by Jaymin Eve
Silence echoed around the room. No one seemed willing to break the fragile air, but I had their undivided attention. Finally, Gladriel spoke.
“Talina?” Her pulse was visibly pumping in the pink skin on her throat. “How can she be special ... wanted ... needed for anything of importance?”
“Mother, for the last time, stop this.” Raror was on his feet, the air around him echoing his anger. “Stop blaming Talli for your mistakes and hurts. It is not even Spurnian to keep holding on so hard to the wrongs you feel.”
I expected Gladriel to rise to her feet in her usual wave of anger, but instead she shrank in on herself at her son’s words. Raror faced me, and with a sigh of resignation spoke.
“I have known since her water-birth that Talli was both beyond-this-world special, and someone I would love more than my own self.”
Talina’s lashes fluttered at these words. She pressed one of her hands against her cheek, hard enough that her nails would be cutting small crescents into her lightly pinked skin.
“She’s made me a better Spurn, and has given all of us a welcome insight into humility, empathy and sympathy.” His words rose to a crescendo now.
I felt an urge to move back on my mat, but his will just wasn’t strong enough for me to obey.
“I tell you this now, Abigail of First World, so you understand: I will never let my sister go without a battle.”
“Raror, please.” Talina’s gentle voice drew our attention. “Please let Abby tell her story. I still do not know anything, and I long to understand.”
Raror deflated as if the wind had died in his sails. He sat again.
And suddenly I had the floor.
I jumped right in this time, before we were interrupted by more angry family members or ... maybe pirates? It was a water world; it could happen.
“I’m a halfling, the same as you, Talina. And in fact our fathers are from the same race of ... people.” I just couldn’t bring myself to say god, at least not before giving a little more explanation. “I’ve only recently found this out myself. We’re half-Walkers.”
Talina nodded. “Yes, Gladriel has explained my father was Walker, and that he was from another world, but that is all she knew.”
I shot a glance at Gladriel. Her gaze was fixed and I realized she was staring without focus into the center of the room. Her cold features showed no emotion.
“Walkers are an immortal race; they wander amongst the worlds, as they have no planet of their own. They’re the very reason we all have stories and a history of gods.”
“No ... No ... No. This can’t be right,” Gladriel whispered to herself over and over. Her head whipped up to lock me in that eerie yellow gaze. “Almastore was not powerful; I sensed nothing from him in the time he spent on Spurn.” She sighed. “But he also assured me that there could be no child from our union, that damn liar.”
“Walkers are very powerful, but I don’t know much about them either. I spent very little time with my father before I had to leave to come here.” I brushed my hair back from my face. “I do know that they can manipulate energy and can probably mask their own power, and that they have always believed that they could not have children outside their own race.” I gestured to myself and Talina. “As you can clearly see, they were mistaken, but it’s still extremely rare. Apparently, their halfling children, and there’s only one on each planet, will only be carried to term by the most powerful woman on each of the youngling’s planets.”
A flash of arrogance crossed Gladriel’s face.
“And that’s what has led me to Talina. My job is to gather the halflings, and then together we need to contain the Seventine.”
“What are the Seventine?” Raror spat out.
I blinked at his tone. Someone was not happy. “They’re the anti-Walkers, basically. Created and contained in the origin, someone is releasing them. Which, according to – well, everyone – will spell disaster for all the worlds. The half-Walkers are all that can stop them.” I wasn’t sure I believed that, but the story had to be good or Talina would never leave.
“Thank god.” Talina’s words surprised me.
Instead of freaking out, she showed relief.
“Thank the gods. I finally have a purpose outside of the hell that has been Spurn.”
It didn’t look as if I was going to have much trouble convincing Talina to leave.
“Talina! No!”
Her brother, on the other hand, was going to be a far harder sell.
Talina locked eyes with Raror.
“You can’t leave me, Talli. I’ll have nothing without my family.”
As she moved across the room to comfort him, he trapped me in a gaze of despair.
“Where is your proof of this? Why should we believe you? Why should I just let you take my sister away? For all we know, you are trappers, and have come to collect people from each of the planets. I know, once she is gone, there is no way for me to protect her. I promised.” He turned back to Talina. “I promised I would protect you always; how can I do that if you leave Spurn?”
I had no idea how to reassure him.
I looked to Lucy for help. She was the one most people instantly liked. They found me odd. But she just shrugged, her blond hair bouncing against her bare shoulders. My eyes moved again, searching for assistance. They locked on Brace and Lucas. In unison, as if they had been mentally discussing it, they both pointed to their right eye and traced the mark.
I needed to bring out the Walkers’ origin stone, the moonstale crystal, to prove at least one part of my story.
“I can show you that we’re from the same race, and you’ll understand the meaning of my mark,” I said as I reached for my world necklace.
It was the only personal item I had retained. Talina and Raror faced me, their heads tilted to the side in identical movements.
I hesitated with my hand on the clasp. Since my enlightenment, I hadn’t stood so exposed in the light, and I remembered that last pain intimately. I also wondered what would happen to my permanent mark. Pushing that flash of doubt aside, I flicked open the clasp and let the yellow light bathe the room.
Chapter 5
The light filled the section of room where I was standing. It was always the same: the glittering crystals and my cravings for them. They were so hard to focus on. The shiny depths continually shifted and changed, even within the small cavity of my locket.
“Talli!” Raror’s strangled gasp stole my focus.
Talina’s eyes were huge as she looked around. Clearly she had no idea what was happening. I immediately moved a step closer. Her mark was different to mine, thicker, more tribal in design, and it was black, standing out starkly on her skin. She locked eyes with me, and a connection flowed between us. I could hear her voice in my head; it sounded like an inner monologue of panic.
Why is everyone staring at me? … Abby’s marks look stunning but why are they glowing so …?
The words were faint and disjointed, but I picked them up like a radio wave. And then they were gone. Had she heard anything from me? As a precaution, I added another level of protection around my mind. Even with depleted energy, the shield protecting my thoughts never wavered.
“Get her a mirror or something,” I said over my shoulder as I took another step closer.
“Abby, your marks are glowing red, and swirling even more than usual,” Talina said in a half-whisper.
I sucked in a breath as she repeated the words I’d inadvertently picked up from her thoughts.
“Talli,” Raror said again, capturing her attention, “you have marks too. Her story is true ... you are ...” His lisping was worse when he was upset. “You’re going to leave me.”
She shook her head. “No, I will never leave you here with Gladriel.”
He shook his head, regaining his composure. “Right, you can’t leave. I know the marks are there, but we have no way to verify any of the other information.”
Raror faced me again. “We need to convene before the co
uncil to discuss this; Ladre would not be happy for you to just stroll in here and take Talina away.”
I was about to protest when an emerald-haired Spurn entered the room. He was carrying a smaller version of the shell mirror I’d used upstairs. As Talina stared at her new reflection, I realized Gladriel had not moved. She was still seated, and had now commenced eating her portion of the meal that she’d neglected earlier.
My jaw tightened and my hands clenched into fists. Bitch. I gave Talina a few moments to observe and feel the thrill of her marks before I slammed my locket shut. My anger flowed over. I wanted Gladriel to care for Talina, to show her just a minute portion of love and kindness. I must have been flashing back to growing up under the heartless Olden’s ‘care’, because suddenly I was taking this treatment very personally.
Could Gladriel not see the damage she was doing, the damage she had done to Talina? Fury continued to build inside me, and my energy started to respond. I felt the burning heat.
Closing my eyes, I struggled internally, but it quickly reached the point where I couldn’t contain the mass of energy pulsing within me demanding to be released. Where had it all come from? A minute ago, I’d felt empty.
Eventually, I had no choice but to let free my emotions, my pain and anger, my need for Gladriel to see what a sea-bitch she was. It forced itself from me in a burst of light. I closed my eyes, and instead of fighting the pull of power I encouraged the release. Relief flooded through me and I reveled in the power as it flowed. My head fell back, I arched my neck, floating in endless waves of energy.
“Abbs!”
Words started to penetrate the field of power I was releasing.
Lucy screamed at me, “Abby, shut it down, whatever you’re doing.”
Strong hands gripped my arms, and I dropped my chin and my eyes flew open.
Brace held one side and Lucas the other. Between them they blocked some of the visible stream of silver light emanating from me. With a strangled breath I started the difficult struggle to slam the lid back on the power. After a moment I realized that half my trouble was the addictive nature of the power. It felt good; I felt strong and invincible. I knew that I needed to let that feeling go. Like a junkie, I eventually weaned myself off it, and as the light abated the room fell silent.
I looked around. Brace and Lucas still held my arms, but no one moved. Everyone appeared to be in the same trance-like state, as if they had been frozen in their last movements, staring off into space.
Panic consumed me. What had I done to them?
Brace shifted then. Shaking his head, he stared down into my shocked face.
“What have you done, Red?” He echoed my thoughts. For the first time he seemed disarmed, as if he did not have control of this situation. “What was that energy-release all about? I just saw some of your life.” He shook his head again.
“What?” I whispered, my voice low and tight. “I don’t see anything?”
“What were you trying to achieve when you released your energy?” He reached over to nudge Lucas.
The tall blond shifted but otherwise didn’t respond.
I let the words fall over each other in panic. “I was annoyed at what a cow Gladriel is. She treats her kids like crap. I wanted her to see the damage she’s done. How horrible it is to grow up without love ... family.”
I shifted my gaze. My heart rate settled as Samuel and Lucas started to stir. They blinked their eyes twice, although the room remained silent.
I turned back to Brace. “Since I don’t actually know about Talina’s life, I must have projected my own.”
“This isn’t a power that I’m aware of.” Brace looked calm, which was awesome. His calmness would keep me from freaking the hell out. “But it’s a little remarkable. The scene was so real. I caught a brief glimpse of you as a young girl; you were asleep.”
I glanced about. “Do you think everyone is seeing the same thing?” I didn’t like my personal life being broadcast.
“It’s like Lalli,” Brace said all of a sudden, before locking me in his gaze. “This is a take on Lalli’s power of dreaming. You’re simply able to project dream scenes out in the open, while people are awake.” He laughed, in a short derisive manner. “That’s a very strong power, Abby. A little scary.”
I agreed. What I had just done was completely debilitating. I could take out each one without them having the smallest chance to defend themselves.
“Why are you not still under the projection?” I asked him, without any real hope he’d answer.
He’d hate for me to accidentally learn something personal about him.
He closed his eyes briefly. “I’m going to tell you, Red. I don’t think it’s possible to keep my secrets for much longer. You and I ...” He sounded semi-serious for once. “We need to start working together.”
I felt a flash of annoyance when Lucas’ groaning interrupted us. Brace finally seemed to be opening up.
Lucas pulled back from gripping my arm. His icy blue eyes locked with mine.
“Abby, that was interesting. I don’t know how, but I’m pretty sure I just saw part of your battle on Earth.”
His eyes rested on my chest, and for once I think he was looking for the knife wound, not my breast size.
I flicked the briefest glance at Brace. He shook his head. Either Brace had missed the last part, or everyone had seen a different section of my life.
“Anyone want to tell me why I just relived our intro to puberty, Abbs?” Lucy yelled at me from across the room. “I wasn’t that keen on it the first time around; I certainly didn’t need the replay.”
She didn’t sound angry, just confused like the rest of us, me especially.
“What did you do to me?” Gladriel was on her feet now, her voice low.
She barely even lisped as she stalked across the room. Her long hair moved on its own, twisting around her head until it stood out in thick tendrils.
“What’s with the freaky hair?” Lucy whispered.
“Their hair is like a limb; it has an ability to move all on its own,” Samuel replied.
Gladriel halted before me.
“How dare you use your witch magic on me. I am the head of Earon. I am the ruler in these waters, and I will see you put to death for this.”
I only had to look once into her yellow eyes; she was serious and absolutely furious. Anger bristled off her in waves, and the room started to fill with Earons.
“Mother, calm the hell down.” Talina moved over and inserted herself into the space between me and her angry mother. “Abby did not do that on purpose. It’s just like those times I have lost control of my powers and it lashed out.” She stood tall and proud for once, and I was finally seeing the Walker in her. “It’s the reason I always stay as isolated and unassuming as possible. I am afraid I will hurt someone again.” She looked back at me. “Is there any possibility we are going to find someone who can teach us to harness and control this power?”
I shrugged. “I hope so. My energy is temperamental to say the least, and I have no idea what I just did. Some weird spin on my mother’s power.” I glared at Gladriel. “I was trying to show you that your actions have hurt Talina, relegated her to a life of being nothing more than a joke here. And you had the ability to prevent much of this, especially within Earon.”
Talina lips lifted in a soft smile as I continued.
“But I know now you’re never going to care. You’re cold-hearted, and you’re a bitch, and there’s no changing this.”
Gladriel’s expression didn’t shift. Either she hadn’t registered the insult, or she didn’t care.
“Word, Abbs,” Lucy chimed in as she moved closer. “But why did we see your life?”
“Because part of Talina’s pain is also Abby’s. Their halfling status has molded their lives,” Samuel answered.
I raised my eyebrows to acknowledge his insight.
Lucy blew me a kiss.
I didn’t need it. I already knew she loved me, but it was always
nice to be reminded. I returned her gesture.
“Leave us.” Raror waved to the Earons standing in the room.
Their eyes flicked to Gladriel, but when she didn’t contradict him, they left. With a huff, Gladriel followed.
“Awkward ...” Lucy said.
I burst out laughing.
Talina joined me with a few chuckles. The men looked at each other, small smiles on their faces, but refrained from joining in.
“So, Abby, tell me what this plan is for Talina and the rest of the half-Walkers once you rescue them. If she is granted permission to leave, when will I see her again?” Raror’s questions dispelled any lingering laughter.
Someone clearly didn’t want to waste time on humor.
“I’m sorry, Raror. I knew when I was sent to find these girls I’d be disturbing lives, but it’s so much ... worse. I honestly hate to be the bringer of this news.” The naked pain on his face made me uneasy and a little sad. But I continued to explain: “Despite the fact the Seventine have been imprisoned for endless millennia, someone has decided it’s an awesome idea to start releasing them.”
Brace shifted next to me. He didn’t usually fidget. Something was making him uneasy. I focused on Raror again.
“My aunt is a soothsayer; she foretold that the halflings would be the ones to banish them. That’s about all the information we have as well.”
“You haven’t mentioned where you will be taking her until you gather all of these halflings.”
I paused. We’d never discussed what to do once I found the halflings. I thought I’d be wandering around forever, only to return home empty handed.
“We should leave them at your parents’ house on First World, Abbs,” Lucy said. “The place is huge, and Lalli will keep an eye on them.”
I nodded. “I think my parents’ home is the safest. That way I can get around to all of the planets as quickly as possible.” I had another thought. “We live on the ocean, Raror. You can come with Talina, if you want?”
Talina’s face lit up.
He hesitated, before finally shaking his head. “I can’t. I have responsibilities. I am the next successor to rule Earon. With everything that’s happening here, I can’t abandon my people.”