The Chameleon Shop

Elated beyond words, Kaylee walked hand in hand with her father, down the road to the Spirit Realm. She noticed with a chuckle that the candy cottage had disappeared again but it did provoke a slight foreboding unease, wondering what the old bat had planned next.

She left the beautiful purple gown with the villagers in exchange for another set of leather leggings, these being more comfortable and suited for travelling in. There they met up with Jett and Willy, who Kaylee was so happy to see, was safe.

The Shaman was there holding the lead ropes of two brown ponies. She gave Kaylee a hug and said, ‘Take these ponies. They will get you there faster. Jett will bring them home.’ Jett had agreed to accompany them, to see they made it safe to the Iron Gates.

Their journey back to the beautiful gardens was relaxed and filled with excitement. They had stopped at Betina’s caravan to thank her and say, ‘Goodbye.’

Betina embarrassed Greg and made Kaylee laugh when she said, ‘Oh, he is very handsome, your father. I think I would fight a dragon to be getting him back, also. Hmm?’

The people of the Fire Realm were busy with scythes, gathering hay in their fields. They waved out to the small group as they walked by. Jett suggested they stop at Dougie’s to drop Willy off.

Dougie was somewhat pleased to see Willy; at least for the first five minutes or so.

The corn stalks were growing taller in the fields, reminding Kaylee summer was in full swing and it was nearing Christmas time in New Zealand.

She chatted to her father happily about their plans for a real Christmas tree this year. She had grown to love the pine scent in the Spirit Realms and wanted to have that scent all through the house.

Greg asked his daughter how she had been doing at school. To which Kaylee told him she had been doing all right, but would have been doing better if he had been around. She looked sad and he pulled her close for a comforting hug. Then she brightened up and said, ‘I’m sure going to have some good ideas to send in a story for National November Writing Month though!’

‘You will at that,’ her Dad smiled back.

A few crows in the field suddenly took to the skies, squawking in annoyance. The small group of travellers thought nothing of it, until a few of the corn stalks moved. Greg stopped, his hand shot protectively out in front of his daughter right before a snarling black face burst forth from the cornfields and stood, feet spread and baring its teeth.

Jett leapt in front of them prepared to attack the hagar, but there was never only one. He looked around for the others and sure enough, two more of the huge black creatures slinked from the cornfields, slobbering, snarling and snapping at their feet.

They turned to run, not expecting to get far, but not wanting to wait around to be torn to shreds either. However, it was no use. Wilfrey emerged, riding on the back of a black horse with several gargoyles that had now come out of hiding in the cornfield to reveal themselves.

They cocked their heads to the side, grinning evilly, flexing their bony-clawed fingers and clacking their teeth ─ the sound made your blood run cold.

Jett was strong and brave, but he was also practical. They were outnumbered and there was no way his sacrifice could do any good at this time. Better to wait and try a different plan at a more opportune time. Still, he moved closer to Kaylee, growling menacingly at the hagars. He was not about to stand idly by and watch his new friend be maimed, either.

Wilfrey stood looking smug. ‘Thought you were so smart girl, didn’t you! Taking advantage of my good nature and hospitality, to steal from me!’

Kaylee, like her new friend Paedro the wolf-boy, could not hold back the truth, ’Steal? From you? You stole that egg,’ she dare not tell him it had now hatched, ‘from its mother! You are the thief! Good nature my butt ... you’re a ... vain, arrogant, egotistical ─’ She had a whole line-up of insults ready for him.

He interrupted her tirade, not even slightly bothered. He knew he had the upper hand now.

‘Return the egg in seven days and you can have your father back. If you fail to return it to me, your father will die.’ He shot a glare at Jett. ‘And your pet puss won’t be able to save you.’

Jett snarled, ‘Ye of little faith, Wilfrey. I think you need another scar on your face, like that one I gave you. Even them up a bit. Hmm?’ He knew this would anger Wilfrey, but he would rather Wilfrey directed his anger at him and not the helpless girl.

‘But ... Dad?’ Kaylee was heartbroken. ‘How do I? I can’t ...’

She was really torn. She had only just gotten him back; she just couldn’t be losing him again so soon.

He hugged her to his chest, furious and wanting to protect her. Nevertheless, now that she was so close to the gates, they both realised she desperately needed to get home and see her mother.

‘Go, honey. It will be alright,’ Greg spoke softly into the hair on top of his daughters head.

Wilfrey nodded to the gargoyles and they rushed forward to pull Greg away from his daughter. Kaylee cried out, hands outstretched as her father was wrenched from them, ‘Nooooo! Please, don’t do this!’ she sobbed.

Grabbing him roughly, they tied Greg’s hands and feet together. They dumped him on the back of a small wagon one of the gargoyles was dragging along.

Lying in the wagon Greg shouted out, ‘I will be ok, won’t I, Wilfrey? Because if I’m not ok,’ he winked at Kaylee to warn her to keep silent on that one, ’then you are not going to get that egg unless I am in one piece!’

Wilfrey did not say a word, just grinned that evil fake smile of his.

‘It’s alright; I have faith in you Kaylee.’ Greg called to his daughter as the gargoyle dragged the wagon away. ‘You can do this. Go see your mother. She needs you too. I know you’ll come back.’

Her heart dragged on the ground along with her backpack. Kaylee trudged like a prisoner condemned, up to the iron gates with faithful Jett still at her side. The day had started so happily and now here she was, watching Wilfrey’s hoard of evil take her father away in ropes on a wagon.

She took out the iron key at the huge gates and turned to her loyal friend Jett, to say a tearful goodbye.

Jett put his heavy paw on her arm, ‘I’ll be seeing you again my dear. Take care, little one.’

She sniffed back the tears and nodded, trying to give him a positive smile.

Closing her eyes Kaylee conjured up all the loving images of her mother she could; baking muffins, reading stories, cuddling her, putting plasters on her stubbed toe ... many, many memories. She could feel and hear the key humming as she said the incantation Saorsa instructed. “To find your heart’s desire, trust in the key of fire.”

When she opened her eyes again, she took a deep, relieved breath.

She was home. In addition, the clothes she had been wearing had gone, replaced with exactly the grey sweatshirt and blue jeans she had been wearing the day she disappeared.

She sniffed the air in the dark recesses at the back of the Chameleon Shop, expecting to smell that addictive scent of old books, but was surprised to smell chocolate instead and maybe spices. She reached out a hand to feel the shelves and there were large glass jars and tins of things. Next to them there was what felt like a cold marble mortar and pestle.

Saorsa had told her that hadn’t she. The shop and the clock will reset every time you return home.

She could hear a woman humming a pleasant tune and for a second dared to hope it was her mother, but she knew in her heart it wasn’t. She eagerly walked towards the sunlight coming through the windows at the front and discovered the shop was now a Chocolate Shop!

‘Hello Kaylee, I’ve been expecting you.’ The beautiful dark haired woman at the counter smiled.

How does she know my name?

‘Come sit, take a load off. I have made you some hot chocolate, with just a pinch of chilli-powder in this one. You look like you could do with a good pick me up...’

End of Book One