Of Enemies and Endings by Shelby Bach

good ones. “Once a bratty little brother, always a bratty little brother,” she’d muttered back in April. Chase and I had exchanged a look, and then we’d laughed for five minutes straight. That felt like a long time ago, now.
    â€œHansel, I forgot to tell you,” I said, stopping beside him. “Priya wants to try the spear.”
    He snorted. “Of course she does. Getting her Tale has made her even cockier.”
    Priya was the new Little Red Riding Hood. The Tale had begun while she and Kelly were visiting Priya’s grandmother in Seattle for a sleepover. I’d played the part of the heroic woodsman who comes and slays the wolf, like the Snow Queen knew I would. That had been how I ended up on the roof fighting Ripper and a hundred other creatures. Before I got there, though, Priya had taken out a bunch of wolves on her own.
    It had given her star status. Hansel disapproved. “I’ll talk to her about the spear thing,” he said, very ominously.
    â€œI already did,” I said, instantly nervous. “I told her it was a great idea, but not the right time. Is that okay?” On top of the rest of my morning, the last thing I needed was to get in trouble for overstepping my boundaries as Hansel’s assistant.
    He smiled. “Probably better than I would have done.” Oh. I’d overreacted. I’d gotten so used to being in trouble with Hansel over the years that I kept forgetting he had asked for my help. “I heard about this morning. Are you all right to teach for today?”
    His kindness threw me too. Weirdly, it made me feel less okay, more shaky, and I tried to stave off the emotion swelling within me. “I have to. My other option is to go see my mother and listen to her yell at me about the fight.”
    Hansel looked up from the row of Fey dummies he was moving into position. “The Director wants all newcomers to attend the first weapon class after their arrival. It’s mandatory.”
    I’d forgotten. The training courts weren’t the escape I’d hoped it had been.
    â€œRory!”
    I turned. My mother strode toward me, her smile cheerful but her gaze steely. She was about to say something I wouldn’t like, especially not in front of the younger staff students walking in behind her.
    â€œThere you are.” Mom pretended she didn’t notice heads turning. Some of the other students had recognized the famous actress in their midst. You’d think they would be used to celebrities. Dad and Brie had been living here for months.
    â€œAre you in this class?” I couldn’t keep the horror out of my voice.
    â€œNo, I just wanted to ask you something—” Mom started.
    â€œMs. Wright, you’re going to be having class with Gretel,” Hansel said, pointing to his sister. Gretel had just clunked in, and now she stood at the front of her class, taking attendance. “You’re welcome to talk with Rory, but I have to warn you: All latecomers are welcomed with gingerbread jacks.”
    That was definitely a rescue.
    Mom hesitated but then made her way over to Gretel’s class. She was always a stickler about following the rules in public. Even here, she worried that people would say she thought Hollywood stars deserved special treatment.
    â€œI am in your class,” Amy said, walking up to me with her arms crossed over her chest. She clearly didn’t want to be there.
    Man, this was shaping up to be an especially challenging day.
    It would be almost as uncomfortable having Amy in the staff class as having Mom. “You don’t want to try archery?” I whispered. That was where Brie was.
    â€œRory, I’m nearsighted,” Amy said in the exact same tone she used to remind me that I’d promised to clean my room.
    â€œLet me show you where the staffs are.” Hansel led her away. He was still running interference, and I was grateful. “Rory, check if we’re