Read Grey Griffins: The Clockwork Chronicles #1: The Brimstone Key for Free Online Page A

electrical magic?” Harley asked, intrigued by the idea.
    “Not exactly,” Ross replied.
    “In the old days, the
Zephyr
was just a normal underground train that transported students to the school and back,” explained Todd, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper. “Traveling through the enchanted waters of Lake Avalon isn’t safe, though. After a few years, strangethings started to happen. Some say the
Zephyr
became haunted. Others claim that it was being controlled by aliens, but our dad knows the truth.”
    “And that is?” Natalia prompted.
    “MERLIN Tech can have unintended side effects. Dad told us that in the case of the
Zephyr
, one day it was a subway train, and the next, it was
alive
.”
    Natalia rolled her eyes, completely unconvinced by the theatrics.
    The Toad brothers didn’t seem too worried about impressing Natalia. Instead, they focused their attention on Max. It was clear they considered him to be some kind of celebrity.
    “Can we see it?” Todd asked eagerly.
    “See what?” Max replied.
    “You know, the
Codex
,” Todd said.
    “Yeah. Maybe you could trap us in one of those captivity orbs,” Ross added. “We’ve always wanted to know what it would be like to get trapped inside a portal prison.”
    Max raised his eyebrows. “I don’t think so,” he said. “Besides, they only work on faeries and monsters.”
    The Toad brothers frowned in unison. “Are you sure?” Todd asked.
    “I’m almost positive that James Moriarty was caught with a captivity orb,” Ross conjectured.
    “Professor Moriarty?” Natalia asked, incredulous at the absurdity of the statement. “This is the real world, not a Sherlock Holmes novel.”
    “Shows what
you
know,” Todd said, and Ross snickered. “Anyway, have you guys been to Mad Meriwether’s Gadgetry Shoppe? I heard they sell replica
Codex
Gauntlets there.”
    “I’m thinking about putting it on my Christmas list,” Ross added. “But I have my eye on a derringer that shoots paint pellets. My parents won’t let me have a real gun, so it’s the next best thing.”
    “There aren’t any gadgetry shops around here,” Harley pointed out. “The closest thing was the Shoppe of Antiquities, but it’s closed now.”
    “Mad Meriwether’s isn’t in Avalon,” Todd pointed out.
    “Yeah, it’s in New Victoria,” Ross explained. “On Baker Street, across from the apothecary. In fact, it isn’t too far from Iron Bridge.”
    Harley just stared at Ross with a blank look on his face.
    “I don’t think these four are going to make it past the first week,” Ross proclaimed.
    “Agreed,” Todd said. “It looks as though the undertaker is going to have a busy semester.”

08
I RON B RIDGE
    “Undertaker? What on earth are you talking about?” demanded Natalia, who had gone from annoyed to angry.
    “As long as you stay on school grounds, you should be okay,” Ross explained. “I just wouldn’t wander into the rest of the city if I were you.”
    “Look, the island is big enough to hide a school; but an entire city? I don’t think so,” Natalia argued.
    “New Victoria isn’t on the island,” Todd said. “Neither is Iron Bridge.”
    “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “They’re both in the Land of Mist. You know, the in-between place that separates the real world from theShadowlands?” he continued. “That’s where dreams come from.”
    “Really?” Ernie asked. “Even nightmares?”
    “How do you think all those monsters slipped into Avalon?” Todd asked. “They crossed over from the Land of Mist.”
    “But don’t worry—Iron Bridge is
mostly
safe,” Ross assured. “Besides, they locked the gateway to the Shadowlands a long time ago. Most of the really bad stuff got stuck on the other side.”
    “Wait a minute. What do you mean,
mostly safe
?” Ernie didn’t like the sound of that.
    “The academy is surrounded by walls that are fifty feet high and twenty feet thick,” Ross replied. The only way in and out is