The Doorknob Society (The Doorknob Society Saga) (6 page)

Welcome to the Doorknob Society one of the oldest societies on Earth. (We shall use this term even though the Society was founded before it was known as Earth. Later we will explain the concept of dimensions in which we travel and how they are also referred to as Earth). In this book you will find the rules and obligations of all Doorknob Society members as well as our history. Guard it vigilantly and never allow a nonmember to access it on pain of expulsion from the Society.

When civilization was young our founders (The First Kind) were old and well known as learned men. The exact origins of the founders are unknown though folklore persists. What we do know is that they created the five main groups that we know of today as The Doorknob Society, Mapmakers Union, Honorable and Venerable Order of Detective Inspectors, the Impossible Engineers and the Skeleton Key Guild, or what is also commonly referred to as the Old Kind. There were also three other orders that were created but have been lost to antiquity. Of these the Doorknob Society was tasked with traveling and acquiring the knowledge of man and preserving it. We have always accepted our solemn oath of non-interference in the natural history of this world and work continuously to learn and expand as a society.

I turned over in bed and pushed my pillow up against the headboard to give myself a better vantage point. I scrambled along the covers and leaned into the deep pillows getting comfortable because I knew even though I was tired I was going to have a long night of reading ahead of me.

I picked up the book and started up where I had left off. I devoured as much of it as I could, reading first through the history of the Society and then going over the section regarding prominent members and families. I had to stop myself and reread the passage when I came to a page about the Masters family.

Ichibod Masters is considered one of the greatest Doorknob Society members ever. His inventive use of knobs to escape from various situations has been fodder for gossip for years. As was his defeat of the rogue splinter group the Darkwatch. He is also well known for his battles against the Old Ones alongside his friend, Guy De Martin member of the Skeleton Key Guild.

The Masters family has a long and illustrious lineage in the Society and it is said that a family member has been on every council since the formation of the Society.

The entry went on to discuss numerous notable members of the family and after a while I had to sit the book down and take a break. I rubbed my eyes and leaned back against the pillow to think. In my mind I could picture a hall filled with doorways each with glowing blue doorknobs and I slowly drifted off to sleep.

I walked down a long hallway each of the knobs whispering to me, bidding me to open them and take a journey. As I approached the blue glow that pulsated from them it grew brighter, then faded as I passed. But one door did not speak to me, its silence stood out like a beacon in the night and I stopped in front of it. I turned my ear to it listening and heard a low murmur; it seemed to be talking to itself.

“She is here.” it whispered as if fearing I would notice it. “It’s too early. She should not have come yet.”

I stepped up to the door and placed my hand on the knob. It glowed brightly but would not turn. I grabbed with both hands and twisted the knob with all my might. I could feel the knob resisting me as if locking me out. “No, she is too early, don’t let her see.”

The door angered me and I could feel the pull in my stomach grow stronger as I concentrated on turning the knob. It began to turn slowly until it finally clicked and I pulled the door open. Shadows danced across the floor from a distant light and I could see down a long corridor. The ring of metal clanging against metal echoed throughout. The faraway light flicked as if someone where stoking a fire. Then I heard footsteps and when I looked directly into the light a shadowy form fell across it. I could make out the outline of a man. He was tall and dressed all in black and I recognized him instantly... he was the man who had chased Dad and me in Paris.

He looked directly at me and pointed. “She’s here.”

Chapter 5

Status: I go shopping for Doorknobs.

I jumped, waking myself. I was in my bed, morning light peeking in the window. The book lay on the nightstand beside me and my clock told me it was only 7 AM. I pulled the covers around me, hugging them close. I could sleep a few more hours. One hour later I was bouncing out of bed, emptying some of the boxes into my drawers and then taking a shower and getting dressed.

After a quick piece of toast I told Dad that I was going to the Washington Street Mall and headed off for some shopping. I was barely three steps off the porch when a screech pierced my ears.

“Chloe!”

The clawing voice of Valerie Hobson shook me. I swear the girl must have built in radar. Every time I step foot outside my house, she’s there.

Val ran up to me, her curly brown hair bobbing. She was wearing the latest fashionable sunglasses and a sunflower print sundress that startled the eyes. The two of us couldn’t have been more different. Even though it was summer I wore combat boots and stretch pants, over that a skirt and a hoodie with a t-shirt beneath. My ever present ear buds connected me to my smart phone where I was just about to hit my playlist.

“Watcha doing?” she asked.

“I’m going over to Washington Street to look at some stuff for my room.” I thought it might dissuade her from joining me since beach-goers would be swarming all over the mall. Cape May gets packed with day trippers and vacationers every year looking to soak in the sun and enjoy its pristine beaches and admire the Victorian style homes. The Washington Street Mall was the epicenter of it all.

“Great, I’ll walk with you.”

“Fine,” I said grudgingly and we started off.

I figured arguing with her would just make the situation worse so I decided to bear it as best I could. We walked down Mission Street and turned onto Perry Street stepping aside as a family made their way past us, beach chairs in hand.

“So does that Edgar boy really go to Paladin Academy?” Val asked.

“Yup,” I said hearing the interest in her voice and trying to hide my smile.

“He’s one of the rudest guys I’ve ever met. My mom and I go to Manhattan all the time and I know what I’m talking about when it comes to rude guys. I don’t know who he thinks he is?”

“You don’t say.” I didn’t bother to mention I’d been around the world several times and met plenty of guys that were a million times worse than Edgar could ever possibly be. Maybe that’s why I was finding Slade such a conundrum. Most guys I’d known were always such players, thinking they could take advantage of the lonely American girl. Slade seemed genuinely nice, almost to a fault. I’d made up my mind that the best course of action with him was to save us both the trouble and not even think about getting involved.

We turned onto Washington Street and I rolled my eyes. The walking mall was packed with vacationers. They strolled around in sandals that didn’t fit properly and partially opened Hawaiian shirts smelling of suntan lotion and sweat. Not a pleasant odor. Trust me on that, after the beach take a shower, otherwise you smell like an overcooked goose basted with suntan lotion. I’d wanted to pick up some fun stuff to decorate my room but with this crowd I might just be better off going to one of the regular stores.

“Hi, Chloe.”

I turned to find Edgar right behind us, a big smile on his face and his ever present goggles resting comfortably at the top of his brow. “Hi, Edgar.” I was happy to see him, my mind loaded with questions for him.

“What are you doing here?” Val’s voice dripped with aggravation and I couldn’t help but smile.

For a moment, I’d forgotten she was there and I silently cursed myself for letting her tag along. Now I wouldn’t be able to interrogate Edgar about the Doorknob Society.

Edgar ignored Val’s caustic tone. “Same as you guys, looking for something to do.”

“We’re here to shop for Chloe,” Val said sharply.

“Cool. I’ll tag along.”

And he did, right behind us. We made our way through the mass of people to the Whales Tale shop. I walked through the store and found several things that would work well in my room. Val and Edgar kept pace behind me. Val made several suggestions, but our tastes are different and after giving a shrug or two and shaking my head often, she gave up. Edgar, on the other hand observed quietly and with a happy grin.

Finally with an arm full of stuff we stood in line at the register.

“You got a ton of stuff for your room. What about school?” Edgar asked.

“I hadn’t thought about it.” But he would know what I’d need for the Paladin Academy.

“I know the best place to get school supplies,” Val interjected. “We can go there today. Maybe my mom can drive us, although I don’t think her car will fit three.” She looked at Edgar as if he should make himself scarce.

He ignored her as usual. “I thought you might like to try a shop more suited for the Paladin Academy.”

“Of course I would,” I said excited by the idea of learning more about the Academy.

“I suppose that does sound interesting even though I won’t be going there,” Val said her annoyance still evident.

I paid for my items, dropped them into a canvas tote I had brought along and we exited the store. Val practically stuck to my side and I wasn’t sure what I would do with her or if it even mattered that she tagged along. Edgar knew better than me to what she could or couldn’t be privy to, so I didn’t intend to sweat it. It was his call.

“It’s right over here.” Edgar said and walked a little further down the street. He stopped at an entrance to a narrow alley and slipped between the buildings. I followed right behind him but Val stopped short of turning into the alley.

“Chloe, we should go to a regular store,” she urged. Her eyes darted nervously around and she fidgeted with the sunglasses in her hand.

“You don’t have to come, Val.”

She looked stricken as if I had just slapped her and for the first time I felt bad. “You can wait on one of the benches if you want.”

“ Okay,” she said her voice a bit shaky. “I’ll hold your tote for you.” She reached out and took it from me.

“Thanks. Be back soon,” I assured her and with a nod she hurried to park herself on a nearby wooden bench.

Maybe she wasn’t all that bad, even though she seemed scared she wasn’t running away... she wasn’t deserting me.

I turned and disappeared down the alley in search of Edgar.

Chapter 6

Status: I fight monsters, no seriously.

Edgar stood beneath an old, weather-beaten sign, the name carved into the wooden plank...
The Portico Est. 1010
.

The old wooden door and ornate doorknob caught my attention. The tug started in my stomach, familiar yet foreign. I still didn’t understand it but I wanted to. I don’t know how I did it but I sensed that the knob was old and well used. It seemed to have an innate power, independent of my abilities, as if it could work on its own.

“Try it,” Edgar encouraged gesturing toward the knob.

I reached for it and the air around me crackled with life while the door radiated a yellow hue. A low humming sound pulsed from the door washing over me, calling to me. This passage way offered me entrance, to what I didn’t know but I knew I wanted to find out. I couldn’t resist, I grasped it and swung the door open effortlessly.

The smell of grease and hot steel drifted around us and I heard the distinct sound of metal grinding against metal. The ground rumbled and I grabbed Edgar’s arm to steady myself. The wall and door shuddered and dropped into the ground. I dug my fingers into Edgar’s arm and when I glanced at him he was smiling. From the yawning darkness where the door had been massive brass gears rose in its place. They turned clicking into place each attached to a series of smaller cogs all turning and working in unison. A brick walkway appeared alongside the gears that led toward my new reality and Edgar and I followed it. The mechanism that was churning opened up a different world all around us. Gears twisted and turned and a whole new street came into focus, buildings rolled up out of nowhere and the road itself seemed to appear brick by brick.

“What’s happening?” I asked amazed and bewildered.

“The Portico is a portal between the normal world and the dimensions we travel through. It’s shifting the realities so that you can access our world.”

Before my eyes the street transformed from the mundane to the extraordinary. The men and women strolling along were nothing like the sweaty, suntanned vacationers. They more resembled Edgar, with gadgets and small, odd flourishes added to their clothing. Goggles, and top hats with strange monocles hanging down seemed to have more gears and gadgets then were possible. Most wore vintage clothing from the 1800-1950’s, though added to the period suits and dresses were odd bits of technology that I itched to get a closer look at.

I turned around and around, shocked at what I saw. The street itself resembled something out of an 1800’s postcard. Too one side a store called the Impossible Palace rose above the street, its massive windows jammed with products that were as odd as they were interesting. A man stood in the window demonstrating his numerous gadgets including X-ray goggles, keys guaranteed to unlock any door, and keyholes that kept changing shapes. The store next to that was called Atlas, the doorway into the store was beneath a giant statue of a man holding a globe on his back, while on either side of him stood statues of a man and a woman one held up the sun and the other the moon.

“I’ve heard of Atlas but never them. Who are they?” I pointed the figures out to Edgar.

“That’s North and South the first two mapmakers. According to our legends they taught Atlas about the universe.”

I shook my head wondering if I would ever be able to learn everything there was to know about this crazy yet fascinating world. I continued to gaze with awe. Huge maps hung in the windows suspended in mid-air with three dimensional images projecting off their surface. The maps seemed alive as if they changed in real time, lines shifting and titles changing, numbers constantly being erased and rewritten as if by an invisible hand.