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Chapter Three
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Wonderland: The Test of Childhood
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"What the blazes do ya mean I can't help you?" shouted Monroe. "I've been the advisor for the Te Xuan Ze line for the past three centuries!"
"But not for this job," answered June, as she changed her shirt. "You yourself said that you know nothing about this test."
"So what am I supposed to do when this new guy comes to guide you?" he asked. "Sit here and eat dog food?"
As if on cue, Ray-Ray came into the room carrying a bowl of dog food.
"Here you go Monroe," he said. "I did something that the vet said would make your fur shiny. I mixed a raw egg into your dinner."
"Eh… Doesn't that sound appetizing…" muttered Monroe.
"Look Monroe," said June, putting on her jacket, "I don't have to rely on you for everything. And if this works out, you may not be enough.
"Now, if you'll excuse me…"
"Where are you off to?" he asked.
"Ophelia is performing at the Blue Moon tonight," she answered. "We promised we'd come to listen.
"Let me know if the sky starts falling."
"Very funny…" answered Monroe.
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"So…" said Roger, looking at the menu, "what are you going to order?"
"Not sure…" muttered Jodie. "Is there anything in this place that doesn't come served with cheese melted all over it? It must be awfully hard to wash the plates."
"Don't concentrate on the food, people," cautioned June. "Ophelia has been working hard, and we have to give her support."
That they did. Ophelia had long insisted that she couldn't sing, but about two years ago, she had picked up a guitar, and it started to come naturally. Her music tended to be hauntingly beautiful, although she had yet to actually compose anything. She kept saying that she was looking for inspiration.
She had just recently gotten a summer job as a waitress-slash-performer at this small music café, and it was going well.
"Hey, just give us the nachos," said June to the waiter. "A large platter."
"Attention everyone," said the man at the piano. "Good evening, and welcome. The Blue Moon café is now proud to present our newest young talent… Miss Ophelia Rameriz."
The spotlight fell on the stage, where Ophelia was seated on a plain stool, her guitar in her lap. Her sense of style hadn't changed much in the past five years – same punk/Goth ensemble, although the years had made her blossom, giving her curves and an enchanting aura. June often wondered what would happen if she could perceive the World of Magic… She'd likely fit right in.
Ophelia's eyes were closed. She started to play a low tune, and the enchanting words of the old song flowed from her mouth…
Hello darkness, my old friend, In restless dreams I walked alone… And in the naked light I saw Fools, said I, you do not know… And the people bowed and prayed
I've come to talk with you again,
Because a vision softly creeping,
Left its seeds while I was sleeping,
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains…
Within the sound of silence.
Narrow streets of cobblestone,
Beneath the halo of a street lamp,
I turned my collar to the cold and damp,
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of
A neon light…
That split the night,
And touched the sound of silence.
Ten thousand people, maybe more.
People talking without speaking,
People hearing without listening,
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared…
Disturb the sound of silence.
Silence like a cancer grows.
Hear my words that I might teach you,
Take my arms that I might reach you.
But my words like silent raindrops fell,
And echoed…
In the wells… of silence.
To the neon god they made.
And the sign flashed out its warning,
In the words that it was forming.
And the sign said: The words of the prophets
Are written on the subway walls,
And tenement halls.
And whispered… in the sounds… of silence.
The music slowly stopped. Ophelia's eyes had never opened.
The crowd applauded. She got up and stepped off the stage.
"Ophelia!" shouted Roger. "You were great as always! You doing anything Friday night?"
"Why don't we not and say we did, Roger," muttered Ophelia.
"Uh… that's better than nothing, I guess…" replied Roger. "Can we say I kissed you?"
"If we can also say I slapped you," she answered.
"Ophelia, we have to get you into some serious jobs," said Jodie. "My aunt works for a guy whose sister is a talent agent…"
Ophelia started picking at the nachos.
"I can't afford an agent, Jodie," she said. "Elvis didn't get started that way. He was discovered by the guy who became his manager when he was working in a place like this."
"So you're going to hope for opportunity to walk in the door?" asked Jodie.
"Dunno," said Ophelia. "How am I going to get started? As an opening act? No one takes them seriously…"
"I went to the Tempest Fury concert last month," said June, giggling. "Their opening act was better than they were! I mean come on… Only their clothes were louder than they were!"
"I saw them too," laughed Roger. "They stank!"
Out of the corner of her eye, June saw something…
A small, black cat…
…with bat wings.
This was odd. She had never seen a magical creature like this before.
The creature motioned for her to follow, and then walked towards the ladies room.
June took a large swig of her soda.
"Be right back guys," she said. "Gotta powder my nose, so to speak…"
She followed the cat into the room. It leapt up on the sink.
"Uh, hi!" she said. "You need help?"
The cat purred.
"No, I'm here to help you," he said, in a voice that was female, and seemingly youthful. "Call me Fausta, Juniper Lee. I take you haven't many felis demons before…"
"Oh boy…" said June. "Monroe doesn't like you guys…"
"Well June, most folks like me aren't too bright," she continued, "but I'm special. My intellect was enhanced by a wizard who made me his familiar…"
"Familiar…" said June. "That's a magical creature who helps a witch or wizard with added power, right?"
Fausta nodded.
"My master dismissed me, and I was contacted by Zordamalos," she said. "Should you become the Sorceress Supreme, you would benefit from a familiar, and I'd be available…
"Until then, I'll be your guide in your attempt to gain that title. It won't be easy."
"I'm ready…" said June.
"Then meet me in the center of the park tomorrow," said Fausta. "I'll explain the rules there, and the first part of the test will start. The only weapon you are allowed to bring for this test is the Alchemy Glass that you keep in your potion lab. And the necklace, of course.
"I'll meet you then…"
She licked her paws, and then vanished.
Alchemy Glass? thought June. That lets you identify magical plants and herbs…
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The next morning, June was in the center of the park. A gold-rimmed magnifying glass was tucked into her belt.
"Well, I'm here," she said.
"And I'm glad you are," said Fausta's voice.
June turned and saw him on the ground.
"Listen closely, Te Xuan Ze," she explained, "the road towards earning the title of Sorceress Supreme is a path into a realm that is seven layers deep. At the center is your goal. With each layer comes a test that will determine if you match one quality that you must have to hold this title.
"Once you enter the realm, you must continue until you succeed or fail. Success allows you access into the next layer.
"If that happens, you may return to Orchid Bay before entering it, and rest for up to twenty-four hours, no more. At any point during that time, the necklace, whatever form it is in, can bring you to the next layer.
"As was said, I am the only one allowed to help you.
"The first test is the Test of Childhood. And I will tell you what you need to do to succeed.
"Sometime in the next few minutes, a white rabbit will pass by here. You must catch it, and you have until six PM to do so."
"That's it?" laughed June.
She looked at her watch. Ten AM.
"I'm the Te Xuan Ze! I've caught demons three times as big as myself! I can catch a rabbit."
"I hope so…" said Fausta. "Because there he is!"
June turned and saw a cute, white rabbit hopping past her.
"Chase him!" shouted Fausta. "Chase him! Don't let him get away!"
Feeling rather silly, June ran after the rabbit, only to find that it was very fast. It hopped on ahead of her, through the brush, and then over a hedge. June leapt over the hedge…
…and then the ground gave way under her. Before she knew it, she was falling down what looked to be a deep well…
She screamed for a minute, but then she saw that she was falling very slowly. She looked around… There were clocks, shelves, and cupboards on the walls of this well!
An old memory of what had happened to one girl who had recklessly chased a rabbit came back to her… And then she landed with a thump.
She wasn't hurt, and slowly got up.
To her surprise, her clothes had changed! She was wearing an old-fashioned blue and white dress with lace, and formal shoes and stockings. The Alchemy Glass was still in her belt.
She walked and looked around. She was in a long hallway full of doors…
Then she saw the rabbit duck into a very tiny door, and it slammed shut.
June rubbed her chin.
She saw a table in the center of the hall. A golden key and a bottle were on it. Tied to the bottle was a tag that said Drink Me.
"I remember how this happened…" said June. "I can't make the same mistake that Alice did in this situation…
"She drank this, and it made her small enough to get through the door, but her mistake was leaving the key on the table where she couldn't reach it once she had.
"So…"
She uncorked it with her thumb and picked up the key.
"I'll drink it with my right hand, while making sure to hold the key in my left!"
She drank the liquid in the bottle… DELICIOUS! It tasted like a blend of flavors (cherry tart, custard, pineapple, roast turkey, toffee, and hot buttered toast).
Then she felt a strange sensation. She was indeed shrinking.
After a few minutes, she was just the size of the rabbit. She went to the door and unlocked it.
"So why is this a Test of Childhood?" she asked. "I don't get it."
"Worry about that later, June," said Fausta's voice. "Find that rabbit!"
June rushed through the door.
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June suddenly knew what the world was like for Sand Pixies.
In the forest she was in, the flowers and mushrooms towered over her. It was hard to see anything.
"Here, bunny," she called. "Here, bunny…"
She knew she sounded ridiculous.
She leapt up, and landed on a large toadstool.
"Maybe I should try to get back to my right size," she said. "Now how did Alice manage that?"
She thought.
"The Caterpillar's mushroom," she pondered. "Maybe I have to find him…"
Then a group of smoke rings started floating towards her.
She jumped from one toadstool to another, in the direction of the smoke rings, finally coming within view of what appeared to be her goal. A large caterpillar (large to her) was sitting on one of the mushrooms, smoking the famous hookah.
"Heh, heh," he chuckled. "Best watch yourself up there, young lady. There isn't mush room!"
He laughed.
"Uh, I'm looking for a rabbit…" she said.
"You should be more interested in growing mushrooms," said the Caterpillar.
"I don't know how to grow mushrooms," she replied.
"You don't need to grow mushrooms," he said. "I mean growing mushrooms. The kind of mushrooms you eat, and then you grow!"
He laughed again.
"But be careful," he said. "These mushrooms have two sides. One makes you grow, one makes you shrink. You wouldn't want to get any smaller now, would you?"
June jumped off the mushroom and went over to his.
She thought for a minute. The mushroom was completely round, and nothing differentiated the two sides.
"It ain't this mushroom, young lady," said the caterpillar.
He pointed towards a small cave opening nearby.
"Go in there, but be careful… I hope you can run fast."
June walked to the cave opening and peeked her head in.
She started to walk down a long tunnel…
Then she heard a loud rumbling…
She turned and saw a huge marble rolling towards her!
She ran forward, as the huge boulder chased her. Down the corridor, she ran ahead of the huge trap…
She ran towards a deep pit. Not having time to think, she leapt over it…
She landed on the other side, and the marble fell into the pit.
She wiped her brow, and looked at where she had landed. Two large mushrooms, one red, and one blue, were in front of her.
Which one? she thought. I don't want to shrink even smaller…
Then it hit her. She took the alchemy glass from her belt, and looked at the blue one through it…
It was a variety called pixie foot.
She looked though it at the red one.
This one was giant's foot. She had used that in the ill-fated potion that she had meant to give to the Tiny Giant. In all likelihood, it was a growing mushroom.
She smiled as she picked them.
Perfect. Now she could control her height. She was about to taste the red one…
"Wait…" she said.
She looked around. This cavern wasn't too big…
"That was close…" she said. "It might be a trap… Maybe only one of them works, and if I made myself bigger in here, I'd be trapped in this cave."
She picked them up, and leapt over the gap again, then she made her way out of the cave.
Finally, she chanced to take a bite from the red one. Slowly, she started to grow to her normal height…
…and the blue one disintegrated.
"Good job, June," said Fausta's voice. "Now find that rabbit! The necklace will help you."
The necklace glowed, and June felt a compulsion to run in one direction.
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After a long run into the forest, she saw the rabbit. It was running towards a large structure.
"I gotcha!" shouted June.
Then a voice shouted at her.
"Stop where you are, Te Xuan Ze!" ordered a voice.
She turned and saw four strange creatures. They looked like playing cards – one hearts, one spades, one clubs, and one diamonds, each carrying spears.
"No one is to pass," said the diamond one, "by order of the Queen of Hearts."
June grinned.
"Fighting bad guys?" asked June. "Now this I can handle…"
The necklace around her neck glowed… It melted into an orb of light…
And then, before she knew it, she was holding a weapon that looked like a croquet stick!
"Neat!" she said.
She turned to the card guards.
"I'm gonna get that rabbit," she said, "and you guys aren't gonna stop me! Come and get me!"
They looked at each other…
"Get her!" shouted one of them.
"Crud…" said June.
Then they charged at her spears first!
"Time to fold the cards," said June.
She kicked the club one, and he fell to the ground with an "Oof!"
She swung the croquet stick at the spade one, knocking his spear from his hand, and then sending him sprawling.
Then she made a mighty swing, and the other two toppled over.
"Well, that was…" she started.
And then she was shocked, as an axe came swinging towards her. She quickly dodged.
The weapon was held by a hulking ace of spades with an executioner's mask. He glared at her…
She wasn't going to give him time to think about it. She punched him in the stomach...
"Heh, heh…" he chuckled. "Heh, heh, heh, heh!"
He swung the axe forward, and she blocked with the croquet stick. Then she struck him in the face with her heel.
The blows went back and forth.
"Don't make me slap you, Jack!" snarled June.
She slugged him in the stomach with the stick, and he gasped.
Then he clobbered him over the head.
That seemed to do the job. He fell over.
She saw the rabbit sitting right behind him…
She lunged, and grabbed it.
"Gotcha!" she laughed. "And with plenty of time to spare!"
Before she knew it, she was back in the park, and Fausta was in her arms. Her clothes were back to normal. The necklace was back around her neck.
"Good work June," she said. "Did you have fun?"
"Well…" said June, "yeah, kind off… I always wanted to take a trip into Wonderland."
"Then you are off to a good start," replied the felis. "Remembering your childhood and reliving it is something that you must always be able to do. That little trip into your imagination, where you did much better than Alice did, was doing just that.
"Go and rest… Spend the evening with your friends again, if you please. At any time in the next twenty-four hours, you may enter the portal to the next level. Simply let me know.
"When you do, you may bring one weapon, no more. The necklace will provide the rest of your defense for the next challenge. I warn you, what happens next will not be pleasant."
And then she vanished.
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One hour later, June was listening to Ophelia perform again at the Blue Moon.
I once met a girl who sang the blues,
I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away…
I went down to that sacred store,
Where I heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn't play…
And in the streets, the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed,
But not a word was spoken…
The church bells all were broken…
And the three men I admire the most,
The Father, Son, and The Holy Ghost,
They took the last train to the coast,
The day… The music… died…
June listened to her sing, and thought of the magic behind the music, the enchantment behind the melody. There was a whole world waiting if she completed this test in the next several days – a whole new world of magic would open up!
"Jodi," she said, stirring her soda, "what are your plans for the future?"
"I want to have a career, get married, start a family," said Jodi. "Basic stuff."
"Don't we all," answered June. "There's so much to do, and so little time…
"You know, I might want to go for the gusto… Go to a good school, get the best job available…"
"Marry Marcus…" said Jodi.
June blushed.
"Don't rush me," she said. "I might not want to get married right away. But what do you do when life proves to be a challenge?"
"Hey, the greater the challenge, the bigger the reward," said Jodi.
June grinned.
"I hope so," she said. "I want the biggest reward I can get, so I guess I have to go for the biggest challenge."
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MONSTER MAXIM
Felis Demon
Rarity: Rare
Place of Origin: France
Magical Class: 2
Alliance: Matter, or as master
Average Height: 1'8"
Average Weight: 5 lbs
Maximum Age: 300 years
Powers: Has nine lives. If killed, it is reborn, so long as it has one left. Felis demons who are familiars can supply power to their masters for greater magical power.
Limitations: Cannot swim and hate water.
Profile: Similar to cats, felis demons are kept as pets by magical creatures, and as familiars by sorcerers. Normal ones are not very impressive. Familiars, however, can fuel the wizard they serve, providing him with more power when he needs it. They are not the only creatures that can act as familiars, but they make good ones.
Felis demons are varied on personality and tastes. They become reflections of their masters, and soon become almost a part of him. Unfortunately, many develop an emotional attachment to their masters, which becomes annoying.
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Coming up next:
June has completed one test, but more are to come. And the next one might be spookier.
Tune in for "The Cemetery: Test of Purity", coming up soon.