by Jill Sanders
“It’s time you went back,” Jenna broke in.
“Back?” Joleen shook her head.
“You’re safer away from here,” Jenna replied. “For all these years he couldn’t find you. Then you came here.” She shook her head.
“What about you?” she asked. A look crossed between her mother and Mason.
“Roy’s been waiting for me,” her mother replied. “I’m needed there, with my people, to help create a settlement.”
“How do you plan on getting there?” Mason asked.
Joleen walked over and clicked a few buttons, and a scene popped up on the computer monitors.
A large ring of black stone sat inside what appeared to be a vault.
“We called it the portal.” Jenna motioned. “I built two of them.”
“Okay.” Joleen sat up a little. “Is it like a Stargate?”
“What is a Stargate?” Jenna asked.
Mason stepped forward. “What does it do?”
Jenna gave him her attention. “It allows us to travel from one universe to another. We were lucky when I first stepped through it that I discovered a world rich in Proxinium. Otherwise it would have been a one-way trip.” She motioned to the screen. “Still, when I disappeared one night a little over a year ago and didn’t return for over a week, everyone thought…” She shook her head. “Needless to say, after living for a full week on my own in the new world, I knew that it was the safest place to send everyone. They’re waiting for me.”
“You won’t be going back with us?” Joleen asked, feeling her heart sink. She’d just found her mother and now she was telling them that she was going someplace else. Someplace where Joleen wouldn’t be able to get to her.
“No,” her mother said, brushing a strand of Joleen’s hair away from her face. “You understand. I met Roy shortly after you left. He’s a soldier.” Her mother smiled. “He became the leader of our small group.” She sighed. “Know that I love you and this is the second hardest thing I’ve had to do in my lifetime.”
“She might be safer,” Mason broke in. “If I’m correct, Thanatos is after you. That thing didn’t even look at me or your mother.”
“Anyone close to me…” Joleen dropped off as she thought of her parents, of Lane, of everyone back in Hidden Creek. “You’re right,” she said suddenly.
Everything became clearer to her. She needed to get as far away from the people she loved as she could.
“You should go.” She nodded and turned to Mason, then back to her mother. “Can you send him back home?”
“I’m not going,” Mason broke in.
“Can you?” she asked her mother.
“No, only you can travel between here and that world. There isn’t any Proxinium that I know of on that world.”
She turned to Mason and knew what she had to do. She knew that when the time came, she would have to send away the man she’d grown to love so quickly.
“I could use some rest,” she said, rubbing her temples.
“Sure.” Her mother stood up and shut down the screen.
“Why is the portal in a vault?” Mason asked, motioning to the now dark monitors.
Jenna sighed. “After I disappeared, they were concerned that something would come back through it. It wasn’t until after I returned that we realized that the two devices I created are tuned into unique frequencies. We feared that Thanatos could somehow use them to travel, so we keep it down here. So far, I don’t even think he knows they exist.”
Joleen was too tired to focus on what they were talking about and went back into the bedroom she and Mason had shared the night before.
Climbing into the bed, she hugged the pillows to her chest and cried like she’d never cried before. How could any of what she’d seen or heard be true?
All those years it had been her mother talking in her head. Through a large rock from a comet, through the DNA of which she’d been conceived.
It all sounded like a very bad dream.
“That’s it,” she said out loud. “I’m dreaming.”
“If you are,” Mason said softly as he shut the door behind him, “then I don’t want to wake up.” He sat on the edge of the bed, gathering her in his arms. “Not if it means losing you.”
He kissed the top of her head.
“I can’t do this,” she said, feeling the pain of having to send him away flooding her.
“I’m right here,” he said against her lips.
She allowed him to take the kiss deeper, knowing this might be the last time.
Pulling him down with her, she showed him exactly what she wanted.
“Joleen, your mother… is just outside those doors.”
“I don’t care. Please, I need… you.” She ran her fingers through his hair, before pulling him back down to her lips.
Making love to Mason while her heart ached for the future loss of him was bittersweet. She’d never been with anyone so tender and so caring before. It was as if they’d been made for one another.
When he ran his hands over her, she felt alive for the first time in years. She felt… more. Powerful.
She didn’t question herself as she ran her hands over his naked skin, taking what she wanted while giving him every part of her, including her heart.
The moment his hands ran over her, taking her deeper into her desires, she knew that no matter how little time they’d known one another, she could never feel this way about anyone ever again.
How had she fallen in love so quickly? How could she allow their relationship to go any further than it already had?
She was an alien, or god, or… She tightened her hold on Mason and forced her mind to clear from anything other than the feeling of him pleasing her.
She woke a few hours later when she heard the door open.
Mason stepped inside the room, fully clothed, holding a tray of food.
“Did you get some rest?” he asked, setting the tray down.
“Yes.” She stretched her arms above her head and felt her stomach growl. “Is that…”
“Chili,” he said with a smile. “Don’t get too excited. It’s veggie, but still, I tried it, it’s good.” He motioned to the tray. “There’s even crackers.”
“I’m starving. I could probably even enjoy a dozen dry pancakes at this point.”
He chuckled. “You know, I think it’s one of the main reasons your mother wants to get off this rock. Better food.”
She frowned as everything that had happened in the past few days came back to her.
“Hey.” He touched her shoulder. “Easy.”
She pushed the tray away from her and stood up suddenly. “I have…” She rushed from the room and made it to the bathroom just in time to be sick.
“I’m here,” Mason said from behind her. She felt his hands on her back, rubbing up and down her spine as she lost what little she had in her stomach.
When she was done, she pushed Mason away and walked over to brush her teeth.
“Feel better?” he asked, leaning against the countertop next to her.
“No.” She wiped her face on a clean towel.
“We’ll deal with this together,” he said to her.
“No.” She tossed the towel at him. “I’m sending you back.”
He frowned over at her. “Like hell you are.” He almost growled it out. “I’m not leaving here without you.”
“Don’t you see? I can’t go back and put everyone at risk.” She shook her head. “If Thanatos wants me, I won’t make him go through the people I love to get to me. He’s already wiped out an entire planet to get to me.” She hadn’t realized that she’d raised her voice, but when her words echoed back at her, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. “I can’t lose anyone else that I love.”
“You love me?” Mason asked with a silly grin.
If she hadn’t been so concerned for everyone she loved, she would have laughed.
“Later,” she said and returned to the bedroom. “Where’s my mother?”
�
��In the house, preparing to return to her people.”
She turned to go, but he stopped her. “Let me go,” she said, closing her eyes for a moment.
“I don’t think I can.” He wrapped his arms around her as she tried to break free of his hold. “Don’t make me admit how I feel for you,” Mason said into her hair.
“Don’t,” she warned. “I don’t think I can do what I have to if you say anything more.”
He leaned back and looked down into her eyes. “Joleen.”
Just then there was a knock at their door.
Joleen slipped from his hold and answered the door to her mother.
“It’s time,” Jenna told her.
“Why now?” she asked, avoiding Mason as she walked out into the main room again.
“This is the last of the fuel. We have roughly another hour before everything shuts down and there won’t be enough energy to power the portal.”
“We could…” Joleen started, only to have her mother touch her arm.
“Joleen, it’s time I returned to my people. I’ve spent the last year looking for another way. Any other way to stay in touch with you, to solve the mystery of getting rid of the darkness so everyone could return to this place. Now, I just want to be with my people. With Roy.” She smiled at Joleen as she laid a hand on her face. “You have Mason and your family. You should return home. Thanatos can’t reach you there.”
“How do you know?” Joleen asked.
“Because he would have done so years ago if he could have. Something tells me that he’s trapped here on this world where he killed everything.” Her mother leaned in for a hug. “Mason loves you. He may not know it yet, but he does.”
Joleen felt her heart shift as she looked towards Mason, who was watching them closely from across the space.
“Don’t let this one get away,” her mother added. “I love you,” she said, pulling back. “Here.” She handed her a small photo book. “There’s nothing I can do to soothe the pain you’re feeling now but know that I will never forget you and that I’m happy.” She kissed her forehead. “Be happy yourself.” Her mother looked towards Mason. “Both of you, be happy.”
“You’re sure about this?” Mason asked her.
“In another world, I would have enjoyed having you as a son-in-law.” Her mother smiled at Mason. “Take care of Joleen now.”
Joleen stood back as her mother walked over to hug Mason.
They followed her down a narrow set of stairs and into the vault where the large black ring sat like a symbol of doom.
Just knowing that she would forever lose her mother in seconds had Joleen’s heart racing.
“Mom?” She rushed to her side and held onto her tightly. “I can’t lose you again. I just found you.”
“Sweetie, you were made for bigger things. I’ve always known that you were supposed to go on to save the world. I had hoped that it would be this one.” Her mother smiled at her. “Once I open this portal, the two of you must promise me that you’ll return home or Thanatos wins. I can’t leave knowing that you died here, in this barren land.” She nudged her away from her. “Promise me you’ll go.” She waited until Joleen nodded slowly. “Mason?”
“Yes, I’ll make sure we get home,” Mason promised.
Her mother walked over and turned on the computer screen. They all waited as it booted up, and then the ring started to power up.
This time, Joleen didn’t hear the high-pitched sounds she had with the other rock above.
“It’s set for the other portal’s frequency, the one on my new home world,” Jenna explained.
Joleen waited for the big white pool of water she expected to appear in the center, just like Stargate. Instead, the outer ring started pulsing with a yellow light.
Her mother turned to her and smiled. “I love you. Always and forever.”
Joleen cried as her mother picked up her bag and stepped through the ring. She waved as she quickly disappeared.
Mason’s arms engulfed her as she cried. She hadn’t realized how hard it would be to lose someone she hadn’t known existed until two days ago.
Wasn’t that how she felt about Mason? The love between them was stronger than any she’d felt before. Her mother had been right. She knew that Mason loved her and, more importantly, she loved him right back.
“Let’s go get our stuff and go home,” he said, taking her hand in his.
She felt almost dead inside as he led her back up the narrow steps to gather their things.
“Well?” Mason said when they stood just inside the main room.
“Well,” she said with a sigh.
“Any clue how to get home?” he asked her.
She shook her head. “You?”
He shrugged. “You could try clicking your heels together?”
She laughed. “There’s no place like home,” she said as she did so. Nothing happened. Frowning, she tried closing her eyes and thinking about home. Still, nothing happened.
“This isn’t working,” she said with a frown.
“Let’s think back. What were you thinking or doing when we arrived here?” Mason asked.
“Well, for one, we were outside when we arrived.”
“Okay.” He took her hand and started out of the cave. They met Spot just outside the doors.
“We almost forgot him,” Joleen said, hugging the creature. “Maybe that’s why we couldn’t make it work?” She buried her face in the soft multi-colored fur.
“Might as well try it again.” Mason moved closer to her and held onto her. “I was holding you when you zapped us here.”
“Good point.” She held onto both Mason and Spot as she tried to concentrate.
“Joleen?” Mason said after a moment. “You might want to hurry.”
She opened her eyes and followed Mason’s gaze. Once again, the blackness was circling overhead.
“Something tells me that when the power goes out, so does our time,” Mason suggested.
“Right,” she groaned. “No pressure.” She closed her eyes again and concentrated hard on home.
She felt power building from inside her as the fear that she may not be able to save them and return home grew.
“Joleen,” Mason said just as she released the power that had pooled inside her.
Chapter Eighteen
Mason blinked a few times just to ensure that what he was seeing was real.
Joleen gasped when she opened her eyes. “The sky is pink.”
“I thought I’d stroked out there for a moment,” Mason confessed.
“Where are we?” she asked, looking around. “The grass is blue.”
He had noticed that as well. “Something tells me we didn’t end up back home.”
Just then, Spot let out a sharp sound, causing them both to jump.
He pushed Joleen behind him, just in case Spot had sensed danger. But Spot’s fur turned even brighter colors. The creature bounded away happily as if seeing something it wanted.
“It’s his home,” Joleen said happily. “See, there are more of them.”
He relaxed slightly when he noticed a couple of large creatures rushing towards Spot.
“It’s his family,” Joleen added as they watched the family reunion.
“Did you bring him here on purpose?” he asked her.
“No. Well, I’m not sure. I was thinking about how he would never see his family again.” She chuckled as two small creatures jumped out of the trees and played with Spot.
“Think you can do it again? Only this time think about Fred and Stinky?” he suggested.
“I can try. First, I think he wants to say goodbye.” Joleen nodded towards Spot, who was walking towards them, the two smaller Mimics close on his heels.
Mason stood back as Joleen hugged the creature.
“Thank you,” she said into his fur. “I’m glad you’re home.”
Spot walked over and nudged him on the shoulder. “Go on, big guy,” he laughed and rubbed the creature’s fur. “Take c
are of yourself.”
Spot glanced back at his family, then nodded before turning around and disappearing into the tree line with the rest of the creatures.
“Well.” Joleen turned to him. “Shall we try that again?”
“You aren’t tired?” he asked her.
“No. I… don’t feel anything. Not really. I mean, I actually feel a little more powerful. Revived even.”
He nodded. “Okay, let’s go home.” He took her hand, and she closed her eyes and concentrated.
As with before, he shut his eyes and held on as things twisted and he felt a jolt of power pulsate from Joleen.
This time, when he opened his eyes, he knew instantly that they were back home.
Even though it was dark, he could tell they were standing in the middle of her living room.
He turned when he heard Stinky let out a happy bark and rush towards him.
“Hey there, boy.” He bent down and petted his dog as he looked around. “No one’s here.”
Joleen walked over and glanced in her bedroom. “Fred’s still asleep on the bed.” She frowned as she picked up her cell phone from the charger. “You are not going to believe this.” She held out her phone. “I think we’ve only been gone for a few minutes.”
“What?” He stood up and rushed to grab his phone, which was still plugged in and sitting on the nightstand where he’d put it before going to bed two nights ago. Right before he’d rushed in to wake Joleen up from the nightmare. He checked the time and, sure enough, only ten minutes had passed.
“How can that be?” Joleen asked.
“Your mother did say that time was different. Maybe she didn’t only mean the time of day, but that time moved differently?” He thought about all the theories of parallel universes and instantly wished he could run a few tests, with Joleen taking him back and forth. Then he remembered the dangers they had left and dismissed the idea.
“Come on, how about we get some rest?” He nudged her towards her bedroom. “We can wrap our minds around all this in the morning.”
“We’re supposed to meet Jacob later tomorrow. Lane is supposed to be here in the morning,” Joleen reminded him.
“Right.” He sighed. “It feels like it’s been years.” He set his pack down and toed off his shoes by the front door.
