Max now looks less like a college student and a bit more like a college grad. With his mother having been defeated, and his presence here on Earth not needed as much, Max had elected to stop the tedious, daily alchemical incantations that had kept him alive for five centuries. No, his body didn’t shrivel up instantly like any bad guy in an Indiana Jones movie. Instead, he would live out a natural lifespan.

  He separates me from the group and asks how he can be of service. Truth be told, I’m not used to having long conversations with the Librarian, so used am I to his powerful mind reading. In the past, he always knew why I had arrived and what I needed. And so, as best I can, I explain to him what we need. He listens carefully, contemplates for five seconds, nods once, and says to follow him.

  He shepherds us away from the creepy books, past the help desk, and down a back hallway lined with doors to either side. Many lead, I know, to any number of locations around this world, and perhaps beyond this world, too. I know for a fact one of them leads to the Light Warrior school in center earth.

  Max stops at a door at the far end of the hallway. I’m fully expecting to see, say, a verdant valley filled with trees and wildlife, or perhaps a castle keep somewhere. But not quite. It’s an actual room here at the library—at least, I think it is. There’s no way of knowing for sure. What it is, though, is clearly an alchemist’s laboratory, complete with various circles painted on the floor with random runic drawings. Scratch that, there’s no way this room is located in the Cal State Fullerton library. Much too big and open, with vaulted high ceilings.

  The tables are packed with traditional lab equipment: beakers, test tubes, burners, and tubing everywhere. But there is also some very nontraditional equipment. Most notable is the old-school bellows, used to fan flames. Oh, and small piles of gold scattered across a particularly wide worktable, surely Max’s main workstation. I also note witchy-looking iron crucibles, metal flasks of varying sizes, and clay pots of all shapes and sizes. Most are burned looking, having been thoroughly and completely used over the centuries. To that end, there is a huge furnace that’s big enough to consume a human body. Stacked next to it is charcoal and wood. There are no windows in here, though many stove-like pipes lead up to the ceiling. There is a dusty, metallic taste to the air, as if my old friend had recently turned lead to gold, of which I have no doubt he certainly could.

  You would be close, says Alexis directly in my mind. He was making mercury.

  Yikes.

  Luckily, says Alexis, he knows what he’s doing. I think.

  I would think so. He’s been at this long enough.

  Oh, he’s far from the oldest, according to Licinia. Though few are warrior alchemists.

  Additionally, some of the beakers and glass containers house living creatures and various gurgling miasma. I refrain from taking a closer look at the critters at the bottoms of some of these vials, lest I feel an urge to free them.

  Max, my daughter, and I lost our telepathic abilities with the demise of his mother. Yes, I always feel a little weird knowing that I had a hand in killing his mom, but Max hadn’t thought of her as ‘his mom’ for a long, long time. Indeed, he only appeared to express relief of her destruction, so much so that he’s ready to move on from his physical body... well, eventually.

  Meanwhile, he’s still a hell of an alchemist, which is a little different than, say, witchcraft and sorcery. Mainly, it uses pseudoscience to create the desired effects. In our present case, the desired effect is to combine Alexis’s, Allison’s, and Roxy’s abilities to find a man lost in time—and likely deep in the belly of a monster.

  We all settle in next to a table near the door. That said table is covered in what appears to be blood is disconcerting at best. Max, who’s been rubbing his chin and pacing nearby, catches my gaze and concerned look. “Iron oxide, Sam. I don’t sacrifice animals, humans, or anything living. This is an elemental-based science.”

  “Happy to hear it,” I say, and mean it.

  “The animals you see here—mostly amphibians—will be released soon enough. I only use them for their toxins.”

  I say nothing, mostly because I have zero response to that.

  Meanwhile, the pacing Max pauses before us. “This is much more, ah, magical than I’m used to, ladies. I hate to push this off to someone else—” He nods sadly at Roxy—“And I surely don’t want to cause distress to you, Roxanne, but I think this task might be best suited to a witch or wizard who can create and perform the necessary spell.”

  Allison shakes her head, “A member of my trifecta, presently in spirit and often by my side, tells me an alchemist is ideal. This spell requires less magic and more manipulation of energy. To that end, Millie is asking permission to materialize.”

  “You can vouch for her?”

  “With my life,” says Allison.

  “Permission granted.”

  A colorless, opaque young lady materializes immediately next to Allison. Unfortunately, she also materializes next to Roxy, who screams and veritably leaps into my arms. I gently set her down.

  “Sorry about that, child,” says Millie, once again choosing a twenty-something exterior. “But we all are here to help save your brother, and time is now of the essence.” The ghost turns her attention to the alchemist. “Mr. Maximus, can we chat in private? What I have to say will only bore the others.”

  Max takes all this in stride and even seems to be amused by it all. “But of course,” and gestures for her to follow him deeper into the laboratory. As he strides away, Millie the ghost floats behind him.

  Alexis asks if Licinia can join in on the discussion, as her dark master feels she may offer some assistance. Max welcomes them both as well.

  “Did I just see a ghost?” asks Roxy.

  “And a mermaid and vampire and an alchemist,” says Allison, grinning. “One big freak show. Heck, I’m like the most normal one here, and I literally cooked a hot dog in the break room last night with my finger.”

  “Why didn’t you use a microwave?” I ask.

  “They’re bad for you, haven’t you heard?”

  I roll my eyes. “I’ll take my chances.”

  “Who is or who was she?” asks Roxy. “The ghost, I mean.”

  “When alive, a witch, and part of our trifecta. In spirit, she provides only sage, if annoying, counsel. But when something witchy is needed—especially something powerfully witchy—she can summon a temporary, ectoplasmic body and help with our cause.”

  “You guys are doing to all this trouble to help my brother?”

  “Well, she’s the only one being paid,” says Alexis, jabbing a thumb in my direction. “But yeah, of course. Most of us are in the helping business...”

  Of course, should we fail to find Roy—an option I’m not willing to accept, mind you—I would never take her money.

  In short order, the ghost, the mermaid, and the alchemist return to our group. Millie has taken on a little more substance in the interim, having filled in to about eighty percent. To all the world, we look like five women, chatting. Except, if you look close enough, three of us have no aura. Wait, on second thought, Alexis sports a hint of an aura. Hmm, interesting.

  I’ll explain in more detail later, says Alexis directly into my head. But, in essence, Licinia performed a rather complicated ceremony that returns me to the reincarnation cycle.

  Whoa! So when you die...

  I’ll be reborn again.

  Wild!

  Wild, indeed.

  “We’ve come up with a plan, lasses,” says Millie, forgetting that nearly all of us look older than her. “But it will take a combination of our talents. Ideally, the trifecta.” She looks at me. “Though Samantha is no longer part of the three, her talents, limited as they are, would be welcomed.”

  “Not sure that last part was necessary, but sure, I’m game,” I say, eliciting a small giggle from Allie.

  “No time for humor or hurt feelings,” says Millie. “It’s time to activate the trifecta.”

  Allie finds an open space on the floor and begins drawing a pentagram with some chalk provided by Max. As she does, I gather some candles indicated by Max and set them around the powerful, five-pointed star. Allie and I set about lighting the candles. Next, the three of us hold hands—and yes, I’m holding hands with a ghost—and begin an incantation that I barely remember. Luckily, the spell works, even with Allie prompting me from the side of her mouth. Apparently, I used to do this stuff often in past lives—the three of us, in fact. Truthfully, none of this feels too weird. I just don’t have enough practice at this stuff in this life.

  Hey, anything to find Roy. I’ll look like a chump to help a client.

  With the energy now swirling within the pentagram, I open my eyes and am surprised as heck to see Max floating directly above us: back arched, head thrown back, arms stretched out to either side, hair and clothing whipping violently around him. Since when could Max float? He’s muttering his own incantations and holding heavy-looking crystals of indeterminate color in both hands.

  Our energy seems to be funneling up into the crystals, which glow brighter and brighter... and perhaps keep him aloft.

  Moments later, Millie asks Alexis and Roxy to step up onto various points of the star. They do so hesitantly, perhaps nervous to be standing under the floating Maximus. We all reach out and take hold of each other’s hands, though I’m holding Millie the ghost’s hand. Yes, it feels a bit like gripping a wet battery.

  The witch ghost continues speaking rhythmically in an ancient language, using words I don’t know or understand. Hmm, I’m beginning to see why they kicked me out of the group. Allison joins in here and there and, amazingly, so does Max above, all while the crystals in his hands grow ever brighter.

  Next to me, Alexis is looking up in wonder. Opposite me, Roxy is, too.

  Who wouldn’t?

  Teeth vibrating and bones singing, Millie begins intoning in a surprisingly deep voice for a ghost: “The uniting has begun. Roxanne, please reach out and establish your connection with your brother. Advise us when it’s complete.”

  The redhead nods, hair whipping up around her like a red devil. A few seconds later, she nods and says, “It’s complete. I’m connected.”

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Roy

  The thing about climbing up a living throat is, well, it can move. Internally, the creature can swallow or cough. Externally, it can crane its neck up or down.

  Which is what it’s doing now. Especially, up.

  Nearly, vertically, in fact.

  Why it’s doing so now, I don’t know. I imagine a sixty-degree neck angle is the most comfortable. Then again, I know from reading about robotics design, is that giraffes’ necks exceed a ninety-degree angle from their shoulders to their backs. This creature, however, moves forward through water and doesn’t have a need to, say, reach the tops of trees. Moving aerodynamically—or whatever the water equivalent of that is—would be ideal for a predator who hunts its food.

  But in this moment, the creature’s neck cranes nearly straight up—perhaps it’s aiming for the surface? By it doing so, I’m left dangling by both embedded claws, which surely can’t feel great for the beast. Hmm. Maybe it recognizes something is in its throat and is trying to shake it loose?

  Luckily, my current grip on the claws is sure, and the depth of their placement is deep. Good for me, bad for the critter. Then again, I could give a crap if I’m giving the big fella the mother of all sore throats.

  It is in this position that something seems to surround me in this tubular flesh tunnel I’ve found myself in. Nothing has been swallowed or risen up from below. Rather, a presence has somehow entered this thirty-foot region of throat.

  The presence is, of course, my sister. I often feel her. Truth is, I felt her early on during this ordeal, though not so much recently. Definitely a concern for me. Usually, her presence is always there with me. It’s what gets me through, well, anything. Knowing I have this connection with my twin is my magic power; it’s what gives me hope in all things, and what gives me joy.

  “Roxy?” I say into the void, though she doesn’t respond, nor do I expect her to.

  Her spirit is strong enough to confuse me, though it’s as welcome as hell. Weird and wonderful. She knows I’m missing. She’s giving me hope, a guiding light, a reason to keep pushing through, and so, I do.

  I work free the left hook, raise my right foot, searching for purchase. Once I find a fleshy fold, I step up and slam home the lobster claw high above me, pulling myself up as I do.

  “Thank you, sis,” I say, breathing hard. “Up, up, and away we go...”

  Chapter Thirty-six

  I think my eyes are supposed to be closed, but I keep them open for no reason other than I want to make sure Max doesn’t drop on my head.

  I mean, what the actual hell is he doing up there?

  He’s a conduit, Sam, says Allison in my head. Similar to how the pyramids in Giza once held crystal capstones. He’s a focal point.

  A focal point for what? I ask.

  Energy, of course, says the mermaid in my head. Right, lots of voices in my head. Or so says Licinia. Free energy, so to speak. It was a different world then. Far different than what your historians think.

  “Shh,” says Millie, in a voice shockingly loud for a ghost. “The link is wavering. Focus, children. Eyes closed. Pip, pip.”

  Pretty sure Millie can’t read my mind. Then again, she is a ghost. What exactly a ghost can do and can’t do may not be entirely known. Then again, we are all sort of connected in this moment in time.

  Right, sorry, I think. Not sure who I’m broadcasting that out to.

  I sense Millie nodding. She speaks a moment later: “Alexis, please establish a connection. You are to ride the wave of energy that is Roxy’s bond with her brother. If you don’t know how to do this—”

  “I know how. Licinia is showing me.”

  “Very well, please let me know—”

  “I’m there with him, mind to mind,” says Alexis.

  Serious goosebumps crop along my arms.

  “He’s alive and fighting for his freedom,” says the mermaid.

  “Sounds like my brother,” says Roxy.

  “Silence, please,” says Millie. “It is necessary to keep the link pure.”

  I sneak a peek above. Max’s head is still thrown back, arms now raised. He drifts in a slow circle.

  “Eyes closed, Sam,” says Millie softly. “Alexis, please do what you came here to do.”

  “Right,” says the mermaid. “I’m asking him to look at his watch; in particular, the date. He’s confused. He just screamed. Not in fear from my presence, no. He’s hanging by one hand.”

  “Hanging?” asks Roxy loudly. “From what?”

  “Shhh,” hisses Millie.

  “Hard to explain,” says Alexis. “I can only read his mind. I can’t see what he sees. I’ve told him I’m a friend of his sister’s and we are here to help him, and for him to remain calm and cool.”

  Though things are tense, I almost smile at that last part.

  “He understands, kind of,” says Alexis, continuing. “He also understands what I’m asking of him. He believes himself to be lost in time. His watch has been going crazy—his words. Now, he’s focusing on our request. His mind is exquisitely focused on the task at hand, though I’m not sure what is happening. I believe he is in some danger. Allison, you’re up.”

  “Right,” says my witchy friend. “Um, connecting. Wow, this isn’t as easy as it looks.”

  “Feel your way there, child,” says Millie.

  “Trying to.”

  Meanwhile, I sense Roxy about to lose her mind with worry, but she holds it together. We absolutely need her connection to her brother to stay strong. She’s the baseline.

  “I’m there!” shouts Allie. “I see him! He’s hanging from a tunnel of some type. Weird, the tunnel is vibrating. It’s red and pink and oh my God!”

  “What? Please!” begs Roxy.

  “Shoot. Just lost him.”

  “Stay strong, Roxy,” I say.

  “It’s hard...”

  “I know.”

  “Focus, child,” says Millie.

  “Okay, I’m back and I’m in what I think is the interior of a long neck. Roy’s hanging by what appears to be giant lobster claws. I’m not making this up. Oh, I see. He’s been climbing his way up the throat, using the claws like ice picks.” Allie pauses, undoubtedly trying to make sense of the scene. “Okay, he just released his right hand from the claw. His dive watch, I see, is on his left wrist. He’s reaching for his watch with his right hand.”

  Millie squeezes my hand. “Samantha, you will need to act fast...”

  I nod, summon the single flame. It dances and crackles in the center of my thoughts. Sometimes the flame doesn’t dance and crackle. Sometimes it sits there, unwavering. No clue why it’s one way or the other. Maybe it’s a real flame somewhere, dealing with real elements. Some of this stuff is hard to know for certain. I just know it works.

  Allison continues, “Okay, he’s now moving through the various screens on his watch. But both hands are shaking badly. This can’t be easy for him...”

  Chapter Thirty-seven

  Roy

  Feeling my sister’s energy is one thing, but hearing the unfamiliar female voice in my head nearly knocks me off my perch.

  As I hang there from the claw in my left hand, the voice rapidly seeks to soothe me, somehow knowing I’m in a bit of a predicament. Her name is Alexis, she says, and she’s here to help me, along with my sister and some others. They, too, believe I’m lost in time. Oh, and she is a mermaid, which is how she can read my mind.

  Wait... what?

  But there’s no time to think about that. I regroup, collect myself, and swing back to the flesh wall. Clinging by both claws, I listen as the voice explains that they need to know where in time I’d gone off to. Ah, so my watch going backward and forward in time meant just that: time travel. How this happened, I haven’t a clue, but if I don’t want to be stuck in God knows what era, I need to pull it together and give the voice what she needs: