Chapter 35 - Ashby

Ashby was glad when he felt his feet on solid ground again and the violent desire to vomit passed. He let go of the amulet around his neck and looked around. They were in a small patch of grass surrounded by trees on one side and a wooden fence on the other.

“Wooh!” Joao exclaimed. “That’s what I call first class travel.” He checked his clothes as if he expected them to be out of place. “Well, except for that nasty brew.” He made a face of disgust that matched his sister’s.

Ashby didn’t miss taking a potion to be able to transport, even if it made the ride smoother. That “nasty brew” needed some serious improvements.

“Tell me about it,” Brooke gave Perry a nasty glare. “The first time, this one here made me swallow it without even introducing himself. I do believe this potion was nastier than the first, though.” She wrinkled her nose.

“Maybe Portos’s potions are as ancient as he is,” Calisto suggested.

With Joao’s help, Perry had found Portos’s magical supplies and had stolen three vials to transport everyone.

“Why can’t we have an amulet like Ashby?” Brooke complained.

“It takes time to prepare an amulet,” Perry said. “It can’t be just any old trinket. There are only certain metals and jewels that are allowed, and complicated spells have to be applied.”

“Well, I want one,” Brooke said.

Perry peeked around a tree. “You might like it less than the potion.”

“I doubt it.” Brooke looked around for the first time. “Hey, we’re in Mr. Gray’s yard.”

Ashby looked over Perry’s shoulder. “Shh, Mirante said they might be watching your house.”

Calisto, Joao and Brooke got behind him and peeked at the back of Brooke’s house.

“Wow, looks like nothing happened,” Brooke said. “So glad they repaired it. I hope they also took care of my parents RAM. Random Access Memory for those not so techie.”

Ashby turned back. “Keep your voice down. We’re trying to be inconspicuous.”

“Everything looks normal to me,” Brooke said. “No one knows you guys kidnapped me, right? Why don’t I just go inside and signal you from my window if it’s okay to come in? You can just transport in there, can’t you? Perry said the potion will stay in our system for a couple of days. I’ll go around and come from the other side.”

“I’ll walk with you as far as I can,” Perry said. “I’ll make sure I don’t sense anything out of the ordinary.”

They disappeared around the fence and headed away from Brooke’s house.

After a few minutes, Perry came back by himself. “I didn’t sense anything magical. Veridan and Regent Danata wouldn’t waste their time here.”

“She’s not the Regent, so don’t call her that,” Calisto said.

The comment pricked Ashby’s pride, and he chastised himself. It was a stupid reaction. His mother was a liar, a usurper, she had no right to anything but rancor from him. She had no heart, so he should keep nothing for her in his.

“That girl is something,” Perry said.

“Brooke? You like her?” Joao asked incredulously. “She’s okay for a human, but c’mon!”

“He doesn’t have very discriminating standards,” Ashby said, his eyes fixed on Brooke’s window.

Perry pushed him from behind. Ashby staggered into the tree in front of him. When he regained his balance, he turned. “Hey, what’s your problem?”

“No need to be so catty, Ashby.” Perry looked angry, an emotion that seldom crossed his features, much less over a girl. “She’s trying to help find your Companion. Show a little gratitude.”

Ashby fiddled with the cuff of his shirt, then began to roll it up to his elbow. He’d left his jacket behind. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”

“Hey, that’s our signal.” Calisto pointed toward Brooke’s window, where the light was turning on and off.

Quickly, they got into position around Perry.

“So glad we don’t have to drink anymore of that nasty stuff.” Joao winkled his nose.

Perry put a hand out in the middle of the circle they had formed. Each wrapped a hand around Perry’s arm.

Ashby’s stomach turned upside down and the ground disappeared from under his feet. His entire body felt like it was being squeezed through a narrow straw. When everything snapped back into place, they were in a room with purple walls and magenta Japanese lamps hanging from the ceiling.

Brooke was standing on top of her bed. She had changed her clothes and was now wearing a pair of painted on, black jeans and a revealing top with silver, sequin flowers across the chest. She had pinned her hair up and freshened up her make-up. She was looking down at Perry with a smug smile on her face.

“Welcome to my lair,” she said.