Maria looked at Sherlock, whose floppy ears raised at the mention of gnomes. He was probably already having visions of using them as chew toys.
“Besides, we shall not be gone long. You needn’t worry. Oriceran is a safe place…mostly.”
“Gulp,” Tabby said. She looked pale and a bit nervous.
Gramps threw his head back with laughter and put his arm around Tabby and Claire. “Joking!”
But Maria knew a place that was home to large arachnid creatures was far from safe. She kept her mouth shut.
Agnes and Salem stepped forward. “I wish we could go,” Salem said.
“Why can’t you?” Maria asked, disappointment wrenching her features. “Who’ll stay around and keep this place safe? The Silver Griffins?” He laughed. “The Muffler twins?” He laughed again, this time Agnes joining in with him.
“Hey! Not nice!” the Muffler twins said.
“Kidding!” Salem said, then leaned forward and whispered, “Seriously, can’t do that. The whole town would probably burn down.”
Agnes elbowed him, smiling. “You have a great guide in Ignatius. No need to worry,” Agnes said.
Ignatius stepped forward. “Are you ready?”
Maria nodded. Sherlock bounded up to her and said, God, I hope I don’t get portal sick.
“Is that a thing?”
Eh, with me, you never know.
“Just throw up in the opposite direction of me,” Maria said, patting him on the head. “And maybe I’ll let you pee on a Gnome.”
Tabby shook her head. “Still can’t believe this.”
“Oh, you will,” Ignatius said.
They went into the ice cream shop, glass crunching beneath their feet. The sun had almost risen in its entirety. A new day was on the horizon.
Once inside, they gathered in a circle.
“Now, when the portal opens,” Ignatius directed, “Step through. Don’t think too hard about it. Imagine it’s as normal as the door we’ve just used to enter the shop.”
“Why?” Tabby prodded.
“It’s better if I don’t answer that question. Have no fear. Malfunctions are very slim. You have a better chance of winning the lottery,” Ignatius went on.
“Or plowing a giant spider with your car,” Tabby whispered out of the side of her mouth.
Maria laughed.
“Now, Agnes, Salem, and the twins, will you help sing us through?” Ignatius asked.
The witches and wizards stepped forward, tightening the circle.
“Sing?” Maria asked.
“Yes, it’s a trick we’ve learned from the Light Elves,” Ignatius said nonchalantly.
“Elves?” Tabby said, breathless.
“Zip it,” Claire said.
“Everyone hold hands,” Ignatius said. They did. Maria took her grandfather’s in her right and Sherlock’s paw in her left. Claire took Sherlock’s other paw in her right and Tabby’s in her left. The Muffler twins, Agnes, and Salem closed the circle.
Silence hung heavy in the air for a moment until it was broken by the high, sweet melodic tones of the elders’ voices.
It was a song Maria had heard, first as child many years ago, and then later, on her nineteenth birthday, when she opened her mother’s music box. It was a song that reminded her of home, and this time, she found herself singing along.
A burst of light came in the middle of the circle. It was the portal. On the other side was Oriceran.
Ignatius led the way, stepping through and disappearing out of thin air. Next went Sherlock with a joyous bark, then Claire and Tabby together. Last was Maria, and as she stepped through the portal, she knew a chapter of her life was closing, and an array of endless possibilities was only just beginning. Duke had been right.
Then, Maria left Earth with her family, ready for anything that came her way.
FINIS
Author Notes - Flint Maxwell September 15, 2017
Most importantly, I want to thank you for reading this book. If this was your first time reading something by me, I’m so happy to have you along for the ride, and I hope I didn’t disappoint. If you’ve read my other work and you’re a rabid Flint-Stone (lame name, I know), then welcome back!
Words really can’t describe how grateful I am to you amazing people who read not only my stuff but who read in general. It seems that not many people do these days. Often times, people I know will ask me what I’m doing with my life (always an awkward question) and I’ll say, “Oh, I’m an author,” and most of these individuals will invariably reply with: “What’s an author?”
No, no, I’m kidding.
But seriously, bookstores are dying, libraries are losing their funding, and English Literature majors are still laughed at…usually by the ones who lack imagination and the courage to follow their dreams. So, you, my friends and fellow lovers of stories, are simply amazing, and without you, I’d be just another guy talking to himself. You make the real and countless fictional worlds go round. Also, it is really, really nice to have someone who’ll listen to my crazy ramblings.
Anyway, I told myself I’d try to keep these notes short, but I also told myself I was going to quit drinking pop, and so far I’m 0-2.
When Martha Carr messaged me about joining her in helping create a new universe, I about shit my pants. Martha and I have known each other for about a year. I had read her thriller books (which were great, and you should totally check out The Wallis Jones Series, if you haven’t already), and told her how much I liked them. I never expected anything in return. I was just being honest. Then the next thing I know, I’m writing about a crazy world called Oriceran and a talking Bloodhound named Sherlock.
I guess life just happens like that sometimes. So a very big thank you to Martha Carr and Michael Anderle for inviting me along on this wild ride. They both have given me the greatest gift an author can ever receive, and that is another sandbox to play in—one where the foundation is sturdy and the sand is clean, deep, and ripe for building.
So round of applause for Martha, who is one of the most amazing people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing. I mean, look at all she’s accomplished. She’s written for major news outlets, she’s
