Chapter 25: My World Is Still Upside Down

Moments later I landed clumsily inside Addison’s office. Clyde lay curled up on the brown plaid armchair. He began yowling at me as soon as I materialized in front of his surprised face. I sagged with relief.

The marble jumped out of my hand and rolled under the armchair. It would have to be dealt with later. Right now I never wanted to touch the freaky thing again.

I stumbled into the kitchen, with Clyde doing figure eights around my feet. His dishes were empty. I tossed the gloves on the kitchen table. After I fed and watered him, I went upstairs to count out some money for a cab to the hospital.

I needed to use the phone in the library instead of Addison’s office since I decided to swear off Chimbrelises for all eternity if I could help it. Didn’t even want to look at the thing.

I flipped to Transportation Services in the phone directory. The top ad caught my eye.

Mr. Trey Signet Livery Services

1-1 0 2 – 1 6 1 – 1 2 2 0

Driving everywhere morning or night. Local or remote destinations.

Quickly I dialed the number. A faint voice answered above the crackling line. I practically shouted our address to make sure they heard and was told it would be a few minutes. I double checked my money and went outside.

The street was deserted. Strange, since that time of day usually had tourists and locals out and about. We lived close by several shops and a large, busy common that had daily vendors selling everything imaginable from flowers to muffins, books to jewelry, incense to leather wallets, plus you could have your palm or your cards read by at least three different psychics.

Within a few minutes a black cab pulled up. I got in. “St. Iversolde Hospital, please.”

The driver wore their hood up and didn’t turn around. We drove at a snail’s pace to the hospital using what must have been the city’s longest route there. I was a nervous wreck by the time we arrived.

When I handed over the fare, which was an exorbitant amount I had barely enough to cover, the driver pressed something fuzzy into my palm. Revulsion gripped me. I whipped my hand away.

Out of the car I stumbled, slamming the door shut. The car sped away. Why were cab rides always so weird?

I speed walked into the hospital and avoided the people at the front desk; I knew he was in the section where they cared for people with heart problems.

A stitch of pain in my tailbone made me catch my breath. I pushed by the double swinging doors. Addison’s room wasn’t far. Another stitch stabbed at me in the same place.

My tailbone was throbbing by the time I got to the hallway where his room was. I couldn’t wait to see him but was terrified about the sudden, severe pain. Another cramp had me doubled over behind a gurney outside Addison’s room.

I clutched at my lower back. My blood ran cold as something hairy brushed across my fingers. I had a dog tail, a golden yellow-furred one sticking out for the whole world to see. The tail immediately curled as absolute, utter horror came over me.

Inside Addison’s room, Dr. Lowe was saying that bed rest was critical to the recovery process, and that Addison’s condition was fair and stable as far as he was concerned. He would have to stay a few more days for observation.

My relief was short lived. Footsteps clicked around the corner. Nobody, especially Addison, could see me like this.

A linen cart stood at the end of the hallway. As I went to grab a sheet to wrap around my waist, the laundry worker appeared. I fled, knowing my untucked shirt wasn’t long enough to cover my problem.

I didn’t dare take my chances with another cab, since the first ride was obviously cursed. I raced the shortest distance home I could through bustling streets, desperate to avoid being seen. Nobody seemed to notice me except for a few dogs and I was only chased partway down a street once by a giant, drooling mutt whose owner called him back.

The sharp scent of a nearby vendor’s sausage pricked at my nose. My sides heaved. I let myself in the front door and collapsed with foot and leg cramps. I hobbled to Addison’s office and kicked off my shoes.

Dog toenails poked through my socks. I tore off the socks. Paws had replaced my feet. New horror surged through me.

I had no choice but to use the Chimbrelis again. Its chiming voice connected me to the same glasses-wearing lady as before. She was not amused and gave me the same speech about prank calls and breaking magical laws.

The Chimbrelis disconnected before I could show her my paws and tail or tell her about the cab ride and the weird fur thing. A detached feeling settled over my brain. I blacked out.

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I dreamed about a giant donkey stampeding around our house until I jolted awake. The Chimbrelis was braying HEEHAW--

Rufus!

I tried to answer but all that came out of my mouth were barks and whines. Clyde walked in and stared at me. He growled. I was bigger than him, but he made up for his size with belligerence. Thank the gods his tail had been de-barbed.

“Hey Clyde, it’s just me,” I said, but it was more barking.

He swiped at my face, his claws grazing my snout. I dashed upstairs to my room on four legs. Clyde followed behind snapping at my heels. Downstairs the Chimbrelis kept heehawing in the background.

I hated to do it but I snapped at Clyde to make him stop swiping at me. He fled downstairs.

I paced around my bedroom trying to decide what to do. All the while I avoided catching a glimpse of myself in the tall mirror propped in the corner. I already knew what I looked like: small, sandy blonde with sad brown eyes, floppy ears, and a shaggy tail.

The Chimbrelis finally stopped. Then the doorbell rang. Before I knew what I was doing, I launched myself barking in a frenzy downstairs to the couch where I could see outside. Through the curtains I spied a tall dark figure lurking on the brick steps.

A stranger.

“Who are you?” I barked. “What do you want?”

The figure peeked in the window.

Mister Gentry!

He grinned and scratched his long, knobby fingers against the glass. I whined and fled back upstairs. My shaggy tail curled under as I wedged my trembling self as flat as I could under the bed.

“Coralie,” I heard Addison say from the bottom of the stairs. “I have bacon for you. Come find me.”

ADDISON! I didn’t even hear him come in! He was home, he could fix this. And he had bacon! I scrambled joyfully downstairs.

Dismay filled my heart when he wasn’t where I expected him to be.

“Over here,” he called from the kitchen.

My tongue dangled out the side of my mouth as I raced to greet him but he wasn’t in the kitchen either.

“You missed me, Coralie,” he said from the library.

He wasn’t there either.

“I’ll give this bacon to Clyde if you can’t find me,” he said. This time his voice was coming from his office.

I raced over. There was no way I was going to let Clyde have any, especially after he swiped my nose. Where was Addison?

“Behind my desk,” he said. “You’re getting warmer.”

Obviously he was hiding back there. I trotted around the desk. An otherworldly, sinister yowling rose up from behind me. I whipped around in time to see Purrberus coming out of the Chimbrelis.

Mister Gentry appeared in front of me in a puff of wispy black. “I still have a bone to pick with you, Coralie.”

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