“Took you long enough to notice me.” Kaitlyn smacked her brother’s arm.
“We have something on the top floor you all want to see,” Cyrus said.
“What do you think?” Jem asked Reese.
She shrugged. Anything to leave the ball early worked for her. When Cyrus grabbed Kaitlyn’s hand and they hurried toward the stairs, Cora followed. Jem took Reese’s hand and pulled her with him.
The first room Kaitlyn led them into was full of clothing. It must be where Nellie kept everything for her guests. Considering the amount of clothes in the room, the dry-cleaning bill for the place must be huge.
“In here.” Cyrus reached into the dark room and fumbled until he found the light switch. Kaitlyn rushed in, pulling Cora and Reese with her.
“There,” Kaitlyn breathed, her voice a hush. “What do you think?”
As Reese stared at the large portrait, her scalp prickled, and a sense of unease filled her. Where the rest of the paintings were busts, this one was full-length. Her face stared back at her, and a chill went down her spine. All of them were there, though they weren’t dressed quite the same.
“What the—” Jem began.
“I told you.” Cyrus started humming the theme song from The Twilight Zone.
“How is this possible?” Reese half expected their lifelike alter-egos on canvas to talk to each other, like they did in the Harry Potter books.
“Nice trick.” Jem shot his sister a skeptical look. “How’d you have the picture taken? We didn’t even all get here at the same time.”
“Ididn’t do it.” Kaitlyn’s eyes flashed.
“This is kind of creeping me out.” Reese’s sense of unease increased, and she stepped back.
“We need a picture of this.” Cora positioned herself and her portrait-self in her phone’s screen and took several pictures. “Come on, everyone. Stand by yourselves in the picture.”
Reese hesitated, but Kaitlyn pulled her over.
“Squash up a bit.” Cora held her phone high.
Everyone huddled together, and Reese found herself with Jem at her side, his arm around her shoulders, and her arm around his waist. Therightnessof it distracted her for a second, but then the lights in the room went all weird, bright and sparkly. An instant later everything around her seemed to sway.
The room spun, like Reese had been twirling around in circles, and she felt like she was falling back, toward the painting. She clung tighter to Jem, now with both hands. The next thing she knew, they were falling. Reese landed on top of him with anumph.
“What—” he began.
“Oh dear.” Aunt Nellie’s sharp voice came from the doorway.
Chapter 2
DIZZY, REESE LIFTED HER HEAD and tried to focus on their hostess. How had she changed from the ball gown she’d been wearing a few minutes ago to a day dress?
“A couple this time. What fun!” Aunt Nellie clapped her hands with her usual happy enthusiasm. “However, I cannot stay to explain how you have come to be here, as I have guests arriving soon. My servants will take care of you. You are in forsucha treat.” She turned to a tall man with graying hair and wearing the suit of a butler. “Take them to the guestrooms as usual and send up refreshments.” With a parting grin and a twinkle in her eyes, she left the room.
“Wait.” Unable to move, Reese groaned, feeling disoriented and slightly nauseous. She had no idea what had happened and wanted nothing more than to lie there on Jem’s chest.Jem’s chest!With a gasp, she rolled off him and groaned again. Had they been drugged?
“You all right?” He slowly sat up and rubbed his temples like they hurt.
“I don’t know.” The lingering queasiness kept her in place. She stared at the windows. It had been close to midnight, yet that had to be afternoon light streaming in. Reese scanned the room. The furnishings and wallpaper had changed, like she had blinked and the background on her computer had switched. Even the smell of the room was different, with a touch of burning wood.
“Do you feel well enough to stand?” Jem asked.
Reese glanced up. He had gotten to his feet and was bending over her, concern etched on his face, one hand extended. She took it and let him pull her up. The motion made the room swim again. She clung to him, and he put an arm around her.
Only then did her brain register the absence of the others. She met Jem’s worried gaze, and they both said, “Kaitlyn.”
