First World (27 page)

My skin felt flushed and too tight over my entire body. That kiss last night had set off fire-works. And I couldn’t help but wonder if that chemistry had anything to do with the marks now permanently visible on my skin.

Back in my room, I stood in the bathroom and stared in the mirror for a few minutes. My skin was
gleaming. The luminosity was fainter than Josian’s, but there was a definite glow. My hair was more vibrant, especially against the red marks pulsing back at me. My lips were even naturally redder. Everything I had been before was further enhanced.

I showered quickly before dressing. Ready to leave, pack on back, I made my way downstairs. Lucy and I had co-ordinated our outfits. We were going with
‘bad-ass explorer’ – faded blue jeans, stylishly torn; black combat calf-high boots; a white t-shirt; and a black combat vest – the kind that had pockets everywhere. Coats and other essentials were packed.

As I walked along, I could hear eve
ryone in the kitchen, long before I reached them. These new senses were going to take some getting used to.

I dumped my pack with the group near the door and walked into the room. I took a plate and filled it before sitting down. The food was so amazing here;
Lallielle’s staff, local women from Angelisian, should all receive daily awards. I was not looking forward to being on the road again, although I was likely to start gaining unwelcome weight if I continued to eat this way. I glanced at Josian. Or maybe not. The way he ate, it appeared as if Walkers had an over-active metabolism.

Lucy
raised her head for a moment and waved her hand in my general direction before going back to stuffing her face. For a tiny person, she was a champion eater.

Brace and Lucas were in deep discussion at the end of the table. Lucas
gave me a half-smile acknowledgement, but Brace was focused on his plate, his expression troubled.

Got to love men.
Kissed the hell out of me yesterday, swim-stalked me on the beach this morning and now couldn’t even look up when I entered the room.

“Morning, baby girl.
How did you sleep?” Josian was glowing away at the end of the table, his red hair smoothed down, golden skin luminous, a large stack of flat round pastry pieces in front of him.

These delicious little miracles were shaped like pancakes but filled with a buttery golden syrup. True magic, if you asked me.

“Had some weird waking dreams. Figured out how to open Walker doorways. Got a permanent tattoo and no one knows why. And about to head to another planet.” I shrugged. “Can’t really complain.”

I
’d started eating as I talked. A few small pieces of food flew out of my mouth onto the crisp white table cloth.

Josian
boomed his laughter.

Francesca shook her head. “I don’t see too many obstacles in your path.” She shrugged.
“At least not today.”

I shook my head. “I’d feel much better about that if you didn’t have your face all wrinkled up with worry.”

She smiled, although that was a generous description; it was more of a grimace.

I laughed.
“Very reassuring, thank you. Don’t quit your day job, Frannie.”

She looked affronted. “But this is my day job.” She winked at me.

Brace was still ignoring me. Jerk.

Should leave him here with Samuel.
Also a jerk.

Look at me making friends everywhere I go.

Josian stood suddenly. “I don’t want her to go, Lalli. I don’t have a good feeling about this.” Worry lined his permanently young features.

She stood as well, reaching out to grip his arms. “I don’t want either of my children to take off on their own to some unknown planet, but if it’s that or the end of the world then I don’t think we have much choice.”

He scoffed. “End of this world, maybe. I’ll find us another one. A better one.”

I laughed.
Josian took arrogance to a completely new level. “Can you transport the billions of people on all seven planets?”

With a resigned sigh, h
e shook his head in my direction. To Josian, those that weren’t family didn’t factor into his plan.

Brace joined the standees. “I’ll keep them safe,
Lalli and Josian. Don’t worry; we’ll be back before you know it.”

Josian
pointed his finger at Brace. “I’m feeling a decided lack of trust in you at the moment, Brace. I see how you look at my daughter.”

For the first time Brace’s eyes swung in my direction, before he looked back at
Josian. Flushing a little, I stared at my half-eaten food.

“I promise I have no ulterior motives, other than adventure and keeping my friends safe.”

Brace was lying; he said that without an ounce of emotion, as if repeating a rehearsed line.

Josian
turned his gaze toward me. I nodded at him. I wouldn’t be letting my guard down around Brace. Well, I’d try really hard not to, but if he looked at me I was a goner.

“It’s time now.
Josian, you go, gather your family. You are going to struggle to find them all. Some have made it their mission to remain hidden indefinitely,” Francesca interrupted us. “Start at the junction between the four quadrants of this universe. And you must hurry or you will miss something important.”

Josian
frowned at her. “You are getting on my last nerve, Frannie.” He marched to the end of the table, muttering about crazy sisters-in-law. Reaching down, he pulled me from my chair for one last hug.

“Stay safe,
Aribella. Trust your instincts and make me proud. If you need me, I’ll find you, no matter the consequences.” He pulled away.

I reached up high to pat his shoulde
r, offering whatever small comfort I could. “Luce and I are used to looking after ourselves. We’ll be fine.” He nodded once. “I love you, Dad.” I wanted to say it, just in case.

He placed one hand on his heart, before raising it to his lips, kissing it and then touching it to my lips.

“May your journey away from me be short, but your experiences life-changing. Love you too,
Miquerina
.”

I really should find out what that meant.

He moved toward Lallielle then. He touched her face before lowering himself close to press his lips to hers. It was short and ever so sweet.

Lallielle
turned away as Josian opened a doorway in an unused corner. I caught a glimpse of fire and night in the far distance, and then with one last kiss blown in my direction, he was gone. The room felt empty; the absence of his presence was huge. Lallielle, looking lost, hugged her arms around her body tightly, but then she pulled herself together.

“Okay, it’s time for the rest of you to go as well. Grab your packs and trust no one but each other. These planets are unique and their inhabitants even more so. They will not think the way you expect.”

Samuel stepped forward first, hugging her for an extra moment. “Love you, Mother. Don’t worry too much; we’ll be back soon. Plus Josian and Aribella are pretty much indestructible.”

She laughed. “I wouldn’t be letting them leave my side if that wasn’t the case. And the only reason you are going is I know I can’t stop you. You’re too old to send to your room now.”

“Everyone, get your bags. Aribella will open a doorway. Don’t worry about Lalli; I will stay here with her.” Francesca ushered us out into the main hall.

“That’s very reassuring,
Frannie, since it’s your predictions that have put us all in this position. And most of the time no one has a clue what you’re talking about.”

“Shut up,
Lalli. We aren’t too old that I can’t hurt you.”

Lallielle
laughed. “Actually, sister, you are much too old. You’d break a hip.”

Lallielle
and Francesca had conveyed that they were well over a hundred years old, despite the fact they looked young enough to be twenty-five. Although neither of them would tell me their exact age.

Reaching down, I grabbed my pack. During breakfast, some food and other items had been added. The pack was light, but probably wouldn’t be on Spurn.

We gathered as a group in the main entranceway. Francesca handed me a photo. “This is the place on Spurn you want to picture.”

I glanced down to an island paradise. Pink-colored sky glinted off the sandy white beaches. Nice.

Lallielle
stood before me. “Stay safe, Aribella, my daughter. I love you.”

Taking a deep breath, I threw my arms around her. “Thank you, Mom. I love you too.”

At some point her kindness had chipped away at the hard shell surrounding my heart. And if there was ever a time to use ‘Mom’, it was now.

Needing to concentrate, I closed my eyes and blocked everything out. I lifted the lid on my energy spot; it surged in protest of last night’s containment. Ignoring this, I started to pull, taking my time, weaving a large and strong circle.
Two cycles per person, and large enough for everyone to step through. Once I was finished, I held the end of the string and pictured the island in the centre. Then I released it.

Lucy gasped as I opened my eyes. “Damn, Abby, it actually worked.”

I laughed. “Thanks for the faith.”

She shrugged. “What can I say?
I may have smiled and nodded, but deep down I didn’t think you had a chance.”

I snorted
with laughter.
Typical Lucy.

“Okay, are we ready to go now?” Samuel took Lucy’s hand,
gesturing that we all should follow.

Brace moved in to take mine; he gave it a gentle squeeze. In that split second our eyes linked.
I forced myself to ignore this and focus on the doorway. Taking a deep breath, I stepped through, pulling them with me. I rode the waves, moving at super speed without any issue and doing my best to keep everyone from collapsing around me. The journey was longer than expected, and there was a strange turbulence in the quiet expanse of the wormhole.

As we were expelled, the light was so bright I was blinded in those first few moments. Hands were wrenched from my grasp as
everyone tumbled to the ground. I jumped to my feet and turned in a circle. Already we were surrounded by creatures, their weapons held aloft. The brochure had lied.

This was no island resort.

Brace was suddenly at my back. He reached out and took my hand.

As the Spurns moved closer
, Brace leaned in to me.

“
I need to tell you something, Red, in case we don’t make it off this beach.” Despite the situation, his low voice and close proximity sent shivers down my spine. “When I crashed into you in the forest, that wasn’t the first time I saw you.”

I stiffened as the rest of our group
stood; our circle was pushed in tighter by the advancing men, all with flowing locks of dark-blue hair.

“What do you mean?” I finally
spat out between clenched teeth.

His grip tightened. “I dreamed of you too.”

***

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Jaymin Eve is a twenty-eight-year-old with the best job in the world. When she’s not being a mother to two beautiful girls, you’ll find her hammering away at her computer lost in her fantasy worlds, or traveling to far-off places for family fun and exploration. 

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