Storm Front: NA Fantasy/Time Travel (Tesla Time Travelers Book 3)

by Jen Greyson

  “What happened to you guys? Where’s Papi?”

  He shakes his head and I don’t like the disheveled look of him. His jacket is bunched up around his neck like someone grabbed him and there’s a scuff across the tip of his left shoe. For Ilif, that’s as bad as Constantine stumbling in bloodied and missing his sword. He draws a deep breath and I hold mine in dreaded anticipation.

  “Your father and I have tried a dozen manipulations of the arc, and each time we are unsuccessful in locating Tiana or a trace of her. I worry Penya has figured out how to cloak them both.”

  “How?” Constantine steps closer to Ilif, making the lesser man wince.

  He finds his courage and puffs out his chest. “It was always Penya who erased Evy’s residue.” He looks at me. “Everywhere you went, she kept me from finding you.”

  I remember that, but back then I needed to stay hidden from Ilif since he despised me. Penya’s only gotten better at it. “That’s a big deal. How are we going to figure out if that’s what’s happening?”

  “I must return to my lab and adjust the calculations. Tracking her with my equipment gives us the highest probability of finding her. If we continue in this manner, it will be nothing but an exercise in futility. And if you’ll let me find her, then you won’t be in the middle of an alteration and you can immediately intercept her.”

  I open my mouth, but he holds up a hand to silence me. “I wish I had a more positive or assured answer. But we simply cannot continue crossing dimensions and time searching without further knowledge. With Penya erasing her residue, Tiana could be in the next room and we would not know.”

  “Really?” I thought if we were close, I’d get a ping or a feeling or something. That’s both shitty and good. She’ll have to damn near standing in front of us. All my training and powers afford me nothing… and when I need them most.

  Ilif nods, but it’s in defeat, not his usual know-it-all-confidence. “It is true.” He’s quiet and solemn and I’ve never seen him like this. I don’t like it. Allowing Penya to get the best of him is jacking him hard. He skimmed right over the technical aspects of tracing her and tweaking the math, stuff he’d ordinarily blather on about for hours. Penya’s latest stunt has cut us all off at the knees.

  Tiana bent over and tried not to puke. “Oh wow.” Her fingers curled into her stomach and she tried to make the ground stop spinning. Behind her, Penya patted Tiana’s back. “You’ll be fine. They will become easier each time.”

  “Oh man, I’m not sure I can do any more of these.”

  “Stand up.”

  “Not a good idea.” Tiana lifted up halfway and the ground tilted at an angle, forcing her to close her eyes again and swallow half a dozen times to keep this morning’s breakfast from launching itself out of her throat. “IDTk I like being a lightning rider. Did Evy have to do this every time?”

  “Each rider is different as well as every alteration. They’ll distress you differently and you’ll acclimates at your own pace.”

  “So no… No… Figures she’d get this right the first time. She always does.” Tiana groaned. “Man, oh God. Gonna puke. Yep, oh, jeez.”

  Penya took a large step back as Tiana vomited into the dirt. Evy could keep her lightning riding. She and Papi could conquer the world while Tiana did math problems safe at home. She didn't need all this adventure to feel good about herself.

  “Here, child.” Penya handed Tiana a soft handkerchief and she wiped her mouth, then tried to stand again. This time the horizon stayed like it was supposed to. Her gut settled and she took several deep breaths, then gave the handkerchief back. Penya waved it off. “Keep it, we have more traveling to do.”

  Finally upright and her eyes no longer wet with the tears of hurling, Tiana noticed the strangeness of where they were. Gone were the flat fields of grass, replaced now by a picture-perfect old-world European city, complete with spired buildings and an overcast sky. She couldn’t see much of the neighborhood beyond where they stood in the middle of a well-manicured park, but the cobblestone street hinted at a tidy row of houses on either side. “Where are we?” Tiana took another deep breath and wiped her trembling hands on her pants.

  “London, England, 1830. At the end of this street lives the girl I mentioned, Augusta Ada Byron. The next couple years are the most pivotal of her entire life. She will explore concepts promise to change everything. But she’ll miss an appointment would have changed the world. I need you to ensure the meeting happens.”

  Tiana’s eyes widened. “That’s how this works, then? I make them meet? That sounds super hard.”

  “Easy, actually. You’ll continue to skip forward along the timeline of the alteration affecting things along the way.” She tucked a strand of hair behind Tiana’s ear. “Don’t discount your ability. Your family has done this for years, it will come to you.”

  Tiana didn’t feel any of the confidence Penya saw in here. She’d never been sure of her abilities though and it was one thing she’d always admired about Evy, her unrestrained surety in her decisions. Maybe if Tiana could do this, get this girl to her meeting, maybe then she’d feel worthy of Penya’s words.

  “Ada is far more genius than the men working on the first computers. This opportunity will allow her the freedom to express herself scientifically, to show off her mathematical genius, and to prove women should never have to hide behind their initials.”

  Tiana blinked and frowned. She didn’t know much about Penya other than what Evy had told her—which wasn’t a lot—but Penya sounded like her friend Sasha’s mom after the divorce. She’d turned all wounded-bird about her soon-to-be ex, went all women’s lib weird and she was always telling Tiana and Sasha they needed to embrace their womanhood and not take orders from men. It made Tiana feel uncomfortable and strange. Penya was as manic as Sasha’s mom on a tirade right now.

  “That’s really great.” Thankfully, Sasha had figured out the best way to deal with her mom and Tiana used it now. “It sounds like you want to make things better for her and for all girls.” Tiana pressed her clasped hands to her chest like she’d seen Sasha do. “Thank you.”

  Penya preened. “You’ll do fine, Tiana. Just fine.”

  Ilif returns to the lab, leaving us to wait—which I hate more than anything. I didn’t want to leave London in case he got a hit on her and we could catch up to them. Constantine paces the building, fascinated by its construction and the piles of scrap. I watch the door, too high-strung and twitchy to carry on a conversation.

  No matter how long it takes to fix things on his end, Ilif should arrive back here mere moments after he left… It’s already taking him so long.

  Metal scrapes across the concrete and I glance over my shoulder. Constantine’s tugging a heavy metal bar out of a pile. “Don’t get dirty.” He ignores me and I pace, unsure how much more of this I can handle. “We should go.”

  “Wait for him.” He sets the bar in his pile. I have no idea what he thinks he’s going to do with all that, it’s not like we can move it through time. I leave him to it, knowing it’s in his nature to stay busy and thinking of war and weapons. At least he has something to occupy his thoughts.

  I make two more circuits around the room and the air shifts in Ilif’s signature entrance. Relief washes through me, but it’s short-lived when he appears with a distressed frown. “What’s wrong? Is she lost? Hurt? Where’s Papi?”

  Constantine’s footfalls echo through the space as he hurries over.

  “I sent him home,” Ilif says. “We tried everything. Penya’s stayed ahead of us. I fear…” He swallows and looks away. “I fear she’s outsmarted me.”

  I don’t want him admitting that. Not this early in the game. “What do we need to do? Do I need to go look for her? I’m willing to do whatever—whatever it takes.”

  He purses his lips. “I don’t know. The adjustments I thought would work, haven’t. I need to spend more time and consult other experts. Fixing this will take me an extensive amount of work. I’m afraid until
I get figured out, the tracking is useless if Penya’s erasing her residue. I had a hard enough time finding you in Spain.”

  “How did you find her?” Constantine asks.

  “It was a fortunate turn of events allowed me to locate her. Penya won’t make mistake again. And she knows you’ll be in pursuit, which will keep her diligent.”

  “I’m going to look for her. I can’t sit around.”

  “In London?” Ilif scoffs. “You’re going to look for her in London?”

  “I’m not going to sit on my ass, and you know that. Come find me when you know more. We’re leaving.” I grab Constantine and pull him through the door. “I need clothes.”

  We head toward the shop where I purchased his. Constantine is quiet. I know he thinks I made the wrong decision but we can't discuss it right now. Certainly not out here in the open. People bustle past us and the women trip over themselves to get a second glance at Constantine. I press tighter but they don’t care. The fog has lifted since our arrival, but the sun is dull, erasing shadows and stealing the color from the day.

  He’s never held back his opinion when I’m being rash and unreasonable, which has me concerned he is now, when a wrong decision may cost Tiana. He takes in the sights and scenery with his quiet assessment and trails me into a women’s clothing store adjacent to the market.

  “Oh, hello!” A stunning brunette walks toward us, hands outstretched. She’s in full Victorian fare, complete with hat and petticoats. Every piece of her outfit is tailored to match from the cream colored hat daintily perched above her brow to the silken, light-blue fabrics gathered at her waist and cinched beneath a corset. Her flowered skirt falls in ruffles across her thighs, stopping at the top of her buttoned boots. They remind me of the ones I wore to dinner first night with Nikola. This lady is on the cusp of fashion.

  Her gaze slides right off me and she addresses Constantine. “My, do come in. I don’t believe I’ve seen you around here.”

  “I was hoping you have an outfit I can purchase today,” I say pointedly.

  She sniffs, taking in my jeans and tight shirt, then smiles adoringly at Constantine. “Yes, well I can see where you’d want to look your best aside this man.”

  He nods curtly to her but doesn’t acknowledge her admiration of him as he steps away, receding to stand in front of the bolts of fabric stacked along the wall.

  I step purposefully in front of Constantine so she’s forced to look at me. “Can you help?”

  She huffs, then smiles apologetically at Constantine, like I’m some burden he has to endure. Her hands span my waist and she turns me once, then squeezes my hips. “You’re a healthy thing, aren’t you?”

  My eyebrows rise. I’ve been called worse, so I nod.

  “I do have one dress… We’d have to fit it to you—”

  “We’re in a hurry.”

  Her gaze darts to Constantine and she laughs coyly. “Yes, I imagine you are.” She touches the side of my hip again. “It will take me a moment.”

  She steps into the back room and I glance at Constantine. He’s mellowed; ankles and arms crossed as he leans against the wall, reminding me of a day seems so long ago when Anna fit me for my first outfit back in his time. That moment hasn’t come for him yet and I wonder how different it will be now. The fabric of his shirt stretches tight across his muscled biceps and the caps of his shoulders. The slightest movement would split them open. It’s no wonder he wears the loose tunics with nothing covering his bare legs. I smile at both the memory and his obvious discomfort. But out of place and out of time, he’s still watchful and protective. “I’m glad you’re here.”

  He grunts, his gaze flickering quickly down my body, then back up. “As am I.”

  She comes back, an emerald green dress draped over one elbow. “This will do lovely. Yes, yes. Fantastic.” She extends her arm and motions me toward a fitting area barely shielded from the front. Constantine comes alert and strides to a new position where he can keep an eye on me.

  “Oh! Well… Sir you’re not allowed back here,” she says with a breathless laugh. Her attempt to scold him falls away because she’s too enamored with him to hold any weight.

  “This woman doesn’t leave my sight.”

  “Oh!” She gasps and presses her dainty hand to her throat. “Well. Well, goodness.” She looks at me. “Is all right?”

  “He’s seen me naked.”

  “My! I didn’t realize you were married.” The sly tip of her mouth makes me think she’s had her fair share of sexual dalliances.

  I grin widely. This era isn’t known for laid-back sexuality and I don’t fit in anywhere, so I lift my chin before I answer. “We’re not.”

  She winks and makes quite a show at being affronted. “Oh my!”

  “The dress. Please,” Constantine says.

  She clutches the dress to her own bodice but only for a moment, recognizing the command of a man used to getting his way. “Just slip this on. It will go right over your, ahem, clothes if you’d like.”

  I shimmy out of my jeans and strip my shirt so I’m standing in my bra and panties. She makes another pointed comment about my scandalousness and I laugh. My tight jeans and T-shirt were nearly underwear for this time. While I smile and roll my eyes, I catch Constantine’s gaze in the mirror, instantly aware and lustful. My nipples tighten and I’d love nothing more than to let him take me right here in the store, but there will be time enough for after Tiana’s safe.

  Lifting the dress, I let the fabric fall around me, wiggling a little where it’s tight across my hips. The woman pulls it over my shoulders and buttons the back. “Yes. Yes, this fits you so perfectly,” she says, surprised. “I thought I’d have to take more in.” She frowns at my reflection. “Your figure is deceptive.”

  I have no idea if that’s a good thing or bad, so I smile, feeling like the less I open my mouth, the better. “We’re still in a hurry.” Every moment we waste here is distance between me and Tiana but this is necessary if we’re going to race through town inconspicuously.

  She shifts the fabric around, tugging it here and there. When she’s done and steps away, I’m impressed by the image. I could be my own ancestor, fitting perfectly in this time—finally. With Constantine at my side, we look like a properly turned-out couple. “Shoes?” I ask, pointing my bare foot. “And for him if you have any.”

  She notices his sandals, having been overwhelmed by the rest of him to notice before now. “I do have a pair of men’s that were made available recently. They might fit.”

  Constantine snorts and I can tell this is going to be a bigger challenge than getting the shirt on him. For a moment, I wonder if it’s worth it.

  “I don’t know why men agreed to this disastrous fashion,” Constantine says, scowling at his feet as we walk down the sidewalk, my arm tucked delicately in his like we’re normal people out for a stroll.

  I tug on his elbow. “It’s for a good cause. Hopefully we won’t have to go far. They have to be close, that’s why we landed here. She’s right here somewhere, I know it.”

  “Then walk faster.” He lengthens his strides and I try to keep up in the wobbly heels. The crowd ebbs and flows as we make our way to nowhere searching for a glimpse of either Tiana or Penya. With every wave of people pass, I’m assaulted by the stench of this place. Too many unwashed bodies and an abundance of perfume clog my nostrils until I have to breath through my mouth.

  We push on, block after block. Constantine’s height helps and keeps him scanning above everyone’s heads while I search every face and squint to make out the people across the street. They’re oblivious of my stares while they gawk at him.

  At the corner, we pause and watch. People watch back and step widely around us, wary of Constantine. Doesn’t help his face is contorted in his fierce warrior mask. I glance at everyone, relying on my rider instincts to guide me toward a person who might know where they are and who Penya’s trying to alter. Nothing, not a single ping of awareness registers.

 
; Defeated, I turn to him, but he doesn’t look down at me. His hands grip my arms and he narrows his eyes. “Do not turn. Penya stepped from a building half a block down. If she spots us, we’re finished.”

  “I can’t believe it. What do we do? Which way is she headed?” We’ve managed the impossible and I’m so glad neither of us was willing to give up.

  “Hurry.” He encircles my wrist and strides across the street, dragging me behind him.

  “Where?”

  He presses his lips together and picks up speed. I search everyone in front of us, but I don’t see Penya. I want to scream at the people clogging the way, but they’re screening us from Penya’s view and might be the advantage we need.

  “Damn.” He yanks me to a stop and presses against the window of a millenary shop. The glass creaks beneath his sudden weight.

  “What?” I lift up on my tiptoes but all I see are more head and hats, not a single familiar one.

  He tucks me tight into his side, further blocking my view, but quelling my antsy fidgeting. “I forget how terrible you are in battle. Stay still.”

  I do my best, but it’s killing me to not know where she is or why he’s frustrated.

  “She’s gone into a building. I cannot read the inscription over the door. Can you do it without being obnoxious?”

  I elbow him and strain to make myself as tall as I can. “Which one?”

  “Three doors down, on the left.”

  “Oh, it’s a restaurant. Uh,” about what he’d call The Pearl Olive… “Like a tavern, only fewer prostitutes. Typically more eating than drinking.”

  “Mmm.” He stays still and watchful.

  I can’t take it. “Is where she went? Was Tiana with her?”

  “She’s alone.” His jaw clenches and he continues to watch the Olive’s entrance. “Do we follow her or go in the building she left? Tiana has to be in there, right?”

  “Our wisest course of action is to follow Penya. That will give us an indication of what she plans next and we can act accordingly.”