by Sophia Sharp
**
Laura found herself staring down over the railing at Pioneer Place, the largest shopping mall in all of Portland. The mall was a multi-storey, open structure where the food court on the first floor opened up to the skylights in the roof high above. And from where she stood, on the third floor, she had a direct line of sight to Madison, who sat with her back turned at a vacant table in the Starbucks down below.
Laura had no more worries about anyone she might know recognizing her. After Madison had helped her bleach her hair that morning, she could not even recognize herself in the mirror any more. Her hair was now a well-streaked blond, and it shone in the light. Every once in a while Laura would catch the hint of it out of the corner of her eye, and every single time finding it there would startle her. She was used to her hair being dark, and this was completely and entirely at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Moreover, the physical changes that had started to manifest themselves after she had become a Vassiz had become even more distinctive since she last saw herself in the mirror in that abandoned farm. Her face looked so much more pronounced, so much more striking than ever before. And that change alone, coupled with the new style of eyeliner that Madison helped her put on, was enough for anyone to mistake her for another person.
She looked down at Madison again, who sat there with her back perfectly straight. She looked very much the queen right then, like someone used to commanding and used to getting her way. It was strange to think that Laura was the one who was supposed to lead them all against the elders. And no matter how many times she had confronted the fact, the sheer bizarreness of it never faded. Yet, she was ready, now and always, to do what it took to take down the elders, to get her freedom back, and to release the Vassiz from the elders’ hold of power.
Abruptly Laura noticed someone approaching Madison. A man, covered up by a pure black trench coat. He had broad shoulders, and dark, slightly curling hair fell down past his neck. Laura got a brief glimpse of his face, and saw that it was all hard lines and planes. He was someone definitely used to power.
Madison started to get up as he came closer, but he put a hand up, and she sat back down. From the way he was moving, and the way he was dressed, it was obvious he wanted to avoid attracting attention as much as possible. Or maybe get everyone’s attention, instead. He was very conspicuous in those dark clothes. But anybody who looked twice would not see anything distinctive enough to remember.
“Is that him?” Laura whispered over to Logan, who had come up beside her. He was leaning casually against the railing, but when he turned his head as if to talk to Laura, his eyes darted down to where Madison was sitting. Then he looked back at Laura and nodded.
“I think it is.”
Laura nodded, and found herself gripping the top of the railing hard. The meeting with Jacob down below was their one and only chance of getting to the repository of torrial. Laura wished she could be there. No matter how selfish it seemed, she believed that she could make a difference for the better by being there. But most of all, she absolutely hated feeling useless. Which is what she was now, just standing by.
“What do you think they’re saying?” Laura asked softly. Madison and Jacob had both leaned in to the middle of the table until their heads were almost touching. By the look of it, Jacob appeared to be the one saying the most, with Madison just listening and nodding. But then those nods slowly turned into shakes. And then Madison was shaking her head vigorously, again and again, obviously not happy with whatever Jacob was saying. She kept shaking it. “Logan?”
“I don’t know,” Logan said slowly through gritted teeth. He was looking down there out of the corner of one eye, still positioning his head as if speaking directly to Laura.
All of a sudden, Jacob leaned back. Madison shook her head again, and Jacob rose both hands. Then he pushed himself away from the table, and started to get up. He took a few steps away before Madison grabbed his arm and pulled him back. Then Laura was caught staring as Madison turned slowly to look up right at her. Their eyes met for a long second.
“What is she doing?” Laura hissed, ripping her head away. “She looked right at me!”
“Right at us,” Logan corrected. “But hold on… I think she’s motioning us over.”
“What?” Laura demanded. “He’s not supposed to even know we’re here!”
“I know, but… look.” Laura moved her head back reluctantly. Slowly, her eyes trailed back to where Madison was seated, where, sure enough, Madison was nodding them over with her head.
“You’re right,” Laura said in disbelief. “Do you think… I mean, what could have happened…?”
“I don’t know,” Logan said, “but be careful.” He took her hand in his and took a step towards the escalator. “Whatever happens, do not leave my side.”
Laura nodded. Even though she thought she could take care of herself, she wouldn’t leave Logan for the world.
“And hold your tongue when we get there. Remember, we do not know what he said yet.”
As they started down towards the table, Laura saw Madison look to where Alexander was, across the opening and on the other side, and motioned to him the same way. He immediately started walking down without even the hint of hesitation.
As they made their way down the escalator, Laura could see Jacob’s face more clearly. He had dark eyes to match his hair, and the planes of his forehead and cheeks were like chiseled rock. A hard man, no doubt. Laura thought that Madison, sitting beside him, looked completely at ease. But then she saw the tightness in the corner of her eyes, and the strained way she pursed her lips. And suddenly, Laura felt a lot more uncertain about what was going to happen next.
As she and Logan walked closer, she saw that the man beside Madison – Jacob – was looking right at her. But Alexander arrived first.
“Alexander,” Jacob said cordially when he walked up to them. He had a deep, rich voice. “I knew you wouldn’t be far away.”
Laura tightened her grip on Logan’s hand, and they took the last step to the table.
Immediately, Jacob turned and looked right at her. “And you,” he said without his voice giving anything away. “I know others have been looking for you.”
Laura felt a stab of fear at that, a constriction right in the middle of her chest. She felt Logan tense beside her. He hadn’t said anything, but was staring right at Jacob. It felt to Laura like she was in the crystal clear moment that came just before a storm broke out.
“Do not worry, little one, I will not give you away,” Jacob said quickly. “My friend Madison here has been very insistent upon that.”
“Then why scare her like that?” Logan growled.
Jacob held out a hand. “You need to be aware of the danger you are in. All of you.” He looked at Madison, and Laura thought she saw just the hint of affection. A very fatherly affection. “But let’s not mince words here. I know what you want, and Madison has told me why you need it.”
Laura gulped. This was it. The next words would determine her fate far into the future.
“What’s it going to be, Jacob?” Logan said harshly.
Jacob looked to Logan, and then over to Laura. He took a deep breath, then rubbed his temples with both hands. He nodded to himself, as if making the final decision. “I will fly you to Egypt.”
End of Graced, Book 3 (Part 1) of the Dream Realms Trilogy.
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter
Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
