by Jaymin Eve
As we walked out of the compound, the sun was encased by dark ominous clouds, casting the streets in shades of gray. Shrugging my pack higher, I led the way to the alley. We needed to set up base before nightfall. Lucy’s shorter legs struggled with my pace, so I slowed. Still, it only took a few minutes to reach the alley entrance.
Lucy puffed hard. “Damn, I’m unfit. I need to start jogging, if this running-for-our-lives thing continues.”
“Told you escaping the compound was useful. I’m always running for my life.”
We moved along the alley. When we reached the red dumpster, I threw my pack down beside the wall. “We should move this away from the bricks, get in behind it.”
Lucy dropped her pack too. “Abbs, I’m wearing Vuitton runners. One doesn’t move bins in Vuittons.” They were bright purple runners, with large yellow stars on each side.
I shook my head. “Luce, you have two seconds to start moving this dumpster or I am dropping you back to Olden.”
Sighing, she moved at a snail’s pace around to the side.
I ducked to the front. As I braced my hands to push, I sensed a disturbance behind me.
I spun and cursed. Oh hell. We were in trouble.
Three men stood in the alley entrance, blocking the exit.
Dark-blue facial tattoos were evident against their light skin. Tribal in design, the minor members’ were simple, the higher ups more intricate, identifying them as Brawler Gangers.
“Abby,” Lucy whined from behind the dumpster. “Are you helping? What the hell? Ouch! Broke a nail ... I’m okay. Don’t panic.”
Her attitude would be funny if we both weren’t about to die.
“Uh, Luce, you might want to step out here.”
She appeared next to me, cradling her right hand. Noticing the looming men, she sighed. “This is bad, right?”
The shortest of the three stepped forward: someone of such average appearance he’d go unnoticed in regular society. Dirty blond hair, weedy build, small angry eyes. Before the war he’d definitely have been part of the stimulating field of accountancy. It’s always the ones with short-man syndrome.
“Look what we have here, brothers, two delicious morsels ducking into this little out-of-the-way alley.” He had a distinctive New York accent, clipping off the ends of the words.
The man on his right was darker and more solidly built. His tattoos less prominent, he sat somewhere in the middle of the gang totem pole.
“Ya, Jass, they have conveniently wandered themselves into our territory. Now, what should we do with them?”
“Is it our territory? Wasn’t youse just saying yesterday that the Kleps had this one?” With biceps the size of mini trucks, the third was the epitome of brawn over brains.
“Shut it,” Jass spat.
They fell silent.
“So, Abbs, I’m starting to think there’s an excellent chance these are the last faces we’ll ever see?” Lucy and I were creeping back. We had about ten feet to the wall.
“Fate could not be that cruel. Shouldn’t it be beauty at the end, not ‘thing one, two and three’?” I said.
Judging by the drawn eyebrows and blank stares, my words confused them. Guess Dr Seuss wasn’t on their reading list at gang school.
“We’re going to fight, right, Abby?” Lucy said breathlessly.
I nodded. “Hell yeah! I’m going all eye-of-the-tiger, pose-like-a-crane on their asses.” I smiled – never let them see you sweat – it’s the principle.
“Crane? Seriously? You should at least choose dragon or spider, you know, something that might actually scare them.” She flexed her hands, tightening them into fists before releasing again.
The men continued to advance toward us, their expressions smug and satisfied.
“I’m pretty sure they’ve been studying menacing behavior in A Morons’ Guide to Gang Member.” Lucy had decided taunting them into submission was the way to go. She shook her head. “Stop me, Abbs. You know when I’m nervous my mouth runs away.”
“Jass, did you hears what the short one said? Jass? She called us morons. Let me have her. C’mon, Jass.”
Jass didn’t even glance his way. His fist simply swung out and smashed straight into Stupid’s face. Which barely moved.
Great – his face is made of rock.
“There goes our hope they’d beat each other to death,” I snorted at Lucy. Focus, Abby.
Stretching my wrists, I stepped back to settle into my favorite fighting stance.
Lucy met my gaze her smile widening. “Calling ‘plastic surgeon’ to the ring.” She turned to the men. “Hope you aren’t planning on keeping your noses in their current shape.” She shrugged. “I guess anything would be an improvement.”
Despite her continued taunting, I knew Lucy was ready too. She was bouncing lightly and her eyes were focused.
A cruel smile crossed Jass’s face. His anger filled the space like thunder rolling in over the plains. I knew then he would not be taking me alive. Rape and torture awaited us at his hands.
“We’ll teach you respect before this day is done. Trust me on that.” Jass low voice spoke for all three gangers.
Lucy’s word-vomit continued. “Okay, I’m about ready to panic now.”
In that moment, a flash of green clothing crossed my peripheral vision.
I ducked.
My training kicked in and I threw a right hook before diving out of the way.
“Oh, for the love of Klaus.”
I heard cursing. I’d connected solidly.
A shadow towered over me and strong hands gripped my arms.
“Aribella! Hasn’t anyone told you not to attack people here to help?”
The moment his accent registered, I stopped struggling. I locked onto a pair of brilliant blue eyes. “Ralph? Where did you come from?”
He looked confused. But Lucy knew immediately who was standing between us. She engulfed him in a huge hug. Well, the best she could, only coming up to his waist. He froze, glancing down in confusion.
“Thank God you’re here, Ralph. I thought we were goners.” She pulled back. “Damn, you’re tall.”
Laughing, I yanked Lucy free.
“Meet Lucy – best friend – insane.” Lucy glared for a moment, before sighing in acceptance.
The gangers were standing not far away, looking extremely irritated.
Jass spoke for the trio “What the hell is going on here? Where did he come from?”
Lucy whipped around to glare. “Quiet, morons, we’ll get to you in a minute.”
‘Ralph’ laughed out loud, infectiously. “I like her, Aribella. She’s a keeper.”
Lucy preened a little.
“And my name is Quarn,” he grimaced. “Not Ralph.”
Lucy shrugged. “Close enough.”
He rubbed his jaw. “That was a nice right hook, Aribella. But it might not be enough to get the job done.”
Before I could reply, he pulled a thin sword – the length of my arm – from somewhere in his clothes.
“What the crap? Is that a sword?” Lucy was wide-eyed. “Where did he pull that from?”
“Probably better we don’t know.”
He was impressive, looking ten years younger – warrior and his weapon.
“I haven’t had a decent battle in a while. Should be fun, don’t you think?” His blue eyes sparkled.
“Damn, I’m glad you’re on our side. You’re a little crazy,” Lucy said bluntly. “You know that, right?” She turned to me. “Surely someone’s told him before.”
I shrugged. She smiled now. “And totally loving the accent. I know what you’re talking about now. It’s pure magic.”
Quarn quelled his smile, but I’d still seen it.
Lucy was cute – she was one of those people that grew on you – like fungus.
He faced the gangers, his expression calm and serious. Without saying a word, he raised his right hand, palm up, and gave the old ‘come and get it’ signal.
Quarn remained quiet. The men shifted nervously.
“Where are their weapons, Abbs?” Lucy was bravely cowering in Quarn’s shadow.
I kept my voice low. “In my street experience, most gangers carry knives, but not guns.” The gun shortage was implemented to prevent inter-gang fire. Ganger leaders used to be taken out regularly. Now only a trusted few have the ‘hardcore’ weapons.
Quarn moved then, advancing toward the men.
Jass, Other, and Stupid held their ground for a moment. Their hands twitched at their sides, but in the face of Quarn and his sword they must have decided against using knives. Jass, expression deadly, gave me one last look before he gestured to the men, and they scurried out of the alley – like rats.
“They’ll be back, with many more,” I said to Quarn’s back.
He turned and smiled. He’d already sheathed his sword – somewhere.
“I have been on these streets for a long time, Aribella. There is nothing here that I fear.”
Lucy challenged him. “You know her name is Abby, right?”
“Outer names are nothing. They can change with the winds of time.”
Uh ... what?
“Nice work, Quarn. Once again I have no idea what you’re talking about. But before you disappear, we want to find dreamland. Can you help us?”
He smiled. “Your words are just as confusing to me. Dreamland?”
Oh, right.
“Sorry, that’s my really original name for this world I dream about. There was a woman, she spoke with your accent so...”
Something close to worry – disbelief maybe – crossed his features. “You dreamed of home? How is that possible on Earth? It’s a dead zone.”
I shrugged. Dead zone?
“You should have gone to ‘dreamland’ many years ago, Aribella. It has other names, but once again I find myself with too many stories and not enough time.”
“Why...?” I looked around. “Why am I still here then?”
Lucy interrupted then. “Could someone speak in English? Just for five minutes.” Annoyance replaced her usual cynicism.
Quarn’s already strong features hardened further. “We need to get Aribella back now. The countdown is on for both of these worlds. And it’s too dangerous to be roaming New York.” He sighed. “The reason you’ve been here for all of these extra years is ... I don’t have the power ... and I lost contact.”
Lucy glanced at each of us in turn.
“I’m really hoping when you say Aribella needs to go to dreamland, you mean Lucy and Aribella, and you just forgot about me.” She crinkled her nose at me. “He just forgot me, right, Aribella? Crap. Sorry...” She grinned. “It’s a catchy name.”
I shook my head and sighed. “I’m not leaving without Lucy, no matter how annoying she is.”
Quarn had paced a few steps away toward the alley entrance. He spoke over his shoulder. “You cannot go, Lucy Laurell. It is no place for an Earthling. You must stay here.”
Did he just say–? Hell. NO.
“I’m going to ignore that. Your not-very-veiled implication that I’m some type of alien ... well, it’s just rude.”
“Are you kidding me? Don’t ignore it.” Lucy interrupted me to glare at Quarn. “What do you mean: ‘Earthling’?” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Is Abby an alien?”
I groaned. It was time for the conspiracy theories.
“I knew it.” She was triumphant. “There’s no way someone gets to be as gorgeous as Abigail and then is also tall. On top of that her lips are full and perfect and naturally red without one ounce of lipstick. Come on, it’s not natural.”
“You’re not natural,” I retorted weakly.
Lucy was always harping on about how unusual my lips were. I was just happy they matched the blood-red of my hair and not the black.
Lucy glared. “Oh, I’m sorry, Extraterrestrial. Did you forget to put your happy skin on today? What, is green not your color?”
Quarn interrupted. “Sorry to cut this short. As amusing as the pair of you are, we need to move before the gangers regroup. I’m good, but even I have my limits.” He was still near the entrance to the alley, scoping it out.
“I’m. Going. Nowhere. Without. Lucy.” I had to spell it out.
He looked between us for a second before nodding. “It does not matter. I don’t have the power to send one of you there, let alone both of you.”
“How do we get more power?” Lucy looked around eagerly. “I’m ready. We digging for coal ... oil?”
I laughed. Fossil fuels. We’d have more chance of finding a magic wand.
He shook his head. “Nothing on Earth. The dead zone is more encompassing than we’d ever anticipated. I’d need a storage amulet, which is rare. A sacred stone, even rarer. And, as a last resort, a power on the other side to assist.”
I smiled. It spread broadly across my face. “Quarn, this may just be your lucky day.”
Moving to the wall, I retrieved my pack before reaching in to unearth the stone. Cupping it with care, I held it out in front of me.
“Is this a sacred stone?”
It was impossible to describe his expression. A sense of reverence fell over him. He stepped forward, laying a hand lightly, respectfully, on its blue surface.
“No, this isn’t, Aribella. This is something much more than that – it’s one of the royal pair, the most important stones in our world. Your … mother sent it with you ... I thought it was lost.” He whispered the last part.
I interrupted. “Mother? You know my family?”
He nodded. “Your mother, Lallielle, is one of my oldest friends.”
I shuddered, trying to fill my compressed lungs with air. “Does she have long dark hair? Green eyes a little lighter than mine?”
He nodded again.
I swallowed loudly, my throat suddenly dry. I’d guessed right for once.
I was filled with a strong urge to find her. “She was in my dream. She told me about the stone and then it just appeared. Could she have anything to do with this?”
He shook his head. “I don’t know. Which is not a comfortable place for me. I would have said not possible, but with the dream-spanning Lalli must have found a way.” A thoughtful look crossed his features. “The stone has power. It may have decided that it would come to you.”
He was reiterating my previous feelings: this stone was powerful. Still, I wasn’t that comfortable with its sudden appearance after so many years absent. In my world the very things you either want or need do not just appear before you. I’d proceed with care when it came to this stone.
“So now you have enough power, right? To get us to dreamland. Abby needs to meet her family.” Lucy’s blue eyes were huge.
Quarn held out a hand for the stone. At the last second before it left my hands, I realized I didn’t want to part with it. Despite my hesitation, I released it. We were out of time; I was surprised the gangers weren’t back already.
He cradled the solid weight to his chest. “I don’t know if this will work. My aim is to open a doorway, long enough for two energies to cross. Then it will close. No one will be able to follow and you will not be able to return.”
I grabbed his arm and, yes, may have stomped my foot like a child.
“Two? How many ways do I have to tell you? I’m not leaving without Lucy.”
He stepped away, dispelling my hand. “No, Aribella, it’s I who cannot leave.” His demeanor changed. “There’s something I can’t ... won’t ... leave yet. The time-frame has been accelerated and I’m not prepared.”
He seemed oddly vulnerable; the normal piercing of his blue eyes were dulled. I would have pried further, but a sense of panic consumed me.
“How will we survive without you? We have no idea what we’re doing.”
“You’re stronger than you thi
nk, Aribella. Don’t doubt your instincts. I have seen them serve you well on these streets. The same skills are required when you step through the door.”
Lucy linked her arm through mine. “Abbs! You haven’t told him about the forest incident.”
Oh, right. I’d momentarily forgotten about that odd little trip.
“The day after we met, I came back to this alley to find you. This crazy pain, like knives carving into my skull, struck, and when I opened my eyes I was in the ‘royal forest’. I trailed the last word. “How could this happen? What does it mean?”
Quarn gripped my other arm, pulling me closer. Lucy wasn’t budging, so her tiny frame flew as she was dragged along.
He spoke with intensity. “What happened there? Did you meet anyone?”
“Well, there were two people there. Someone named Lucas, who I didn’t meet, and Brace. He ... uh ... crashed into me in the forest.”
He drew his slightly bushy eyebrows in to form confused lines across his face. “I don’t understand, Aribella. Of all the people that could have pulled you there, people far more important, why was it Brace?”
“I don’t know,” I murmured. “But Brace and Lallielle are the two from my dreams.”
Quarn shook his head. “There must be a connection there. Something I do not know.” He looked uneasy. “You need to tread cautiously with Brace. He had not been around long when I left, but he has always struck me as odd ... unnatural.”
“Probably Brace’s sexy hotness. From Abby’s description, that’s unnatural.” Lucy turned to look at me. “Kind of like Abby’s hotness.”
“Luce, shut your trap.”
She saluted me. “Yes, your majesty.”
Quarn shook his head. “How did you know, Lucy, that the sexy-hotness of Brace is always the first thing on my mind?” His voice was deadpan.
I spluttered out my laughter. Quarn’s sense of humor was unexpected.
Lucy simply nodded, as if she was not surprised.
“Lucas is the emperor’s son. He is the last of his line. That might be important information for you.”
I looked at Lucy. “We’re so screwed.”
She nodded.
Sadness shot through me as I examined Quarn’s weathered features. “Will I see you again?”
“I don’t think your time in New York is finished, miqueriona.” He gave a half-bow.
It was so old-fashioned, I couldn’t help but smile.
Cradling the stone in his hands, Quarn stepped away, and within seconds his lips were moving, speaking quietly. From the bits and pieces I was hearing, it was not English.
A shimmer like a thousand fireflies descending in sync to form a veil, setting the alley wall alight. But it was gone as quickly as it appeared.
Quarn shook his head, his lips moving even faster, the intensity building.
It started slowly this time, like a whirlwind building strength.
The misty glow fell over the alley again. I stared in fascination at the beauty of the shining wall.
“It’s just like those old Christmas trees covered in fairy lights,” Lucy whispered.
I nodded, captivated, unwilling to move.
Quarn moved closer, disturbing my love-fest. “Safe journey, little ones. Find Lallielle. She will help you to embrace your destiny.”
He zipped the stone into my pack and, stepping around, his blue eyes were surprisingly gentle. His stern features softened as he leaned down and laid a kiss on my forehead. Tears pricked my eyes, but with a deep breath I kept them at bay.
“Keep the stone safe and secret, Aribella. It will seem peaceful there, especially compared to New York, but don’t be deceived. These worlds are more parallel than you think.”
“Well, that’s comforting. Thank you,” Lucy interjected, hands on her hips in impatience.
He smiled. “You two look after each other. It’s rare, in all of the worlds, to have someone you trust.”
Right ... all of the worlds ... wait, what?
He nudged me forward, toward the shimmering wall. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed Lucy’s hand. But I didn’t have to worry about her backing out. She was out in front, dragging me through. I closed my eyes at the moment of crossing.
I wasn’t sure what to expect, a tingle, some type of whooshing sound, but it was calm, like stepping through an opaque mirror. One step and we were on the other side.
Chapter 5