Curse of the Midions Read Online Free PDF

made only ruddy blurs in the darkness. A long gravel drive crunched beneath Jarvey’s feet, and he had the impression that some kind of tall iron fence walled them in on either side. Ahead of him, Zoroaster called, “Open, there!”
    Someone in the fog responded, “Yes, my lord,” and a heavy iron gate groaned on its hinges. They stepped out through a gap between two small structures—guardhouses, Jarvey realized, like the ones his dad had shown him in a brochure about London.
    Zoroaster stooped and said, “Into the carriage, boy. I have some questions.”
    A black horse-drawn carriage loomed in the darkness. Jarvey had trouble finding the narrow steps, but with an impatient boost from Zoroaster he half-stumbled inside, collapsing on a seat. The man clambered in, sat opposite him, and closed the door. He thumped the ceiling with his cane, and with a clatter and rattle, the carriage jerked into motion.
    â€œWhere are my parents?” Jarvey demanded. “Siyamon took them into his house.”
    Zoroaster, visible only as a silhouette in the darkness, said, “Listen to me, Jarvey Midion. The house I have taken you from is not the Bywater of the real world, of your world. Please understand, this whole city is the creation of a great sorcerer. Tantalus Midion is master here, and I daresay he is the great-grandfather of the Siyamon Midion in your world. He was married, years ago, though his wife died. His son he left behind when he used the Grimoire to open the gateway to this place.”
    â€œYou keep saying crazy things,” Jarvey accused.
    â€œI know they sound insane to you. Try to understand, though. The Grimoire is filled with magic secrets. It allows the Midions to escape death in the real world, to write spells of great complexity that open other worlds to them. These worlds are—are shapeless, unformed, until the spells are written, and then they become real. The Grimoire that you have somehow brought here—well, think of it as containing Tantalus’s world, and many other worlds besides. That is not wholly true, but it may give you an idea of how important the Grimoire is. It was first created in the year 1659 by Septimus Midion, who resented the death of his innocent daughter. He wanted to create a world of dreams where his daughter still lived, you understand, and he vanished inside the book, leaving—well, leaving his son, who was as confused as you must be.”
    â€œHow can a person vanish in a book?” Jarvey asked.
    â€œA Midion could,” Zoroaster said darkly. “They were a numerous family at that time, and many of them were gifted with the art of magic. Later Midions came into possession of the Grimoire, and they twisted it and misused its magic—or perhaps it twisted them. The book gives such great power that it tempts a sorcerer to evil.”
    Jarvey was shaking his head. “This is all crazy. Look, I just want to go home! You said you’d take me to find Mom and Dad.”
    The coach had been rattling along, but as Jarvey spoke, it slowed and halted. With a snarl of anger, Zoroaster opened the coach door and leaned out into the fog. “Driver!”
    â€œSorry, my lord. Curfew wagon is coming. They’ll want to see our papers.”
    A dim light shone through the open door. Zoroaster hissed between his teeth, then threw the door open. In a whisper, he ordered, “Get out and hide! Here, take this.” He waved a shadowy hand, and Jarvey, reaching out, felt a card being thrust into his grip. “That is my home address. Come to see me tomorrow, as quickly as you can. Come by day! I will help you if I can.”
    â€œMy dad—”
    â€œYour parents are not here! I lied to get you out of Bywater House! Get out now, or you’ll be captured.” Zoroaster seized Jarvey’s arm and practically hurled him out of the coach. The cloak ripped away, and Jarvey stumbled into a dark opening, an alley