Zuda and the Midnight Market by Christina McClung (suggested reading .txt) 📕

on the way home and after some much needed doggie kibble was excited to receive his dragonweed bones. Zuda fell asleep quickly that night and dreamed of all the things she was going to get herself into. Morning came much too quickly and to her surprise Celia was sitting at her kitchen table with a fresh pot of tea made and a small silver box. Zuda loved Celia’s tea so she was more than happy to see a big glass sitting on the table waiting for her. “Good morning dear.” Celia said smiling and sipping on her tea. “I have brought you a special gift.” Celia handed the silver box to Zuda.

Zuda was careful not to shake the box and opened it with extreme caution. In it was a beautiful leather book with quartz letters that said Zuda’s Spells and Things. “Celia! This is… This is amazing!!” Zuda said excitingly as she dove over the table to hug Celia.

Zuda was excited to finally have a place to write down her spells that she had been tearing out of books and trying not to lose. Zuda composed herself and finished her tea. Celia spent some time getting to know Jakarby while Zuda took a shower and got ready to go with Celia to the university. Finally they headed out the door. They talked about things Zuda liked to do and about Jakarby also. The university was quiet that morning and Zuda was surprised to not hear students scurrying around chattering about the normal school stuff. They walked into Celia’s chambers and sat down at a table that had a weird looking thing-a-ma-jig on it.

“What in all creation is that?” Zuda chuckled.

Celia smiled and picked it up. “Hello Celia” a small sweet voice came from the little thing-a-ma-jig.

“Hello Naradin. We have a new student today.” Celia said sweetly placing it back on the table. Zuda was soon in shock when she saw the tiniest person she had ever seen come out of the top of the thing-a-ma-jig. Naradin brushed some dust off of her purple robe and sneezed. “Hello” she climbed over and sat on the edge of the thing-a-ma-jig. “You must be Zuda. Pleased to meecha!” She said in a voice matching her size.

Zuda lowered her head to the level of the table to look at the tiny little person talking to her. “Yes. I am.” Zuda looked at her from many different angles before Celia told her that she might want to get used to seeing things she was not accustom to seeing.

Naradin was a mere 5 and a half inches tall. The purple in her robes brought out the deep gold color of her eyes and enhanced the burgundy red curly locks of her hair. She had a sweet voice that was just perfect for her small stature.

Zuda composed herself and looked over at Celia. “So I guess I need to get my application filled out.”

“Well… it has already been done and here is your syllabus” Naradin answered.

Immediately a blue piece of paper appeared on the table with a phoenix quill pen. Zuda picked it up and began reading the sasses she would be taking when school stared in the next few weeks. Celia handed her a few papers to sign and gave her a pink paper with all of the extra-curricular thing she could get involved in.

“Now…you should go see Mrs. Toggerniky about Jakarby’s classes.” Celia placed Zuda’s paperwork in a folder and stood up. Naradin went back into her thing-a-ma-jig after saying goodbye, and Zuda without saying anything just shook her head and walked out of the room. She watched as the table slowly sank into the ground and was recovered by the emerald rug.

Zuda walked down the hall to Mrs. Toggerniky’s classroom. There were different kinds of animals actually doing things that were just too close to humans. Mrs. Toggerniky walked out from her office. “Ah… You are Zuda? Where is Jakarby?”

“Oh, he is at home I just got my schedule and Celia said to go ahead and get his classes done” Zuda said walking to a chair at yet another table. She sat there while Mrs. Toggerniky gathered all the paperwork she needed to get signed.

“Here. Fill these out” Mrs. Toggerniky almost threw the papers at her. Zuda was beginning to reconsider even placing Jakarby here but then figured Mr. Bogbottom would give her a stern talking to if she didn’t. She filled them out and gave them back to Mrs. . Toggerniky

“He comes when you come and leaves when you leave.” she said.

Zuda got up and left, she was irritated that she had just been in the same room with such a mean old lady, and that same lady would be teaching her dog.

She went home and decided to take Jakarby for a walk back in her real world as she had been referring to it when she spoke of it with Mr. Bogbottom. They walked down to the alley that read Elk Ellen Drive and passed through the door. She finally reached 3363 and knocked on the door.

“Coming.” There was a voice and the sound of running from behind the door.

Isabella answered the door happy to see her daughter. Dinner was silent and awkward that night. Zuda tried to bring up Kyafus but no matter how many different ways she tried, she just couldn’t bring herself to mention him.

They left and slowly made their way back to the door. She was frightened when she saw Kyafus standing there with his three followers from the meeting Zuda and Celia had listened to.

He started walking towards her and she tried to run but could not get her legs to move. “Zuda. Why the rush? You just got here and I think you should stay a while.” Zuda felt her legs tighten with a sharp burning sensation.

Suddenly there was a bright flash and Celia was grabbing her arm. They passed through the door and Kyafus was left raving mad that Zuda had slipped threw his fingers by just seconds.

Zuda dropped to the floor wrenching in pain. Jakarby laid down beside her and licked her face. Celia and Mr. Bogbottom wore expressionless faces as they lifted her to her feet and carried her to her apartment. Zuda fell asleep and Celia fed Jakarby even though he was not hungry. Mr. Bogbottom and Celia took turns watching over Zuda and taking care of Jakarby for the next few days.

When Zuda awoke she was greeted like any other morning, Jakarby was licking her face. Celia materialized some of her famous tea and they talked about how Jakarby had been while she was recovering. Mr. Bogbottom brought her in some breakfast and they sat almost in complete silence for the rest of the morning.

“Celia? What am I going to have to do? He would have killed me. I can’t even go see my mom.” Zuda broke into tears and sunk deep into her pillow.

“We honestly do not know dear. We just know that he is more powerful now than he ever was. You know we will help you in every way we can” Celia was almost crying herself.

“Now… how bout some dragonweed cookies” Mr. Bogbottom chipped in with a goofy smile.

Zuda and Celia both laughed and Jakarby nearly knocked him over on his way into the kitchen. Later that night Celia and Mr. Bogbottom left and Zuda cuddled with Jakarby on her big feather bed.

Right as she was ready to go to sleep she thought she heard a voice say “ I love you Zuda.”

Zuda awoke the next morning not quite sure if she had heard a voice the night before. Jakarby stretched and she thought she heard him say good morning but she was in so much shock she was determined she was going nuts. Jakarby looked at her and once again said good morning. Zuda looked at him with bewilderment. “Good morning?” she said quietly. She shook her head and headed to the kitchen. She fed Jakarby even though now she felt awkward because now her dog was holding a conversation with her.

They got ready to meet the day and got to Mr. Bogbottom’s apartment a little before noon. They walked through Mr. Bogbottom’s door and this time she heard him plane as day.

“Good afternoon Sir” Jakarby said this time walking over and gently taking the dragonweed cookie from Mr. Bogbottom.

“Why hello Jakarby…” he nodded and smiled “ And to you Zuda”

Zuda was dumbfounded stuck in one place still in the doorway. Hulah flew down from her perch and landed in front of her. “Well… looks like you are off to a good start” she laughed and flew back to her perch in her everyday snobby manner.

Zuda walked over and examined Jakarby like he was the most amazing thing she had ever seen.

“Zuda, I am still me.” Jakarby said after swallowing the last of his cookie.

Zuda and Jakarby sat on the floor and talked for a very long time. Mr. Bogbottom would come in periodically to bring cookies and engage in casual conversation.

Celia came in and nearly startled Zuda to death. This time she was not in her usual ebony robe but this time she was in a silver flowing gown adorned with onyx stone accents. She walked in and sat down beside Zuda. “Well I am glad to see that you have finally tapped in to Jakarby’s gifts.” she smiled and waited for Zuda to speak.

“Celia…you nearly scared me to death and my dog is talking to me…my life can’t get any more weird.” Zuda answered in a slow mellow tone.

“Well…you might just be surprised about that.” Celia stood up and reached out her hand to help Zuda get up off the floor.

“Jakarby you should stay here with Hulah and Mr. Bogbottom for a while. I am sure you will not mind living off of spriken juice and dragonweed cookies.” Celia looked over to Jakarby smiling.

“No…I do not mind as long as Zuda does not mind…” Jakarby said stretching out and lying on the floor.

Zuda agreed even though she was wondering what exactly she was going to get herself into.

Celia and Zuda left and once again headed down the road to Stir Cross Alley. Zuda felt an overwhelming pain start in her stomach and her palms got sweaty. “Zuda, you will be ok.” Celia stopped long enough to hug her. Zuda gave a nod and wiped her hands on her cloak. They continued walking until they reached the door. “Now that you have a cloak you will not have to hold on to me. You can do a lot of things now but remember you must once again be still and quiet.” Celia once again had that tremor in her voice.

“Ok, I know that I will just have to try to stay calm.” Zuda composed herself and got ready to go through the door.
They took a deep breath and passed through the door into the same smoky hallway where they stood on the night Zuda found out that Kyafus was indeed after her life.

They once again went to the room only this time they walked in before Kyafus and his followers got there. They stood in a far corner out of the way and not too long after herd Kyafus yelling as they were approaching.