And music! All kinds of music. There was a record player sitting on the counter, and the day the music died was bright and loud with Ritchie and Buddy and the Big Bopper singing from beyond. Lucy was in charge, and he never failed to disappoint.
They laughed on this day. Oh, how they laughed. Even though Linus thought his heart was breaking, he laughed until there were tears in his eyes, until he was sure his sides would split. As the sun began to set and the lanterns grew brighter, they laughed and laughed and laughed.
Linus was wiping tears away (from amusement, he told himself) when the music changed yet again.
He recognized it even before Nat King Cole began to sing.
He looked up to see Arthur Parnassus standing before him, hand outstretched.
Thank you.
You keep saying that, and I don’t know if it’s deserved.
I know you don’t believe you do. But I don’t say things I don’t mean. Life is too short for it. Do you like to dance?
I don’t … know. I think I might have two left feet, honestly.
I highly doubt that.
And Linus Baker allowed himself to be selfish. Just this once.
He took Arthur’s hand and stood slowly as Nat told him to smile even though his heart was breaking.
Arthur pulled him close, and they began to sway back and forth.
“Smile and maybe tomorrow,” Arthur whispered in his ear. “You’ll see the sun come shining through for you.”
Linus lay his head against Arthur’s chest. He could feel the heat from him burning from the inside out.
They danced.
It stretched on for what felt like ages, though Linus knew the song didn’t last long. He heard Arthur whispering the words to him. He surprised even himself. Apparently, he didn’t have two left feet after all.
But, like all things magical, the song eventually came to an end.
The house around them was quiet. Linus blinked as if waking from a dream. He lifted his head. Arthur looked down at him, eyes glittering like fire. Linus stepped back.
Zoe sat with Phee and Talia in her lap. Theodore was perched on Sal’s shoulder. Lucy and Chauncey lay pressed against his legs. All of them looked tired. Happy, but tired. Lucy smiled at him, but it broke when he yawned. “Did you like your treasure, Mr. Baker?”
Linus looked up at Arthur again. “I did,” he whispered. “I liked it more than anything.”
* * *
Zoe carried Phee and Talia as they walked back toward the main house. Talia was snoring loudly.
Sal had put Theodore in his shirt, and the wyvern’s head lay against his throat.
Arthur held Chauncey by his tentacle.
Linus brought up the rear, Lucy sleepy in his arms.
He wished it could last forever.
It was over in what seemed like an instant.
He said good night to Talia. To Phee. To Sal and Theodore. He shifted Lucy to one arm and reached down and patted Chauncey on the top of his head.
Arthur asked a question with his eyes.
Linus shook his head. “I’ve got him.”
Arthur nodded and turned to remind the others it was time to brush their teeth.
He took Lucy into Arthur’s bedroom and set him down. “Go get your pajamas on,” he said quietly.
Lucy nodded and turned toward the closet door. He shut it behind him.
Linus stood in the middle of the room, unsure of everything. He thought he knew the way of things. How the world worked. His place in it.
Now, he wasn’t so sure.
Lucy returned in pajama pants and a white shirt. His hair was sticking up as if he’d run his hand through it. His bare feet were so small.
“Go brush your teeth,” Linus instructed gently.
Lucy looked up at him suspiciously. “You’ll be here when I get back?”
Linus nodded. “I promise.”
Lucy went back out into the hall. He heard Chauncey yell that Theodore was eating the toothpaste again, and Theodore chirping in response that he was not.
Linus put his face into his hands.
He’d composed himself by the time Lucy came back into the room, face freshly scrubbed. He yawned again. “I’m so tired,” he said.
“Adventuring is hard work, I suspect.”
“Good adventure, though.”
“The best,” Linus agreed.
He took Lucy by the hand and led him to his room. The records they’d glued meticulously back together were hung on the wall (though, from the Buddy Holly record, a piece they hadn’t been able to find was still missing; Theodore had moved quickly, it would seem). Linus pulled the covers down on the bed, and Lucy crawled up and underneath, snuggling down onto his pillow.
Linus pulled the covers back up to his shoulders. Lucy turned on his side, looking up at Linus. “I don’t want you to go.”
Linus swallowed thickly as he crouched down next to the bed. “I know. And I’m sorry about that. But my time here is just about finished.”
“Why?”
“Because I have responsibilities.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m an adult. And adults have jobs.”
Lucy grimaced. “I never want to be an adult. It sounds boring.”
He reached out and brushed a lock of Lucy’s hair from his brow. “I think you’ll make a fine adult, though it won’t happen for a long time to come.”
“You’re not going to let them take us away, are you?”
Linus shook his head. “No. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
“You will?”
“Yes, Lucy.”
“Oh. That’s nice of you.” Then, “You’re going to be gone when I wake up.”
Linus looked away but didn’t answer.
He felt Lucy’s hand brush against his face. “The others don’t know, but I do. I can see things, sometimes. I don’t know why. You. Arthur. He burns. Did you know that?”
Linus inhaled sharply. “Did he tell you that?”
“No. I don’t think he’s allowed. But we know. We all know. Just like we know what you both did when you left the other day. He’s one of us. Just like you.”
“I’m afraid I don’t have magic.”
“You do, Mr. Baker. Arthur told me that there can be magic in the ordinary.”
He looked back at Lucy.
His eyes were closed.
He breathed deeply.
Linus stood.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
He made sure to leave the door open a little when he left, so that a sliver of light shone in to chase away the nightmares should they try and find the sleeping boy.
* * *
The other doors were all closed. He touched each of them as he wandered slowly down the hall.
The only light that was on came from under Sal’s door.
He thought about knocking.
He didn’t.
He paused at the top of the stairs.
Took a breath.
And then descended.
There was a whispered argument occurring on the first floor. He hesitated, unsure if he should make his presence known. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but he knew it wasn’t for him.
Zoe stood at the front door, jabbing Arthur in the chest, her brow furrowed, her eyes narrowed. She looked unhappy. Not quite angry but … something. She stopped when the last step creaked under Linus.