The first thing I do, after I clear the bedroom of roommates and merhorses, is put on some pants. I solemnly pledge—that for as long as I am living in the cabin—I will go to bed wearing a full pajama ensemble. I have a feeling this won't be the last midnight strategic-planning session. Beau and Olga have gone home to their brood and will check in on our progress.

Once I'm dressed, I enter the common room. Krill's gills! There are hundreds more strands of white fairy lights on the ceiling, illuminating a silver platter of miniature cakes on the coffee table. Each confection is frosted in a different shade of pink and topped with sugared violets and tiny silver-horned unicorns.

"Wow, who put up all the lights and made the little cakes?"

"I did," Lily-Bella says. "They're fairy cakes."

"It looks amazing in here!"

"Thanks." Lily-Bella is in a pink satin nightgown, her pale blonde hair shimmering under the lights. She's on the sofa that's closest to the window, sitting beside Thunder, who's wearing his usual black t-shirt and jeans. Pierce and Pickles are on the opposite sofa, and I notice Pierce has stolen back the plaid shirt that I "borrowed." Fintan is pacing next to the fireplace. Each time he passes the hearth, the fire blazes excitedly for a moment like a puppy happy to see its master. Shadows flicker on the walls like rogue spirits.

The wind is howling, and the Hawaiian-print curtains are fluttering madly against the windows. I'm sure the curtains were dark green earlier today. I can only assume Cupid is redecorating.

"I better shut that to give us some privacy," I say. As I close the window, I think I see something moving through the bushes. Probably a deer or fox or Bigfoot. You can assume nothing at a school for supernatural beings!

"Okay, everyone," I say, taking a seat next to Pierce. "We should probably start planning. But before we do, I want to make sure you know the risks." I smell the sugary cakes, and my stomach growls super loud. Everyone cracks up. I'm a little embarrassed, but I laugh too. "Sorry." I help myself to a fairy cake and take a bite, carefully avoiding the too-cute unicorn. "Wow!" Fairy cakes taste like thick, sweet amazingness. Pierce watches me eat, and I feel kind of bad that he can't enjoy real food.

I squeeze his hand, then he lifts mine to his lips and kisses my knuckles. I shake my head to clear the fog of attraction that is clogging my brain. Maybe I should get him to move so I can concentrate. He smiles at me—yeah, with full-blown dimple action. I think I'll keep him here. Now, what I was going to say? Oh, right. Warn friends of danger.

"Okay, so we're dealing with someone or some group that is really evil. These aren't the sorts of villains who are going to be easy on us because we're teenagers with the best years of our lives ahead of us." I give them all my most serious expression to make sure they understand the risk.

"I am definitely in," Thunder rumbles, picking up a fairy cake. "This is our territory, and no one is coming in and messing it up. I can get the entire pack behind us too."

"Thanks, Thunder," I say. "But let's keep it to ourselves for now. Once we know what we're doing, we can bring in the rest of your pack."

"Okay," he says, mouth full as he downs the entire cake in one bite. "Mmmmm. Lily-Bella, you sure can conjure a tasty confection."

Lily-Bella blushes. "Well, I'm in. I can't wait to take out some bad guys," she says, eyes shining in a kind of feral, scary way. "I haven't had a good fight since I left the Fairy Princess Academy. Nobody on earth can match the wrath of a fairy princess scorned by her prince or held captive in a dragon's lair."

Thunder casually rests his muscled arm over the back of the sofa behind Lily-Bella. She glances over her shoulder and smiles.

"Thank you, Lily-Bella," I say. "But, uh, hopefully, we can avoid any physical entanglements. Pickles?"

"I'm definitely in. You know I am."

Fintan stops pacing. "I'm all for going after these guys, but maybe we should tell Headmaster Crumpet." He puts his arms protectively on Pickle's shoulders. She covers his hands with hers, which makes me smile. Yay, Pickles!

"I don't think that's a good idea, Fintan," I say. "I know it sounds logical, but my dad told me not to get involved and that I couldn't tell anyone. If the headmaster knows, I'm sure he'll tell my dad."

Poseidon's beard. If my father finds out that my roommates know, I'll be in huge trouble. He'll ground me for all eternity and ask questions later.

"There is something else that none of you guys know yet," Pierce says. "Something I discovered tonight."

"What? In Crumpet's office?" I say.

"Yeah. I found out Brack Sharkweather has been donating sizeable sums of money to West Marin Heights. And he's been appointed to the school board."

Fintan shrugs his shoulders. "So?"

"So, Sharkweather has a lot of power at this school. It's his yacht we've seen near the poisoned water and also anchored in that shallow, rocky area near the shore. That means he's a suspect. If Waverly's father and the others are working on the case, fine. But what if Sharkweather has hoodwinked them and is covering something up?"

"Okay," Fintan says. "I get it." He kisses Pickles' auburn curls. Orange and red sparks shoot out of the fireplace. I swear it looks like the fire is jealous. "Stop that." Fintan glares at the fire. It sparks one last time, then settles down.

"What we need is more information. Solid evidence," I say.

"Where is the cave in relation to the boat sightings?" Thunder asks.

"I could draw it on a piece of paper," I say.

"I think I can do better than that," Pickles says. "I mean, if you wish it." She's already aiming her wand at the table.

"I do! I wish for something better than a piece of paper to map out the area."

Almost before I'm even done wishing, the plate of cakes on the table transforms into what looks like a miniature model of Tomales Bay and the surrounding area. And not like a toy model. It is alive! Tiny birds flit amongst the trees. Bats, mice, skunks, and deer are roaming the forest. Beneath the water, there is kelp and eelgrass and a school of tiny fish. Miniscule seals, the size of ants, poke their heads above the surface. On one side of the bay, there is an eerie glow over a circular area in the water, with tentacles reaching out from the middle. On the opposite end is Pierce's Point. And lurking in the center of the bay, is the Sharkweather yacht, with tiny henchmen, I mean people, walking on the upper deck.

"This is amazing, Pickles," I say. "How did you do it?"

Fintan has stopped pacing and is looking at the model in awe. We all are.

"Oh," she says, waving away the compliment. "It's just a slight enhancement of the basic 'Turning a Pumpkin into a Golden Coach' spell. It was our first lesson in Fairy Godmother 101."

"You get to learn way cooler stuff than we do." Lily-Bella pouts.

"Thanks," says Pickles, sounding very pleased.

"Okay, guys," I say. "This area with the eerie, colorful light is where the water is poisoned. Beau and Olga told me they have seen divers lowering containers off of a ship and storing them in the cave. And over here," I point to the rocky area beneath Pierce's point, "is where Pierce and I saw the yacht. Why would it go there instead of the pier next to the school grounds?"

"Maybe because there is a road right there," Pickles says, pointing to it.

"Holy sea cow. You're right. That road would allow them to haul in and transport the barrels wherever they need to go," I say.

"It's got to be the Sharkweathers," Thunder growls. "I say we capture the dad, tie him to a tree, and question him with blunt objects."

I know I should be all stern and not encourage violence, but I can't help smiling at Thunder's enthusiasm. "As appealing as that might be, I don't think it's the best plan."

"I know," Thunder agrees. "It's just that I enjoy a good interrogation ..."

My brain is working hard now, as if this whole thing is a quadratic equation, and I forgot to copy down the formula. "What we need to confirm is whether the divers are coming from the Sharkweather yacht, and also whether the yacht is the source of those barrels. It would be great to get on the boat. If only I could do it without being seen ... become invisible somehow."

"You become invisible?" Pierce shoots back. "Who says you're going to be the spy?" His blue eyes are sparking but so are the tips of my hair.

I leap off the couch and jam my hands into my hips. "We are talking about the water, Pierce. The ocean is my home, and I am going to protect it!"

"I will be coming with you then," Pierce counters.

"Two of us will be harder to hide than one," I say logically.

"Waverly?" Pickles says.

"Yes?" I snap. Then I realize I am snapping at the wrong person. "I'm sorry. Yes, Pickles?"

"I might have another spell that could help. It's pretty advanced, but I've read about it in the F.G. Training Manual. I'm pretty sure I can do it."

"I don't think now is the time to test out complicated spells," Pierce says.

My hair is really sparking now. Pierce wisely says nothing. "Tell us, Pickles."

"Well ..." She looks at Pierce uncomfortably. "Um ... it is called the Camouflage Spell."

"What does it do, Pickles?" Lily-Bella says.

"It makes the person look like something that blends in with the background. Like if you were in a classroom, you would look like a desk to anyone who saw you. If you were on a boat, you might look like a life preserver or a tow rope."

"That's amazing," I say. "Let's try it right now."

Pierce grabs my arm. "Excuse us. I need to talk to Waverly outside."

"No you don't," I say. My hair is shooting off purple sparks, which means I am furious.

Pierce lifts me into his arms, and before I know what's happening, we are out the door and a hundred yards from the cabin on the path that leads to campus. Stupid vampire powers! And it's freezing out here.

"Let go of me," I say through clenched teeth. "But don't drop me on the redwood needles."

"I would never do that to you," Pierce says. "What kind of person would drop someone like that? Anyway, I plan to keep you in my arms until you promise to calm down."

"I am calm."

"I'd hate to see you agitated," he says, grinning.

"Stop flashing those dimples at me, Pierce Knightguard. They are not working. Not one bit. Why did you carry me out of there as if I was some fingerling?"

"I wouldn't say you were acting like a fingerling," he says.

"Good."

"Because it goes without saying."

I growl, but he sets me gently on the path and pulls me against his body. "What do you think you're doing, Pierce Knightguard?"

"Thought maybe we ought to have a little physical entanglement," he says, but before I can tell him I agree with this idea, he's pressing his lips to mine and kissing me in that deep, delicious way that makes my entire body ache with pleasure. I am melting into him. He still tastes like strawberries.

Pierce moans. I love that kissing me has this effect on him. He is twisting my hair in one hand, while the fingers of his other hand run down my spine. I wrap my arms around his back, and I'm trying to pull him closer even though our bodies are crushed against one another.

I don't know what to do. I am so attracted to Pierce that I'm kind of scared. I should stop, but I don't want to.

Suddenly, he breaks off the kiss.

"What's going on?" In one swift move, we are lying on the hard, rocky ground, facing one another beneath a stickery bush. "Ouch." He covers my mouth with his hand.

"Shh," he whispers in my ear.

"What's happening?" I whisper against his hand.

"Someone's coming."

"Who?"

"It's Shelly. And her father." Vampire hearing!

The wind whistles through the redwoods. I hold my breath, straining my ears. Finally, I hear Mr. Sharkweather's voice and the rhythm of footsteps cracking on branches.

"Don't wander around this place at night, Shelly. It isn't safe."

"Dad, can't we just go home? I hate it here."

"No. Do as I say, and stop asking questions. It won't be for much longer."

Eels meals! Eavesdropping is wrong, but also a super-effective spying tool. But I want to know more. What won't be for much longer? Why are the school grounds dangerous? And why was Shelly sick for so long?