Fusion

by Rose, Imogen

  “Oh, sorry, Mom. I was just thinking how wonderful it would be if we could just get Kellan now.”

  I hoped Stan got the message. Mom was still looking at me like I was having some kind of a seizure.

  “I’m fine, Mom.”

  “Okay. You were making the strangest faces. Oh! Hopefully that’s Rupe,” she said as she answered her phone. “Hi! Where are you?”

  He must have asked her what had happened because she launched into the full story. Her version of it was so different from my own, but then she wasn’t aware of my doppelganger, my visit with Dillard, my wandering back to the other dimension, and my bird’s- eye view of the carnage there. She didn’t know about any of that, so her story was fairly simple: Kellan and I had gone with Ariele to visit Princeton. Ariele and Kellan were detained by the TSA in Newark. The Moreaus had decided to stay here and deal with the consequences, and Kellan needed to be rescued from the TSA agents. Mom told him that she needed him to come over and do that. Of course, there was no way I could tell her that Stan would have Kellan back to us very soon. Asking Dad to travel over to rescue him was a waste of his time.

  “How long will it take you to get here from Celia’s?” Mom asked him.

  “I’ll be there in minutes. Give me the address.”

  Mom gave him directions and finally seemed to relax. “It’s going to be fine, Larry,” she said, turning off her phone. “Rupert will be here soon, so we’ll need to find out where the TSA is holding Kellan.”

  “I’ll call the TSA and let them know I'm Kellan’s father. They’ll have to tell me where to come to find him.” Larry picked up his phone.

  “Are you hungry?” Mom looked over at David and me.

  “No, fine.” I glanced at David for confirmation.

  “I’m good as well,” he said. “Dr. Darley, can we turn the TV on? Maybe there is something on the news about Ariele and her family.”

  “Good idea. There were a lot of reporters at the airport.” She picked up the remote and switched on the TV. It defaulted to the hotel channel, but she found CNN after several quick flicks.

  And there she was—Ariele. Princeton teen back! That’s what scrolled across the ticker at the bottom of the monitor. A picture of Ariele in a lacrosse uniform dominated the screen. The image changed to a live feed from the airport. I recognized it immediately—reporters hanging about near a door that the cameras focused in on intermittently. Apparently that’s where Ariele and her family were expected to exit. The reporter said that the details of the story were sketchy at the moment, but they had been told that Ariele Moreau, the Princeton teen who disappeared along with her family a year ago amid worries that she and her parents had been killed in a private-plane crash, had been discovered by a TSA agent at Newark airport earlier today. Her parents, who had apparently been living in California, had arrived in Newark and were immediately taken to her. The reporter said that Ariele was expected to come out shortly. She finished by saying that she hoped to talk to Ariele and her parents.

  “It’s not going to be easy for them,” Olivia remarked. “The press really jumped all over this. At least they haven’t mentioned Kellan so far, which is good.”

  The newscast moved back to the studio setting where a panel of experts, including a journalist who’d covered the story in detail and written a book about it, a psychologist specializing in PTSD, another doctor, and a TV talk show host discussed the story in excruciating detail.

  “Did you get a location?” Mom asked Dr. Fox when he got off the phone.

  Dr. Fox rubbed his chin. “We have a problem.” He sat down, suddenly looking completely beaten.

  “What?” I stood up. “They’d better not have done anything to him.” Visuals of Kellan being tortured sent pangs of nausea through me.

  “It’s not like that. Apparently, he just disappeared. The TSA is stumped. They don’t know how he got away. No one seems to have seen him. They are searching for him.” Dr. Fox shook his head. “Could Potomal have taken him? But why would he? That doesn’t make any sense. Rupert’s not here yet, so it couldn’t have been him. Maybe he escaped on his own. We have to get to the airport and find him before TSA does.”

  “Oh!” I grinned. I was about to put Dr. Fox’s mind at ease when Kellan appeared next to me. “Thanks, Stan,” I whispered.

  “Kellan!” Dr. Fox pulled his son to him.

  “Dad!” Kellan smiled. “Easy! I’m okay.” He let his dad have a moment before he disengaged from his grip and turned around to encircle me with his arms. “Thanks, Shrimp.”

  “Not a word about Stan, please,” I whispered back.

  “I take it that it wasn’t Rupert who dropped you off just now? Surely he would have stayed, even for just a moment,” Mom asked Kellan.

  “No. I haven’t seen Mr. Darley,” Kellan replied. “Does he know about all this?”

  “Yes, and he should be—” She stopped at a tap on the door. “That should be him.” She got up to answer it.

  And it was. Dad strode into the room and, after a brief love fest with Mom, he stopped in surprise when he saw Kellan.

  “He got here moments ago,” Mom explained. “I can only assume with help from a Wanderer.”

  “Oh? I am glad to see you, Kellan, but who transported you? I didn’t give any orders. I was planning to handle this myself.”

  Kellan hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. “I can’t say,” he mumbled. “I promised to keep it to myself.”

  Dad drew his chin up but kept his cool. “What did you tell the TSA?”

  “Nothing. Just my first name, that’s all.”

  “Did they treat you well?”

  “Yeah, they were okay. I told them right off the bat that I wouldn't say anything until my dad arrived. They were pretty cool about it. The agent who recognized Ariele just wanted to make sure she was fine, and we would have walked right out, but my license didn’t check out. They put me in a different room while they checked it out some more.”

  “Do you know how Ariele coped with it?” Mom asked.

  “No, but she seemed fine until my license issue. I don’t know what happened to her after that. Probably nothing. Her license was fine.”

  “Look, Mom!” I interrupted, pointing to the TV. “They’re coming out!”

  We gathered around the TV, which showed that door again, the one where the Moreaus were supposed to exit from. As it opened a crack, I stopped breathing, and the reporters went silent. Nothing happened for a few seconds, then it swung open. A bunch of people came out, mostly uniformed ones—cops and TSA personnel—followed by Ariele flanked by her parents. The three of them huddled closely together, with Ariele’s parents protecting her by hiding her the best they could. Her face was lowered, with her jacket covering most of her head and face as they led her through the throng that thrust microphones in their faces, bombarding them with questions. They didn’t respond, not even acknowledging anyone with a nod or smile. They kept moving through the terminal and through the sliding door to the curb outside where they were ushered into a limo amid hundreds of flashing bulbs.

  The reporter’s face came into view again, and she couldn’t hide the disappointment from her face as she reiterated what we’d just seen. Then the newscast went back to the studio where the panel discussed their reactions to the lack of response from the Moreaus.

  Larry turned off the TV. “And so it starts. It’s going to be tough for them.”

  “Where are they going?” I asked. “Someone else lives in their house now, so they can’t go back there.”

  “And how do you know that?” Mom asked pursing her lips.

  “We drove by the house.” I lied just a little bit. “I haven’t said goodbye to her yet.” The realization that Ariele was gone from my life suddenly hit me, and I hadn’t had a chance to even let go of her properly. My last memory of her was her worried face as she followed that TSA agent. I had to find a way to see her. My eyes welled up, and teardrops flowed down my face.

  “Come here, Ariz
ona.” Dad drew me to him. I cried into his shirt, feeling horribly hollow. “Once we know where they are, I’ll take you to see her one last time.”

  I looked up at him. “I’ll be able to talk to her?”

  “Yes. I promise. But it might not be for a while. I’ll need to find out where they are first and then have you meet her alone somewhere.”

  “I might be able to help,” David said. “That way you can say goodbye before you head home.”

  “That would be awesome. Thanks, David.”

  “No worries. I have to go now.”

  “What are you doing here, David?” Dad asked him.

  David’s face fell. I’m sure he was hoping to avoid being questioned with everything else going on. “Can I speak to you in private?”

  “Sorry, David, but if it’s not urgent, it will have to wait. I have to head back.”

  “It’s not, and I’ll go for now, if that’s okay.”

  Dad nodded.

  David came over and gave me a hug. There were so many things I wanted to say to him but couldn’t in a room full of people. Knowing that he could read me when we touched, I gripped onto him and filled up with all the thoughts I wanted to share—all my feelings for him, the happy times we’d shared, and last but not least, my relief and happiness that A had him in her life. He kissed the top of my head as I thanked him for having been a part of my life.

  “Always,” he whispered in my ear, but as he walked out the door, I knew that always would never be the same again.

  “Hey.” Kellan put his arm around my shoulder. “You have me.”

  I looked at him and snorted, erupting in giggles until I was drenched in tears again, this time from laughing too hard. Everyone in the room stared at me like I’d totally lost it. “It’s okay,” I chuckled, their bewildered expressions making me laugh even more. “I just—” I paused, gathering myself. “I was just imagining Ariele’s disgust when you said that, Kellan. Sorry! I didn’t mean to make fun of you. I’m not.” I hugged him close until he relaxed. “Thanks,” I whispered to him, knowing he would understand exactly what I meant. I had him, and that’s what I wanted.

  Dr. Fox laughed. “I guess I’m with Ariele here.”

  “Close your eyes in that case, Larry,” Dad said. “I am about to say goodbye to my wife.” He turned to Mom. “I want you to go back home, so I have secured Mountain View.”

  “Dad? What does that mean?” I wasn’t going back there if the carnage at the rink was any indication of what was going on everywhere else.

  “Mom will explain. I’ll be back tomorrow to bring you home. Right now, I’d like you back safe at Celia’s. I can wander you over. I don’t think you’ll want another encounter with the TSA any time soon.”

  Mom shook her head. “Thanks, Rupe, but we’ll fly back. Could you drop Kellan off at Celia’s, though? And then we’ll all travel through the Portal. I know you have other stuff on your mind. I’ll take it from here.”

  Pooh. Wandering back would have been so much quicker and easier. Mom would have to give in to this lifestyle soon and make use of the advantages. It was only fair since we were constantly facing the many disadvantages.

  Too late now, though. As Dad faded into mist with Kellan, it was time for us to head to Newark airport again.

  A look can convey so many silent messages, different emotions, and hidden meanings intended just for its intimate recipient.

  I watched Kellan swim past me as I sat, sipping my Coke by Celia’s pool. His momentary gaze made me turn fifty shades of pure desire. My eyes moved to his undulating body crashing in and out of the water.

  Ella switched me back to PG by jumping into the pool and splashing Kellan as he tried to get a grip on her. I ignored her giggles, concentrating on his glistening chest. Sigh. Standing up, I put down my drink and jumped in. The water did nothing to dampen my enthusiasm as I swam toward Kellan and jumped on him, knocking Ella off.

  “Get him!” Ella yelled and splashed him again.

  Kellan laughed. “Sheesh! You Darley girls better watch out.” He scooped up the water and let us have it. Ella screamed her head off.

  “Ella!” Mom shouted from the poolside. “We can hear you all the way down in Celia’s den!”

  “Sorry, Mom! It’s Kell’s fault.”

  “Well, I am the only male in the pool, so I guess it must be.” He laughed.

  “Dinner will be ready in an hour or so, then it’s finally time to go home. You should get out of the pool and get organized.”

  “All right.” Ella sighed and swam over to Mom, who pulled her out, wrapping her in a towel.

  “You, too,” Mom shouted at us.

  “We’ll be out soon,” I replied.

  Once they’d walked away, I turned to Kellan, wrapping my legs around him as he held me up.

  “Your hair looks so great wet,” he whispered huskily into my ear.

  I kissed him, acutely aware that Celia had walked in and made herself comfortable on one of the lounge chairs.

  “What’s up?” he asked.

  “Celia’s here. I guess we better get out anyway.”

  “Yeah.” He rolled his eyes.

  “Come on.” We swam to the side and got out and walked back to our rooms.

  I didn’t even flinch when I found Stan in my bed.

  “Where’s your boyfriend?” he drawled. “I had to leave the pool to stop myself from hurling out there. Ariele was right. You two have got to be the mushiest couple on earth. You could be a muse for one of those romance books,” he laughed. “Or erotica, by the looks of what was happening out there.”

  I pounded a pillow down on his face. “Oh, shut up! That’s what you get for stalking me, you perv. You need to stop!”

  “Actually, that’s just what I’m going to do.” His face was suddenly more serious than I had ever seen it.

  “Oh?”

  “David’s had his chat with your dad. David’s Wanderer conscience wouldn’t allow him to lie to the sovereign, so he spilled about everything.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding! Even about you?”

  “Yep, and nope. No joking going on right now.”

  “Crap. How did that convo go? Did my dad freak?” Sheesh, I was surprised I hadn’t been hauled in for a yell session. I guess Dad had his hands full at the moment.

  “Safe guess, I’d say, although David didn’t tell me that. He was pretty deadpan about the whole thing, having been sent to get me.”

  “How did he find you?”

  “Easy, I was busy stalking you.”

  “He was here?”

  “Yes, just to pass on the messages to me—two of them. The first one was that I have been ordered to report for duty to your dad.”

  “Are you happy about that?”

  “Actually, yes. Especially since he’s arranged for me to go back to university, but here in this dimension. I’ve got a lot of catching up to do, but I am stoked about going back to London. What sucks is that I won’t be able to wander without permission again, so these rendezvous will have to stop.”

  Oddly, I was going to miss them, having drawn comfort in the knowledge that Stan was always around. “I’ll make sure he invites you over for dinner often. I like having you around.” I smiled.

  “Ditto, and I’ll bet Luna would love to see you as well. I asked your dad if he could do the same for Luna and send her to Paris, and he agreed.”

  “That’s awesome.”

  “David’s other message involves you. He asked me to bring you over to his apartment. He has your dad’s permission.”

  “Sure. When? We are heading home after dinner.”

  “Right now. I’ll have you home before then, but you better let your boyfriend know you’ll be gone until then, so he covers for you.”

  “What should I tell him?”

  “The truth, Arizona.”

  Easier said than done. It’s not like I could tell Kell that my stalker Sigma-W was wandering me off for a while. So, I kept it simple, and sort of told h
im the truth, or at least didn’t lie.

  “Kell,” I said, making him jump out of his skin as I walked into his bathroom. I could see the outline of his body through the grained shower glass, but not enough to make out the expression on his face. He slid the door open slightly and peeked out.

  “Shrimp, what’s up?”

  “Dad’s sent a Sigma-W over to get me to take me to David. I don’t know why, but I’ll be back before dinner. Cover for me?”

  “Yeah, but is that a good idea? Just taking off?”

  “Like I’m going to disobey my dad right now? I’m in enough trouble already. I better go. See you in a while.” I left before he could protest.

  “Ready?” Stan asked when I walked back into my room.

  “Yes, let’s go.”

  He put his hands on my shoulders and the room faded away. My eyelids closed, blocking out the bright light. I had become so used to this form of transport that using any other was just a hassle. Mom really needed to embrace this.

  We arrived about ten minutes later, and I opened my eyes as soon as my feet hit the ground. And grinned—Ariele stood in front of me.

  “Arizona!” She threw her arms around me, pushing Stan out of the way. “Scram, guys. We need some girl time.”

  “Charming,” Stan complained.

  “Let’s go play with the Wii in my room and leave the girls to chat. Hi, Arizona,” David said.

  I kissed his cheek. “Talk to you soon,” I whispered.

  “So, spill!” I said to Ariele. “I am so excited to see you.”

  “Me, too! I was bummed that we didn’t get to say goodbye properly.”

  I felt sad. “So, is this goodbye?”

  She nodded. “It has to be, I’m afraid. I have to get on with my life here.”

  I could understand that. Ariele’s life would be simple once the press lost interest in her. Life here was normal. Mine would never be, and anyone involved with me would be dabbling with the paranormal whether they liked it or not. Plus, she had A.