The Emerald Door by Megan E. Vaughn

Author:Megan E. Vaughn [Vaughn, Megan E.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Paranormal, Adaptations, Urban Fantasy, Young Adult
Publisher: FSF Publications
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven:

The Tenth Floor; The Knocker of the Door

The door seemed to glow in the dark hallway. Hanging on the front of the door was a brass face with a long handle hanging below its chin. The face’s eyes were closed and the jaw shut tightly as if the model for the face had suffered from painful dental work before the knocker was molded.

“What does this remind me of?” Ghost asked, standing nose to nose with the wrinkled brass face.

Dory also inspected the knocker on the heavy door. “It looks like the character from the Dickens' novel.”

Raleigh rubbed his chin and asked, “The Artful Dodger.” The vampire had paled greatly, his fingers quivering. His heroics in the siren’s apartment had worn down the nutrition the cat’s blood had provided him. Dory knew that hunger would get the better of him soon despite his casual smile. He was careful to stay as far to one side of the hallway as possible, pressing his shoulder into the wall as if it would keep him from attacking his friends.

“Literature is not your strong suit, is it,” Winston groaned not noticing Raleigh’s weakened state. “She’s talking about Jacob Marley, the first ghost in ‘A Christmas Carol’.”

“A ghost,” Ghost repeated with interest. “I should read that book.”

“I’m sure you did when you were alive,” Dory pointed out. “Or at least saw one of the many movie versions. So…who’s going to knock?” She glanced at each of the men who each pretended to be interested in their shoes. “Wusses,” she accused and stepped through Ghost to lift the heavy brass handle. She dropped the knocker three times. The group waited.

The sound of metal rubbing against metal made Dory jump. She almost fell backwards through Ghost who attempted to catch her, only for his hands to pass through her shoulders. The eyes of the knocker popped open and the coppery expression glared at the four people.

“Do you have an appointment?” the knocker asked them. His voice vibrated like a base amplifier. He blinked at them creating the clanging sound of the brass moving.

“How could we get an appointment?” Raleigh demanded to know, flashing his fangs wearily. “We can’t even call up here.”

“It’s just a standard question,” the Marley knocker replied. “No need to get huffy, young man.” The knocker then narrowed its eyes at Raleigh. “I beg your pardon. You’re a vampire, are you not?”

Raleigh leaned against the wall looking a little like a James Dean impersonator. “Yeah. So.”

“Hmm,” the knocker said aloud. He seemed to want them to notice his deep, obvious pondering. At last, he stated, “And a werewolf, correct. And a ghost. What an unusual parade which has appeared at the Landlord’s door.” Scanning his eyes over Dory, he added, “And what are you, young lady?”

“Human,” she told the knocker who was instantly disappointed.

“Oh. Well, I suppose the Landlord will still want to see you since you came with this lot. Let me try to announce you.” With that, the face went perfectly still, looking again as a brass figure head should, motionless and lifeless.

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