by K T Munson
“I don’t think you can,” he said dangerously close to her. “I think you will go home and in a month you’ll be begging to return.”
“What could I possibly hope for?” Diana declared, suddenly a little angry. “To become your lover and travel the universe with you until you tire of me?”
“You are making this decision,” he pointed out. “The council was prepared to accept you, so you can’t use rejection from them as an excuse to leave.”
“I don’t want to rule a thousand universes, let alone this galaxy.” Diana shrugged. “The Heart of the Cosmos knows that, which is why it gave me the option to leave.”
“Yet you won’t come with me instead?” Dimar asked. “We could travel the universe.”
“And be trapped?” Diana asked. “You are asking me to choose between two different prisons.”
“You would be the Bearer,” Dimar reminded her. “Change the rules. All of the universe cannot stop you.”
“You!” Stella called. “No boys allowed!”
Dimar smirked at her, and Diana turned her head away, smiling at Stella. Diana didn’t want her to see that she was upset. Dimar swam back to the side. Behind him the Crystal Palace rose up like a fantastical shimmering rock. When he lifted himself out of the water, his clothes were tight on his body. She could see every curve and every muscle and licked her lips, which tasted like the slightly salty water. It was difficult to deny her attraction to him.
He glanced back and smiled that devilish smile of his. “Ogling?” he asked coyly.
“Who wouldn’t admire that kind of body?” Stella called as she treaded water next to Diana.
He threw her a feisty look before pulling himself completely out of the water. He didn’t glance back again as he walked into the palace. Diana watched him go as Melanie swam up to them. The turtle was munching on food up ahead as they swam to a shallower part of the world.
“I saw that kiss,” Stella said without missing a beat. “You have an alien crush.”
Diana felt her face get red. “A goodbye kiss.”
“Why?” Melanie asked, surprised.
“Because”—Diana turned to her, resolved—“he will forget me. I would only have been a passing fancy.”
“Are you kidding me?” Stella said, splashing her. “At least try that once!”
“She doesn’t need to be as loose as you!” Melanie splashed her in Diana’s defense.
“Let’s stop talking about this!” Diana splashed them both.
It quickly devolved into a giant water fight. They laughed and played in the water until their fingers were pruny. It was the first time in a long time that she felt this relaxed. Diana loved this adventure, but she was also ready to go home.
Chapter 47
“Are you sure we cannot persuade you to stay?” Emperor Himond asked, his features sharper from his grief.
“I do not belong here.” Diana glanced around at the faces of those who had suddenly wished her to stay. “Another will soon take my place.”
“We understand,” Emperor Himond said gravely.
“No, we don’t,” Omiriant said sadly as she tugged Diana into a rough hug. “You were wonderful. Please reconsider.”
“I am sorry,” Diana repeated firmly. “You were invaluable. Promise me you will assist whoever comes next as you helped me.”
“Always!” Omiriant said, nearly in tears.
Dimar was in the back watching her. She could feel his eyes, but she avoided looking at him. It was best this way, better for them both. Diana glanced back at Maura, who had been pardoned by Emperor Himond at her request, and the faces of her crew. Melanie and Stella were wearing their parting gifts, earrings that sagged from their value.
“It’s time,” Diana declared as she turned and boarded the fine new ship.
Kal Zed walked across the short distance and jumped into the ship as everyone began to with them a final farewell. Diana waved and smiled. She was truly going to miss them. Her eyes strayed for a moment and her heart caught as she met Dimar’s eyes an instant before the door closed.
“Coming along then?” Diana asked, looking down at the little fur ball.
“I will always be your guardian,” Kal Zed said.
Maura was already walking to the front as they all proceeded behind her. Grek wiggled his fingers at her nervously as she walked by. She waved back with a broad smile, and he seemed to grow bashful. When she was nearly to the front Adom caught her arm.
“This is a mistake,” he said, as everyone else passed them.
She smiled at him sadly. “When the next Bearer comes, you will not think so.”
“I will serve no one else,” Adom insisted, distress showing on his face.
Her heart caught as emotions overwhelmed her. Touched his face she spoke softly, “You are so young, and you will see that I could never have done enough.”
He pulled away from her angrily before stomping off. While she watched him go she wondered if everyone but her saw the truth. She would live a wonderful life, but she was not made to rule. Especially not as the Empress of the Universe with the power of the cosmos on her wrist.
Kal Zed met her gaze. “That boy is half in love with you.”
“A crush.” Diana shrugged even though her cheeks burned a little. “Maura will take him back to Matzil, and it will pass.”
“How can you be sure?” the cat asked.
“Because I won’t be the Bearer much longer,” Diana said as she made her way to the front.
Maura grinned when she walked through the door. “Bearer.”
“Maura.” Diana smiled in return. “To Earth.”
<>
The next day Diana sat cross-legged, her fingers playing over the Babel Stone as she considered how her life had been forever changed. Melanie and Stella were on the flight deck deep in discussion with Maura and watching the stars dance. Diana had left a message for Sora, but she was afraid if she remained any longer she would be tempted to stay. A sentiment she kept to herself.
They were close to Earth now, having entered the beginning of their solar system. Now that she was going home, she felt a sense of dread. Soon she and her dear friends would board Kal Zed’s new Catorian spaceship, they would go home, and Maura would take Adom home. She would return the bracelet, and this dream would end.
Melanie stuck her head in as Diana sat petting Kal Zed. He purred as she read the news about Hamyl’s trial. He would be cryogenically frozen and sent to the far end of the universe to watch a star slowly collapse. Apparently it was a strange form of rehabilitation.
“There is someone asking for you,” Melanie said as Stella stuck her head in, too.
“He is a handsome little bugger.” Stella winked.
Diana laughed as she set Kal Zed on the bed and stood up. He gave a look of protest before rolling over and curling into a circle. It was a little bit unfair how flexible cats were. Diana followed Melanie the short distance down the hall to the flight deck.
On the screen was the hopeful face of Archie, fully glimmered. “Bearer!”
“Archie!” Diana called, hopping through the door and down the ramp closer to the console.
“I am glad to see you,” he said enthusiastically.
“I thought I might never see you again,” Diana admitted, and she had to blink to keep the tears from her eyes.
“I have come to understand the meaning of friends,” Archie informed her. “We are supposed to ‘hang out.’”
Diana couldn’t help but laugh at the awkward way he said ‘hang out.’ “Yes, friends do, on occasion, ‘hang out.’”
“I have arranged for transport to come and get you every month based on Earth’s calendar,” Archie informed her. “As I am unable to leave my planet.”
Diana bit her lip, caught between wanting to cut off this strange new world she was discovering and clinging to the world she knew. If she continued to indulge in monthly trips through space, it would be difficult to return to a normal life. At the same time, s
he wasn’t willing to abandon her new friend.
“You do not wish to?” Archie asked, his eyebrows furrowed.
“Of course I do.” Diana smiled, finally deciding friendship was worth breaking the rules. “Monthly sounds wonderful!”
“I shall see you in forty moons.” Archie said before the screen clicked off.
“Thank you, Maura,” Diana said, looking back at her.
“You have made a powerful little friend,” Maura pointed out. “I could not have denied him even if I wanted.”
“I am thanking you for everything,” Diana said as they neared Earth.
“If you change your mind,” Maura declared, standing, “I would stand by you again.”
“I know,” Diana said, hugging her. “Enjoy your freedom.
Nihal tipped his head to her, and Grim made a sad little sound. Diana reached out and touched his arm—it was as rough as bark—before she walked from the room. In the other compartment, Grek nervously tipped his head to her.
Diana walked towards him and took his hand. “In the end, you will find your courage.”
“You helped Grek,” he said.
She gave him an encouraging smile before she walked away. Melanie and Stella were already at the little pod waiting for her. Kal Zed sat inside, waiting, his face determined. It seemed like she was going to be a cat owner. Emperor Himond had given them all a small fortune for their troubles, which would be more than enough to take care of Kal Zed and most of the cats on Earth.
Diana entered the golf-ball-shaped spaceship, with the carpet like grass and light that felt like the sun, without saying a word. Patiently she sat on the couch with Melanie and Stella on either side of her as Kal Zed went to the controls. Despite her desire to leave she glanced back at Grim, who stood on the threshold of the door, and waved at her.
Lifting a hand as the door closed, she watched through a port hole as the ship started down the short hall and into space. Transfixed she watched the great ball of green and blue grow larger, and she knew her adventure was over. Her hands tightened in Stella’s and Melanie’s, and she felt overwhelmed to finally be going home.
Chapter 48
England was exactly as she’d left it. The castle was exactly as she remembered, and it still existed in a constant state of tranquility. Diana put her hand on the stone wall as Stella and Melanie waited. There was something distracting about how utterly peaceful it was. Part of it made her take a deep breath; even another part of her was unsettled.
“Let me in,” she whispered, but nothing happened.
Her patience wore thin quickly, and she was about to step back and yell when her foot caught on a root that hadn’t been there five seconds ago. She landed on the plains as the ashes of flowers rose up around her in a halo of dust. Scowling she brushed herself off. Diana walked towards the rotting tree, cringing as she passed through it.
The red light flowed out of her wrist until all that was left was the bracelet. A thousand voices sang in a chorus as stardust swirled out of the bracelet. The gem that housed the Heart of the Cosmos was empty.
“It is done,” she finally said as the Heart of the Cosmos twisted around in the sunlight.
“I know,” it said in a voice made up of many. “You have done well.”
She held up her wrist and said, “We had a deal.”
“Are you certain?” it asked, floating around. She nodded, content with her decision.
“Very well,” it said, and she heard the bracelet click.
It fell into the grass, and little flowers floated up like dandelion seeds. Diana stared down at the bracelet, blinking. It was so simple. She had expected something spectacular, but there it lay like a lifeless lump of metal.
“That’s it?” she said, astonished.
“Not exactly,” the Heart of the Cosmos said as it began to wind itself around her.
Instinctively she held her hand up as it twisted tightly around her wrist. Light shown off her skin so brightly that she had to turn away. When she looked back, the stardust that was the Heart of the Cosmos was hovering in front of her again, and she found a very thin bracelet on her wrist with a single gem in the middle. The gem was so small that she had to squint to see the little piece of the universe.
“For protection,” it explained. “You placed yourself in danger to find the truth, and until your death, no one will be able to harm you.”
“Thank you,” she whispered, a little startled.
“It is the honorable thing to do,” it replied, dancing around the grass.
“What now?” Diana asked, a little perplexed.
“I shall leave this world and search for the next Bearer,” it said. “Unless you wish to reconsider.”
“No!” Diana said hastily. “You will find someone more appropriate,” she added.
“Perhaps,” it responded.
“I guess this is goodbye,” Diana managed awkwardly.
“Never,” it responded. “So long as you wear me on your wrist.”
“It is a comfort to know you shall always be there.” Diana smiled and felt a tear slide down her cheek. “Protecting me.”
“Take care, Diana of Earth,” it said, and she closed her eyes.
When she opened them, she was lying in the field outside of the castle in England. She wiped away her tears, feeling as though a part of her had left with the bracelet. With a heavy sigh, she slowly moved to her feet and made her way back to the ship. The little golden bracelet glistened in the summer sun.
Chapter 49
One Month Later
“You’re going to be late!” Melanie called to Stella as Diana put on the last of her mascara.
“She always has to change her mind five or six times, you know,” Diana said as she twisted the tube closed.
“I know!” Melanie agreed, “but we’re going to be late.”
“What’s all the yelling about?” Kal Zed asked as he came trotting into the room.
“Stella is late,” Diana said.
“I forgot my Babel Stone,” Melanie called. “I always forget until Smokey gets here.”
“She needs to stop calling me that,” Kal Zed said as Melanie hurried up the stairs to her room.
“People think it’s weird enough that we take you on walks with us without a leash,” Diana said as she put on bright red lipstick. “We sound downright mental when we call you Kal Zed.”
“Why Smokey?” he asked, jumping up on the toilet and onto the counter next to her. “It is degrading.”
“Because you are grey,” Diana answered with a shrug. “At least it’s a little better than Shadow.”
“How unimaginative,” Kal Zed muttered, sitting down and watching her. “Why not Max? That is a perfectly adequate name for you simple women to comprehend. Three letters. Manageable.”
“You’re being grumpy. Don’t make me bring out the laser again,” Diana teased.
His eyes narrowed and his ears went back. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Laughing she petted his head. “Then be nice!”
She heard Melanie’s footsteps hurrying down the stairs. Diana secured her hair with a black clip before walking out of the bathroom. A moment later she could hear Stella’s footsteps.
Diana yanked up the zippers on both her boots and asked, “You went with red?”
Stella was wearing red from her dress to her stiletto shoes. “I like it,” she said with a little bit of a wicked smile.
“We look ridiculously patriotic,” Melanie sighed. She was wearing white, and Diana was wearing cobalt blue.
“Perhaps it will help with this charity event,” Diana said, opening the door. “We need every dime to help build that school.”
Diana took one step onto the deck of their new house and stopped dead in her tracks. Her heart jumped into her throat. Melanie ran into the back of her, but she hardly felt it as Dimar smiled at her. She strode across the deck and down the stairs as though in a daze.
“What are you doing here?” Diana asked breathlessly.
“Miss me?” he asked with that same cocky grin.
“Is something wrong?” Diana asked, trying to grasp at his reasons for being there.
“Yes,” he said, his face suddenly serious. “Because I finally understand.”
She knew exactly what he was talking about. Running the short distance between them she hurled herself into his arms. He lifted her up and kissed her mouth ruthlessly with his arms locked behind her knees so that her face was just above his. She had to tilt her head down to kiss him. When she pulled back, there was lipstick on his mouth. Laughing she wiped it off.
“What took you so long?” Diana asked as she ran her fingers across hi lips despite there being almost no lipstick left. She hadn’t really expected him to come at all, but she had hoped.
“I’ve thought about you every day,” he admitted. “But I wanted to give you a month. Are you ready to come with me now?”
“Yes,” she said, grinning like a fool, “Spaceman.”
Notes from the Author
What fun this book was! I wrote this for my dearest friend Caitlin, who has always supported me. Much of the sassiness that makes up Diana’s personality comes from her with a little writing flare of my own. Hopefully you liked Diana falling down the proverbial rabbit hole and you’d like to read more of her adventures.
How do you help make this happen? If you enjoyed this book please leave a review with your favorite retailer. I always write possible sequels to all my books and I absolutely have a sequel prepared that throws Diana back into the thick of things!
In the meantime, happy reading,
K.T. Munson
Other Titles by K.T. Munson
The Sixth Gate
The interplanetary gates have existed between the five planets and the Netherworld for as long as living memory.
Dr. Elisabeth Avery is a woman caught between two worlds. Little does she know that others like her, other half-breeds, are being hunted. When a creature drags a princess into the Netherworld, Elisabeth is determined to save her by any means necessary. Meanwhile, on the planet of Hystera, a Keeper and his assistant investigate a grisly string of suicides and are in need of someone with Elisabeth's skills. The Gate Guardians and Elisabeth are aware that something is coming and know that it has something to do with the Netherworld bleeding through to the planets, but not why.
