Pepper D. Basham

Karth regained control of the latch.  After two long attempts to turn the handle, it finally gave into his determination and groaned open.  Karth felt for Tia’s hand and then drew her behind him through the small opening. They tripped into a long, narrow corridor with windows on either side, splashing the room with the full moon’s glow.  Dust flew into the air at their sudden intrusion into the untouched corridor.

“Where are….”  Tia began but her voice disappeared into a gasp.

Karth followed her gaze.  An enormous wooden door towered over them even from its distance across the room.  Karth moved forward, his fingers still clinging to his sister’s.  The closer they moved to the door, the more beautiful it became, more inviting.  Carvings of strange beasts and odd-looking beings decorated the wood from top to bottom.  Serpents, dragons, unicorns, mermaids, warriors, flying beasts appeared so real, Karth reached out his hand to touch them.  The door felt cool and a tingling sensation surged through him at the touch.

“Let’s see what is inside,” he said, reaching out for the door handle.

Tia held him back.  “I don’t know.  It is getting late, Karth.  Perhaps we should speak to Father about it first.  He’s never mentioned a door like this to us before.”

Karth stepped back and the tingling subsided.  He looked to Tia, annoyed.  “What is the matter?”

Tia pulled Karth further from the door.  “My heart is beating so quickly and I feel…I feel strange inside, like we’re not supposed to be here. I can’t explain it, but I want to go.”

She moved back to the small door and Karth followed.  With one last look down the corridor, he reentered the library and closed the door behind him.  Something had changed.  He wasn’t certain what it was, but he knew it had.