The Library

Andrea Campbell, Andi to her friends, sat at the long wooden reading table twirling a strand of her long golden hair as she escaped into a romantic fantasy. As she read the most recent addition to the romance section of the library, she pictured herself beneath the weight of a handsome pirate who kidnapped her and now holds her captive. He keeps her in his bed chambers and crawls on her every evening. One evening, the fair maiden decided to surprise the pirate and awaited his arrival in nothing but a thin shawl, which did little to cover her nakedness. The pirate entered the bed chamber and was immediately aroused. The young woman stood next to the hulking man, pressing her naked body against him as she gently rubbed the bulge in his pants. He looked into her eyes with a healthy dose of surprise, but he didn’t stop her. She proceeded to pull down his pants, exposing his long, thick cock. She gently kissed his exposed chest and made her way down his torso, gently nibbling as she lowered herself to her knees. She wrapped her fist around his rock-hard cock and began stroking it up and down. Moaning with pleasure, the pirate coaxed her to take him into her mouth. She obliged and began sucking the head of his cock, licking the tip with her tongue. He moaned and began thrusting his pelvis into her hot wet mouth. She relaxed her throat and took all of him deep inside. As she sucked, she used her free hand to gently caress his balls. The pirate began pumping his hips faster and harder until he exploded in her mouth. Andi was pulled out of her reverie when she heard the bell over the front door chime. As she stood to leave and head downstairs to greet her guests, she realized the sweet spot between her lap and chair was throbbing.

Andi was still a virgin and it embarrassed her that her only sexual encounters were purely fictional. Throughout her school years, she had been tormented by the other kids. Not only was she painfully shy, but she wore thick glasses, buried her nose in books, and to add insult to injury, her parents ran the town’s funeral home. When Andi was a newborn, she contracted a virus that resulted in a prolonged hospital stay resulting in Andi’s mother becoming overprotective and overbearing. At an early age, Andi’s mother followed her everywhere, EXCEPT, the library. For whatever reason, Andi’s mother had an aversion to the massive structure gracing the corners of Elm and Maple. Andi took advantage of her mother’s aversion to the library and often sought refuge within its walls where she could travel to far off lands in peace.

The library was housed in an ancient Victorian built at the turn of the century. The man who built the library was believed to have practiced magic and built his home at the intersections of ancient ley lines that amplified the energy he used in casting his spells. Throughout the building were hidden rooms and doors, leading to places no one could see. The library reminded her of a fairytale castle and when she first discovered the enchanted world it offered, a world where her mother wouldn’t enter, she vowed to make it her second home and take care of it just as it had taken care of her. As soon as she was in elementary school, Andi would wake up early every Saturday, dart down to her father’s office, where he would occasionally be found embalming a cadaver, and let him know she was headed to the library, where she would stay until suppertime. Andi would race out the front door as her mother called after her, “Andi, you haven’t had your breakfast!” Andi didn’t care as she raced toward her freedom.

The library's doorbell rang again, indicating more visitors had arrived. Andi pushed her past aside and headed downstairs to prepare for Saturday Storytime, a tradition she insisted on continuing when she first became the town’s librarian. The walls of the Victorian’s spacious front parlor, which was used to host special events, were adorned with pictures of Italy and famous Italian works of art. Blue and yellow child-sized chairs occupied the center of the room, and on a massive wooden sideboard were trays of Italian pastries, colorful paper cups, and pitchers of sweet, refreshing lemonade.

A tall, thin woman with wild frizzy hair pulled back in a ponytail, entered the parlor holding the hand of a young girl with a mop of curly brown hair. Andi smiled when she saw her best friend. Amelia looked around the room and smiled. “This place looks amazing. I can’t believe you were able to get a world-famous author to come to our little town and read from his new book!” Andi couldn’t believe it either, but after reaching out to countless authors, she finally received a reply from a NY Times, best-selling author, who recently wrote a series of children’s books. He was going to be passing through town on his way to visit family and would love to hold a book reading from his new book, I am Leonardo DaVinci. Andi couldn’t contain her excitement and feverishly began to prepare for his arrival at her library, which was today.

Amelia released her grip on her daughter’s hand when Andi approached and gave her a hug. Andi embraced her friend and said, “Thank you so much for coming to help me. You know how I can get. And thanks for bringing Elizabeth.”

Amelia waved her hand, “What are friends for? Plus, what an amazing opportunity for Elizabeth. The kids around here don’t get exposed to a culture that often and I think it’s fantastic that you are giving them a chance to learn what exists beyond this one-horse town.”

Andi felt the same way and wanted to share the magic of the written word with kids, who were turning their backs on books in favor of the trappings of modern technology. She wanted to change that and was a nervous wreck as she waited for more children to arrive. She shuddered at the thought of her throwing an event that she hyped all month only to have Elizabeth be the only child in the audience. Amelia sensed her friend’s anxiety and gently rubbed the side of her arm and said, “It will be fine. This place is going to be packed to the brim with rambunctious elementary school kids, that’s what you should be worried about, too many kids running around.”

“You’re right. I’m worrying about nothing.” By the time Finn McCool arrived, carrying copies of his new book, the crowd attending the event had swelled to overflowing with the extra bodies spilling into the halls and reading rooms of the library. Finn McCool read aloud from his book and captivated the audience. The children were amazingly well behaved and followed Finn McCool’s instructions to the letter, unlike some of the kid's parents, who didn’t follow the rules and kept their cell phones on during the event, texting away, completely oblivious to what was happening around them. Andi couldn’t worry about such things and focused instead on those things she could control, or at least she thought she could control, like her library. The reading and reception afterward were a tremendous success. Reporters and photographers milled about, snapping pictures that would appear on the front page of tomorrow’s Grayville Gazette. As the crowd was dispersing the man who had just released a children’s book surprised Andi when he approached her, and in a whisper, asked if he could explore the building.

Andi turned to the man and replied, “I would be happy to take you on a tour, but wandering about unaccompanied could be dangerous, this house has many hidden secrets.”

Finn McCool walked from the parlor into the main vestibule, looking up at the vaulted spire and commented, “More than you will ever know.”

Andi gave him a quizzical glance, but soon became distracted with the last of the stragglers from the event and didn’t notice when Finn McCool disappeared down a set of stairs into the bowels of the building. Amelia was gathering the last of the discarded plates, cups, and napkins as Andi took down the pictures, she had put up earlier in the day when Andi noticed Finn McCool’s belongings stacked on the sideboard but didn’t see him anywhere. Elizabeth was curled into a tight ball as she napped on a brown leather reading chair. Amelia hugged Andi and held her at arm’s length, “Congratulations! It was a smash! You did an amazing job and I can guarantee this will be talked about for years to come. The only drawback I can see is you coming up with something even better for next time.”

“Thanks, I think? I need to wrap up this time before I can even start thinking about next time. By the way, have you seen Finn McCool?”

Amelia pointed with her chin toward the back hall as she bent down and scooped Elizabeth off the chair. Andi turned and looked down the hall and noticed the door to the back stairwell was cracked open. “Oh great. I asked him to wait for me before traipsing through the building.”

Elizabeth hung like a limp rag doll in her mother’s arms. Amelia struggled to gather their paraphernalia and shove it into the oversized bag slung across her shoulder when Andi bent down and picked the remaining items off the floor and deposited them in her extra-large patchwork purse. Amelia bent forward and kissed Andi on the cheek. “Do you want me to stay?”

“No, you need to get Elizabeth home. I’ll be fine. Call me later.”

Andi opened the front door for Amelia. Outside, the light was fading as the sun began to dip below the horizon. Mrs. Walters waved at Andi as she walked past with her dog, Peaches. Andi shivered. The wind had changed, bringing with it unseasonably cool temperatures. She hugged herself in an attempt to shrug off the uneasy feeling that had slowly begun to creep up her spine.

Distant thunder rumbled, as lightning flashed across the sky. Andi headed back inside and headed toward the staircase that leads to the basement, muttering, “Where the hell did he go?”

Andi stopped at the top of the steep steps. She hated going down there and for good reason. The night of her grandmother’s funeral she had come to the library to check on the sump pump. It was spring and there had been a deluge of rain, causing basement drains to back up and overflow. She had just checked the pump and was headed back up the stairs when something grabbed her and squeezed tight. She couldn’t breathe and was paralyzed with fear, until she opened her eyes and saw the fading image of her grandmother, dressed in a powder blue blazer and matching pleated skirt, holding a white patent leather handbag in the crux of her arm. That memory was forever etched in her brain, replaying every time she went into the basement. Echoing through the basement stairwell were the sounds of metal scraping against rock. Andi gave herself a mental pep talk as she descended the stairs. At the bottom of the stairs, a short hallway opened onto a large space sporting stacks and stacks of storage racks filled with tomes of every shape and size imaginable. In the furthest corner of the space, Finn McCool was shining his cell phone’s flashlight on one of the stones comprising the library’s foundation. Andi cleared her throat to garner the man’s attention. He didn’t hear her and when Andi approached, he jumped like a frightened cat.

Irritably, Andi asked, “What are you doing down here? I asked you to wait for me before touring the house. It is full of dead ends, hidden passages and…”

Finn McCool cut her off in mid-sentence, “And portals to other dimensions. Dimensions where anything is possible.”

Andi knitted her brow as she stared at him quizzically. “What are you talking about?”

The man turned and addressed Andi, “Forgive me for not explaining in greater detail earlier but promoting my children’s book isn’t the only reason that I wanted to come here today. I have been conducting research for my next adult novel and it explores the manipulation of energy in opening portals and casting spells. My research is what lead me to you. I started looking into structures built on ancient ley lines in hopes of finding those that could open doors to other dimensions. I came across a diary written by the man who built this house and he describes in great detail the way he opened the portals in this very house. I was trying to find the symbols he used to cast the spell.”

Andi was skeptical. “You don’t honestly believe in such things, do you?”

Without hesitation, Finn McCool stated emphatically, Absolutely! There are things we cannot explain and that is one reason I became an author; to investigate and write about the unknown and share what I learn with my readers.”

The general consensus among small-town inhabitants was, anyone practicing magic was no good and most definitely in cahoots with the devil. Andi didn’t subscribe to such beliefs after being introduced to magic at an early age after reading countless fairytales. The same scraping sound she had heard earlier, captured her attention. She looked in the direction the sound was coming from and saw its source. Finn McCool was using a dental pick on the stone wall in front of him.

“What are you doing?”

“The diary describes the location of various symbols located throughout the house, each one a doorway to another dimension. These symbols have worn away and I am trying to remove some of the debris so I can make certain I have revealed the entire symbol.”

Andy was intrigued and asked, “How do you open portals?”

Finn McCool replied, “The owner’s diary mentions a book of spells hidden somewhere in the house. Have you ever run across such a book?”

Andi was familiar with every nook and cranny of this building and knew exactly where to look for such a book. Without a word she turned and headed back upstairs with Finn McCool hot on her heels. She was overcome with a sense of excitement as she embarked upon an adventure that, unbeknownst to her would forever change her life.

Andi had first started working at the library part-time during her freshman year in high school. Mrs. Cunningham was the librarian at the time and Andi loved spending time with her. She was originally from California and moved back to Grayville when her father died so she could help look after her mother, who had suffered from a debilitating stroke the year before. She had a degree in Library Sciences and soon landed a job at the library where she served as head librarian for over four decades. During that time, she would take Andi to the mansion’s secret rooms, and on one excursion, the librarian guided her to the farthest corner of the top floor where she revealed a hidden door leading to the original owner’s secret study. Andi thought if a book of spells were hidden anywhere in the house, that is where it would be. As Andi reached the landing leading to the third floor, the building was plunged into darkness as a bolt of lightning ripped through the sky followed by a thunderclap that reverberated off the building's stone foundation. Andi jumped as Finn McCool reached into his pants pocket, retrieved his cell phone, and turned on the flashlight feature. Andi continued her trek toward the secret study and stopped in front of one of the countless bookshelves lining the walls of the library, and explained, “This is the secret door to the owner’s study.” Andi started running her finger down the spines of the books lining the shelves when her face erupted into a smile when she came to the book, Through the Looking Glass.

Finn chuckled, “Apropos.”

She pulled down on the top of the book and stepped back as the bookcase opened, revealing the darkened space beyond. Finn McCool shined his light inside. On the right was a fireplace with an intricately carved wooden mantel. Above the mantel hung an enormous gilded mirror that made the room seem twice as large as it really was. On the opposite side of the room sat a regal, mahogany desk inlaid with a starburst pattern comprised of lighter strips of teak. Strewn across the top of the desk were papers and books open to assorted pages. Finn McCool approached the desk and pulled the middle drawer, it was locked. “Do you see a key?”

The two began hunting for a key when Andi spotted a set of keys hanging from a brass hook near the fireplace. She snatched the key from the hook as she declared, “Found it!” With the key in hand, Andi unlocked the middle drawer and saw what they were looking for, a small royal blue book with faded gold lettering that read, Book of Spells.

Finn McCool picked the book up and examined it this way and that and chuckled.

Andi asked, “What’s so funny?”

“The title of the book.”

Andi asked rather innocently, “What would you rather it be called?”

“I honestly don’t know, but what I do know is I would love to try and open one of these portals. What do you say?”

A look of fear and apprehension swept across Andi’s face. “I don’t know. What happens if we open the portal to another dimension, but can’t get back?”

Finn McCool rubbed his chin. “You have a good point. We could write down the spell and take it with us.”

Andi still wasn’t convinced but couldn’t shake the feeling that this was all meant to be, and who was she to stand in the way of destiny? With newfound courage, Andi clapped her hands together and said, “Okay, let’s do this.”

Andi took the book to the creme colored leather sofa nestled in front of the fireplace and started flipping through the pages. Finn McCool started building a fire and once the ancient wooden logs caught fire, an orange and red glow lit the space. Andi found the portal spell and on the next page found the spell for the return trip, but she couldn’t locate the symbols needed to cast that spell.

Sitting next to her on the couch, Finn McCool plucked the book from her hands and read the spell. “Maybe we can find the symbols on the other side of the portal.”

Andi’s eyes went wide. “That’s a big IF.”

“I'm willing to try, are you?”

Andi stared into the dancing flames of the fire, carefully considering her options. She was a small-town girl trapped in a town full of judgmental and narrow-minded people. She reads to escape her boring, inconsequential life, and now that she has an opportunity to travel to another dimension, she finds herself cowering like a child behind her mother’s apron strings.

Andi grabbed the book and started gathering the items needed to cast the spell. Once they were ready, the couple chanted the words that would transport them to another time and place, and before them, a shimmering orb of light appeared. As the orb of light expanded, an image could be seen taking shape in the distance. As the image came into view Andi could make out the image, it was the Eiffel Tower.

Tentatively, Andi and Finn McCool stepped through the pool of light. As soon as they both crossed the threshold, the portal closed. They quickly spun around to make sure they could find their way back and noted the symbols carved into the doorway behind them.

Finn McCool cheered, “Look at that! The symbols we need are right there. I told you we would find them.”

Andi nodded, half-listening to what he was saying, mesmerized by the sights and sounds of the City of Lights. Soft music could be heard in the distance as couples strolled along the cobblestone streets, stopping occasionally to kiss under the light of the full moon. Andi turned and saw a path leading to a bar and restaurant where patrons were swigging bitter pints of ale while singing bawdy bar tunes. Looking around, Andi noticed she wasn’t dressed for the period. The women passing by on the street were sporting flapper dresses and the men wore tweed sports coats and matching slacks. Alarmed, she pulled Finn McCool off the main street and into the shadows. She pointed to the people passing by and whispered, “We not only ported to a different dimension, but it appears we ported to a different time.”

Finn McCool peered around the corner of the darkened vestibule where they were hiding and nodded his agreement. “Your right. It looks like we landed in Paris during the roaring twenties. What a great time to be in Paris. Some of the greatest authors of all time could be found in Paris during the 1920’s.”

“Why did so many American authors wind up in Paris during the twenties?” Andi inquired.

Finn McCool turned and said matter-of-factly as he drank from a silver flask, he had extracted from the inner pocket of his navy-blue blazer, “Prohibition. There is one thing authors will not be separated from and that is their booze.”

Andi looked around and suggested, “Why don’t we go back and come back when we are better prepared?”

Exasperated, Finn McCool threw his arms up in the air. “Are you insane? Go back? We just got here. Who gives a shit if we’re not dressed for it? We are living in history! You can go back if you want to, but I’m heading to Harry’s New York bar at 5 rue Daunou.”

Andi smiled at the thought of coming to Paris only to wind up in New York. “How are we going to get there?”

“Cab.”

“Did you bring any money?”

Finn McCool extracted his wallet and pulled out a handful of bills. “I have money, see?”

Andi folded her arms in front of her wondering how this guy ever wound up on the New York Times bestsellers list. “The money from the nineteen twenties? Or is your money like mine, stamped with a date well past the 1920s?”

Finn McCool crumpled the bills in his hand and hit his thigh with his fist. “Damnit, you’re right. Maybe we should head back and return when we’re better prepared.”

Just then a strikingly handsome man walked past them. The man slowed and turned toward Andi. Andi had never seen such a beautiful creature in all her life and was surprised when her sweet spot began to throb. The handsome stranger slowly licked his lips, apparently sensing what Andi was thinking, as he made his approach. Finn McCool turned to see what Andi was staring at when he saw the young man. The tall dark and handsome stranger took Andi’s hand and brushed his velvet lips across the first one and then the other, sending a lightning bolt shooting through the pit of her stomach; her white cotton panties immediately soaked with her hot, flowing juices. Finn McCool turned toward the man and asked, “Who do we have here?”

With a French accent, the young man introduced himself, “My name is Jon-Luc, at your disposal.”

Regaining her composure Andi introduced herself, “My name is Andrea Campbell, Andi for short.” She stopped there, forgetting all about Finn, who was forced to introduce himself. “And I’m Finn McCool. As an author I was hoping to visit Harvey’s New York bar while in Paris, but I don't know how to get there. Can you help us out?”

The man stared into Andi’s bright, blue eyes and said, “What a coincidence. I was just heading there myself to meet a group of friends, who are also writers.” Finn McCool clapped Jon Luc on the shoulder as they embarked upon the second leg of their journey.

The trio entered Harry’s bar at the stroke of midnight. Patrons were laughing, drinking, and singing songs. Andi looked around and noticed only one other woman wearing slacks and she was seated at the table Jon-Luc was headed toward. When he approached, he was greeted by cheers from everyone seated at the table. A tall, slender man with hair the color of winter wheat, stood and shook Jon Luc’s hand. “Good to see you old boy. It’s been ages. Who have you brought with you this fine spring evening?”

“Everyone, let me introduce you to my new friends, Andi Campbell and Finn McCool.”

Everyone joined in a chorus of welcomes and cleared a space for the three of them to sit. A waiter came over with two bottles of red wine and three additional wine glasses. The woman wearing pants turned to Andi and said, “I admire the fact that you are wearing pants. So, few women have the courage to do so and I think it's a testament to your internal fortitude.”

Andi felt out of her comfort zone, but countered, “I really didn’t give it that much thought when I got dressed this morning.”

The woman laughed heartily, “Charming. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Gertrude Stein.”

Andi was taking a sip of wine when she introduced herself and choked.

Gertrude took her napkin from her lap and dabbed the wine that had dribbled down Andi’s chin. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, I’m so sorry. I was just taken aback when you told me your name. I’m familiar with your work.” Andi, however, was not good at remembering when her work was published and didn’t want to say anything stupid.

“Aren’t you a dear. Why don’t we go to the bathroom and get you cleaned up?”

Gertrude took Andi by the hand and led her to a bathroom door sporting a painting of a Can-Can dancer. Gertrude ushered Andi through the door and locked it behind them. She approached Andi and leaned in close to her ear, her hot breath sending shockwaves through Andi, as she asked in a deep throaty whisper, “Have you ever kissed a woman before?”

Andi was breathless and couldn’t speak. All she could muster was a whimper as Gertrude brushed her pink lips across hers, cupping her breast in her hand as she did. Andi closed her eyes, lifted her chin, and exhaled. Gertrude kissed her again, this time harder, her tongue exploring her mouth. Andi was lost in the moment and gasped with pleasure as Gertrude stuck her hand down the front of Andi’s pants, expertly moving the crotch of her panties to the side with her middle finger as it slid effortlessly between her lips. Gertrude gently nibbled Andi’s neck as she rubbed her clitoris. Andi’s juices flowed freely exciting Gertrude who couldn’t wait to taste the hot liquid. Gertrude yanked down Andi’s pants and kneeled before her, parting the golden hair as she probed Andi’s slick, moist cave with her tongue. Andi couldn’t contain herself and held her arm up to her mouth to stifle a scream of ecstasy. Andi was swept up in an orgasm that seemed to last for an eternity. When Greta finished her exploration, she resurfaced from between Andi’s thighs and slowly kissed Andi’s flat, taut stomach, and stopped at her breasts. “I never did get to play with these.” Gertrude unbuttoned Andi’s blouse and kissed her collar bone. She unsnapped her bra, which she eyed curiously before tossing on the sink. Gertrude cupped both of Andi’s breasts in her hands and squeezed. She kissed Andi, her mouth salty. She then pinched each of Andi’s rock-hard nipples as she lowered her head and began suckling each tit. Andi gently caressed the back of Gertrude’s head as she explored Andi’s ample breasts. Satisfied, Gertrude whispered in Andi’s ear, “We better get back before they suspect something.” Gertrude winked and unlocked the bathroom door.

Andi was flushed, her head in the clouds when she rejoined the table. Before she got to the table, she noticed Jon-Luc was now sitting where Gertrude had been and was convinced, she had died and gone to heaven. Once Andi sat down, Jon-Luc wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close. He was wearing an intoxicating cologne that made Andi think That must be what the ocean smells like.

“Are you enjoying yourself?”

Andi was in a state of bliss. She had to pinch herself to make sure she wasn’t dreaming as she listened to Finn McCool arguing about the importance of a character’s point of view with none other than Ernest Hemmingway. The atmosphere was magical, and Andi never wanted the evening to end. Jon-Luc poured her another glass of wine as he reached under the table with his other hand and slid his hand up her thigh. She took a sip of wine and playfully held the glass to her lips, delicately tracing the rim of the glass with the tip of her tongue. Jon-Luc responded by squeezing her thigh. He leaned in and whispered, “My apartment is just around the corner. I have some exquisite Napoleon brandy there that I would love to share.”

Andi grabbed his hand and said, “Then let’s go.”

Andi excused herself and was headed out the door when Finn ran up to her from behind. “Hey, where do you want to meet?”

Jon-Luc pointed to a bistro across from Harry’s and replied, “We will meet you there for breakfast first thing tomorrow morning.”

Finn grabbed Andi’s arm and almost pleadingly said, “Please be there or I won’t be able to get home. I think you know my meaning.”

Andi replied, “Don’t worry, I’ll be there.”

As Jon-Luc and Andi walked arm in arm toward his apartment he casually asked, “What was Finn talking about when he said he couldn’t get back home without you?”

Nonchalantly, Andi replied, “Oh that? You wouldn’t believe me if I told you and why ruin such a magical evening with the truth?”

Jon-Luc laughed and nodded his agreement, “I’ve never heard it put quite that way, but I can’t say that I disagree.”

Once they reached Jon-Luc’s apartment, Andi imagined how one of the heroines from her romance novels would act as she grabbed Jon-Luc by the collar and pulled him toward her. She stood on her tiptoes so she could reach his lips. She kissed him, parting her lips ever so slightly as she slid the tip of her tongue into his mouth, gently flicking the tip of his tongue with hers. Andi couldn’t contain her excitement and wanted more of him. They moved to the bedroom where they continued exploring each other’s bodies. Andi began rubbing his hard shaft through his tweed pants. He moaned and took her to the bed where he looked longingly into her eyes as he laid on top of her. He kissed her lips and expertly moved down her neck, stopping at her breasts, which were still hidden under her bra. He unsnapped the garment's front clasp, exposing her round firm breasts. He kissed one nipple and then the next. He took her nipple in between his teeth and gently bit down causing Andi to moan. She wanted him inside her and spread her thighs wide so his erect penis could be felt against her swollen clit. She began rubbing her hot steamy nub against the rim of his dick until he couldn’t take it anymore. He plunged his rock-hard cock deep inside her. Once he fully entered her, he began thrusting himself deeper inside. She screamed as she took all of him. He pumped harder and harder, adjusting her legs so they were over his shoulders, allowing his long thick shaft to explore even more of her tight, wet canal. The two continued their lovemaking well into the wee hours of the morning. Andi was tired and sore but didn’t care. She didn’t want to sleep, all she wanted was him inside her, all the time with his hot, sweaty body on top of her. Andi gazed up as Jon-Luc penetrated her for a glorious fifth time and willed his sweat to drop onto her naked breasts as he pounded her. Andi let him finish before flipping him over and mounting him. She held his semi-erect penis in her hand and began jerking her hand up and down in quick succession until he was hard enough to put inside her. He felt deeper in Andi than she had ever felt before. She leaned forward and bit his lower lip while holding his hands down. Andi let her tits touch his face. He bucked. Andi sat upright, forcing more of him into her before dismounting and sucking his cock, stopping right before he came, jerking his hot come all over her stomach. Their sexual appetites satisfied; the couple fell into an exhausted sleep. Jon-Luc was the first to awaken the following morning. Andi was sleeping on her side. He gently pushed a strand of Andi’s long curly hair back from her forehead and whispered, “I will miss you.”

Andi awoke to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and gingerly got out of bed and walked awkwardly to the bathroom where she quickly showered and dressed before rejoining Jon-Luc in the living room. Andi noticed the time on a wall clock in the shape of a rooster and said, “We better get going so we can meet Finn at the cafe for breakfast.”

Jon-Luc took a sip of coffee and replied, “Right you are. Let me get dressed. I left a cup of coffee for you on the counter.” Jon-Luc gestured in the direction of the kitchen as he took his cup and disappeared into the bedroom to change. When he emerged from the room he was transformed. Andi mused; He certainly does clean up well. Jon-Luc grabbed his keys and asked, “Are you ready?”

Andi gathered her belongings and followed Jon-Luc out of the apartment. The two strolled leisurely down the block to the cafe Jon-Luc had pointed out the evening before. The smell of freshly baked croissants filled the air as did the aroma of rich, French roasted coffee. The smell alone was enough to provide Andi’s brain with a badly needed jolt of energy. The interior was filled with a bustling crowd, many of whom were starting their days with strong coffee. Jon-Luc held the door open for Andi. The air was filled with a blue haze as men and woman puffed hand-rolled cigarettes. Andi looked around and spotted an open bistro table for three that had just opened just to her right. She adored the idea of eating in plein air and rushed toward the table before anyone could snatch the prime location. As Andi sat at the table, she spotted Finn walking down the sidewalk on the opposite side of the street. He threw his cigarette butt into the gutter as he checked for traffic before crossing to the other side. He saw Jon-Luc standing by the table and waved as he approached. Andi waited for him to be seated before asking, “You look happy. What did you do last night?”

Finn looked like the cat that ate the canary and looked around before replying, “I can’t believe it but I stayed up all night discussing writing with some of the most amazingly influential and famous writers, not only in the world, but arguably, of all time.”

Jon-Luc was smoking a cigarette and flicked his ashes in the white ceramic ashtray sitting in the middle of the table when he challenged Finn’s assertions. “I don’t disagree that Fitzgerald, Hemingway, Stein, Joyce, and even Ezra Pound are phenomenal writers, but the best of all time?”

Finn was getting dangerously close to blowing their cover when he responded, “Their work has withstood the test of time.”

Jon-Luc took the bait, “And how would you know that my American friend?”

“Because I am from another dimension where the writers I met with last night, are kings among men in the literary world. I don’t care if you believe me or not, I know the truth and I don’t know if I want to go back.”

Andi looked at him with a look of shock and horror as she rambled frantically, “What do you mean you don’t want to go back? You left all of your stuff at the library and if you don’t show up at some point someone is going to have to file a missing person’s report, and then I will have to answer questions posed by the authorities, and because I can’t LIE worth a damn, they are going to think I am a crazed psychopath who killed you and disposed of your body by dropping you in an acid bath, before hauling me off to an institution for the criminally insane! You have to come back!”

Finn and Jon-Luc sat in stunned silence, trying to wrap their minds around Andi’s rant when Finn broke his vocal paralysis by explaining, “I really hadn’t given my decision that kind of sadistic scrutiny. You live in a small mid-western town; they would probably throw a parade in your honor for killing a New York author of Jewish descent.”

Andi shook her head violently from side to side. “That is crap and you know it.”

Finn faced Andi and took her hands in his, “I have the opportunity to work around some of the best writers ever to live, and you want me to pass on that opportunity because you might get some heat back home? Don’t you see that as a wee bit selfish?”

It was Jon-Luc’s turn to chime in. “You can’t stay here. If you do you will cease to exist, eventually. Your energy dissipates and can only be replenished in your own dimension. It’s almost like your batteries are only compatible in your own world.”

Andi was trying to form words in her mind, but the revelation that Jon-Luc knew they were from another dimension was causing her words to fail her. “You knew?”

“That you were from another dimension? Yes.”

Irritably, Andi quipped, “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because you said, and I quote, ‘Let’s not ruin a magical evening with the truth.’

Sheepishly, Andi replied, “I did say that, didn’t I?”

Jon-Luc, with a twinkle in his eye, said, “I was only abiding by your wishes. What was I to do?”

Andi didn’t have a response, instead, she avoided eye contact by picking at her dry cuticle.

Finn commanded, “You need to explain some things. First, how did you know we are from another dimension, and more importantly, how do you know I would be erased if I were to stay here?”

Jon-Luc took a slow drag off his cigarette, picked an imaginary piece of lint off his pants and picked up his coffee cup. The waiter approached the table. He and Jon-Luc spoke in French and when the waiter departed, he returned shortly with a tray piled with platters of fresh fruits, croissants, slices of assorted cheeses and savory meats. Andi’s stomach rumbled. She realized it had been a full day since she had eaten anything, and she was famished. She quickly began heaping food from the platters onto her plate and shoveling forkfuls of food into her mouth. Jon-Luc and Finn subconsciously moved back to avoid being eaten by Andi. Finn was growing impatient. “I’m waiting for your explanations.”

Jon-Luc proceeded in telling the most fantastical tale that neither Finn nor Andi had any reason to disbelieve, “You're not the first one to come through that portal. Over the years I have seen dozens come and go.”

Andi interrupted, “That makes you what? A portal predator?”

Jon-Luc held his hand up to his chest in feigned shock and asked, “Who, me? I prey on no one. I prefer Portal Casanova; it has a much nicer ring to it.”

Andi thought it sounded like a great title for a Romance novel and thought this trip may lead her down a different career path. Her newly discovered confidence coursed through her body and she was anxious to hear more of what Jon-Luc had to say. She prompted him to proceed with his story. “Tell us more about our energy being depleted.”

Jon-Luc continued weaving his yarn. “As I said, you're not the first to pass through the portal. The first time I ever learned of the portal was after I witnessed a young man pass through the portal and introduce himself as the inventor, Nicola Tesla. He was the first to discover how to amplify the energy and open the portal. He is the one who first carved the symbols in the wooden door frame you came through. He explained that our energy is somehow calibrated to absorb energy within certain frequencies and your frequency isn’t calibrated to this dimension resulting in a power failure. You fade and then vanish, is how he explained it. But I must admit, much of what he said was well beyond my understanding. When I saw the portal open and the two of you step through, I thought it only right to extend a helping hand.”

That isn’t all he extended, Andi thought. Finn had been jotting down notes in his small flip notepad and asked, “How long can someone stay in this dimension before they have to replenish their energy? And, once replenished, how many times can the trip between dimensions be made?”

“The longest it is safe to stay before fading is 24 hours. You two still have time, so if there is anything you would like to see before departing, I would suggest you do it sooner rather than later. As for the number of times one can pass through the portal, I am going to assume it is a onetime, round trip, as I have never seen the same people twice.”

Andi thought about what Jon-Luc had asked earlier and had a thought as something she would very much like to see. “I want to go see Notre Dame Cathedral.”

Jon-Luc was surprised by the request. “Surely, you can visit the cathedral in your time and in your dimension. Why would you waste such valuable time there?”

“Because I will never be able to see it otherwise. In our dimension, the cathedral burned to the ground and I never had the chance to see it in person before it crumbled into ashes.”

Jon-Luc was horrified. “I am so very happy I will not live long enough to see such a travesty. But your wish is my command.” The trio settled their bill and hopped into a cab destined to the regal edifice nestled along the banks of the Seine river. The cab dropped them off a few blocks from the most amazing example of French Gothic architecture ever to have been built. A tear welled in the corner of Andi’s eyes as she gazed up into the blinding mid-morning light, shading her bright blue eyes from the searing sun’s rays, to gaze upon the spire, twisting toward the heavens above. As the couple walked along the flowing banks of the gently flowing waters of the river, they stopped on a footbridge to admire the view. Andi looked at the bracelet she was wearing and decided to take the fake Tiffany padlock off the charm bracelet and lock it to the fence along the bridge. Unbeknownst to her she had begun a trend that would last well into the future. As the trio wondered the mammoth structure time passed quickly, leaving little time to reach the portal before they began to experience what had been described to them as the ‘fade.’ Before hailing a cab back to their destination, Finn insisted, “Let’s drop into a liquor store on the way. I desperately want to take back a nice Napoleon brandy before the Nazis take it all in a little less than a decade.”

Jon-Luc waved his finger in front of Finn and issued a warning, “I mustn't know too much about the future or I may inadvertently alter the course of history resulting in significant changes to this dimension. So please, refrain from any veiled hints or warnings of things to come.”

Finn nodded his understanding and said, “Sorry. I promise not to do it again. A liquor store regardless would be greatly appreciated.”

Jon-Luc complied and directed the cab driver to pull over at the next liquor store. Andi waited in the cab as Jon-Luc and Finn ran into the store where Jon-Luc wound up paying for Finn’s very expensive and very old, Napoleon brandy. The three resumed their cab ride and were deposited in front of the same nondescript door they had passed through a mere twenty-four hours before. Andi looked at the doorway and felt as though she had been gone for ages and was anxious to return to the safety of the library. Finn on the other hand looked heartbroken as he slowly trudged toward the engraved doorway. He turned toward Andi and said, “Go ahead. Open the portal before I change my mind and face the wrath of the fade.”

Andi reached into her bag and extracted the notecard containing the spell, the few materials needed for the casting and approached the door so she could use the symbols to complete the spell. As she chanted the words that would open the dimensional doorway, and a shimmering orb of light unfurled before them. The bright flash reminded Andi of St. Elmo’s fire and wondered how many people saw the light from the portal but remain hidden in the shadows, just like Jon-Luc, all those years ago. Once the portal spell was completed, the darkened study came into view, faint specks of orange light from the glowing embers of the fire that had been burning in the fireplace when they had departed, danced in the hearth.

Finn looked around and with great difficulty stepped through the portal. Andi turned and kissed Jon-Luc passionately before bidding him adieu.

Months passed since Finn and Andi returned from their journey. Andi had just completed a rough draft of her first romance novel entitled, Portal Casanova. She and Finn had remained close since their expedition. They both vowed once they were finished with their respective manuscripts the next order of business is to find the next portal, leading to the next story, hopefully.

Andi sat at her desk gazing out the floor to ceiling windows, each lead-glazed facet of glass reflecting prisms of light, casting tiny rainbows on the walls and floor of the library. As she smiled at the thought of that wonderful trip to Paris, she subconsciously rubbed her belly as she thought, Now how am I going to explain you?