well.

  AS THEY exited the club, the group linked arms one last time and turned to face the stage, listening to the performance of “Red Hot Band.” The four of them clapped the loudest as the song ended.

  Stepping outside, they made their way through the bone-chilling cold toward an area that wasn’t very populated so they can use the Time Shifters without being noticed.

  “That was amazing!” Mimi cried, still on an adrenaline high from dancing on stage.

  “Yeah, you did great!” Aimon told her. “And Bas, I didn’t know you can sing.”

  Bas shrugged his shoulders. “Sometimes I get bored in the Bas House.”

  “I thought there was no such thing as wasted time in a time machine,” teased Albert, causing all of them to laugh.

  Mimi placed an arm around Albert. She was so glad he was enjoying himself, because she felt a little guilty about having put his life on hold while she trained to become the Prodigy. But her little brother seemed happy and content.

  They walked through the cold streets of Harlem, taking their time to admire the fashion of 1927. They stomped on the frozen snowbanks of the city and turned a corner into an alleyway.

  Everyone froze as they spotted the Time Car.

  “Oh no,” said Bas.

  “You were right, Bas darling, I can always find you when I need to,” said Bellator, emerging from behind the Time Car she was hiding behind. She had her Photon Laser aimed right at Bas, and Deatherage appeared next to her, his laser aimed at Mimi.

  “No more games this time, girl. Hand over the Diary, and this time, no one will get hurt.”

  Memories of Richie dying flooded Mimi’s mind. She stepped in front of Albert. “You need to get a life, Deatherage!” she screamed. “You’re not hurting anyone this time!”

  Mimi felt tricked. She knew that Bellator had the capability to find Bas, but it was terrifying how they knew exactly where they would be. Her heart pounded.

  “Yeah, I guess you did find me,” Bas said in an amused tone.

  Mimi assumed he must be acting. There was no way he was that calm.

  Bellator laughed, her expression confident and amused. She thought they had already won. Mimi slowly reached for her Elemental Launcher, but Aimon was faster.

  He jumped in front of Mimi and Albert, his shoes kicking back snow as he landed. He raised his Elemental Launcher and Bellator and Deatherage stepped back, having seen Mimi’s fire tornado.

  “Leave us alone, and I just might let you live!” Aimon said evenly.

  The threat of a man half their age caused both Ambassadors to laugh. It gave Mimi time to pull her own Elemental Launcher from its satchel. Before she could close the flap, Albert had pulled out the Diary and waved it in the air.

  “Albert, step back! This isn’t your fight!” Mimi hissed at him.

  “Hey, jerk-face!” cried Albert to Deatherage. “Is this what you want?”

  “Yes, boy! Hand it over!”

  “No way! You have to leave my sister alone!” Albert cried, and then took off running toward a wooded area of 1927 Harlem.

  “Bas, go after him!” Mimi shrieked. “Protect him, or else!”

  Bas saluted and disappeared in a red blur after Albert. Deatherage growled and ran after them.

  Bellator blasted a Photon Laser inches from Mimi before she could move to follow. “Not so fast, girl. I should have taken that book from you when I had the chance in the library.”

  “Why didn’t you?” asked Mimi curiously. She hoped to distract Bellator, who seemed the less violent one of the Time Ambassadors.

  Bellator shook her head. “I thought you were just a girl then. An innocent bystander in history. I didn’t want to upset history by harming you. But you proved yourself more than just a bystander.”

  Pride made Mimi stand straighter. “You got that right. What are you going to do now?” she asked.

  “I’m going to destroy you, get that Diary, and earn my pardon with the King!” Bellator yelled and raised her Photon Laser again.

  Aimon had been grinding his Elemental Launcher while they were talking, and sent an impressive amount of air shooting from his Launcher. The snow on the ground spun into the air, forming a tornado that shielded them from view.

  “Run, Mimi, I’ll hold her off!” Aimon cried.

  “No Aimon! You don’t have to prove yourself. I’m sorry I called you a coward, but I’m not leaving you! Richie would’ve wanted us to fight, together!” she declared.

  Aimon smiled at her as he held the whirlwind in Bellator’s direction, giving Mimi enough time to select the elements on her Launcher.

  “What are you going to do?” asked Aimon.

  “You’ll see.”

  ALBERT WASN’T sure what his plan had been in grabbing the Diary, but he hoped it was giving them a fighting chance. A big man was chasing him now, and that both excited and terrified him. It was like a live video game, but with real consequences. That man had killed Richie. Albert didn’t doubt that he’d kill a boy just for a Bas’s book.

  A driver of a horse and buggy yelled as Albert rushed in front of him, scaring the horse. “Sorry!” called Albert, laughing at the man’s long coat and top hat. He felt a tap on his shoulder and turned to see Bas keeping stride with him. They turned a sharp corner together. “What are you doing here?”

  “Making sure ugly doesn’t catch up with you!” Bas said, pointing behind them.

  “Hey, between bullies and running away from teachers I get in trouble with, I’m used to running fast!”

  Bas laughed. “But seriously, hand me the Diary. I’ll hold them off and you can go back to Mimi.”

  Albert winced and looked over their shoulders at Deatherage, then quickly ducked around another corner. He couldn’t leave a clear shot for the brute.

  “You sure you got ugly nose back there?” asked Albert and Bas nodded.

  “Yeah, don’t worry about me, dude. Just make sure your sister doesn’t do anything stupid.”

  “Oh, I can’t grantee that, she’s usually doing something stupid.” He tossed Bas the Diary. “Here.” He skidded to a stop in his shiny black dress shoes, cursing the ice for the lack of friction. That skid didn’t look cool at all and he was happy there were few witnesses. Deatherage took off after Bas without hesitation, and Albert headed back the way he had come.

  Spooking the horse a second time, Albert apologized one more and then hurried toward Mimi. She had to be okay. She was annoying, but she was his older sister. If anyone was going to make her life miserable, it was going to be him. No one else had that right.

  MIMI HAD selected lead and ice.

  A big block of frozen lead shot from the tip of her Launcher. Bellator dodged it and ducked to the ground, landing on her stomach. “Do you really think you can defeat an Ambassador of Time?” she scoffed, rolling back into a standing position.

  “That’s where you’re wrong,” cried Mimi, waiting for her Elemental Launcher to charge again. “I don’t care about defeating you. I just care about prot
ecting those I love.”

  “Aww how sweet!” taunted Bellator. She pulled a familiar leather whip from her belt. Large silver spikes and what looked like barbed-wire hung from it. The Time Ambassador began to lasso it over her head.

  There was no time to move. The whip struck Mimi’s hands, and unimaginable pain shot through her. The spikes dug into her skin like they were trying to rip her apart. Dropping the Elemental Launcher, she shook her hands free of the metal spikes. Her skin made a sickening suction sound as she pulled the spikes out. Crimson blood poured from the dozen holes in her hand onto the white snow.

  Aimon screamed with rage. “That’s it! You’re finished here!”

  Bellator lassoed her whip, ready to strike down Aimon.

  “Aimon, no!” cried Mimi, not wanting him to feel the same pain she was suffering.

  Aimon moved deftly, skidding to a halt beside Mimi and grabbing her now charged Elementa Launcher. Liquid gold shot from both Launchers with a powerful blast. A sand-like dust mixed over the liquid gold, and when the mixture hit Bellator, she appeared to freeze. She was now a golden statue. Mimi’s eyes widened at the sight, grudgingly impressed.

  “Hang on, Mimi! We need to get you help!” Aimon said, turning to her.

  “No!” cried Mimi and winced. “Make sure Albert is okay.”

  “Mimi?” called Albert, running into the alley. He stopped and stared at the golden Bellator statue, then gasped at the blood dripping from Mimi’s hands.

  “Albert! What happened?”

  “I gave Bas the Diary. He told me to come back to you. Are you okay?”

  “I’m better knowing you’re safe. Let’s get Bas and go back to the Bas House. I need JAB’s help.”

  They all jumped at the sound of the Time Car door opening. A young woman who looked to be in her late twenties stepped out, a strange metal raven perched on her shoulder. “Where is Danny?” asked the girl.

  “Who are you?” asked Aimon, stepping in front of Albert and Mimi once again. “And who is Danny?”

  “Captain Daniel Deatherage. My lover. I am Princess Odette.” She bowed.