Once they each had enough time to calm down and think things through, both Kayla and Summer came to the same conclusion. They needed to make a deal with Maskz before the security, or any of their higher ups, could. The main question now was, how? They couldn’t just blindly risk offering some future favor, but they also weren’t sure if they had anything else to offer that he would find valuable.

  “It would be too dangerous to go into this empty handed,” Kayla muttered, her brows furrowed in frustration, “We at least need something to bait him with before we ask him.”

  Ned didn’t really seem like he needed anything. At least not anything they could provide. As it was they were already practically at his beck and call. Summer even received a favor from him earlier so she couldn’t play the gratefulness card again. There had to be something they were willing to give for this chance.

  “Maybe we could get him one of those new Shadow Phoenix posters?” Summer suggested. Even as she spoke, she knew it was a terrible idea.

  “I would be surprised if he doesn’t already have one,” Kayla muttered, “You don’t have to drag yourself into this. Since this has to do with my power and my safety, I should handle it.”

  “Did you forget that you and I are on the same team?” Summer protested, “You helped me so much earlier. It is my turn to help.”

  “Not if it means putting yourself in danger with a stupid promise,” Kayla rejected, “The only way you are going to join me is if you promise you won’t get involved in our deal.”

  Summer sighed. “Fine, I won’t get involved in the deal,” she promised, “but I still think we should bring some kind of material gift when we go to negotiate. Even if it isn’t anything impressive it might give us some small advantage.”

  “Just don’t actually give him a poster of Shadow Phoenix,” Kayla told her, “If we are going to play to his obsession we should find something he can’t get on his own.”

  That was completely fair, and there was one thing that immediately came to mind. Summer still had the mechanism that had fallen off of his costume that one time he had broken into her house. Even if it was a tiny piece, it was part of the original villain outfit that no longer existed. Ashton had disposed of it a long time ago.

  “I have an idea,” Summer admitted, “It might work, but if he isn’t a collector it will be worthless to him.”

  “Then I will think of something to offer him on my end in case it falls through,” Kayla decided, seeming to be leaning more on the side of the physical present not working out. “Besides, I don’t think he will help me if I don’t put in my own effort. He has made it perfectly clear he hates damsels in distress.”

  Summer recalled their earlier conversation and tried to ignore the chill that ran through her. If she hadn’t fought to grow stronger on her own, Maskz might have taken her out of the picture by now. She hadn’t even considered the fact that helping Kayla might put her in even more danger. MysteriousMaskz was a dangerous individual, and she needed to be sure to remember that.

  “Do you have any ideas?” Summer asked. She could at least help brainstorm, right?

  “I do, but it feels like too obvious an answer,” Kayla admitted, “He is helping me with my power, so obviously I should use my power in return. Not for him or any of his minions, though. I am only willing to use it for our team.”

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  “It might work since he has made me do Ashton related tasks before,” Summer considered, “but he already offered to help with your power. I’m more concerned about what he will ask for in return for putting on a show for your security.”

  “I had thought of something for that too, but I would need your cooperation,” Kayla admitted, “A lie for a lie. We could promise to never tell Ashton and the others about making this deal.”

  For a normal villain, secrets seemed like a good offer. However, Maskz wasn’t normal. Would he want this deal to remain secret from Ashton? Then again, if he didn’t like it he could always counter the offer with one of his own.

  “If he agrees, I will,” Summer agreed, “but Ashton will definitely notice the change in my power when we go back.”

  Now they just had to figure out how to contact him and propose this deal. Sending messages left a trail, and phone calls could be recorded. Maybe Maskz could wipe that evidence but that would be asking him yet another favor. As if he had been listening the whole time and grew impatient, Summer’s phone rang.

  She quickly ran through the situation in her head before answering it. They were in her room now, and her parents were gone. The guards were outside, and the only thing that they had installed had been on the front door. Summer opened the call and put it on speaker. If it was Maskz, Kayla needed to hear it.

  “I’m calling to tell you about your car’s extende- Wait, don’t hang up!” Ned’s voice came from the phone. She had her thumb hovering over the end call button when he started with nonsense. “The two of you have been all doom and gloom since you left my club so I was just trying to lighten the mood for our discussion.”

  So he really had been listening the whole time. It was uncomfortable, but it wasn’t like Summer hadn’t expected it. Besides, it made this part of the discussion easier. Kayla seemed to be having a harder time with his admittance, but Summer needed to let her take the lead and prove herself.

  “If you have been listening,” Kayla managed, her voice only a bit shaky, “Then you must know what I need from you.”

  “You mean Summer’s suggestion?” Ned checked, “I agree with it, actually. There is no point in me helping you find your true power if you won’t be able to use it for the team. I have no intention of making new puppets for the government. The government is always the true evil behind these stories.”

  Just when Summer thought he was going to reveal something important, it turned out to be more nonsense from the various plots he watched or read. It was odd to think of MysteriousMaskz this way, but he didn’t seem nearly as threatening when he was nerding out.

  “Are you willing to put on a show for the guards and pretend my power is something different?” Kayla asked, a bit hopeful they might not have to offer anything at all.

  “That depends on what I am able to find out,” Maskz replied, “If your power is exactly what they think it is, I won’t have to lie about anything. On the other hand, if your power is what I think it is, then we will have to keep it secret. Of course, I won’t say no to any collector’s items Summer is willing to give up for me. If you do end up giving me a poster, could you make sure he signs it first?”

  Though his tone remained entirely serious the entire time, it was growing more difficult to take his words seriously. He wanted a signed poster of Shadow Phoenix? That was all fine and good, but Summer couldn’t even see Ashton herself. They hadn’t even messaged each other since she left for her suspension. Was this what ned was always like when he wasn’t in supervillain mode?

  “What exactly do you think my ability is?” Kayla asked.

  “I suppose I can tell you that much,” Ned debated, “I believe you are a grimoire who brings out the secret talents of others. In your fully powered state you might even be able to grant permanent and fully compatible abilities. However, due to your past you are terrified of your own power, making it unstable and unreliable. That is how I was able to free you from the facility and send you to your new home. We will have to meet in person to find out more, but I believe you also have the ability to upgrade powers that already exist. This is what I will wish for when you use your ability on me.”

  “A grimoire,” Kayla repeated, “I have been called that before, but you are describing something different than what I usually hear.”

  Instead of explaining anything, Ned returned to being his usual mysterious self. “Shall we set up a time to meet, little grimoire?”