by John Corwin
I dug my hands into the dust and scooped it between my legs like a dog digging for bones. "My belongings were in a white cloth sack. Hopefully it will be easy to find."
By the time the sunlight faded to dusk, we'd burrowed all the way to where the basement had been, but still no bag.
Max wiped his dirty face, leaving a trail of mud in the sweat. "This is hopeless, Conrad. We need shovels or spells."
"What if the rot spell ate it?" Ambria said.
Max shook his head. "It only works on wood." He frowned. "I think."
"It should have been here," I said. "I put the bag in my closet. It had clothes and some other knick-knacks inside."
Ambria jerked upright and gave us a worried look. "Oh, dear."
"What?" I walked over to her. "Are you okay?"
"For the moment." She walked several feet away and began excavating with her hands.
"Why are you digging there?" I asked. "That's where the bathroom was."
Ambria reached into the mound of dust and withdrew my travel sack. She held it out to me and smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry, Conrad. I completely forgot I'd taken it into the bathroom."
"Why in the world did you take it to the bathroom?" Max asked.
She looked down. "I was snooping if you must know the absolute truth."
I didn't care one bit about her snooping, but felt rather irritated that we'd wasted so much time digging. I took the sack to the stone patio and dumped its contents. My old work clothes spilled out along with a toothbrush and a bent picture of me and Cora eating ice cream in the park. My mouth went dry and salt stung my eyes.
Cora sets the bird cage on the ground in front of a park bench and opens the door. The bird hops through the door and looks around.
"Go, little bird," Cora says with a smile. "Fly free."
The bird flutters its wings as if it hasn't used them in a long time. Finally, it soars into the air and flies away.
"Didn't you spend all your money on that bird?" I ask.
She nods.
"Why did you let it go?"
Cora squeezes my hand. "Would you find happiness in a cage?"
Though I'm not bright, I know the answer. "No. It would be boring."
She laughs. "Forever alone in a cage is no way to live. We should never want others to suffer like that, Conrad. It is better to die free." She rubs the green pebble dangling from a silver chain around her neck.
Cora is the most wonderful person in the world, I realize. "Will you be my mummy forever?"
"Forever." She kisses my forehead. "I'll protect you and keep you safe." She tucks the necklace under her shirt.
"Why is that your lucky pebble?" I ask.
Cora's eyes grow distant. "It saved me from a fate worse than death."
My eyes widen. "What's worse than death?"
Tears pool in her eyes. "Life without love. Existence without emotion." She presses my face against her chest. "I gave up eternity gladly."
The picture came back into focus and the memory blurred back to a dull ache in my heart.
Ambria leaned her head on my shoulder. "Oh, Conrad, I know you loved her very much."
"I still do," I said and pressed a hand to my chest, wishing I could loosen the knot.
"She's lovely," Max said. "I wish my mother was like Cora."
Ambria felt the sack. "I still don't see the pebble."
I dropped to my knees and shook out the old work clothes. The pebble clattered to the stone. The silver chain had been stolen by another set of foster parents but I hadn't cared, so long as I could keep the pebble. I picked it up and rubbed it. The surface felt smooth as glass, and when I peered into it, I saw my reflection looking back.
I wiped away my tears. "Let's go home."
The vampires were up and about when we went inside the house.
Sonia's lips peeled into a snarl. "What have you filthy little animals been doing?" She stepped into our path. "Take off your shoes or you'll track all over the place."
I wasn't in the mood to be yelled at by the unfriendly woman. "Get out of my way."
Her eyes glowed red and fangs protruded beneath her upper lip. "Or what, you little mouse?"
My wand was in my hand before I realized it. I flicked it up and opened my mouth.
"Sonia, leave them alone." Desmond grabbed his sister's arm and jerked her aside. "I'm sorry. She's been impossible lately."
"Impossible?" Sonia shrieked. "You let these vermin live with us, and then allow them to bring in a stray lycan! I'm sick of it."
"You hardly ever see us," Ambria said. "We're quiet and courteous, and we keep the house neat. What more do you want?"
"I want you gone," the vampire girl snarled.
Desmond clenched a fist. "If it's that bad, sister, then we'll move."
"No!" Sonia stomped her foot. "We were here first."
"We'll have to live on campus when school starts," Max said. "Then you'll almost never see us."
Sonia narrowed her eyes. "How much longer before you start school?"
"Two weeks," Ambria said. "Even the lycan will be attending."
The vampire's fangs retracted and the glow faded from her eyes. "I suggest you look for another permanent home to return to."
Desmond sighed. "Having people living here during the day protects us, Sonia."
"Protected by children?" She jerked from his grasp and went through the iron door the basement. "Rubbish!"
"Desmond, you're the nicest vampire we ever met," Ambria said. "If we need to move to make things better with your sister, we will."
He shook his head. "Her attitude keeps getting worse. I think she's just using you as an excuse to shout and throw tantrums."
"Why is she so upset all the time?" Max asked.
Desmond ran a hand through his thick hair and sighed. "It's the lifestyle. She hates not being able to enjoy the daytime anymore. She hates staying up all night pretending to be friends with other vampires."
"It's the same old thing over and over forever," I said in a quiet voice. "She wants real friends, not fake ones."
"Precisely," he replied. "She's bored out of her mind because she can't have real friends. She has to fake her emotions around them all the time."
"Can't you just leave and travel the world?" Ambria said. "Surely there's more you want to see than Queens Gate."
"There is, but we owe a debt to our master, and he won't let us leave." Desmond's eyes grew sad. "He could track us anywhere we went."
"How can you repay the debt?" Max asked.
The vampire shrugged. "He said he'll tell us when the time is right." Desmond turned for the basement door. "Maybe one day we can escape our fate. Until then, I'll try to keep Sonia under control."
"How sad," Ambria said. "To be trapped somewhere you don't want to be."
I'd known that feeling over and over again during the course of my life, from the moment I'd found myself at the orphanage, and with every foster parent except for Cora. Here in Queens Gate I felt free at last. If I could help free anyone else like I had Ambria and the others at the orphanage, I would.
Cora would be happy if I did that.
"Conrad?" Ambria stood in front of me. "Max asked you a question."
"Oh?" I glanced back and forth at her and Max.
She rolled her eyes. "It's about food, of course."
"We just spent the afternoon digging through the wreckage of a house," Max said. "Of course I'm hungry."
I wasn't terribly hungry. "You two go ahead. I'm going to eat something here and go to sleep early."
"Is something the matter?" Ambria asked.
"No, I'm just tired." I smiled to prove I was okay. "Plus, I really want a shower."
Ambria looked at her dirty hands. "Goodness, I think we all need to clean up."
"We can eat dirty," Max said. "Or get something to go."
The front door opened and Blue came inside. She looked at me and smiled. "I put your parcel in your room, Conrad."
"Thanks, Blue." I s
cuffed a shoe against the floor. "Thanks for the picnic."
The lycan girl looked at us with a confused expression. "Why are you so dirty?"
"Ugh," Max said. "We had to dig through the rubble of a destroyed house to get Conrad's stuff."
She didn't seem any less confused. "Where did your strange little friend go?"
"Probably back to her horrid home," Ambria said.
"I'm going upstairs to wash," I said, and shuffled away while the others answered Blue's questions.
After the shower, I came downstairs and noticed Ambria and Max were gone, probably to eat. I toasted some bread and cooked an egg, then sat at the kitchen table to eat. I felt a whisper of air on my ear.
"Boo," Blue said.
I leapt up and just as quickly tripped backwards over the chair. She burst into laughter.
"I'm sorry, Conrad. I shouldn't have scared you like that."
I righted the chair and sat back down, trying to maintain at least a shred of dignity. "It wasn't nice, especially while I'm eating."
Still giggling, she said, "I know."
I finished my egg and started on my toast. "What did you do for the rest of the day?"
Blue traced a fingernail along the tabletop. "The children of another pack invited me to play hide and go hunt in the Dark Forest."
I stopped chewing. "That forest is dangerous and full of monsters."
"That's what makes the game so fun," she said. "We stay near the outer area since most of the monsters live deep inside."
"Most of the creatures in there were created by my father," I said. "They were made for killing and nothing else."
Blue touched a hand to her chest. "Why, Conrad, are you concerned about my safety?"
"Of course I am." I finished the last bite of toast. "You're my friend."
She jumped up, ran over, and hugged me. "You do like me, don't you?"
My face burned. "Yes."
Blue kissed my cheek. "Would you like to go on a walk, or play a board game?"
"I'd love to, Blue, but I'm exhausted." I patted her hand and stood. "Perhaps tomorrow?"
She clapped her hands together. "That would be wonderful."
"Goodnight, Blue."
She pecked a kiss on my nose. "Goodnight, Conrad."
After brushing my teeth, I climbed into bed and touched my nose. Though the skin seemed no warmer to my hand, it still felt a bit hot where Blue had kissed me. Girls were so different from boys when it came to friendship. Boys liked to hit each other, but girls like to giggle and hug. The living curse had severely blunted my social skills. My time with Ambria and Max was all the experience I had with friendship.
I just hoped I'd live long enough to experience it more.
Chapter 12
True to her word, Evadora waited at the Fairy Garden gate early the next morning.
"You brought it?" she asked, jumping up and down. "Show me, show me."
"Hold on, Conrad," Max said. "Don't let her take it from you."
"I hadn't planned on it," I said.
Ambria looked up and down as she watched the energetic Evadora. "Calm yourself, girl."
I dug into my pocket and withdrew the pebble. Holding it between thumb and forefinger, I showed the girl my prize.
Evadora stilled and her eyes grew so wide I saw the stone reflected in them. "You have it," she whispered. "Now we can go."
"Go where?" Max asked. "I'm not walking another step until you tell us."
She pointed across the field. "To the pond."
"Whatever for?" Ambria asked.
I clenched the stone in my fist. "How did you know I had the pebble?"
"The queen knows," Evadora said. "She can tell you why."
"But—"
"Come, come, come!" Evadora skipped ahead.
The rest of us looked at each other with concern.
"I hope she doesn't plan to drown us," Ambria said.
I shook my head. "Yesterday she showed me how strong she is. I think if she wanted to hurt us, she would have already." My curiosity made it easier to convince myself to follow Evadora. Thankfully, the others followed.
She waited at the edge of the pond when we caught up to her. "What is it when something is over another thing?"
I set my broom down at the edge of the pond. Ambria set hers next to mine.
"When something is above something else?" Max said, dropping his broom carelessly on the ground.
"Ah, above." Evadora squished mud through her toes. "That is the word." She pointed to the water. "Conrad, rub the stone and say the words, 'As above, so below' then hold my hand and we will leap into the water."
Ambria gasped. "She does mean to drown you!"
"What game are you up to?" I asked.
Evadora tilted her head. "I will show you the safe way to the queen." She held out her hand. "Come, Conrad. Do what I ask."
"You promise this isn't a trick?" I said.
"Look inside my skin." Evadora pressed a hand to her chest. "Look deep, Conrad. Do you see a trick?"
I stared at her for a moment, completely unable to see through her skin and instead relied on the sincerity shining in her eyes. "I see no trick, Evadora." I held out my hand.
"No, Conrad!" Max grabbed my arm. "This is insane. Besides, that water looks poisoned."
"He won't get wet," Evadora said. "The bad water won't touch him."
I pulled my arm free from Max. "I must find out why the queen wants to see me, and how she knows about this pebble."
Ambria jabbed a finger at Evadora. "Ask her, then."
"Cannot tell," Evadora replied. "Only the queen can."
"Fine." Ambria grabbed my wrist. "I'm coming too."
"You're all mental," Max complained. "Do I have to hold Conrad's hand?"
Evadora held out her other hand. "No, but we must all touch."
Staring at the water, I didn't know what to expect when we jumped in. Would the pebble allow us to breathe underwater? Would it keep us dry? Would it allow us to walk on water? My body trembled with excitement and apprehension while the moisture evaporated from my mouth. The water reflected a worried expression on my face.
Evadora squeezed my hand. "Rub the stone, Conrad. Say the words."
I rubbed the pebble with my thumb. "As above, so below."
"Jump!" Evadora cried.
We leapt into the water. There was no splash, no rush of wetness into my clothes, or the rumble of water against my ears. I felt a sickening wrench in my guts that passed as quickly as it had come. We flew out of the pond and tumbled ungracefully on the ground. Evadora pulled me upright while Max and Ambria climbed to their feet.
"Hurry," Evadora said. "Our others will feel us here if we stay too long."
"Stay where?" Max said, brushing dirt off his trousers. "We're right where we started!"
Ambria stared at the water. "I don't understand. Did the pebble make the water bounce us back out? Why did I feel as if my body turned inside out?"
"We are in the reflection," Evadora said. She pointed to forest of stumps.
The entire scene rippled as though a watery reflection and my jaw fell open.
The wide-eyed look on Max's face told me he'd just figured out what the girl meant. "We're in a reflection of the real world?"
"Yes, a reflected world," Evadora said. "Come, fast! We do not want our reflections feeling us here."
Judging from the urgency in her voice, I decided now was not the time to argue. We raced through the path between the stumps all the way to the crack in the wall. Evadora dropped to her knees and crawled inside. I followed close behind, mind racing as fast as my heart.
"What about the guardians?" I asked.
Evadora didn't answer.
"That's a good question," Ambria said breathlessly behind me.
We reached the end and stood in the starry rift between worlds. Evadora waved a finger around at the emptiness. "The guardians do not have reflections." She was right—there were no floating orbs of light.
"Why
don't they reflect?" I asked.
She shrugged. "Some things cannot be reflected."
"You never answered my question last time," Ambria said. "It looks like we're in space, but we can walk as if we're on land."
Evadora blinked. "I wish I knew, but I do not." She motioned us on. "Hurry. We must reach the looking pool soon." She dashed across the void.
I stepped out and found firm footing then chased after her, my friends close behind.
"What happens if our reflections find us here?" Max asked.
"Bad things," was the only answer Evadora gave us.
We reached a tunnel on the other side, this one tall enough to walk through, and ran inside. We emerged in a grassy glade surrounded by tall, bleak-looking trees. A small pond of black water rippled, and the world around us rippled with it.
"Join hands, everyone." Evadora said. "Rub the stone Conrad, but reverse the words. So below, as above."
I rubbed the stone and said, "So below, as above."
We leapt.
Once again came the gut-wrenching yank, a flicker of the deepest black, and we hurtled from a pond on the other side and back to our world. I landed hard and rolled onto the ground. A greenly glowing moon hung among a starlit tapestry, the shadow of a mountain with a crooked peak lurking beneath. I sat in a glade of purple grass surrounded by twisted trees with spiky bark.
We weren't back in our world.
We're in the Glimmer.
Max stood up and looked around. "Where are we? Why is the moon so huge and green?"
"We're in Evadora's land," Ambria said. She huddled next to me. "It's night but the moon is so bright it's nearly like daytime."
Despite its unusual brilliance, the moon didn't mute light from the dense clusters of stars.
"Eternal twilight," Evadora said in a whisper. "We do not have daytime or nighttime." She shivered. "Just time."
"No wonder you're mental," Max said. He ran a hand over the grass and jerked it back. "Feels more like snake scales than grass."
I gave Ambria's hand a squeeze, and climbed to my feet. As I regarded the impressive sight, I realized the moon itself had satellites—each one a mere fraction of the size, except most had white clouds and blue skies.
"Are those planets around the moon?" I desperately wished for a telescope.
