"It's gone," said a dark-haired man at the end of the table. His voice was filled with anger and bitterness. "Destroyed by the wicked beings it was meant to destroy. Marcus and I were attacked by them the day before yesterday."
"Landon and Marcus joined us just this morning," said Helen. "And with quite a tale to tell."
Even in the dim light, Chase was able to see the blistering scorch marks streaked across the men's faces.
"We tried to fight them off with all the magic we possessed," said Marcus, rubbing his temple and wincing. "But we were no match. They were just too powerful. One of them took our artifact and crushed it in his bare hands!"
Landon shook his head. "It was solid gold with a glorious emerald the size of my fist embedded in the top of it. Strange, other-worldly silver symbols were etched into the sides."
"It was wondrous to behold," said Marcus. "Yet he had the strength to squeeze it between his hands as if it were made of nothing but sand. Then they laughed, turned into purple mist, and vanished into the night."
"And the crappy Marlowes strike again," muttered Nori.
"It's really gone," murmured Chase to himself. The feeling of hopelessness that swept through him right then was almost too much for him to handle. Every time he drew in a breath, the ache in his chest grew. He had to get out of there. Jumping to his feet, he said, "I'm sorry, but we—AACHOOO!" Flailing his arms, he toppled back over the bench and fell to the floor. Maxwell leaped onto the top of Chase's head. Digging his claws into Chase's scalp, the animal hunched his back and hissed.
"I'm okay. I'm okay," Chase choked out.
"They have magic!" screamed one of the witches. "Look! Look! See the magic? Is it returning to us?"
"What's going on?" exclaimed Chase.
"Our arms!" squealed Persephone. She had six arms waving around, but she wasn't the only one. Nori, Helen, Garrett, and several other people all had extra arms sticking out from their sides.
Garret waved his wand. "Nothing! I still have no magic!" he cried.
Like one gigantic creature, everyone in the room stood at the same time. Nori, Persephone, and Alex rushed to help Chase to his feet.
"It's midnight and you're getting your magic back!" said Helen. "Why aren't we?"
"But it was an accident," said Chase. "It's these stupid sneezes!"
"You must share it with us!" shouted a wizard as he brandished his useless wand.
"We don't know how!" Nori yelled back. "Or we would."
"Then we'll take it from you somehow," said Garrett. In the flickering candlelight, his eyes gleamed as yellow as the cat's.
All the witches, wizards, and warlocks surged forward. They reminded Chase of the zombie-people in Blackshire, except the faces of the people in the kitchen were far from expressionless. They looked like mad, greedy, drooling maniacs. Tripping and falling over each other, they reached out to grab the kids.
"Alex! Get us out of here!" screamed Nori. She slapped a bunch of claw-like hands away with her many arms.
"Grab their familiar!" someone screeched.
Another claw-like hand tried to grasp the ferret, but the woman's thin skin was no match for Maxwell's razor sharp teeth. Blood spurted as the woman shrieked and yanked her hand away.
"Hang on, then!" yelled Alex right as Chase shouted, "Disappear arms!"
A sensation of lightness flowed through Chase as his body swirled and rippled into the deep-purple smoke along with Maxwell and the other three kids. The smoke rocketed across the kitchen.
Chase thought he heard Marcus scream, "It's them!" as the large cloud swirled and swooped toward the floor. It skimmed across the backs of the screaming crowd, and then zipped into the wide opening of an old brick fireplace. The smoke disappeared up the chimney.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
It's Destiny
The deep-purple smoke swirled onto the country lane and morphed back into Chase, Persephone, Nori, Alex, and Maxwell. Chase and Persephone staggered to the side of the road and flopped into the long grass. Maxwell hopped off Chase's head and hid in his hoodie.
Alex pulled off the blue-tinted glasses and swiped his hand across his forehead. "I did it! I wasn't sure if I would be able to do it under pressure, but I did."
"I knew you could," said Nori. She hugged him, then pulled back and smiled. "Didn't he do an awesome job, you guys?" When neither Chase nor Persephone answered, she turned and frowned at them. "Are you guys listening?"
Chase looked up. "What?"
"What is wrong with you two?" snapped Nori. "We made it out of that madhouse with hardly a scratch and you can't even thank Alex!"
"Sorry. Yeah, good job. Thanks," Chase mumbled. "It's just…it's true. The Marlowes have stolen all the magic. And they managed to get rid of the one thing that might've had the power to stop them."
"Yeah," said Persephone bitterly. She yanked out a tuft of grass and tossed it into the road. "No wonder everyone's crying and giving up. I feel exactly like them now."
"Maybe we should go visit the trolls," said Chase. "They're probably the only ones the Marlowes stayed away from."
"That's all we need," said Nori. "Slobbering trolls running rampant through the house."
"Trolls are tough, though," said Alex. "I bet they could stomp my vile family and turn them into rubbish."
Nori sent him a burning look.
"Of course, trolls are a dodgy lot," said Alex quickly. "No brains whatsoever. Quite stinky as well."
"So why didn't Grandfather know about that artifact?" said Chase.
"I guess he can't know about everything in the world that's magical," said Persephone, heaving a deep sigh.
"With all his incredible power, he should at least know how bad it is with the magical communities, shouldn't he?" said Chase. "He should've known a quest wasn't worth going on, don't you think?"
Persephone shrugged. "I dunno. What's the point of going over and over it? We're doomed now, anyway, just like all the others."
Chase hunched in his jacket and shivered. "I only want to understand."
"Well, I do understand!" snapped Nori. "Don't you two get it? We needed to go on this quest. I knew it and so did Uncle Hiram. We had to see how the other magical communities were doing, to see how they were coping with everything. It makes me sick to see how they've all given up hope, and how they're just spending their lives crying and whining. Uncle Hiram doesn't want it to happen to us! He wanted all of us to know exactly what we're up against and for us to realize we should never give up. Did you hear me? Never. Give. Up!" Her voice was so high-pitched it made Chase's eardrums ache.
"But we need help to fight the Marlowes," said Persephone. "No way can we do it by ourselves."
"There are too many of them," said Chase, "and not enough of us."
"Chase is right. It's a lost cause," said Persephone.
"We might as well go throw ourselves off a bridge," said Chase with a long dramatic sigh. "And without the artifact…"
In the glittering moonlight, Nori looked like she was possessed. "You know what? I've had it! You two are annoying the heck out of me! We're still alive and we still have our magic! I am not letting anyone give up. Not my mom. Not Alex. And not you guys. So quit your stinking whining and get your acts together! I'm telling you now Persephone is the last living daughter of one of the creators of the Relic. She and the Keeper of the House are supposed to rejoin the Relic and the lost Shard of Magic. This is what will get rid of the Marlowes and their dark powers! Not some crappy artifact! And on top of all that, you two really are supposed to get married at some point and then spend the rest of your lives driving each other nuts and arguing about every stupid little thing! So there!"
Persephone and Chase stared at Nori as if she'd transformed into a two-headed demon right in front of their eyes.
Nori shoved her hair out of her face and dropped to the ground. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to blurt it out like I'm some sort of crazy person." She avoided look
ing at them by retying her shoelaces. "You're both just making me so mad!"
"I-I'm—the daughter of…what?" cried Persephone.
"Married!" exclaimed Chase. "But I'm not old enough to get married."
"Way in the future, dork!" snapped Nori. "Not in the next ten minutes."
Persephone held up her hands. "Wait! Just wait!" She drew in a deep breath. "Okay. How—how in the name of everything in this world can I be a daughter of whoever created the Relic? That's ridiculous. The Relic is thousands of years old."
Nori dropped her head back to stare at the starry sky. Alex sat down next to her and clasped her hand. "I didn't know how to tell you," she said at last.
"You can't drop a bomb like that and not give me the details, for gosh sakes!"
"I know, I know," said Nori. "Okay, here goes. Somehow, Uncle Hiram discovered there was one way to completely get rid of the Marlowes, which is what I told you already."
"So Persephone and Grandfather are supposed to get the Shard and Relic back together?" said Chase. "And how will they do that, Miss Know-all-and-see-all?"
"We all have to keep on living our lives," said Nori. "I don't know how or when it's going to happen."
"Since you seem to know so much," said Chase, looking annoyed, "then why didn't you tell us going after the artifact would be a big waste of time?"
"I just told you it's because we needed to see everything for ourselves," said Nori, sending him her own annoyed look.
"But—"
"It's the destiny of a daughter of the Relic's creator and the Keeper of the House," murmured Persephone.
Nori nodded. "Uncle Hiram traveled back in time to over four thousand years ago, to a long-lost civilization in a country that doesn't exist anymore. There was some kind of war going on there at the time. He found you and brought you back here when you were a baby." She sighed. "I'm sorry, Seph, but that's all I know. When we get back, you have to ask Uncle Hiram, or maybe the Relic, for the rest of the story."
"So you're telling us Persephone's over four thousand years old?" said Chase, his eyes practically popping out of their sockets.
"No, she's fourteen," said Nori. "She was just born that long ago."
"Man! Time-traveling is confusing," said Chase, scratching his head.
"It's crazy is what it is," said Persephone. She cleared her throat. "And—and what about my mom?"
Nori fiddled with the zipper on her jacket for a moment before saying, "Miranda's not your real mom."
"She's not?" Persephone's bottom lip trembled. "But she never said anything…" Swiping her hand across her watery eyes, she jumped to her feet. "This is too much! I've been worried sick about my mom sitting there day after day without her free will, and now I find out I'm not even related to her?"
Nori tried to blink away her tears, but they overflowed and dribbled down her face. "I'm sure she thinks of you as her real daughter." She sniffed and rubbed her reddening nose. "I know I shouldn't have said it like I did, but it is something you should've been told years ago."
"Stupid secrets," muttered Chase. "Always ruining it for everyone."
"How is it possible for things to change so quickly?" said Persephone. "My real family has been dead for over four thousand years! I might've had brothers and sisters, and a dad who was actually there while I was growing up! My dad…I guess telling me he was killed in a car accident was just another part of the whole crappy lie." Her voice was filled with bitterness.
Nori nodded.
"Why wasn't I told the truth?"
"I wish I knew," said Nori.
"And you said Chase and Persephone are truly supposed to get married?" asked Alex. "Blimey!"
"Weird, huh?" said Nori. "It's written on the Relic, along with other Tinker destinies."
"And you all believe all of them," said Alex.
"I didn't at first," said Chase. "But now…"
Persephone crossed her arms tightly across her chest. "No way," she said, shaking her head. "Me and Chase? Not going to happen. Ever."
"Can't fight destiny," said Nori.
"Watch me," said Persephone.
Chase stuck his tongue out at her when she turned to trudge across the lane to get her backpack. "We should get going," she said. "The last thing I want to do is sit around here all night, blubbering like a baby. And I know what you just did, Chase."
"Can't get away with anything," Chase grumbled under his breath.
"Oh, crap!" exclaimed Persephone from behind the bushes. "Some animal got in my bag and dragged my things all over the place. And yours, too, Alex."
Alex hurried across the road and shoved his way into the bushes. "Did it have to put my—er—underpants out for all to see?"
"This is just great!" snarled Persephone. The foliage shook and rattled as she crawled around collecting all her belongings. "On top of everything else today!"
Before Chase could jump up to go help, Nori grasped his arm. "Wait, Chase."
He sent her a questioning look as she stared at the ground.
"I just wanted to say…thanks for accepting Alex. I know it's been hard for you because of who he is and all, and how much you hate the Marlowes."
He shrugged. "Like us, he's been through a lot of bad times with them. I don't know what we would've done without him on this trip. He probably saved our lives."
"I know he was happy to do it. He wants so badly to feel like part of the family."
"We're all starting to trust—"
"Hey, quit yacking, you guys," cut in Persephone, dropping their packs at their feet. "It's time to go."
"Where to now?" asked Alex.
Chase and Nori got to their feet and slipped on their backpacks. "It looks like a waste of time to visit anymore magical people," said Chase. "We might as well go home and tell everyone the bad news."
"Personally, I think I've had enough news for one day," said Persephone.
"I need to check on my mom," said Nori. "Since the portal's magic can only locate magical communities, can you take us to Doctor Dan's?" she asked Alex.
"I guess the fairies can take care of the portal when we get home," he said.
"Sure, Poppy will do anything for her favorite guy…"
While Alex and Nori talked, Chase studied Persephone out of the corner of his eye. She looked as out of it as the vampires. Finding out she wasn't who she thought she was had to suck. He had to say something to make her feel better.
Leaning over, he whispered into her ear, "You don't have to marry me if you don't want. I don't mind."
"I prefer not to talk about it!" she snapped through clenched teeth as she grabbed Chase's arm, a little too tightly, and then Alex's.
Seconds later, the four kids were soaring through the air at an incredible rate of speed. Less than half an hour later, they swirled into Doctor Dan's front yard and transformed back into themselves.
The house's lights were on and the front door was hanging wide open. The blazing lights cast a glow across the lawn, and for the first time, Chase realized the doctor's yard looked more like a tangled jungle. His usually immaculate flower beds were choked with weeds. Wow! Doctor Dan is so busy, he can't even take care of his yard anymore, thought Chase.
"Looks like every lamp in the place is on," said Persephone. "I guess we won't be waking up anyone."
"Must be some kind of emergency," said Chase. He shuddered. "I hope there's not a lot of blood." They tromped through the tall grass and up the porch stairs.
Chase paused for a moment before stepping into the foyer. Something didn't feel right. Chills raced up and down his spine. Then, he heard sobbing. He dashed into the waiting room. The scene that met his eyes made his heart pound like a jackhammer.
Andy was curled into a ball, crying his heart out. He was next to Grandfather, who was sprawled on the floor, barely breathing as Doctor Dan gave him a shot of some sort of medicine. Benjamin sat next to them, one arm wrapped around his bent knees, the other lyin
g limp by his side and twisted at an odd angle. One of his eyes was swollen shut while blood oozed from a cut across the side of his face. He also had a red circle burned into his temple.
"Oh my gosh!" cried Persephone. "What happened?"
Andy pushed himself up. "Chase! Persephone! You guys are finally here," he choked out. "It's the Marlowes!"
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The Worst has Come
"What?" shouted Chase. "But they aren't supposed to be here yet!"
"Janie said the end of August!" added Persephone.
"Looks like they lied," said Nori bitterly. "That shouldn't surprise us." She glanced around. "Wait! Where's my mom?"
"She's fine!" said Doctor Dan. "I sent her to ready a room and bring a medical bed for Hiram."
Chase and Persephone glanced at each other. Neither asked where their moms were. If they weren't here, then the answer was obvious: they hadn't made it out of the house. Chase sucked in a deep breath and forced himself to stay strong, as Andy launched into a sniffling and croaky explanation of what had happened.
"They tortured Grandfather!" He pulled off his glasses and wiped his damp, blotchy face on his shirt. "It was horrible! They beat up Dad and stole his power. I—I thought he was dead! And then they—they zapped me." Andy rubbed his chest where Chase was sure, if he looked, he'd find crimson burns streaked across his brother's skin. "But then I got lucky, 'cause before they could take my power, I froze a bunch of them, and then Grandfather teleported us here. He was so weak, we barely got away!"
"But how did they get in the house?" asked Chase. "The protective shield was supposed to keep them out."
"I think they smashed right through it," said Andy. "Janie was bragging."
"So she was there, huh?" said Chase grimly.
Andy nodded. "And James. He—he helped Ethan torture me." He ran his finger along one of the marks streaked across his face. "And…he made fun of my scars. He called me ugly scar-face boy. He said I was a—a mutant and then laughed."
Chase thought his head would explode off his shoulders at these words. "I should've taken care of that rotten jerk a long time ago!" He yanked off his backpack and threw it in a chair.
Chase Tinker and the HOUSE OF DESTINY Page 19