The Doorknob Society (The Doorknob Society Saga) (7 page)

I glanced to the far end of the street and stopped, craning my neck back. I stared at one of the most beautiful structures I had ever seen. Its gothic towers pierced the clouds, and windows the size of my house dotted its surface. Even from this distance numerous doors were visible. People were busy entering and exiting through doors that where there one minute and gone the next or had hopped to another location.

“Is that—?”

“Yup, that’s the Paladin Academy,” Edgar said as I stared slack-jawed at my new school.

“Regular folks can’t see it. The Impossible Engineers say it has something to do with the way they built it. That it exists in this and another reality simultaneously just like the Portico. People around here only see a small private school when they walk passed.”

“That’s cool,” I whispered in awe.

“Come on,” Edgar said as he trudged off through the crowd.

I followed him, my eyes wandering from one strange sight to the next. I watched a man wearing a stove-pipe hat adjust an old-fashioned looking jetpack on his back while he played with the knobs on the bronze chest plate that appeared to control the device. Then in a burst of smoke he flew up to the sky. A group of young men all wearing black leather jackets their hair slicked back and lost in talk sure did resemble a street gang from the fifties. People walked up the sides of buildings turning at odd angles to enter and exit doorways half way up the structure.

We came to a stop or I should say Edgar did. I was too busy taking in everything to pay attention and slammed right into him.

“Sorry,” I mumbled.

Edgar pointed at a building. “The Arrowhead.”

The structure seemed to spring from the earth; all around its edge was an ancient wood trunk covered in moss and flowers. It was hard to tell where the tree trunk ended and the store began. Its stained glass windows and hand carved wooden double doors were the work of superior craftsmen that must had taken endless hours to craft. Carved into a large display above the door was the store’s name punctuated with an arrowhead symbol at the end.

“Arrowhead is the best place for supplies. You could grab stuff from the Antique Doorknob across town but this place has all the latest gear,” Edgar said.

“Um, okay,” I said unsure of what kind of supplies I would need. After what I just witnessed I would think that they weren’t your normal school supplies. I was trying to wrap my head around this new reality, granted I had never been the most normal kid. I was more used to hanging out in the shops in Cairo than going to a normal school. But I felt so insignificant compared to what I’d been seeing and curious... damned curious. I wanted to know more about this reality. I knew it held answers to my questions but I was nervous as well... what if I didn’t like the answers I found. Who was that man in black and why wouldn’t Dad tell me more. And then there was the question that nagged at me, did this reality have anything to do with my mom leaving us?

We were just about to enter the building when another customer in a dark overcoat cut in front of us pushing us aside. Edgar rolled his eyes and shook his head as he caught the door before it closed and we stepped inside.

What happened next I couldn’t tell you? One minute Edgar and I were walking into this cool store and the next I was flat on my back surrounded by compasses and pencils with quills sticking out of my hair.

I recall hearing a screech and thought that perhaps someone had realized there had been a mistake and I wasn’t actually allowed here and they were about to kick me out, when a strong gust of wind propelled Edgar and me into one of the adjoining aisles.

“What was that?” I asked as I picked quills out of my hair, Edgar sat up brushing papers and compasses off.

“No idea.” He grabbed his goggles and pulled them down over his eyes.

I was about to tell him it was a little late for eye protection when he yanked a gear from the side strap of the goggles and pushed it into the lens over his right eye. A new set of gears popped up and quickly reformed themselves into a complex yet beautiful piece of machinery around his goggles turning them red and providing one eye with telescopic ability.

“From these readings I would say it’s a gremlin.”

“Like a little green monster?” I chuckled, okay so now I’m supposed to believe in little green things running around causing havoc.

“You only know the mythical legends of gremlins. Gremlins are real. They come from the space between portals. Every once in a while one slips through into our world. They’re very fast and dangerous; we need to get out of here now.”

But it was already too late. I heard the sound before I felt the gust of wind and grabbed Edgar hitting the floor once again. The sharp whoosh of air above us told me all I needed to know. That thing had been meaning to take our heads off. I rolled away from Edgar and he sat up with an uneasy gulp.

“Thanks,” he said breathlessly.

“How do they usually get rid of these things?” I asked peering around the corner to see if I could spot the gremlin. All I saw were other patrons tucked in hiding spots. At least these people were smart enough to stay out of trouble.

“They usually send some Detective Inspector down to take care of it.”

“How long does that take?” I was crossing my fingers hoping he would say right away.

“As soon as they detect it, which is almost immediately, one should be here any minute.”

“So we sit tight?” I sighed in relief. I wasn’t the type to turn away from a fight. But I didn’t think that I was prepared to engage in this type of fight.

“Yes.”

The word had barely left his mouth when I heard the scream. I spun around and gave a peek around the corner of the next aisle. I saw him... the gremlin. He hovered menacingly over a young girl who cowered in horror on the floor. I can’t say I blamed her. This was no little green monster. He was big, muscled and had thick arms. His face was so ugly I’d rather not describe it and drool, way too much of it, dripped from his mouth. Seriously, I hate drool.

As usual, I didn’t take time to think. Instead I did what I do best... I reacted.

“Hey ugly!”

The monster turned on me, as if I had no business bothering him.

“Uh, Chloe, what are you doing?” Edgar said barely above a whisper.

I had no time for Edgar; I had a gremlin to deal with. “Yeah, you heard me. I’m talking to you. Did your mom hit you with the ugly stick one to many times or something?”

The monster glanced at the cowering girl beneath him and then back at me. What can only be called its mouth curled into a drooly smile. That sealed it, I was glad I was taking this thing on. If he thought this was going to be easy he was in for a shock. I returned his grin, without the drool of course, and then took off running. I heard Edgar yelling after me.

“Run, Chloe!”

I didn’t have time to tell Edgar that I was way ahead of him on that point. Step one of my still-forming plan was to get big green ugly away from the girl. After that was... yet to be determined. Okay, so I’m not the best when it comes to plans.

Whooshes of air rushed passed me as I ran, though from behind I felt a growing heat as the monster approached. It was gaining ground quickly. Edgar had said they were fast but I had no idea how well they maneuvered. I wanted to keep my head attached to my body. So as soon as I hit a cross aisle I grabbed a corner post and pivoted. Hot, fetid air whooshed passed and I realized the monster had made a grab for me and missed.

I picked up speed, cut around corners and made as many quick turns as possible, creating a maze the gremlin would find difficult to follow and it seemed to be working. No bad breath nipped at my neck or heat clawed at my clothes. Instead I heard the gremlin snorting as it followed my scent and working its way through my maze. I came near the end of one aisle and skidded to halt so I could make another quick turn. Only a few feet from me stood the man who had cut off Edgar and me when we entered the Arrowhead. He smiled, though more sneered at me and my stomach turned, it was the man in black. I froze not sure what to do, he kept grinning.

“You better keep running, girl, or you’ll get caught.” He nodded his head, his eyes directed behind me and I saw the flash of green as the gremlin entered the aisle.

I rushed around the corner and found myself facing a wall. I turned back around ready to run when I saw the gremlin about to turn down the aisle. He moved slower and more deliberate. I got the feeling that he had no intentions of losing me again. I ducked and crept backward out of the aisle before he noticed me and pressed my back against the wall. I scanned the area for options. I mean I’ve gotten out of tight spots before, though I’ve never had a green gremlin chasing me. I balled my hand into a fist and wished I’d learned some of those tricks I’d seen Dad and Slade use during the fight.

Then like a new friend I was trying to get to know, I felt that familiar tug in my stomach. My eyes went right to the shelf beside me. Rows of old-fashioned doorknobs and skeleton keys were lined up one after the other. I glanced around and all the shelves surrounding me were filled with knobs, keys and maps. Like a switch turning on a light, I quickly sensed the power of those objects and I called to them. The tug in my stomach turned to a squeeze as the knobs and keys began to glow. Blue, yellow... was that pink? And then the whispers similar to the ones in my dream started, urging, begging me to make use of their powers. I closed my eyes not trying to shut the voices out but for the first time inviting them in, and then... they grew louder.

A hot stench brushed my face and I wanted to kick myself. I had allowed my attention to be diverted and now the gremlin was right in my face. Yet I was calm, I felt the energy expand around me and it was comforting and empowering all at the same time.

I didn’t want to open my eyes and look at his ugly face but I did. I balled my hands into fists. If I was going down, I was going down fighting.

I opened my eyes and sure enough the gremlin was right in front of me, drool dripping in big looping beads from his mouth. His forked tongue was licking over rows of razor-sharp teeth. His acrid odor was heavy in the air and his rank breath washed over me causing a rising wave of nausea.

The gremlin swung his head back and let out a wolf-like howl sending the nearby shelves trembling. At this point I knew he wanted me for lunch so I didn’t hesitate, I reacted. I brought my leg up and as hard as I could I kicked him right between the legs. Of course I didn’t stop to think about the gremlin’s anatomy... I took a chance

Luck was with me. The gremlin’s roar shriveled to a squeak as he doubled over.

I stepped back closer to the shelves and the objects that I continued to hear talking to me. My hands were shaking and my whole body began to tremble. The lure of their power was intoxicating and I reveled in the feel of it.

The gremlin growled as it twisted its neck in my direction. Its pale white eyes focused on me and it stretched its mouth bearing its teeth. Its muscles tense like those of a cat ready to pounce.

My arms shot outward of their own accord and my hands stopped shaking and began to glow blue just like I had seen Dad’s do the other night. My body convulsed and from the center of what I can only describe as my being I felt a sense of power form and suddenly rush up and out of my hands. A blast of energy shot into the beast slamming it backward and knocking me over as well.

I got up fast, wanting out of there before he recovered and he came after me again. I took one step and slammed right into a large man. He stood well over six feet. He wore a gray trench coat and a darker gray fedora rested just over his brow. His deep brown eyes assessed me quickly and then he smiled.

“Not bad, kid, but I’d move if I was you.”

He gave me a push and I skidded aside as he stepped up and confronted the gremlin now getting to his feet. My new friend, yup —friend— anyone who helps me deal with a man-eating monster is my friend, stepped forward and pulled something out from inside his trench coat.

As soon as the gremlin laid eyes on the object he began to back up and growl. My friend didn’t hesitate, he advanced on the creature.

I was tired to my bones. Whatever I had just done had sucked all my energy and I prayed that whatever he was going to do would work. Because I had taken my best shot, plus something told me this man could handle himself. I wanted to see what was going to happen, so I positioned myself to get a better look.

He reached into the folds of his overcoat and lifted out a leather case with a silver star, similar to the ones sheriffs wore in the old west. But this one was moving and shifting, each of the points were flipping inward and releasing a beam of silver light. Once they had all moved the center folded in on itself and revealed a set of old-fashioned gears that spun and moved so fast that the motion blurred together. The badge began to glow silver and then a blast of white light shot out hitting the gremlin.

Manacles of pure light wrapped around the gremlin’s arms and legs. He struggled against them and the more he fought the thicker the bands became. He fell to the floor in a futile effort struggling to free himself. He opened his mouth to let out a roar of protest but lines of light swept across his mouth blotting out his howls.

The light grew brighter and so brilliant that I avoided looking at it. When it finally faded, I dared to look and the gremlin was gone. And my new friend was putting away his badge.

“I’m Detective Inspector Emory. And you are?”

“Chloe,” I said wearily waiting to see if the gremlin would pop out from behind one of the shelves.

“Chloe,” His eyes narrowed and searched my face as if he might have recognized me. “You did a fine job.”

“Thanks, I think.”

“Something wrong?”

“You could say that, I just found out that my family is part of all this.” I waved my hand around.

“Family, and who might that be?”

“Masters.”

His eyes and brow squinted for just a moment and then he smiled. “You’re Elijah’s daughter?”

“Yeah, I am.” I wanted to ask how he knew my dad but before I could Edgar dashed around the corner.