Chase Tinker & The House of Magic

by Malia Ann Haberman

  I screamed her name. Dropping to the ground, I peered over the edge, scared of what I might, or might not, see. She was there, clinging with one hand to a branch sticking from the side of the cliff. She swung in the wind above the churning water far below.

  "Ben! Help me!" she screamed.

  "Take my hand!" I yelled, more frightened than I'd ever been in my whole life. "You've got to take my hand, Clair!"

  "I'm trying! My arm hurts too much. I can't move it."

  I stretched as far as possible without tumbling over the edge myself, and was able to clasp her wrist. I didn't have the strength to pull her up. "Help me! I need help!" I whispered as I felt my hand slipping. "Use your power! Can you stick your foot into the rock to help me lift you?"

  "I'll try."

  I saw her foot melt into the cliff side. I yanked on her arm, except it wasn't enough. "Use your other foot too and push yourself up!"

  "I'm trying, but it's not working! Ben…I can't hold on," she cried weakly. "I have a room at—at The Dover. 616. And my kids. Please! Keep them safe—"

  Then she was gone.

  I sobbed into the ground. I had a hard time believing what had happened. After everything she'd gone through to save me, to have it end like that…it should've been me.

  I don't know how long I lay there in the pouring rain. I didn't want to move, but I eventually forced myself to get up. I knew I had to get to London. And back to America.

  I wasn't sure of the way, so I headed in the direction we'd been going, and found the path Clair had been searching for. It led me down to the beach and then into the town. I had to dash into an old building to hide from several men who were already searching the quiet streets for us. With a quick thought, I disguised myself as an old fisherman. I glanced around the damp, dark building. Luckily, sitting in the corner was a small black car with the key in the ignition.

  I don't remember much about the drive to London, mostly how long and tiring it was. I ditched the car a little outside the city and found my way to Big Ben. I don't know why. After several days of sitting in the rain, I had to admit to myself that it was futile. She wasn't going to show. I went to Clair's hotel and transformed into her. I wanted to pick up the key without any questions being asked.

  Unfortunately, the Marlowes knew about the hotel room too. I barely escaped with Clair's passport, a few pound notes, and my life. I had to get out of the country, but those horrid people were everywhere, watching every means of travel. I was finally able to stow away on a freighter heading for America, praying I wasn't being followed.

  The ride was long, terrible and uncomfortable, and after a while, I became sick and feverish. I lost all track of place, and time, and who I was. The last thing I remember was waking up at the house.

  "After I arrived, your grandfather realized something was wrong. Another—another room had appeared in the house, you see." Ben's voice cracked and stumbled over the last words.

  "The locked room! It has Clair's power!" exclaimed Chase. "He told us that room had a dangerous power he didn't want us messing with. All this time he was protecting you! And Grandfather never wanted to go look for you because he knew you were right here with us. Man, I can't believe we were so blind!"

  "I'm sorry we had to tell so many lies," said Benjamin.

  "Why couldn't you tell us the truth?" asked Andy.

  "I just wanted to protect everyone." Benjamin rubbed his forehead. "I thought if I remained Clair there would be less chance of the Marlowes tracking me down. What they wanted most was the next Keeper of the House. I didn't dare take the risk of being caught again. And I didn't plan to hurt anyone. Janie had Clair and you boys were holding on to hope that I was still alive. Plus, I was here close by if you or Chase needed me. I thought it was the right thing to do."

  The room was silent. Tears dribbled down Persephone's face, while Janie's and Andy's looked pinched and pale. Chase stared at the wall-clock and watched the seconds tick by. Tick. Tick. Tick. Tick. Aunt Clair was gone. Forever. And even though he now knew he hadn't really known her, he would still miss her. He rubbed his stinging eyes.

  Janie stumbled to her feet, muttering to herself. "I...I need to go…I can't...Thomas's Room!" she cried, and disappeared.

  Chase jumped up, planning to go after her, but Doctor Dan came into the room. "Doctor!" he exclaimed. "How's Grandfather? Will he be okay?"

  "Yes, he's out of the worst of it," said Dan. "At the moment he's resting peacefully. I've given him medication and…"

  Chase slumped back into his chair, tuning out the doctor's medical jargon as relief sped through him. Grandfather was going to be fine.

  "…keep him for observation for the next few days." Doctor Dan glanced around the room, his eyes alighting on Benjamin. "Who are you? And where's Clair?"

  "Um…" said Chase, startled. He'd forgotten that Aunt Clair and the doctor were friends. He wasn't looking forward to more explanations. But it has to be done, he thought before saying aloud, "Clair is mine and Andy's dad, Benjamin."

  "I don't understand," said Doctor Dan, looking bewildered.

  "Remember all that Tinker magic stuff?"

  Dan nodded.

  "My dad is a type of shape-shifter. He can change his appearance and look like other people. And for the last couple months, he's been lying to us and pretending to be Clair!" He couldn't keep the anger out of his voice as he said the last few words. Although his dad had explained why he'd lied to them, it would take Chase a long time to forgive him.

  "Pretending to be Clair?" murmured the doctor. "But…"

  "The real Clair is—dead," muttered Chase. He really hated saying that word.

  "Dead? What…?"

  Then, right there in front of everyone, Benjamin changed. Like water flowing across rocks, his body rippled as the gaunt, pasty man disappeared and seconds later became a much healthier, rosy-cheeked Clair.

  Rubbing his eyes, Dan slouched against the wall. "You have the strangest family."

  Benjamin, as Clair, sighed. "I'm sorry, Dan."

  "I don't believe this!" yelled Chase. "Do you think becoming her again is going to help?" He shook his head. He wanted to run far, far away. For months he'd longed for his dad's return, but instead of feeling happy, he had a terrible hollowness inside.

  "I only wanted you to see that as long as I can do this," said Benjamin, "she'll always be a part of us."

  "Whatever! I'm leaving! I need to get something to eat."

  "I'm going with you," said Persephone, jumping to her feet and hurrying to Chase's side.

  "Please, Chase, I know how you're feeling—"

  "No, you don't!" Chase snapped. "You'll never know how I'm feeling."

  "I am so sorry."

  Chase opened his mouth to retort back, but just then a mighty gust of wind burst through the front door and tore it from its hinges.

  Persephone screamed as the icy-cold wind whipped through the room, knocking over chairs and ripping pictures from the walls. Moments later, it smashed through a window and disappeared out into the night. Fear rippled through Chase's body as he watched a dark-purple, snake-like mist slide across the floor and coil itself around his dad.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Through the Darkness

  "No!" yelled Andy, springing to his feet.

  Within seconds the strange fog completely engulfed Benjamin, still disguised as Clair. The only thing visible was one bulging, dark-brown eye as the creepy mist tightened, strangling the life out of his dad. Chase stumbled toward him. He had to do something. He didn't want to lose his dad for a second time even if he was still hurt and as mad as could be.

  "Don't worry, we'll save you!" yelled Andy.

  "No! Forget about me!" Benjamin shouted, his frightened voice muffled by the thick fog. "Chase, take Andy and get out of here!"

  "We're not leaving without you!" Chase searched around for some kind of weapon, anything to help free his dad.

  Andy darted across the floor and grabbed at the thick smoke tha
t now looked more like oily pudding, but his hands slipped right through. Then, something that looked like a large fist shot from the smoke. It bashed Andy in the chest. He flew backward and slammed his head against the edge of a low table. He didn't get back up.

  "Andy!" Chase leaped forward to help his brother, but at that moment the lights flickered and flashed before plunging them into darkness.

  It was pitch black. Chase froze, feeling completely helpless. The darkness pressed on his eyeballs as though he was wearing a heavy blindfold. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't see a thing. Too bad he didn't have that extra sense. What was it called? Oh, yeah, echolocation. That special sense bats had to help them "see" in the dark. Man, what he wouldn't give for a little bit of it right now; or at least a bright flashlight.

  He stretched out his arms, feeling for Persephone, but she was no longer there. "Persephone?" No one answered. Where the heck was she? She'd been right beside him only seconds before all the craziness.

  Chase's heart began to pound as he turned and stumbled over a chair, catching himself before he hit the floor. "Ow! Crap!"

  Shuffling sideways, he was finally able to grasp the wall. Even though it was only a wall, he felt a little better standing next to it. He turned his head left and right, listening for any sounds that would help him know what was going on around him.

  He shivered, feeling goosebumps popping up all over his body as the coldness in the room became even worse. At the same time, he realized someone or something else had entered the room.

  "Who's there?" His voice sounded hollow and faraway.

  An amused and terrifyingly familiar voice came to him from the blackness. "Goodness, I never thought getting rid of Benjamin Tinker and now Hiram would be so easy. It feels fantastic having them both gone at last."

  Chase's breath caught in his throat. It was Roland Marlowe again. But it looked like his late arrival had kept him from knowing that Chase's dad was alive and here in the same room, and that Grandfather still clung to life down the hall.

  "Things aren't as easy as you think," Chase answered in an attempt to sound brave, even though his knees were knocking. He strained his eyes against the darkness.

  "Chase, I didn't expect to see you again so soon."

  "What are you doing here?" said Chase. "How do you know what happened to Grandfather?"

  "Don't you know news travels fast in a small town?" said Roland. "We hurried over as soon as we heard."

  Chase's mind raced. However Roland found out, Chase had to keep the man from getting to Grandfather, who was too sick to protect himself. Chase wished he could see how his dad was doing, and he didn't know how badly Andy was hurt, while Persephone and Doctor Dan had both disappeared without a word.

  "So, so, um, is that Maven or Clive over there smothering my d—aunt?" asked Chase, not wanting to show his fear by stuttering like an idiot. "You did say they were looking forward to meeting us."

  "That's Maven," answered Roland. "She loves showing off her metamorphing abilities."

  "Uh, good—good job," Chase mumbled.

  "We'll rid the world of the three of you," continued Roland, "and that should do it for all you annoying Tinkers."

  "You'll still have Janie and James to worry about," Chase reminded him.

  "Oh, I'll have no trouble with them," said Roland, with a laugh.

  "H—how about if you give me the Shard of Magic right now and then I'll let you go." A little negotiating can't hurt, can it? Chase asked himself.

  "You'll let me go?" Roland said, still sounding amused.

  "Sure. And just think, without it, you and your family might become good again. How does that sound?"

  "Not even mildly tempting," said Roland. "I have too many exciting projects to be getting on with."

  Chase swiped at the droplets of sweat dribbling down the sides of his face. He really needed a plan. Maybe if he used his power...but he'd never done it in darkness. It would definitely be something he'd practice later, if he got out of this alive, that is.

  "You're pretty confident about everything," he said, working to keep the slight tremble out of his voice. He needed to focus and keep Roland talking.

  "It's nice to know that sometimes well-laid plans can work out," Roland answered.

  "And exactly what are those plans again?"

  "I don't have time to tell you everything. I do want to say that we Marlowes will soon be living in what I now call the Marlowe House."

  "That's what you think," muttered Chase.

  He closed his eyes and pressed his fingertips to his temples. He pictured a chair flying through the air. Seconds later, Chase flinched as a loud crash echoed through the room.

  Roland laughed again. "Excellent go at it, Chase, but you were way off the mark on that one. And although I'm thoroughly enjoying this lovely conversation—"

  More chairs zoomed haphazardly across the room and more echoing crashes bombarded Chase's ears.

  "—it's time to end this."

  Chase gulped. As usual, his plan sucked. He was in big trouble. Shouldn't his whole life be passing in front of his eyes right about now? Not that he'd seen much in his thirteen years, but he at least wanted to remember the good times he'd spent with his family.

  Just as he thought they were all doomed, the darkness was broken by bright flashes of golden light. In that instant, Chase saw Roland leaning against the reception desk. The golden light flashed again, but this time it whipped across Roland's gaping face. It ripped the skin open with a searing hiss. His knees buckled as another flash slashed his leg. His scream of pain and rage filled the room.

  Chase dropped to the floor and crouched there as blazing firewhips snapped and sizzled through the air like raging serpents. He'd never seen anything like it, and he had no idea where they were coming from.

  Then Grandfather stepped into the room. His arms were raised as long whips of fire flashed from each fingertip. Chase felt their scorching heat as several of the whips flew across the room, snapping at the thick smoke surrounding Benjamin. The smoke shrieked and shuddered. It oozed to the floor like a puddle of slimy goo. Benjamin sank to floor as the thick goop slipped away and out the front door.

  Chase watched with bulging eyes. The whips were enough to freak out anyone. Like hundreds of darting fireflies, sparks glittered and flared with each crack.

  "I was told you were dead!" shouted Roland as he dodged the flying whips, but he wasn't quick enough to stop his arm from being burned by the snaking flames.

  "You should know better than to listen to rumors, Roland!" answered Grandfather.

  "Then I'll have to take care of you right now!"

  Roland rippled into a large ball of purple, churning smoke. Spinning across the floor, he formed into himself again. His hands were raised and pointed straight at Grandfather's chest. Silvery-red beams shot from his fingertips.

  "Watch out, Grandfather!" shouted Chase.

  The golden whips and the silvery-red beams slammed into each other, exploding in mid-air. Both Roland and Grandfather were blasted off their feet. Chase threw his hands over his head as thousands of sparks fell like flashing raindrops. A moment later, all the lights in the room flickered back on.

  Chase looked up in time to see Roland, looking ready to fall down again, staggering toward Grandfather. He was dragging his injured leg.

  "What is it with you Tinkers?" he said between gasps. "Why can't I get rid of you?" He raised his uninjured arm and his fingers spat more blistering energy beams at Grandfather. Right as they hit him in the chest something happened that made Chase feel as if he'd just plummeted from a very high cliff. Grandfather's crumpled body melted and evaporated away like ice on a hot summer day.

  "NOOOOO! You killed him, you freak!" Chase roared, leaping to his feet.

  A weird buzzing, like the sound of a thousand swarming bees, rushed through him. It was as if his whole body was ready to explode. He'd never experienced such fury in his whole life, and what he did at that moment was something he co
uldn't have stopped, even if he'd wanted to, as Roland began to shake and quiver like a huge plate of Jell-O. He stared at Chase in disbelief while he struggled to stop the wild quaking.

  Chase's eyes narrowed and, moments later, Roland's body started spinning, faster and faster. He looked like a giant rat caught in a whirlpool. An ear-splitting whistle pierced the air as he whipped across the floor, sending broken chairs and tables flying. He whirled out the front door and into the streetlight-lit yard.

  As if in a trance, Chase followed. In a blur of motion, Roland soared into the air, higher and higher, until finally, with one last thought from Chase, he was blasted across the midnight-blue sky. He vanished into the darkness.

  Panting and shaking, Chase dropped to the ground, flattening Doctor Dan's prized tulips. He rubbed his eyes. His vision was fuzzy and his brain felt as if it were made of cotton. What had just happened? His head spun like he'd just climbed off a wild roller coaster ride.

  "Chase! Chase!"

  He looked up at Persephone running toward him. "What?"

  "Come into the house." She crouched beside him and took his arm. Her hands were cool on his heated skin.

  "He killed Grandfather."

  "No, he didn't," she answered.

  "But I saw it all."

  "It's not what you think."

  "Where were you?" he asked, sounding lost and confused. "I couldn't find you in the dark."

  "Doctor Dan pulled me out of there when he realized what was happening," she answered. "Now please come in, okay?"

  Climbing shakily to his feet, Chase let Persephone lead him into the house. She pulled him through the waiting room, where Doctor Dan was busy treating Andy's and Benjamin's injuries, to the medical room Chase had been in earlier. Pushing open the door, she drew him inside. Grandfather was lying on the tall, narrow bed. His eyes were closed and his breathing sounded normal.

  "But—but, I don't understand," said Chase, shaking his head. "I saw him fall and then he disappeared like he'd been vaporized or something. I thought for sure he was dead."