“It’s real.” Simon gazed down at the small coin lying on the ground. It had traveled a few feet and now rested thousands of miles away. “It’s a portal through space. That is Cairo, even as we speak, within arm’s reach, as we stand here in Bedfordshire. Our fathers made a miracle.”
Kate grabbed his arm. “Let’s go through! Let’s step into Cairo. We could see the pyramids. The pyramids, Simon!”
“No, Kate,” Simon said without conviction. “We have other pressing business before the pyramids. Plus, we don’t truly know how to operate it.”
“My father obviously used it many times. Probably your father too. There is a mark here at Warden Abbey.”
“Yes, but we must be cautious. If we were trapped in Cairo, at best it would be months getting back.”
“Why do you want to come back?” Nick’s voice broke his reverie. “There’s your great mystery solved. You’ve mastered the key left to you by your father. Let’s use that thing to go somewhere far away. It’s a sign. You spoke to your mother tonight. And now here’s your father saying the same thing. He never meant for you to stay in one place. He gave you the power to go anywhere now, in the blink of an eye. Think of the magic you can learn. No one could find us.”
Simon continued to gaze at the common Cairene alley as if it was the most exotic place in the world. He was tempted to lift the sole of his foot off the freezing floor of Warden Abbey and set it down in the sands of Egypt. He held his hand up and could feel the hot sun of Cairo.
He quickly waved his hand over the shimmering portal, and the scene vanished, replaced by the world map. He then touched the dot that corresponded to Hartley Hall and the portal swirled. Soon they were staring through the threshold into Sir Roland’s study in Surrey. “Here is a location we can test, I think. Let me just tell Winston that we’re on our way, so he doesn’t wonder where we’ve gotten to.”
Kate grinned with excitement.
Simon left her the key and went off to make arrangements. After he had a quick word with his trusted butler, he returned to find Kate staring with wonder at the room where she had been countless times. Nick slumped in a corner with his chin propped in his hand.
“Right,” Simon said, “are we ready?”
Kate took his hand. “Always.”
Simon and Kate stood squarely before the strange window to another place. They looked at one another with expectant nods. He squeezed her hand and stepped forward. It felt like submerging in warm water. Immediately he was bombarded with sight and sound, bright and loud, and odd smells as well. The magic of aether burned his nostrils and the thick mist swirled around him as if alive. It pulled at him. For a moment, Simon was terrified he was becoming lost, but he could still feel Kate’s hand, and he realized the aether was towing him in a specific direction. He stopped fighting against it.
He felt solid ground beneath his feet though he didn’t remember not having it under him before. His knees nearly buckled and he reached out to steady himself. His hand struck a bookcase and he leaned against it, breathing hard. He could smell cold musty air and the mildewed scent of old books.
Kate stood next to him, wavering on her feet. “Are we really in Hartley Hall?”
Simon laughed and kissed her cheek. “You feel real enough.” He looked back at the portal. He could see his private sanctuary at Warden Abbey. And he saw Nick standing on the other side. Simon waved him forward with a jovial grin.
Nick shook his head and held his hand up in a farewell gesture. He turned for the door.
“Nick!” Simon shouted as the door closed. “I’ll go back for him. He’s still confused from the necromancy. I knew I shouldn’t have allowed it.”
“Simon.” Kate grabbed him. “Let him go. He isn’t disoriented. He doesn’t want to be here. Give him time. He said he was leaving before, then he came back. Nick obviously loves you. He’ll come around again.”
Simon let out a disappointed sigh, watching the empty room through rippling air.
Kate handed him the key. “Why didn’t you tell him about the curse? He might have been able to help you.”
“He can’t.”
“He might have tried.”
“That’s why I didn’t tell him.” Simon held up the key and said, “Marthsyl.”
The window on his boyhood shrank to a pinpoint in an instant and was gone.
Chapter Twenty-two
The Red Orchid salon stood in the pale light of the winter moon. The house itself was finally quiet although the neighborhood was still active with tradesmen and costermongers and laborers trudging into another night. Wagons full of tomorrow’s catch of fish teetered past.