by Jaymin Eve
“I’m trying out for the next swim races, long distance,” I slurred.
She just squeezed me tighter. “Thank you for saving us. Raror and Gladriel are also out looking for you. I can’t believe I found you. We need to get you back before your father kills all Spurns for their stupidity, and then drains the ocean to figure out where you went.”
I managed a chuckle. Her words were humorously accurate.
“Can you hold onto my back while I swim us to the Isle?” Her serious features regarded me in concern.
I must have looked a little worse for wear, but I managed a nod.
She helped me hook my arms, not too tightly, around her neck.
She started off slowly, probably to see if I could actually hold on, before her speed increased. Despite my greater height and weight, she seemed to have no problem dragging my butt through the water. I closed my eyes.
I must have drifted off because I was startled as Talina came to an abrupt halt. Shaking off my fatigue, my lids opened slowly. We weren’t at the Isle yet. Water still surrounded us, but there was an obstacle in our path: an anemic-looking blond Walker.
“I would normally say give me the Walker and I won’t kill you. But today I’m not feeling so generous.” His fury ricocheted ripples through the water.
“Seriously, can’t you take a hint? She doesn’t like you, creep. Go back to your own planet and, like, invent a girlfriend. That’s your best chance of locating someone who doesn’t find you toxic.”
Talina shocked me again, channeling her inner Lucy and challenging the crazy man. Beneath my hands I could feel her start to vibrate. Within a matter of seconds we were in the midst of a full storm. The water swirled in great arcs around us, large crashing waves and whirlpools utilizing massive volumes of water.
And then he was gone, swept up in a water spout.
The winds were out of control, strong enough to bundle up the Walker and drag him into the air. But we were safe in the center. Talina was burning hot to touch, I could feel the power as it erupted from her. I was afraid to move or speak, knowing I would disturb her focus.
Eventually, though, I had to help her reel it back in.
“Damn, Talli, you certainly pack some punch there. Tell me why you didn’t destroy Gladriel and her petty words years ago?”
Her head whipped around, and I was staring into pure yellow eyes. For a moment there was nothing in there that resembled my friend, just a cold-blooded creature. I kept my expression calm, waiting, allowing her to examine me, and then slowly my friend bled back into her darkening eyes.
“Abby, did I hurt you?” Her voice was frantic as her once-again-brown eyes scanned me.
“Nope, girl, you saved me again.” I had no idea where the Walker had disappeared to, but he was like a damn yoyo; he’d be back. “But let’s book it out of here. I’m thinking once again we only have a temporary reprieve.”
She nodded and, gripping my arms, threw me over her shoulder. We were off. I thought she’d been going fast before, but I realized I’d been deluded. Now her pace was so rapid we were almost skimming the water.
“So, that’s some pretty amazing power you have there. You seem afraid of it, though.” My tone was as casual as I could manage.
She shifted her shoulders under my arms, I couldn’t tell if it was a shrug or just uncomfortable movement.
“I can’t control them, Abbs. It’s almost as if I black out and they take me over. I have no problem initiating the energy, but then I’m lost.”
I snorted. “Tell me about it. That flow of energy is the most addictive thing I can ever imagine. You feel invincible, and it’s so hard to shut it down. I’m always terrified that the next time I won’t be able to.”
She came to a screeching halt again. I frantically scanned my surroundings, looking for the next obstacle.
“What, Talina? What did you see?” I was tense enough to resemble a plank of wood.
She spun her head back to face me, there were tears streaming down her cheeks.
“You understand, Abby. For the first time in my life, someone actually understands what it’s like to be me.” She sobbed out loud.
My face softened as a flood of sympathy inundated me.
“You don’t have to worry about being alone anymore. I promise that whatever happens we’re a family ... half-Walkers have to stick together.”
She smiled through her tears. And then she pulled herself together. It was amazing to see. One minute she was crying, her face full of emotions, and then it was gone, as if they’d never existed. It was unparalleled emotional control.
“Sorry about that, Abby,” she said as she turned to face forward. We started swimming again. “I don’t like to lose control; it’s a shameful act to cry.”
Lifting my tired arms, I managed to slap her shoulder. Not enough to hurt – I didn’t have the strength for that – but she still noticed.
“Don’t let me hear you say that again, Gladriel,” I taunted her. “Your ability to feel and express that type of emotion is what separates you from the fish.”
She actually laughed a little then, and I joined in.
“Plus we’re females, Talli. We’ll cry for no apparent reason. You don’t have to explain or justify it. We get to claim that one just because we can.”
“Not on Spurn,” she said ruefully. “If you cry here it better be because something just ate your arm.”
I shuddered at the mere thought.
Of course Olden hadn’t encouraged crying on Earth either, but in a compound full of females, there’d been someone in tears at least once a day.
“How far are we from the Isle?” I glanced behind, just waiting for something to pounce on me.
“You should be able to see land soon,” she said, moving again, her breath even and calm.
“How do you orientate yourself with the same ocean surrounding you on all sides?” I was major jealous. I’d have been lost at sea forever. Well, until I drowned.
“All Spurns are taught how to use the moons as guides. Each of them is slightly different, and we know the general direction to follow. The largest and most rounded is the Baroon’s moon. Earon’s is more yellow, and has a curve to the left.” She pointed up as she talked, and I could see what she was saying. “I always know which direction to travel.”
“No one back home would believe this place could exist,” I said wistfully, enjoying the soothing sensation of water flowing over me, my exhaustion slightly abated.
“I thought First Worlders are taught of the youngling planets. Spurn shouldn’t be a surprise to them,” she said, sounding confused.
“Oh, yeah, I meant Earth. It’s a force of habit to think of it as home. I guess, deep down, I’ll always be an Earthling.”
I had never been so relieved to see land as the trees that spanned parts of the Isle came into sight.
“Josian!” I screeched as we entered the shallows, unable to wait any longer.
Talina leapt out of the water, dumping me into the briny depths.
Probably should have warned her.
Strong hands fished me out, and I clung to the familiar scent of my father. I knew he’d have heard my shouts this close to land.
“Aribella, can you see gray hair?” was the first thing he said to me.
I pushed my masses of wet curls off my face and looked up over his sternly set features, all the way to his fiery blood-red hair. There wasn’t an ounce of other color, especially gray.
“No Walkers in history have had gray hairs, and yet one teenage daughter has decided to prove us wrong again.”
“Dad, it wasn’t my fault. That stalker-Walker.” Where was Lucy when I needed a high-five for rhyming. “He took me again and ... I can’t get rid of the creep.”
Josian blinked a few times, but he remained relatively calm.
“What happened to the creatures?” I couldn’t see one ripple on the still water.
“Well, those two won’t be bothering anyone again.” Josian chuckled.
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“What did you do to them?” I didn’t want him to have killed them.
It wasn’t their fault stalker-Walker wanted to play god.
“Had a bit of fun. They were quite temperamental, and then I figured out where the Walker manipulation came from and reversed it. They are now harmless.” He chuckled. “Well, semi-harmless sea-dragons and octopuses.”
So they had been some kind of mutant hybrid. How did he even do that?
“Don’t get angry, baby girl,” Josian changed the subject, “but there is someone on land who wants to talk to you.”
He dragged me out of the water.
Talina kept easy pace with us.
I looked toward the land, wondering who was waiting there, though I had my suspicions. And then I could see him. In fact it was impossible to see anything but Brace as he stood bathed in the blue moonlights.
In the time we’d been apart, and yes, it wasn’t that long, I’d forgotten how impressive he was. I couldn’t read anything on his calm face. He didn’t approach us as we made it to land. He just waited. I was more than aware of how waterlogged I was. I never seemed to look my best around Brace, but I really didn’t care. He looked perfect enough for both of us.
Although my first few steps were shaky, I managed to gather strength and move up the beach. As I drew closer I could see that although his expression might be calm, his eyes were black.
“Hey, Red, I’m glad to see you didn’t drown at sea,” he said in a tight voice. “I would have helped search, but since you asked to be left alone ...” He shrugged.
Josian laughed loudly, head thrown back. His red hair already looked dry as it flew everywhere.
“Don’t believe a word of it, Aribella. Brace here did more than his fair share of scouring Spurn for you.” His laughter died down to random chuckles. “And he’s quite the bossy taskmaster.”
Brace’s face shot up – Josian was one of the few people who topped him in height. He glared his annoyance.
Talina muttered. “All Walkers are domineering asses.”
I imagined it hadn’t been easy being around Brace or Josian while I was missing.
“Tall ... overbearing ... domineering asses,” she continued.
“We can hear you, Talli,” Brace said drily, a slight smile crossing his face.
Talina blushed then. This snarky attitude didn’t seem to be her normal personality. It had been a stressful few days.
“So the monsters are pretty much gone?” I asked.
Josian’s broad planes sobered. He nodded. “Yes, I’ve removed that energy, but if there are more out there they will need to be disabled.” His bronze eyes narrowed. “And of course the Walker must be dealt with.”
Out of the corner of my eye I could see Brace clenching his fists. It was one of the only signs of his anger and frustration. I was mesmerized by the continuous open ... close ... open ... close.
“I’m going to need Brace to stay around, to help me out,” Josian continued.
His expression didn’t change, but I noticed the gleam in his eye.
I glared at him. My father better not be playing cupid. Brace and I had enough problems without his clumsy attempt at mending bridges.
“I want to stay and help. My father is off on an unanticipated journey and will be busy for a while. Which should give us time to figure out what to do about him.” Brace’s eyes were locked on mine. “But I won’t stay if you don’t want me here.”
His voice wasn’t sappy with romance. It was just direct and to the point. And he was leaving the power with me.
“If Dad needs your help, then I would appreciate if you stayed,” I said stiltedly.
His grin said everything. I wanted him to stay with me. It was as simple as that. I was so off-kilter when he was gone and stronger when we were together. I’d had my little hissy fit, kicking him out of my life for all of five minutes.
And in those five minutes, especially when I was near drowning, I realized something. I didn’t care what Lucas said about me and destiny.
Brace was mine.
I could feel it in a tangible way when we were together, and if I survived this entire ordeal, he was my choice.
The connection between us was more than any prophesy, a true fate, not the illusion that Lucas was under.
Or should I say delusion.
I knew trust would take time to re-build, but I needed to give this a chance.
Chapter 10
“Has anyone seen Raror?” Talina’s words interrupted my sudden burst of understanding.
She frowned, scanning the deserted beach.
No one had.
The beach was completely devoid of all life.
“Where did all the other Spurns go?” I asked.
“They went back to the ocean as soon as I dispatched the creatures,” Josian said.
“What was all the fighting about in the first place?” I looked at Talina. “It was the Silver City, right?”
A single tear escaped from her simmering brown eyes. “Yes, everyone lost it when the city’s bubble collapsed. Ladre hasn’t been seen since. We don’t know what happened, and everyone assumed it was caused by you ‘aliens’. My family was chosen as a sacrifice.”
That explained some of the chaos.
“Of course, not everyone could agree, and then the creatures were back,” Talina continued. “They all went crazy. I couldn’t use my powers. I was so stressed, nothing responded.” She sniffed loudly.
“Yeah, you Walkers have a lot to answer for. These half-powers are not reliable at all.” I lifted my brows in Josian’s direction.
“Your mother filled me in on what happened, and we need to look closely at this. You can obviously utilize large portions of energy when you need, and then other times there is no response.” He looked thoughtful. “It may just be about training and development, or possibly it’s your half-sides warring with each other.”
“Talina!” The words were screamed along the beach, and we all spun around.
Brace moved protectively to my side.
Gladriel was fifty feet from us, closer to the water edge. Where had she popped up from? Her wraps were black, emerald hair blowing free in a long stream behind her.
“There you are, daughter. I have a little surprise for you,” she said.
I could clearly see her haughty smirk. She turned away from us to face the tree line to her left. Two men stepped out from the rows. I clenched my fists. One was my stalker-Walker, and the other ... I was pretty sure was Walker too. He was tall, with pitch-black hair, so black there seemed to be no other color or depth. His face was arrogant – big surprise – and his striding walk confident. Their faces were eerily similar, although their hair color was different.
“Oh, shit,” I blurted.
Josian laughed. “You’re lucky your mother isn’t here to hear that.”
I snorted. “I don’t know, something tells me she might have said something similar.”
“I have no comment on that, baby girl.”
The men paused on either side of Gladriel. The three just stood there staring at us.
“Do not make the first move,” Josian muttered from the side of his mouth.
I was about to question his reasoning, but the slight movement of his face warned me to stay quiet.
It took fifteen minutes for us to find the limit of Gladriel’s patience.
“Talina, you have asked me repeatedly about your father,” she shouted again.
I noticed that as soon as she spoke twin looks of anger crossed the two Walker faces. They’d been playing the same dominance game as Josian, and were not happy to be on the losing end.
“Come and meet your father, Talina.” She gestured up to the black-haired Walker. “Apparently, he, like your friends, has a great need for the special half.”
Between the lisping and sarcasm, her words were almost indecipherable. But we got the main idea. Talina faltered for a moment. I laid my hand on her cool arm. I really didn’t want her to go o
ver there.
“Can it be true?” she said, her tone shaky.
“Well, he is Walker,” Brace said, “and I’m pretty sure he is of our clan.”
“Do not step away from us, Talina.” Josian’s voice was low and serious. “I will protect you, but I need you to stay close to my side.” He glared down at me. “You too, baby girl. Lucy told me how you like to run off and play hero.” His warning was clear: no one was to play hero today.
He turned from us to boom along the beach. “Identify yourselves and state your business.”
Gladriel’s group shifted uncomfortably as Josian’s power bled from him.
The blond one stepped forward. “I am Traktin of Doreen, and I wish to officially challenge you, Josian of Doreen, for possession of the redhaired half that you have protected at your side.”
Josian groaned low then. I turned questioning eyes in his direction, but he was still focused down the beach.
“I am Almastore of Abernath.” The black-haired man stepped forward. His hair was shorter than I had originally thought. “And I wish to claim my daughter. She is Walker, and belongs with her clan.”
“Give me a moment to confer with my associates, and I will respond to each claim.” Josian’s expression remained impassive, but I could almost see his cells vibrating.
I wasn’t sure why.
He gathered us closer, his voice low and serious.
“I am sorry, both of you, but here is a crash course in Walker politics.”
He looked at us, and I had no doubt something serious had just occurred. The waves of fury flowing from both Josian and Brace attested to that.
“Our female Walkers are rare, and in the last few millennia the unmated females have become almost non-existent.” He put an arm around me, pulling me close. “If you have not been through the mating ceremony, any Walker can challenge for the right to mate with you.”
I snorted then, pulling out from under his grip. “Are you kidding me? What, are women like possessions you just trade around?”
Talina nodded, but instead of showing anger like mine, her face was pale and drawn.