Chapter One
Mom, where are you?
The rusty gear on the grandfather clock ground the wrought-iron hour hand to the number eight.
CLANG… CLANG… CLANG… CLANG…
Theo jumped at the dissonant chimes. Gripping her chest, she scowled at the grinning cherubs that sat atop the antique monstrosity. She continued to pace across the floor, her sneakers deepening the circular trail she had already formed in the maroon carpet. Her hazel eyes flickered back to the ever-ticking clock. She pulled the tip of her chestnut-colored ponytail out of her mouth, which left the faint after-taste of apple blossom conditioner on her tongue.
Holding her cell phone, Theo replayed the week-old voicemail from her mom. “Sorry I had to leave, but this con-ference is very important. If you need anything, call Auntie Grace. I’ll be home by noon on Thursday. I love you.”
Since her dad died, Theo hated being home alone. It wasn’t so bad when her mom called every day to check in, but the calls stopped a couple of days ago. At first, Theo figured she was busy with conference stuff, however her mom was due home eight hours ago – and today wasn’t just any ordinary day.
You promised you’d be home for my birthday.
All day long Theo had imagined coming home to find a hastily thrown together surprise party. She longed for her mom’s specialty – a slightly burnt chocolate cake with une-ven caramel frosting. It wasn’t a celebration without the faint smell of charred baked goods in the air.
Instead, she came home to the same musty smell that clung to their old Victorian.
Theo focused all her energy on the phone, willing her mom to call, but all that rang were her nerves. The phone slipped from her fingers, bounced once, and slid under the sofa. She knelt down to retrieve it, and her forehead said “hello” to the leather steamer trunk that her mother used as a coffee table.
“Stupid archaic piece of junk,” she groaned.
She peered under the sofa and debated whether she wanted to reach into the dark void. With a deep breath, she moved her arm along the base of the couch, dust tickling her nose. Her fingers caressed dust bunnies, old cat toys, and, finally, the phone. She sat back on her heels just in time for an onslaught of sneezes.
Into Aether Description:
Colorado teen Theodora (Theo) will do anything to find her missing mom, including travel into the hidden and mysterious Victorian subculture of Aether. She takes a ride with airship pirates to a floating island full of strange automatons and even stranger people.
After a century-old feud reignites, she uncovers the alarming truth about her family’s past. Finding her mother is more important than ever.
