by Tenaya Jayne
“So, she did come to see you?”
It was his turn to blush. “Yeah.”
Her smiled turned devious. “Had a nice time?”
He groaned. “No. It’s torture. And I’d take it all day.”
She patted him on the arm sympathetically. “Sorry.”
He shook his head. “Is there anything else I need to take with me on this trip besides clothes, and a gift for her mother?”
“Take you palm stones and your gloves. Be on guard against your power getting out of control. You’ll be fine, just stay alert. You will have to adjust to the various types of magic in their world. Stay calm at all times if possible, no matter what you encounter… and take your axe.”
“Why? I doubt I’ll be freelancing while I’m there.”
“Status. Be open about what you are. Regia is a warrior culture. Strength is respected. You have an impressive skillset making weapons. Your axe is a flashy example of what you can do. Plus, you never know. You might need it. I only know today will be good. Tomorrow might be bloody.”
“What could I give Tesla for her birthday?”
“You know her better than I do. I’ve barely spoken to her. You monopolize her.”
He smirked. “I’m not apologizing for that…I have an idea. How much time do I have before they get here?”
She held up the stone on her necklace and looked through it. “Just enough time. Hurry up. I’ve already started the fire for your forge.”
He glanced over his shoulder at his workshop. Sure enough, smoke was billowing up from his fire pit. “So you already know what I’m going to make her?”
“No. I only knew I should start a fire.”
He pointed at the stone around her neck. “That thing is inconsistent.”
“Don’t I know it? You’re running out of time.”
He shoved his breakfast in his mouth at record speed and got up. The forge went fast. The thin metal flower emerged fairly easily from the plain strip of steel. But it was missing something when it came out of the water. He wanted to add color to it. He etched the edges of the petals with thin veins of lightning.
“Maggie!” he called.
She came over, dusting flour onto her skirt and looked at his work.
She nodded approvingly. “Very nice.”
“Can you make the lightning red?”
“Bleed on it.”
He scowled. “Really?”
“Yes. Just a little.”
He shrugged and sliced his fingertip. He ran his finger along the edges of the petals, the blood going straight into his etchings. She took it from him, muttering under her breath, a flash went out from her hand over the flower. She handed it back. The lightning was bright red against the dull grey of the steel.
“There. The color will never fade.”
“Thanks.”
“They will be here very soon, and you’re all grimy now. Go clean up.”
He wiped the sweat off his brow with the back of his hand. Maggie put her hands together and closed her eyes, muttering again. Folded clothes appeared in her hands.
“Here. You’ll look good in this.” She handed him the clothes.
He took the clothes and kissed her cheek before sprinting off toward the river. As soon as he was out of sight, she packed for him, making him three other sets of new clothes, a new belt, a pair of new boots, and a knapsack to put everything in. She pulled out her wand and made a carved wooden box for the metal flower to go into and topped it with a red ribbon.
She took the knapsack, put the present inside it and set it on the table. Now she needed to address her appearance as well. She went into her house and took off her flour-covered dress. She made a burgundy one to go nicely with her hair color. Primping too much made her feel silly, so she stopped after tiding up her braids, chewing a clove leaf to make her breath sweet, and adding a hint of color to her lips.
Tesla woke early. Excited, nervous butterflies fluttered in her stomach. She raced from her room, past her parents eating breakfast, and went straight to the shower. She wanted to look perfect today. She wanted to look so good it made X crazy.
After an hour, Forest knocked on the door. “Tesla? Are you okay? You’ve been in there a long time.”
She opened the door, steam wafting out. Forest looked in at her, standing at the mirror in a towel.
“Are you wearing my perfume?”
Just a little. She signed. You don’t mind, do you?
“Uh. No I don’t mind. Your hair looks amazing. Are you getting ready for the party already? It’s not till this evening.”
I know.
“So why are you primping?”
Grandfather told you what I’ve been doing, right?
“Yes.” Stress pulled around Forest’s eyes.
I’ve found something really important. I’m going to get it and bring it back today. Merhl is going with me. I’m going to meet him in Kyhael in a few minutes. It won’t take too long. I’ll be back long before the party.
Forest twisted her hands together and nodded resignedly. “Be careful, sweetheart.”
I will be. Promise.
“Your dad left already. You took too long in the shower. He couldn’t wait. He was a little disappointed he didn’t get to tell you goodbye. I think he’s a bit sentimental today. He’s having a hard time accepting you’re a young woman.”
I know. He threatened to give me a dollhouse the other day.
Tesla frowned. Her mom’s words brought something to mind she felt needed saying, especially now because of X. She made a mental note to tell her father as well, when she got the chance.
I know it must be hard that I’ve grown up so fast. I need you to know that I am really grown. I don’t have the mind of a child inside this adult body. I went through all the years you never saw. I sped up time when I forced myself to age but that doesn’t mean that in that breath of time that I didn’t go through the years. Because I did. Do you understand?
Forest smiled sadly and shook her head. “No. I don’t understand. Not really. I understand you are a woman despite how short of a time it took you to get there…It makes me sad, for myself. For the time I didn’t get with you. And it makes me sad because I fear your life will be very short.” Her voice broke on the last word. “I can accept you as a grown up. Your father on the other hand is having a harder time letting go of you being his little girl.”
I’m sorry. I hope I never have to age myself again. I want to stop and just let time move as it is meant to.
Forest smiled again and touched the ends of Tesla’s hair. “So beautiful.”
Am I?
“Yes. You are.”
She gave her mother a cheeky grin. You’re just saying that ’cause I look like dad.
Forest laughed and came to stand next to Tesla. “Look.”
They looked at their reflections side by side. “You look like me as well. Your eyes are the same shape as mine.” She flicked the top of Tesla’s ear. “Your ears, too.”
I want to look my best today. Can I borrow something to wear?
Forest smirked and narrowed her eyes at Tesla in the mirror. “Like what?”
Your grey shirt with the long sleeves.
“I suppose. It’s a little sexy though. The edges of your light will show.” She touched the ends of the lightning flower where it reached up the highest on the top of Tesla’s breast.
Do you think I should be ashamed?
“Of course not! You’re beautiful. All of you. You just usually hide it.”
You said you could accept me as a grown up.
“Are you trying to capture someone’s attention?”
Maybe.
“You’re being cagy. All right take the shirt. It’s hanging up in my closet. Your father’s going to kill me when he sees you wearing that.”
Thanks, Mom. I need to hurry now. Merhl is waiting for me.
Forest crossed her arms over her chest. Who was Tesla trying to attract? She was so isolated because of her accelera
ted aging and her scary gifts that she didn’t associate with people her age. Forest frowned. Was it Merhl? She knew they were close.
Once she was dressed, Tesla looked at herself in the mirror, scrutinizing her appearance. She felt confident. X warned her not to tease him. Was this teasing? Should she change? The cut of the shirt was lower than anything she’d ever worn, and her jeans were snug. Was it teasing to dress up something he already liked looking at? She was doing it for him.
She needed to hurry. She didn’t have time to change anyway. She poked her head out of her room. Her mom was sitting on the couch, scowling. She looked over at Tesla.
Bye, Mom. I’ll be back later.
Forest nodded and smiled, but she looked frustrated. “Tesla, wait. It’s not Merhl, is it?”
What?
“You don’t have a crush on Merhl, do you?”
She hesitated. Would that be a problem?
“No,” Forest said slowly.
Really? You don’t look too happy. I thought you liked Merhl.
“I love Merhl.”
A strange sounding laugh bubbled up Tesla’s throat. Merhl’s my friend. He’s like my brother. I don’t like him like that.
“I was just checking. It didn’t seem like you two felt that way about each other. If I seemed weird about it, it’s because I was confused. I wouldn’t object if that’s how it was.”
Well, that’s not how it is. So, stop being weird.
Forest smirked. “No dice.”
Tesla rolled her eyes and opened a portal to Kyhael.
Both Merhl and Rahaxeris were waiting for her in the Rune-dy antechamber.
“Wow, Tesla. You look gorgeous,” Merhl said when she landed in front of him.
Thanks. She looked over at her grandfather.
He gazed at her and scowled.
What?
“Merhl’s right. You look gorgeous. I don’t like it. Why are you so dolled up?”
She shook her head, annoyed, and refused to answer.
“I still don’t see why you think this little experiment will work on Merhl and not me,” he complained.
I’m in a hurry, Grandfather. Can we discuss it later? I promise to try to come up with a way to bring you to the Everpath, too. Just not right now. Merhl’s father made it there; he will be able to as well. She signed.
“Plus, you didn’t want the job of guarding the witch for three days,” Merhl reminded him.
“All right, all right.”
Merhl faced Tesla. “I’m ready.”
She exhaled and closed her eyes, pulling the code she absorbed from the Everpath into her hands, pushing it down into her fingertips. She reached up to his face, placing her thumbs on his eyelids. Tiny lightning strikes shot into his eyes. He staggered backward, grimacing in pain, and swearing.
Rahaxeris caught him by the arm. “You okay?”
Merhl blinked and rubbed his eyes. “Yeah. I’m okay.”
Sorry. Tesla signed. I didn’t know it would hurt that much.
He looked at her intently then, his eyes bloodshot. “Show me. Open it up.”
She grabbed the atmosphere and tore it open wide. Blackness swirled beyond the tear, a grey light in the distance.
He squinted. “I think I see it. It’s just a dim light.”
She nodded and held out her hand to him. He took it and followed her through the breach. They walked through the rushing, vaporous darkness toward the light. She pushed the door open and pulled Merhl through, into the Everpath. She looked at him and held her finger to her lips. He nodded. She did a quick check for the shadow thing. It wasn’t there.
Relived, she led the way down to the door to Contarren. She opened it, and they went through. They landed in the woods. Merhl blinked and rubbed his eyes again before looking around.
“Is this the place?” he asked.
She nodded and pointed in the direction they needed to go.
“Is it safe here? It feels very mundane. Non-magical.”
She nodded again. It’s safe.
“I’m sorry I’m going to miss your birthday party,” he said. “I got you something. I guess it will have to wait until I get back from this little covert operation.”
What is it?
“Not telling. I’m doing you a favor coming here, so you have to wait for your present.”
Fine. I really appreciate this, Merhl. I know this all seems odd, but I promise the answer is with these people. I know it is.
“I trust you.”
There. That’s where they live.
Apprehension was thick in the air as they approached and it came from both sides. X stood waiting for them to arrive, and as they did, a nervous excitement filled the air. Tesla halted as X caught her gaze. The butterflies in her chest were fierce. For a few seconds, he was all she could see. He looked amazing. Dressed all in black, the dark contrast against his white blonde hair and ice blue eyes was striking. He didn’t smile at her, he just stared.
Merhl put his hand on her shoulder in a protective motion. X’s eyes darted sharply onto Merhl’s hand and then onto his face, then he looked at her questioningly. She rushed toward X holding out her hands. He grasped them tightly, pulling her close to him. The glory of the ecstasy of touching one another caused both of them to close their eyes and breathe unevenly.
“Tesla?” Merhl took a step forward.
X’s eyes shot open and pinned Merhl with a warning look, then he glanced down at her. “Why didn’t you explain this to him?”
He’s always with my grandfather. I couldn’t think of a way to explain that wouldn’t put my grandfather on edge or possibly make him furious. She spoke in his mind.
Merhl took another more purposeful step forward. “Tesla, what’s going on here?”
She looked at him over her shoulder apologetically.
“Just wait a minute, and she’ll answer you,” X said, not letting go of her.
“If you would let go of her hands, she could answer me now.” He was getting angry. “Why are you silencing her?”
“I’m not!” X fired back.
I’m almost there… Almost… She exhaled in relief as the shiver went down her throat. She smiled at X and let go, turning to face Merhl.
“It’s okay,” she said aloud.
His mouth hung open in disbelief. “Tesla! You spoke to me! Didn’t you?”
“I did, Merhl. You hear me.”
Laughing with joy, Merhl swooped down on her, picked her up, and spun her in a circle. “How?” he asked, setting her back down and hugging her tightly.
“I can properly introduce you to my friend X now.”
“X, this is Merhl, Merhl this is X. I don’t know why, but he unlocks my voice. I just have to be near him, and all the pain and distortion goes away. All I have to do is touch him for a moment, and then my voice comes.”
Merhl looked at X in a less threatening way then. “I’m sorry. I had no idea what was going on.”
“I gathered that… So, you’re going to stay here and protect Maggie?”
“That’s the plan. Where is she?”
Right on cue, Maggie emerged from her house. She walked boldly up to Merhl, who stared at her with wide eyes. Tesla had never seen Merhl dumbfounded. He looked like he’d just suffered a severe shock. Given her height, Maggie didn’t look dwarfed next to him. The top of her head came to his chin. She held out her hand to him. He took it in both of his and brought it to his lips.
Tesla and X exchanged an amused glance. He leaned over and whispered in her ear, “They’re going to get along fine, looks like. She got up this morning and started cooking for him. I’ve never seen her that goofy. She’s very excited to meet him.”
Tesla surveyed Merhl as he spoke to Maggie. The she moved closer and whispered to X, “Looks like the feeling is mutual. I’ve known Merhl most of my life. I’ve never seen him look at anything or anyone quite like the way he’s looking at her.”
“Shall we go then, and leave them to it?”
Tesla w
alked over to Merhl. “We’re going now.”
“Okay,” he said easily.
“Will you be all right?”
Maggie piped up. “Don’t worry. We’re going to be just fine. Merhl and I are going to be fast friends. There is no danger for me here. You’re the ones heading into danger.” She gripped Tesla’s shoulders. “Take care, princess. Today will be good. Enjoy it. It won’t last.”
She frowned but nodded and walked back to where X was waiting for her. He put his palm stones on and his gloves over them before strapping his axe to his back and slinging a pack over his shoulder. “I’m ready.”
“No you’re not. Not yet. I can’t just take you to the Everpath by towing you along by the hand. You have to drink my blood first.” She feared he would argue or be grossed out. He didn’t, he just nodded.
“Okay.”
She put her index finger in her mouth and sliced it on her incisor. “It won’t take much.” She said, holding her finger next to his lips.
He opened his mouth. She touched her fingertip to his tongue. He closed his lips around it and sucked once. He never broke eye contact, speaking intimately to her without any words.
I know. She said in his head. I know.
She pulled her hand back, and he swallowed. “I don’t think you know at all…So is that it?” he asked casually.
“I think you’ll be blind to the path, but I can take you there now. Don’t let go of me.”
A small smile pulled into the side of his mouth. “Never.”
She held out her hand to him but then retracted it. “You’ve got the stones on your hands.”
“Yes, but they’re covered by my gloves. I’m in control of it. It’s okay.”
She tore the air open and grabbed his hand, pulling him through. Her heart rose up her throat in fear. What if this hurt him? What if she was wrong? His hand was solid in hers as they crossed into the Everpath.
“Are you okay?” she whispered.
“I’m fine. I can barely see. Everything’s in shadow. I see shapes.”
“That’s more than I expected. Let’s get out of here.”
She pulled him along briskly.
“What’s the rush? Where is this place?”
A gust of wind blew from behind them. “Hurry! There’s danger.”
They were almost to the door. She could feel the darkness slithering behind them. “Wall builder…” it hissed seductively. “Don’t run from me…I want only to taste you…”
