Dan waited while Alex did his work.  Apparently, if there was magic, there was nothing there.  "Well, damn.  Alright.  Guess only way is to go through.  I'll step through, and see what's on the other side.  Hopefully the portal isn't a teleport or something like that."  The idea of having to go through with no idea what lay on the other end was not entertaining.  "If it's safe for you to come through, I'll tap your hand twice with my little finger.  If I tap with my thumb, though, that's a warning."  Once he had Alex's hand, Dan stepped through the darkened portal and to the other side...