Out of the corner of his eye, Chase saw a brilliantly glowing, toffee-colored object moving closer and closer. More screams tore from his throat as it slid through his temple and into his brain. He didn't want to be screaming like this, but he couldn't help it. He'd never felt such pain. It flowed through his body like liquid ice, freezing, yet burning at the same time. "Aaahhhhhh!"
"Chase! Listen to me! Chase! Snap out of it!"
Pulling away from the pain, he rolled toward the familiar voice and crashed to the floor. Opening his eyes, he saw Andy standing over him. Andy's face was the color of vanilla ice cream and his eyes were almost as big as golf balls.
"Oh man, you scared the daylights outta me!" Andy cried. "I've been trying to wake you up for the longest time. How the heck am I supposed to sleep with all your yelling?"
Panting and trembling, Chase sat up. As he wiped his damp face on his t-shirt sleeve, he saw his shirt was also drenched in sweat.
Andy squatted down next to him. "You must've been having a really bad nightmare. You don't look too good."
Chase reached up and touched his right temple. "I—I think I was having my magic sucked out of me by the Shard of Magic. I've never felt anything so painful in my life. I thought I was about to die."
He climbed to his feet and wobbled into the bathroom. Clicking on the light, he gazed at himself in the mirror. Andy was right. There were dark, raccoonish circles under his eyes, and his cheeks had the appearance of an old rag that had been wrung out a few too many times.
Turning his head, he studied his temple. From the way it felt, he half-expected to see a dark-red circle branded onto his skin, but nothing was there.
Andy stood in the doorway. "Do you think you were having a premonition? 'Cause if so, it sounds like you're in big trouble."
Chase turned and leaned against the sink. "It felt so real, it probably was a premonition. But I don't know if it was me or if I was in the body of some other person." He rubbed the side of his face again. "Whatever it was, I never want to have to really go through it."
Chase staggered into the kitchen the next morning and plopped down on a stool at the breakfast bar.
"You're looking a little worse for wear," said Chase's mom, Anne, as she placed a plate of eggs and toast in front of him. Maxwell scurried down Chase's body and loped across the floor to his food and water bowls.
"I think he looks like someone who stayed up all night watching scary movies," said Andy, before taking a big drippy bite of his French toast.
Chase's eyes met Andy's. He wasn't sure why Andy had covered for him, but he was grateful for it. He didn't want his mom to know about all the nightmares. "Yeah, that's it. Too much Dracula and the Wolfman."
"You stayed up late watching movies when you knew you had to get up to go to school?" said Anne. "Chase, you have to stop being so irresponsible! Passing eighth grade is more important than watching TV. Besides, you know those kinds of shows always give you nightmares."
"But I don't want to spend my summer break going to bed earlier than everyone else," grumbled Chase.
"It's no one's fault but your own," said Anne.
"I know, but it's not—"
The back door swung open. Benjamin came in stomping water from his feet. "Whew! It's starting to pour out there." He strode across the room and poured himself a cup of steaming coffee. "I think we're in for another soggy day."
"Why does it always have to rain during summer time?" complained Andy.
"It's tradition," said Chase grumpily. He was upset his argument had been interrupted before he'd had a chance to say all he wanted to say. But it did make him feel a little better knowing that because of the constant rain, the other kids weren't going to be enjoying part of their summer vacation any more than he was.
"Ben, I want you to teleport Chase to Doctor Dan's and then walk with him to school," said Anne.
"No way!" exclaimed Chase. "Nuh-uh. I'm not having my dad take me to school like I'm a little kid."
"I don't want you walking by yourself," said Anne.
"Why not? I've managed to get to school all year without any problems."
"But the other kids were with you," answered Anne. "Besides, I, uh, used to make your dad go keep an eye on you."
"You what?" yelled Chase. "He was spying on us?"
"I don't think you should've shared that, Anne," said Ben.
His mom hung her head and began briskly wiping the counter. "It wasn't—spying. And it wasn't all the time, either, just…most of the time. There are a lot of dangerous people running around, you know."
"What? You thought the Marlowes were going to come barbecue our brains or something?" said Chase, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
"Don't get flippant, young man," said Anne. "I wanted to make sure you were safe."
Ever since their ill-fated trip to Blackshire, the boys' mom had been extra protective of them. It's like she expected the Marlowes to pop out at any moment and attack. Of course, it was possible she was right. They hadn't heard anything since their terrifying night in Blackshire, but Chase knew the Marlowes were working on something really bad. No matter how hard he tried, he just wasn't able to forget his painful nightmare and the sound of a deep, raspy voice. But even though he understood his mom's fears, Chase thought she was going way overboard at the moment.
"I'm always careful. Dad?"
Benjamin leaned against the counter and stared into his coffee cup. He was also a lot more jumpy since last Halloween night. He spent hours working on protective spells and enchantments in the different magical rooms, which Chase had a hard time getting used to. After all, his dad hated magic, and Chase knew Ben had a good reason to feel that way. He'd seen his older brother Sam and his mom die in a fire created by magic. It had left Ben feeling angry and bitter toward anything magical, but protecting his family had become his main priority, so he'd been forcing himself to become more proficient in it. This was one thing Anne hadn't argued about with him.
Ben heaved a deep sigh. "I think he'll be okay on his own," he said at last. "After all, his magic is getting pretty powerful, Anne."
She tossed her dish towel on the counter. "Why am I always overruled by you? Doesn't my opinion count for anything around here?" she snapped.
"Of course it does, honey," said Benjamin, trying his best to placate her.
She yanked off her apron and shoved past the enchanted broom, which was briskly sweeping the floor. "Fine! Do what you want! But if anyone gets kidnapped, don't come complaining to me!" She strode from the room.
"Looks like you're in the doghouse, Dad," said Andy.
"Yeah, as usual," said Ben as he rubbed the back of his neck.
The kitchen door swung open again. "I want you to come by Doctor Dan's on the afternoons I'm working there," said Anne, pointing her finger at Chase. "Then your dad can teleport us all home together." She stomped away one more time.
"Great!" Chase grumbled as he stuffed his breakfast into his mouth.
Between the rain, school, and his mom treating him like a baby, he was still in a foul mood when he arrived home that afternoon. He was on his way to his room to change into dry clothes when he spotted Nori coming down the stairs. He narrowed his eyes.
"I need to talk to you!" he snapped.
"Oookay," she said, looking unsure about having a conversation with someone who seemed like he wouldn't mind stringing her up by her toes over a pit of alligators.
She followed him up the stairs and into a magical room. They both ignored the walls that had all sorts of colorful, three-dimensional animals romping around on them. Nori crossed her arms and tapped the toe of her sandal while Chase slammed the door and leaned against it.
"So? Say what you have to say," said Nori, staring at him.
Chase narrowed his eyes at her. "I don't believe those are Tinker destinies."
"And why not?"
"Those scratches were carved on there hundreds of years ago," he replied.
"How could some idiot who didn't even know we'd ever exist write about our futures? It makes no sense!"
"You know there are people who can predict the future!" she snapped back. "Don't forget, you yourself have premonitions every now and then."
"But not hundreds of years of them! Besides, those are different. They don't always come true."
"Whatever. I only told you what I saw."
"Yeah, and you won't even tell us what any of them mean," Chase said with a loud snort.
Nori threw her hands in the air and shook her head. "I've told you a million times already. No one should know too much about their future."
"But you supposedly know what's going to happen to us!" shouted Chase. "Why is this okay?" He paced back and forth across the room as Nori edged closer to the door.
"I can't exactly forget what I read."
"Maybe you misinterpreted. Maybe they're just more stories about the Relic."
"I did not misinterpret anything!" Nori looked like smoke was ready to roll out of her ears. "You are so irritating! Okay. Fine! Here you go: 'Surrender or die! It's your decision.' Now I'm out of here."
"Wait! What the heck is that supposed to mean?"
"You'll find out."
Chase frowned. "Is it a destiny?"
Nori gave him a pitying look. "How can it be? You don't believe in them, remember?"
"Well—I—you—" sputtered Chase as Nori flung open the door while waving her hand through the air. A camel and a shaggy bear leaped from one of the walls and headed straight for Chase.
"What the heck?" yelled Chase as the bear knocked him to the floor and sat on him. The camel began licking his face. "Hey, st-stop that! Gross!" He shoved the camel's head away as its slimy tongue left trails of drippy saliva across his cheeks, nose, and chin. "And get off me, you idiotic bear!" he choked out.
The bear slapped its paw onto the middle of Chase's chest. "Grrrr!"
"Uh…n-nice bear. Nooorrriiii! Come back and say the counterspell! Nori! Please?"
But the only thing Chase heard was Nori's laughter drifting down the hallway as she walked away.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Asylum
Chase trudged through the school gates and headed down the road. Finally the day was over. He still wasn't getting enough sleep. And, dream or not, if he had to look into one more pair of those chilling, light-blue eyes, he'd zap them until they ran home crying like babies.
It was also the first time he'd ever had to go to school on his birthday. "Well, happy birthday to me," he grumbled as he shifted his book-filled backpack up higher onto his back. "All I get is the gift of homework. Yippee."
He had nearly six more long weeks of torture to go. Since everyone on Blackberry Island went to the same school, every grade was in the same class for the summer session. He was stuck sitting between two fifth grade girls who were there only because they wanted to be. How crazy was that? They wanted to spend their summer vacation in a stuffy classroom. And to top it all off, they knew Andy and spent way too much time talking about him. "If I have to hear one more time how cute Andy Tinker is, I'm going to puke!" Chase said out loud to himself. But, he had to admit, it was nice to find out they didn't care about the scars streaked across Andy's face.
The one good thing about sitting in school all day, though, was it kept his mind from dwelling too much on Janie, or the "surrender or die" thing Nori had thrown in his face. He thought about pleading with her to tell him, but he didn't want to hear the same ridiculous story that "it wasn't good to know too much about your future."
Turning the corner, he headed down the street Doctor Dan lived on. It was one of his mom's days to work as a nurse at Dan's clinic. Chase hated going there so he could be teleported home like a little kid. When he'd complained, she'd said it was also because she wanted to see him, but he knew she liked to check up on his schoolwork as well. Apparently, he couldn't be trusted to stay safe or do his homework right!
Deep in thought, Chase nearly bumped into someone stepping out from an alley. "Oops! Sorry," muttered Chase. "I wasn't paying attention."
He started to walk around, but the person grasped his arm. "Wait, Chase!" said a boy's British-accented voice. "You are Chase Tinker, aren't you?"
Chase turned and looked into a pair of blue eyes, made to seem even bluer by the mop of jet black hair surrounding the thin face. He squinted at the boy. He looked to be a little older than Chase, and was also at least three inches taller. "Yeah…" Chase said. "Do I know you?"
The boy slipped his hands into his jean pockets and stared at the ground. "Uh…no, but—you know my family."
"I do?" Chase frowned as he nibbled on the inside of his lower lip and tried to place the boy's face with someone he knew. "I'm sorry. I don't recognize you."
"My name's Alex. Alexander—Marlowe."
Chase took a quick step back. "Get away from me or you'll be one sorry creep!" Good thing he'd worn his enchanted watch today. He'd been practicing with the flashing, golden whips and was getting pretty good at controlling them. "I know a lot of magic that can turn you into yesterday's garbage before you can even blink!"
"Wait! Please!" Alex hurried to say. "I'm not here to hurt you. If I was going to fry you with my magic, don't you think I would've done it instead of introducing myself?"
"You're a Marlowe!" snapped Chase. "Who knows what goes on inside your sick mind. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in your family's laboratory in Blackshire, working alongside all the other super villains?"
"I'm seeking asylum with your family."
"Asylum? Isn't that a crazy place?" asked Chase.
Alex shook his head. "No. Well, yes, but it also means a place which offers protection for people in danger."
"You're in danger?" Chase snorted. "Yeah, right. If you're in danger then I'm a little green man from Mars. Now get out of here before I do something you'll regret."
"Please listen to what I have to say," said Alex. "I'll even keep my hands in my pockets. I promise. Please trust me. I won't hurt you."
Chase frowned at the older boy's pinched face. It did look as stressed as Chase was these days. Then he made a decision he hoped he wasn't going to be the one regretting. "Okay, I'm listening. But one false move and I won't hesitate to do anything in my power to stop you."
Looking relieved, Alex said quickly, "I'm not like the rest of them. I've been going to boarding school for years, so I haven't been a part of my family's business. I don't agree with what they're doing. I think they're all rubbish!" Alex started to pull his hands from his pockets, as if he was used to gesturing while he spoke, but then shoved them back as soon as he saw Chase tense up. "And when I'm home, I try my best to stay as far away from them as possible. You have to believe me. I—I want to be a doctor. I want to save lives, not hurt or—" He stopped and gulped. "—kill people."
"So are you, like, Roland's son or something?"
"I'm his cousin, and Clive's half-brother."
Chase wrinkled his nose in disgust, but Alex didn't look like he cared one way or another what Chase thought of his older brother.
"After Clive's mum died," said Alex, "my dad, Roland's Uncle Spencer, married my mum years later, and then they had me."
"Yeah, just what the world needed," said Chase. "Another stinking Marlowe."
Alex heaved a deep sigh. "I realize my family has caused yours nothing but pain and grief, but I don't use my magic for anything wicked."
"Doesn't the Shard of Magic have such a strong hold on you guys that, no matter what, you just can't stop yourselves from being evil?" said Chase.
"Sometimes it can be a bit of a struggle," said Alex. "I do loads of morphing into smoke to help use up my magic, and then I can fight it better. And, I think it helps that I truly want to be a good person." He shuddered. "I hate the thought of being controlled by an object like I'm some sort of marionette."
"Apparently the rest of your family doesn't mind."
A
lex nodded. "They actually quite enjoy it. But I give you my word. I am different."
"You know," said Chase, "you don't look like a regular Marlowe. Well, except your eyes."
Alex shrugged. "I take after my mum's side of the family. I think this is why the evilness isn't as strong in me as the others. She's so kind-hearted, I've often wondered how she ended up married to someone like Spencer."
"So, you expect me to believe you're here of your own free will," said Chase, raising his eyebrows. "How do I know they didn't send you to infiltrate us? Earn our trust and then: Bam! Attack! How stupid do you think we are?"
"I don't think you're stupid at all," said Alex. "I wish I knew some way to convince you I'm sincere."
Chase narrowed his eyes. "I have an idea," he said after a moment.
"Okay?" said Alex, looking a little uncertain.
"Let me perform some magic on you."
"What—what sort of magic?"
Chase slipped off his backpack and unzipped it. After digging through it for a few seconds, he pulled out a wide-mouthed water bottle. Opening it, he poured the water out, shaking it to get every drop. "Let me shrink you, put you in this bottle, and take you to my grandfather. Let him decide what to do with you."
"How do I know I can trust you?"
"You don't," said Chase. "But you do have my word, I won't hurt you. Yet. First, I'll give my grandfather a chance to hear your story. See what he thinks."
Alex bent down and pulled a large duffel bag from behind a trash can. Clutching it to his side, he said, "Right then. Let's get on with it."
Chase glanced up and down the road. A few kids were playing a game of baseball at the end of the street, but no one was close enough to see anything if the boys stepped into the alley. Chase motioned for Alex to follow him, and when they were out of sight, he pointed his finger at Alex. "Shrink."
It took only a second for the spell to work. Chase squatted down next to the now two-inch boy and held the water bottle low enough for him to crawl into it. Screwing the lid back on, Chase stared in at Alex's disgruntled face and had to grin. Even though he was a Marlowe, Chase had to admire the guy's guts. He was willing to be put in this undignified position in order to prove his good intentions. Though, Chase seriously doubted he was telling the truth.
Chase Tinker and the HOUSE OF DESTINY Page 6