Book Two: Chapter 26

Carmina flew ahead up the stairs and they followed at a slower rate. A lump had formed in Mike’s throat. He had expected to end up in the Rat King’s lair again, not in an ancient mansion. He felt woefully outmatched here and wished he had more of the girls with him.

The stairs stopped at an open archway and he stepped through. He now stood in a library, the shelves stuffed full of books. Large curtains covered windows on the far wall and Carmina hovered before the next door, waving them over.

“Your turn,” he told Cecilia. She phased through the door and stopped halfway. She backed up, a puzzled expression on her face.

“I can’t go any farther.” She looked toward Mike. “There’s a barrier.”

“Magic?” He grabbed the handle of the door and pulled. There was no latch and it swung open with a loud creak. He winced, then looked through the crack. He pulled the door open even farther, unsure of what he was seeing.

It was solid rock. He touched the cool stone, fee