Chapter Five…

Elizabeth circled around the mirror for the tenth time, while Maddie stood watching her. “What are you doing?”

“I’m trying to figure out where Sky went,” Elizabeth answered.

“Maybe, we should look downstairs. I’ll bet Becca and Sky went downstairs.”

“We would have seen them.”

“Well, maybe they’re hiding. She’s probably still mad because we teased her about that imaginary castle.”

Both Maddie and Elizabeth began searching through the attic, opening trunks large enough for Becca and Sky to hide in. After a while, Elizabeth slammed a trunk lid. “They’re not here.” She walked back to the mirror.

“They have to be here,” Maddie answered her.

Elizabeth stood in front of the mirror and stared at it. “Sky was standing in front of the mirror. He barked and then he disappeared.”

“Try barking. Maybe you’ll end up wherever he went.”

“I’m not going to bark at the mirror,” Elizabeth said, as she reached up to touch the mirror’s surface. “That would be…”

Elizabeth vanished right in front of Maddie’s eyes. She blinked and rubbed her eyes. She walked to the mirror. “What am I going to tell Mom?”

***

“Silly,” Elizabeth finished. She looked around. A path reached out before her and across the field to her left, she saw a castle. “Where am I?”

“You are in Alevai,” a voice answered her. “And, if you do not wish to remain here, you best turn around and go back.”

Elizabeth turned toward the booming voice. Standing to her right was a large bluish-purple dragon. He was sitting back on his haunches and smiling at her. “Uh oh,” Elizabeth gulped. “Who, who are you?”

The dragon bowed slightly. “I am Aaron Flisler of the Cavarbash Flislers. Although, I am quite sure that you have never heard of us. And, you are?” He held out a paw to her.

“I’m um Elizabeth Velan,” she answered reaching out her hand and shaking his paw. As scared as she was, she knew that was no excuse for bad manners. Her mother had taught her and her sisters to always be polite to people. She was sure that her mother would expect her to extend that politeness to a dragon.

Aaron dropped her hand. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Elizabeth.” He looked past her. “Oh, dear, just as I thought. The portal closed.”

Elizabeth looked in the same direction. “The portal?” She looked back at him. “I don’t understand.”

“You see on your side there must be a portal of some sort to allow you to come here to our side. Unfortunately, there is not a portal on our side to get you back, at least not one of which I am aware.”

“A portal? The mirror I touched. It must be a portal, right?”

“Absolutely. But, the opening does not stay that way for long.”

“How will I get home?”

“I am not sure. We will have to go and see Wayzgoose.”

“Wayzgoose? Who is Wayzgoose?”

“You haven’t heard of Wayzgoose? Don’t you have great wizards in your land?” Elizabeth shook her head. “I don’t believe it. From what sort of primitive land do you come?”

“Wisconsin.”

“Wisconsin? Hmmm, what a funny sounding name. There are no wizards in Wisconsin?”

“No, that’s silly. Wizards aren’t real. They don’t exist.”

“Oh, my dear, wizards are very real. I should like to think that you wouldn’t tell Wayzgoose that you think he doesn’t exist. That would be quite rude.”

“I won’t. I promise,” Elizabeth said. “Where do we find Wayzgoose? Is he in that castle?” Elizabeth pointed toward the castle in the far distance.

“No, no one of such caliber lives in that castle.” Aaron involuntarily shuddered. “We must stay far away from the castle.” Aaron looked around and then leaned his face close to Elizabeth. “Evil lives in the castle,” he whispered. He stood straight up. “Come along, dear Elizabeth. We should start off to see Wayzgoose and find a way to get you back home.”

Aaron turned and started down the path. Elizabeth stood and watched him. She turned back toward where the portal had been. She was torn. She thought she should wait for Maddie. If Maddie reopened the portal home, she could rush back through. Then, again, if she were to leave, how would she find Becca and Sky? She didn’t know what she should do, so she stood, paralyzed with doubt.

Aaron walked oblivious to the torment going on in Elizabeth’s mind. He turned to speak to her. “I say, dear Elizabeth, do you.” His voice trailed off as he realized that she wasn’t walking next to him. He turned back around. Seeing Elizabeth standing with her back to him, he walked to her.

Aaron placed one scaly dragon paw on her shoulder. “Elizabeth, are you going to come with me? Or will you be spending what little time we have before dark standing here?”

Elizabeth looked at the paw on her shoulder and then turned to face Aaron. “I don’t know what to do,” she said, with tears welling up in her eyes. “I want to go home, but I want to find Becca.”

“Becca? Find Becca?” Aaron scratched his head. “Who is Becca?”

“My little sister. She and our dog, Sky, disappeared and I think she’s here.” Elizabeth’s tears overflowed and she threw herself into Aaron’s enormous belly.

Aaron, who had never been confronted by the tears of a young female, was flabbergasted as what to do. He finally began patting her on the back. “There, there,” he said soothingly. “I’m sure we will find your sister and your little dog too.”

“Hey, what’s going on?” a voice asked.

Aaron stopped patting Elizabeth’s back and saw a small dark-haired little girl standing in front of an open portal. Elizabeth looked up and turned to the voice. She released herself from Aaron’s grasp and ran to the little girl.

“Maddie!” she exclaimed. “You’re here!”

“Where are we?”

“We have to go back home,” Elizabeth said. “The portal will close soon.” She turned toward the opened portal.

Maddie looked around Elizabeth and asked, “Where’s Becca and Sky?”

Elizabeth stopped in her tracks. Maddie did open the portal, but they still didn’t have Becca and Sky. Should they really go home without them? What would they tell their mother?

Aaron walked closer to the girls. Maddie froze when she registered his presence. “Elizabeth,” Maddie whispered in her ear, “is that a dragon?”

“You are a very observant young lady,” Aaron said. “Indeed I am a dragon.” He bowed slightly. “Aaron Flisler of the Cavarbash Flislers at your service.” He held out his paw to her.

Maddie stared at it for a moment before shaking it. “Maddie Velan,” she said. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

“Believe me, dear girl, the pleasure is all mine.” Aaron smiled at the girl. He didn’t know much about human children, well, any children for that matter, but he did so enjoy polite ones. He released Maddie’s hand in time to see the portal close. “Oh, dear. The portal has closed.”

“The portal?” Maddie asked. “Elizabeth, what’s he talking about?”

“Our way home. It’s closed now,” Elizabeth said with a sigh. “Now, we have to find Becca and Sky and then we need to find another way home.”

***

¶ 4:52 PM