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    Perfect Worlds Omnibus

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      “NowIknowthisisabigshockforyougirls,butIpromiseitwillonlybe untiltheparty.Afterthatyou’llbebacktonormal.Andonthebrightside,allof yourblackmarkshavebeenremoved.”TaigesturedtoMissKilgoreinthe back.“You’llbestayingatmyhouseforthenextthreedaystogetacclimated.

      MissKilgorewilllookafteryouduringyourstay.Anythingyouneed,youjust askher.”

      “Comealong,children.Acariswaitingforus,”MissKilgoresaid.

      Thegirlshoppedofftheirchairs,KariholdingontoKrisee’shandtosteady her.JumpingandwalkingwouldhavebeenmucheasierifTaihadn’tmadetheir dressestoolongandtheirshoesaboutthreesizestoobig.Shefiguredthose, alongwiththelisps,weredesignedtomakethemallcuter.Forwhatpurpose, shestilldidn’tunderstand.

      Whateveritwas,shewassureshewouldn’tlikeit.

      ***

      Asbefittedtheshadowyruleroftheentireplanet,Tai’shomewasacountry estatebiggerthananentiretown.Gatesmadeoutofsolidgoldhadhisinitials pressedintothem.“Iwannasee!Iwannasee!”Desireeshouted,herpersonality quicklydevolvingtothatofaseven-year-oldasshescrambledoverKariand Krisee.

      “Ow!”Kriseewailed.“I’mtewwingMissKiwgowe.”

      “Itshouwdn’thuwtthatmuchwithawthatpaddingyougot,”Desiree snapped.

      KarigrabbedKrisee’sshouldertokeepherfromretaliating.Shebrushed someofKrisee’shairasidetowhisper,“Don’tstooptotheirwevew.Youstiwa biggirw.”

      Valsatacrossfromthemonabackwards-facingseat,herarmscrossedover herchest.“Whatthematter?Mowegirwgonnacwy?”

      “Shutup!”Kriseescreeched.

      Kariagainhadtoyankherback.“Shejusttwyingtogetunderyouskin.

      Justignoreher.Shejustastupidbabynow.”

      “IcanbeowderthanyouanytimeIwant,”Valshotback.“ButIwannabe theyoungestandpwettiest.”

      “Oneoutoftwoisn’tbad,”Karisaid.SheandKriseesharedagiggleat this.

      Thecarpulleduptoamansionasbigastwocityblocks,oratleastit seemedthatwaywhenKarigotoutofthecar.Kriseepressedclosetoher, keepingafirmgrasponherhand.Thatcameinhandywhentheyhadtogetup thestonestairswithouttrippingovertheirskirtsandshoes.

      BythetimeMissKilgorehadshownthemaroundthegroundfloorofthe estate,Krisee’sfacehadturnedredandcoveredinsweat.“Can’twetakea bweak?”shepleaded.

      “Yourroomsareupstairs.Itrustyoucanmakeitthatfar?”

      “Yes,”Kriseemumbled.

      “JustweaveMowegirwhere.Shecandigahowetosweepin,”Valsaid andherfriendsgiggledinresponse.

      MissKilgorewaggedafingeratthetoddler.“Yougirlsbehave.ThisisMr.

      Lecau’shouseandyouwillberespectfulofhisthings.Thatgoesdoubleforyou two,”shesaid,herwaggingfingerturningtoKriseeandKari.

      “Yes,ma’am,”theysaidtogether.Theywaiteduntiltheothersstartedupto mountthestairs.

      “Iknowithard,butweawmostthere,”Karisaid.

      “Howyouknowhowharditis?”

      “Iusedtobeafatwidowgirwwikeyouownow.”

      “ButnowyougettobeskinnyandIgettobefat.Itnotfair.”

      “Iknow,buttherenothingwecando.”

      “Iguess.”

      Longaftertheothershadreachedthesummit,theygottothesecondfloor.

      MissKilgorewaitedforthem,tappingherfoot.“Thisisnotimetodawdle, girls.Yourroomisdownattheendofthehall.”

      “Nofair,”Kriseegrumbledagain.

      Theendofthehallfeltlikeakilometeratleast.WithMissKilgorebehind them,theycouldn’tstoptoresteither.Kriseestumbledalong,Karihavingto steadyheracoupleoftimes.Bythetimetheyreachedtheend,Karifeltas thoughshe’dwalkedtwentykilometers.

      Taihadpreparedthemalittlegirl’sbedroomlikeKari’soldapartment.On onecanopybedsheevenfoundSnowmanewaitingforher.Shesnatchedthetoy

      offthebedandthenploppeddownonthemattresswithouttakingoffhershoes.

      Insteadofgoingtotheotherbed,Kriseecurledupnexttoher.Karilether friendhaveSnowmane,settlingtostrokeKrisee’shairuntiltheybothfell asleep.Theyhadalongthreedaysaheadofthem.

      Chapter16

      Bytheendoftheseconddayallofthegirls,evenKrisee,hadsettledinto theirchildishbodies.Karihadevencometoaccepttheoversizedclothes,which MissKilgorerequiredtheywearuntiltheywenttobedsotheycouldget acclimated.

      Besidestheclothes,theyhadtolearnhowtodance.NottheroutinesKrisee andtheothersdidonstage,butformaldancing.EvenasanadultKarihadnever donemuchofthatkindofdancing.Shefellonherfaceoncetotheamusement ofValandhercronies,butresistedthechildishurgetowailfromthepain.

      Instead,shetookKrisee’sprofferedhand,gottoherfeet,andthenbrushed herselfofftocontinuethelesson.

      Valseemedalotmorecomfortableasatoddlerthistime.Shedidn’tgointo anyscreamingfitswhenMissKilgorehadtobrushandcurlherhair.Nordid shetrytotakeoffthewhitebow.Ifanythingshewasthequickestoneto acclimatetohernewsituation.

      Theydidn’tseeTaiatall,butKarisuspectedhewasaroundsomewhere.

      Hewasalwayswatchingthem,evenifhewasn’therephysically.Valsleptinhis bedroom,onhismassivebed,butwhethershewasaloneallnightKaricouldn’t say.

      Attheendofthetraining,KariandKriseelayintheirbed,Kriseeclutching SnowmanewhileKariclutchedher.“What’sgonnahappentoustomorrow?”

      Kriseeasked.

      “Idon’tknow,”Karisaid.

      “Youthinkthosemenattheparty…youthinktheywiwtouchus?”

      “Iwouldn’tputitpastthem.”

      Kriseeshiveredagainsther.“Idon’twannago.”Tearscametohereyes.

      “Ijustwannabemeagain.Iwon’tevencareaboutthezitsanymore.Ijustwant ustobethewaywewere.”

      “Iknow,butthere’snothingwecando.”

      “Whynot?Maybeifweaskhim,he’wchangeusback.”

      “Notuntiwaftertheparty.”

      “Henotgonnachangeanyofyouback,”Valwhisperedfromthedoorway.

      “Vaw?Whatyoudoinghere?”

      Valscurriedovertothesideofthebed.Sheneededhelpinordertocrawl ontothemattress,whereshesatcross-leggedinfrontofthem.“IheardTai tawking.Henotgonnawetyougoback.Hegonnasewwyou.”

      “Sewwus?Tothosemen?”

      “Yes.Hegonnasewwyouasswavestodowhatevertheywant.”

      “Thenwhentheydonewithus,theykiwwus.”

      “Kiwwus?”Kriseeaskedwithawhimper.“Why?”

      “Becausetheymean,”Valsaid.

      “Whyyoutewwus?”

      “Becauseyoustiwwmyfwiend,Kawi.Iknowwebeenmeantoeachother wecentwy,butthisisdiffwent.Idon’twantyoutogethuwt.”

      “Sowhatwesupposedtodo?”

      “Icanshowyouhowtogetthestone,butIneedyouhewp.I’mtoowidow todoitmysewf.”

      “Thestoneishere?”

      “Partofit.Hekeepsomeonhiswingandwesthekeephere.”

      “Won’tyougetintwoubweifhefindout?”

      “Notifitwork.”

      “Twue.”

      “Thenwewon’tbesowdtothosemen?”Kriseeasked.

      “Thatwight.Thenwecanbegwown-upsagain.Wecandowhateverwe want,”Karisaid.“Anythingwewant.”

      “Wow.”

      “Comeon,wegottadoitnow,beforeMissKiwgorewakeup.”

      Valhoppeddowntothefloor.KaritookalookatKrisee,whonoddedher assent.Despitethis,shekeptSnowmanewithherastheystarteddow
    nthe hallway.Theothergirlswereapparentlyallasleep.ValpausedatMiss Kilgore’sroom,butonlythesoundofsnoringcamethroughthedoor.

      Valmotionedthemtothestaircase.ThestonewascoldagainstKari’sbare feet,butitwaseasiertogodowninherpinknightgownthaninthatawfuldress.

      Kriseefounditeasiertoo,thoughherbangswereplasteredtoherforeheadby sweatbythetimetheyreachedthebottom.SensingKrisee’sweariness,Kari squeezedherhand.“Wegottakeepgoing.Wedon’thavemuchtime.”

      KriseenoddedandfollowedbehindKariandVal.Thelatterstoppedata woodendoorthathadtobefivemetershighatleast.“Itthwoughthatdoor,”she said.Shereachedinsidehernightgown,retrievinganecklace,attheendof whichdangledakey.“IgotthisfromMissKiwgow’swoom.Itshouwdgetus in,butIcan’tweach.”

      AsthetallestofthegroupitwasuptoKaritodoit.Shetookthekeyfrom Valandthengotonhertiptoes.Eventhenshecouldbarelyreachthelock.The harderpartwasturningtheknobwithherscrawnyarms.Betweenherand Krisee,theywereabletogettheheavydooropen.

      Tai’sofficeinthemansionwasfarmoreopulentthantheoneatTaiCorp

      hadbeen.EverywhereKarisawsumptuouswoodlinedwithgold.Therewasa granitefireplace,whichatthemomentwasonlycoldashes.Valpointedtothe fireplace.“Itinthere.”

      “Inthefirepwace?”Kariaskedwithdisbelief.

      “Behindthebwicksinside,sonooneewsecouldfindit.”

      “Oh.”

      Karistartedtowardsthefireplace,butKriseegrabbedherarm.“Kawi,no.

      Idon’twikethis.Shecouldbewaitingforyoutogointhereandthenstarta fire.”

      “Startafire?I’mawmostababy!HowcanIstartafire?”

      “Idon’tknow!Butyoubeennothingbutmeantousandnowyouactaw nicetous.Itdon’taddup.”

      “Iawweadyexpwainedit.Idon’twantyoutogethurt.Ifyouwannaget sowdandthenkiwwed,thengobacktobed.”

      “She’swight,”Karisaid,puttingahandonKrisee’sshoulder.“Igottado it.”

      Beforeshecouldlookinthefireplace,Karineededsomelighttoseeby.

      Sheclimbeduponeoftheofficechairs,recallingherdaysasamidget.Thenshe clickedonthelamponTai’sdesk.Byadjustingthat,shecouldshineabeamof lightintothefireplace.Shehoppeddownandthenscurriedovertothefireplace toinspectit.

      Theinteriorofthefireplacewasmorethanbigenoughtoaccommodate her.Ifthisdidn’twork,though,shewasgoingtoneedalongbathtocleanthe sootthatinstantlystainedherface,hands,andfeet.

      “Seeanything?”Kriseeasked.

      “No.Gokeepawookout.”

      “But—”

      “Justgo.”

      “Awwight.”AfterKriseehadscamperedoff,Kariwentdeeperintothe fireplacetoinspectthebricksattheveryback.Sheranherfingersalongthem untilshefeltoneslightlyoutofplace.Squinting,shesawthemortararoundit wascracked,meaningthebrickhadprobablybeenreplacedrecently.

      “Ifoundit!”Karicalledout.“Itwaybackhere.”

      “Wetmesee!”Valsaid.Shesqueezedintothefireplacetostandbeside Kari.“Thatit?”

      “Wegottagetthebwickout.”

      Ittookbothofthemgruntingandstraininginordertomovethebrickjusta fewcentimeters.Theyheavedagainandagain,untiltheywerecoveredinsweat andsoot.Finallythebrickcamefree,landingattheirfeetwithathudand

      shattering.

      Intheholeleftbythebrickwasaglasscase,alumpofblackstone glitteringinside.

      TheyhadfoundtheStoneofChange.

      ***

      Karicarrieditovertoanarmchair,bigenoughtoaccommodateallthreeof them.KriseestaredatthestonewhileclutchingSnowmanetothepointhis stuffingbegantopopoutfromhisneck.“That’sit?”

      “Partofit,”Valsaid.

      “Butitcouldmakeusgwown-upsagain?Wike,weawgwown-upsandnot teenagers?”

      “Itcandowhateverwewantittodo,”Karisaid.“Ifwecangetittowork.”

      “Howdowedothat?”

      “Idon’tknow.WasttimeItouchedit,itmademefifteenagain.”

      “WhatdidTaidotoit?”

      “Idon’tknow!”Karisnapped.“Hesatawoundbyitforawhiweandthen hesaidsomething.”

      “Wikewhat?”

      “Somekindofancientwanguage.ButIcouwdn’thearawthewords.”

      “Somaybeweshouldthinkweawyhardaboutwhatwewant,”Val suggested.

      “Maybe.Firstweneedtoopenthecase.”Withoutwarning,shesmashed thecaseonthefloor,gratifiedthatevenasascrawnyseven-year-oldshecould shattertheglass.TheStoneofChangerolledontothefloor.

      Karistareddownatthestone,tryingtothinkofwhathadhappenedinthe temple.Taihadspentallthattimeupthereonthepedestal.Whathadhebeen doing?Shereplayeditagainandagainuntilitfinallyhither:hehad communicatedwiththestone.Orperhapsithadcommunicatedwithhim.

      Sheclosedhereyes,imaginingthestoneinhermind.WhenKriseetriedto saysomething,Karishushedher.“I’mtwyingtotawktoit.”

      Shekepthereyesclosed,tryingagaintoseethestoneinhermind.After whatfeltlikeforever,thestonesheimaginedbrokeopenlikeanegg.Insideofit wasascalytanface,oneoftheancients.Taihadprobablyseenonejustlikeit duringhismeditationsupthere.“Whoareyou,child?”

      “KawiChomar,”shewhispered.Thensheasked,“Howyouknowour wanguage?”

      “WelearnedfromtheoneyoucallTaiLecau.”

      “Oh,Isee.”

      “Whatisityouseek,youngone?”

      “Iaskyoutopweasechangemeback.”

      Thealien’sblackeyesnarrowedatherforamomentandthenitnodded slightly.“Itisdone.”

      Kariopenedhereyes,butimmediatelynotedsomethingwaswrong.

      Insteadofgettingbigger,shewasgettingsmaller.Shecontinuedtoshrinkuntil shewaseventinierthanVal,justababyagain.Shepattedhercurlyhairwith onechubbyhandandthenfeltherfaceturnwarm.“No!”shewailed.“Notwike that!Makemebig!”

      Assoonasshesaidthis,sherealizedhermistake.Hertinybodyinflated likeaballoon,untiltheseamsofhernightgownburstopen,asdidthoseofher diaper.Shesatnakedintheruinsofherclothes,whileKriseeandValgapedat her.

      “Whatyoudo?”Valasked.

      “Idon’tknow!Itnotunderstandme.”

      “Wetmetwy!”Valsaid.BeforeKaricouldstopher,Valsnatchedthestone away.TherewasawinkoflightandsecondslaterValtoowasarotundbaby.

      “Nofair!”

      TheStoneofChangeslippedfromherhandtorollontothefloor.Krisee droppedfromthechair,ontothefloor.“Kwisee,no!”Karishouted,butitwas toolate.KriseepickeduptheStoneofChange.

      Nothinghappened.

      ThenKriseeturnedaroundandsmiledwithTaiLecau’ssmuggrin.“Ithink that’senoughfunforonenight,”Kriseesaidinhisvoice.

      ***

      Thestonewinkedagain.Karifoundherselfmercifullystretchingoutuntil shewasateenageragain.Shehadneverbeensogladtofeelthezitsonherface ortheglassesoreventhebracesuntilthatmoment.Besideher,Valalso changed,notasshehadbeenthreedaysago,butintothegeekyteenagerwitha helmetofblackhairandwhitecat’seyeglasses.Shepattedthehair,glasses,and thenhergreenplaidsweater.“Whatdidyoudotome?Changemeback!”

      “I’mafraidyourdancingcareerisover,sweetheart,”Taisaidthrough Krisee.Herbodyalsoswelleduntilittoowasateenager,thegirlKarihadfallen inlovewith.

      “Wereyou…wereyouherallthistime?”

      “Youmeanallthetimesyouwerefuckinginthestoreroomandbathro
    om?

      Yes.ButI’mnotreallyher,notphysically.Ijusttookoverhermind.”Krisee sneeredather.“TherealKriseeneverlikedyou.Shethoughtyouwereaprissy littlebitch.Yourfriendherecanattesttothat,I’msure.”

      “Yes,”Valmumbled,stillpattingherfaceasifshecouldchangeitlikea

      lumpofclay.“ButIthoughtshewasjustpretending.”

      “Butyouwerepretending.Allthistimeitwasjustanothersickgameof yours.Youbastard!”KarishotfromthechairtolaunchherselfatKrisee—at Tai.Shepummeledatthefaceshehadkissedandcaressedsomanytimes before.“Yousonofabitch!”

      TaitookholdofherwristsandwithmorestrengththanKrisee’sscrawny musclescouldpossiblyhavehepushedherbackuntilshewassittingonthe floor.Thenhelookedherintheeye.“Itwasn’tagame,Kari.Irealizedyou weretoostubborntoeverlovemeanyotherway.”

      “Whataboutme?”Valwailed.“Whataboutus?”

      “I’msorry,dear,butthereisnous.Thereneverwas.Ijustneededtoget youtobreakawayfromKari.”HereachedouttotakeVal’shand.“Iknewyou didn’treallyloveheranymore.Thewayyouthrewyourselfatmeintheclub wasonlyproofofit.”

      “AndthenyoubroughtmetotheclubsoIcouldseethatshehadmoved on,”Karisaid.

      “Afteryouresistedmyadvances,yes.YoucouldhavesparedValsome heartacheifyou’djustgiveninbackattheoffice.Butnowwecanbetogether.

      Youhavetoseeitnow.”

      “AllIseeisthatyou’reaconnivingmonster.ThethingsyoudidtoValand meandtothiswholeplanetarereprehensible!”

      “Howcanyousaythat?RememberallthetimewespenttogetherwhenI wasKrisee.Youlovedmethen.Youlovedmesomuchyoubrokeintothis roomtotryandstealtheStoneofChange.Don’tyouseeitnow?”Hegaveher handagentlesqueezethatfeltexactlylikeKrisee’stouch.“I’llbeherifthat’s whatyouwant.Wecanbewhateverageyouwantustobe.”

      KarilookeddownatthefloorandthenupatVal,whowasnowsobbing quietly.“WhataboutVal?Shereallydoesloveyou.”

     


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