Jasmine alighted the Sienna, her hair down and sleek behind her they were yet to get dressed. They Arrived at what seemed to be a closed bookshop the exterior small, old, and creaky. Mr Grey locked the Sienna, and it made a beeping sound, he ushered them into the old building, the doorbell jingling as they entered, there was an old man at the counter who seemed to be reading a book to pass the time. The shop was empty of humans and didn't even seem to ever open to them.
Micah who had just had a haircut this morning looked fresh as he looked around the place.
"I don't see any portal around," he murmured, leaning closer to Jasmine, his voice barely above a whisper, so as not to disturb the adult's conversation.
"Yeah, it's all old and rusty," Jasmine said, looking around the place with a slight frown.
From the corner, an elderly man cleared his throat. It wasn't loud, but it was enough to make her lower her voice a bit.
"Can I help you, sir? Looking for something in particular?" the old man asked. His tone was casual, almost friendly but his eyes? They were sharp. Like he saw more than he let on.
Mr Grey didn't say a word. He just reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small, round emblem. He placed it on the table with a soft clink.
The emblem caught the light inside it, a delicate triangle shimmered like it was made of crystal.
The old man didn't even blink. He just nodded slowly, like he'd been expecting it. Then, without a word, he stood up and pressed something on the side of the table. There was a quiet click the door behind them locked.
He stepped to the side and motioned for them to follow.
As he moved, a door on the right came into view. Jasmine blinked. She could've sworn it wasn't there before.
They followed him through a narrow hallway. Their footsteps echoed softly against the stone floor. The space felt colder somehow, like the air changed the deeper they went.
Then, finally, they stepped into a massive room a library.
Jasmine's breath caught. The ceiling stretched high above them, and books lined every wall, from floor to ceiling.
It didn't look anything like the old creaky front room they had just left from. This place was... alive.
Jasmine's mouth dropped open as she took it all in. She couldn't believe what she was seeing. The shelves were huge stretching all the way up to the ceiling like they'd been there forever. They were packed tight with books, every size and color, some with shiny spines that caught the soft glow from the chandelier above.
It didn't feel real. Just a moment ago they were in that dusty little shop, and now… this? It was like stepping into a dream. The room felt warm somehow, like it wanted them there.
"Dear Lord!!" Micah said, his voice loud with pure shock. He stood there frozen, eyes wide. For once, he didn't even try to be cool
The old man didn't stop to admire the view like they did. Without saying much, he walked ahead and grabbed a wooden panel off the wall Jasmine hadn't even noticed it was there. It made a low, creaky sound as he pulled it open.
Behind it, in the dark, something shimmered.
A portal.
It glowed with deep blue and soft gold, the colors swirling like liquid light. It pulsed gently, almost like it was breathing. A low, calming hum came from it—so soft and smooth it gave Jasmine goosebumps.
The sound wasn't loud, but it kind of wrapped around them, buzzing faintly against their skin. Not scary. Just... alive.
She didn't speak, didn't dare break the moment. Her heart thudded as she stared into it, wondering what was waiting on the other side.
Mr Grey turned to face his family, his eyes resting for a moment on the kids. Jasmine could hardly stay still, her silver curls bouncing as she shifted from foot to foot. Micah was holding onto his travel box like it might fly away if he let go.
"Alright, both of you, listen up," Mr. Grey said. His voice was calm but serious. "When we go through the portal, you have to stay steady. No stepping off to the sides. Keep your hands in. Your mother will be right behind you, and I'll go first. No messing around, understood?"
Jasmine and Micah both nodded. Jasmine looked excited, but her eyes flicked toward the portal like she wasn't sure anymore. Micah looked pale, like he wanted to ask something but thought better of it.
"Okay then," Mr. Grey said with a breath, turning toward the glowing swirl ahead. The portal rippled like liquid light colors flowing across it like paint in water. He stepped in without hesitation, and in a blink, he was gone. Just gone, like the portal swallowed him whole.
Mrs. Morrigan placed a hand on Jasmine's shoulder and gave her a gentle nudge. Her smile was small but warm, the kind that made you feel braver without needing words.
"Go on, darling," she said.
Jasmine reached for Micah's hand without thinking, and together they stepped forward, the hum of the portal growing louder in their ears as the air seemed to shift around them.
At first, a warm wave wrapped around them. It felt safe almost like a hug. But then everything changed in a blink. The warmth turned into a wild rush. Jasmine felt like the ground disappeared, like the air had been knocked out of her chest. The world spun too fast, and for a second, she wasn't sure which way was up.
Then, just as fast as it started, it stopped.
They stumbled forward, landing on solid ground again. Jasmine's heart was pounding. She blinked, trying to catch her breath. It felt like she'd been tossed through a wind tunnel.
She gasped, one hand going to her stomach. "Ugh," she mumbled, eyes wide. The ride had been... awful. She definitely didn't like it.
Next to her, Micah was bent over a little, breathing hard like he'd run a mile. His travel box was still clutched in his hand, though now it looked like he might drop it.
"Is everyone okay?" Mr. Grey asked. His voice was calm, but he was checking them all carefully.
They all nodded, though none of them spoke at first.
Jasmine rubbed her arms and looked around slowly. Then she frowned.
"Wait… what?" she said, squinting.
They were standing in the same library. The same chandelier. The same shelves. It was like they'd never even left.
But something was off. She could feel it. The air felt thicker, and the light was softer, almost gold.
"This isn't the same," she said under her breath.
"We moved… came here," her aunt said, a bit distracted as she stepped toward the door and pushed it open. Jasmine peeked behind her.
What she saw on the other side made her pause.
Outside, a group of men in uniforms military-looking, maybe were patrolling near the entrance. The creaky old library was gone. Probably had just.....shifted. Across from the portal room was now a full-on reception area, clean and bright, with a polished desk that looked way too modern for a place that just moments ago had smelled like dust and old paper.
A man came marching up to them. His posture was stiff, clearly trained, but his face wasn't unfriendly. He gave Mr Grey a slight bow.
"Welcome, Lord Morrigan. And My Lady," he said, glancing at Mrs Morrigan before nodding to the children. "Please your accommodation is ready. The ball begins at eight sharp this evening. You still have four hours until then."
His tone was very formal, almost too polite, like he'd practiced the words ahead of time.
Mr Grey just gave a small nod. "Thank you."
Without saying much else, he followed the man, his coat trailing behind him as he walked with that same quiet authority he always had. His family followed close behind.
As they stepped past the doors, Jasmine glanced up at a shiny sign that read:
'Travel Phase Way Station.'
She wasn't sure what that meant exactly, but it sounded important. Or maybe just... very official.
Jasmine's eyes widened as they stepped out of the station. A van was parked just outside, waiting for them. She blinked in surprise somehow she had expected a carriage or something more magical-looking… not a van. It kind of felt out of place.
The guard gave them one last bow, then turned and walked away the moment they were all inside and settled.
"Have the people from Dynara arrived yet?" Mrs Morrigan asked, turning slightly in her seat.
"No," Mr Grey replied, letting his head rest back against the headrest. "But I believe they'll be arriving soon."
Jasmine stayed quiet, her gaze fixed out the window as the van moved smoothly along the paved road. Everything looked so different here. Newer… but still old, in a grand sort of way.