by S. L. Morgan
Levi gathered her hair, draped it over one shoulder, and turned her to face him. “I feel the same as you. Maybe not so distraught, as I couldn’t see what you were seeing, but I am so thankful we have her with us now. Once we fix everything with the second chance she has given us, we will find a way to make up for lost time with our daughter. We will create new and better memories as a family together.”
Reece shook her head. “Levi, to see Lizzy holding her hands as she took her first steps. To feel her anxiety about when she first traveled through time and her fear? I know she was in excellent care with your mother and Lizzy,” her eyes pooled with tears, “but she needed her parents, her mom, and she didn’t have us. I feel like I was robbed of everything. Her first words—first steps, smile…”
“May I offer a suggestion?”
Reece leaned up and let his dark sapphire eyes soothe her. “I’m up for anything.”
Levi ran the back of his hand over her wet cheeks. “If you so desire to continue to see Marian’s memories instead of listening to her tell us about how she learned to accept traveling through time, I believe it would be therapeutic for you to do so. Use this incredible opportunity to watch her grow through the years.” Levi lifted her chin after Reece diverted her eyes from him. “Reece, we may have lost precious time and memories with her, but we have her now. We are all back together and in Pemdas because of our miraculous daughter. If she did not possess these abilities, we would have never seen her again. To know her now is better than to never have known her at all. We have been given an unimaginable gift.”
“You’re right.” Reece nodded. “Losing sixteen years of our daughter’s life is nothing in comparison to what we were facing days ago.”
“I could not imagine Harrison being the same man after he watched his unborn children and wife die in his arms, and there was nothing he could do about it,” Levi added.
That afternoon flashed through Reece’s mind, and she embraced Levi tightly. “I can’t believe we went from living like that on Earth to being home in Pemdas again.”
“We are home, and we have our daughter,” Levi added. “You must force yourself to focus on these thoughts instead.”
Reece ran her hands along Levi’s cheek. “I’m so glad you decided to come to my room tonight.”
Levi set the brush aside and reclined back into the pillow. He reached up and guided Reece into his embrace. “I am, too,” he said, kissing the top of her head.
Reece curled up around him. “I wonder if you getting caught sneaking into my room tonight might encourage Simone to make plans with Michael sooner than later; then our mission to stop them will be taken care of and over with quickly.”
“As nice as that sounds, I do not think we should mess with time too much. Although, waiting to take action is driving me crazy.”
“I am so looking forward to you, me, and Marian living in our home together.”
“As am I,” Levi said, settling further into the bed. “It will happen, but for now I must request that you rest.” He gently wound his fingers through her hair. “We must report to my father’s office early with Marian tomorrow, and I believe some may question your exhaustion if you can’t keep your eyes open during that meeting, as he wishes to inform Samuel, King Hamilton, and my Uncle about Marian’s talents.”
Reece covered a yawn. “Do you think they’ll believe it?”
“I am confident that my father will explain everything in such a way that they will have no other option but to believe all of it.”
The room grew silent, and Reece’s heavy lids fell closed as Levi continued to run his long fingers through her hair.
The next morning, Reece woke to an empty bed and smiled at how Levi managed to sneak out of her rooms. She could hear Jasmeen bustling around in her sitting room as the morning sun’s rays shone through her curtains.
Having slept soundly with the comfort of her husband at her side, she felt energetic and excited for what the day would bring. Once fully dressed, Reece took the tea Jasmeen offered her.
Jasmeen smiled as she studied Reece. “Miss Bryant, I must say that I am truly impressed by how you have adapted to the Pemdai fashions so easily.”
Reece gulped the tea, remembering how she did struggle in the beginning when it came to dressing in corset dresses, as opposed to her regular Earth clothes. She searched for a lie. “Thank you, Jasmeen.” She took another sip of tea. “I guess I can finally let my secret out.”
“Oh?” Jasmeen’s eyes widened.
Reece laughed. “Yes, when I was a little girl, I always dreamt of living in a magical world and dressing like a princess.” Reece nearly choked on her words, knowing how far from the truth they really were.
Jasmeen tilted her head in confusion. “A magical world? Do you believe Pemdas to be such a place?”
Reece looked over to her floor to ceiling windows, seeing the vivid scenery that surrounded the back of the palace. She nodded. “Yes, Jasmeen, I really do. Earth is nothing like Pemdas.” She began to envision their final days on the planet as she gazed at the shimmering trees. “Nothing on Earth could come close to the majesty of this place,” she whispered.
“Miss Bryant?” Jasmeen questioned, bringing Reece’s eyes back to her.
“Yes?” Reece smiled.
“There is a knock at the door. Would you care for visitors this morning?”
Levi! Marian! Reece thought with excitement. “Yes.” She handed Jasmeen her cup and saucer. “Thank you for everything this morning. I will see you later this evening.”
“Miss Bryant,” Jasmeen spoke up. “Allow me to get the door. I must tidy up your sleeping quarters, and—”
“Jasmeen, please. We can take care of all of that later. You are free to do whatever you wish until then.”
Jasmeen’s brow furrowed. “Very well, then. I shall return later to freshen up your rooms.”
When Jasmeen disappeared behind the door that led to the servants’ passageways, Reece rushed to her front door and opened it briskly. Her smile died when she found herself face-to-face with Simone, Lillian, and Catherine.
“This is a surprise,” Reece stammered. “Can I help you with something?”
“Why are you answering your own door?” Simone sneered as she looked past Reece into the rooms. “Where is your maiden?”
“What do you care?”
Simone’s eyebrow arched at Reece’s response. “Your maiden should be scolded for neglecting her duties.”
“Nobody is scolding my maiden, Simone. Now, might I ask why all of you are here?”
Lillian’s eyes glared at Reece. “We have come to invite you to spend the day with us. We beg of you to allow us another chance to entertain you, and this time with better manners.”
“How positively touching, ladies,” Harrison said, coming up from behind with Angeline and Elizabeth. “But as I said before, Miss Bryant will spend her time with women that aren’t forcing themselves to enjoy her company.”
Simone turned and eyed Harrison. She glared down at Angeline who was covering a smile. “Is something amusing, Miss Hamilton?”
Angeline cleared her throat. “Begging someone to spend time with you, Simone?” Angeline returned. “I never would imagine you, Lillian, and Catherine to be so desperate.”
“She is a very important individual, Miss Hamilton,” Lillian returned. “We are honored to have her in our company.”
Harrison coughed out a laugh. “Well, then.” He looked at Reece. “We shall let our very important guest decide upon which ladies will be keeping her company today.”
“I appreciate your offer, Simone, but I believe I would like to get to know Miss Hamilton and Princess Elizabeth instead,” she said as she looked over at Elizabeth’s sweet smile.
With a loud huff from Simone, the girls turned and stormed out of the entryway and down the halls.
“I swear those girls act like they’re five,” Harrison said as he stepped forward. “Do you mind if we join you?”
Re
ece grinned. “Of course not.”
“Miss Bryant,” Harrison started. “Allow me to introduce you to Princess Elizabeth and Miss Angeline Hamilton.”
Reece smiled at both women, feeling awkward that her friends had no idea who she was. She desperately wanted to hug Elizabeth and thank her for all she did as Marian grew up and embrace Angeline, feeling overwhelmed with happiness that she was alive and in her presence again.
“Everything okay, Miss Bryant?” Harrison asked with a concerned expression.
Reece blinked a few times. “Yes, sorry.” She recovered herself and properly greeted both women. As they all sat on the sofas, another knock alerted Reece to the fact that Levi had arrived. She shot up from the sofa mid-sentence, forcing everyone to look at her with concern.
Harrison eyed her warily. “I know you are excited; however, I do not believe that the one at the door has come to deliver the news that you are free to live on Earth again,” he said with an expression that showed Reece she was giving herself away and acting completely odd in front of Elizabeth and Angeline.
Reece laughed. “You’re right. Would you mind getting the door?”
Harrison, who had already stood with Reece, nodded. “It would be my pleasure.”
“Sorry about that.” Reece smiled at Angeline and Elizabeth’s pleasant expressions. “I get a little jumpy at times.”
Angeline smiled. “It is perfectly fine. I must say that you appear to be adjusting nicely to your new surroundings in Pemdas.”
“It was a little frightening to accept that there are other worlds out there,” Reece answered. “But I’m starting to learn that having an open mind helps to accept unimaginable possibilities.”
They were interrupted when Harrison, Levi, and Marian joined the women in the sitting area.
“Marian!” Elizabeth said cheerfully. “It is wonderful to see you again. Are you finding Pasidian agreeable?”
Reece wanted so desperately to stand up and embrace her daughter, but she resisted the urge.
Marian beamed. “This palace is breathtaking, and even though Lady Allestaine took the time to prepare me so that I might be comfortable, I believe that if it weren’t for her requesting Levi to escort me through the palace, I would find myself completely lost.”
Reece laughed. “I felt—I feel the same way.”
Harrison arched an eyebrow.
“Ladies, I know you desire to spend time with Miss Bryant, but Samuel has requested a short meeting with all of us this morning.” He nodded toward Harrison. “We are to report to my father’s study at this time.”
“Allow me to escort Angeline and Elizabeth to breakfast, and I will join all of you shortly,” Harrison said as he held out his arm toward the women.
“Miss Garrett, would you care to join us?” Angeline asked.
“I would love to, but Lady Allestaine has requested a private breakfast with me. Perhaps after breakfast, we can spend our day outdoors in the amazing gardens of the palace,” Marian responded.
“That sounds splendid,” Elizabeth returned.
Harrison sighed dramatically. “It looks as if you lovely ladies are forced to take your breakfast with my lovely sister and her obnoxious friends. May I suggest that the servants prepare a meal for you both on one of Pasidian’s private balconies?”
Angeline grinned mischievously at Harrison, and Reece didn’t fail to note that Harrison was immediately captivated as he stared at her. “Come now, Harry.” Angeline laughed. “Do you honestly believe that Lizzy and I are intimidated by them?”
Unexpectedly, Levi laughed. “I say let Angie and Lizzy have at them. After the way those women have behaved, they could use the company of proper ladies.”
Harrison recovered his expression and nodded. “Very well, hold nothing back, and we look forward to hearing about your lovely breakfast with the venomous trio.”
Once everyone settled into their seats, which were arranged around a circular table in Navarre’s office, Reece exhaled skeptically, wondering how this meeting would turn out.
Navarre clasped his hands and leaned forward. “First of all, I would like to thank all of you for accepting my invitation for this meeting.” He glanced over to his wife, who sat at his side, and then to Marian and Reece. “I am sure questions are already swirling around in your minds since we have the ladies present with us. I must request you all listen carefully to the very crucial information I am about to reveal to you.” He looked at Queen Galleta. “Galleta, I am indebted to you for attending, as I will desperately require your assistance in relaying this information.”
“Emperor,” Levi spoke out, “there may be an easier way to reveal the information. After you inform everyone about what has transpired, I will explain.”
Navarre nodded. “Gentlemen.” He looked over at King Hamilton, King Nathaniel, and Samuel. “I must request that you keep an open mind and force yourselves to accept the unimaginable, as it is imperative for you in believing what I am about to tell you.”
King Hamilton chuckled. “Emperor, whatever it is you are to say, I am confident we will have no problem accepting it. I am extremely interested, given the way everyone is acting at the moment.”
“We shall see about that,” Navarre said as he cleared his throat. “Gentlemen, Levi, Harrison, Reece, Marian, and I have traveled from the future and back into this time period to stop a betrayal of our people that, in the end, will lead to the total destruction of Pemdas and Earth.”
Reece remained silent as she studied the paralyzed expressions on the three men’s faces.
“Perhaps Levi’s idea could be of some help?” King Nathaniel said in a deep and confused voice. He looked over at Levi with a wary expression.
“Emperor, I mean no disrespect,” Samuel finally responded. “But traveling through time? I am very confused by what you are saying. Please explain how this is possible.”
Navarre looked over at Queen Galleta. “Please inform the men that some beings can possess an ability to travel through time.”
Queen Galleta looked over at the men. “It is possible, yes. May I ask how you all were able to accomplish such a thing?”
“In the future, Levi and Reece are married. We learn that Reece is not entirely human. Paul Xylander’s father found love with a being from another galaxy. This being is known as Olteniaus. The Olteniaus have the ability to manipulate and control minds. When Reece has the power of the stone, her abilities are heightened, and she is extremely powerful. Having these genetics within her combined with the Pemdai genes, Levi and Reece had a daughter. You have been introduced to her as Marian Garrett. She possesses the ability to travel through time,” Navarre explained.
The room grew dead silent. The men sat with blank expressions, utterly confused and overwhelmed by what the emperor was saying.
“Father,” Levi spoke out again. “I must explain a unique occurrence that took place between Reece and Marian last evening.”
Navarre looked at Levi with a questioning expression. “Go ahead.”
“When Reece held onto Marian’s hand while our daughter was explaining to us how and when she learned to travel through time, Reece was able to see all of her memories as if she were there.”
“Were you able to see her memories as Reece did?” Navarre returned.
Levi shook his head. “Unfortunately not. Perhaps Queen Galleta could, though.”
“There is only one way to find out,” Harrison blurted out.
Queen Galleta stood and walked over to Marian. She reached for her hand, and Marian graciously placed it in hers. “Go on, child. I will open my mind to yours.”
The room remained silent as Reece watched Marian’s eyes shimmer as she stared distantly away from them. Queen Galleta’s eyes were blank, and Reece was holding on to every last bit of hope that this was working.
After a few minutes of watching the two, Queen Galleta smiled and ran her hand along Marian’s cheek. “You are a very brave child,” she said with a laugh before she turned to addre
ss the room. “I am able to connect with her mind and see everything she experienced.”
Navarre exhaled in relief. “Is there a way that we can use this ability to help the men see this? I believe they are frozen in shock.”
Queen Galleta eyed the pale-faced men. “The Pemdai mind is heavily guarded. You must find a way to let your barriers down, and perhaps Marian can show you the information. If Marian’s powers are not strong enough, I shall join hands, and with the power of our minds united, there is a possibility that we can penetrate the mind of the Pemdai.”
Samuel stood. “As commander, I feel that I should try this first. If there is a looming betrayal against the Pemdai, I need to know at once.”
Marian and Queen Galleta walked over to Samuel. They gathered in a circle and held hands. Reece watched many different expressions play on Samuel’s face. It was working. At first, an expression of shock covered his face before his eyes grew severe. Reece’s heart raced when his forehead crinkled and he stumbled backward, his hand breaking free from Marian’s and Queen Galleta. Samuel said nothing as he found a chair and collapsed into it. He dropped his face into his hands as Navarre rose up and walked over to him.
Navarre placed a hand on Samuel’s shoulder. “Samuel?” he asked carefully. “Are you unwell? Please tell me what you saw.”
“Simone?” he stated in a tone of agony. “My own daughter?”
Navarre looked over at Levi and Harrison and nodded. He rubbed his forehead. “I cannot imagine what you must be feeling at this time knowing it is she who betrayed us, along with Michael Visor.” He looked at Marian. “How did Samuel see her betraying us?”
“Marian was in the company of the empress and King Nathaniel as they discussed many times how Simone had betrayed Pemdas, amongst other things my daughter had done to ruin all of us,” Samuel responded.
Reece looked over at Levi’s stern expression. “Will he be okay?” she whispered.
Levi nodded and leaned into her. “Surely, this information is heart-wrenching for Samuel, but he is one of the strongest men I know. He will recover.”
