Sovereign (Realmwalker Book 3)

by Jonathan Franks

  Shae said, “Fall said he’d come with us!”

  Gen looked at their new companion. He was muscular and his bald head was shiny. “Really?”

  “Why not?” Fall laughed. “Your friends made a good case, and it sounds important.”

  “Really?” Gen asked. “What did they tell you?”

  “Never mind that,” Shae said, waving her hands around. “The important thing is that we’re all going to have a grand adventure!” Shae’s voice was singsong and slightly slurred.

  Gen grinned broadly at her. “Awesome!” She drank some more and asked Fall, “So, what do you do?”

  “I’m a sailor. A fisherman.”

  “Oh! Well, I’m sure that’ll come in handy.”

  “I hope so,” Fall smiled. His teeth were bright white and perfectly straight.

  “You have really nice teeth,” Gen said, then her eyes widened and she covered her mouth. “Oh, my god. I’m sorry.” She closed one eye and peered into her glass. “What is this?”

  “Drink it,” Slynn said. “It’s good for you. Trust me.”

  Gen, one eye still closed, tipped her head back to look at Slynn. “I’m not so sure I do!”

  “It’s only brandy, dear,” Jewel said, as though that made it completely harmless. She refilled Gen’s glass. “Drink it. It’s good for you. Trust him!”

  Everyone – with the exception of David – laughed uproariously.

  “Hey, angel,” Slynn began, “why don’t you ever smile?”

  “The reason, pixie,” David snapped, “Is because I’m here on a mission! While you’re all carousing and roistering in your undue blanket of security, my human’s wife is dead. I have a job to do, here, and we’re damn well going to do it. I have another human to save–this Molly Ritchey.” He pointed a finger at Fall. “Your human. I’m trying to save your life. So, forgive me if I don’t feel like rabble-rousing with your little fraternity.” The entire group was silent, watching him. He downed his entire glass in one long swallow and slammed it down onto the table. “There! Happy now?”

  Slynn raised an eyebrow at David as he ranted, then he nodded at Jewel, who refilled David’s glass. Slynn raised his glass to David, and the rest of the group followed, then David glared at each one of them in turn, and downed his drink again. Instantly, Jewel had refilled it.

  “Well, fuck,” Fall said, “Angel here sure can put it away!” He took a long swallow of his own drink, then clinked his glass against David’s, and then each of the others’. They all drank.

  “And you’re all going to be hung over tomorrow,” David scolded, “and we have to get going early!”

  “Don’t you worry,” Jewel said. “I have something just for that. We’ll all be ready to go.”

  The next morning, most of them were in pretty bad shape, but Jewel did have something for them. She had a strong, bitter tea that sucked the hangover away almost immediately. By eight o’clock that morning, they were all rested, hangover-free, fed, packed, and ready to go. They flew high over the city and across the water, then Jewel beckoned the group to follow her down to the beach. She stood, facing the water, and scooped up a handful of sand. Fall did the same.

  “Use my home while I’m away,” Jewel said.

  Fall completed the verse. “I’ll return again some day.”

  They each opened their fingers to let the sand stream out. Then, they flew onward to the Bridge.

  David led them through several Realms, following his golden arrow to the nearest Bridge that would open in the Chicago area. The arrow led them down The River to The Dam.

  “I kinda miss The Deep sometimes,” Shae told Hope while they were flying over The River.

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah. It was so peaceful down there.”

  “Well,” Gen said, “you better get ready. Because peaceful really isn’t how I could describe the human world. It may be relatively danger-free, but it’s certainly not peaceful. It’s loud and it’s bright and there’s noise and people and trash everywhere. It’s nothing like the Realms, that’s for sure.”

  They touched down on top of The Dam, then they wandered through the clanking, steamy, pipe-lined hallways, following the arrow down several levels, until they reached a large room. A tremendous bronze-framed oval mirror stood in the center of the room. Chains hung from the ceiling, dripping with condensation.

  Gen took Hope’s hand. “We’re going through together this time. No backing out. I don’t care if your leg falls off. You’re coming this time.”

  Hope smiled at her and kissed her. “Promise me,” Hope said.

  “What?” Gen asked.

  “Promise me that, no matter what, you’re coming back with me.”

  Gen looked into Hope’s eyes. “I promise. This is my home now. Here. With you. I promise I’m coming back with you.”

  “I love you,” Hope said.

  Gen kissed Hope again. “I love you, too.” She held Hope’s hand and faced the others. “Everybody ready?”

  They each nodded.

  Gen looked at Fall. “You ready, Fall?”

  “Fuck yeah. This is hero and legend shit, here. We’re doing something big!”

  Shae cleared her throat. “Ah, Fall? Gen doesn’t really care for that sort of language.”

  Fall looked incredulously at Gen. “Seriously?”

  “Whatever,” Gen said. She stepped onto the dais. “Come on, everybody. Let’s go.” They each stepped into the mirror and left the fairy Realms behind.

  Chapter 24

  Michelle hunched her shoulders and clasped her arms across her chest. She stood at the window, looking out over the Summers’ yard and its thickening blanket of snow. The wind blew hard and the snow made a sinister hissing sound against the glass. She shuddered but she kept staring out at the snow, which shone brightly from the nearly full moon. Instead of a grassy green, the lawn shone in bright white, reflecting the moonlight.

  Laura laughed at something George said, then giggled, “Merry Christmas to you, too!”

  Michelle saw Gabby’s reflection in the window. Gabby raised her glass, toasting, “Merry Christmas!” She took a long swallow from her glass of spiked eggnog. Michelle couldn’t help but smile at their laughter, but she didn’t want to turn around and leave the snow at her back. The snow was treacherous and dangerous. She didn’t trust it and she didn’t want it behind her. She needed to keep an eye on it.

  She edged her way along the window to the recliner and sat lightly on it, not taking her eyes off of the window. She jumped when Laura touched her on the shoulder.

  Laura snatched her hand back. “Whoa! Calm down.”

  Michelle hunched her shoulders more and looked at her knees. “Sorry.”

  “No, hey, it’s okay. I know.”

  Michelle looked up at Laura, then quickly at the Summers. If they noticed her jumpiness, they weren’t making a big deal about it.

  “They all look so happy,” Michelle whispered.

  Laura shrugged and smiled. “It’s Christmas.”

  “So? It’s Christmas and I’m not happy. And I don’t understand how you can be happy, too.”

  Laura looked at her sister with sympathy. “Oh, Shell…”

  “Don’t you, ‘Shell,’ me!” Michelle cried out. She didn’t realize how loud she spoke until she saw that now, all of the Summers looked up at her. She stood up quickly. “Stop looking at me!” She sneered at George and Laura. “I’m so happy you get to spend Christmas with your new family, and I’m so sorry that I’m still missing my real family! I didn’t mean to bring anybody down!”

  She stomped out of the room and up the stairs to her room. She looked at the bed and thought about flopping down on it and crying but she was sick of that. She’d done it at least half the time she’d been here over the past three days. Instead, she went to the window. The light was on across the street in the boy’s room. She leaned close to the glass and felt it chill her skin, even through her thick, new sweater.

  She pinched the thick
wool between her fingers and felt terrible for snapping at everyone. The Summers took her in, bought her a bunch of nice presents, and they were trying to be supportive. And look how you’re treating them for being so nice to you, you dumb bitch, she thought. You don’t deserve any of this. You should have gone with them. You should have gone with them and you should have died in that crash, you stupid idiot. You don’t deserve to be here. She leaned forward and bumped her head against the cold glass. The tears dripped freely from her eyes.

  She jumped again, startled, as the phone rang. “Jesus Christ, that’s a loud ringer,” she muttered. She grabbed the phone and looked around for a second, then jumped again as it rang again. The ringer volume slider was set to “Loud.”

  She thumbed the button with her finger and held the phone to her ear. “Uh, hello?”

  “Hi,” said the voice on the other end of the line. It was a guy’s voice. “Who is this?”

  “Who is this?” Michelle asked.

  “Come to your window.”

  Michelle turned around and stepped toward the window. She saw the boy across the street waving at her. “Oh. It’s you.”

  “Yeah. I’m Jim.”

  She waved back. “I’m Michelle.”

  “Are you Laura’s sister?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Are you staying for the break or something?” Jim asked.

  Michelle heaved a deep sigh. “No.”

  “No?”

  “No,” Michelle answered. “Not for the break. My parents… Uh…”

  “I know,” Jim said softly. “George and Laura told me. I’m sorry. I lost my mom when I was young and it’s the worst thing I can imagine. You want to talk about it?”

  “I don’t even know you.”

  “Maybe that’ll make it easier.”

  Michelle sat down on the desk chair. “I can’t understand how Laura is doing Christmas. She opened her presents. She smiled and laughed and she looks so happy. How can she do that?”

  “Everyone processes differently. You don’t know how she’s feeling on the inside. Maybe she’s having a little rest from how much it hurts to laugh for a little while. Maybe she’s putting on a happy face for George and Mr. and Mrs. Summers so they won’t worry so much.”

  “Fucking considerate of her.”

  “You can’t lash out at other people because of the way they grieve.”

  Michelle snorted a short, bitter laugh. “Who’d you steal that one from?”

  “I read it in a book when I was a kid because my dad didn’t think I needed a therapist.”

  “How old are you?” Michelle asked.

  “Fifteen.”

  “Me, too. If you’re Jim, then I think Genevieve got a present for you. You want to come over here and pick it up?” She gulped, suddenly all nerves and anxiety. “So we can finally meet, I mean?”

  Jim was silent for a moment. Michelle was about to say never mind when he said, “Okay. Give me a few minutes and I’ll come over.”

  “Really? You’ll come?”

  “Sure. I’ll see you in a bit. Bye.”

  “Bye,” Michelle said. She hung up the phone. Her heart was beating fast. For the first time in the last few days, she had a feeling other than crushing grief or complete numbness. She hurried down the stairs and waited by the front door.

  Gabby’s voice echoed down the hall. “…her some space. She’ll be all right. She’s been through a lot.”

  Michelle’s shoulders sagged again. She didn’t like that she’d given them this kind of a reason to talk about her. I really don’t want to start my time here in this house, taken in by these really nice people, being so difficult.

  A minute or two later, the doorbell rang and Michelle yanked open the door, anxious to make a new friend, and started to say, “I guess we finally…” Her voice faded away when she saw the woman standing on the porch.

  The stranger was beautiful, taller than Michelle but not overly tall, tanned, and athletic. Her hair was a rich auburn and was pulled back in a ponytail, bound up with a leather cord. She wore tight leather pants, buckskin boots that laced up the sides with thick cords, and a burgundy leather wrap that crossed across her chest and came together behind her back. A curved sword hung from the left side of her belt and a long knife was strapped to her right thigh. Her eyes were deep brown and she stared at Michelle with a ferocious intensity.

  “Who are you?” The stranger asked.

  “Who are you?” Michelle echoed, without nearly the bravado that this woman had.

  “I’m looking for Gabrielle Summers,” the stranger said.

  “Uh… Wait here.” Michelle started to close the door and turn around, but the stranger shoved her hand against the door and pushed it open. Michelle stepped back, surprised.

  “This is my house. Who are you and what are you doing here?”

  “Your house?” Michelle was confused.

  “Michelle? Are you okay? Who’s at the door?” Gabby rounded the corner into the hall and regarded the stranger standing in her house.

  The stranger looked past Michelle, at Gabrielle. “Mom?”

  Gabrielle stared blankly at her.

  Geoff, George, and Laura rushed into the hallway behind Gabby.

  “Genny?” Geoff cried. “Genny? Is that you?”

  “Daddy?”

  Geoff pushed past Gabby and Michelle and wrapped his arms around Gen. “Oh, god, Genny! Is it really you? Oh, my god.”

  “Oh, daddy,” Gen sighed.

  George rushed up to Geoff and Gen and put his arms around both of them. “Holy shit, Gen! God! Are you okay? Where the hell have you been?”

  After a long, long while, George and Geoff released Gen. Geoff gently pushed on Gen’s shoulders to turn her partially around. “Aren’t you cold with these huge holes in your shirt?”

  “I’m okay, daddy.”

  “Why do you have a shirt with big holes in it? And is it just me, or is everything you’re wearing made of leather?”

  Gen laughed. “There’s not a lot of processed materials where I went, dad. And the slits are for wings.”

  “Wings? You don’t have wings.”

  “Not right now, no. I’ll show you later, if you promise you won’t freak out.”

  “I’m not sure I can promise that,” Geoff said.

  Gen grinned at him, then turned to face Gabby. “Mom?”

  Gabby looked at her closely, but without recognition.

  “There, uh,” Geoff stammered, “there was some memory loss. She had–”

  “Shock therapy,” Gen interrupted. “I know.” She turned to Michelle. “Who are you?”

  “That’s Michelle,” George said. “Laura’s little sister. There was an accident. Her parents… They… She lost her parents, so she’s staying here with us.”

  Gen regarded Michelle suspiciously. Her eyes narrowed and her brow creased into a sharp frown. Michelle involuntarily took a step backward, deeply uncomfortable under the intensity of Gen’s stare. Then, abruptly, Gen’s glance shot to her mother. Her expression didn’t soften.

  Gabby returned her stare.

  Gen took a deep breath and, finally, broke eye contact with Gabrielle. She looked at George, Laura, and then at Geoff. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I know I just disappeared. It was important. My friend was dying and I had to save him. I had to go.”

  “Jim told us,” Geoff said. “We understand. We always said if you have a chance to do something exceptional, you should take it.” He looked her up and down. “Jesus, Gen, look at you!”

  Gen chuckled and looked down at herself. “Yeah. I’ve…” She raised her eyes again. “I’ve gone through some changes. Look, can I, like, come in?”

  “Yes,” Geoff said. “Of course, come in. Please.” He reached to close the door but Gen stopped him.

  “My friends are with me. Can they come in?”

  “Of course.” Geoff peered out into the night. “Where…?” He caught motion over his head and looked up. Five tiny figures zipped int
o the house over his head and alighted atop the large grandfather clock at the far end of the hall.

  Gen glanced at Gabrielle, then focused her attention on her dad. “Daddy, these are my friends. Slynn, David, Fall, Jewel, and Shae. And this,” she held out her hand with her palm facing upward. A slim fairy with a bow strung across her back and a blade on her hip flitted quickly across the room and landed in Gen’s upturned hand. The fairy’s hair was cut short and pure white. “This is my girlfriend, Hope.”

  Hope bowed deeply to Geoff. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”

  Geoff blinked at her, speechless.

  “What in the ever living fuck?” Jim’s voice echoed down the hallway. “What are you doing here?”

  Gen turned to face him. “Jimmy?” Hope stiffened in Gen’s hand, then flew to Gen’s shoulder. Gen dropped her hand to her side.

  Jim glared at her, then whirled on Michelle. “Is this why you told me to come over here? What the fuck is the matter with you?”

  “James Clark,” Gabrielle snapped. “You watch your tongue in this house. I won’t have that kind of language.” She glared at George, Geoff, and Jim. “All of you! Now, the door’s been open for long enough. Either come in or go home.”

  Jim was visibly conflicted. After a moment, he stepped forward into the house.

  Geoff took another long look outside, glanced at Gen for her nod of approval, and then he closed the door.

  Chapter 25

  March 21, 1788

  New Orleans, Louisiana - New Spain

  Egan perched on a balcony under the black wrought-iron railing and looked up the street. He’d been watching Hendricks for weeks and he was confident Hendricks would be here soon. Hendricks always saw his mistress on Friday afternoons and Egan decided today was the day. Right on schedule, Hendricks strode confidently up the street, pulled a key from his pocket, scanned up and down the street, and let himself into a small Spanish-style house.

  Egan spread his wings and glided from the balcony to the open window on the second floor of the house. He landed on the sill and slipped inside. As soon as he was out from under the window he hopped off the sill and grew to full, human size. In his fist, he held a dagger with a wicked, curved blade. He stepped behind the door and waited for Hendricks to open it.