by Martha Carr
The glow in her eyes dimmed and she felt the energy subside. "Fair enough."
"Let's keep moving. There is more to see."
They went back into the hallway, passing back through the bubble and into the bigger hallway, arriving at what looked like a swinging door. "Have I ever told you my fondness for the nineteen hundreds in America? Oh, how I loved that time. Before the first world war when combustion engines were new, and innovation was everywhere. There was so much optimism. It was a perfect era."
"Is this nostalgia related to what I'm about to see?"
"It is everything. Okay, go inside." Turner brushed away a tear, smiling, making Leira's forehead wrinkle.
"I've never seen this side of you," she said softly, walking through the door. She froze for a moment, trying to take in what she was seeing. "Holy crap!"
"Welcome to New York City, but in 1905."
"Is the entire city in here?" Leira shook her head. "This is over the top, even for you. I... I don't know what to say. Fuck."
"Eloquent as ever. This is a recreation of just part of the city. The lower East Side to be exact. My old stomping grounds and full of so many memories for me."
"That is a wonderful smell," said Leira, lifting her chin and sniffing the air.
"That's coming from Katz' deli. An exact replica. I eat there as often as I can," said Turner, strolling down the street next to Leira.
"I thought you said this room was empty." Different magicals, all dressed in turn of the century clothes wandered the street. Some of them looked at Leira and her new leather jacket.
"No, I said there should really be more magicals. Right now, this is a town for refugees. Your grandmother has sent many of them to me. No one can detect them here."
"Harkin could live here."
"Harkin would never stay here. He grows restless too easily and he tends to want to improve on things. Harkin must never know of this world's existence. I assume I have your word on that."
"I gave it to you already. I'll keep it." Leira stepped back to let a horse drawn Hansom cab with the driver standing in the back pass by her. "I want to be the Fixer."
"You have a different calling. We are stopping at the townhouse just on the corner. There's someone I want you to meet."
Turner walked up the stone steps to a three story townhouse and a large door painted black with a large brass knocker in the center.
"Looks a lot like my new place,” said Leira. “I'm getting the bends trying to integrate what I'm seeing with what I knew. I feel like I'm back in the floating palace."
Turner went inside, this time not waiting for Leira.
She took one last look around, smiling at a group of children running down the street after a dog before running up the steps and through the door. "Turner? Where did you go?"
She found him in the drawing room sitting on a settee. In an old leather Morris chair sat a weathered Light Elf in full leather battle gear, trying to set up a Roku to a flat screen TV.
"This doesn't fit at all. You can get cable in this place?"
"Yes, with surprisingly good coverage. Life doesn't have to be without amenities. It's an old city but it's not stuck in the past."
"Blast!" The Light Elf pushed a button on the remote, trying to get the ESPN channel.
"I don't know. It kind of messes with the vibe going on outside."
"It's not Westworld. Leira, I'd like you to meet the old King of Oriceran. Ignore the outfit. I haven't been able to convince him to try fitting in with everyone else."
The king harrumphed and stood to greet her, easily towering over Leira. "We meet again," he growled.
A shudder passed down Leira's spine. "I saw you in the world in between. I saw those other creatures pull you back."
"They did not prevail. You are the partner of Correk? I knew his grandfather, my best friend."
"Wow, fuck me. This is a lot of information coming at me."
The old king arched an eyebrow and glanced at Turner who shrugged and sat back, crossing his leg.
"The king may be able to help with Wolfstan. He knows some of Rhazdon's old magic."
"It was the only way to fight her. I had to learn to be her. Still, it didn't work for me. But you... a new kind of warrior." He looked Leira up and down. "Such a small being to possess so much magic."
"It's in concentrated form. Why are you hiding out in old New York City?"
"Not hiding out," growled the king, scowling. "Biding my time."
"The new king doesn't know yet."
"And I'm catching up with time," he said, picking up the remote. "And learning about baseball. I'm a Nats fan."
Leira shook her head. "Again, that's a lot of information." She pressed her hand to her belly. "I may be done for the day."
"This is a good stopping place. We will all meet up again and put together a strategy for Wolfstan Humphrey and Fleeker. We have a few things on our side that he doesn't know about, and best to keep that way."
"Peyton is in here too, isn't he?"
Turner pursed his lips, letting out a weary sigh. "Good observation. Yes, he's in here and learning the best he can how to fit in. It's still a problem keeping his energy stable, but we're working on it."
The king pushed a button again and the channel appeared, coming on in the middle of a baseball game. "Cardinals, hmph." He sat back down in the Morris chair, ignoring Leira.
"I suppose if I had been stuck in another realm full of goo for seven hundred years I'd be easily distracted too."
"Lucius has the same habit. Like a dog spotting a squirrel." Turner stood up, pushing on his cane. "Time to go back to what most consider the real world." He chuckled, shaking his head. "It's really a relative concept."
"This is really blowing my concept of everything. It feels like I'm at the top of a roller coaster looking over the edge."
Turner looked up delighted. "There's an area with one of those too. The Hurler from Kings Dominion. And a Ferris wheel built by George Ferris. I love my life."
The pair made their way to the exit out of New York City and walked down the long hallway past all the doors.
"I'm coming back here... often. I can do a staycation here for weeks."
"And you'll have your own key to this area too. A magical key. If you approach the door with the key a lock will appear for you. This is why I've been trying to get you to come for a tour."
"I can come and go as I please in here?" Leira narrowed her eyes. "Do I need to wear a costume in some of these rooms?"
"Yes and no," he said, tossing her a key. "I'll show you how to get around the charms."
"And Correk?"
"I will give you the privilege of showing him the place. He will need to know it all because someday he will be the caretaker."
"Like he wasn't hot already." Leira hugged Turner around his neck. "Thank you."
Turner smiled and walked her out of the door and back into the hallway of the mansion.
"Try to stay away from the rogue wizards. For me."
"I'll do my best. They're usually looking for me, you know. Okay, not always."
Leira looked down at the key and gave a crooked smile. Something good in the middle of all this. Wait till I tell Correk. She shoved the key in her pocket and walked to the doorway.
"You stay away from any..."
She stopped mid-sentence and looked around the room. The only traces of Turner were the small round spots from his cane on the dusty hardwood floors.
"I take it I'm making my own portal home? How does he do that?"
Chapter Eight
Correk found Harkin in the town square of Hillsdale outside the pub drinking an ale with a Kilomea at a cafe table. The Kilomea looked up at Correk and grunted, curling his lip into a sneer. "The Fixer makes house calls down here too?"
"Not as often, but yes. This is still Earth." The artificial light streamed down on them.
"Barely." The Kilomea looked around, shrugging. "No one is in any danger here. Go rescue a small witch or a c
ouple of Gnomes."
"There's more than one way to be in danger."
"He means me," said Harkin, taking a long swig of his foamy beer and wiping his mouth on his sleeve. "It's preemptive danger. He's come to rescue me before it happens." Harkin raised his hand, signaling the waitress he wanted another drink.
"A concierge service. That's new. How do I get in on that?" grunted the Kilomea.
Correk arched an eyebrow and reached into a pocket, pulling out the family ring and holding it up for Harkin to see. "We need to discuss this."
Harkin lowered his arm slowly and shook his head. "Now you have my attention. Finley, I'm afraid we're done for the day. I'll look for you here again." Harkin reached into a pocket to get a few pintas.
"No, these are on me," said Finley. "Good to see you again, Harkin." The Kilomea rose out of his chair and brushed past Correk. "Fixer," he said with a nod.
"Making new friends?" Correk sat down across from his father.
"Strange story. I knew him from Oriceran years ago and ran into him down here. What are the odds?"
"Very high and why you have to stay out of sight."
Harkin slapped his hand on the table. "Maybe I will get that beer. I'm not staying like a bird in a cage. I've done that enough in this very long lifetime."
Correk felt a sharp ache in his chest and sat back in his chair. "An entire sanctuary is not a cage."
"It's a controlled environment not of my making. Wolfstan's already won."
"Not by a long shot. If you want to be out here, we have to prove you're innocent. We have to get the queen to see she was tricked. That will take a little time."
"Time is very precious to me."
"You will have hundreds of years left and this time with family."
Harkin's face softened and he shifted in his chair. The silence hung in the air as the waitress came and put down two beers, smiling at Correk. Harkin let out a tired chuckle. "I see you have the family charm." He took a sip of the beer. "Family. I never thought I'd have another shot at that."
"Me either, but I've learned a few things from Leira. Family is more valuable than even this ring. You open up the world in between if that's what it takes to make it whole."
"I'm one rung down from the world in between."
"I'd say that's about right." Correk leaned forward on his elbows. "You send out a distress call to the Fixer just by wandering around. I knew where you were immediately. Someone here will know you and word will get back to Queen Saria. It's only a matter of time. Magicals down here could get hurt in the crossfire."
Harkin scowled, drumming his fingers. "Fine. I'll go back to the sanctuary after I finish the beer."
"Actually, when I saw where you were it gave me an idea. We're making one stop while we're down here. We're going to hide the ring where Wolfstan will never think to look."
"I thought it was safe with you."
"This is the backup plan in case something happens."
Harkin's voice grew loud and he growled, "Nothing will happen to you. I will kill him myself before I let that happen."
Wizards and witches shopping nearby turned to look at the ruckus.
"I can take care of myself and if I can't, there's Leira and Yumfuck." Correk saw the pain flash across Harkin's face and regretted saying it. "Show me how to open the ring." He held it out for Harkin.
"It's simple once you see how to do it." Harkin pushed magic through the ring and twisted and turned it in a series of quick motions, opening it up like a puzzle to reveal a miniaturized hard drive.
"Can Harkin complete his experiments with this?"
"He can at least get a helluva lot closer."
"Then we have to protect it as best we can. Let's go," he said, standing up and pushing back his chair. "I’m going to introduce you to the Jersey Willen."
Harkin closed the ring and got up reluctantly. "A Willen is going to do a better job of protecting what's in that ring?"
"This Willen can," said Correk, taking back the ring and securing it back in his pocket.
Harkin and Correk stood on the Jersey Willen's porch. It was listing to the right with chipped pots full of red geraniums all to one side. Correk knocked on the door and waited, the Willen pulling back a curtain to get a better look at who was there. His face brightened and his whiskers twitched as he worked at undoing the locks and opening the door a crack. "Is it just the two of you? That troll with you?"
"Yumfuck is topside. It's just me and... and my father." Correk stumbled over the word.
The Jersey Willen threw open the door, opening his arms wide. "Your father? Why didn't you say so? Hon, Correk's brought his father," he called over his shoulder. "Do we have any of those week old cookies left?" The Willen hugged Harkin, quickly going through his pockets and drawing back a little disappointed holding a meager pile of pintas in his hand. "I feel like you need this more than I do," he said, giving them back.
"And this is who you want to trust with the most valuable thing I could give to you?"
"Valuable?" The Jersey Willen's eyes grew wider.
"Different kind of valuable," said Correk, "and very dangerous. Full disclosure, someone is hunting us trying to get to it. Someone powerful enough that we need to hide the ring down here with you." He held out the ring. "Will you personally keep it with you and show it to no one?"
The Willen's whiskers twitched and he rubbed his paws together nervously. "Violence makes me jumpy. Oh hell, for you Correk, I'll do it. Hand it over."
Harkin put his hand on Correk's arm. "You're sure?"
"Hey, never question the word of a Willen," said the Jersey Willen, agitated. "We may steal but we're no liars. If I give you my word, that's it," he said, brushing his hands together.
Harkin let go and Correk held out the ring. The Willen's paw brushed over his hand and the ring disappeared, buried in the folds of the Willen's skin. "Better than any safe,” said the Willen. “Hell, I'll bet there's stuff in there I've forgotten about."
Correk smiled and shook the Willen's hand. "I'll be back for that when the danger has passed, but I don't know how long that will take." He gave a sidelong glance at his father, putting his hand on Harkin's shoulder. "If something happens to me, give the ring to my father, or to Leira. Those are the only two you trust with it. Understood?"
The Willen looked gravely at father and son. "Understood and I will carry out my mission," he said, making an X across his heart. "You can count on a Willen."
Chapter Nine
Yumfuck sat on the edge of his bed, dangling his little paws. "I miss Mara," he said, kicking the deck of Oriceran playing cards. "I miss Hagan." He flung himself backward, looking up at the ceiling. "I miss Texas." He rolled over, burying his face in the bedspread. "Calgon, take me away."
He pushed himself up and sat back, squaring his shoulders. "What would Hagan do?" He scratched his furry green head. "Eat something and then go look for a solution," he squeaked.
He put on his tiny navy blue backpack, his mask tied to one of the straps, and slid down the banister to the first floor, stopping in the front hall. He sniffed the air and wet a claw, holding it up. "They're nearby." Yumfuck opened the closet door and took another deep breath, smiling. "Come to me, my beauties." He burrowed past the boots piled up on the floor and found a stash of Cheetos hidden in one of Correk's tall boots. "Love this game. I win again. I'll just take two, maybe three. Oooh, hey Twizzlers. Game changer."
A claw made neat work of the top of the bags and it wasn't long before they were all empty and the evidence stuffed under the couch in the living room. Yumfuck rubbed his belly and licked the orange dust off his fingers. "Correk really needs to up his hiding skills." He shook his little body and marched to the back door. "You can do this. There are friends to be made out there."
He pushed open the door and down the back steps, keeping close to the buildings, looking both ways and smelling the air. "This way." Yumfuck headed down the alley, turning at the side of the townhouse and making his way out to
the sidewalk.
Hardly anyone was on the street in the middle of the day. "There has to be some action somewhere." He looked down the street and saw an elderly woman in jeans and a t-shirt, kneeling in front of her garden. She was digging around peonies in front of a large Federal style brownstone three doors down. She glanced up and down the street and leaned forward, pulling out a wand and blowing on the flowers, bringing them into full bloom.
"Magicals. Jackpot," whispered the troll. "Thank you for being a friend. Traveled down a road and back again," he sang quietly, pressing himself up against a picket fence and moving quickly toward the witch. He got closer and saw that her t-shirt read, Sometimes I Wet My Plants. "This could work," he whispered in delight.
Yumfuck edged up to her, gently tapping on her shoe. She wiped the sweat from her forehead and sat back, still on her knees, looking down at the smiling furry face looking up at her. "Two moons! A troll." She looked around furtively her silver hair fluttering in the wind. "Are you lost?"
"Kind of. I'm hoping a few friends will fix it." He stuck out a furry paw. "Yumfuck Tiberius Troll."
"You're an odd one, aren't you? Welcome to the neighborhood." She took his paw between two fingers and gave a gentle shake. "My name's Portia. I was born and raised in this world. My mother was from Oriceran and grew up near the Dark Forest in Virgo. I've lived here for the last thirty years." She looked at the troll slyly. "You're that troll from the internet. Haven't had that good a laugh in a while."
"If we could keep that on the QT. I took some heat for that."
"I'll bet. Magic out in the open like that. It's a wonder the Silver Griffins didn't come looking for you."
A ridge of fur went up along Yumfuck's back and he let out a shudder. "Trevilsom..." He shook his head. "Not the way I want to see Oriceran again."
"I take it you live close?"
Yumfuck pointed up the street. "Three doors away, the red brick one. I'm bonded with one of the Elves. Leira Berens."
Portia arched an eyebrow. "I've heard stories about her. A remarkable magical if the stories can be believed. You must be special too. She lives with a royal Light Elf, right?" She tilted her chin down. "You're in this neighborhood now? I hope that's good news." She held up her trowel. "Don't worry, I'm not asking for details. It'll be nice having you close by. A reminder of another home, especially for my husband."
