Seventh Dimension - The Door, Book 1, A Young Adult Fantasy

Fever confined me to my quarters for the next three days. I lay in bed shivering one moment and sweating the next. The housemaid, Mari, was kind and brought me fresh water and comforting words. How could she live here and be so happy? Did she see the world through rose-colored glasses to hide something?

  “Your father will be happy to see you when he returns,” she said. “I must get you well.” She smiled and turned my head, patting my hot cheeks with a cool cloth. “If you ever need anything, you come to Mari. I’ll help you, okay?”

  I nodded.

  She sang a soothing song as she dried my face. Her melodic voice touched my soul as her sweet singing put me to sleep.

  Later that afternoon, Worldly Crow plopped on the windowsill. “Ca-ca. How long are you going to feign sickness?”

  “What? I’m not pretending to be sick, you fool.” Indignant, I rolled over on my bed.

  “What should I tell your animal friends? They are worried about you.”

  “Tell them I’m fine, and I’ll sneak down there to see them tomorrow morning.”

  “Sneak?” he repeated.

  “Yes. I’m not supposed to leave my room.”

  “Do you need anything?”

  “Yes. My father.”

  The crow cackled several times. “You must think I’m a miracle worker.”

  “How about Daniel? Do you know where he is?”

  “He left. The witch ran him off, ran him off for good this time.”

  I turned and faced him squarely. “Do you know where he went?”

  “I saw him head to the village where I met you with Baruch,” the crow cackled. “That was a delicious fish. Should go back and get another.”

  I lay still. My head hurt from the fever. Could Daniel be with Dr. Luke? I was too sick to go after him. What would I say anyway? “I’m madly in love with you and I miss you”? Or the reason he was hired in the first place—“Nathan needs you.” I groaned.

  “Ca-ca. Need anything?”

  I shook my head as I lay on the blanket. “Make Judd’s life as miserable as possible.”

  Worldly Crow flapped his wings and took off. I half-wished he’d stayed. Loneliness stalked me like a rebuffed lover. I wanted to visit the animals but was too depressed. Perhaps a good night’s rest would refresh me.

  Chapter 22

  BULLIES AND DEMONS