by Jaymin Eve
There had been a reason my spidey senses went off the first moment we drove up to the gates. It was actually the only time I had ever given true thought to Sara and Michael’s crazy theories. A sense of something unnatural was laced into this street, making it impossible for me to continue to insist my guardians’ theories were pure insanity.
Damn, I really owed them an apology.
I have to find them.
I couldn’t consider any other possibility. My sanity could not handle another loss.
When we turned down the rose-covered lane, nerves kicked in again and wiped all other thoughts from my mind. Star was half dragging me; my feet were slowing on their own accord apparently.
“I’ll take her from here.” Lexen’s deep voice cracked through some of my nerves and I was able to recover enough to glare at him. “Don’t make me carry you,” he warned, before he reached out and pulled me away from his sister.
My eyes were no doubt wide and panicky as I turned to Star, silently begging her not to leave me. She just shrugged and hurried forward. Traitor.
“I don’t need your help,” I snapped at Lexen, hating the way he made me feel like a burden.
“I’m the only one you should trust to bring you to Overworld safely. But hey, feel free to try and make it on your own if you want.”
I growled at him. Like an actual growl rocked out of my chest. He blinked once, before one corner of his lips lifted slightly, like he was fighting a grin and had lost. Before I could growl at him again, because I was tempted to, a flash of light stole all of my attention and I found myself shuffling closer to the grumpy Daelighter without even thinking about it. The ball of light had been scary enough before I knew it was dangerous to cross. I was even less keen now to step into it.
I reached out and grabbed Lexen’s hand. “You won’t let me die, right? I know you hate humans, and I’m a human, so therefore you must hate me. And when you hate someone you give zero shits about them dying. Sometimes you even wish they would die.” I sucked in a few deep breaths, leaning forward and bracing my free hand on my knee like I was winded.
His strong hand wrapped around mine as he pulled me back up. I tilted my head all the way back to see his face better.
“I won’t let you die, Emma. You’re safe with me.” His voice was a low caress across my senses.
I swallowed hard. “You didn’t say if you hated me or not,” I whispered.
He shook his head, that half-smile back on his face. “Don’t push your luck, little human. Now come on.”
I silently followed, blinking rapidly as the light blinded me. It seemed larger than I remembered – more intense – and as we got closer I noticed details I had missed last time. Understandable … I had been a little shocked and panicked yesterday. Seriously, had it only been a day? Time was doing very strange things at the moment.
Focusing again on the light, I saw it wasn’t actually a huge ball. It appeared to be made up of thousands of thick strings of illumination, all intertwined and meshing together. Strands randomly flicked off from the main group and I let out a gasping shriek when Lexen grabbed my hand and reached out to capture a strand.
“Hold on.”
His warning registered just as I opened my mouth and started screaming. Loud, gulping sounds of panic continued to tear up from my chest and out through my lips. My brain couldn’t quite compute what was happening. It was too far beyond my understanding of travel and physics. Somehow we were being yanked along a string of light, through darkness and light, fire and ice. Lexen’s hand firmly wrapped around mine was the only thing keeping me together.
The end of the string appeared in the distance. We hurtled toward it and I had to close my eyes because it felt a lot like this was the last moment of my life. At the speed we were travelling, there was no way to survive. We would either hurtle off into space, off into the darkness of this wormhole we traveled in, or we would splat against the end. Whatever was at the end.
So eyes closed it was.
I waited. And waited. Finally, when it was clear that I hadn’t squished into a wall, I slowly popped one eye open and looked around. We were no longer in the darkness. We now stood on a well-lit platform, a few feet from another ball of light.
Eyes so wide that I no doubt looked ridiculous, I took a moment to take it all in. Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.
We stood near the center of a huge circular metal platform. Well, it looked like metal – gold and shimmery – with lots of symbols carved across it. The symbols seemed vaguely familiar, but as I ran my gaze across the ones near me, I couldn’t quite place them. They definitely weren’t hieroglyphics or Mayan.
“This is the point where Earth and Overworld intercept,” Lexen explained, distracting me as he pulled me further away from the light. “Our worlds exist parallel to each other, in alternate universes. There are these scattered points where the energy of the two overlap. We use our network to create portals in those spots.”
“That’s why Astoria was the place you first emerged, not because of trade with the north.”
He grinned. “Yeah, trade with the north was not exactly a priority.”
“So … why did you come to Earth at all?”
A beam of light shot out from the ball then and Jero appeared, stepping out gracefully. I figured I wouldn’t get any more answers from Lexen now, but he surprised me when he said, “Daelighters have been crossing to Earth for thousands of years. That network I mentioned, it’s linked to the energy of multiple universes and worlds. Earth is one of the few we are totally compatible with.” He was staring out across the platform now. I didn’t know what he was looking at though, because I was too busy watching him.
“About a hundred and twenty years or so ago, our network started to fail. The energy was disappearing, and our world was on the brink of total annihilation. Without the network, we wouldn’t be able to power our land, or the beings living within it. There was a possibility we would all fade away.” Holy crap, we were getting to the serious part of the story. “It was someone from my house who noticed that every time he opened a transporter there was a surge in the power in the network …” At my blank look he explained. “The balls of light are called transporters.”
“So you formed the treaty,” I guessed.
He nodded. “Yes, we had no choice because we needed a permanent transporter, one much larger than the random ones we had been creating before. It was time for humans to know about us.” He waved an arm in front of him. “We decided to create this platform. It’s mixed with elements from the four houses, etched with our ancient language, and with a permanent transporter to Earth. Almost immediately our network resumed its full functions.”
Jero and Star were through now, and I knew I only had a few more moments alone with Lexen, so I quickly asked: “The treaty allows your network to be powered from Earth’s energy, or from something to do with Earth. But what do they get in return? I assume there has to be a return, if they decided to take you up on the treaty.”
He inclined his head. “You assume correctly. The leaders of America, at the time, were gifted a very special piece of Starslight stone. This is a sacred rock to us, very powerful. It’s a one-off, its size unrivaled by any other in our world. It turned out that Earth needed help at the time too. It was having some very serious weather occurrences. Earthquakes, tsunamis, tropical storms. This stone was buried near your equator, and it calmed the tectonic plate movements. Halted much of the dangerous weather.”
No freaking way. “Starslight, like the school?”
He nodded again. “Yes, exactly like the school, and it’s also where Star gets her name.”
Our conversation dried up as the other Darkens approached us. They were all through the transporter now. Jero swept me up in a hug. “How was the trip across, angel face? Any turbulence?”
I smacked him on the arm. “Put me down, you weirdo.”
It was at that point my reality registered with me. Like actually reg
As Jero set me on my feet, I spun around and sucked in a deep breath. The air was cool and crisp; my lungs seemed to expand more than I’d ever felt before; my head swam at the overload of oxygen. The platform they’d created for the transporter was high, almost like it was perched on a mountain, and stretched out below it, as far as I could see, was their world.
As I spun, more of Overworld came into focus. If I had to explain the layout, I’d call it segments, like gigantic slices of cake – three at least. A green, mountainous landscape was a segment to my right. It was the largest, taking up approximately twice as much space as the other two. It looked cold there, white topping many of the mountains.
The next segment was the smallest, but by no means was it actually small. The flat land was filled with billions of trees, spanning off into the distance, with almost no break at all in the forest. And the last was one continuous unbroken mass of water.
Marsil and Star stood on either side of me. “This is incredible,” I spluttered out. “But there are only three segments and four houses?”
A sneer from nearby drew all of our attention and I found myself staring at the Imperials, the same ones who had been in the hall that day. Jero had said they were from Laous’ side. “House of Imperial does not have to share their territory,” one of them said. “We have it all. We control you all.”
Say what? Where was their territory if they didn’t share?
Jero slung an arm around me, turning us away from them. No one bothered to reply and I could feel eyes burning into the back of my head.
“So where is their territory?” I whispered, unable to keep my curiosity any longer.
Jero leaned his head down. “Our transport should be here soon. We’ll talk more when we are back in our land.”
I stifled a sigh, forcing myself to simply enjoy this new experience. It was like I had stepped into one of my novels, the ones where the females who found themselves abducted by aliens usually fell for their captors and ended up with a happily-ever-after on some strange world.
I loved reading those stories, and so far living it was interesting, but I wasn’t sure I wanted the same ending. I was just hoping to find Sara and Michael and make it out alive.
More students from our school – everyone still in uniform – joined us as we moved toward the edge of the platform facing the mountains. I twisted my head, peeking out from under Jero’s arm. Looked like these were the House of Darken members. Kotar’s dark eyes flashed at me as our gazes met and I quickly looked away. At least fifty or more students were now through the portal, separated out, each standing in front of the territories. The Imperials were the only ones not moving, remaining right near the ball of light.
A swift breeze caught my attention, and since we were standing on the edge staring out into the stunning mountain world beyond, I had an uninterrupted view of what was coming for us.
Ohmyfreakinggods. Holy … sweet … baby … Jesus.
Two beasts rose into the air, their powerful wings sending gusts of air in our direction. Dragons. There were dragons here. Okay, most probably they called them another name, but they definitely resembled dragons.
I took a step back, followed by another and another, only halting when I slammed into a Daelighter who had been standing behind us. I spun to find an angry looking male, a few inches taller than me, with orange hair. Not ginger so much, but pumpkin orange.
“Watch where you’re going, grubber,” he growled.
A hand whipped out from over my head and smacked him in the face. I turned, expecting it to be Jero – Marsil was too gentle, and Lexen didn’t give a shit – but surprisingly enough it was Star.
“Don’t ever talk to her like that,” she snapped at him. “We’re no better than humans, just different.”
He sneered, reaching up to rub his jaw. I mentally gave her a high five. Nice work, girlfriend! There was a red print already forming across his cheek.
“She shouldn’t be here,” he tried again. “It’s bad enough we have to go to their world, but now we’re bringing grubbers back here. Where does it all end?”
Okay, so grubbers was definitely some sort of mean slur for humans. Still, considering it was a grubber planet which was keeping theirs alive, they could be a little more grateful.
“Enough.” That one word from Lexen finally shut orange-hair up.
His eyes shot daggers into me, but when he lifted them to the huge Darken there was nothing but blankness in his blue irises. “As you wish, Overlord.”
I blinked a few times, swinging my head up to Lexen, staring at him like he had two heads. Overlord? I had heard that before, when they were talking about their father.
I was distracted from this as another strong gust of wind slammed against me and I almost lost my footing. Marsil wrapped an arm around me, pulling me closer to him.
The two dragons were hovering at the edge, and I hadn’t noticed before, because dragons pretty much took up all of my attention, but they were tethered together.
And there was something attached to the back of them.
Was that a freakin’ flying carpet?
12
My heart was pounding so hard that it felt like an actual drumbeat in my chest, but I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the fascinating – and terrifying – beasts. They looked exactly the way I imagined a dragon would, minus a few little details: as tall and wide as a house, with four powerful legs, a long spiked tail, huge head, and sharp teeth-filled jaws. One was dark, a shiny, shimmery black, like oil spilled across the top of water. I could see other colors within the inky coat of scales, but for the most part it was darkness. If darkness had thick wings lazily flapping behind to keep it aloft.
The other dragon was white, its coat almost blinding in its intensity, reflecting the light of this world. I couldn’t see a sun in the sky, which was a deep, rich emerald color, but something was definitely illuminating Overworld. I was distracted from my stunned observations by Lexen stepping forward, balancing precariously on the edge of the platform.
The drop below would have to be miles, and I fought the urge to reach out and pull him back. Surely he knew what he was doing, being this overlord and all. Whatever the hell that was.
The white dragon popped its huge head up right before him, and I managed to swallow my gasp, too petrified to do anything except stare. Its head alone was bigger than Lexen’s body. Shit, it probably had teeth bigger than his body. He didn’t seem worried, holding out a hand and waiting for the dragon to press its snout into it.
“Hey there, beautiful.” His voice was low and lilting, emotion resonating on each word. He then switched to another language, one that was musical and so damn beautiful that for a moment all of my fear calmed. I was entranced, focusing only on Lexen and his voice.
“Lotera muschin roatina, Qenita.”
“It’s a dragon,” I breathed, needing to say it out loud.
“Her name is Qenita. She’s bonded to Lexen,” Star whispered in my ear, her eyes lit up.
Ohmygod. Bonded to Lexen. What was happening? How was this my life?
Darkens around us started to move, all of them striding over to the carpet, which was twenty feet wide and the same deep. It was a shimmery white, looking like … well, a magic carpet, right down to the tassels which hung off the very end.
One by one the members of House of Darken leapt across – none of them afraid they were going to fall to their death – landing on the white rug. Lexen, finished greeting his dragon, turned to hurry the stragglers along.
Star used that superior strength to haul me over, letting me go when we neared the carpet. “We’re all taking the oblong sphere home. Don’t be afraid. Once you’re on, your feet will lock in place.”
I flailed my arms and dragged my feet. “I can’t jump down,” I gasped out, sucking in deep breaths. “Learn this about me immediately! No jumping or running. If you need to discuss literature, or help with dinner, I’m your girl, but athletic ability … look elsewhere.” I was rambling, my head feeling light again. Maybe the overload of oxygen here was too much.
“Go on,” Lexen told his family. “I’ll get Emma across.”
Jero winked at me, before he turned and gracefully leapt. As Star had said, the moment his feet hit the … oblong sphere … he didn’t move again, except to cross his arms.
Marsil and Star followed, each of them landing right beside their brothers. Unfair. Not only could they jump the five feet to reach the sphere, they could also aim where they landed.
“I won’t let you fall.” Lexen’s voice distracted me, and I crossed my shaking arms over my body, trying to hide my nerves. “Trust me.”
I snorted, glad when some of my spark returned. But before I could say anything I was being lifted up and tossed over his shoulder like a bag of potatoes. I wanted to scream and smack him in the head, seeing I could finally reach it, but he was moving and I really didn’t want to die today. I closed my eyes when he jumped, opening them again as I felt the landing. I was dropped to my feet almost immediately, and as promised, my tennis shoes suctioned to the rug. Looking down, it wasn’t obvious what was holding them. Clearly magic, because why not?
I knew I was focusing on something small, like the foot suction, so I didn’t have to deal with the fact I was on an alien world … riding a magic carp … oblong sphere, and dragons were pulling said sphere like a carriage.
There was a small jolt; breezes blew up as the carpet moved. I had never been particularly great at keeping my balance, something that contributed to my hatred of physical activity, but as the dragons flapped and we rose up above the height of the platform with its light ball in the center, I wasn’t thrown off at all. I had a very good view then of the other houses. Imperial still remained near the center, but it looked like a whirling mass of light – similar but not the same as the one we just took from Daelight Crescent – had appeared in the floor before them. I gasped as one by one they stepped forward onto the whirl of gold and then disappeared.
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