Page 74 of Impractical Magic
Scarlett reappeared, a triumphant grin on her face and a fire axe clutched in her hands. “I choose violence.”
“Scarlett, no! You’ll destroy the door! And Max will know we were in there.”
“So? He changed the lock on a hotel room, Del! That’s plenty of justification. Wait till Mama hears—she’ll kick him out so fast he won’t have time to pack.”
“Scarlett, wait—”
But her sister was already in motion. Gripping the axe tightly, she raised it over her head and brought the blade down on the door. The sharp metal bit into the wood with a satisfying crack. Splinters flew as Scarlett wrenched the axe free, the door shuddering under the force of her blow.
“Scarlett!” Delilah glanced nervously down the hallway. “Someone’s going to hear.”
Scarlett merely shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye. “Then we’d better hurry.” She swung the axe again. The lock gave way and the door swung open.
Max had completely redecorated. Gone were the antique furnishings and watercolors of autumnal scenes. Gadgets and props of every description littered the space—disappearing cabinets in multiple designs, a guillotine prop, a box of wands. A collection of top hats in mildly varying designs was laid across the windowsill. Perhaps the most surprising items in the room were all the books. Some magic books, but most were unrelated. Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. The Guinness Book of Records. The Encyclopaedia Britannica in thirty-two volumes.
“Huh.” Scarlett poked at the books with mild interest. “Max must slay at those coffee shop trivia nights.”
“Everybody needs a hobby, I guess . . .” Delilah moved further into the room. “If I were a portal, where would I be?”
“Bathroom.” Scarlett was already moving toward the door.
The sisters entered cautiously, half-expecting to find a shimmering vortex waiting to swallow them whole. But to their disappointment, it was just an ordinary bathroom, complete with fluffy towels and complimentary toiletries.
Scarlett, never one to let an opportunity pass her by, couldn’t resist peeking into the medicine cabinet. She let out a snort of laughter as she pulled a bottle off the shelf. “‘Enchanted Essence Aftershave,’” she read aloud. “Bleagh, I’ll pass on Max’s enchanted essence, thanks.”
Delilah shook her head, fighting back a smile. “Focus, Scar. The portal’s not here.”
Scarlett closed the cabinet. “Only one other place it could be.” She turned to face her sister, her eyes glinting with excitement. “The wardrobe.”
They returned to the bedroom and approached the wardrobe slowly, their hearts pounding in their chests. Delilah reached out, her fingers hovering over the handle. She glanced at Scarlett, who nodded. With a deep breath, Delilah grasped the handle and pulled.
The interior of the wardrobe shimmered and rippled, the back wall replaced by a swirling vortex of energy.
“You wanted to know where all those magicians are coming from?” Del asked. “Here’s your answer.”
“Well, well, well.” Scarlett smirked, a hint of mischief in her voice. “Where do you think this goes? Maybe Narnia? Shall we have a look?”
“Wait!” Delilah reached for her sister’s arm. “We have no idea what’s on the other side of that thing. Could be dangerous.”
But Scarlett was already stepping forward, her hand outstretched. “Come on, Del! Where’s your sense of adventure?”
Her sister hesitated, torn between caution and curiosity. “What if the portal disappears on us? How will we get back?” She watched as Scarlett’s fingers brushed the shimmering surface of the portal, sending ripples cascading.
“We’ll find another, Del, good grief! We’ve got to seize the day, be brave, all that jazz.”
Delilah’s gaze snapped to the window, and her eyes widened in shock. “Scarlett . . .”
“You need to do a little living, Del. You can’t spend your whole life behind that desk!”
“Scarlett, look . . .”
“And more importantly, this could be our chance to finally get some answers.”
“Scarlett, dammit. Look at the window!”
Hanging from the curtain rod was a cage filled with glowing red dragonflies.
Chapter 29: The Queen’s Gambit
