Geoff closed his eyes and pictured his house and his father’s study. When the image was clear, he opened his eyes, placed the key in the slot, and turned it. White and gray swirling mists appeared in the portal.
“The mists,” said Jane. “They were green before.”
“Each place has its own color,” said Ariel. “Do not worry.”
She looked at Jane, Sawyer, and then Geoff. “When you are home,” she said. “From time to time, if you have a free moment, think of us. Will you?”
“Are you kidding?” said Jane, wiping another tear away. “How could we ever forget you? Or this world, Alluria?”
She hugged Ariel again.
“Is it safe to go through?” asked Sawyer. “Can we go home?”
Ariel nodded.
“All right. Watch out. I got this,” said Sawyer. He positioned himself in front of the archway. He took a few deep breaths, then shook his arms out and let them dangle at his side. Next he rolled his head on his shoulders and crouched. Geoff noticed Ishara’s mouth had fallen open again as she watched Sawyer’s preparations. Sawyer waved at Ariel and Ishara. “Thanks for teaching me how to fight with a sword! Good luck! See ya!”
He lowered his head and charged into the swirling mists of the portal, yelling “Yaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
“Does he always behave like that?” asked Ishara with a shocked look on her face.
“Yes,” said Jane and Geoff in unison.
They laughed and then Jane walked to the archway. She looked back at Ariel.
“I won’t forget,” she said. “I’ll remember. I promise.”
She took a deep breath and stepped through the portal. Geoff smiled at Ariel and Ishara.
“Now that we’re going home,” he said. “I want to stay.” He felt a slight ache in his heart. He also took a deep breath and waved good-bye. He followed Sawyer and Jane into the mists but as he did he heard Ishara and Ariel speaking.
“You’re letting them go? Surely they must be—”
“Yes,” said Ariel, “they are the three travelers. Their arrival was foretold many years ago.”
The rushing sound of wind filled Geoff’s ears and he felt the familiar spinning sensation. He closed his eyes as he spun faster and faster. When the spinning stopped, he opened his eyes. He was standing in his father’s study. The usual musty smells of old books and rusty artifacts welcomed him home. Jane and Sawyer were jumping for joy and hugging each other.
“Yes! We’re back! We’re back!” shouted Jane. “I thought we’d never make it home.”
She ran to Geoff and hugged him tightly. “Geoff, you’re awesome!”
Sawyer gave Geoff a high five and put his hand on Geoff’s shoulder. “Wow! Some adventure, huh? Was that crazy or what? No one’s gonna believe that!”
Geoff looked down at the key in his hand. It still crackled with energy.
“You better put that key back where you found it,” said Jane. “Let’s get out of here. I’ll bet everyone is looking for us. We’re in so much trouble.”
“But guys,” he said, “Ariel said maybe we should hide the key, right?”
“Yes, but it’s your key, Geoff,” said Jane. “You decide.”
“I don’t care what you do with it,” said Sawyer. “We made it! No more monsters! Life is good again!”
“I better put it back for now,” said Geoff. “In case dad misses it.”
Geoff placed the white alabaster key back in the small plastic bag and then in the box on his father’s desk. It’s good to finally be back, he thought. They had survived an extraordinary adventure and returned home. Now he realized life was going to return to normal. Back to the bullying. Back to dealing with his icy stepmother. Back to lonely nights doing homework. Geoff frowned. He was going to miss Ishara’s smiling face. Then he recalled the conversation between Ariel and Ishara before he stepped into the archway.
“I heard them talking before I left,” he said. “Ishara and Ariel. They said something about us being travelers and our arrival was foretold.”
“Foretold? What’re you talking about? We’re home!” said Sawyer thrusting his arms in the air. “Let’s get the hell outta here. C’mon.”
“He’s right. Let’s go, Geoff,” said Jane as she placed a hand on his cheek. “I’m going to miss them too. They saved our lives.”
Geoff nodded and looked down at his feet. The adventure they had just been on was incredible. He hoped to return to Alluria and see Ishara again.
“What do you think they meant about our arriving being foretold, Geoff?” asked Jane.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “But it sounded like Ariel knew more than she told us…and maybe it isn’t over. Does that mean we’ll return to Alluria someday?”
“I don’t know, Geoff,” Jane said with a smile. “I just don’t know. Maybe…someday.”
They left the study and went downstairs. Geoff looked about, searching for any detail that may be out of place. Everything looks exactly the same, he thought. How long have we been gone?
“Hey, what day is it?” he asked.
“Good question,” said Jane. “How long were we in Never-never Land?”
“Dunno,” said Sawyer. “But how’re we gonna explain this? We better get our stories straight.”
“I have no idea,” said Jane. “We need to come up with something.”
They walked through the living room. Geoff saw a newspaper on the coffee-table. He picked it up and looked at the date.
“This can’t be right,” he said.
“What?” asked Sawyer.
“This paper. It’s the same date we…you know…left.”
“Yeah. Whatever. Look, I say we took a trip and had car trouble,” said Sawyer. “If we tell people we got sucked into a fantasy land they’re gonna think we’re nuts.”
Geoff set the paper down and turned to Sawyer and Jane.
“But who’s going to believe the three of us went on a trip together?” Jane asked.
Sawyer looked at Geoff. “Yeah. I guess you’re right. So what’re we gonna say?”
Something in Sawyer’s voice made Geoff stop, “So…what happens now?”
“Whaddaya mean?” said Sawyer. “We’re back! We made it! Hell yeah!”
“No,” said Geoff. “I mean what about us? Are we, like, you know, friends now?”
Sawyer and Jane fell quiet and looked at each other. A few seconds later Jane answered, “Yes. We are.”
Geoff smiled. “Good.”
Sawyer gave Geoff a fist bump and said, “We’re cool.”
They went into the kitchen. Jane’s purse was on the kitchen table.
“There’s my purse! It’s still here, right where I left it.”
“Guys, I don’t think anything has changed since we left,” said Geoff. “Jane, do you still have that check from my dad?”
Jane looked in her purse. “Yes. Here it is.” She held the envelope up.
“And here is the book you gave back, Sawyer.” Geoff held up his copy of The Once and Future King.
“So…nothing’s changed? Were we in some kind of time warp or alternate reality or something?” said Sawyer.
The phone rang and all three of them jumped. Geoff looked at Sawyer and Jane, then the phone, which continued to ring. He wasn’t sure if he should answer it.
“Go ahead,” said Jane.
He gulped and picked up the receiver.
“Hell..hello?”
He recognized the voice on the other end, “Oh, hi, dad. No, everything’s fine. Jane is here. She dropped by to get your check.” Sawyer and Jane exchanged grins.
“Where are you? Oh, the dinner? How is it? Yes, of course. Okay. When will you be home? Great. I’ll see you then. Bye.”
H
e hung up the phone and looked at a clock on the wall. “Hey, guys,” he said, pointing at the clock, “either dad and mom have been at their banquet for almost a week, or we’re back at exactly the same time we left.”
”Oh, wow. This is so weird,” said Jane. She walked over to a candy dish on the kitchen counter and fished around. “I need chocolate.”
“Ya know,” said Sawyer, “I kind of liked it in Alluria – when we weren’t running for our lives.”
“Me too,” said Jane. “But I’m so glad to be home.”
Geoff sat down at the table and put his head in his hands.
“Aww, man,” he groaned. “I still have an algebra test tomorrow. I haven’t even studied for it.”
They looked at each other for a moment and then all three of them laughed. Their adventure was over and they were home...for now.
THE END
Coming soon by Mitch Reinhardt
The Iron Citadel
Book Two of the Darkwolf Saga
The Scarlet Queen
Book Three of the Darkwolf Saga
Bloodmoon
Book Four of the Darkwolf Saga
About the Author
Mitch Reinhardt grew up in the central Piedmont region of North Carolina and is currently a business analyst for an international software firm. An avid animal lover, he enjoys hiking, tennis, classic movies, and, of course, reading and writing. He lives with his faithful dog, Murphy, who doubles as a proofreader – when he isn’t sleeping or digging in the backyard. Wizard’s Key is the first book of The Darkwolf Saga, a four book series.
Visit his web site at
www.mitchreinhardt.com
Wizard's Key (The Darkwolf Saga Book 1) Page 29