The Shimmering

by Susan Kearney

  “Maglek let you see it?”

  “Lira’s astral spirit told me where to go.” After sharing her mind, she knew instinctively that no matter how impossible her words sounded, he’d believe her, and she took great comfort in his immediate trust.

  “Lira also told me where to find you,” he admitted.

  Wow. Lira’s astral spirit had contacted him, too. Considering she’d left her body to avoid Daveck, she’d come a long way as an astral spirit. And Daveck had changed as well.

  Sandra was pleased he’d handed her a weapon, and felt so much better now that she didn’t have to search the garden for the Zorash alone. She staggered after Daveck, who headed straight down a hallway, through the back of the foyer, and into a courtyard open to a twilight sky of deep dusky rose.

  Maglek’s residence surrounded the courtyard on four sides and reminded her of the architecture in New Orleans. However, there was no Southern charm here. Many of the plants looked dead. The earth was black. They had no difficulty finding the Zorash. The idol sat on a marble-like pedestal in the center of a sand garden.

  Daveck had shown her a picture of the Zorash before—a black cube base that supported a replica of Farii from space. But she hadn’t expected the outside to be clear crystal or the insides to look like computer circuitry. He’d told her the ancients had built the device, but she’d expected a religious icon—not a supercomputer chip.

  I am much more than a computer chip. The thought from the Zorash flowed into her head.

  And like recognizing a familiar voice, she knew immediately that the thought came from the idol. What are you? Why did you bring me to Farii? Why did you let Maglek use you for ill purposes?

  Like your computers, I must follow my programs. I cannot cause harm through action—

  You caused harm through inaction, she countered, wondering if Daveck were privy to this telepathic communication.

  I brought you here to save Farii. Your reward is . . . love.

  What? Stunned, her thoughts swirled. She’d always believed that something had brought her here and the idol had just confirmed her suspicions. The astral projection machine hadn’t allowed her to return to Earth because the Zorash had grabbed her, led her to Lira’s body.

  And her reward was love? Angry, scared, shocked, Sandra wished she could think with a clear head. Was the Zorash right? Did she love Daveck?

  They might not have known one another for long, but she’d shared his mind. Knew him better than she’d ever known anyone. And she’d liked what she’d seen. She’d admired his cause from the start, but she’d also learned that along with his determination he was generous, protective, loving. And he’d accepted her as an equal, a partner.

  She didn’t know when she’d fallen for him, maybe during the Shimmering. But she had fallen for him. Hard.

  She loved Daveck. A Sanroyai soldier. A warrior. An alien.

  Before she could think through the ramifications of what her feelings meant to her future, Daveck placed his hand on her shoulder and approached the Zorash. “We need to leave.”

  “Too late.” Maglek stalked into the garden, a scowl knotting his brow, his mouth a tight line, his eyes lit with a combination of fanaticism and power. Twenty armed men spread out around the perimeter, surrounding them.

  Once again they were trapped. If Daveck had a getaway plan he’d failed to mention it to her.

  “Ready weapons,” Maglek ordered.

  The soldiers aimed their guns at Sandra and Daveck like a firing squad. Sandra’s mouth went dry, her knees shook. Automatically she stepped closer to Daveck and closed her eyes. If she was to die in this body, she wanted Daveck to know how she felt. “I love you.”

  Daveck swept Sandra up next to the Zorash and snapped the Shimmering shield around the Zorash, Sandra, and him. In her surprise and fear, she’d forgotten his ability to protect her. For the moment, they were safe, but the clear shield reminded her they were trapped, surrounded by Maglek and his soldiers. And this time, Daveck’s own men weren’t coming to rescue them.

  “So what’s the escape plan?” she asked, remembering to hold still. The Shimmering might protect them but she didn’t want to lose a limb by touching it.

  “According to ancient texts, the Zorash protects Sanroyai warriors above all others.”

  “That’s it?” He’d just bet their lives on an ancient text?

  “Fire,” Maglek ordered.

  Bullets rained on the Shimmering. She held her breath, but the shield held. And then a bolt of electricity flashed from the Zorash to the Shimmering and . . . for a second the shield crackled with silvery electrical energy. And then metal objects, knives, and swords flew toward the Shimmering. With a clang, the metal objects attached themselves to the shield, and she suspected the Zorash had magnetized the shield.

  Release me, the Zorash demanded.

  “How?” she asked.

  “I didn’t . . .” Daveck answered her, obviously thinking she’d asked about how he caused the shield’s strange affinity for metal, then frowned. “The Shimmering is changing. It’s losing integrity.”

  “Hold on,” she pleaded.

  Release me.

  How?

  Release me. Hurry. He can’t hold the shield much longer.

  Tell me what to do. As she pleaded with the idol for more information, the shield thinned, weakening. Beside her Daveck trembled, straining with effort, putting out tremendous mental energies. Sweat beaded on his brow and neck. His heavy corded thighs quivered and his shoulders tensed as if he carried an enormous weight.

  Release me.

  Sandra traced her fingers over the idol’s spherical crystal, followed the smooth lines to the cool black base of the cube. Her finger slipped into a notch. She tugged.

  The Shimmering thickened. The idol appeared to levitate into her hands, weighing almost nothing, as if gravity didn’t affect it. And the Shimmering shield, with them and the Zorash inside, began to rise off the ground.

  “Stop them,” Maglek shouted, voice bellowing, lips spitting spray as his fury raged. But his men cowered back in fear of the idol, their eyes wide with terror and awe. Some of them made a religious gesture, touching forehead, lips, and breast.

  What’s happening? she asked.

  Tell Daveck to maintain the shield.

  She repeated the Zorash’s command to Daveck, although she didn’t think it necessary. Daveck maintained his efforts, despite their strange ascent. Sweat trickled over his brow and his breath came in great, shuddering gasps.

  His voice cracked with his effort. “I can’t keep this up much longer.”

  The shield with them inside rose higher, perhaps a full meter above the ground. Then they started to spin. At first they spun slowly, then faster and faster until Sandra’s head ached with dizziness.

  “Nooo,” Maglek screamed. “You won’t escape.” Like a maddened bull, he charged the sphere, jumping into the air, hands grasping at the spinning shield. He managed to cling to a sword that stuck to the shield due to the magnetic forces.

  As if the added weight made the task more difficult, Daveck shuddered. Sandra’s gut tightened against the nausea.

  And then the world . . . shifted.

  One moment they were in the garden, the next they were spinning so fast she couldn’t see past the shield. Luckily for her churning stomach, the spinning didn’t last long, slowing as suddenly as it had begun. And when she could once again focus, she saw they were no longer at Maglek’s residence but in a desolate valley filled with a sweeping vista of trees and grasslands. Outside the shield, gray clouds swirled in tornado-like patterns, picking up leaves, branches, tree trunks, and car-sized boulders before tossing the debris hundreds of yards away.

  In the distance, she spied mountains with snow-covered peaks. And through the windstorm and rain, Maglek still
clung to the sword and the Shimmering shield, but when he spied solid ground, he released his grip and dropped to the dirt.

  The Shimmering landed at the base of a megalith made of the same black polished stone as the Zorash’s cubed base. Clearly, the Zorash had brought them back to its home, where it belonged, where it could re-establish control of Farii’s weather.

  Release me.

  Carefully, she set the Zorash on the platform designed to hold it and heard a whirring click. The Zorash glowed a dull orange.

  Daveck, shaking and exhausted, finally dropped the Shimmering shield. Weapons fell to the dirt at their feet. Grabbing his opportunity, Maglek leaped forward to seize a blaster and a sword. But lightning popped in the air, a bolt from the Zorash directing fierce energy at the blaster. The scent of burning plastic combined with Maglek’s howl of pain, and he dropped the scorched weapon. Frustrated and enraged, Maglek lunged at Daveck with his sword.

  Drained from holding the shield for so long, Daveck scrambled to respond, his arm shaking, his fingers fumbling, his reflexes slow and clumsy. Terrified Maglek would strike before Daveck could defend himself, Sandra stuck out her foot, tripping Maglek and giving Daveck a precious second to retrieve a weapon.

  Shaking off his stupor and exhaustion, Daveck shoved her behind him and met Maglek’s blade with his own—just in time to defend himself. While Daveck was younger, bigger, and possessed more muscles, he’d just tapped all his energy by holding up the Shimmering shield. And Maglek’s strength was fueled by anger at losing the Zorash and insane determination to recover it.

  Heart thumping up her throat, Sandra feared that the longer the battle went on, the less likely were Daveck’s chances of survival. Maglek fought hard, his rage making him stronger and faster than she’d have expected.

  Scrambling on hands and knees, she searched for a functioning blaster, but the Zorash had melted all the weapons. And the swords were so heavy she could barely lift one, never mind use it. Above her head, she glimpsed Maglek’s advancing lunges and Daveck’s determination to hold position and protect her—but since he was clearly resolute on staying between her and Maglek, her current position was hampering Daveck’s freedom of movement, making him an easier target.

  She was about to scramble to her feet and move back to give Daveck maneuvering room when she spied a dagger. Pulse racing, lungs tightening, she grabbed the dagger and rolled away.

  She didn’t dare throw the weapon for fear of hitting Daveck by mistake.

  Perhaps she could circle behind Maglek. She had no idea what she could do to help, but she waited, determined to do whatever she could. As Maglek advanced and the two men circled and their swords clanged, it became impossible for Daveck to stay between her and Maglek. She shifted position, first to Maglek’s side, then to his back.

  When Daveck stumbled over a rock and Maglek surged forward, the older man’s blade slashing Daveck’s side, blood spouted and Daveck fell. He didn’t get up. Didn’t move. Blood welled along his side, indicating a long and severe gash.

  Tears flooded her eyes and rage filled her heart. Maglek raised his sword to strike the killing blow. Without thought to her own safety, Sandra lunged at his back with the dagger.

  As if sensing danger, Maglek flinched away and she stabbed his shoulder. Her effort was enough to cause his sword to strike dirt instead of Daveck. But with a roar of pain Maglek spun, faced her, and raised his sword. She stared into his enraged eyes and realized she was about to die. Sickening fear sapped her strength, caused her knees to buckle.

  But Maglek failed to account for her collapse and his sword, which he’d meant to separate her head from her shoulders, whistled over her head.

  He wouldn’t miss again. She scooted back on her butt, feeling for a rock, a stick, anything she could use as a weapon. But her hands came up empty, except for dirt. She flung the dirt into Maglek’s face, knowing it wasn’t enough, and waited for death to take her.

  “Traitor,” Maglek shouted, lifting the sword for a killing blow.

  “She fights better than you,” Daveck taunted, his voice racked with pain.

  Maglek turned once again and Daveck’s blade caught him between the ribs, a direct stab to the heart. He was dead before he sagged to the ground.

  Relieved she’d survived and that Daveck was alive, she opened her mouth to thank him. But at the sight of so much blood, her relief turned to horror. Daveck had also fallen, his strength gone, the slash at his side enormous.

  She crawled near him, terrified that he couldn’t live, that she would lose him so soon. A lump rose in her throat and she swallowed back a choking sob. Even as she pleaded, “Daveck, stay with me,” she knew he was losing his battle for life.

  “Sorry.” His eyes closed.

  During the sword fight, the tornado had vanished. The gray sky cleared, the rain ceased, and the sun had come out as if to mock her grief. As if the Zorash had switched off the bad weather and regulated Farii’s climate with one mighty thought, the weather turned balmy.

  Desperate, she flung her thoughts at the Zorash. Do something. He saved you. Now, you must save him.

  The breeze blew her hair. Birds flew over her head and cawed. The Zorash remained . . . silent.

  And then the sphere shot an electric bolt at Daveck’s side. Startled, she jerked, furious that after all he’d done, the Zorash would strike him. You’re trying to kill him?

  The Zorash remained silent.

  Daveck’s breath grew faint. His eyes remained closed. The bleeding stopped and she feared these would be his last moments. He was so pale. He’d lost too much blood to recover. Even if Sandra had known what to do, she had no medical supplies and the wound was too severe for her to try to apply pressure to stop the bleeding—yet the bleeding seemed to have stopped on its own.

  Numb, exhausted, grieving, she had no idea how long she sat beside Daveck. At one point during her vigil, she realized his breathing was less ragged. Even a bit of color returned to his cheeks. She was afraid to hope for a miracle. Yet the wound at his side seemed to be closing. The far edges possessed a fine pink scar, almost as if a magical zipper were closing his wound.

  Lira’s aura hovered and Sandra raised her eyes to the spirit whose body she inhabited. You saved him?

  I encouraged his electromagnetic cell structure to heal itself.

  Oh . . . my . . . God. He’s going to live? The tears she’d held back brimmed over her eyelids. “Daveck, you’re going to live.”

  His eyes fluttered open. He reached for her hand.

  You are happy that he will live? Lira’s astral aura vibrated with golden pink light, the woman’s thoughts going directly into Sandra’s mind.

  Yes.

  Then you wish to stay with him?

  Yes.

  Then you will not mind if I visit your world, and merge with your body?

  Of course I don’t mind, but I thought you wanted to stay on the astral plane?

  Lira’s aura brightened. I have met a Romanian prince from Earth and he has convinced me to change my mind.

  She sensed happiness in Lira’s aura. You’ve fallen in love?

  I think so . . . yes.

  Good for you. And can I ask a favor? Sandra requested.

  Of course.

  Tell my friend Liza Mancuso what happened to me and that I am happy here.

  Consider it done. Lira vanished.

  And Sandra realized she would be happy here on Farii. As a reporter she’d ached to report the news, to change things, to make a difference. With the Zorash in place, prosperity would return, and she wanted to be here to help steer this world into a more enlightened way of thinking. She wanted to enact laws to protect women, to give them a say in their government, to give them legal value beyond the length of their hair.

  Together, she and Daveck could change things on Fa
rii. And she wished Lira the best with her Romanian prince back on Earth. While she’d miss Liza, her friend—who was always telling her that a career was no substitute for a man—would understand. Farii was her home now.

  Daveck’s eyes searched hers as if sensing something important had happened. “Did you mean it when you said you loved me?”

  She didn’t have to search her heart. The answer automatically bubbled from her lips. “Yes, I love you.”

  “Does that mean you no longer resent our marriage?”

  “My commitment to a career is no longer a problem.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Because I’ve found the right man.” And she had. She’d lost her career, but she’d found a calling. She wanted to improve the lot of women on this world. And without asking, she knew Daveck would support her efforts. She’d seen his innate sense of fairness during the Shimmering. A fairness that allowed him to accept her for what she was. A woman who only found life fulfilling when she had a cause. Yet a woman filled with love. Somehow the Zorash had found her a man to love, to live with for the rest of her days.

  “You’re certain you don’t want to return to Earth? Suppose I agreed to go with you?”

  His offer stole her breath. “You would do that? Leave your people for me?”

  He nodded. “And not because I owe you.” Daveck smiled, pulled her to him and whispered into her mouth, “I love you, too. And any world to your liking would suit me just fine.”

  She grinned. “There’s more to fix here.”

  “True. But . . .”

  “I’m sure.” And she was. Daveck belonged on Farii with his people. With their people. Sandra had not just found a new home, but a friend. A partner. A lover. A husband. A whole new life waited for her. The Zorash had brought them together. Love would keep them together.

  Heart full, Sandra sealed the deal with a kiss, knowing that she belonged here on this world with this man. “Kiss me, Daveck. And then . . .”

  “And then?” he whispered, his voice husky with desire.

  “Kiss me some more.”

  The End

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