First World - A Walker Saga Book 1, Page 9

After twenty minutes of such high emotions, I needed a break, a distraction. I locked eyes with Brace, who was quietly waiting in the wings.

  “Has the lockdown been lifted yet?” I didn’t know how much longer I was prepared to wait. I wondered what would happen if I attempted to leave.

  Lallielle answered. “There will be a siren sound. Until then, no one is to leave their residence. It is unfortunately part of our magical security.”

  Josian raised his brows, and gave me a grin. “You’re welcome to try and leave. As with most Walkers, I’m sure you won’t take our word for it.”

  I looked between them before rising to my feet. With one last glance at Brace I walked to the front door. It opened easily, but as I attempted to take the first step outside my foot hit an obstacle. The entire doorway was an invisible barrier.

  With a sigh, I walked back to stand next to Brace. I was struck by a thought as I glanced at Josian with his soft glow. Brace should pale in comparison to this man who was more than human, but he didn’t. Okay, his skin wasn’t glowing, but there was still something more.

  His expression was unreadable as his eyes roamed over my face. “Abby needs food. She hasn’t eaten all day,” he announced abruptly.

  I didn’t need food. I needed answers and to get this lockdown lifted and to get the hell back to Earth. I opened my mouth, but Brace moved quickly, hands grasped either side of my biceps as he pulled me up off the floor so we were at equal eye level. As my feet dangled, I felt like a naughty five-year-old.

  “Do not argue with me, Red. You’re no good to Lucy if you collapse from starvation.”

  And then, with his gorgeous eyes flashing at me, and the accent-weapon assaulting me, I was no longer a five-year-old.

  Josian was on his feet. It looked as if his hair was moving around his face, which wouldn’t be that odd, except there was no breeze. Brace glanced at him, but, ignoring the angry god-man, turned back to me. He was waiting for my agreement and wasn’t wavering

  Rolling my eyes, I nodded. He set me down.

  Lallielle stood, placing a hand on Josian to calm him. She had to do that a lot. Gods save us from stubborn, domineering, over-bearing, pompous, ass-hat ... my mental tirade continued as I alternatively scowled at the men.

  “I’ll organize some food,” Lallielle said, turning to exit through the side door.

  Josian was still glaring daggers at an unconcerned Brace. A tension that hadn’t previously been there filled the room.

  Luckily, Lallielle was back in no time. “The girls are organizing a selection. I’m not sure what you like but you should find something to eat.”

  Everyone sat again to wait. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Brace watching me while Josian continued glaring at him. Lallielle looked between all of us, a half-smile on her full lips. Finally, I decided just to stare out the window to the calm of the ocean. The testosterone was thick enough to choke on. After a few minutes I caught Lallielle’s eye and couldn’t help returning her smile. Okay, the men were pretty amusing.

  A young, blond woman wearing a bright red shift dress entered through the side door. She was pushing a trolley overflowing with food.

  The room remained quiet as we moved toward the delicacies. Josian angled his way behind me, cutting Brace off.

  Without going into crazy detail, I’ll just say the food was out-of-this-world amazing. The variety was something I was sure I’d never get used to. Cold-cut selections and a variety of meats, along with an array of seafood. Lallielle particularly loved a strange orange bug thing. She continued to wave it at me to try. By the end I’d sampled everything.

  All the meat varieties. Crackers topped with rich, creamy cheeses. Piles of pre-cut fresh fruit in every color of the rainbow.

  I barely found pause to breathe I was so busy eating. I also had a little love affair going on with the sweet pink juice made from quant fruit. Like that meant anything to me. Other than a green-tinged meat, which was disgusting, I loved everything. Although I was starting to feel slightly queasy from having stuffed myself. I wasn’t used to the richness or variety of the food.

  By this time, through the large front windows, the sun was setting over the ocean.

  Knowing we would soon be heading back to Earth, I was ready to rid myself of one responsibility that had been weighing on me uneasily. Pushing aside my empty plate, I looked around for my backpack. I had no idea where Brace had dropped it. They were all involved in a quiet discussion, so, without disturbing anyone, I set off to search for my bag. I found both packs resting against the entrance hall.

  Retrieving the stone, I walked back into the room. Everyone looked up.

  “I need to give this back to you. I don’t want to be responsible for losing it again.”

  I held the blue stone in front of me and for the first time noticed that it looked slightly different on First World. There were definite flashes through the blue and it was no longer one solid color. It looked as if it was transitioning through stages of blues.

  Josian stood so quickly there was almost no shift from sitting to standing. He took the stone from me. At that first contact, I jumped backwards. Blue sparks lit the room.

  He laughed. “Oh, I’ve missed that little jolt. I know all First Worlders think this is one of the royal stones, but in actual fact it’s not really a stone. They’re small living worlds which have their own energy and ecosystem. We call them lalunas. They were discovered by the original seven, who believed they were what collided with moonstale to create our race. Only fourteen separate lalunas were discovered.”

  Lallielle and Brace looked astonished. I was wondering how I’d known there was something more when I first touched it. Was it my Walker side connecting?

  “To keep them safe, the fourteen were gifted by Walkers to First World and each of its younglings.”

  I watched nervously as he tossed it from hand to hand.

  Lallielle’s eyes were wide. “Josian, you’ve never told me that before.”

  He shrugged. “Sorry, my love, it just never crossed my mind. I have so many years of stories and legends.” He turned to Brace and I. “And it is a secret. The worlds cannot know of them.”

  Lallielle smiled at me, just a gentle curve of full lips. “You don’t have to give it back, the stone, laluna...” She threw a sideways glance at Josian. “Whichever one, it is yours, Aribella. You’re the first baby of the new millennium, born under a blood moon – you’re the empress.” She smiled like that was the greatest honor.

  She was clearly crazy, and I was hoping it wasn’t hereditary.

  Josian cleared his throat. “Uh, now don’t get upset, Lalli dear, but the laluna simply recognizes Aribella because it recognizes Walker power. I know we’ve argued about this before, but we must not just assume.”

  I was highly amused to see him tip-toe around his wife.

  “We don’t argue, Josian, we discuss,” Lallielle admonished.

  Brace interrupted from the across the room. “If Abby’s not the chosen empress, why has there never been another born?” He didn’t make any attempt to move closer. “Lucas needs his empress more than ever.”

  I glared at him. What the eff?

  Brace was all ready to marry me off to Lucas like a prize cow won at auction.

  Josian snorted. I looked up and he shrugged. “Sorry. You have a unique way of looking at things.”

  I needed to figure out how to end the mind-reading thing.

  Josian distracted me by answering Brace. “And to answer you, Brace, Aribella’s not the empress. Why another hasn’t been born, I don’t know. Keep in mind she isn’t even a full First Worlder ... she is Walker, which is even more potent and dominant.”

  I waited for him to elaborate. I totally love it when people talk about me like I’m not in the room.

  “The world crisis stems from a larger and more universal issue. In the last twenty years many Walkers who were in sleep stasis are waking – ahead of time. The imbalance in the universe is distu
rbing them.”

  His tone changed.

  “This tells me that this all has something to do with Walkers. Not a First World or royal family issue. They’re just collateral damage.

  “Remember Aribella’s the only ‘half’ in existence, and maybe if I give you a small insight to our origins...”

  Worry creased his defined brow. “Legends tell that our race was created from an explosion of energy – moonstale and laluna – in an empty universe. Seven Walkers emerged, pure and powerful. They were uniquely linked and created a complete supremacy.”

  That was the second time he had mentioned moonstale. I wondered what it was.

  Josian was powering along with his explanation. “I’ve been hearing whispers that this is about the Seventine. They are the universal balance to Walkers, although we do not acknowledge them as Walkers. They’re made from the anti-matter to ours.

  “Allegedly the last great act of the seven, before they disappeared from all knowledge, was to banish the Seventine to a barren wasteland. Its location, one of our greatest secrets, has never been discovered.”

  His voiced lowered. Unconsciously, I shifted close. “It’s said that the Seventine’s evil will never die, and if all of them escape their combined negative energy will consume the essence of every living entity. It will end the worlds.”

  “Shut. The. Door.” I jumped to my feet, horror and panic consuming me. “That’s what you think is causing the chaos? How the hell are we supposed to fix that?”

  He looked baffled for a heartbeat, but recovered. “No, I am not saying that’s what’s happening, I personally don’t believe it. But even if it were true we can’t fix it. Only the original seven have the knowledge and power.”

  I crossed my arms. “If you can’t die, they’re out there somewhere. And this is their problem.”

  Josian shook his head. “In a manner, we can choose to ‘die’. The essence of our power can be given freely, rendering our skins useless.”

  Say what? “Are you telling me that our bodies are just the ... coating we wear?”

  He gave me a slight wink. Was that a yes?

  “Beside a few weapons which can disable us, we can also choose to free our powers to the universe. The weary will free themselves to be reborn and start the cycle again.”

  Lallielle chimed in. “On First World we also do not age. Cell regeneration’s an integral part of our world. At birth we’re infused with an activation substrate that prompts the continual regeneration of cells. This kicks in after the age of maturity.”

  “I guess that explains why no one has looked over thirty here... well, except Quarn.” He had an aged grimness.

  Lallielle looked troubled. “I’m not sure why that would be. We still die from injuries and illness – there are some terrible diseases. Plus, there are always those who have lived through too many circles of First World. They will choose to release their energies.”

  I stared. “If I’m correctly interpreting your words, I’m going to live forever – providing I don’t suicide or get stabbed in the heart.”

  I shook my head, wondering why that news didn’t fill me with joy. “What the hell does a person do for an eternity?”

  Josian laughed. “You’re thinking like an Earthling, with their finite lives. Always trying to fit everything in, never knowing when it will all be over.” He winked at Lalli. “All you have to do is find your other half and live happily for eternity, arguing, traveling – and something mmmmm.”

  His raised his eyebrows suggestively. Lallielle elbowed him.

  I laughed in derision. “Surely you’re kidding? You and Lallielle possibly have a special relationship, but for how long? Even before this negative energy destroyed our limited mental capacity, people on Earth were still lucky to be together five years.”

  Brace shook his head, his perfect lips rising in another of his little half-smiles. I wondered when I’d become less mesmerized by his particular brand of masculine beauty, when this crazy chemistry wouldn’t keep knocking me around with its intensity.

  “We’ve evolved past that. Our emotions are strong; our capacity for love is much greater than Earthlings. Of which you are not, Red. Whilst we’re a logical species, when it comes to our mates, it’s for life.” He shrugged. “Although true pairs are much rarer than they used to be.”

  I tried to imagine that world. I knew there would still be fights and pain, but apparently no one would be sneaking around with the neighbor to relieve this week’s boredom. Yeah, right. It wasn’t in my nature to believe in perfection.

  Brace was still speaking. “If we die, either by choice or accident, that energy’s transferred to a new life, and is the only way to have a child on First World. When you find your true mate, if you wish for a child, you must add your name to the free-energy list. You can also gift or steal energy.”

  Lallielle cleared her throat before speaking. “That’s how I fell pregnant with Samuel. The man killed his sister. She bled to death in front of me.”

  My expression was a little horrified. I definitely understood her ‘born of drama’ comment. And, considering my current mini-obsession with Brace, I wondered...

  “Say I fell madly in love with someone and they didn’t return the feelings. I’ll never let that go? I’ll never love another?”

  Lallielle cast a soft glance at Josian. “Don’t worry, Aribella. We exist in pairs, in balance. For every individual’s energy there is another that’s the perfect match. Anything else is infatuation, not love. You will learn the difference with time. But please don’t misunderstand; most of the couples on First World are not true matches. They will continue to seek, but it’s a lonely life, so many settle for companionship.”

  Josian added. “There’re a few who let infatuation turn them crazy, and then we have the situation Lallielle was in.”

  Josian swung her close, her waist-length hair flying behind. “Walkers carry darkness inside. Millennia alone is more than most can accept. That is why they choose to sleep or release. We rarely find our mate. Until recently we didn’t know we could mate outside our people. But Lallielle and I prove there’s more connecting our two races – and you, my girl, are the most convincing evidence.”

  “Who had to die so I could be born?” I understood the concept of the great circle of life but ... gross.

  For the first time, Josian grasped my hand. It was warm and comforting. “No one had to die. I can create my own energy. I can bring life.” He said it so arrogantly.

  But simple little Earthlings can create their own life as well. Maybe that was the exchange for having no magic and short ‘finite’ lives.

  “So where’s my Walker mark you mentioned earlier?” I was positive there wasn’t another mark, spot, or mole on my body, and that at any time they would realize they were mistaken and there was nothing exceptional about me.

  Josian smiled. “Wait here.” He zoomed out of the room, Lallielle right behind him.

  By the time I’d sunk into the white sofa, Lallielle was back. She carried a floor-length mirror. Brace moved to help, but she waved him away.

  She placed the large white mirror, with a kick-stand support, in front of me. I stared at my reflection. I saw tired green eyes surrounded by dark circles, long red hair tousled again, many strands escaping my braid.

  Brace sat next to me. “You doing okay with all of this, Red?”

  I sighed, resisting the urge to grasp his shirt front and pull him closer. I intertwined my hands instead.

  “Honestly, it’d all be awesome. Except ... Lucy’s missing.” Tears pricked at my eyes again. I blinked them away.

  He leaned back closer to me, our shoulders almost touching. “Don’t panic yet. We’ll find her. The men are still looking – the town was put into shut-down almost immediately, even though Josian is pretty sure she’s not here. If that’s the case, I’m with you all the way to Earth.”

  I nodded. Why Brace would want to accompany us, I didn’t know, but I’d welcome a
ny help. A guy of his size was perfect intimidation against gangers.

  “Do ... do you think she’s okay?” I whispered, some of my anguish leaking out in my voice.

  Reaching over, Brace hesitated a moment before he picked up my left hand. He laced his fingers through mine and the world slowed. My heart skipped a beat and heat flooded my body. Forcing myself to breathe and my ears to listen, I focused on him. That delicious male scent, so uniquely his, and his features ... so unnaturally perfect.

  “I made a promise to myself that I would get you and Lucy here safely and I failed. I will not rest until I make this right, Abby.”

  I blinked at his formality, although in the First-World accent, it sounded perfect.

  Josian appeared behind the mirror. The laluna had been replaced by an object covered with a dark gray cloth.

  Brace stood abruptly, jolting me on the couch. “One of the men needs my assistance. I’ll be right back.”

  My gaze followed his broad shoulders as he exited the room.

  Josian’s eyes were glued to me.

  Did he not notice that strange behavior? And how the hell did Brace get out the door?

  Probably Josian didn’t harbor the same mini-obsession I held for Brace.

  “Are you ready?” The red-haired Walker’s anticipation and excitement drew my attention. “This mark is for identification. Every Walker clan has a unique design. It can only be viewed under the light of a moonstale crystal – remember, they’re part of the original colliding energies that created the Walkers.”

  Ahhhh, that’s what moonstale was.

  I nodded. Let’s get this show on the road.

  He removed the cloth to reveal a small dark-gray crystal. I squinted, trying to get a clear image. Shimmery sections glittered, casting illusions and emitting a yellow light.

  I gasped, staring at my reflection covered in its glow.

  Josian exclaimed loudly, his expression that of a stereotypical proud father, “You look beautiful, Aribella, my girl.”

  I was Walker.

  From the creamy white of my skin, the mark emerged. It started along my forehead, moving around my left eye and down my face, continuing to the edge of my shirt and down my left arm, like a dense network of lace, dark red to match my hair. It wasn’t solid, like a tattoo. It pulsed. I looked up into Josian’s joy-filled face. He’d never looked more god-like than with his own red mark pulsing along his right side.

  Lallielle stood to the side, hands on her slender hips and a tearful smile across her face.

  “Why is yours on the right?” It was amazing and mesmerizing. I couldn’t stop staring.

  “Men’s are on the right, women’s the opposite.” He grinned. “The marks were passed from the original Walkers. There are seven distinct clans descended from each.”

  I was trying to understand. “How is that possible? Uh, surely you need two Walkers to make baby Walkers?”

  I blushed slightly – it was a delicate subject to be discussing with your father – and he chortled loudly at my pink cheeks. “The seven had a unique energy. They could create more Walkers without the need of humanoids’ complex reproductive systems.”

  It never seemed that complex to me, but what the hell did I know.

  After many minutes, Josian covered the crystal. My mark lingered for a moment before fading away beneath my skin.

  With the moonstale in one hand, he used the other to hoist the mirror, before leaving the room. I was pretty sure he grinned the entire way.

  Suddenly I found myself alone with Lallielle. She looked at me and I turned away. It was probably unfair to lay the majority of blame for my tough upbringing on her.

  Okay, definitely unfair.

  She’d been forced to make some tough decisions which might have screwed up my life. And she didn’t have hindsight. But right now I couldn’t forgive her. Well, I guess technically I could, but I really didn’t want to.

  Ignoring my reticence, she sat next to me. Continuing to disregard her, I simply enjoyed the opulence of the couch, sinking into its luxurious depths.

  Lallielle was rigid, twisting her hands over and over. Eventually, when I couldn’t stand the uncomfortable atmosphere any longer, I faced her.

  “So how does the mind-reading and telepathy work?” I asked, needing more information to figure out how to block my thoughts.

  She smiled hesitantly. “I can’t read your thoughts. You have a strong natural mind-block, same as your father. Sometime during our evolution, we learned to communicate over distance and mind to mind. How it works is beyond me. From our age of power maturity, we’re mainly taught how to control the powers, not about their origin.

  “We keep constant mind-blocks in place, but if someone wants to communicate with me there is a nudge in my head, as if someone is scratching lightly. When that happens I can open my mind enough to talk – like a one-way door. Or I can open a window and allow a back-and-forth flow of information. Each nudge is unique. You’ll sense who’s trying to communicate – if they’re familiar to you.”

  “Can I see memories?”

  Lallielle opened her hands, palms out. “If the person allows you full access.” She shrugged. “And maybe even if they don’t. We’re not sure of your powers. They won’t enlighten until your eighteenth birthday.”

  It was all useful and interesting information, although my tired brain was starting to ache. Despite this I wanted to try something. Taking a deep breath, feeling a tad stupid, I squinted and pictured entering Lallielle’s skull.

  The strain must have shown on my face.

  She laughed. “Are you trying to read my mind?”

  I shook my head, but I was fooling no one.

  “I’ll help you,” she said, “but you have to relax. Close your eyes.”

  Sighing, I obeyed, allowing a small trust and letting her voice guide me.

  “Now you need to find the energy inside. It will be a deep place that you know and feel but have never examined too closely.”

  As her words washed over me, I started an internal exploration. It wasn’t difficult. I knew the spot she referred to. Even on Earth I had felt the warm, pulsing depth. It was familiar to me so I had never questioned its existence.

  “Have you found it?” At my nod, she continued. “Now draw on the energy, take a small strand and pull.”

  I attempted to mentally follow her directions. The substance felt like sticky taffy as a coil started to remove from the center.

  “Now direct the energy toward my mind. Create an entrance. I’ll stay blocked. See if you can disable my wall.”

  The strand continued to unravel. Taking a deep breath, I gathered as much as I could and threw it toward Lallielle. I pictured it slamming into her mind and creating a huge hole.

  My eyes flew open at her loud wheeze. She was clutching her head.

  “Are you okay?” I grasped her arm. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

  She shook her head. “No ... no, it’s fine. Just a slight shock.” Looking up, she smiled in a reassuring manner. “You don’t need to blast quite so hard. Try for subtle.”

  Sucking in a deep breath, I closed my eyes. I was nervous to try again, but my determination to learn outweighed this. I repeated the process, but this time understated, allowing the energy to seep through small cracks in her wall.

  And just like that I was inside.

  I don’t know how to explain the sensation of being in another person’s mind. Probably how a schizophrenic feels: your own thoughts and then a completely separate entity’s as well. Images ... random words, like watching snippets from lots of different movies.

  There was something else. Lallielle had been hiding it well, but she was in agony. Every time I treated her indifferently I was killing her. The strength added to my guilt. Brace hadn’t been kidding when he said they felt emotions intensely.

  I waded through the pain. Pushing it aside for a moment, I tried not to be overwhelmed by the plethora of mem
ories.

  Suddenly a scene appeared before me – Lallielle was outside – in the street. A young baby was safely tucked into a pram behind her. I squinted. No one was touching the little cart, but it drove along unassisted behind Lallielle. Some of this world was wicked advanced.

  Lallielle smiled as the baby girl waved fat little hands in the air. I knew immediately that the chubby child with rosy cheeks, short red curls and huge green eyes was me. I noticed Quarn, a few steps behind, looking much younger and carefree. Lallielle paused in front of a small store with dark-blue walls. She hesitated a moment before opening the faded and patched door-hanging and stepping through. The carriage and Quarn followed.

  The room was small, dark and smoky. I couldn’t interact with the scene, but I imagined a musky smell.

  Without hesitation, Lallielle moved toward the back right corner. Cushions formed a semicircle, and sitting against a wall was a woman. She had long white hair, not gray or silver, pure white. But she was not old, her face young and unlined. Her eyes were closed and she made no movement. She didn’t speak as Lallielle sank down onto one of the large colorful cushions.

  But then her eyes flew open.

  I gasped, before trying to stifle it. Stupid, of course. This was a memory and no one could hear me.

  Her eyes were the same white as her hair, no iris, no pupil. Was she blind?

  “Daughter of emperors and empresses. Why have you called on me today?”

  She twirled an odd round glass object in her hands, but her scary eyes never wavered from Lallielle.

  Lallielle spoke, her voice tinged with desperation and what sounded like familiarity. “I need a reading, Frannie. I need to know the future for Aribella.”

  Leaving the glass on the table, the woman turned. Extending her hand, tipped with long talon nails, she reached into my carriage. Quarn made a movement toward me, but Lallielle waved him away.

  She touched her index finger to my forehead. Her eyes closed.

  Lallielle froze, her desperation apparent, perspiration beading her forehead.

  The woman’s eyes flew open, filling the room with a white light. She started to chant.

  Children of Gods, born unknown and alone,

  the seven are needed to eliminate. Take heed,

  for baby will not live till four and one year

  unless removed from the world here.

  The youngest and strongest to collect.

  Lost and alone, a god-man is the key.

  Gather the Halflings, stone and fear.

  The end of days is written in mineral.

  The words filled the room as light shone from her sightless eyes. Lallielle gasped, before reaching out a hand and pulling the baby carriage closer. The white woman collapsed onto the cushions, grief racking her features. The scene was rushing away from me. I tried to stay in the room. I wanted to know what was about to happen, but everything blurred.

  Then I was back in my own head, staring around the room in confusion. Lallielle was on the couch, watching me closely.

  “Don’t worry. You’ll get used to the sensation, and eventually be able to stay aware of your surroundings.” Her eyes were slightly downcast. “When you entered my mind, you left a rift and I could see some of your life.”

  She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry – it was a hard life I left you in – I need you to know I’m so proud. You’re strong, beautiful and brave. I could not have asked for more.”

  She smiled. “And Lucy. We’d better find her soon, because I can’t wait to meet her. She’s quite the character.”

  I nodded, my throat tight with unshed tears. The memories, losing Lucy, it was emotionally overwhelming. I cleared my throat. “Do you know the memories I saw?” I asked her.

  She nodded. “Yes, but once you learn how to block your thoughts I won’t sense anything.”

  Well, that was interesting.

  “So, the white-haired woman, what happened to her? What does that poem mean?”

  Lallielle shook her head. “She disappeared. I didn’t realize at first because I was in panic mode – that’s when I sent you away. By the time I went back to question her she was gone. The rest of the poem is a mystery to me, though Josian and I have theories.”

  “So how do I block my thoughts?”

  She looked at me closely. “Take your energy and wrap it tightly around your mind. Encasing it will protect your thoughts. It will be hard at first, but just keep practicing. Eventually it will be second nature.”

  I reached toward my inner spot again. Pulling at the taffy substance, I imagined it winding round and round my thoughts. It was difficult. The moment I stopped concentrating, the energy would slip back and again I’d feel the less guarded nature of my mind. It was definitely going to take practice.

  I glanced up again toward the doorway. It had been some time since Josian and Brace had left. Where were they? I was ready to go to Earth.

  I faced Lallielle again. “How do the Walkers travel between the worlds?” I asked for curiosity’s sake and to fill in time.

  A mild fear crossed her face. “It’s a guarded secret, Aribella. The only reason I know is because of your father.”

  That increased my interest.

  At that point Josian walked back in. In the time he’d been gone I’d forgotten how tall and impressive he was. His presence filled the room again, and I couldn’t believe I was related to this extraordinary creature. If I hadn’t seen the Walker mark, I would be seriously questioning that. And the extraordinary continued as Brace followed. His otherworldly beauty, controlled power – maybe that was the attraction. I was half-Walker, a race of beings that valued power.

  “The men are done for the day. They offered to come back tomorrow, but I told them we would handle it ourselves.”

  Brace stood in the entrance. I jumped up. Finally the lockdown was over.

  Josian’s expressive features lifted in a half-smile. “Let’s head to Earth now, find Quarn and see if we can figure out what happened.”

  Lallielle stood. “Yes, let’s get my son and other daughter...” She smiled at me. “Lucy back.”

  Finally we were moving, but first I wanted to warn them. “Earth is very chaotic. I have no idea what we’re going to walk into. But since I know New York, let’s start there.”

  Josian straightened. “Whenever you’re ready, I’ll open the doorway. Should we take anything with us, Aribella?”

  I wasn’t sure at what stage I’d just accepted the name Aribella. In reality, it had never seemed odd to me.

  “It’s violent and dangerous. Do you have any weapons? And food? You never know where your next meal is.”

  Lallielle clapped her hands, part of her gentle mannerisms. “I’ll have some packs done immediately.”

  Josian turned to me. “We don’t use active weapons on First World, except for our powers. We’re just going to have to wing it.”

  I sighed. “We may have some weapons at the compound. If the security access hasn’t changed, I might be able to find something.”

  Brace crossed his arms. “Worst case scenario, Josian, you open a doorway and get us back to First World.”

  Josian agreed. “Let’s not forget they can follow us through the doorway.”

  Brace laughed, and not in a nice way. “They would regret that decision.”

  Lallielle straightened, breaking the mood. “I’ll gather the food. And I have a little something for Aribella.”

  She left the room.

  I stared up at my hypnotic father. “They can follow us through the doorway?”

  His memories were the ones I wanted to examine. I couldn’t even imagine the things he had seen.

  Josian nodded. “Every time I access the energy stream, I leave a rift behind. It’s temporary. The universe corrects it. But for a few days it’s basically a black hole – anyone can fall through.”

  Interesting.

  I turned to Brace. He’d made no move to enter the large room. Sometimes his face
was such a distraction. I tried not to stare at it any more than courtesy demanded.

  “You don’t have to come, Brace. You’ve done more than enough.”

  His broad shoulders shifted, he straightened. “Don’t you worry about me, Red. It’s my duty to help, and I’m curious about this planet you grew up on.”

  Lallielle distracted me as she walked back into the room. In her hand she carried a small white box tied with a purple ribbon. She held it out to me.

  “Just a little gift we had made ... to keep you safe. You’ll always have a small piece of your people.”

  My eyes widened – my first real present. Hesitantly, I reached out. My hand trembled as I took the light package. I untied the ribbon and it fell free. Lifting the lid off, I gasped at the gorgeous necklace nestled inside. A globe locket, two-tone in color and medium-sized. It was the perfect replica of a miniature world. Looking closer, I didn’t recognize any of the land masses, but they looked larger, with less water than Earth.

  “It’s First World,” Lallielle said, smiling brightly. “Open it, there’s something special inside.”

  I lifted it free. The long silver chain trailed behind. I spun the locket to find a small clasp. When I pressed the raised area, it popped open – a perfect half-sphere on either side, connected by a small hinge.

  Yellow light washed over my face. Nestled in both spheres were moonstale crystals.

  I felt a strange inner relief. I’d always have the identification crystal on me now. I could see my mark anytime I wanted.

  Closing the locket, I slipped the large chain over my head. It fell to rest between my breasts, forming a perfect representation of my heritage.

  Having had no experience with accepting gifts, I had no idea what to say. I faced Lallielle and Josian. Letting my joyful expression speak for itself, I kept it short.

  “Thank you. I love it.”

  For the first time since returning, Brace stepped into the room. His expression was full of an unexplained emotion. “Your Walker mark is amazing. So detailed and ... beautiful.” He looked away for a minute and then his normal smile was back.

  “Thanks. I think it’s amazing too.” I smiled wistfully. “I kind of wish it was always there.”

  His cocky grin was back. “Then your name would be Red Lace.”

  I rolled my eyes at him. I still hadn’t found the perfect nickname to reciprocate.

  Josian lifted his right hand. “I feel much better knowing you have some moonstale now.” Wiggling his pointing finger, he showcased a large flat ring. “This ring encases my crystal. Traditionally, Walkers are given a gift of moonstale from the elders.”

  “Everyone is given one?” Brace asked, his brows furrowed.

  Josian threw his hands about in his usual grand gesturing. “The crystal is our essence. It’s part of who we are. Without an actual world to be tied to, these energies are our anchors.”

  As he spoke, the sun made its final descent and sank below the horizon. All of a sudden the room was awash in light from various sources. Lamps, candles, strange speckles of ascending lights imbedded in the walls. I hadn’t seen anyone touch a switch. They just automatically came alight at sunset.

  Another arrival distracted me. A small cart entered the room under its own power, in a similar manner to the baby carriage in Lallielle’s memory. Four large black bags sat in its caged center.

  Lallielle moved forward. “Excellent. Our packs are done. The supplies will be evenly spread, so just grab one each.”

  I lifted one free. It was really light. I could strap it to the top of my other pack, no problem at all.

  “Are you sure you packed enough? My bag is really light.” I bounced it in one hand.

  Lallielle smiled. “They’re full. They only feel light because this design of bag is energy-touched. The carbon in the air helps to take the burden of the weight.”

  I smiled. “That’s great here, but we’re going to Earth. I don’t think your energy thing is going to work there.”

  Josian, moving faster than fast, expelled the bags from our hands. “You’re unmanning me. I must show brute strength and carry all packs,” he joked as he threw both into this crazy extra-large pack, custom-made for a nearly seven-foot man.

  Lallielle blew him a kiss before turning to me. “I know you are going to say no immediately, Aribella, but I think you should consider freshening up before we leave.”

  Looking left and right, I attempted to subtly sniff my armpits. Did I smell that bad?

  “I just think it might be a while before you have the chance again, and you’ve already been on the road for a couple of days.”

  Since I’d just gagged a little at the smell of my shirt, she made a good point.

  “Great idea, Lalli love. Brace and I will discuss some tactics while you show Aribella to her room.” They both dropped their bags and sank onto the couch.

  Now that I’d noticed, the smell seemed extra bad. No way was I sneaking up on anyone right now. Lallielle was waiting patiently for me.

  “I have a room?”

  “Of course you do. I change it from time to time. But essentially it’s the same as when you were born.”

  She waved me through the arched doorway. At this point I realized that front living area was the only room I’d seen in this massive house. I was about get a first-hand view of what I had missed out on.

  Chapter 10