Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3

" I 'm a what?" Paige tried to take a step forward, but she found her legs odd to use. Instead, she waddled on webbed feet as the thick feathers continued to spread across her body. "This isn't funny."

"Wait, wait, the feathers…they're getting sparse. You're changing again."

Paige held the mirror up as green spikes poked from her head. "What are those?"

"Looks like…leaves…" Dewey flew back a foot from her. "Oh, you're a pineapple."

Paige frowned at him as her hands disappeared and the mirror clattered to the floor. "This isn't funny."

"Uh-oh, you broke the mirror. Now you'll have bad luck."

" Now , I'll have bad luck? Are you joking?"

"Think of it this way…you're easier to carry now. And if I get hungry– "

"Don't say another word," Paige warned before another set of tingles shot through her. "Something else is happening."

"Yeah…you're…getting kind of flat. You've gone from Pant her Paige to Penguin Paige to Pineapple Paige and now…ohhhh, that makes sense." Dewey nodded as he rubbed his chin.

"What?"

"Pancake Paige. You're a pancake."

She heaved a sigh as her flattened body fell to the floor, and she stared up at the ceiling. "This is just perfect."

"Well, not really. I'd have preferred the pineapple, but– "

"Shut up, Dewey," she snapped.

"Sorry. Oh, wait, something's happening again. Wait…oh, Paige."

"What now? A pumpkin? A pearl? A pomegranate? Parrot?"

"Nope." Dewey grinned at her as he collected a shard of glass from the floor and held it up over her head.

She crinkled her brow as she shifted to stare into it, her heart stopping. "OMG!"

"Yep," Dewey said with a nod. "You're back. Normal, human Paige is back. I did it."

Paige grabbed the glass, careful of the sharp edges as she stared at herself, one hand rubbing her cheek. "I'm me again. I'm normal Paige again."

"Yep. See, I told you I could do it."

"Good, now, let's go check on the travel arrangements. I want to get going on getting this serum right away."

She climbed to her feet and reached for her reader, tripping over the leg of the stool and sprawling across the floor.

"Yep, you're back," Dewey said as he hovered over top of her.

"You couldn't have gotten rid of that part of me?"

"I could try but…"

She held a hand up. "No, don't. I'll probably turn into a peach or a pinecone. "

"Your choice. But we probably should save your mom's life first."

"Right, let's go," Paige answered.

Dewey landed on her shoulder, and they left the lab behind to return to her mother's hospital bed.

As she strode into the room, Devon grinned at her, leaping from his seat. "Paige! You're back."

He reached for her, his lips puckering for a kiss. She blocked it with her hand as she focused on Drucinda. "How is she?"

"Holding her own still, but she weakens by the minute. If you are recovered, we should go as soon as possible."

"I'm ready," Paige said with a nod.

"She isn't," Dewey answered, "but time is of the essence, so we'll have to send her in cold."

"Send me in cold?" Paige crinkled her nose. "Aren't you coming with me?"

"I'm not certain sending a dragon into this environment is wise," Drucinda answered.

"You said Nellie Steele's realm is filled with crazy stuff. Surely, she has dragons."

"Nope. No dragons. Not a dragon in sight. Dragon-like creatures, but not dragons. She even jokes that dragons don't exist."

"But…"

"Look, if you want to take him, fine, but take the carrier and perhaps the ring that changes you into a human."

"Noooo," Dewey whined. "Not that. I hate that thing. It gives me headaches."

"And it stops working after a while," Paige said. "Wait! I got a shapeshifter thing at my bridal shower. Take that!"

"Earrings. Shapeshifting earrings. I don't want to wear earrings," Dewey wrinkled his nose .

"You got shapeshifting earrings at the shower? Why didn't you tell me?" Devon asked.

"Uhhh," Paige answered with a shake of her head. "Anyway…take your pick, Dewey, but hurry up. I don't want to go there alone, and you probably should have something so you don't have to stay stuffed in the carrier."

"Ummm," Dewey rubbed his chin, "I'll take the ring."

"Coming right up, little man. I'll grab it along with the carrier, and we'll meet at the car."

Paige approached her mother's bedside, taking the woman's hand in hers. "Mom, I'm going to get something to help you. Please keep fighting, okay?"

Silence stretched until Dewey spoke. "Uh, Paige, not to be a pain, but I don't think she's doing any fighting at all. She's just lying there–"

"Dude…come on," Devon said with a shake of his head.

"I'm just…okay, fine." Dewey raised his paws in the air. "Yep."

Devon rubbed Paige's shoulder. "I'll take good care of her while you're gone, Paigey. Don't worry, babe."

"Thanks," Paige said, trying to find comfort in his words. At the end of the day, Devon had turned out to be a good friend. And he was trying to be a nice husband.

Paige heaved a sigh, patting her thighs. "Well, I guess we should go."

"You want me to come with you to the park?" Devon asked. "I haven't been there since I was a kid."

"Umm, I mean, that's sweet and all, but…I want someone to stay with my mom."

"I can do that," Ronnie answered from the door. "You two go."

"Thanks, Ronnie," Devon said with a grin before he flicked his gaze to Paige. "So, can I go?"

"I mean, yes. You're an adult, so if you want to go to the park…you can go to the park." She shrugged, wincing as Dewey smacked her in the back of the head.

"Idiot…he's trying to be supportive."

Paige shifted her weight as she wrinkled her nose. "Yes, I'd like it if you went."

"Sometimes, Paige, sometimes," Dewey murmured.

"Awesome. I'd like to wish you luck before you leave. I also want to ride the Blood Rush." His eyes widened. "Oh, hey, we should ride it together. You know, like a honeymoon trip."

"Right, sure. Yes. We can do that."

"Yeah!" Devon said, pumping a fist in the air. "I can't wait. Oh, and you, too, buddy."

He poked a finger at Dewey. "In human form, of course."

"Sure, right, just make me get on those stilts, and then put me on the world's worst roller coaster."

Devon grinned and nodded at his comment. "Let's go."

"Paige, don't let him put me on the roller coaster," Dewey said as they left her mother's room behind after receiving well-wishes from Ronnie.

They made the short trip to the amusement park. Paige eyed the large fairy-tale castle that greeted them on the way in before she shifted her eyes to the myriad of rides. Dewey slipped on the ring before they left the car, morphing into human form.

With their admission paid, they strolled through the park, riding a few rides before they finally approached an enclosed boat ride through a haunted castle.

"This ride will take us to the Chapter Gate. We'll need to jump off of it mid-way."

"Won't we get in trouble?" Paige asked.

"No, people do it all the time," Drucinda answered as they shuffled forward in the line. "Anyway, it doesn't matter. You two won't be here. "

"Right," Paige said, her stomach clenching. "We'll be in Bucksville."

"Ah, the rocky coast of Maine," Dewey said. "It would be a nice trip if we didn't have to deal with the Slayers."

"I thought they seemed nice in the book," Paige said with a shrug. "I liked Damien."

Dewey shook his head. "You would."

Devon shoved his hands in his pockets. "Like…liked him a lot or…as a friend?"

"Relax, Devon, I'm not going to fall in love with a fictional character."

"It's just that…a fictional character almost killed me to win your hand in marriage."

Paige scowled. "Good point. Okay, fine, liked him as a friend."

"No one is falling in love while we're there. It's going to be a nightmare. We'll be too busy trying to stay alive." Dewey shuffled forward to the turnstile leading to the next boat.

The attendant waved them over, and they pushed through, climbing into the bobbing boat and settling onto the seats for the ride to begin.

Paige's stomach fluttered as they floated into the first chamber. "When do we hop off? I'm nervous. The sign clearly said keep your hands inside the ride at all times."

Drucinda rolled her eyes at her. "Third chamber. The werewolf one. That's where we take our leave."

"Right," Paige said, staring up at a swaying vampire above their heads.

"They really typecast vampires here," Devon said with a wrinkled nose as he stared at the white-faced vampires holding goblets of blood in their hands in the next chamber.

"Yeah, you don't look anything like these guys. Although, they do look like the Transylvanians. "

"Yeah, everyone thinks the Transylvanians are the only vampires on the earth." Devon heaved a sigh.

"Get ready," Drucinda warned. "Exiting on the left as soon as we enter the next chamber."

Paige nodded, her stomach twisting into a tight knot. As they passed from one room to the other, Devon rose and scrambled from the boat, pulling Paige along with him.

Drucinda wrangled Dewey onto the side, too, allowing the boat to continue on without them.

She pushed through a door marked STAFF ONLY into a dark passage. "Follow me."

They crept forward a few feet before Drucinda pressed a stone on the wall. A panel slid away, and she ducked inside.

Paige followed behind her into the darkness, lit only be a glow ahead of them.

"Is that the Chapter Gate?"

"Yes," Drucinda answered. "That's it up ahead."

They continued toward it, finding a large arch decorated in runes. Paige sucked in a breath as her eyes rose to the top. "Uhh, suddenly, this seems like a horrible idea."

"Buck up, Paige, at least we'll be able to save your mom."

Devon stopped her as they entered the room housing the gate. "Paige, be safe. Come back to me. I love you."

"Uhh, thanks. Yeah, I, uh…I will be and…I…you're…"

"Just say it, Paige," Dewey groaned.

"I'm…really glad you're on my side," she managed.

"Me too," he answered before he hugged her tightly.

"I've brought the book you'll need to carry to enter." Drucinda thrust a paperback forward.

Paige stared down at the red-clad woman on the cover, her features morphing with a sudden fear.

"Just walk straight through until you're there, got it?"

Paige nodded as she patted the book. Dewey linked his arm through hers .

With a deep breath in, they shared a glance and a nod before she stepped forward. She gnawed on her lower lip as they crept closer.

A strange power vibrated from the arch, making her tremble all over. She tightened her grip on the paperback, her knuckles turning white.

"Good luck," Drucinda called.

"Get ‘em, babe!" Devon encouraged.

After one final glance over her shoulder, they stepped into the portal. Thoughts swirled in her mind about what they'd find on the other end as blackness surrounded them.