Finn Rogers and the Shadow of the Sphinx (Finn Rogers Series)

White Moth Press Finn Rogers and the Shadow of the Sphinx Bridget Plunkett is a Louisiana native born in Ruston, Louisiana. She loves reading, writing, nursing, gardening, and travel. Her travels took her across Arizona and New Mexico, where she fell in love with the area and its people. She’s a graduate of Louisiana Tech University and currently lives in Ruston, LA, working as a nurse, raising her kids, and continuing to write the Finn Rogers series. For my brother, Seth Plunkett. I love you, always. To the end of outer space and back, plus 1000 miles… Table of Contents Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter One The bright lights faded around Finn and his friends as they entered the Earthly Realm. It had only been their second time using the portal between realms, so they were still a little queasy. Finn was still getting the hang of how to use the Orbis, Elvelon’s Compass, to get from realm to realm. “Whoa,” said Percy as he looked around, dusted off his clothes, and ran his hands through his long, black hair. “That was way easier than sneaking in there the last time.” “I can’t believe I’m saying this, but we are all glad you did, Davis. You really saved our bacon back in Elvelon,” said Finn. It was unbelievable how Percy Davis had gone from rez bully to a fairly decent sidekick in a matter of a few days. Finn’s brown eyes searched for Bronwyn. She was standing to the left of him. Her brown, bouncy curls lay just over her tan shoulders and her hazel eyes cut sharply at him. She had been his best friend and greatest protector before his heart transplant, so instinct always had her looking out for him. “That he did,” said Fuego as he scratched his head full of red hair. “But I don’t see what bacon had to do with anything?” Everyone turned to see Fuego standing in the circle with them. The last time they saw him, he was dressed in his robes and was at the castle in Elvelon rejoining the King’s Guards. “Whoa, where did you come from?” asked Bronwyn. “Fuego?” said Percy, his brow lifted. “I caught up to the gateway just before you guys faded out and jumped into the portal with you. I’m always ready for a trip to Earth. And since Percy was coming back to Elvelon to join the Guards after finishing his business here, I can travel back with him. I think you call it hacking a ride.” “That would be called hitching a ride, mouth brea---my brother,” Percy said with a nervous grin. He had almost insulted the only real friend he’s ever had. Fuego grinned and placed his hand on Percy’s shoulder. “No problem, my man.” “Finn…something isn’t right here. What exactly did you do when you turned the Orbis?” asked Juno. He had faded in just to the right of Finn and gave him a scare. He looked around the immediate area, then his ghostly form faded away again. After a few seconds, he reappeared with a blank expression on his face. He had only been dead a few weeks but was getting the hang of ghost life. “Why? I did just what Mr. Praesidio told me to. I turned the dial on the Orbis to the Earthly Realm symbol and everything glowed and now we’re home. That was it, right?” Juno looked confused. “What were you thinking about right before you turned the dial? This is important. Your powers are tied to your emotions. If you are not focused, something could go wrong.” “What’s going on, Finn?” asked Bronwyn. Everyone knew Finn was talking to Prince Juno, but no one else could see or hear him since he was on the ghostly plane. Because Finn had been given Prince Juno’s heart for his transplant, he could see and hear all magical creatures and spiritual beings in all the realms, just as Juno used to. That had been the power of every prince since time began in Elvelon, and it now belonged to Finn. “Yeah, what’s he saying?” asked Benji. “Juno said something is not right about the gateway. I was thinking about my dad because Mr. Prae had given me this seed satchel just before we left.” Finn held up the leather pouch of seeds. “Then we went to the gateway, I turned the Orbis to the Earth symbol, and here we are.” “I don’t think we’re in Red Rock. I don’t know where you took us, but it wasn’t to your home. You brought us to the Earthly Realm, but not the right gateway,” Juno said, then faded back out. “Wait! There’s more than one gateway?” Finn yelled out, but Juno had vanished again. “Um, guys. Juno doesn’t think we’re in Red Rock.” Everyone looked around the gateway into the desert, unable to tell for themselves since the sky was nil of light except for one bright star shining in the North. It was night when they left Elvelon and should have been nighttime in Red Rock, but the dawn was approaching in the east wherever they had landed. The horizon radiated a faint orange hue. They did, however, see several lights in a cluster about half a mile away which led them to believe they were at least in a town of some sort. “I think that may be a town up ahead. Let’s head in that direction,” said Benji. “Maybe we should split up. Percy and I could check things out while you all stay here,” said Fuego. “I came to make sure you guys made it safe. Mr. Prae entrusted me to take care of you.” “I don’t think we should split up. You’re the