Door Beneath the Lake

At the edge of Emberwood lies a lake that is too quiet. Even the wind hesitates at its shore. Beneath its perfect mirror surface, a door older than any realm they have crossed is pulsing - once, twice - waiting.To open the Door Beneath the Lake, the group must offer something more precious than courage. They must offer honesty.In the Mirror Current, every hidden fear stirs awake. The Keeper Below demands the truth each of them has been avoiding. A colossal harp of crystal and water plays a song that carries messages from travellers who never made it back. And in the Shattered Reflection, shadow-versions of each child whisper the words they've been most afraid to hear.Cassie points her compass at herself. It glows.On the other side of the Door, stars shine beneath their feet instead of above them. The Midnight Map appears, floating in the void - alive, moving, pulsing in time with all six keys at once. It isn't showing them where to go next. It's showing them who they've become.The final realm is waiting. The stars still have one more story to tell.Book Nine of Ten in the Seven Realms of Wonder series. Perfect for readers aged 8-12.