The Magic Shop

by Justin Swapp

“I know, I know,” Marcus said, waving a hand, “but if you would have asked me a few days ago, I would have told you that Anabell needed just as much help as he did. So the question is, how is she standing here in front of us, more normal than I’ve ever seen her in my life? I assume it was magic. Can’t you just do the same thing for Caleb?”

  Anabell looked at Winston, and then seemed to find something more interesting on the ground by her feet. Tears welled up in her eyes. “No,” she said, “I was—”

  “Anabell,” Winston interrupted, raising a hand of warning, “don’t.”

  “The children have been through a lot,” Anabell said. “They deserve to know the truth.”

  “Thank you,” Marcus and Ellie said simultaneously.

  After taking in a deep breath, Anabell said, “The truth is that I was never hurt, or ‘mental,’ as you would say.”

  Marcus was shocked. He expected to hear some story of magical adventure and healing. “What, are you a closet Academy Award winner or something?”

  “But we saw you at the hospital, and you seemed pretty messed up,” Ellie said, before quickly adding, “No offense.”

  “I couldn’t leave my husband unprotected, could I?” Anabell said with a deep sigh. “And in order to be there with him, I had to be like him.”

  “Protect him from whom?” Marcus asked. “The other patients?”

  Ellie elbowed him in the side.

  “What?” Marcus asked, glaring at Ellie indignantly. “The people there seriously creep me out.”

  “From Sol,” Anabell said, stealing a glance at Charlotte before continuing. “They had a fight, and Sol nearly destroyed him,” Anabell paused to straighten up her blouse at the ends, “but not before my Caleb could do some permanent damage as well.”

  Ellie snapped her fingers. “So that’s why Faustino had to carry Sol off after you two fought at The Magic Box,” she said as she grabbed Marcus’s arm. “Remember that Mirella said that he needed to recuperate from something that had been troubling him for some time?”

  “So that’s why they wanted the skull so badly,” Marcus said, “because Sol needed it.”

  Anabell nodded. “Caleb needs it more,” she added. “The damage to him was much more severe.”

  “And I’m the one that sold it,” Marcus said, digging his toe into the ground, “for nothing.” A horrible feeling that this was entirely his fault left a pit in his stomach. There had been an opportunity to end the years of pain and suffering for his family, and now it was gone, because of him.

  “We understand, Marcus, but we can’t worry about that now,” Winston said, putting an arm around his shoulder. “We just have to get the skull back and help Caleb.”

  “How do you propose we do that?” Anabell asked, a tone of anger surfacing in her voice. “You do realize that this plan hasn’t really worked so far, right, Winston?”

  “I don’t think the old skull will be any good to us anyway,” Marcus said, wincing and scratching his head. “I saw it lying in pieces on the ground when we left The Magic Box. Something happened to Mirella and Sol, and they fell to the ground in pain, dropping the skull.”

  “It broke?” Winston asked. “Why didn’t you say something, Marcus? This changes everything.”

  “I did,” Marcus said, feeling horrible all over again, “well, kind of. I asked you if we were just going to just leave it there lying on the sidewalk, remember? I just forgot to mention that it was shattered. Then Mirella and Sol were gone.”

  “Take it easy, gramps,” Ellie said. “It all happened so fast.”

  Gratitude welled up in Marcus’s heart for Ellie. For as hard their journey had been, at least he had her.

  “That settles it then, Winston. There’s no other choice,” Anabell said as she bent over to pick up her backpack. “We’re doing this my way.”

  “I want to help,” Marcus said. “It’s my fault we’re here, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make things right.”

  “No way,” Winston said. “You running off and getting yourself killed won’t make things right, Marcus, it will make them worse. You’re going to stay here, where I can make sure you’re safe.”

  “I want to go too,” Ellie said. “We’ve earned this, Grandpa.”

  “Absolutely not,” Charlotte said, waving a shaky hand. Her husband nodded as she added, “The idea is ridiculous.”

  “We’ve nearly died I don’t know how many times,” Marcus said. “And—”

  “Winston,” Anabell said, “if the children want to go, let them go. They’ve earned the right to choose.”

  “This isn’t a good idea, Anabell,” Charlotte said. “You shouldn’t be going yourself, let alone entertaining the thought of risking the children.”

  “Charlotte, you have to stop treating them like children,” Anabell said, “and recognize what they’ve already been through, and who they are becoming.”

  Charlotte and Winston exchanged a desperate look. Winston swallowed hard, and his wife looked away.

  “Don’t let anything happen to them,” Winston said. “They’re all we’ve got left.”

  Anabell looked as though she wanted to say one thing, but she paused a moment, and said, “I’ll guard them with my life.”

  “Geez,” Marcus said, “this sounds awfully serious. Where are we off to anyway?”

  “The Shrieking Forest,” Anabell said. “It shouldn’t take us too long to get there from here.”

  “Are you sure there’s no other way?” Winston asked.

  “If what Marcus says is true and the skull is destroyed, than there is no other way. We have to do this,” Anabell said.

  “Then go,” Elba said, “and take Tofu with you.”

  Tofu barked, and back over to them. He got up on his hindquarters and pawed Marcus’s leg. Marcus picked Tofu up and began to stroke his fur. “What am I doing?” he asked, suddenly dropping the dog. He remembered Tofu in his other form. “It’s just not the same, man, sorry.”

  With a scowl, Ellie picked him up.

  “Come on,” Anabell said, “we’ve got to go. If you’re going to come with me you had better be able to keep up.”

  They gathered up their things and said their goodbyes. Elba led their grandparents out the way they came in. For a moment, even after they were out of view, Marcus could still hear the leaves crunching beneath their feet, but then the silence told him they were really gone.

  “Okay,” Ellie said, “now what?”

  Anabell led them to a portion of the far wall that had crumbled away, leaving a gaping hole in the building. She crawled through, then, holding their hands, she helped them out, Tofu still in Ellie’s arms.

  Outside, the air felt a little denser. The grass was thick and soft. Huge tree trunks topped with gold, orange, and red leaves were everywhere to be seen. It looked like Fall everywhere. There was a quiet rustle of leaves, leading Marcus to wonder if there was a gentle breeze or animals in the trees.

  “This way,” Anabell said.

  Ellie put Tofu on the soft ground and they chased after Anabell. Marcus was still trying to get over the idea that this was the same Anabell whom they had seen in the hospital for so many years. This Anabell, the one before him, was fast and smooth and quiet, nothing like the other Anabell. She weaved in and out between bright-colored bushes and large trees. So much so, that Marcus started to wonder if she was an elf, graceful like a ballerina, yet as capable as a ranger. She only slowed down occasionally to let the children and Tofu catch up.

  At some point Anabell stopped and leaned against a large tree. She opened her backpack and rummaged around for a few moments, then pulled out a strange-looking device. It was a small, ornate globe that was made of strange workmanship. It seemed to be made of brass and bore odd carvings and strange writing all over its surface. Two rings hovered around the outside of the globe, constantly moving and rotating in different directions independently of each other. Where the two rings intersected at any given time, there was a small orange glow emanating fro
m that point. The globe seemed to float in her hand.

  “What’s that?” Ellie asked.

  “Shh…” Anabell said.

  Anabell held out her hand, the sphere floating just above it, and moved as the two rings moved. She was looking for something. Marcus heard a rustling in the trees and randomly examined the brush, but he saw nothing. Anabell, on the other hand, was focused. She looked unwaveringly where the orange glow indicated.

  “What is it?” Marcus asked, staring at Anabell anxiously. “What do you see?”

  Then something strange happened. Marcus heard Anabell respond, but her lips didn’t move.

  “Don’t you speak English, boy?” he heard Anabell say. “You’re going to scare it away.”

  Marcus turned to look at Ellie, but she was already staring at him. Her eyes were wide with surprise, expressing the same questioning look he was about to give her. He pointed at his ear, and then tapped the side of his head. Ellie raised her eyebrows and nodded.

  “Can you hear me?” Marcus said without moving his lips. He felt stupid doing it, but at least if no one could hear him, they would never know he tried.

  “Shh…” Anabell said again, her mouth closed. “Whether you speak out loud or in my head, it’s still distracting.”

  Then Marcus felt a powerful whirring of wind around him, as if a helicopter was descending upon them. The air whipped his hair back and forth, and the trees and the bushes swayed. He looked up. Just a few trees away was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

  A magnificent bird twice the size of an eagle perched nearby, completely unaware of the humans. Its presence was as impressive as its appearance. It was strong and deadly and beautiful, all at the same time. This was its domain, and it didn’t have a care in the world. Its beautiful plumage, gradients of oranges and reds, to gold and copper, settled in tight against its body, slicked back as if it were wet.

  The menacing-looking bird cocked its head and opened its hooked beak. Marcus expected to hear a terrible cry, a warning to all who would disturb it or its home, but what he heard was something very different. He heard a song.

  The bird projected a melancholic melodic overture unlike anything Marcus had ever heard before. Sorrow found its way to the pit of his stomach, and though he tried, it became difficult to swallow. Ellie breathed deeply, and Anabell blinked hard.

  Reaching into her pack, Anabell removed the single arrow she had received with the bow. Placing the knock against the string in the center of the bow, Anabell hooked the end of the arrow with her fingers and lifted the magical weapon.

  “No,” thought Marcus, “you can’t. You mustn’t.”

  “Please,” Ellie thought.

  “I don’t want to,” Anabell thought, “but I have to. It’s the only way.”

  The bird sang a few more moments before silence fell all around them. The absence of the bird’s melody left Marcus feeling strangely empty. The phoenix blinked and jerked its head from side to side, suddenly appearing nervous. Did it sense that they were there?

  “You have to time it,” Anabell thought to the others, “or it doesn’t work. That’s what they explained to me on the reservation.”

  It turned and looked directly at Anabell as if it had heard her, or as if somehow it knew. Its eyes widened. Then, as if its instincts had taken control, the bird became angry and spread its broad, colorful wings. Marcus thought it looked like a rainbow materializing in the tree. Anabell pulled the string back tight, the bow creaking as it bent. At that moment, the phoenix opened its beak again, and let out a high-pitched shriek.

  His ears rang uncontrollably, and for a moment, Marcus thought his head would burst. He felt dizzy, and he watched Ellie cover her ears and drop to her knees. Perhaps this was a defense mechanism?

  Then the bird burst into flames, but the fire didn’t consume it. It was a horrible scene: the looming phoenix with its ominous wings outstretched, and that terrible cry. Marcus put his finger in his ear and wiggled it, trying to alleviate the pain. He even tried opening his jaw and swallowing, like you do on an airplane to release the air pressure. He looked at the bird again, and thought that it looked like a flaming missile ready to drop down on them.

  “Now,” Anabell thought, and Marcus felt sick.

  However, something else happened. In a blur of color and motion, Anabell suddenly grunted and then let out a large gasp of air. The arrow took flight, and Anabell screamed out loud with rage, or pain, or… something. Marcus, with his ears still ringing, felt an unseen force knock him over. It was all very disorienting. Then something happened to bring him back into focus. He saw the flames enveloping the phoenix implode, rendering itself a large pile of golden ash and residue, like the embers of a fire. But there was more.

  Marcus could sense that something had gone very wrong.

  On his hands and knees, Marcus searched for Ellie and Anabell. He didn’t understand why they weren’t there. What he did see, however, was Mirella, standing several feet in front of him. This didn’t make sense. She hunched over the bow triumphantly, breathing heavily and looking like a savage. Something was different. Something was off about her.

  “You…” a raspy voice said behind Marcus, gasping for air, “you wretch.” He couldn’t be certain whether his hearing worked again or if what he heard was only in his mind.

  Marcus turned around sharply to see Anabell struggling to her feet and clearing her throat. He turned to his other side and saw Ellie knocked out on the grass.

  “How…” Marcus started, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes. Ellie stirred on the ground behind him, then he continued, glowering at Mirella. “Why are you here?”

  Groggy, Ellie asked, “How did you even find us?” After she spoke, she quickly covered her ears.

  “You,” Mirella said with a smile.

  “Me?” Ellie asked, shaking her head. Marcus could tell that Ellie was focusing on Mirella’s lips, like she was trying to read them.

  “You’ve ruined everything,” screamed Anabell, clutching her fists and taking a step forward. Her voice lowered seriously. “Now give me that bow.”

  “Not until I have what I came for, Anabell,” she said.

  “You already have it,” Marcus said, before realizing that perhaps he had misread her lips. He pounded his fist on the ground. “And now our uncle is going to die.”

  “That’s not what I came for,” Mirella said as she stood a little taller.

  Marcus watched Ellie get to her feet and wipe off her clothes. “She wants your blood,” she said, rubbing her hand.

  “What?” Marcus asked. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing and hearing. “My blood? But you’ve got the bow.”

  “Yes,” Mirella said as she hooked her arm through the bow and hung it over her shoulder. She reached into the pouch that she wore at her hip and removed the small crystal box that they had seen once before.

  “I’ve tried before to ask nicely,” Mirella said, “but you wouldn’t cooperate.”

  “I’m not giving you my blood,” Marcus said. “You already took Ellie’s, why do you need mine?”

  “Yes, Ellie’s blood has proven useful, darling,” Mirella said. “That is how I found you.”

  “You have no right, Mirella,” Anabell said. “You already have the other skull to use on Sol. Give me the bow back so I can try to heal Caleb too. Then we can fight fairly, if we must.”

  “Now you know what it’s like to have something precious taken from you,” Mirella said. “How does it feel?”

  “Give us the bow,” Marcus said, getting to his feet. “Please. He’s my uncle.”

  “Then give me your blood, honey,” Mirella said. “It’s only a prick. Look at your sister; it didn’t hurt her, did it?”

  Marcus considered what she said. The idea of giving her his blood was strange, the fact that she wanted it so badly filled him with a sense of foreboding. But as he looked at his sister, he had to admit that she had seemed fine since she had put her hand in the box. Nothing had happen
ed to her. Mirella had just been able to find them, that was all.

  “No,” Anabell said, her lips quivering. “Keep the bow,” she struggled to say the words, “and leave us in peace.”

  “What?” Marcus asked. “But what about Caleb?”

  “We…” Anabell paused to swallow hard, “we will have to find another way.”

  “But you just told Grandpa that there was no other way,” Marcus said.

  “It won’t be but a pinch,” Mirella said, lifting the box toward Marcus.

  “This is all my fault, Anabell,” Marcus said. “I can’t let you do this to Caleb; not when it’s my fault.”

  “Don’t, Marcus,” Ellie said. But Marcus advanced toward Mirella, who now looked satisfied.

  He looked into the crystal box and saw the familiar red strands of magic dancing and swirling within its confines.

  Just as Ellie had done before, he inserted his hand, not knowing exactly what to expect. He thought he heard something move, and his hair shifted in a gust of wind, but he quickly forgot this when the pain came.

  “Ow,” he said as he felt something prick him. Just as soon as he had said it, he retracted his hand from the box and hugged it tight. Despite his finger feeling excruciating pain, he extended his other arm.

  “I did what you asked,” Marcus said, wincing, “now give me the bow.”

  Mirella said nothing, staring at the box with the utmost focus. She shrugged, loosening the bow from her shoulder, and handed it to Marcus without removing her eyes from the activity within the box.

  He took the bow, and gave Anabell and Ellie a confused look as he stepped backward. He wondered what Mirella wanted with them, and why she was so keen on his blood and the crystal box.

  Anabell caught Marcus’s and Ellie’s attention, and placed a thought into their minds, “we’ve got to find that arrow.”

  “We’ve given you what you wanted,” Anabell said, “so we will be leaving now. There’s no reason for there to be any other issue today.”

  Mirella didn’t hear her. She was obsessed with the small red particles of Marcus’s blood that floated among the wisps of magic. He retreated slowly as the magic swirled around and then entered the blood, shaking it to life. Exploding into tiny red beads, more than he could count, they began to move, and then to evolve. Mixing and meshing with the magic, images began to form, their reflections flashing across Mirella’s face. A moment later, her lips quivered uncontrollably, like she had just received news that someone died.