Secrets in the Dark

by KD Blakely

  “Or else what?” Faith asked, nervously.

  What would an irritating, rude, short-tempered elf do to people who didn’t keep out?

  Ronny smiled, dimples showing at the corner of her mouth. “It is meant as a joke.”

  “Riiiight,” Faith said, rolling her eyes. “It’s a joke. Excuse me.” She got up and stalked over to the soda machine, refilling her cup with orange soda.

  Hopefully Doug won’t do anything to startle her this time.

  And hopefully Ronny was no better at recognizing sarcasm than she was at getting quotes right. I said, “Um…the cabin was open when we got there. There was no sign of Ghalynn, and he hadn’t been there for a long time. There was a shriveled up half eaten apple on the table, and this map.”

  I held up the map. “We think he was looking at it before he left, and he might’ve gone to that cave. You can see where he drew a line along the road between it and his cabin. Is there something interesting about it?”

  “I have not heard anything about this cave,” Ronny answered, looking disappointed. “It used to be the lair of an old dragon, but no one has seen it for years.”

  “A dragon?” Doug was suddenly very interested.

  “There are few left. The one that lived there must be dead by now.”

  I could see Doug wanted to keep talking about a maybe-dead-dragon, but I was interested in the very real map in my hand.

  Ronny said, “Most of these symbols are Runic. But they are not in the correct order and I do not know what they say.” She pointed to another group of symbols inked near the cave opening. “This says ‘Sleeping Dragon Cave’, but you can see where Ghalynn added ‘Cave of Prophecy’.”

  When her finger touched the map there was a sudden bright turquoise spark, and Ronny let out a startled gasp. “There is something hidden here by magick.” She made a strange gesture with her hand and muttered a long string of words I couldn’t understand.

  She leaned back in surprise as new words started to appear at the top of the map.

  “Invisible ink,” Doug said. “Cool!”

  I was busy watching Ronny’s face. Her eyes were wide and filled with horror. “It says, ‘Get to cave. Critically important. Find what is hidden there, or all may be lost.’ What does that mean? And why would Ghalynn write those words and hide them on this map?”

  She pushed the map back to me, then started speaking quickly. Her words kept running into each other. “I cannot imagine where everyone is. Or why Ghalynn would write this. Or visit a cave for several weeks. It makes no sense.”

  She paused for a moment, struggling to regain her composure. Her voice was much calmer when she continued. “I do not understand what has happened, but there does not appear to be any real danger. So I would like to know if you would go to that cave to look for Ghalynn.” She gazed anxiously into our faces, waiting for our decision.

  “Well, I love caves,” Olivia told her. “My family has gone to several. I’d love to explore it.”

  Doug said, “Of course I’ll continue.” He shot a look at Faith. “I like going to Chimera.”

  Faith grimaced, and then sighed. “We agreed, all for one and one for all.”

  I added, “Besides, I want to visit the animals again. They were able to communicate with us. That is the coolest part of Chimera so far.”

  I was confused when I saw Ronny’s jaw drop. I didn’t know people really did that — I’d only seen it in cartoons. Ronny kept staring at me, her mouth half open. I felt like telling her she was going to swallow a fly.

  Before I could actually say it, she shook her head and asked, “What do you mean, you could communicate with them?”

  We took turns describing what happened with the animals at the cabin. Ronny kept shaking her head, repeating, “That is not possible.” When we’d finished, she said, “I do not understand. Never have I heard anything like this. They are acting like familiars, but you are not magickal beings.”

  “What are familiars?” Doug asked.

  “Witches and wizards, and other magick users, can have an animal that interacts with them. This relationship is not like an owner with a pet. While the familiar cannot speak, it can communicate with its chosen person. Familiars provide magick users with information, protection, and companionship.”

  She looked at me and shook her head again. “Never in the history of Chimera, in nearly five hundred years, has a familiar attached itself to someone other than a magick user. It goes against everything I know about magick.”

  I shrugged and glanced around the table, hoping someone would know how to answer her.

  Doug said, “We’ll come up with a reason to be gone most of the day next month, and we’ll explore the cave then.”

  Ronny smiled wistfully. “You do not know how much I wish I could be the one going! I do not know how to express my gratitude.”

  She gathered her things, saying, “I need to get home. Contact me if you need anything. Otherwise I will talk to you after the full moon in March.”

  Once Ronny left, Doug glanced around, then groaned. “Reject alert. Quick, let’s go.”

  Cool. Even Doug calls them Rejects!

  

  The next two weeks were uneventful. Thankfully. Chris and I had made up. It was easier to forgive him for hiding the truth, now that I was starting to realize how hard it was to keep a secret from most people you knew.

  Sometimes I really wanted to be able to talk to someone about Chimera. So one evening when Faith and Olivia were busy at home, I asked Mom if I could go watch Doug’s basketball practice at school. I wasn’t really interested in basketball, but I hoped we’d get to discuss our next trip to Chimera while we walked home.

  It took a while to clue into how rough Ray was playing around Doug. As they ran up and down the court, Ray knocked against Doug when they passed each other, sometimes a knee, sometimes a shoulder or an elbow. He was careful to make sure the coach was looking somewhere else before he did it.

  My hands clenched into fists and my jaw was so tight my teeth hurt. Someone needed to stop this! I stood up, intending to get the coach to pay attention, but Doug shook his head at me. I didn’t like it but settled back, not willing to go against his wishes. Not yet, anyway.

  Ray and Doug had never gotten along well, but I’d never seen Ray acting like such a creep. A couple times, he almost knocked Doug completely off his feet.

  When practice was over, I waited outside the locker room for Doug. When Ray came out first, I ducked around the side of the building, biting my lip as he stopped just outside the door. I realized he was waiting for Doug when he yelled, “Hey, Geller, there’s no one around to protect you now. What’re you freaks doing in the cemetery? Why can’t we find you?”

  Doug walked out of the locker room calmly. He didn’t seem afraid of Ray. How did he do that? “Have you been playing hide and seek in the cemetery again? Aren’t you a little old for that?”

  “Listen up, buttface, or I’ll make you sorry. Answer the question.”

  “What question?”

  “Spill, Geller. You really don’t want me to make you.”

  Doug laughed. “Yeah? You and what army, Tate?”

  Ray stepped forward and balled his hands into fists. “I don’t need an army. I can get it out of you all by myself. And I’ll like it, but you won’t.”

  It was obvious Doug was going to refuse again. And this time Ray looked like he was done talking. So I made a quick decision, hoping I wasn’t going to regret it. I walked around the side of the building, noting Doug’s look of dismay. He shook his head furiously at me, but I ignored him.

  I tried to whine like Olivia’s little sister when I said, “I’m tired of waiting, Doug. Aren’t you ready to go yet?”

  Ray turned and said, “Go home, Taylor. We’re busy.”

  “No way! Mom said Doug has to walk me home.”

  “Your boyfriend’s busy. Buzz off. Or better yet, you tell me about the cemetery.”

  “Geez, everyone knows a ce
metery is a place full of dead people.”

  “Funny, Taylor. I can make you tell me.”

  “Yeah? I’m shaking in my boots. Oh wait, I don’t have any boots.” I snuck a glance at Doug, who looked like he was going to explode. Ray didn’t look much better. Maybe it would be smarter to calm things down. “Why are you so interested in the cemetery?”

  He gave me an ugly grin and said, “You’re up to something. I wanna know what.”

  “None of your business!” I crossed my arms over my chest, hoping I looked more intimidating than I felt. I was grateful when Doug moved up behind me.

  Good to know he’s got my back. Since I’m working so hard to watch his!

  ”This whole town is my family’s business. We don’t like it when people sneak around. So tell me.” Ray’s voice kept growing louder and angrier. That last sounded like a growl.

  Note to self — Probably a good time to start treating him like a rabid bear.

  “Fine, I’ll tell you.” Doug gasped and grabbed my arm so tight it hurt. I ignored him. “I was helping Doug’s mom at the museum a couple months ago. One of the old books says there’s a witch buried in the cemetery. Her headstone is supposed to give a clue where you can find her magic book. I’m trying to find it.”

  “That’s such bull,” Ray spluttered.

  “I want to be a witch.” I tried to look scary when I said that. I narrowed my eyes, stuck out my jaw and glared. Really hard. Maybe it would freak him out.

  “You are a witch, Taylor!”

  Okay, so he sounded mad, not freaked out. But there really was a story about a witch buried in the cemetery. Most kids knew about it — it was one of the stories whispered around campfires on the beach each year. Teenagers had been checking out the cemetery for years without any luck.

  I suddenly wondered if that story had anything to do with Chimera. I’d have to remember to ask Ronny if she knew anything about it.

  Ray glared at me for a long moment, then stated in a threatening voice, “You better watch it, ‘cause we got our eye on you. We can make you sorry you were born.”

  With that, he turned on his heel and stalked away.

  Doug gazed at me, amazement written all over his face. “Where did that come from?”

  “I recently read that book at the museum. Thinking about Chimera and witches and magic reminded me.”

  “It was quick thinking, but you shouldn’t have done it — Ray could’ve hurt you.”

  “I was hoping he wouldn’t really hurt a girl. Plus, it would’ve been two against one. He wouldn’t like those odds.” I grinned. “Now we just need to keep clear of him and his Rejects when it’s time to go back.”

  

  That night, I lay in bed thinking of the differences between home and Chimera. It was like the Wizard of Oz. Kansas and Santa Ramona were ordinary, like they were in black and white. Chimera and Oz were full of beautiful, strange sights and colors. And our familiars were like the Scarecrow and Tin Man and Lion.

  Fortunately, my last thought that night didn’t keep my awake, nor, thankfully, did I dream about it. My last thought before sleep claimed me was to wonder if I’d end up like Dorothy some day, wandering around my own personal Oz, looking for someone, anyone, to help me get home.

  Chapter 17

  It Was a Dark and Stormy Night…

  Well, Morning

  The Saturday near the full moon in March started out cold and rainy. In spite of the rain, I was excited. Chimera would be open, and we’d convinced Olivia to get there at 9:00 am.

  We snuck into the cemetery by two’s — Doug and I first, then Faith and Olivia. No one had seen the Rejects that morning, but Faith kept wringing her hands like a heroine in an old-fashioned horror movie. Twice she stopped and asked, “Can’t you feel someone watching us?”

  “There’s no one there,” Olivia said impatiently. “Let’s get into Chimera. Then we don’t have to worry about them.”

  “Right,” Faith muttered. She moved up next to Olivia and waited while Doug and I leaned against the tree and fell, slowly, through. I kept my eyes shut again, but it didn’t help.

  Bleech! Won’t this ever get better?

  As I stumbled into Chimera, the first thing I saw was the Siamese cat sitting on the wall. I ran up and stroked its back. “I wish I knew your name,” I said as I buried my face in its fur. “Can I call you Shadow?” The cat purred loudly and rubbed her head against my chin.

  The others joined me and we started walking away from the tree. The dog ran up to Doug, barking and panting, his whole body quivering with excitement. Doug stopped, going down on one knee, and laughed when the dog flipped onto his back. Doug reached down and rubbed the furry belly, making the dog wriggle his back into the dirt. “Can I call you Rusty?” he asked. The dog sat up quickly and gave a loud bark. We all laughed — the dog obviously liked that idea.

  “Rusty’s going to need a bath,” Olivia said, and laughed when the dog made a mock growl in response to her words.

  “Don’t worry,” Doug assured him. “I won’t make you take a bath.”

  He got up, giving Rusty a pat on the head. Before we could continue, Faith said, “Wait.”

  She went to the side of the road and sat in the dirt with her hand extended toward the fox hiding in the meadow. It approached her slowly, sniffed her fingers, then let her gently scratch the top of its head.

  It followed along on the edge of the road as we started forward again. At the sound of wings, Olivia patted her shoulder with a grin. The little pygmy owl soared down to land on it with a quiet hoot. It clicked its beak and settled down, its eyes half closed in contentment.

  “How can you let it sit there like that Olivia?” Faith asked. “I’d be afraid it would poop all over me.”

  “It’s magic.” Olivia answered calmly. “It’s not going to poop on me or my friends!” Then she got a malicious grin on her face. “But I wish Pyg could poop on the Rejects someday. I’d really like to see that.” We all laughed at the thought of Ray and Andrew covered in owl poop.

  I pulled out the map and traced my finger along the marked path. “We need to walk past the cabin on this road until we get to the hills.”

  “Let’s move,” Doug said cheerfully. “I feel like a million bucks today.” He glanced slyly at Olivia. “Maybe ‘cause I’m thirteen now.”

  “Do we really have to hear about that again?” Faith asked, rolling her eyes.

  “March is almost over, so enjoy it while you can.” Olivia sounded jealous. She hated that Doug was already thirteen — she couldn’t wait for her birthday. It was no surprise when she said grumpily, “Don’t forget, the rest of us will be thirteen this year too!”

  “Birthday, smurfday,” I said. I knew I sounded grouchy but I didn’t care. Why did everyone want to be a teenager? I remembered my parents talking about Chris like he had a disease any time he did something stupid during his teens. Mom said, “Well, he is a teenager,” on a regular basis! The thought made my stomach roll.

  Why would I want people talking about me like that?

  I stuffed the map in my pocket. “Come on, let’s hurry.”

  It didn’t take long before I felt too hot. “Wait, it‘s really hot in here. Some of this has to come off.” I stopped, removed my backpack, and stripped off my jacket. I stuffed it in my pack and shrugged the straps onto my shoulders. The others took the opportunity to do the same.

  Fortunately, we’d stopped after the curve in the road near the cabin. We heard a shriek of wind and excited voices behind us, but couldn’t see them. I felt my heart sink down to my toes as I realized who else was in Chimera. At least they wouldn’t be able to see us, either.

  “Oh no,” Faith breathed. “That’s Andrew!”

  “Carly and Ray, too,” Olivia whispered.

  The apple trees gave barely enough cover to block us from view. I followed Doug as he snuck back down the road and ducked behind the low wall. He motioned for Faith and Olivia to come too. I carefully peeked over the wall
. Ray, Carly, Andrew and Polly were milling about, looking around in amazement.

  Olivia snorted. “Polly’s got her mouth open like a fish.”

  “Tell me we didn’t look like that!” I whispered back.

  “There’s no way I looked like that!” Olivia insisted.

  “They were following us.” Smugness radiated through Faith’s voice. “I knew it!” She didn’t actually say ‘I told you so’, but her voice pretty much said it for her.

  “We’ll listen next time,” Doug said, glaring at the newcomers.

  “What’s that?” Olivia gasped, pointing at an animal that trotted up to Carly.

  “It’s a baby cow,” I said. “Darn! One of them must have wished for help in here.”

  Faith frowned, “So, Carly likes farm animals?”

  “That’s not it!” Doug said. Even through his whisper, I could hear excitement. “What’s her name?”

  Why would Doug care about Carly’s name?

  “Carly Whitney,” Olivia answered, her voice uncertain.

  Doug scowled. “No, her full name.”

  “I don’t know.” I told him quickly when no one else answered him. “What about you, Faith?”

  Faith’s face was red and she looked like she was going to burst into laughter. That or she was choking on something. “Yeah, I do. Her middle name was her mom’s name before she got married. It’s Osmond. She’s Carly Osmond Whitney

  “Yeah, right.” Doug rolled his eyes. “At least her animal fits — her initials are COW.”

  “Ray’s full name is Raymond Alexander Tate,” Olivia snickered, “do you think that means…”

  “Oh. My. Gosh.” I was stifling nearly hysterical giggles, trying so hard to keep quiet that I could barely catch my breath. “That’s an R.O.U.S.”

  “What?” Doug asked.

  “Rodents Of Unusual Size,” Olivia, Faith and I whispered together, and cracked up at the look on Doug’s face. Remembering the need to remain hidden, we gave each other a low hand slaps.

  “Watch Princess Bride,” I told him and laughed again.