by Brenda Drake
Barely making it to the theater in time, we found our seats just as the lights dimmed. I snuck glances of Bastien’s face during the performance. I could see what Lei meant when she had said he was like a rock star. With his strong jaw and confidence, he could definitely earn himself a fan base of admirers. But there was more to him than that. He empathized with others, and I bet he would never give up the fight for the Mystiks.
When the play finished, we returned to the library and found the gateway book in the Rose Room.
Before jumping into the book, I turned to him. “Thank you for going with me. It would have been boring by myself.”
“I’ve been to many plays,” he said. “This one was done well. But my favorite is still Anna Karenina in London. Have you read the book?”
“No. I’ve wanted to but never got around to it.”
He held his hand up and chanted something under his breath that I couldn’t decipher. Several seconds later, a book flew to him, its pages flapping in the air. He caught the novel and handed it to me.
“Read it and we can discuss the story sometime,” he said.
The green linen cover was worn, and the smell of antique pages filled my nose. “I can’t take this. It’s not checked out.”
“Go ahead. My spell has checked it out for you. Return it when you’re done.” His eyes studying my face made me nervous. “What is your favorite book?”
“The Secret Garden, I suppose.” I suppose? I’ve never felt negative about that book before, but hearing Arik say he only read it because of Oren, and not because he’d chosen to read it on his own, nagged at me.
“I haven’t read that one. I’ll have to give it a look sometime.” He glanced at an expensive-looking watch on his wrist. “I must be off. My Sentinels are waiting for me. We are bringing provisions to a Mystik coven that has fallen on hard times.”
“Yeah, I should get back, too,” I said. “I have a meeting with Nick and Uncle Philip.”
“You go first,” he said.
I found the page to James Blackstone Memorial Library in Branford. “Thank you, again,” I said and spoke the charm.
As the book tugged at me, Bastien nodded. “Entirely my pleasure.”
...
After changing, I met Nick back at the library to search for Chiavi. Coming out of the book in The John Rylands Library in Manchester, England, I landed on a red carpet runner. Nick careened out of the pages, his arms flailing as he tried to keep his balance. He stumbled until he righted himself.
I adjusted my breastplate and smirked at him. “Well, that was graceful.”
“Ha-ha.” He gave me a biting look. “I hate going through that damn thing.”
“If you don’t struggle, it’s actually fun.”
“Where were you tonight?” he asked. “And why all the makeup?”
I had rushed home after leaving Bastien, quickly changed into my Sentinel gear, and forgot to wash my face. I leaned over and snapped the strap securing my dagger inside my calf-high boots. My brown leather cargo pants were still wet from Faith washing them.
On the hilt of my sword was a silver tiger head with sapphire eyes. My helmet, scabbard, and shield matched it. The helmet was shaped like a cat’s head and covered half my face like a Batman mask. I carried it with me but hardly ever wore it because it was uncomfortable.
I straightened and rested my hand on my scabbard. “I went to a play. How was your date?”
“Same. Dinner. Movie. Made out.” He shrugged. “Typical date.”
“Do you and Deidre like the same things?”
“Of course we do,” he said. “She loves riding fast on my bike. We’re both into superheroes and Anime. Why do you ask?”
“I’m not sure Arik and I like the same things.”
His eyebrow rose slightly. “Sure you do. You both like to fight.”
I tied my hair up in a ponytail. “Yeah, fighting and making out.”
“Maybe once you guys can go public at school like Deidre and me, you’ll discover more things you have in common with him.”
Nick and Deidre had gotten together once his family moved into their house, causing a bunch of questions about their instalove status around the neighborhood and at school. To avoid calling attention to our group, it was decided that Arik and I would wait to go public. That way it would look as though we’d just met and our relationship had grown naturally over the past few months.
“Maybe.” I shrugged a shoulder and decided to direct the conversation away from my frustrating love life. “So how’s your schoolwork going?”
“Nice.” He gave me one of his knowing smiles. “I see what you did there. Deflecting the subject away from you and Arik. We’ve been at school for a few weeks now, and you haven’t asked how I was doing once. What’s up with you two? It’s more than not liking the same things.”
“No it’s not,” I said. “Drop it. Let’s talk about something else.”
“Okay. Do you ever wonder if the security systems and cameras really go off when someone enters through a gateway book?” Nick paced. “I always expect to get rushed by guards with guns.”
“I don’t think they carry guns.” I glanced around the ceiling. Now I was worrying.
We both spun around when suddenly, the five-bulb light fixtures on the walls burst to life, revealing the gothic-style reading room. I pulled my sword out of its sheath. The amber light illuminated an extremely high, arched ceiling with clerestory windows. Uncle Philip lowered his hands and cleared his throat. Red carpet runners flanked a row in the center containing tables, statues, and display cases. He headed down one of the carpets to us, passing large reading alcoves bordering the room. The galleries above the alcoves spanned the entire length on both sides.
Uncle Philip wore a leather jacket and jeans. His reddish-brown hair looked like he’d just woken up. “Are you quite finished quarreling? I don’t have all evening. I do like to sleep on occasion.”
I laughed and put my sword away before throwing my arms around him. “I missed you so much!”
“And I’ve missed you, as well.” He squeezed me before pulling away to let Nick give him one of those one-armed guy hugs.
“Good to see you, man,” Nick said, clapping his back.
Uncle Philip took a step back, his eyebrows pinched together as he studied Nick. “How are you managing your emotions? Have our exercises helped level them?”
“Well, I don’t know about the exercises,” Nick said, and pulled something out of the front pocket of his jeans. He unfurled his fingers to reveal a clear, egg-shaped crystal resting on his palm. “But this mood crystal you gave me is awesome.”
I leaned over to get a better look at it. “What does it do?”
“When I hold it, a color appears to show my current mood.”
“Like a mood ring?”
“Yeah, just like that.” Nick flattened out his hand, stretching out his fingers. The crystal slowly turned a rusty yellow color. He raised his hand for me to get a better look. The light sparking between his fingers lit up his brown eyes.
“What’s that mean?” I asked.
“He’s nervous,” Uncle Philip said. “It’s probably from jumping through the gateway.”
“Now watch this.” Nick closed his fingers around the crystal and closed his eyes. The light escaping his fingers turned colorless before disappearing. He opened his hand. “See? All better.” The crystal was clear.
“It controls your emotions?”
“Yep. It’s euphoric,” Nick said.
“That’s a fancy word for you.”
Nick glowered at me. “Thanks for your confidence in me.”
“It’s his word, right?” I nodded toward Uncle Philip. “Not yours.”
“Yeah, all right, so he said it.” Nick shoved the crystal back into his pocket.
“I can wait if you want to row at it some more.” Uncle Philip’s tone said anything but that he’d wait for us.
“We’re not fighting,” I said. “It’s more l
ike indoor sports to us.”
“I have something for you, as well, Gia.” Uncle Philip removed a small beige box from his pocket.
I lifted the lid and held up the long, thick chain with a glass locket attached to it. The locket contained a pure white feather rolled up to fit inside. “What is it?”
“It’s been spelled with one of Pip’s feathers. Merl created the charm so that when you find a Chiave, you won’t need a Monitor to unlock the secret. Your brand should no longer bleed.”
The Chiavi. It had fallen on Nick and me to find them, since we were the Seventh Wizard’s heirs. The seven magical keys, transformed into artifacts hidden in the libraries, unlocked an apocalyptic beast called the Tetrad. Whoever released the being would become the Tetrad’s master and could use it to destroy or rule both the Mystik and human worlds.
I fastened the chain around my neck. The locket swung down against my chest, beside my crescent-shaped scar. I’d gotten the mark when Nana Kearns burned a charm into my skin. I don’t remember getting it since I was only a baby at the time. She did it to shield me from the havens’ Monitors, and she swore she used a numbing spell beforehand. “Thanks,” I said, smiling up at Uncle Philip.
“No need to thank me, I’m just the deliverer.”
“So what are we doing here tonight?” Nick asked.
Uncle Philip clipped down one of the red carpet runners. “Our lesson this evening will be rather difficult, but it is imperative that you follow my instructions precisely.” He glanced over his shoulder at Nick.
I tried to hold in a chuckle as I hurried after Uncle Philip.
“What?” Nick tried to grab my side, and I dodged it. “I know how to listen.”
“Between you and Demos, I’m not certain who is more easily distracted,” Uncle Philip said.
“What is this? Pick on Nick day?”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” I swung my shield beside my leg. “You’re just an easy target.”
He tugged the crystal out of his pocket again. It instantly turned a muddy color, and there was no light inside it.
“Come on, really? You’re upset at that?” I shook my head. “We’ve been teasing each other since we learned how to talk. It’s our thing.”
“Gia, leave him alone,” Uncle Philip warned. “We shouldn’t tease him in his condition. It takes time to get used to new powers. Growing into it is easier than being thrown in at Nick’s age.”
Nick tightened his hand around the crystal until it turned clear.
Uncle Philip stopped and faced one of the many alcoves. “Do you feel it?”
Inside the alcove stood a small table and several chairs, with bookcases and a tall multi-paneled window.
“Feel what, Professor?” Nick asked.
“Yeah, I don’t feel anything, either.”
“Gia,” Uncle Philip said. “Remove all metal on you. I don’t want you getting a nasty shock.”
I unbuckled my belt, removed my scabbard, and placed it with my shield and breastplate on one of the display cases. There was a statue of a man at the end of the row of tables and one of a woman directly across the room from him. Their frozen, plaster eyes stared at each other as if they longed to stand together.
“That’s John Rylands and his wife, Enriqueta,” Uncle Philip said, noticing my gaze shifting between them.
“It’s so sad,” I said. “They should be together.”
“But then they couldn’t look at each other.” I was surprised at Nick’s observation. The curator was right to put an entire room between them.
“We should get started.” Uncle Philip waved his hand in the air with the flare of a royal. “Scoprire la botola.”
Uncover the trapdoor. The magical charms were all in Italian. They used to be in Latin before a wizard from the Mantello haven in Italy had converted them for easier use. The rest of the havens had adapted his simpler method as well.
Uncle Philip stretched his hand out in front of him. “Do you feel it?” he asked.
Nick and I gave each other sidelong looks. Nick shrugged and then reached his hand out. I followed his move.
“Clear your mind,” Uncle Philip said. “Think of nothing that surrounds you.”
Nick pulled his hand back. “Nope. Still nothing.”
I was about to pull mine back, too, but a weak charge bit at my fingertips. “It’s static,” I said. “Must’ve come from the carpet runner.”
Uncle Philip glanced at me. “Don’t move. You’re not fully in it. Reach farther out.”
I hesitated, not because I didn’t trust him, but because too many freaky things had happened to me in libraries. The great libraries of the world didn’t require a membership card, but they did harbor dangers. Dangers I was getting tired of facing.
“Trust me,” he said.
I reached out my hand. Sparks rushed across my skin, snapping like rubber bands against my flesh. I yanked my arm back. Uncle Philip didn’t move. He kept his arm outstretched in front of him. The sleeve of his shirt quivered from the charge.
“Where is that coming from?” I rubbed my skin.
“It’s a doorway to one of the Somniums.” He rotated his hand. “This door’s trap has been removed, and a charm placed on it to keep it closed. Inside, there are barren wastelands. The ones found have been turned into prisons for some of the evil wizards and Mystik criminals.”
I stuck my arm out again, energy nipping at my fingers. The shock turned into a cold tingle, as though I’d slathered the entire contents of a jar of menthol cream on my skin.
“Come on, Nick, try it.” I pushed my hand in farther and the sensation disappeared. “It’s gone.”
“Yes, they only appear for short periods of time.” Uncle Philip lowered his arm. “The ones we’ve tagged can be summoned. As I had summoned this one.”
“I want to learn that,” Nick said.
“Oh, now you’re interested.” I rolled my eyes. “Mention magic and you’re all over it. Don’t you want to know how it feels? What if you trip one because you didn’t recognize it was there?”
Nick slipped his hand in his pocket as if he was checking to see if the crystal was still there. “So, if I feel static, I’ll avoid the area. Simple.”
“It isn’t as simple as it may appear,” Uncle Philip cautioned. “Most people ignore the sensation. It’s what comes after the static that will alert you to a trap.” He leaned forward and narrowed his eyes on Nick. “This isn’t fun and games. If trapped in an untagged one, you’ll never return, and the place you find yourself in will be hell. The creatures living in the Somniums will hunt you until they’ve devoured you.”
Nick backed up. “Has anyone ever returned from them?”
“Only one.” Uncle Philip straightened. “He’s insane now. A killer.” The window rod in the top pocket of Uncle Philip’s jacket glowed blue and then flashed several times. The devices were used to connect the Mystik and human worlds. Because libraries had magic, both realms could contact anyone in them. It flashed again.
Uncle Philip removed it, pulled the rods apart, and spoke to a woman I’d never seen before.
“Professor Attwood?” the woman’s voice vibrated across the rods.
“Yes, Tarah?”
“If at all possible, you are needed back in Asile.”
“I’m in the middle of a lesson. Is it urgent?”
She adjusted her screen. “Merl didn’t say. He did tell me to mention that he wouldn’t call for you if it weren’t important.” She smiled. “I guess he knew you’d ask.”
“All right, then. I’ll be there momentarily.” He closed the rods. “I’ll summon another door for you to examine.” He looked pointedly at Nick. “And do make sure you test this one out.”
“So I don’t get to learn how to summon one?” Nick pressed his lips together and fumbled with the crystal in his pocket.
“We’ll schedule a lesson in a few days,” Uncle Philip said as he hurried to the gateway book, placed it on the floor, and flipped the pages.
&
nbsp; “Really?” Nick beamed. “Cool.”
Uncle Philip took a few slips of folded paper out of the inside pocket of his jacket and handed them to me. “I’ve been studying the chart you wrote down for me.”
I unfolded the papers. The first page contained the clues I’d written down from an old textbook authored by my great-grandfather, Gian Bianchi. The clues were a chart to finding the seven Chiavi. He’d left it for his heir, for me, his namesake.
The next page had a list of about twenty libraries around the world.
“See this one here…” He pointed out one of the lines I’d written.
Behind Leopold he stands, one hand resting on a crown and the other holding a rolled prize. I glanced up after reading it.
He withdrew his finger. “Leopold is a Germanic name. I believe this Chiave must be in one of these libraries in Germany. After you practice, your mission will be to search the listed libraries for it.”
“Which one do we check first?” I asked.
“Just pick one in Germany, and if you don’t find the Chiave, we’ll mark the library off the list. Now, I must go.” He waved his hand in the air and said the charm to finding the trap again. “Hurry and practice before it disappears. Good evening, until our next meeting,” he said, nodded, and jumped into the book.
I pulled my eyes from the book’s pages resting into place. “Okay, Nick, let’s do this. Once you get through the shock, it’s easy.” I plunged my fist into the area Uncle Philip had waved his hand across. I flinched as the power snapped at my skin before changing into the cool menthol feeling.
Nick sucked in a sharp breath. “How can someone miss this sensation? And what about normal people? How do they avoid them?”
I stretched out my fingers, trying to make the tingles fade faster. “It said in one of my text books that humans are immune to it.”
“I will never get used to you referring to humans like that.” He twisted his hand around, fisting and un-fisting it as if it were asleep.
“Like what?”
“Like humans. As if you aren’t one.”
“Yeah, it’s strange. I probably get it from hanging out with Arik and the others.”