Midnight at the Houdini by Delilah S. Dawson

Author:Delilah S. Dawson [Dawson, Delilah S.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Random House Children's Books
Published: 2023-09-05T00:00:00+00:00

When the elevator doors open on the third floor, Anna realizes she hasn’t been here before. She steps off uncertainly into a hallway almost identical to the ones she has seen, except this one is decorated in deep peacock blue and silver instead of burgundy and gold. It feels quiet and serene, like a forest long forgotten by humankind. Key in hand, she steps down the long aisle of carpet, dainty and cautious as a fawn. She pressed every button, but the Houdini sent her here, to an unfamiliar part of the hotel. Why?

The seven doors along each side have the usual numbers and refuse to yield to her key…until she reaches a room whose brass sign reads Museum of Magic. Anna’s heart lifts—Max mentioned this place as one of his favorites. There is no lock. The door opens easily, and she steps into an enormous and yet intimate gallery with focused spotlights drawing the eye along an array of exhibits so enticing that she doesn’t know where to begin. Artful columns divide up the space, making each new turn feel like a fresh discovery. There are artifacts nestled on velvet cushions and in glass cases, colorful wooden pedestals of all sizes, paintings and photographs and even what appears to be a mermaid skeleton hanging from the ceiling, her bones an ancient shade of ocher and her hair as fine and light as spider silk. The walls are high, the ceiling painted indigo and covered in constellations—a running theme in the hotel, it seems.

As if on cue, a phonograph across the room starts up, its needle scratching lightly on the record as a man’s melancholy voice croons about twilight and little stars and the memory of stardust. Anna is drawn to that corner, where she finds a child’s storybook open on a bench, its cover cracked and worn, like it’s been read over and over again. Glad to sit for a moment, she can’t help but start reading.

Once upon a time, a star fell to earth. This doesn’t happen as often as some might think, as most little stars can’t help but burn up once they near the wickedness below. This particular star was very strong and kind, but when she landed, it hurt very much. She was stunned and could only lie back in the sand, gazing longingly at all her sisters still twinkling brightly overhead.

“Oho,” said a voice. “What is this?”

“I am a star,” the star said.

A woman reached down and picked up the star, cradling her in strong arms. The woman nursed the star back to health, bathing her and brushing her hair and wiping her brow with a cool cloth, for the woman had a soft spot for pretty, injured things. But when the star felt strong again and attempted to fly up into the heavens, she was jerked cruelly back to earth by a silver chain.

“What is this?” cried the star.

“That is an obligation,” the woman answered. “For nothing on this earth is free. It is known that fallen stars can grant wishes, and I have decided upon my wish.

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