by Brenda Hiatt
“Hey, welcome to Jewel.”
“Thanks,” Sean replied. He seemed even taller up close, at least six-six.
Maybe it was the press of people or maybe he just hadn’t been concentrating the way we were, but not until they gripped hands did the newcomer realize Rigel was another Martian. Sean’s eyes widened, then narrowed, and then he released Rigel’s hand like it had burned him.
“Let me guess. Stuart?” Sean’s voice had a slight Irish lilt, not as strong as I’d’ve expected from someone who grew up there. I wondered if he really had—or if he was just good with accents.
“Rigel Stuart. That’s right.” Rigel’s voice didn’t give anything away.
Sean’s gaze slid past him to me and his eyes widened again. “Then this must be—”
“Marsha Truitt,” I said quickly before he could say something he shouldn’t in front of all these witnesses. Those tourists yesterday weren’t the first to get stupidly obvious in town and I definitely didn’t want it to happen right here in the lunchroom. “Everyone calls me M.”
“M,” he repeated, his surprise giving way to a perfectly charming smile. “It’s really great to meet you.” He extended his hand.
I hesitated for just a fraction of a second before doing the same, hoping I didn’t look as nervous as I felt. He seemed harmless enough, so far.
But the moment our hands touched, I nearly jerked away and had to clamp my teeth together to keep from exclaiming aloud. Sean’s hand gave me a zap nearly as intense as the one I’d felt the first time Rigel touched me!
That first jolt, back on the second day of school, had totally freaked both of us out. We still felt an echo of it every time we touched, though now it was exciting instead of scary. Later I’d discovered all Martians gave me a slight tingle, but Sean’s was more than that—more like the half-electric, half-adrenaline zing I got from Rigel. No other Martian had ever done that.
Sean’s hand—his very big hand—trapped mine for what seemed like minutes but was probably only seconds, while I struggled to control my shock. I glanced up, expecting him to be as startled as I was, but instead found him watching me intently, an almost expectant look in his brilliantly blue eyes. Then, finally, he let go.
Frowning, I immediately stepped back, closer to Rigel, but Sean gave me a knowing smile and the ghost of a wink.
Before I could think of anything to say, Trina stepped in. For once, I was actually grateful. “So, Sean, why don’t I introduce you around to some of the people you should know?” Her dismissive glance making it clear I wasn’t in that category, she turned to Rigel with a smile. She still hadn’t given up trying to steal him back from me. I hoped Sean might give her another focus.
“Looks like you’ve already met Rigel Stuart, the guy responsible for taking Jewel’s football team to its first Regional championship in twenty years,” she said.
Sean nodded, though it looked like he dragged his eyes away from me with an effort. “Yeah. Quarterback, right?”
“Right.” Rigel took my hand again. “C’mon, M, let’s go eat.”
I was too surprised to argue, since Rigel was almost never rude. But now I could feel his uneasiness, maybe mixed with some irritation. Unfortunately, thoughts didn’t come through as clearly as emotions. Had he been able to sense that jolt I’d gotten from Sean?
“What was that about?” I asked once we were out of even Martian earshot. “Should I be worried about this guy?”
He didn’t answer until we were back at our table—alone, since Bri and Deb were still in the circle around Sean. “I don’t know. There was something about the way he looked at you— And no, I’m not just being jealous,” he added with a crooked grin.
“I wasn’t going to ask.” Though the thought did cross my mind. “You should know by now you never need to be.”
Because Rigel and I were bonded by the graell, a powerful link so rare that most Martians regarded it as folklore instead of fact. So much so, I wasn’t sure even his family had totally accepted it.
Our bond enhanced us to the point that I no longer needed the glasses I’d worn all my life, and Rigel’s football skills had attracted national attention. We could also sense each other’s moods and sometimes, if we focused hard enough, each other’s thoughts.
The downside of our bond was that it really sucked to be apart. In September, when we broke up for a couple of weeks, we both became physically ill. So even if I hadn’t been totally, irrevocably in love with Rigel, the very idea of wanting to be with another guy was ludicrous. Already, I was wondering if I’d imagined that unexpectedly strong zing from Sean.
“I guess we’d better find out what he’s really doing here, huh?” I finally said when Rigel remained silent.
“Yeah. I’ll see if my folks know anything.”
“Or we could just ask him,” I suggested. “Privately, I mean.”
Rigel frowned again. “Only if it’s both of us. Don’t be alone with him until we know more, okay? And it’s not jealousy! I just want you safe, especially after—”
“I know.”
We’d come way too close to losing each other last month before we defeated those Martians who wanted to invade Earth and exterminate me, the last of the monarchy. At one point during that battle I’d thought Rigel was dead and I never, ever wanted to experience that again. So I understood how he felt.
“Maybe after school we can—” I began, but Bri and Deb rejoined us before I could finish.
“Wow, he’s a hottie,” Deb said, slipping into her chair across from me. “Kinda tall for me, but I could adapt.” Deb was barely five feet tall, but blond, cute and curvy enough that guys noticed her anyway.
“No fair—you can date anyone without looking silly, unlike me. Leave the tall guys for us tall girls.” Bri, who had long, dark, curly hair, was only an inch or so taller than me, about five-seven, so hardly a giant. But a cute new guy was a cute new guy, as far as she was concerned. I’d worry about her if she wasn’t interested.
Though knowing what little I did already about Sean, I’d also be worried if he returned her interest.
“You guys did notice he’s totally swamped by cheerleaders, right?” I said, trying to inject a shred of reality into the conversation. It was true that since I’d been dating Rigel, Bri’s and Deb’s social status had climbed a few rungs along with mine, but we were still basically sophomore geeks.
Bri gave me a sly grin. “That didn’t stop you from going after Rigel, did it?”
“Well, no,” I admitted. There were extenuating circumstances in my case—like us being the only two Martians in the school and having this amazing, soul-deep bond. But to anyone who didn’t know that, it was like the geekiest girl in our class had just lucked into having the hottest guy in school fall for her. Who was I to stomp on anybody’s dreams when mine had come so incredibly true?
“He has the dreamiest eyes,” Deb was saying, glancing over her shoulder at Sean. I wondered if the poor guy was going to have a chance to eat lunch. “Hey, did you know he has a sister here, too? She’s younger—a sophomore, like us. She was in my English class.”
“And you’re just now telling us this?” I exclaimed, exchanging a quick look with Rigel, wondering if this news would make him worry more or less.
Deb shrugged. “I was a little distracted,” she confessed, with another look at Sean.
“So what’s she like?” I prodded. “Is she here in the cafeteria?”
Deb dragged her eyes away from Sean to scan the lunchroom. “I don’t see— Oh, there she is, over in the corner, by herself.”
“Poor thing,” I said instinctively, remembering way too many times last year when Bri and Deb were busy with chorus and nobody else would sit with me. “I’m going to go say hi to her.”
Rigel came with me, though I suspected his motive was less social than mine. Still, it would be nice for both of us to have other Martian friends our own age. Wouldn’t it?
The girl looked up as the two of us approached. She was
as pale as her brother, but with dark hair—nearly as dark as Rigel’s. She was also very pretty. Judging by the glances from several guys at nearby tables, she wouldn’t be sitting alone tomorrow.
I felt a teensy twinge of something like envy or even jealousy. Yeah, it was true that my skin had cleared up since bonding with Rigel. My mousy brown hair had even developed waves and highlights. But I’d spent so many years being brutally plain that I still tended to think of myself that way—and to envy those who obviously weren’t.
The stranger’s long-lashed, blue-gray eyes widened as we got close enough to feel her brath and, presumably, for her to feel ours. This time I spoke before Rigel could.
“Hi, welcome to Jewel. I’m Marsha Truitt, but you can call me M. What’s your name?”
Her eyes got even bigger. “You’re— You mean— I didn’t— Um, Molly. Molly O’Gara. Hi.”
She was so flustered I felt sorry for her, no matter how pretty she was. She glanced over at Rigel and he smiled, an apparently genuine smile.
“Hi, Molly. I’m Rigel Stuart. It’s great to have you guys here. We’ll uh, talk later, okay?”
Her expression showed clearly that she knew what he meant—that what we needed to talk about couldn’t be said in a crowded cafeteria. But her expression showed just as clearly that she was noticing how gorgeous Rigel was, and I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.
“Sure, that’ll be grand.” Her smile seemed to be for both of us. Like her brother, she had only a slight Irish accent.
“Later, then.” I returned her smile. “I hope you have a good first day.”
She nodded, still looking a little stunned.
We went back to our table to wolf down our lunches before the bell rang, then headed to History class with Bri and Deb.
“So, does she seem nice?” Bri asked.
I shrugged. “We only talked for a sec, but yeah, I guess.”
Rigel didn’t answer, which left me wondering what he thought of her. I’d ask him later.
As it turned out, Molly and Sean were both in our U.S. History class. They arrived together just before class started and looked around for empty seats after checking in with the teacher. Again I took pity on Molly and motioned her over to a desk near mine. Her face brightened, making her even prettier, and she hurried to join us, while Sean sat with a couple of jocks near the door.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
I quickly introduced Bri and Deb and we all promised to hang out together soon. Rigel and I would have to find a way to talk privately with Molly and Sean before everybody got too chummy, just in case there was some reason not to.
I hoped there wouldn’t be, though, and not only for my own safety. Because, it occurred to me, it would be really nice to have a girlfriend I didn’t have to lie to.
CHAPTER 4
Echtran (EK-tran): person of Martian birth or descent living on Earth; expatriate
Rigel and I didn’t get the chance we’d—well, I’d—hoped for until after school. Molly had been in my French class, too, but hadn’t been able to sit near me, so all we’d managed to do was smile at each other. But after my final class (during which Trina and her pals went on and on . . . and on . . . about Sean), I saw not only Rigel, but Sean and Molly waiting by my locker.
“Hey.” Rigel greeted me with a quick kiss on the cheek that inexplicably made both Sean and Molly frown. “We ran into each other a couple minutes ago and Sean says he doesn’t have practice today.”
Sean quickly switched to a charming smile, though his sister’s frown was slower to fade. “Yeah, Coach said I could have a day or two to settle in before starting. Mum’s picking us up, but she’s running late, so this seemed like a good chance to talk. She can drop you both off after.”
“Sounds good,” I said. “Where’s a good place? It’ll be chilly outside, but probably more private.”
“Courtyard?” Rigel suggested. “No wind and we’ll see anyone coming before they can hear us.”
Still weirded out by that zing Sean had given me, I kept my distance as we walked—but tried not to be obvious about it. We all talked about everyday school stuff until we were in the courtyard with the door closed.
“So, what’s the sitch?” Rigel asked without preamble. “What are you guys doing here, really?”
Sean and Molly exchanged a look that I thought wasn’t so much confused as trying to look confused.
“Um, going to school?” Sean suggested.
“Right.” I didn’t try to hide my skepticism. “But why here and why now? You’re not really going to tell us it’s pure coincidence that four Martians from three different families just happened to end up in Jewel, Indiana, of all places?”
Sean looked back and forth between us. “But it is coincidence that both of you just happen to be here?”
“Not exactly,” Rigel allowed, “but we can talk about that later. So?”
There was a brief, tense silence. To my surprise, it was Molly who broke it.
“It’s not like we can keep it a secret, Sean,” she said to her brother. Then, looking directly at me, “We’re here because of you, of course. Our parents have been heading up the resistance for years, trying to get rid of that unbaen, uh, dictator, Faxon. It’s why we had to leave Mars. But now you’ve been found . . .”
“How long ago did you leave Mars?” I interrupted. “And why, exactly?” It still felt strange to talk about this sci-fi stuff so matter-of-factly.
“Over a year ago,” Sean answered. “Faxon’s thugs raided a resistance meeting and got their hands on files incriminating our family. We—most of us—were lucky to escape.” Both of their faces turned bleak.
I was almost afraid to ask. “What happened?”
“Our sister Elana.” Sean’s voice held anger as well as sorrow. “She was captured, maybe even killed. We still don’t know, though we’ve been trying to find out ever since.”
Molly nodded mutely, her beautiful blue-gray eyes tragic.
“So Faxon’s thugs even drag off kids now?” Rigel was clearly aghast.
“I wouldn’t put it past them,” Sean said, “but Elana was—is—nearly forty.”
“I’m sorry.” I meant it, though the huge spread in ages between some Martian siblings still boggled me a little. I’d recently learned Rigel’s father had a brother forty-five years older than he was.
“That doesn’t explain why you’re here,” Rigel pointed out. “How is M supposed to help? Or is that even what you have in mind?”
Molly found her voice again. “Of course she can help—eventually. Meanwhile, our . . . family wanted to be here, where we can help protect her and make sure she gets the instruction she’ll need to eventually take her place as our leader. It’s really important that everyone—Echtrans and especially Nuathans back on Mars—know that’s happening.”
I wasn’t sure I liked the direction this conversation was taking. “Why?” I asked. “How can it make a difference now, when I’m only fifteen?”
“Faxon’s grip is slipping.” Sean’s intensity was understandable, considering what had happened to his family. “Even before we left, some of his original supporters were joining the resistance—sick of the corruption and how he was screwing up a system that’s worked for centuries. Now that word’s got back to Mars about you, our dad says the resistance has exploded—more than quadrupled in size. But some still aren’t sure a return to the monarchy is the way to go, even if they hate Faxon. They need convincing. Hearing that you’re getting the training and forming the alliances that everyone expects of a Sovereign will help do that.”
“Alliances?” Rigel echoed. “What does that mean, exactly?”
Sean’s ears reddened but he shrugged. “Political stuff. My folks can explain it better than I can.”
“But I thought—” Molly began. Her brother shook his head and she broke off, frowning at him suspiciously.
“So, is it true Faxon actually sent people here to try to kill you?” Sean’s abrupt question was a b
latant attempt to change the subject but I played along.
“Yeah, this guy Boyne Morven, Faxon’s head nasty on Earth, was controlling a bunch of Echtrans with an Ossian Sphere. He brought a couple dozen of them to Jewel, along with the sphere, to get rid of me. But Rigel’s grandfather, Shim, called in his own people and we, um, won,” I ended lamely, realizing that the whole story would take way too long. Especially since I wanted more answers.
They both nodded. “That’s about what MARSTAR reported, but we wondered if they told us everything,” Sean said. “How did—“
He broke off to reach into his pocket and pull out a cell phone. Something I still didn’t have. Not that I was bitter.
“Hey, Mum, yeah. Be right there. Um, do you mind a couple of extra passengers? (pause) Rigel Stuart and . . . Princess Emileia.” There was a long pause and I heard a suddenly high-pitched voice talking very fast. “Yeah.”
He turned to us. “Mum’s out front. We can talk more in the car.”
We all left the courtyard, my mind still teeming with questions. I couldn’t quite wrap my head around the fact that these two had actually grown up in Nuath, the colony on Mars, and had lived there until so recently. What was it like now? Did I maybe have relatives there? There was so much I didn’t know, so much they might be able to tell me.
So much I couldn’t ask inside the school, where we might be overheard.
I settled for a question I could ask. “Where did you live in Ireland?”
“Where all the—I mean, a little village on the coast, nowhere near anything else,” Sean said. “Bailerealta.”
The Martian village I’d heard about. Cool.
“How many people live there? Is it as big as Jewel?”
They both laughed. “Hardly,” Molly said. “I think at last count there were not quite four hundred people living there full time. Four less, now we’ve left.”
“A whole town the size of this school?” I marveled. “And I thought Jewel was the middle of nowhere.”
Sean chuckled and shook his head. “You have no idea. Oh, there’s our mum.”