Chase shifted from his left foot to his right and back again, instantly feeling guilty. Being nice to James wasn't something he wanted to do, but the guy had lost his mom and his sister within a few months of each other. It had to suck. "Uh, look James, I'm sorry about Clair and—and Janie—"
"Don't say her name! Or my mom's!" James yelled. "And why do you have Maxwell? He's not yours! Give him to me!" James strode closer, his arm stretching out to grab the animal from Chase's shoulder.
Maxwell arched his back and gave a loud hiss. Six tiny lightning bolts blasted from the ferret's eyes and whizzed toward James. The older boy ducked, but he wasn't quick enough to miss all the bolts. Two slammed into the sleeve of his leather jacket. He quickly beat out the small fires they started.
"Hey! How'd he do that?" James cried as he stared at the gray smoke drifting from his burnt clothing.
Chase shrugged. "I guess he hates evil, ugly creeps as much as I do."
James's howl of rage was so loud and piercing, it made Chase's ears ring. James jerked up his arms as if to blow Chase into a million slimy pieces. His eyes, so similar to the rest of the Marlowes', flashed like pieces of bright-blue ice.
Chase quickly tried to prepare himself to fight back, but then James relaxed and stepped back. With one last burning glare at his hated cousin, he transformed into a cloud of thick purple smoke and swirled away.
"Shoot!" Chase exclaimed. "What if he went for help? I don't have time to search!" Crossing his arms, he scowled in the direction James had gone. "Maybe I can take a quick look before he has time to talk to anyone." He looked at Maxwell out of the corner of his eye. "What do you think?" Maxwell licked Chase's cheek as if to say, I'm here for you, kid, no matter what.
Chase stepped forward, then paused. No. Getting caught was not part of the plan. Feeling more frustrated than ever, he teleported home.
"You're wrong," said Andy flatly.
Chase turned from the open dresser drawer where he was digging for his favorite green t-shirt. He'd just awakened from one of the best night's sleep he'd had in a long time. Even though he'd been upset about not being able to search for his race car, when he'd arrived home, he'd been so tired, he'd collapsed into bed and fallen right to sleep. He'd slept straight through the rest of the night without even one bad dream to speak of. If that's what it did to him, maybe he should plan on teleporting halfway around the world every night.
He narrowed his eyes at Andy. "What the heck are you talking about?"
"She's not dead," said Andy. "Janie. She's not dead."
Chase drew in a deep breath and blew it out. "Yes, she is. I saw her."
"Then why can't I find her power room?" Andy crossed his arms tightly across his chest. "Did you find it?"
"I didn't look," said Chase as he yanked a shirt from the drawer and pulled it on. "What's the use? That's the last place I want to hang out. Besides, you probably missed it. This house has way too many places to search."
"Did you ask Grandfather if he has her power? Can he change the space around us, like she can?" Andy wasn't giving up.
Chase threw his hands up in the air and stomped across the room. "What would be the point?" he growled. "I already know she's gone! This whole conversation is pointless. Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about Janie. You'd already been through enough, what with nearly dying and your scars, and all. I didn't want you to feel any worse."
"Yeah, well, I do!" Andy snapped, rubbing his eyes as if he was trying to push any tears back into his eyeballs.
This sentence hit Chase like a punch in the stomach. Was he becoming like Grandfather? Keeping secrets that should've been told long before they became so hurtful, and, in Janie's case, destructive? But I did it because I didn't want to hurt anyone, he thought, wanting desperately to justify his lying and deceiving. He was beginning to understand Grandfather's reasons for being so secretive about certain things.
"Look, Andy," he said a little more calmly as he plopped down onto the edge of his bed, "can't we get past this and move on? I'm sorry for keeping it a secret. I don't know what else to say."
Andy stared at the floor.
Figuring this was a good sign, Chase continued. "You forgave Dad for all his lies. And Grandfather. I just didn't know how to tell you."
"But you're my brother and brothers aren't supposed to lie to each other," said Andy as he drew back his foot and kicked Chase's sneaker across the room.
"I know. I know. I promise I'll never do it again, okay?"
Andy shrugged one shoulder. "You know I'm gonna hold you to that."
Chase stood and patted Andy on the back. "You have my permission to freeze me and use me as your punching bag for as long as you want if I ever lie to you or keep anything important from you again. Deal?"
Andy nodded. "I guess. But you're still wrong."
"What are you talking about now?" said Chase, losing patience again.
"I asked Grandfather if he could perform Janie's power." Andy paused then added, "He couldn't."
Chase shook his head. "Look, Andy, I—"
"You know what? I'm not talking about this anymore," said Andy. "I'm going to keep on believing she's alive and one day she'll come back home." He swung around and stomped from the room.
Chase dropped to the floor and leaned his back against the dresser. He stared out the sliding-glass door at a seagull perched on the railing. It flapped its wings and squawked at him, as if he were scolding Chase for his broken promises and not-so-smart ideas.
"Yeah, I know," he said. "But what else was I supposed to do?"
Even after what he'd just promised Andy, it wasn't his place to tell anyone that, after all these months, Grandfather was still having terrible heart issues, and helping Mika and then teleporting everyone around last week had zapped a lot of his strength. Chase only knew this because he'd accidentally heard his mom and dad discussing how worried they were about Grandfather. So when he was unable to perform Janie's power for Andy, his weakened abilities had to be the cause. Knowing Grandfather, he didn't want to worry Andy by telling him the truth.
It would be awesome if Janie really was alive, but in his heart, Chase knew never in a million years could he get that lucky.
CHAPTER FIVE
Up to the Attic, Again
"You wanted to see me, Grandfather?" said Chase as he slouched across the study and plopped into one of the armchairs next to the fireplace. He had about as much energy as a half-dead gnat these days.
Grandfather leaned forward and frowned. "Chase, are you feeling all right? Did you stay up late after the fireworks last night?"
Chase swished his hand. "Oh yeah, yeah. That's it. Too much Independence Day partying." He didn't want to admit it, but like most things these days, he just hadn't felt up to going with the others to the yearly Fourth of July fireworks show in Islandtown. Instead, he'd stayed home and played hide-the-socks with Maxwell in the library. Sitting up straighter, he attempted to look more alert. "So! What's up?"
"I'd like you to take Nori to see the Relic," said Grandfather, relaxing back into his chair.
"Oh yeah," said Chase. "I forgot she hasn't been to the attic yet. Wait—you want me to do it?"
"Indeed," said Grandfather. "After all, you are the next Keeper of the House. You might as well start taking on some of your responsibilities now."
Chase squirmed in his chair. He hadn't said a word to his grandparent about having doubts over his ability to be a good Keeper, or that it was possible Nori might make a much more powerful one than Chase ever would. Grandfather would most likely tell his grandson he was ridiculous and the whole thing was too preposterous to even discuss. At last, Chase nodded. "Okay. Whatever you think." He looked expectantly at Grandfather. "So? How do I get in?"
Grandfather threw back his head and laughed so hard he had to take off his glasses and wipe the tears from his eyes with his handkerchief.
"What's so funny?" asked Chase grumpily.
"I
'm sorry, Chase," said Grandfather as he continued to chuckle, "but did you think I had no idea what you children were up to last summer? Sneaking around and getting into a bit of…shall we say…magical mischief?"
"Uh—what? What're you—uh—talking about?"
Grandfather raised his eyebrows.
Chase switched his gaze to his tapping toe. "You knew all along?"
Grandfather looked thoughtful for a moment. "Some things may get past me now and then, but I know how kids can behave in a house such as this. I know it's difficult to believe, but I was a child once, too, you know."
"But why didn't you yell at us or say anything?"
"I wanted you to learn everything without being forced into it," said Grandfather. "Like I tried to do with Benjamin."
"But you got so mad about the dangerous and forbidden powers," said Chase.
Grandfather rubbed a finger across his chin. "Yes, but that was different. Someone could have been seriously hurt, or killed."
"Especially since James was involved," Chase added. He was hit by a pang of guilt as he remembered enchanting one of Nori's bracelets with one of the forbidden powers: the killing fireballs. Only he and Nori knew about it, and they'd both agreed it was a good idea not to tell anyone else. If it meant it would help keep their family safe, well, he'd learn to live with that particular guilt.
Grandfather gave a quick nod. "So, off you go. Nori should be waiting for you by the spiral staircase."
"She already knows about it?"
"Yes, I spoke to her yesterday," said Grandfather, "while you were extricating yourself from your rather…cute…magical mishap."
"Cute? I sneezed and turned myself into a baby!" exclaimed Chase. "I drooled all over my shirt and uh…had a little accident in my pants before I was able to figure out how to grow up again. And I think I still have a bald spot." Chase rubbed the top of his head and scrunched up his face.
"I'm sorry I couldn't assist you," said Grandfather, "but it's imperative you learn to resolve situations on your own. I won't always be around."
"Yeah, I know," Chase muttered as he pushed himself to his feet. "I'll go take care of the Relic thing with Nori now. See you later."
Grandfather grinned as he watched Chase trudge from the study.
In the spiral staircase room, Chase not only found Nori, but Andy and Persephone, too. "I've been looking forward to this," said Nori. Her enchanted bracelets jingled merrily, drawing Chase's attention. Thank goodness she hadn't lost any. Especially the red one.
"I'm going, too," said Andy. Ever since deciding Chase was wrong and Janie was really alive, Andy was acting normal again.
"The more the merrier," said Chase with a shrug. "You coming, Persephone?"
"Wouldn't miss it. I've never heard the Relic talk before." She dropped her head back and stared at the ceiling far, far above them. "Wish we didn't have to climb all those stairs, though."
Chase grinned to himself as he turned and looked at the staircase. Persephone didn't know he knew how to switch them on. Now was his chance to show off a bit. Adsurgo, he thought. The stairs began rolling upward like an escalator.
"Mr. Hiram switched them on for us," Persephone exclaimed. "Cool!"
"But, I—" Chase tried to tell her she had it wrong, but the other three had already pushed past him and jumped on. "Nobody ever listens," he muttered to himself as he hopped on after them.
"Whoa! That is way more dizzying than walking up," said Persephone when they finally reached the top and staggered off.
Chase leaned against the railing while he waited for his brain to stop turning somersaults. "I don't think I'll ever get used to it."
Nori rubbed her stomach and swallowed as she glanced around the alcove. She wandered toward the enormous painting, which completely covered one wall. It was dotted with hundreds and hundreds of every type of door imaginable. "Wow! That's some picture." She reached out to touch one of the doors.
"Stop!" Chase grabbed for her arm, but he was too late.
Nori had already pushed her finger into a door that said PUSH across it. Pop! Her hair was instantly bright-orange.
"Uh-oh!" said Andy.
"That wasn't a good idea," said Chase.
"Why not?" said Nori.
"Weird things happen when any of those doors are touched or knocked on," Chase answered.
Nori took a quick step back. "Like, what sort of weird things?"
"Last summer when we were up here," said Andy, "I touched the revolving door and the painting sucked me right through it and spit me back out!" He wrinkled his nose. "Guess it didn't like the way I tasted."
"And Janie sprouted a long nose, a bushy tail, and purple spots when she knocked on some of them," added Persephone.
"Nothing happened to me," said Nori, raising her arms.
"You, uh, need to check out your hair," said Chase.
Nori pulled a lock of hair in front of her face, and screamed. "It's orange!"
"It should fade at some point," said Persephone.
"Why didn't you warn me?" She narrowed her eyes at them. "Is this some kind of late revenge for turning you into goats last summer?"
Chase flicked his hand. "Nah. Magical accidents tend to happen around here. I can't fix it, but I can do something else." He was sort of tempted to let her suffer all alone with her crazy new look and teach her to be more careful with the magic around the house, but he knew girls could be pretty touchy about their hairdos. He placed his left hand on Andy's shoulder and his right on Persephone's. Two seconds later, they all had orange hair.
"All right!" said Andy. "Now we all look like Nori."
Nori gave them a crooked smile. "Nice. Now I know exactly how goofy I look." She turned back to the painting. "So why do kooky things happen when you touch the doors?"
"It's all meant to protect the Relic," said Chase. "We don't want anyone else getting their hands on it. And those sick Marlowes will never give up as long as they're still breathing."
He approached the painting and gazed at the wide assortment of tiny doors. He hadn't been up here since last summer, when Janie had insisted they find out why the Relic had turned off the Time-Traveling Room. Crossing his fingers while hoping the magic still worked for him, he thought, "Door, show yourself."
One of the tiny doors zipped to the middle of the painting, but it wasn't the one he expected. It was a black and red barn door.
"It changed!" Andy exclaimed. "It's not a car door anymore."
"Must be another way to keep people from getting in," said Persephone.
Chase was happy to see the change. Janie had to have told the Marlowes which door they needed to knock on. When they'd invaded the house last summer, they'd tried to force Chase to take them to the attic so he could let them in; that way they wouldn't have to touch any of the doors. Luckily, he'd managed to escape, thanks to his ability to sneeze out magical powers. Now, if any Marlowes managed to get into the house again, and up to the attic, they'd be knocking on all the wrong doors.
Reaching out, he tapped the secret knocks—two fast, then two slow—and instantly the barn door morphed into a plain brown door. It quickly grew, like it was stretched by invisible hands, until it was the size of a regular door there in the middle of the painting. The others were all pushed haphazardly aside to make room.
"Wow! Cool trick," said Nori.
Chase grinned at her. "If you liked that, wait 'til you see the Relic."
He shoved open the door. Shimmering golden light spilled out into the alcove.
"Do we need sunglasses?" asked Nori, shading her eyes with her hand.
"You get used to it," said Chase. "Come on."
They climbed through the doorway and into the spacious attic, where the Relic sat in the center of the floor. Chase remembered the first time he'd seen it. It was still hard to believe all the amazing Tinker magic truly came from this brilliantly glowing, basketball-sized object.
While the other kid
s rushed to the Relic, Nori held back. "Uh…are you guys sure it's safe?"
Andy scurried back to her and grabbed her arm. "'Course it is, silly," he said, tugging her across the room. "I was scared the first time I saw it, too. But don't worry, it's not radioactive or anything."
Chase passed his hand across its face and said, "Relic, will you please tell us the story of how the Tinkers came to be in possession of you?"
The toffee-colored surface changed to smoky-gray and scenes began to flow across it. A deep, rich voice began the tale from long ago.
Even though Chase had heard the story last year, he enjoyed hearing it again. Having met his ancestor Jedadiah on a time-traveling trip, watching him now sort of felt like seeing an old friend again. He had to cringe, however, seeing Janie, Andy, Persephone, and himself trying to stop the bandits who attacked Jedadiah and save the Relic from being damaged. Their trip had turned into a stinking mess.
Chase glanced at Andy out of the corner of his eye, half-expecting him to start going on about Janie when he saw her. But, true to his word from the other day, he kept his mouth shut.
"Whew! That's some family history we have there," said Nori when the Relic was finished.
Chase gave her a sheepish half-smile. "When we went back there, we didn't even think we might end up as part of the story. We just wanted to fix things."
"Instead, we almost killed poor Jedadiah," Persephone said under her breath.
"And no one knows how the Relic works, huh?" said Nori.
Chase shook his head. "Actually, it's like it's alive or something."
Nori leaned closer to the Relic. "What do all these squiggles and symbols mean?"
"No one knows," answered Chase.
"Maybe I can find out." Before anyone had a chance to respond, she held her hands over the face of the Relic. It began to shine brighter than ever as sparkling, shimmering light flowed into her palms. Her hands glowed as if she had on gloves made of liquid sunshine.
Chase's gaze darted from Nori's hands to her face. Her eyes were open so wide, she appeared to be in some sort of trance. In all the times he'd seen her do her information-absorbing magic, she'd never looked like this. The Relic and Nori's hands blazed so brilliantly it made Chase wish he really did have on a pair of sunglasses.
Chase Tinker and the HOUSE OF DESTINY Page 4