Wizard's Key (The Darkwolf Saga Book 1)

by Mitch Reinhardt

  “How much is all this stuff worth?”

  “Don’t know. Dad says some of it is priceless,” said Geoff.

  “Oh, man! I believe it! This really is a museum!”

  Geoff beamed as he looked around. Sawyer’s enthusiasm and excitement thrilled him. Sawyer picked up a large, heavy tome.

  “Sawyer, please be careful,” said Geoff with a hint of alarm in his voice. “Here, put these gloves on. We have oils in our fingers that can damage some of this stuff.”

  Sawyer gently set the tome back in its resting place and took the surgical gloves Geoff offered.

  “Yeah, okay. So is your dad going to study all this stuff? That’ll take forever.”

  Geoff looked around at the stacks of crates, each containing artifacts and relics of an age long gone.

  “Yeah, I guess. He just got this box of stuff yesterday. Some other archaeologists need help identifying what’s in it,” he said as he motioned to the box on the desk. “Maybe someday I’ll get to finish what he’s started. When I get out of college he might let me help him with his research.”

  “Where’s your dad now?” asked Sawyer.

  “Teaching,” said Geoff. “He works at the university and won’t be home for another couple hours or so.”

  “Then we better not get caught,” said Sawyer with a slight smile. He weaved his way among the crates and boxes, pausing to admire a partial suit of blue and black samurai armor that was hanging loosely from a mannequin.

  “Are you piecing this armor together?”

  Geoff looked at the ancient suit of Japanese armor. “Dad kind of is,” he said, “when he has extra time.” Sawyer kept his eyes on the samurai armor as he walked around a stack of large crates. He was completely out of sight when Geoff heard a loud thump followed by Sawyer’s “Ouch! Damn, that’s heavy.”

  Geoff’s heart nearly stopped.

  “What happened? Are you okay?” he called with a higher pitch to his voice.

  “Yeah, yeah,” grunted Sawyer. “What the hell is this?”

  Sawyer held his hand out from behind a large stack of crates and beckoned Geoff to come over. Geoff hurried around the crates and saw Sawyer standing in front of a large object covered with a single white sheet.

  “It’s huge. It must weigh a ton. I almost broke my toe on it.” Sawyer lifted the sheet from the tall object to expose a gray stone archway. It stood over seven feet tall and was cracked and chipped, and from the black, sooty residue that covered one side, it looked as if it had been in a fire. Even in such a damaged state, Geoff could see remnants of once beautiful carvings all around it. There were small figures that reminded him of gargoyles, and he was sure he could make out part of a dragon’s head at the top.

  “What is it?” asked Sawyer.

  Geoff ran a gloved finger along the cold, gray surface and shook his head. “I don’t know. I’ve never seen it before. It looks like either a doorway or perhaps it was once a window or mirror, maybe from a cathedral or something.”

  “It was hidden behind all these crates. It must have taken a lot of big guys to bring it up the steps and put it here.”

  Geoff looked at Sawyer. He was right. It would have taken a small army to heft this heavy stone archway and drag it up the steps, something Geoff would certainly have known about.

  “How did they get it in here?” asked Geoff. “Look. You see this archway is much bigger than the door.”

  Sawyer looked back at the door that led into the study and then back at the archway. “Yeah, you’re right. Maybe they used a crane and brought it in through a window.”

  “No.” Geoff shook his head. “I would have noticed that. And besides, they would have had to take out most of the wall in order to get this thing in here.”

  Sawyer shrugged with his arms out wide. “You got me. I have no idea how it got here, unless the Great Pumpkin left it last Halloween.” Geoff smiled and chuckled a little. He had never spoken to Sawyer this long and he liked Sawyer’s sense of humor. Geoff stepped closer for a better look at the carvings, “I’ve never seen this kind of sculpture before. I wonder who carved it. It’s very detailed.”

  Apparently already bored with the archway, Sawyer walked back to the desk and peered into the box Geoff had been rummaging through earlier. “Looks like a bunch of rocks and dirt,” he said as he gently sifted through the bags and small boxes. He picked up the rectangular box and read aloud, “Characteristics do not match other artifacts found in the surrounding sediment and area. What characteristics would that be? Geoff, can I open this?” Geoff pulled his attention away from the archway and looked at Sawyer. He recognized the box Sawyer was holding. “Yeah, sure. Go ahead. It’s just some old rusty key inside, but be careful with it.”

  “Key to a treasure chest, maybe?” asked Sawyer with exaggerated excitement. Geoff chuckled again and watched Sawyer open the box and pick up the clear bag containing the earth-encrusted key. He turned it over and looked at the other side.

  “Yep,” said Sawyer. “Just an old key.” He was about to place it back in the box when Geoff noticed he stopped and examined the key more closely.

  “Hey, Geoff, this reminds me of some of the carvings on that archway,” he said as he walked over to Geoff and held the key up for him to see. Geoff took the key from Sawyer and looked at it.

  “No. There, on the other side. Doesn’t that look like a dragon or snake to you?” asked Sawyer as he pointed to the small shape that caught his attention.

  Geoff looked closer. The shape did indeed look similar to the carvings on the archway. He slowly opened the bag and removed the key. It weighed next to nothing in Geoff’s hand and it was as cold as the stone archway. He held the key up to what appeared to be the partial carving of a dragon’s head on the archway.

  “Yep,” said Sawyer. “I thought so. I bet whoever carved that archway also made the key.”

  “I think you’re right,” said Geoff. Now this was more like it, he thought. Geoff loved a good mystery and Sawyer had discovered an extraordinary one. Sawyer’s keen eye had revealed a connection between the key and the archway, but what exactly was their connection?

  Geoff felt his heart pound and the hair on the back of his neck seemed to be standing up. A tingling sensation enveloped him, giving him a warm, energized feeling.

  “Uh, Geoff,” said Sawyer, “what’s going on?” Geoff looked at Sawyer, who was backing away with an alarmed expression on his face.

  “What’s happening? I feel strange. Sawyer, what’s happening to me?” asked Geoff

  Sawyer pointed. “Whoa! Your hair…it’s standing up! And what’s that sound?”

  Geoff raised his hand and felt his head. His hair was indeed rising from his head. He heard a slight rushing sound, like wind whistling through a keyhole. Suddenly Geoff felt a movement in his hand and he quickly looked down at the key he was holding. Bits of dirt and stone were starting to crumble and flake away right before his eyes, but there was something else—something beneath the fragments of stone and earth. It was smooth and white.

  The doorbell rang.

  Chapter Two

  Jane

  Jane waited at the front doors of the large Tudor mansion, admiring the thick walnut wood surrounded by beautiful oval stained glass windows. The vivid blues, reds, and yellows reminded her of windows in a cathedral in Italy her family had visited three years earlier. She turned her back to the doors and looked out over the well-manicured front lawn. She loved this house. What a wonderful place to call home.

  Each year Geoff’s parents had hosted a party on Christmas Eve and invited the entire neighborhood. Jane always enjoyed those gatherings; they made her feel warm inside. Near the end of the evening Geoff’s mother would play the piano while everyone gathered and sang Christmas carols before leaving.

  When Geoff’s mother
suddenly passed away, however, those wonderful parties stopped. Jane realized she really missed those holiday celebrations at the Vincents’.

  Recently Geoff’s father remarried after a surprisingly fast courtship. Geoff’s stepmother was cold and mean. Jane remembered the time when she went to the door to ask for a donation of canned goods and his stepmother just glared at her before slamming the door.

  Still, this house was amazing to Jane, almost magical, even. Like the lawn, the hedges were meticulously maintained. She especially loved the large greenhouse behind the mansion. When Geoff’s mom was alive every imaginable flower and plant grew there. Jane thought it was a slice of paradise when she strolled through the greenhouse. Now it was in a state of neglect and in need of a good cleaning.

  She felt a breeze lift her shoulder-length hair and for the thousandth time she wished it was a color other than brown. She was desperate to dye it blond, but her mom wouldn’t let her. She tilted her head back and closed her blue eyes. She took a deep breath, surrendering herself to the refreshing gust as it swept over her.

  Opening her eyes, she saw that no one had answered the door yet.

  That’s strange, she thought. Geoff should be home right now. Maybe he didn’t hear the doorbell. She rang it again.

  A few moments later Geoff opened the door. His normally well-combed blond hair was standing nearly straight up, making him look like he had stuck his fingers in a socket. Jane giggled. She couldn’t help herself.

  “Hi, Geoff!” she said.

  She watched as Geoff blinked for a moment before letting out a sigh of relief.

  “Oh…hi, Jane.” Geoff stood at the door, his eyes darting back and forth while he apparently searched for something to say.

  Jane giggled again. “Geoff? Hello? Geoff, are you okay?” She waved her slender hand in front of his eyes. “What’s up with your hair?” She reached forward and smoothed Geoff’s hair.

  Geoff snapped out of his mental torpor. “Oh, hey, Jane. How’re you doing?”

  “I’m fine. You look a little rough, though.” Jane smiled.

  “I’m okay,” said Geoff. “I was just…kinda—”

  Jane laughed as Geoff stammered.

  “Relax, Geoff,” said Jane, holding up her hand. “I don’t want to know what trouble you’re about to get into. I’m just here because your dad signed my pledge sheet for the muscular dystrophy walkathon last week, and I’ve come to collect.”

  Geoff snapped his fingers. “Oh, oh yeah. I think he left an envelope for you in the kitchen. It’s on the fridge.” He held the door open for Jane to enter. She wiped her shoes on the welcome mat and walked into the house.

  “Hey, your dad has added a few things since the last time I was here,” said Jane, pointing at the suits of armor. “I don’t remember these.”

  “Yeah, he got them in an auction. Pretty cool, huh?”

  Jane nodded. “Mmhmm.”

  “Hey, Jane.” Sawyer was perched on a plush brown leather couch in the living room, flipping through a magazine. Jane stopped. She was surprised to see Sawyer. In fact, she didn’t think Sawyer knew Geoff, much less visited him.

  “Sawyer? What’re you doing here?” she asked.

  Sawyer smiled. “I just returned a book Geoff let me borrow and now we’re hanging out.”

  “Oh really?” asked Jane. “You borrowed a book from Geoff?”

  Sawyer raised his eyebrows. “Yup.”

  “So I didn’t see you and your friends bully Geoff in the cafeteria? I didn’t see you take his book? And now you two are hanging out?”

  “Yup,” said Sawyer again.

  Jane glanced at Geoff, who was standing quietly nearby.

  “And how often do you two hang out with each other? You never seem to know each other at school.” Jane’s eyes narrowed and she smiled. “Sawyer, are you trying to get Geoff into trouble?”

  “Me? No. No way. We were just talking about those suits of armor. Did you know they weigh less than a fireman’s gear does?”

  “Mmhmm.” Jane became more suspicious. “Sawyer, you don’t care about suits of armor or medieval stuff. Why are you here?”

  “No, really. I just returned Geoff’s book,” said Sawyer as he motioned to the novel Geoff had laid on the coffee-table.

  Jane looked at Geoff, who shrugged and nodded.

  “Okay, whatever. It’s just that I’ve never known you to be interested in anything besides sports or girls.”

  Jane looked at Sawyer, who was the epitome of a hot, hunky guy. Then she looked at Geoff, who was the skinny nerd type. Something is going on, she thought, and she didn’t want to know what it was.

  “Alright,” she said. She didn’t have time to indulge the boys in whatever foolishness they were currently involved in. Jane turned back to Geoff. “I’ll just get the envelope and let you guys get back to hanging out, okay? Thanks.” She walked toward the kitchen, glancing over her shoulder at them as she left the living room.

  “Okay,” said Geoff. Jane’s mind was now on other things. She had to collect pledges from two more neighbors, feed the dogs and cats at the animal shelter, and get home to help with dinner.

  Her pace quickened. She went to the kitchen, found and removed the envelope with her name from the refrigerator, and turned to leave when she suddenly came face to face with Sawyer.

  She started and gasped. “Oh! Sawyer! You scared me!”

  Sawyer held his hands up. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to. How’s it going?” Jane blinked and looked at him. He now looked like a guy who wanted something.

  “Good. How about you? Shouldn’t you be talking with Geoff about knights and the Middle Ages and stuff?”

  Sawyer flashed that gorgeous smile with the irresistible small dimples in his cheeks as his eyes caught hers. Wait a minute, thought Jane. Is he flirting with me? Oh my! This is so cool! Oh wait, Kylie is my friend. No, this isn’t a good idea. Didn’t they just break up again? They seem to break up every other week. She tried to squeeze past Sawyer and the doorway to leave the kitchen, but he stepped in front of her.

  “Whoa there. Wassup, girl? Hold on. Why the rush? I just want to talk for a sec.”

  Jane looked at Sawyer, whose eyes were now roaming over her body. She bit her lower lip to keep from laughing.

  “Do some girls actually fall for that?”

  “Hmmm? Fall for what? It’s all good,” said Sawyer. “You look good.”

  “Okay, Sawyer. Wassup?”

  Jane’s slight mockery of Sawyer went unnoticed, as she half expected.

  “Hey, did you see the game? I threw for two touchdowns and ran for two more. We won 35-17. That puts us in the state semifinals.”

  Sawyer’s arrogance was the one thing about him Jane didn’t like. For all his good looks and athletic ability, he was still a bit of a dumb jock who thought he was “it”.

  “Semifinals? Great. That’s great,” said Jane, feigning interest. “I’m sure you’re going to do awesome. Really. Congratulations. I mean it.”

  “Yeah, I think we can take the state title this year. We have a great team. All I need is 252 more yards passing and I will have the state record for most passing yards in a season.”

  Jane nodded. “Really? That’s awesome!”

  She raised an eyebrow. She couldn’t resist playing the part of devil’s advocate, “Do you think you’ll get the record?”

  “Oh yeah,” said Sawyer. “I guaran—.”

  “Okay,” she said. “Great. I gotta go. See ya.”

  “Are you coming to the game tonight?”

  “No. I doubt it,” she said. “I have too much going on. I’m supposed to be at the animal shelter. They’re really short- staffed.” She hoped she didn’t sound like she was stuck-up just then.

  “Oh yeah,” said S
awyer. “You like animals, huh? It’s cool that you volunteer and all that. Still, maybe you can leave early and make the game? Maybe see some real animals play?”

  Jane watched through narrowed eyes as Sawyer slightly scratched a bicep and flexed. He is so arrogant, she thought, hitting on me in Geoff’s house. He thinks he can do anything. He probably just wants to use me to upset Kylie.

  Jane was Sawyer’s age and while she was considered by many to be cute, she was a bit of a bookworm herself. She studied hard; she planned to attend veterinarian school and spend her life helping animals.

  “I have to go now,” said Jane as she stuffed the envelope containing the pledge money from Geoff’s father into her purse. “See ya.”

  “C’mon. You don’t have to go now, do you? Maybe I’ll save a spot for you on the bench. You can see things up close. Whadda ya say? Then we can grab some pizza after the game.”

  “Oh, that is tempting,” said Jane, “but I really can’t. Sorry.”

  She walked back down the hall and stepped into the living room to say good-bye to Geoff, but he wasn’t there.

  Jane shrugged and walked to the front door, stopping to call out to Geoff. “Geoff! I’m going now! Thanks!”

  There was no answer.

  Jane placed her hand on a doorknob and waited for Geoff to appear, but he didn’t. She wondered where he was. He usually comes running to show a guest out.

  “Geoff?” she called again.

  Jane noticed Sawyer had followed her to the foyer and was looking around.

  “Where’s Geoff? He’s not here?” he asked.

  “No. Where did he go? I don’t know if he heard me yell,” Jane said. “Anyway, tell him I said ’bye.” She turned back to the front door and twisted the knob. Suddenly, Jane heard what she thought was a high-pitched ringing sound as she opened the door.

  “Oh!” Jane gasped and looked around, thinking that perhaps she had triggered an alarm. She quickly closed the door and held her hands up in a show of no wrongdoing.