Shirl was at the mercy of Jeryl Jarlyn and Alex felt helpless. She was grateful she had her soul mate Tarsea as well as their friends and family who would move heaven and Earth to rescue Shirl. Alex thought she needed to change that “Earth” expression now that she was in the Troyk Universe.
It had been just under a week since she had been sucked into the portal and ended up in this parallel world. She had never spiritually connected with a man until she laid eyes on Tarsea. Was it really only a few days ago when Alex laughed in his face when he told her they were soul mates?
If not for the opening of the soul mate telepathic pathway upon their first touch and the cranial hormone excretion when they made love the first time, she would not have been convinced. She was still weirded out by that experience. Not the sex, but the brain excretion.
Tarsea came from behind, pulled back her light auburn hair and kissed her neck. God, she could not get enough of this man. “As I told you this morning, we will rescue Shirl. Your cousin is in charge of Troyk intelligence, after all.”
With those words, Solfa Theffar entered the room. Alex hugged her cousin and they sat on the nearby couch. Solfa was stunning. Today she wore her rich chestnut hair loose, cascading down her back. Alex was relieved they were related. Solfa’s penetrating stares originally scared her to death. Jeryl Jarlyn did well selecting her to run his intelligence division.
Alex imagined her cousin could get anyone to confess to any wrong doing. Solfa was not a mind control telepath. However, when her eyes bore into you, it felt like she knew all your deep, dark secrets.
What Jarlyn did not know was that Solfa had quietly been helping the resistance that wanted to overthrow his mind-controlling government.
“What do you know so far?” Alex addressed her cousin. Due to the head injury she received last night, she spoke to her cousin out loud instead of through the familiar link. The last thing Alex wanted was another nose bleed. They occurred when she overtaxed her brain using telepathy.
“Shirl had several crystals around her neck. One of them has been identified as having belonged to Jenka Thork. They knew that Jenka was the crystal telepath who navigated the portal for Benko when they escaped. It was not hard to determine that Shirl was the baby Jenka carried through the portal. Jarlyn has moved her to the special quarters on the fourth floor of The Palace. He has been waiting for years to have someone occupy those rooms.”
Jarlyn’s son Benko had failed to overthrow his father’s government twenty-two years ago and fled through the portal with a number of his followers. Jarlyn was obsessed with finding his son, his followers, and their children. Tarsea and his friends were able to get to Alex before governmental officials found out about her. When she finally met with Jarlyn, Alex represented herself as a cousin of the people who had gone through the portal with Benko. She was known as Alexia in this world. To reduce confusion, she was referred to as either Alex or Alexia both in private and public telepathic or oral conversations.
“He had special rooms set up for us? Why?” As Alex asked the question, Tarsea’s mother Leenea came in with the herbal beverage that reduced the static in her brain caused by the communal pathways. “Thank you, Leenea.”
In the short time Alex had known Leenea, she had become a mother to her. As of late, she lectured Alex on one topic or another as mothers tended to do. Tarsea would sit back and enjoy the sight of his mother explaining the proper way to do things to his soul mate. He would telepathically tell her through their channel, “Better you, than me.”
Leenea kissed Alex on the cheek then headed toward the door. “You sit and rest, Alexia. We want to make sure your brain mends. Stay out of the communal channels as much as possible.”
Solfa had not forgotten Alex’s question. “Jeryl Jarlyn has been waiting for Benko’s return for years. The quarters are quite luxurious. I do not think he is going to hurt Shirl. She will no doubt be questioned about Benko’s whereabouts when she regains consciousness.”
Solfa’s family had been deeply impacted when Alex’s mother left the Troyk universe with Benko. Her cousin grew up hating the mind control faction. Solfa felt she could make a greater impact for change working within Jarlyn’s administration.
“She does not know anything about Benko,” Alex replied. “I had not heard about the man until I came here. It was news to me that he had been watching over us our whole lives.” Earth’s atmosphere was toxic to the adult telepathic brain. All of Benko’s followers died of brain embolisms by the time they reached twenty-five. He alone survived, perhaps because he was a mind-control telepath or had a natural immunity. Benko kept them in an orphanage so they could grow up together. If anything happened to him, Benko at least knew the girls were safe.
“Then it will be a quick interview. Jarlyn will ascertain the girl knows nothing. I just need to convince him to turn her over to the Childers for care in the short term.” Solfa frowned. Alex knew her cousin was concerned whether she would be able to get Shirl out of The Palace. The knot that had been developing in Alex’s stomach doubled in size.
Starc entered the room as Solfa finished her last statement. Alex was fond of him. All of Tarsea’s friends had become like brothers to her. Starc had been there last night after Narmouth attacked her. She knew there was bad blood between Starc and her attacker. Starc would not confide in her about what caused the rift, but she knew it had to be related to a woman.
The whole discussion that just occurred had been communicated through the warrior link, as well as conducted orally. Starc would have heard everything they just said prior to him entering the room. The warrior link was a closed telepathic channel that existed between the true ruler of the Troyk universe and his most trusted advisors. It had originally opened between Benko and Darden, but grew almost daily. Something was definitely on the horizon.
“I am supposed to report to work in an hour,” Starc said. He was a Crystal Telepath Guard, commonly known as the CT Guard. They were responsible for guarding the portal and protecting crystal telepathic individuals as they entered hostile parallel worlds. Starc could have been one of the men who had found Shirl, had he been on duty.
Alex knew that Starc was taciturn, he used words sparingly. She needed more information about what was happening to her friend. “Do you think you will be asked to guard Shirl?”
Starc shook his head, “The Palace Guard. Darden has managed to get on the fourth floor, talking with one of his friends who works in that capacity.”
Tarsea wrapped his arms around Alex. “We have to see what transpires over the next several hours. After the interview, we will have you try to communicate with her. I would imagine a telepathic communal link opened between you girls in the orphanage, but you did not know how to use it. If such a link was established, you should be able to talk with her securely before the communal link broadens and others start entering. It is best she is as ignorant as possible when she is interviewed.”
Alex could not fault Tarsea’s recommendation. She would have loved to talk to her friend as soon as she woke and reassure her that everything would be all right. Alex leveraged the soul mate channel, “I love you, Tarsea. I have every confidence we’ll get Shirl out of The Palace and here, safe with us.”
She took another sip of the herbal beverage and prayed her words became a reality. Heaven only knew what was happening to Shirl within The Palace.
Chapter 3
“Shirl, you can wake up now.” An unfamiliar voice cut through the confusion and static, making it difficult for her to wake. Deep sleep eliminated the pain of migraines. Why was this woman trying to release her from what little peace she had?
Reluctantly she opened her eyes. She did not recognize the room she was in or the strikingly beautiful woman sitting next to her. The room was elegant with its rich wood furniture. Fresh purple flowers graced a number of crystal vases.
Grogginess still held her within its grasp. Had her mind
been functioning, there would have been a myriad of questions to ask. Shirl only knew that she was comfortable in the bed and did not want to be disturbed. She imagined what it was like to be a chrysalis, until forced to leave its cocoon as a butterfly.
“My name is Solfa. Do you know where you are?” The woman now had a name, but Shirl did not feel comfortable sharing where she thought she was. People tended to only believe what was right in front of them. The idea of parallel worlds would probably get her placed in a padded cell, or did these people know about the portal she entered this universe through? Silence would be the best policy at this point.
Wait, the woman called her Shirl! “How do you know my name?”
“How, indeed,” was all the woman answered. Shirl noted for the first time the way the woman was staring at her. There was an intensity that made her nervous. The woman obviously wanted something from Shirl. She did not know what to make of the brief words the woman shared with her. Providing as little information about herself and where she came from still seemed prudent. The more the woman looked at her, the more uncomfortable Shirl became.
Shirl looked away, escaping her relentless stare. She examined the room, trying to calm her frayed nerves. The flowers were beautiful. Her mind wandered back to the mountain trail where she looked down on a city shrouded with violet pollen. She then remembered seeing the red stains on her hands.
Panic consumed her. “There was so much blood!” she cried, rising in the bed and examining herself.
Soft but firm hands pushed her back onto the mattress. “You entered the portal with no understanding of how to navigate. By some miracle you ended up here, instead of some God forsaken universe. Bleeding through every orifice near your brain is a common symptom of severe portal sickness. You have received a blood transfusion and you will be fine.” Shirl barely heard what had been communicated about her health. The woman spoke so casually of travel between parallel dimensions. It was clear Solfa knew where she came from, not necessarily from Earth specifically. The idea that there was a way to control where you went within a portal intrigued her. But she was not comfortable enough with this woman to redirect the discussion.
“Where am I?” Shirl imagined most people would question the whole parallel world premise. However, she was a believer in String Theory so she had an idea that she might be going somewhere else when she entered the event horizon. The only question was where did she end up?
“You are in the Troyk universe. The Aster Province to be exact. We were able to determine who you were from your mother’s crystal. Like her, you are a crystal telepath.”
“A crystal telepath?” For the first time since waking, Shirl went to grab for the crystals she always wore around her neck. To her relief, they were still there.
“Our people are telepathic. A rare talent among us is to control the energy of the portal through crystals. Even rarer is having a female with that ability. Crystal telepathic people can navigate from world to world. Every crystal used for such a purpose leaves a signature behind. The amethyst you wear showed that your mother used it several times and you had only used it once.”
Shirl held the crystals tighter, until their edges dug into her hand. There had always been a connection between her and the amethyst. She never knew why. It had always seemed more than just sentimental feelings for a mother she hardly remembered. With the crystal, she had the power to travel to other worlds. She had been a rabid Star Trek fan. Now she could boldly go wherever she wanted.
“Can I learn to navigate the portal?” She barely contained her excitement. Her reservations concerning this woman were dismissed, replaced by anxiousness to learn about the ability she possessed.
“In all due time. You will learn everything there is to know about your gift. How about you getting dressed? There is someone I would like to introduce you to. He has been waiting a long time to meet you.”
Shirl had no idea who knew of her existence in this universe. Frankly, she was so consumed about learning what it meant to be a crystal telepath, she did not give that person a second thought.
Solfa pulled out clothes from a dresser. “This is standard Troyk fashion. We wear a tunic and leggings. You will find them very comfortable. There is also a beverage on the nightstand I would like you to drink. It is full of herbs that will reduce the static in your head.”
Shirl was not going to ask how Solfa knew about the static. Compared to the migraines, what she was currently experiencing was not worth mentioning. She picked up the mug and started to sip the tea. Almost immediately her brain was clear of any pain or pressure.
“This stuff is amazing!” Shirl said. “The herbs eliminated what little pain I was feeling.” It had been so long since she did not suffer from a headache or the aftermath of one. Considering she had just needed a transfusion, she felt great.
“I am glad. There is a bathroom behind that door to your right. You will find make-up to cover the residual evidence of the portal sickness you experienced. The discoloration caused by the broken blood vessels will fade in a matter of days. Do not be alarmed by your appearance. I will come back in twenty minutes and we can meet Jeryl. That will give you time to shower and dress.” With those words, Solfa left the room.
Shirl had no idea who Jeryl was, but a shower sounded wonderful. She was not going to look at her face until after she bathed. In her excitement about being able to travel between universes, she had forgotten about her quest to find Alex. What were the odds that she would have exited the portal in this world? There were potentially infinite parallel worlds that existed. How was she ever going to find her friend?
The minutes Solfa had given Shirl flew by. Shirl was shocked at how black and blue her face was, but the make-up Solfa provided hid most of the damage. There was still some blood in her eyes, but there was nothing she could do about that. She dressed in the clothing that had been given to her, a yellow tunic with cream leggings. The outfit flattered her figure and blond hair.
Solfa was punctual, knocking on the door to her room. Shirl glanced at the clock, it showed that twenty minutes had elapsed. How similar this world was to her own. They spoke English, appeared to measure time in the same manner, and lived very much like they did on Earth.
Shirl and Solfa walked along a hallway with various crystal figurines placed on small elegant stands. The wall paintings were various landscapes of worlds Shirl had never seen, and could not wait to explore. She wondered if the man she was meeting was a crystal telepath.
They stopped in front of a door. Solfa leaned over and quietly spoke to Shirl. “There is something you should know about Jeryl. He is our Prime Ruler, but he is also a mind control telepath. I imagine he will ask you some questions. You will feel a slight tension in your brain. That will be Jeryl determining whether or not you are telling him the truth.”
“Why would I lie?” Shirl was confused why the ruler of this world wanted to meet her. It was also disturbing that he would expect her to lie to him. She did not know what a mind control telepath was, but it did not sound good. Uncertainty replaced her earlier excitement about portal travel. This was a strange world, she had no friends and no one to protect her.
Solfa smiled and placed her hand on Shirl’s shoulder. “Do not worry. You do not have the knowledge he is looking for. Just answer his questions and you will be fine.” Her companion opened the door and walked into a spacious room. Shirl followed, not having an option. Solfa’s words did little to relieve her anxiety.
If the crystals in the hallway grabbed Shirl’s attention, the abundance in this room took her breath away. She could spend hours here with her books on crystals and healing stones identifying all the varieties exhibited. A piece of blue apatite held her attention. Her earlier discomfort forgotten, her fascination related to crystals overtook her thought processes.
She scuttled to the crystal and looked at it in awe. “This is the most beautiful piece of blue apatite I ha
ve ever seen. I have a small piece at home I use to cleanse my aura.”
A gray-haired gentleman walked up to her and touched the stone. “It increases my personal power, helping me to achieve my goals. I have my gatherers scour different worlds for crystals such as this. My name is Jeryl Jarlyn and it is a pleasure to meet you.”
He took her hand and held it for a moment. An instant of disappointment crossed his face. Had she not been attuned to the man, she would have missed the look. He quickly recovered and placed her hand on the crystal. Shirl examined it as she addressed the man. “Thank you for receiving me. Blue apatite is also supposed to bring clarity and expand your insight. It is reassuring that a ruler of a world would value such a stone.”
“Yes, I utilize the power crystals provide. Through them, people like you can travel from world to world. I have always regretted not being born with crystal telepathic abilities. You are very special. Please come and have a seat.”
Shirl reluctantly released the crystal and followed. As they made their way to the main sitting area in the room, he showed her various crystals in his collection. Some she had never heard of before. She was excited there were crystals from other worlds that did not exist on Earth.
“You mentioned gatherers before. What are they?” Shirl felt like a sponge. There was so much knowledge to absorb and this man seemed to be willing to share what he knew with her.
“Gatherers are my crystal telepathic team who travel to different worlds and bring back various items of interest. I would like you to join them. We can teach you how to use your talents. But before we talk about that, I have a couple of questions to ask you.”
Shirl could barely conceal her excitement. “Ask away,” she responded. The sooner they covered the questions he had, the sooner she could find out about traveling to parallel worlds.
“Where is my son?”
“Excuse me, your son?” Shirl did not want to disappoint this man, in fear that he would renege on her invitation to join the gatherers. Why would he imagine she would know his son?
The Crystal Telepath Page 2