by Kim Stokely
“Very well,” Geran agreed. He gestured to Quinn. “Follow after her, in case she fails.”
I straightened my shoulders, determined to succeed. I went through the relaxation process again, focused my thoughts on the car, pushed out with my mind and in a moment, I was standing next to my mother’s Camry.
Of course, the young couple who’d just stepped out of the Honda next to it got pretty freaked out when they saw me pop out of thin air. The woman screamed and the man with her flung himself against his car.
Quinn appeared, saw the couple, grabbed my arm and transported me back to the meadow. The exhilaration of traveling through the air, combined with the shocked faces of the couple, caused me to laugh when we came to a stop.
I let out a victory whoop. “That was too cool!”
Quinn didn’t look as happy. “We were seen. Will that be a problem?”
I wouldn’t let him spoil my fun. “Who cares? I doubt they’ll find us here and if they do, we’ll transport out again. Mom will tell them we’re ghosts.”
Kennis frowned. “We don’t have time to go somewhere else. This will have to do for now. I’ll stand watch by the trail and warn you if anyone comes.” She jogged across the meadow. Quinn’s gaze followed her to the tree line.
Geran groaned as he stood up. He seemed to wobble a bit before he got his balance.
“Are you all right?” I asked.
He sighed. “It’s been difficult to get my strength back after . . . .”
I felt the heaviness of guilt lay on my heart. He’d spent sixteen years pretending to be an invalid to try and keep me safe.
He seemed to read my mind. “It was worth every moment.”
I smiled. “Now what should we try?”
He put his hands on my shoulders. “How are you feeling?”
“Great!”
“Are you sure? Do your muscles feel fatigued? Or your mind unclear?”
I shook my head. “I’m pumped! I’m ready to go again!”
My father’s brows knitted together. He shot a questioning look to Quinn.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
Quinn stepped over to my side. “Most Portals find the process exhausting, especially during the training period.” He too, studied my face. “Are you sure you’re not fatigued?”
“Nope. I feel like this crazy current of energy is racing through me. Like I could run for miles and not get tired!”
Geran and Quinn stared at each other in disbelief before my father finally shrugged. “Can you think of someplace else within the park that you could transport to? Preferably without being seen?”
“Somewhere nearby?” Quinn suggested. “You must be careful not to push yourself.”
I thought for a moment. “I’ve got someplace.”
My father smiled. “Try again.”
I moved away from the men and closed my eyes. Instead of picturing some place in the park, I pictured our condo. I didn’t care about it being over thirty miles away. With all the adrenaline pumping through me, I knew I could do it. Besides, it was the only place I could think of with total clarity. I figured that was safer than traveling somewhere unfamiliar. I took a deep breath and pushed. The sensation was like flying through a dark tunnel. I kept the image of my room in my head as the wind buffeted my body.
And then I was standing by my bed. I fell back onto the mattress and let out another whoop.
“By Ruahk!”
Tegan sat at my desk, his face white with shock.
I rolled onto my stomach. “What are you doing up here?”
“I should ask ye the same.”
“I’m practicing using the passages.” Somewhere, a voice spoke my name. It whispered in my mind like someone calling from a great distance. I sat up and tried to send a message to Quinn that I was safe. “What are you looking at?”
Tegan pushed away the picture frame in front of him. “Nothin’.”
Quinn’s voice tickled my brain again. I knew they’d be worried about me. I slid off the bed. “You want to come with me?”
“What?”
I reached out my hands. “Come on!”
His bangs drooped in front of his eyes when he shook his head. “I shouldn’t.”
“Why not?” An awkward silence built up between us. “We’re outside. In a forest. It would do you good to get out of this stupid house.” And then, because I knew it worried him, I added, “We won’t be alone.”
He stood slowly. “What do I need do?”
“Just hold my hands.” I took his in mine. The calluses that had scarred them in Ayden had softened a bit. “Keep a tight grip on me and you’ll be fine.”
His eyes gleamed with a mixture of excitement and worry. “Are ye sure ye can do this?”
“Have a little faith.” I squeezed his hands. “Ready?”
I didn’t give him the chance to turn back before I visualized the park and pushed us into the passage back. I heard Tegan shout, but it sounded more like excitement than fear. His fingers slipped from mine. I took hold of his wrists and dragged him toward me. In the next instant, we stood in the meadow.
As soon as we stopped, I threw my arms around him and shouted with delight. He tensed under my embrace. I quickly backed away. “Sorry.”
He stumbled and fell.
“You okay?” I offered him a hand up.
He waved me away, gasping for air.
Quinn and Geran ran toward us. I thought they’d be happy to know I could bring people through the passages, but their faces looked anything but glad.
“Where did you go?” Quinn panted. Geran was still several yards behind him.
“Home.”
“All the way to Kennis’ home?” His brows furrowed. “You can’t have travelled that far.”
I pointed to Tegan. “How do you think he got here?”
By now Geran had reached us. “What have you done?”
“Why are you guys so mad? You wanted me to test how far I could go. You wanted me to make sure I wouldn’t be seen. Why not go to the condo?”
“To go that distance, without an aid . . .” Quinn wiped the sweat from his brow. “When you’re still in training. It’s not been done before.”
“You brought the boy back with you?” Geran’s voice sounded just as incredulous as Quinn’s.
“He’s here, isn’t he?”
The lightning bolts flashed again in my father’s eyes. “How could you be so foolish?”
“Why was it foolish? He’s been trapped in the house for most of a week. Why shouldn’t he have some fresh air?”
“Do you not realize how dangerous it is for a Portal to take another person through the passages?” Geran’s hands were clenched at his side. “You could have died.”
I turned to Quinn. “What’s he talking about?”
“To carry another person takes a great deal of energy. For some, it takes such a toll on their body that they no longer have the strength to breathe or to make their heart beat.”
I let out a curse before turning back to Geran. “I could have died? Don’t you think you should have warned me?”
His eyes widened. “I never thought you would try such a thing so soon.”
“But you brought both Kennis and me through between the worlds.”
Geran’s face reddened. “Yes, and it nearly killed me. Even with the help of the passage I’d built in Ayden.” He unclenched his fists. “What made you think you could do such a thing?”
“I don’t know.”
The fists were back. “You didn’t know you could do it and yet you tried it anyway?”
“No.” My mind reeled. “I don’t know why I thought I could, I just knew I had the power.”
Kennis must have sensed something was wrong. She joined our group, staring down at Tegan. “You brought him through a passage?”
“Yes!” My anger boiled over. “I did. Because no one bothered to tell me how dangerous it was. But I didn’t die, and I’m not even that tired, so let’s stop stressing abou
t it, okay? I’m fine. He’s fine. Let’s move on.” I turned back to Tegan. “You feel strong enough to stand?”
He nodded and accepted my help up. Kennis looked between me and the other two Portals. “Come with me, Tegan. You can rest over by the trees.”
Tegan and Kennis walked toward the edge of the meadow. She only stood as tall as his shoulder. She lifted her face to talk to him. He leaned down to answer. I wished I could eavesdrop on their conversation but the wind picked up, blowing their voices away from me.
“You must be careful, Alystrine,” Quinn spoke from behind me. “You mustn’t attempt too much before you you’re ready.”
“I thought you’d be happy.”
Geran folded his hands together. “I am amazed at all you can do. Truly. But I fear, if you are reckless, you will harm yourself.”
The adrenaline that had pumped through my veins earlier dissipated with their warnings. “Fine. What do you want to try now?”
They thought it best to give the passages a rest for the day. Instead I worked on Spirit Travelling. Quinn didn’t have the ability himself, but Geran did. If we joined hands before separating from our bodies we could go together. After my father tired, Quinn traveled short distances through the passages and I would spirit travel to him. When Quinn no longer had the energy to do that, I worked on my technique. Geran explained I could find the currents in the air with my spirit just like I did with my physical body. After promising to stay within the perimeters of the park, I used the next hour to practice. It was harder than I’d thought it would be because I’d always used my physical body to detect the currents of the passages. Without a body to sense them, I had to work at distinguishing the currents with my mind.
I floated near a stream a few miles away when Quinn’s voice called to me.
It’s time we go.
In an instant my spirit and body reconnected with the familiar jolting sensation. The five of us trekked in silence back to the car. Tegan, Quinn and I piled in the back while Kennis and Geran took the front seats.
I sat in the middle, my knees practically at my chest because of the hump on the floor. I alternated rubbing shoulders between Quinn and Tegan, not wanting to bother either one but not having a choice. The hum of the engine and my exhaustion soon overcame me. When the car stopped at the end of the exit ramp, I opened my eyes to find my head resting on Tegan’s shoulder. He’d placed his hand over mine.
“Sorry,” I whispered as I sat up, relieved to see I hadn’t drooled while I napped.
He offered me a wistful smile, cast a quick look around the car to see that Geran and Quinn slept, then gave my fingers a squeeze. He kept his hand on mine a moment longer before pulling it away. At home, he went straight out to the back deck. Quinn and Geran sat at the dining room table and discussed my training.
“Do you need any help?” I asked Kennis, who’d pulled some burgers out of the fridge.
“No. You go rest until dinner.”
“Thanks.” I didn’t want to admit that the short nap in the car had done little to revive my energy. I slogged up the stairs and collapsed on my bed. Rolling to my side, I caught sight of my desk where Tegan had sat earlier. Curious, I got up and walked over to see what he’d been looking at.
It was the collage Renee had given me last year for my birthday. It had pictures of her, Josh and me from back in second grade through the homecoming dance last year. Having never seen photos before, I wondered what Tegan thought they were. Some of the shots were of Renee and me but the majority, mainly because Renee was always the one with the camera, were of Josh and me, sitting side-by-side on a park bench; hugging at the beach; a close-up of our faces, cheek-to-cheek.
Did Tegan understand the concept of boys and girls being friends or was that foreign in Ayden? What kind of relationship did he think Josh and I shared?
My cell phone buzzed on the bureau behind me. Out of habit I’d plugged it in to recharge when I found it in my purse yesterday. Speak of the devil, Josh had texted me about getting together for my belated birthday dinner.
Can we make it tomorrow? I texted back. I knew, given enough time, I could convince Kennis to let me go.
Sure. 7?
K
After a moment I texted again.Can I bring my cousin?
????
I’ll explain tomorrow
Can’t wait to hear. C u @ 7
CHAPTER EIGHT
After Dinner Guest
Quinn and Geran made me work hard before they agreed Tegan and I could go out the following night. We practiced throughout the day, perfecting my ability to Spirit Travel and find passages. I showered when they finally let me stop, hoping to revive my exhausted body.
I picked out my only other sundress to wear. The pale green bodice fit tight to the waist but then flared out to below my knees. Kennis had bought a pile of clothes from the consignment shop for the men, so I pawed through it until I found something suitable for Tegan. Khaki pants and a royal blue polo. I tried to get him in jeans, but he couldn’t stand the weight of the denim on his legs. As it was, he kept rubbing his hand along his arm.
“What’s wrong?” I asked.
“It feels odd, not havin’ any sleeves.”
I reached out to stop him. “You have sleeves, they’re just shorter than you’re used to.”
He backed up before I could touch him. I caught my breath, surprised by how much that simple move hurt. “You look great.” I turned away so he wouldn’t read anything in my face. “Don’t worry.”
“Ally, I’m sorry,” Tegan whispered. “It’s only that when I feel ye so close, I do not think I can stop myself from takin’ more.”
A car horn honked.
“That’ll be them.” I picked up my purse and we headed downstairs. Kennis, Geran and Quinn sat in the living room like sentinels. “We won’t be late, I promise. Pizza at Luigi’s, then home.”
The smell of garlic hit us as soon as we opened the door to Luigi’s Diner. My mouth watered from the aroma of a thousand roasted tomatoes and basil. We found a booth near the back of the restaurant. Tegan looked uncomfortable as we slid onto the red vinyl benches. I pulled Josh next to me so that Renee would get to sit next to Tegan. I could tell she’d fallen in love with his accent and untamed hair on the short ride here. I bit back my jealousy as I knew they’d never see each other again and I wanted Tegan to smile, at least once, before we went back to Ayden. Still, it was hard to see her flirt with him.
Josh, for his part, remained cool but attentive. It was as if he hadn’t made up his mind about the story I’d told him. It had been the truth, as much as I could tell, so I wasn’t worried. I knew he’d come around.
A brunette waitress bounced over to the table and started to hand out menus. Renee waved them away. “Thanks, but we won’t be needing them. We already know what we want.”
Josh grabbed a menu from the server. “Maybe Tegan would like to see one. He might not like sausage and shrooms on his pizza.”
Panic spread across Tegan’s face as Josh thrust the menu into his hands. Tegan had no idea what a pizza was, but he couldn’t read to see what else he’d like. I swept the plastic encased menu from his hands. “He’ll have what we’re having. A pitcher of root beer, an order of fried calamari and better make it an extra-large sausage and mushroom pizza.”
The waitress scribbled on her pad. “I’ll be back with your sodas in just a moment.”
Renee put her hand on Tegan’s arm. “Have you had calamari before?”
He shook his head.
She grinned. “You’re going to love it. I promise.”
I leaned over and whispered, “He’s never had pizza before, either.”
Renee’s eyes opened wide. “You’re kidding.” She turned to Tegan. “She’s kidding, right?”
“No.”
Josh looked unconvinced. “They must have pizza in Ireland.”
Tegan swallowed hard. I came to his rescue. “Of course they do, but where he’s from is totally in the country. T
hey have pubs nearby, but no Italian restaurants.”
Our waitress brought us the pitcher of soda and four glasses with ice. Tegan took a sip and frowned. “It doesn’t taste like beer at all.”
The rest of us busted out laughing. Tegan took another drink. “Well, it doesn’t.”
I wiped my eyes. “It’s not supposed to be an ale.”
“It’s sweet,” he said.
“Aye, it is,” I answered.
Renee finished pouring the root beer. “Listen to you. You’ve picked up the accent already.”
“It’s hard not to.”
Renee and I talked about what I’d missed the last month of school. I guess my disappearance created a ripple of gossip throughout Guilford High. She also told me about going to prom with David Peters and all the drama that had entailed.
“Did you go to prom?” I asked Josh.
He shook his head.
His sister wadded up her straw wrapper and chucked it at him. “Stacey Jablonski asked him to go, but he said no.”
I nudged his shoulder. “Why’d you turn her down?”
Josh’s eyes flickered between me, Tegan and his soda. “Didn’t feel like going.”
I looked over at Renee. She gave me a quick shoulder shrug before glancing at her brother. “You guys didn’t miss much.” She ran down the list of kids who had gotten drunk, the three fights that had broken out and the two kids that had been suspended for smoking a joint out in the parking lot. While she talked, Tegan scanned the room or stared at his placemat with the picture of the Coliseum on it. He wouldn’t look across the table, except to occasionally examine Josh.
Josh, for his part, stared at Tegan.
The calamari arrived and everyone but Tegan tucked into the plate. He eyed it with suspicion. “What is it?”
“You have to try it first,” Renee put a couple of the breaded morsels on his plate. “Then we’ll tell you.”
He popped one into his mouth and chewed. “It’s good.”
Josh watched him eat another one. “It’s fried squid tentacles.”
“Aye?” said Tegan. I knew he had no idea what a squid was. “Well, it’s very good, whatever it is.”
