Stiltskin (Andrew Buckley) by Andrew Buckley Read Free Book Online

It really takes the fun out of it all.”
    “There is no side, it’s the name of the realities,” explained Lily.
    “So there are two realities?”
    “Yes. Thiside and Othaside.”
    “So this reality is Thiside?”
    “Other way around, this is Othaside.”
    “Of course nothing can beat those little seaside resorts up in Blackpool, they have custom made soaps in their very own little boxes.”
    “Will you shut up!” said Lily. “We don’t care about your bloody soaps.”
    “I was just trying to make polite conversation,” said Rupert.
    “Well, make it with someone else. Look, Robert, it’s all very simple, I’m part of an Agency that makes sure no one from Othaside goes to Thiside and that the residents of Thiside don’t cause any trouble in Othaside.”
    Robert stared at her blankly in much the same way that cats stare at pretty much everything. “What does any of this have to do with me?”
    “I’ll leave that for Jack to explain; he’s going to meet us at the Exchange.”
    “Okay, so what’s the Exchange all about?”
    “We’re here,” said Rupert in a sulky voice.
    “I’ll explain once we’re inside.”

    “The Royal Exchange?” said Robert as they stepped out onto the soggy sidewalk. “What are we going to do, shop for shoes?”
    “No, we’re here for blood.”
    Lily led Robert down the right-hand side of the large building.
    “What do you mean, blood?”
    “The two realities have always been separate but thousands of years ago there were doors, like a hole in reality, and they were everywhere so residents of both sides could cross over whenever they liked. This caused more problems than you could ever imagine. Some people simply fell through the doors by accident, others abused the fact that they could skip between two worlds. It caused a great deal of chaos. Ever heard of the Dark Ages?”
    “Of course.”
    “That whole time period came about because of the doors. In the end, the Four Witches and the Wizards of Oz banded together to create a Regulator for the doors. One being who could control the passage of anyone between Thiside and Othaside. Now all the doors in Othaside are hidden unless you’re carrying a passport. The Wizards did that to protect your world. The central office for the Regulator was built into the basement of the exchange in 1844. Now if you want a passport to cross between the two worlds, this is where you come.”
    “Did you just say the wizards of Oz?” asked Robert.
    “Shush, we’re here,” said Lily.
    Lily and Robert reached the doorway at the back of the Exchange and Lily knocked three times. The door swung open and the pair entered.
    “It smells like rabbit droppings in here,” said Robert.
    “They’re actually very clean creatures once you get to know them.”
    They walked down the stairs into the antechamber. Lily took up the quill pen, jabbed herself in the back of her hand and scrawled her name in the leather-bound book. She held the quill out to Robert.
    “Your turn.”
    “My turn to what? I’m not jabbing myself with a pointy feather.”
    “You need to sign your name so we can enter the Exchange.”
    “I’m pretty sure I have a pen here somewhere.”
    “Doesn’t work, the ledger needs your blood to let you through the wall.”
    Robert started backing up against the wall as Lily advanced with the feather. “Look, I appreciate everything you’ve told me, it’s all very interesting and practically believable, probably more so after a few drinks, but you know I just don’t think I’m cut out for all this. I like living on this side. I mean Othaside. Whatever the hell side this is. I’m happy with it.”
    “Aren’t you curious?”
    “You keep asking me that but you refuse to tell me anything!”
    “It’ll be so much easier to explain all of this once we’re in Thiside but we can’t waste any more time. The Dwarf may have come and gone already.”
    “Forget it, I’m not jabbing myself with that thing.”
    “Fine.” Lily