It had been a magical visit. Jaden longed to still be sipping lemonade on her porch, protected, enjoying her company, playing games, having long discussions, and eating incredible food. Just the thought of the tranquility they had lost was enough to make him morbid. Glancing at Kayla, he noticed she was just as depressed.
Sensing their surly thoughts, the gliders (or rather, Tazanna), insisted exercise was the antidote. Jaden didn’t agree. Neither did Kayla, from the way she complained. But the gliders would not be denied.
To Jaden’s astonishment, though, as soon as the bats began taking them through their paces, another part of his brain kicked in. His melancholy departed as the sheer exhilaration of flight lifted his spirits. When Kayla giggled a few minutes later, he grinned, delighted she was feeling the same uplifting effects.
Partly because the bats stressed practicing and partly because Jaden wanted to test the time theory, the teens agreed to spend the rest of Friday and all of Saturday training with their gliders. After an exhausting afternoon of drills with no breaks, Friday night was interesting for food—the bats suggested they try catching something for dinner.
“You’re kidding, right?” Kayla laughed, weak with hunger.
“Actually, I’m serious,” Tazanna answered. “You must learn to be self-sufficient when you’re with us. There won’t always be a store nearby.”
“Well, tonight will not be the night we learn that particular skill,” Jaden snapped, his stomach growling. “Find a store because tonight we will buy something to eat.”
“Have it your way,” Tazanna muttered, “but you’ll soon discover there’s truth to my statement. And you’d better hope you have the skills by then.”
Still grumbling, the bats diverted toward a more populated area. Leaving the teens in an abandoned parking lot near the requested store, they took off as soon as they had deposited their charges.
Jaden huddled beside Kayla as they lurked behind a dumpster, unsure how long it would take for the bats’ effect on their visibility to wear off. Hoping they had allowed enough time, Jaden stepped from behind their shelter and almost offered a hand to Kayla.
Then Jaden remembered how she’d pulled back that last time he had touched her. Just as well, because she didn’t seem to wait for or expect the hand. She stood and stepped out beside him. Stifling his misery, Jaden turned and led the way.
Crossing the parking lot, they entered the store, relieved when the store owner’s greeting validated their visibility. They selected sandwiches, potato chips, and fruit, adding several bottles of water and fruit juice to cover all the bases. As soon as they left the store, they attacked the sandwiches, ambling back to the parking lot to await their gliders’ return.
Moments later, their bats slid in, sleek shadows in the night. Wordlessly collecting the teens, they flew until they reached an empty field far from any sign of life. They landed, and the teens resumed their meal.
Jaden was reaching into the bag for another potato chip when he noticed the bats sniffing at the opened juice bottles. Amused, Jaden offered them some. They lapped it up eagerly, commenting that, while it wasn’t as good as the real thing, it was palatable. After they flattened the two open bottles, Jaden noticed they no longer complained about their stop at the store. He grinned. So much for self-sufficiency.
They spent the night in the field, the bats hanging from a nearby tree and Jaden settling near Kayla on the soft earth as best he could. It wasn’t the most comfortable place, but after all the strenuous exercise, he was asleep in minutes.
Jaden successfully negotiated the next day’s meals without argument from the bats, who had obviously taken a liking to the sweet nectar they could pull out of a bottle with their long, thin, pink tongues.
They again filled the day with endless, wearisome routines, and by the time nine-thirty rolled around on Saturday evening, they were not only nearing the end of their trip, but the end of their stamina.
Jaden had estimated their arrival time at Kayla’s home to be around six-thirty Friday evening, had they used the terraporter. How will the time change take place? Will we feel anything?
Ten minutes from Kayla’s home, the gliders deviated to a deserted warehouse district. Here, the teens dismounted and transferred themselves to the waiting terraporter, which Zareh had again mysteriously transported there.
“How does he do that?” Jaden muttered.
Ohanzee shrugged. “I don’t know.”
When Jaden directed his enquiring glance at Tazanna, she said, “Neither do I. It’s beyond the realm of our understanding.”
“But he thinks it’s safe for us to use the terraporter from here to my house and then for Jaden to return home alone?” Kayla asked, nervous now she knew of the terraporter’s vulnerabilities.
“No trip is safe for either of you anymore,” Tazanna said, “but we can rescue you should your transport fail.”
“How will that help if we can’t get out?” Jaden’s mind was already racing ahead, realizing they wouldn’t be able to count on using of any electrical circuits if the Gaptor disabled their terraporter.
“You have a manual override for your door, don’t you?” Ohanzee asked.
“Ah, yes,” Jaden said, understanding.
Kayla rolled her eyes. “What, so we open the door manually, fall out, and trust you’ll be there in time to catch us?”
Tazanna eyed her charge. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“No, just wanted to check that I had the right idea.”
Their bats left them to void the time freeze effect, and Jaden led Kayla into the terraporter, noting he wasn’t the only one with reservations. Although the flight home was brief, they never ceased scanning the skies for signs of the Gaptor. It was the only reason they noticed the night sky brightening, as though it were dawn instead of dusk.
When the terraporter touched down on Kayla’s roof, the heavens boasted the spectacular pearly grays, pinks, and purples of twilight, as opposed to the darker evening cloak that had been its attire when they had departed the warehouse district. Jaden glanced at his PAL, not at all surprised when the display read 6:34 p.m.
“This time thing really boggles the mind,” Jaden said. “It was nine-thirty and dark on Saturday when we left the bats not ten minutes ago, and now it’s dusk and six-thirty on Friday.”
Kayla sighed. “Way too much to think about now. I’m bushed. Tazanna wore me out with those new combinations. Do you think my mom will freak out if I tell her I’m going straight to sleep?”
Jaden laughed. “Tell her you spent the day outdoors, and the fresh air did you in. If it is Friday, we went for a walk with my gran this morning.”
“Hmm, I suppose that’s preferable to telling her I was riding the wind with a giant invisible bat all day.” She grinned. “I’d invite you in, but I think we’re on the same page with only wanting sleep right now?”
“Yeah. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow. Sleep tight!”
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Kayla exited the transport, and Jaden wished he could’ve given her a hug. Yet again though, she hadn’t seemed open to contact. His eyes remained on her as he lifted off, her form growing smaller. Bereavement washed over him. It felt as though he’d left a part of himself with Kayla. He already missed her company. Why isn’t she going inside? She needs to get indoors where it’s safe. Her incoming call startled him.
“Forget something?” Jaden asked.
“Yeah. Call me when you get home, or I won’t sleep a wink!”
He grinned. “Worried about me?”
“Never—it’d just be more fun doing this with you than without,” Kayla teased. But her eyes showed the truth of her statement.
Jaden snorted. “So nice of you to want to put me in harm’s way.”
“And here I was thinking every boy wanted to be a knight in shining armor.”
Jaden laughed. “Keep telling yourself that.”
They parried verbal blows for a few minutes before Jaden said, “O
kay, I’m docking now. You can end the call and go get some shuteye.”
She cut the link but not before Jaden noticed she was indoors. Good! Toggling the switches commanding the terraporter’s shutdown, Jaden’s mind lingered on Kayla’s sleepy face. Those half-closed eyes and mussed hair were appealing. What was she thinking then? Her face had hinted at an emotion he couldn’t place. Was she thinking about me? Jaden shook his head. I can’t go there. And she’s probably already asleep, anyway. Jaden stepped from the terraporter and found his mother pacing the landing deck.
“Hey, Mom, you alright?”
“Hello, son. No, I’m not. Although I am better now that you’re home safe and sound.” She rushed over and hugged him with a death grip. “I’ve been losing my mind. Your gran called right after you left and informed me of the, uh, situation. Why didn’t you tell me?”
Jaden sighed. Gran just couldn’t wait to spill the beans. “Mom, why don’t we go inside to discuss this?”
“Where’s Kayla?” his mother demanded, peering back at the transport as if expecting Kayla to emerge at any second. “She has to hear what I have to say, too.”
Jaden studied his mother’s face. Had she forgotten the plan? “Mom, don’t you remember? I promised Mrs. Melmique I would drop Kayla at home on the way back.”
“Oh, yes,” his mother mumbled, even more distressed. She wrung her hands together, her eyes darting everywhere and her movements restless and agitated. Then she abruptly stilled. “Jaden, there’s something you and Kayla should know. But I must tell you together. She has to be here to hear this too. The sooner you know, the better. Do you think Kayla can come over tonight? Maybe now?”
His mother’s panicked expression alarmed Jaden. “Mom, calm down.” He put a comforting arm around her shoulder and guided her into the house. “You’re scaring me. But, inquisitive as I am to find out what’s got you all riled up, I’m shattered. And if Kayla’s as tired as I am, she’s probably already asleep.”
“But you—”
“Mom, the day’s already been too long. If your information is as significant as it sounds, it would be better if Kayla and I hear it once we’ve had some rest and have our wits about us.”
Mrs. Jameson gazed at her son, registering his fatigue. “Yes, you must be exhausted. Flying all that way on those . . . what were they called again? Gliders?”
“Yes, that’s what they’re called, and yes, they wiped us out. Do you think you can wait until tomorrow? I’ll call Kayla first thing in the morning and invite her to come over and join us as soon as she’s able to.”
“I suppose that’ll have to do.” Mrs. Jameson huffed, unhappy with the delay.
Jaden changed the topic to cover a more immediate need. “Do we have any dinner or should I order some pizza?”
His mother finally smiled. “Yes, we have dinner. I’m your mother—I know you and your endless appetite! I expected you’d be ravenous when you arrived home. Dinner’s ready and waiting downstairs.”
Jaden briefly filled her in on their visit between mouthfuls. It wasn’t enough time or detail for her, but when Jaden pushed back from the table, she understood his only remaining thought was sleep. Sighing and swallowing her impatience, his mother bade him a good night’s rest.
When Jaden woke the next day, his mother wasn’t home. She’d left a note on the refrigerator apprising him of her morning’s agenda and urging him to make good on his promise to get Kayla there as soon as possible.
The thought of seeing Kayla again made Jaden smile. He missed her. Glancing at the time, Jaden debated whether it was too early. An irrational, insistent part urged him to call as soon as possible, while another more logical part told him a considerate person would wait another hour before calling in case she was still sleeping. Jaden went with waiting, much as it irked him to do so.
After breakfast, he wandered back to his room and flopped onto his bed. Grabbing the rubber ball that lay on his bedside table, he began tossing it as he usually did. Thunk, dink, thwack; thunk, dink, thwack. The rhythmic sound the ball made as it hit the hard floor, bounced up against the wall, and flew back to his hand was soothing, and the mindless repetitive motion was conducive to thinking. And Jaden wanted to think.
Something was flitting around on the edge of his consciousness, bugging the fire out of him. Jaden continued throwing the ball, trying to capture the elusive thought.
They’d had fun with his gran, but it hadn’t been particularly productive. They had neither found the map nor located the other seekers. On the upside, they had another person they trusted who they could discuss ideas with.
Also, they were now in possession of both the relic stone and the key—although fat lot of use that was because they had no inkling as to the purpose of either. Jaden glared at the beautifully engraved key, resting on the bed next to him. Despite several web searches whilst at Gran’s, they were still no closer to learning the significance of its markings, if they even meant anything.
What had meaning was the conversation with his mother when he’d arrived home. Jaden couldn’t imagine what she wanted to tell them. Lifting his hand to catch the ball, a loud crash outside momentarily distracted him. The ball glanced off his hand, rolled off the bed, and bounced across the floor, coming to rest against his sports chest against the far wall.
Jaden grunted, annoyed he had to get up. What had that noise been? He poked his head out the window, looking in both directions, but saw nothing.
Irritated, Jaden stomped over to the wayward ball. As he reached down to pick it up, he accidentally kicked it, sending it skittering behind the chest. Muttering, he lunged and squished his arm into the narrow gap between the chest and the wall, trying to reach the ball.
Jaden swore softly when he realized he would have to move the chest to retrieve it. Putting his shoulder against the chest, he shoved it sideways, satisfied when it groaned out of the way. He snatched up the obnoxious ball. Rising, he stood with the ball balanced on his palm, wondering what was bothering him. It came to him with sudden, blinding clarity.
Crashing onto his knees, Jaden inspected the wooden chest. It was a battered old thing, passed on by his older brother, who had inherited it from his mother’s brother. It had long outlived its purpose as a toy box and now served as storage.
Beveled wooden edges framed each panel making up the sides and top of the box. Ornate reliefs of nursery toys from a bygone era decorated the panels: rocking horses, lettered building blocks, steam trains, dolls, and bats and balls of all sizes decorated with stripes, stars, and dots. The reliefs were worn with age and marred by countless scratches and dents.
But it wasn’t the sculpted toys that had caught his attention—it was the indistinct markings etched into the panel behind them. Markings so faint they were barely there.
Dragging the chest into the swathe of sunlight cutting a brilliant path across his floor, Jaden examined the faint symbols curling over the area between the sculpted images and the beveled frames.
Eager to confirm his suspicions, Jaden vaulted over to his bed, snatched up the key, and rushed back. Meticulously, he compared the markings. They were definitely the same, the only difference being those on the box were on a larger scale. Trembling with anticipation, Jaden scrutinized every square inch of the wood, hunting for the keyhole he was sure he would find.
The bronze latch securing the lid to the box had nothing resembling a space for a key, nor was there any fissure in the lid itself. In rapid succession, Jaden scanned each of the side panels, finding no openings on the first three. Turning the box so the last side panel faced him, he felt panic welling up. It has to be here—it just has to be. There must be a keyhole. Desperate, Jaden ran his hands over the panel, his fingers searching for what his eyes might miss. And he struck gold.
Jaden inhaled sharply. The revelation was almost too wonderful to be true. Nearly invisible to the naked eye, tucked away in the corner where the horizontal and vertical beveled edges met, was a tiny slot.
With
out force, Jaden inserted the key. It fit perfectly, only there was no space to turn it. The key lay flush against the side panel. Hardly breathing, Jaden waited for something to happen. But nothing did. Jaden poked at the key, confirming it could go in no further. Still nothing. He peered at the slot. If nothing’s happening, maybe this isn’t the right place? Maybe the carpenter made a calculation error here, and the resulting hole is just coincidentally the correct size? Some coincidence.
Jaden leaned back, sighing. So much for that idea. The only part of the box he hadn’t yet examined was the base, but he doubted it would have the keyhole. Just to be sure, he upended the box, scattering its contents. Sure enough, just as he’d suspected, the bottom was a blank piece of wood. Absolutely nothing on it, not even the strange markings. Exasperated, Jaden kicked the empty box until it was the right way up again. Now what?
Reaching down, he tried removing the key. But it was stuck. There was no space to wiggle it out either. Blast! How will I retrieve the key?
Jaden ran up to the transport room and scratched around until he found a pair of pliers. Back in his room, he tried prying the key out, but the plier tips were too chunky for the narrow opening. Annoyed, he smashed the pliers down on the wooden floor. The loud bang moderated his foul mood. He had to calm down, or he’d end up breaking something as he usually did in this rash frame of mind.
Jaden studied the box, analyzing other ways he might remove the key. But think as he might, the only solution he kept coming back to was sawing it out, which would destroy the box, something he was loath to do. Crouching, Jaden ran his hand over the smooth wood of the corner imprisoning the key, wondering how angry his mother would be if he wrecked the box to get the key back. His fingers were traveling absently down the vertical edge when his thumb unexpectedly encountered a small bump about halfway down.
Puzzled, Jaden moved his hand back to the bump, sure it hadn’t been there before. He pressed it, and the key popped out, ejecting just enough so as not to fall onto the floor. Huh, there must’ve been a latch that engaged when I inserted the key.
Destiny Series Boxed Set Page 26