The Three Furies (Erec Rex) by Kaza Kingsley

politeness, Jam opened the door to his aunt's heavily air-conditioned apartment. It felt so strange to Erec that in just a few steps he had moved from Europe to a land far underneath the earth's surface. Everyone shouted hellos, and little Zoey threw her arms around his legs, almost tripping him.
    Aunt Salsa was bustling about, serving homemade cookies to Danny, Sammy, Nell, Trevor, and Zoey while talking to June. King Piter was asleep in a chair. He looked crumpled, as if his bones had shrunk. "There you two are!" she called out. "Come have some cinna-berry cookies. It's my mother's recipe."
    Jam raced to King Piter's side. In another minute the king was stretched out on the couch, surrounded by pillows. "He's so light now, young sir." Erec pulled a blanket over the king.
    "Is everything okay?" June looked concerned. "I didn't want to wake him. It seemed like he needed a nap." She put a hand on Erec's head and whispered, "Did you find out about Bethany?"
    He nodded, but pointed at the king. "He's in danger without the scepter here. He has to go stay with Queen Posey right away."
    June's face turned pale. "I never thought about that. He's so old. . . . I know what you're saying."
    Jam rested a hand on the king's shoulder and gently shook it. "Wake up, sire."
    The king's eyes fluttered, but only opened a trace. "Yes, Jam?" His voice was like a wisp of smoke.
    "We must call your sister, sire. Right away. It's urgent--for your life."
    King Piter did not seem to understand.
    "Sire. Call Queen Posey, now. She must come get you."
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    The king barely nodded, then shuffled under the blanket Erec had placed on him. Jam helped him draw an arm out, and the king made some motions in the air with his finger. He gestured a few more times before his hand sank back down. "I can't, Jam." He panted for breath. "I'm too weak. My powers seem . . . gone. . . ." The king's eyes began to close.
    In a flash, Jam was speaking into his own finger, then putting it in his ear.
    "That looks funny." Zoey giggled. "Is Jam pretending to talk on the phone?"
    "No," Erec explained. "He has a tiny cell phone in his finger."
    Jam was murmuring urgently. ". . . don't understand. I need Queen Posey immediately, for King Piter. I can not leave a message. . . . No, her closest attendant would be best. The matter is highly urgent. . . . I see. Well, the king is right here. We will wait until the queen herself may speak to us. And remember, I would not want to be the servant who took too long and caused something terrible to happen to the queen's brother."
    In a few moments, Jam fell to his knees. Erec worried that he was hurt, but then he heard him say, "Yes, my Queen. He is quite sick without his scepter. We spoke to the Fates at the Oracle in Delphi, and they said you must take him with you. Your scepter will keep him alive. Thank you. We will see you there, in one minute."
    Jam shook his hand and announced, "The queen will take care of King Piter. She will come through her Port-O-Door to meet him in his home. That will be quicker than explaining where Aunt Salsa lives, or for us to try to find her in her castle." He easily lifted the king into his arms, the blanket still covering him. "He's getting lighter and lighter."
    The king shuffled a tiny bit, then gave up. His head hung straight back, chin up, and an arm hung loosely to the floor.
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    Erec followed them into the Port-O-Door vestibule. "We'll be back soon."
    "Do you two need help?" June said.
    "No, we're okay. You can stay here with Danny and Sammy."
    Jam's Aunt Salsa shuffled over and slid a cinna-berry cookie in Erec's hand. "Take this with you, dear."
    Erec took a bite of the amazingly good cookie. "Thanks." He pulled the door shut and opened the other door that led straight back into the king's home in Alypium. Jam rested the king on a soft couch--the same one where Bethany had lain a few months ago when she was caught in one of Baskania's spells. Erec reddened slightly as he remembered how his kiss