Doormaker: The One Door (Book 4) by Jamie Thornton

Author:Jamie Thornton [Thornton, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Young Adult Fantasy
Publisher: Igneous Books
Published: 2019-08-27T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 23

Claritsa walked with careful steps that were almost solemn. She kept her gaze ahead of her in order to avoid fallen branches and the ditches that might twist her ankle, but even though her body was present, her mind seemed a million miles away. Maella had never hesitated before to ask what was on Claritsa’s mind, but she now feared she would not be able to bear the answer.

What would Claritsa do once she saw her grandmother again?

On Thrae, Maella had been confident of the answer to that question. But now, here on Earth, Maella wasn’t so sure.

It wasn’t long until they reached the creekside access to Claritsa’s yard. She broke off from the group and strode through the trees toward a yellow painted house with a darkened entrance that had long ago begun to fade and chip.

They had argued with Tain and the others for this moment. Tain wanted the last piece of the relic. All the worlds seem to hang in the balance. But Claritsa was going to visit her grandmother—

And Maella was going to wait for her.

At the last moment, before Claritsa broke from the trees and entered the open space that would otherwise be called a backyard except it looked more like an abandoned lot, Claritsa turned back. Her eyes were wide as they lit upon Maella. “You have to come with me.”

Maella’s stomach twisted. She’d really thought for a second there that Claritsa was going to rush off and never come back. She wasn’t ready to say goodbye yet. Maella broke from the line and followed her friend.

“Should I come too?” Sethlo asked. “Just in case?”

Maella shook her head. “It’s only her grandmother. It’s better if it’s the two of us. She doesn’t know you.”

Sethlo’s expression fell but Maella left him with the others to guard the property until they came back out.

There wasn’t any reason Sethlo couldn’t come along, not really, except that if this was really going to be goodbye, Maella couldn’t bear to do it in front of anyone else.

“Five minutes,” Tain said. “No more distractions.”

Maella agreed. Even five minutes was generous.

Claritsa tried the front door handle. It opened like it normally did. Claritsa’s grandmother said there wasn’t anything worth stealing in the house so why lock it? Plus neighbors mostly looked after each other, unless it was someone like Barth’s dad. But in his case, a locked front door would never have stopped Dustin.

Stepping inside, familiar sights and smells hit Maella. It felt cool compared to the sunlight they had just left. The blinds were halfway closed, throwing shadows across the furniture. A hint of coffee hit her nose. There was a mustiness to the air as if the windows had not been opened in a while, even though Maella knew Claritsa only had a couple fans for air conditioning.

Lamps with cloth shades and beveled glass bases stood on old wooden side tables on either side of the couch. Large, faded pink and blue roses decorated the sagging cough. She followed Claritsa into the combined kitchen and washroom.

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