Excerpt: ALLERGIC TO MISTLETOE, Neighborlee, Ohio, Book 10

 

Uncle Mortimer pattedhis cheek. "I wish gunpowder had been around when I was your age. It's quitethe thing to make messes when you're only 100 years old. When you're pushing ninecenturies, well, you have to pretend to have some dignity."

"Especially whenyour cloaking spells aren't what they used to be and you can't hide the evidence,"Hera-Jane added. "Uncle Morty...the Chinese had gunpowder back when you werea child."

"Hmm, yes, but theAsian Fae Enclaves were quite isolationist back then. They wouldn't share anything,least of all such clever Human toys." Their wild-haired uncle nodded once morefor punctuation. "Quite all right now, lad? Back to normal?"

"Close enough. Howmuch can you see me?" Harry asked.

"Not a speck. Wecan smell you, though." His sister sat back and wrinkled up her nose. "Well,are you any closer to success?"

"I think so. Notmuch, but at least I didn't trip any of the fire suppression and reconstructionspells." Harry allowed himself a few flickers of triumph over that, beforediving into the new puzzle. "You say I was visible when I was unconscious?"

"Something disruptedthe invisibility spell for a little while. It just proves my theory that the malfunctionlies in the Ether connection that powers this particular invisibility spell. Youneed more research, lad." Uncle Mortimer slapped in the general direction ofHarry's invisible shoulder and heaved himself to his feet. Chuckling, he totteredout of the laboratory. Standard housecleaning spells had cleared the damage whilethey talked.