HoC Machines:

Magicaniks and their machines! Although we don't go into a whole lot of these in the series, the HoC world is filled with them!


Machines

Copey (guardian gate)

Lunch boxes/pails

Mugwump

Recycle Can Monster

Taps' Teapot

HoC Creatures: List and Links

There are many creatures in the HoC universe; some good, neutral, or bad. What defines them most in a Spade's eyes is how deadly they are.


Creatures

Clever

Dude

Dust Bunny

More

Octavious

Oni

Percival (Percy)

Prancine (Prance)

Sissy

Zizzor, General


Evil Creatures

Bashers

Deathwings

Lurker King

Lurkers (regular)

Slicers

Wingnut

Wrappers

HoC Bk1 Characters: Millicent Persimmons

*Co-author note: As you can see, Millie's name was still in the editing gambit in 2014. But her official name is Millicent and her normal nickname is Millie.


Name: Millicent Persimmons

Sibling(s): 64

Relationship Status: Married (see Lawrence Persimmons)

Children: Taps, Liddy

Suit: Heart ♥/ Spade ♠ 

Awards/Recognition: Master puzzler. Saved many threes from insane puzzle boxes, bringing them back to sanity. Solved many problems for all suits.
Nicknames: Miracle Millie OR Maddening Millie - depending on who you ask...

 

*Co-author's note: The first picture is of Lawrence and Millie first seeing each other, then marrying; their children-to-be are excited and ready to be born.
The second picture is Millie with her two girls. It's just a few months later and everything changes for the Persimmons family forever.


Back to Taps

HoC Bk1 Characters: Lawrence Persimmons

Name: Lawrence Augustas Persimmons

Sibling(s): Twin brother

Relationship Status: Married (see Millicent Persimmons)

Children: Taps, Liddy

Suit: Club ♣ ♣

Awards/Recognition: Winner of many magicks battles and wars in the past, Lawerence was also one of three to walk away from the last battle of Camelot.

*Co-author's note: This is a colored sketch I did of Larry, Millie, and Taps when they're in his toyshop. (The doodles out to the side? That's a creative mind at work).

Back to Taps

HoC 6 Cut scenes --->Spoilers

Just like a set of directors from a film, mom and I have had to slice and dice scenes from: House of Cards: Trumped, Book 6. 

These are the ones we've  promised to show you. (Please keep in mind, these aren't professionally edited and really just for entertainment purposes.)

*Sal & Zack's Wedding (Posted 10/19/2018)

*Taps' parents and sister

-Maddening Millie (pt 1 of 2) (Posted 10/12/2019)

-Miracle Millie (pt 2 of 2) (Posted 11/5/19. Working on currently)

* What happened to Merrick?

-Drat that Dragon

* The new Accountant

* Taps and Jeffrey’s family

-T. Erickson

HoC Bk1 Creatures: General Zizzer

Name: General Zizzor, Zizzor
Species: Humming bird
Class: M
Description: White body, gold lacy color designs on his shoulders and crown of his head.
Attack(s): Zizzor has been known to go up the noses or through the eyes of enemies.
Special attack(s): He drills his humming troops in many maneuvers. They've been known to cause a lot of problems for undesirables on the Tapestry grounds.
Defense(s): Wings. He's fast!
Known facts: He protects the Tapestry grounds. Particularly the Tava Tree and Smitten Rose bush. He is the inspiration for Taps' RK symbol and front gate to the Tapestry Mansion. He's a great spy.
Known History: He's saved Taps a few times during her adventures. He has a courageous heart and a keen eye for battle. Because of his ability to zoom about, he gains perspective quickly and can strategize accordingly. He also has an annoyance towards Clever the Whirly-Bob, as he is told to often watch the strawberry-loving rubber lawn clipper.
Tame: Yes.
Weakness(es): Hunnysuckle
Current Status: Alive


Back to Creature List

HoC Magic

In the HoC (House of Cards) series, magic has flare! 

The illustrations below is what magic generally

looks like coming out of your hands or M.U.F. as a magick citizen (up to rank 9).

You will have the misty hue of your suit and star sparkles (to symbolize you are a magick).

If you are a Heart:

Double Heart

Heart/Diamond

Heart/Club

Heart/Spade

If you are a Diamond:

    Double Diamond

 Diamond/Heart

Diamond/Club

  Diamond/Spade

If you are a Club:

Double Club

Club/Heart

Club/Diamond

Club/Spade

If you are a Spade:

Double Spade

Spade/Heart

Spade/Diamond

Spade/Club

However, if you bump up in rank (passed a 9) sometimes your magic will gather more flare.

Realm Keepers (Rank 10)

Will have blue & purplish hue to their mist. Along with white glowing regular stars, they will have white crescent moons.

Jokers (Rank JK)

Remain the same as their peers to blend in. They are spies after all!

Wild Cards (Rank WC)

 

Can use ANY of the main suits magic! (Hence 'wild card')

Jacks & Jacquelins (Rank J)

Actually stay the same as Rank 9 and lower. Why? Protection purposes. The sun symbol won't come out until they are crowned as the reining king/queen.

Kings & Queens (Rank K & Q)

Will have their normal suit color and symbols BUT they will have stars, crescent moons, and suns to their mix of symbols. The example here is of the royal Heart magic.

If someone's magic is different than this, it could mean many things. Perhaps they studied abroad, not every country has the same type of magic. There's also the possibility someone's been cursed/hexed.

But there you have it, the American card magic for all of you who were curious.

-T. Erickson

Magic Born Vs. Magic User

Everyone wants to know the difference.

Well, get out your spark finders, ladies and gents! When you're born, one of two things happen:


1. Your spark (the magical star inside your middle) rises.

OR

2. Your spark stays put.


If it rises, you are:

Magic Born

1. Your spark rises to your heart upon birth. Pumping your magic throughout your entire body.

2. You'll be naturally drawn to things, animals, or people that your suit/suits are known for.

3. You'll catch onto your suit/suits powers quicker.


If it stays put, you are:

Magic User

1. Your spark stays in your midsection.

2. You'll be naturally drawn to things, animals, or people that your suit/suits are known for.

3. You can't use your magic, unless you have a M.U. F. (Magic Users Focus) on your person.


Note: Magic Users aren't looked on fondly in the magick world. They're generally seen as "crippled" in their communities. Though not all Magic Born see them in this light, others do and that spurs on prejudice.
And if you're a Magic User AND a cross-suit...you've really got "a tough row-to-hoe" with the traditionalists.


Question and Answers about M.U.F.s 


Q: What is a M.U.F.?

A: It is a object (human or magick made) that allows your magic to flow out of you.


Q: How will I know when I've found my M.U.F?

A: Your entire body will tingle with the object you touch.

Extra A: When a Magic User is born, those in the family and/or circle of friends will all bring an object in hopes the baby will respond to it. They float the objects near the child's hands for them to touch (like a baby mobile). If the baby responds by grabbing the object and then their suit's magic comes out of their hands, they've found their M.U.F.
If a M.U.F. isn't found, then it's up to the parents and child to find the object. Sometimes, it can take thirty years or more. Since several magick key schools have opened in the last 100 years with a variety of students from all suits, if the child attends, they stand more of a chance of finding their M.U.F. quicker.


Q: What can a M.U.F. be?

A: For example: A shoelace, toy car, pencil, shovel, eyelash liner container, hat, paper clip, sword, etc.


Q: Can people steal my M.U.F.?

A: YES! Hang onto it! Otherwise, you're basically human.


Q: Can my M.U.F. break/wear out?

A: Yes, just like any regular item made of the same material.


Q: Could I ever find a new M.U.F. if mine gets lost/stolen/broken?

A: Some have, some haven't. Hopefully, you can.


Q: Do twins share the same M.U.F.?

A: No. Each has their own. The objects can be identical or entirely different.


Q: Can a Magic User ever gain Magic Born status?

A: Yes. How though, is always the question. Some say it's when you reach a certain age. Others say you have to finish a major feat in the magical world. A few say it's due to courage and service to your fellow beings. As you can see, it's a mix of opinion.



*Sorry about falling out of the writing loop friends, life is life. Plus, I've been helping mom continue her sequels to the Chest of Souls series. I'm still aiming to finish the excerpts from HoC, Book 6. Their basic idea structure is there but I've got a lot of overhaul to do on them still.

-T. Erickson

Taps Commissions

These are commissions I've had done of Taps (and some of her other world friends):

Art piece description: Taps in her rose garden with magic, fairies, and butterflies all about her. She's checking the time so she can keep an appointment.

Artist: Camilla Nelson
Website/Contact info: https://www.instagram.com/camilla_art_247/?hl=en

1. 2.  

3. 4.

 5.

Art piece description:
1. Taps as her amazing self.
I've just always loved this pose that the artist was able to give her.
2. Taps and Aneth Willish (child version).
Taps is placing a cautionary hand on Ann, as she allows the child (from another world) to hold her tapper. A rarity indeed. A western meadow lark (bird) and Chizy (my sister's character) watch the magical stick with wariness. Jeffery, knowing all-too-well what the tapper is capable of, uses a magical serving tray to provide some possible protection. And the poor teapot is shaking with worry! XD
3. Ann (now an adult) shows Taps the way.
Poor Carth Onasi! XD He's always had trust issues and now a member of their party has powers that can't be explained.
(If you've ever played the Knights of the Old Republic 1 video game, or seen any of this artist's work, regarding Aneth and her "Crazy Revan" adventures, you'll understand these characters references.)
4. Raspberry? How did you know?
Revania Everett hands Taps a lollipop as a sign of friendship. Whenever Rev hands out a lolli, it will always be the responding character's favorite. I thought the idea was a fun one. (Revania belongs to MaskedSugarGirl)
5. Taps meets Ky.
When I first wrote Taps, I always thought it'd be fun to have her meet my SW (Star Wars) Kotor 2 (Knights of the Old Republic 2) exile.

Artist: T. K. Arispe
Website/Contact info: T.K. Arispe's art blog, T.K. Arispe's Facebook - book page

Art piece description: Taps in her Level 5 garden, allowing a western meadow lark to perch on her fingers.

Artist: Lostie815 (Deviant Art name)
Website/Contact info: Laura H. - Deviant Art  (Please be aware that not all art on Dev. Art is appropriate for family. Use at your own risk!)

Art piece description: Taps in her base garden (this is just a small part of it).

Artist: Mates Laurentiu
Website/Contact info: Mates Laurentiu - Deviant Art (Please be aware that not all art on Dev. Art is appropriate for family. Use at your own risk!)



*Author/artist note: I'm a very picky commissioner - I want things "just right". There in, I make few compromises.
Taps' world is bright and beautiful. There's SO much I want to add, but there's a limit to my wallet right now. (Hopefully that'll change soon. I like seeing the world unfold from different artists point-of-views).
If you're curious as to why I constantly have the word 'Believe' above Taps, it's a big theme of the series to believe in yourself.


-T. Erickson

Straven's YouTube

Hello Everyone,

Long time no see. I've been working on another project...go figure. Something more to promote the books and a few other important things.

Take a gander: https://www.youtube.com/user/StravenLite

I'm working on a You Tube section. In this intro episode, you'll be able to hear what I think Taps, Jeffery, and Prance sound like.

-T. Erickson

HoC 6 SPOILER ---> Taps' Mom-Updated 11-7-19

SPOILER WARNING!

For those who haven't finished BK 6, Trumped, and don't want spoilers, don't read this entry!

But to read more, scroll down....











I'm putting a huge space here, trying to prevent you from seeing a spoiler if you don't want to.











However, if you're scrolling down this far, I assume you don't mind. Let's continue!

Millie

Author's Whys: This chapter was one of the later chapters that we decided to chop. We debated, but in the end it had to go, so we could focus on the heart of the tale and this was more of a 'get-to-know the character' near the end of the book. Not a good idea for the average reader.

But it's a good idea for all you who want to know more!

For us, it was fun to get to know Taps' mom and we enjoyed her a lot. There was so much more to Millie! And I really think we've only scratched the surface.

You'll recall when Chapter 32 stated that Millie was thinking of changing the house? Well...

In the book, this chapter would've been inserted between Chapters 32 and 33.

Chapter: Maddening Millie

The next morning, bright and early, Millicent Persimmons went to the library to discuss things with Sebastian, the Tapestry’s librarian.

“Sebastian, I want the floor plans – the originals, if you please,” she said to book that had once been a man.

“The originals, I can show you…” He lifted a shaggy eyebrow, “If you want anything extra, Taps would have to give permission.”

“Understood,” She glanced at the book, her naturally curious mind honing in on the forbidden content. “Realm Keeper business and all that it entails.”

Sebastian gave a curt nod and opened up his back. The pages began to turn at an amazing speed.

“Thank-you, Sebastian.” Millie smiled, looking around the library. “I daresay, the library was once but a quarter of this room.”

“A vast improvement if you ask me,” the stuffy book huffed.

Millie ignored his rude comment and mentally decided that for now, she would leave the library where it was. With that in mind, the remaining rooms needed rearranging. Her mind would settle down to have them restored to their original position.

Once cozy and familiar, her mind could better solve the puzzles the current situation demanded. Including but not limited to: her daughter and Jeffery (Oh how she wanted to strangle Geraldine for her endless rules about social class and barriers!), the cranky Sebastian (the curse that kept him as a book needed to be removed. He could then be free to marry the Four Pillars librarian. Twas easy as falling out of bed to see they had a spark for each other).  Then there was the matter of taking on a new apprentice puzzler (Ronnie seemed to glow with that kind of potential).

“Ah, here tis.” Sebastian commented, pulling her back to the present dilemma.

His gold ribbon touched a small illustration in a section labeled Floor Plans.

3D blueprint plans appeared and she studied them. She applauded the fact the Tapestry had three floors now, but the rooms on that floor were displayed as blank.  Unlike the other rooms, not even a description of what they were used for was in place!

“Why are these rooms outlined in red?” She asked Sebastian, her quizzical mind forging miles ahead, jumping from possibility to impossibility.

He looked slightly uncomfortable. “Surely you can understand my position, Millicent.  Taps is a Keeper and has many secrets that you will not be privy to.”  He gave her a knowing look.  “For security purposes, which I know you would love to build a bridge over or tunnel under, they will remain blank to all but Taps’ eyes.”

Tantalizing Keeper secrets were so difficult for her Three of Hearts mind to ignore!  Determined to be faithful to her Realm Keeper daughter, Millie waved her hand at the third floor, making it disappear and then magnified parts of the printed plans to see the details.

“It’s fun that the plans now show furniture. I’ve noticed that she kept some of my non-magical items around.”

“Taps,” Sebastian kept his eyes on the plans, his monocle shining brightly, “has kept everything in tip-top shape.”

“For which I’m grateful.” Yet, her eyes did not see what she was looking for.

 “Sebastian? Do you know were Teresa placed my old puzzle room?”

“After Master Orson disappeared,” he said in a disapproving way, “Taps locked it away so no other innocent would garner the same fate.”

“Sebastian,” Millie said firmly.  “Orson has returned and I’m the original designer of this house. ‘Tis I that placed these rooms in such a way that they are a puzzle box with sliders to allow a bright mind to move them at will.  I believe dear Teresa would allow me my personal depuzzling room.”

“Mrs. Persimmons,” His mustache twitched, “I would like to ask you about your days of yore.”

She smiled, clasping her hands in front of her, “Certainly.” Noting he’d changed the subject, no doubt her puzzle room was somewhere on the third floor.

“Specifically, I’d like to know about the era in which you were referred to as Mad…!” He stopped and politely coughed. “A thousand pardons, Madam.”

“Maddening Millie?” She was amused and faintly disappointed that was the reason for the change of subject.  “No doubt you heard that revolting turn of phrase from Geraldine.”

“Well, I…”

Her blue eyes glinted in an annoyed fashion, “Or from those of yesteryear which hit the figurative hornets’ nest and then complained when they were stung and came to me; whom they referred to as a “mere three”. Then, expected me to pull up a miracle cure for their ‘injured appendage’ when it was already beyond fixing.”

His golden brow rose at her voice tone and volume.

“Sorry,” she said, forcing herself to calm. “I assure you that dreadful title was not entirely accurate.” Millie let her hackles fall and unclenched her hands. “I prefer the more flattering title, which I’m sure you know.”

“Miracle Millie,” he acknowledged.

“I did earn that title, more than once,” she said with a smile as she happily returned to the house plans, her heart humming with anticipation at having her home be home again.

In truth, the doll house had been her home far longer than this house had been and the doll house had only reflected the house plans that had been current in the early 1700’s.

“I understand what you are saying, Mrs. Persimmons, but your blunders are much more tantalizing!” His ribbon ruffled excitedly, “What about when you were making the mind-slot-gursue?”

Millie rolled her eyes, “I’d rather not visit the problematic past.”

“Nonetheless, Binda told me all about that one. It was quite the fiasco!” He continued as he rubbed his monocle with his ribbon, “Now let’s see, was it twelve or eleven…?”

She turned her attention back to the house plans, listening to the boring book with half an ear. After he’d waffled on and she’d taken all facts into account for the better part of half and hour, she shrank the toyshop she’d been studying. She slid it so it was once again hidden behind the fireplace and de-magnified it so she could take in the floor plans, including the third floor.

Common sense dictated she leave alone everything Teresa had added.

The famous Taps could have the third floor for her Keeper business and her guests could be ushered up by the new staff she would be required to hire, since Jeffery would clearly not remain as butler.

But the two lower floors, the toy shop, and the empty basement (which Larry had made with his own two hands and all the magic he possessed) were theirs.

Millie’s smile widened, she could feel her Three’s senses tingling.

“The sunroom is where I’ll start.” Millie announced.

“…seen a twizzle-twazzle like the one…,” Sebastian stopped in mid-sentence. “Come again?”

Millie widened the floorplan map farther so she could focus on the rooms she would be moving. “I do love the stained glass windows Teresa added, but I’ll never understand why she made the house face West instead of East.”

Sebastian’s monocle dropped from his eye in shock. “You can’t seriously be suggesting…!”

“Everyone knows a sunroom is supposed to face East to greet the day. Tis the reason I suggested having one in the first place.”

Decision made on the first room, she reached out, as did Sebastian, who, for some silly reason, had a look of panic on his face.

*

In her study, Taps happily finished one entire to-do list – easy because they were all past social events.

“Not bad for nearly two hundred years’ worth.” She told her double, making a hooked jump shot over the floating waste basket.

“I’m not sad we missed those invites. Most were dead-boring Diamond parties.” Her doppelganger pointed at the next to-do list and it walked over to sit next to them. “Though I wish we’d been able to attend family funerals and weddings.”

“Too true.” Taps snatched several notes from the new to-do list, “Though I do prefer weddings over funerals any day. We’ll send flowers to each grave and a hand-written sympathy note with a fruit basket as a late…”

She heard a sonic boom overhead and a bright yellow security artery to the house zipped by her face, slapping against the wall.  She caught it as it sprung back, the notes she held fluttered to the floor and once touching the ground, they auto-returned to the to-do list.

It was pulsing in her hand, magic leaking like a magick teenager’s spark had began to spew like a geyser.

“What in the world…!” was all she got out before six more in various colors went zipping through the room. 

Her doppelganger leaped for the arteries at the same time she did – barely managing to catch two others! 

“Who broke in?” her ‘twin’ asked angrily.

“No one, otherwise we’d have been pulled directly to the room where the breach occurred!” Taps shouted, handing the arteries to the other Taps.  She grabbed her tapper, heading for the door.

Copey’s head appeared, “Are you tryin’ to kill people’s ear drums? If so, can I ‘elp?”

“No! Look at these Copey!” Taps pointed her tapper at the pumping arteries.

His eyes widened and his cheeky grin dropped, “Whose done that? I blow ‘em tah bits with me Neverlasting grell!”

“If we don’t stop this,” Her doppelganger, “you won’t have to. We’ll all perish with them!”

With another large boom outside, Sebastian appeared through a portal, tightly hanging onto a blue artery with his gold ribbon!

“LOOK OUT!” he yelled.

Taps ducked and he zipped by her, his monocle slapping with against his hard cover with the force of the wind.

“Millie’s on the goooo!”  He managed to yell before he disappeared through another portal that’d opened up.

“Stars and garters!” exclaimed her double as the magic in the damaged arteries pumped magic like a fire hose.  “Mother’s broken the code!”

Her doppelganger quickly brushed her gloved fingers across the ends in an attempt to sear them shut.

Copey’s cheeky grin was back, “Maybe it won’t be so bad ‘avin’ your folks ‘ere after all! Ha hah!”

“She has no idea what she’s done!” Taps felt panic well up inside her.

“I’ll keep searing these lines, you find mother and stop her before the mansion explodes!” Her double told her. 

Taps ran out into the hall, “Copey, keep the explosions inside the janx hex!”

“Will do, Taps!” He called. She could hear him pop out of sight.

She found Ronnie crouched in a corner of the Music Room, holding a red artery in one fist, her book catching the magic draining from the artery while the poor girl was getting completely saturated with it.

“Taps! I don’t know what this is…!” Ronnie shouted.

“Here’s a magical clamp!” Taps ran toward her, a medical-type clamp appearing in her hand, “Don’t let it swell too large or it will…”

The Tapestry’s silent alarms went off. With a mute apology, Taps shoved the clamp into Ronnie’s hand and braced herself as she was auto-pulled to the dinning room.

There, her father sat with her Knights, who had been showing him mems of recent battles. 

“…’pon my word, I’d never have guessed…” her father was saying.

The group shouted in surprise as she landed feet-first on the tea table, knocking aside their food and beverages.

“Teresa, what’s going on?” her father asked as he helped her up.

“The Tapestry Realm’s in peril! If the security arteries come through here, grab…” she managed just as several passed through the room!

Her father and quick-reflexed Knights grabbed them as she heard the alarms sound off again.

“HOLD FAST OR WE DIE!” she ordered. 

She felt herself being hauled another place, noting the room she just left was turning upside down.

She thought she could hear her father shouting, “HOUSE REVERSE! HOUSE REVERSE!” as she was jerked down the hallway where her sister stood. Liddia was looking at the wall’s pictures and portraits that held the visage of several of the children she’d helped in the past.

Taps jerked to a halt and rubbed her neck from the whiplash she’d received, “Oooo. That shouldn’t have happened. Perhaps the speed artery is kincked…”

“Taps? I wanted to ask…” Liddy turned to her and paused, her expression quickly turned to concern, “What happened?”

Taps snatched an oncoming bubble-gum-pink artery as it tried to pass her and stuffed it into her sister’s hands, “Don’t allow this to reach the music room, no matter the cost!”

Her sister made a ceiling-tall rock anchor and barely had time to attach the artery to it, before she was yanked off her feet!

“HOLD IT! SEAR IT!” Taps yelled as another alarm went off!

The last she saw of her sister, the dark haired Liddy was bracing her feet on the wall. The music room wasn’t more than a foot away.  She was hanging on for all she was worth with one hand, attached a dragon-clawed grappling hook chain to it and then sent it down into the mermaid tank.

Taps hoped the mermaids were wise enough to take it to the deepest sea cave to let Soline’s leviathan hold it.  Few knew it, but the pink artery was attached to Copey.  If it bled out, she wouldn’t be able to resurrect him!

*

Millie looked at the place Sebastian had been standing, stunned he could move so fast.

“Well, I don’t know where that stuffy librarian has gone, but, moving on.”

She really should tell Taps what she thought of the snobby-book’s manners! On the positive side, since she’d began moving the rooms back to the way she liked them, her mind felt more settled. 

Millie gave her million-dollar smile.  “My goodness, with the house-a-right, I know exactly how to solve that old book’s riddle-of-return!” She waved away the mansion holo and it disappeared. Presumably, it would return to Sebastian, wherever he had flown to!  She doubted Taps knew how many shenanigans were going on beneath her very roof!

“After I take a walk in the gardens, as a reward for solving Sebastian’s trouble, I will return and tell Taps all, so she can learn how to handle her servants.”  She looked out the window.  “I do believe the flora needs brightening. I can help with that!”

Millie disappeared.

*

Taps was zooming between walls as the Tapestry continued to throw her to whatever it considered the most-perilous spot. Whenever she was between walls, she was zipping through the blueprints of her home, unseen, as was a Realm Keeper’s right whenever the Tapestry was in danger. It was part of the strategy to be invisible to any villain that’d entered and appear when the time was right.

She’d missed being able to do so as a ghost. It would’ve saved a lot of hassle with that terrible gob, Fungus Amungus and Vincent.

If only I’d listened to Jeffery…but that’s behind us now. Back to the task at hand!

Here, not only could she see the lead summoning strand that was tied around her waist, she could also see all the security arties floundering about.

Taps’ crystal eyes locked onto the floor, “Clear my path to the crystal!”

The blue-printed floor beneath her cleared to reveal the basement. Then the basement cleared and the crystal was exposed.

Because the arteries had been placed under the mansion, the lurkers hadn’t been able to get them. Keeper houses could always be restored in the end due to this wonderful grant of a fist sized star crystal, via Head Royals.

Instead of the arteries being woven in and throughout the crystal, the way she’d painstakingly laced them, several had been snapped! To her horror, there were thousands of arteries-large and small-that were waving about like unrestrained fire hoses!

 “How can I sear all of them and reweave them in place before we all-!”

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her mother. Millicent was in the library setting something down.

The lead strand began to pull on her once more. Taps grabbed one of the blueprinted walls to keep from being pulled anywhere else.

“Mamah?”

Millie disappeared from view. Her spark appeared in her place and was headed to the garden, following one of the guest lines to the outside, but what her mother couldn’t see was the pulsing security knots that were in front of her. It was now large enough to destroy an army!

“Mamah! DON’T!”

Taps thrust her tapper forward, flinging a fast rebound spell to force her mother back into the guest room. Millie’s spark was pushed back.

*

Millie reappeared in the best guest room, “What in the world? Why am I here? I know I mind-pictured the garden.”

The guest room was where her eldest had needed to move Lawrence and herself until Taps could safely vacate their old bedroom. Their red-headed daughter had been slowly taking her dangerous wards down so they could sleep without being killed or maimed. Which they’d both appreciated, though Millie was, admittedly, a titch annoyed, wanting to move on with her life.

Larry had reminded her, repeatedly, Keepers had many enemies and their daughter was no exception. Like the typical double Club he was, he proudly said, “If anything, she has more, Millie.”

It was true, they’d watched from an agonizing distance as villain after villain had gone after her.

“Hmm…perhaps it’s a left over gob trap.” Her eyes brightened, “Well, I married into this family and Persimmons’ are famous for their persistence! And Heaven knows, I’ll never be trapped inside again!” Millie declared aloud, “Full boar ahead! Then I can see what trap I’m up against.”

Millie ran and disappeared, once again headed for the garden.

*

Taps panted as she strained against the Tapestry’s pull to go to eight other rooms, she was nearly parallel with the wall!  Trying to calm down from the terror that she’d nearly lost her mother for good, she swallowed and looked back at the swelling knot that was gathering tension.

“A half an hour or less to annihilation,” she panted, biting her lip.

Movement attracted her attention as Millie’s spark quickly raced toward the swelling net once more.

“STOP MOTHER!”

Taps extended her tapper. Millie was caught and thrown back with defensive rebound wall jinx followed by a cushioning enchantment so she would land somewhere safe without being bruised.

Taps blocked the directional portals that would allow her mother the right to head towards the knot that’d once been the garden’s entrance. If her mother tried again, she would find herself at the Heart palace.

Taps let go of the blue print wall, choosing the direction the Tapestry was to pull her, so she wasn’t torn apart! The next thing she knew, she was being dragged upward through the solid floor of her study to the ceiling. She smiled as her eyes landed on President Washington’s bust statue.

“Your timing has never been better, Mr. President!”

The wooden floor began to bubble and creak, the seal that Lord Jaydren had gifted her with began to rumble as more veins began to fly past the room, spurting magic.

“No! Purple and yellow don’t mix!” She pointed and the flopping purple vein sealed as the yellow smacked into her desk, covering it in a waterfall of golden spark mist.

Taps swung up, just as the yellow mist touched the purple splotches left behind by its vein. Brown vapor exploded into the room. She grabbed the head of President Washington’s bust. More than happy she’d enchanted him and his pedestal to stay put, she opened her mouth as a microphone appeared.

The fumes from the mixed magic began to rise.

“Alert to Heart (cough) Palace! Send (deep cough) help!” she coughed just as the Tapestry yanked her from sight.

*

Millie felt herself slung back to the guest room (and luckily) she’d landed on her husband’s large fireplace chair.

She softly pulled one of her side ringlets in thought, “Now this is a puzzle. ‘Twasn’t a gob trap, otherwise I would have been bruised for sure! Well, I’ll have to tell my little copper that her guiding wards are out of order. But, there’s more than one way to jump into a garden.”

She quickly went over to her personal desk. It looked like a plain writing desk, but when she touched it, the piece unfolded until it nearly took up three quarters of the wall. Many drawers of all shapes and sizes lined it, some were locked. The different sizes were needed so she could fit any number of things in them: letters, knick-knacks, deadly puzzles, plants, and even small animals.

The many-drawered-marvel was a treasure to her because it’d been carved by non-other than Mr. Haberlie himself (her friend, Joyce’s, husband). Flowers, butterflies, leaves, and hearts adorned it in raised relief. He was an expert Magicanik carpenter and her desk was one of his best works, in Millie’s opinion.

Larry had replaced the magic that’d been lost to the polished piece (as its magic had been sacrificed to keep her daughter alive). She’d been excited to reunite with it! If it was one thing that all threes needed, it was a multi-leveled answer-desk.

Millie touched one of the drawers. It opened to reveal several herbal books. Her slender finger slid over the leather worn volumes until it stopped on one that hadn’t worn down. She tapped it and it slid out, the light blue book floated down to her. It was an original in every way.

She turned the painted pages that displayed her own unique garden, “To think you were still alive the last time I turned these pages. Your art work stuns me even now, Eloise, old friend. How I wish you could be here for Sarah.  She is such a beautiful girl.  Your granddaughter would’ve loved you.” She stopped on a page that brought her back to her original purpose, “There we are. This section of the garden. I do hope the painting still works.”

She propped the book open and touched the page. Finding her finger sinking through it, she smiled as she allowed herself to be sucked into the book.

*

End of chapter

Next: Part 2-Miracle Millie

-T. Erickson