The Dangerous Doors of Shannon Anderson

Chapter Seven

Dad was in his den re-alphabetizing his books when I got home.

"Hey Shan," he said, smiling when he saw me slide into the doorway. "Test go okay?"

"Fine," I said. "I think. Listen, Dad, I'm going to go lay down for a little while, okay?"

"Okay. You know, I think I'm missing some books," he said, looking over at his big shelf which was normally packed to the gills but now had some very noticeable gaps.

"Oh, yeah," I said, sidling out the door. "They're in my room. Is it okay if I borrow them for a while?"

Dad pushed his glasses up his nose. "Sure. Do you want me to wake you up for lunch? I'm going to make hot sandwiches."

I was already halfway up the stairs. "No thanks!"

I shut the door to my room, wishing it had a lock. Not that Dad usually came into my room when I was sleeping or anything, but a lock still would have made me feel better. What would happen if he did come in and I wasn't there? Or worse, what if he came in and found my little door?

I hastily stuffed a few pillows underneath the quilt on my bed in what I hoped was a human-shaped lump. I doubted it would be enough to deceive Dad if he came knocking, but I didn't have time to worry about it now. I dug Dracula out from the pile next to my bed and opened it.

The dark wood door with metal studs and the stone carving in the top part of the frame appeared in my wall next to the dresser, the same spot as before. I turned a page and the door lurched open.

I got down on my hands and knees and peered inside. It was Van Helsing's study again, but it was daytime. Bright sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling windows to my left, and a low fire burned in the fireplace behind the mahogany desk right in front of me. The desk was unoccupied, but the fire made me think that the professor might not be far off. Assuming he was still alive, of course. I crawled inside.

It didn't smell quite so weird this time, and I noticed that all the white flowers that had been scattered throughout the room before were gone. I stepped over to the tall window and looked outside.

I was several stories up in a building that overlooked a narrow canal, lined on either side by skinny trees and brick sidewalks. The buildings across the canal were tall, thin and colorful, and all squished together like too many books on too little shelf. People walked and biked up and down the street, bundled in warm jackets and hats and gloves and scarves, and the river was spotted with rowboats. There was a light dusting of snow on the bridges and tree branches.

"Miss Shannon, do I believe my eyes?"

I turned from the window to see Dr. Van Helsing walking towards me, arms wide, grinning broadly. I smiled too. He looked completely healthy, cheeks red, eyebrows just as bushy as ever. Maybe he hadn't even encountered Dracula yet. I'd only been gone for a couple days, after all.