Passages (Alternate Worlds Book 1)

by Taylor Leigh

  She shoved him gently. ‘You can be such a tosser, you know that?’

  A grin twisted up his face.

  ‘Tollin told me something strange today,’ Victoria said after a moment. ‘Something I didn’t want to believe.’

  He raised his eyebrows. ‘Oh?’

  ‘Yeah.’ Victoria leant back against the stone wall behind her. ‘He basically said you’re a cold heartless stone who doesn’t give a damn about people unless they have some use to you.’

  Andrew’s expression twitched in guilty emotion. ‘Really?’

  ‘You don’t sound very surprised.’

  Andrew’s lips flattened into a pale line. He gazed out the window. ‘It’s not exactly the first time I’ve heard that.’

  Victoria looked back out the window and watched as the strange flakes of white fell from the sky. ‘Well, after your behaviour earlier I can see why. What do you think about that?’

  Andrew pulled his arms across his chest tightly. ‘Doesn’t matter to me what others think. Most people think I’m a heartless bastard and probably to most people I come off as one, but what does it matter if I care or not? I’ve done more for the village than any of those idiots who do care.’

  Victoria studied his locked expression, heart sinking. ‘I guess that makes sense. But I think it does make a difference, Andrew. How can you truly help anyone without caring?’

  He huffed. ‘I’ve done fine on my own. Not like anyone would risk their necks for me.’

  He was pulling away. Not physically, but Victoria could feel it all the same. He was trying to put as much distance between himself and the conversation as possible. It clearly made him uncomfortable to talk about his feelings. His reluctance only fuelled Victoria on. It wasn’t something she could ignore for ever. There were things she needed to know. Desperately. Things Nan had said during their brief, telling conversation that had been needling her ever since. And time was running out to know them. ‘Andrew, this is rather obtrusive of me, but have you ever…been with anyone before?’

  The confusion on his face was obvious. ‘I don’t understand.’

  Victoria struggled, flustered. She could feel her face growing hotter. ‘What I mean is, have you ever—’

  He frowned for a moment again. ‘This is about…Ah. I don’t understand what it has to do with us writing this book.’

  Victoria gnawed on her lip, furious with his stonewalling. ‘Nothing. It’s just been something I’ve wondered about, you being you and all. Forget I said anything!’

  Andrew scowled in thought, then swung round to face her. ‘Victoria, what brought this on?’

  Victoria’s blush deepened. She briefly considered blaming it all on Nan, but figured the woman had enough to put up with without this added burden. ‘Nothing! We’ve just known each other for almost half a year now and I still feel like I don’t know anything about you. There is more to us than this book. It doesn’t have to do with that. It has to do with our relationship…such as it is.’

  Andrew cocked his head to one side. ‘And you feel like you have to know about me?’ His eyes narrowed. ‘Because you’re curious or…you’re worried about the status of our relationship.’ It wasn’t a question.

  She bit her bottom lip. ‘I wouldn’t exactly put it in those terms…not exactly like we have a relationship to speak of.’

  Andrew turned thoughtful. ‘You don’t think we have a relationship? You just said we did.’

  ‘I know we do,’ Victoria sighed. ‘You’re the one person I’ve spent most of my time with this year. But it’s not what most people would call a normal relationship.’

  ‘Ah. You are speaking on a more…romantic level.’

  Victoria was beginning to regret the way the conversation was heading. Andrew was just so analytical that perhaps he wouldn’t get upset over it, but she was on dangerous territory. He obviously didn’t care for any type of romantic relationship; otherwise he’d be in one, considering he seemed to be able to get whatever he wanted. It was just frustrating, especially if he continued catching her off-guard with false yet agonisingly real kisses. ‘Look, don’t think I’m complaining or anything. I’m perfectly happy with the way things are now.’

  His eyebrows rose slightly.

  ‘I am!’ she insisted. ‘I’m just curious about you. You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met simply because you’re so…detached…and I just…I don’t know, I was just trying to understand you.’

  Andrew brushed a fine layer of snow off his sleeve. ‘My mind isn’t cluttered like other peoples’, Victoria. All of that worrying about what people think, gossip, relationships, plans to make with others, who loves who and how do I look? All of the simple thoughts that other people have, they don’t plague me. I don’t have the same feelings of caring for others or attachments that others do. I simply see the world in ways different than everyone else. I see things clearly. I’m from a distance, looking down, around, through. You say I’m detached, but that’s because I am. The world doesn’t feel…tangible to me. It’s like I’m on the other side of the glass.’

  Victoria watched him. ‘Simple thoughts…’ Her brows rose.

  Andrew smiled faintly. ‘Sorry. I just find it hard to…understand how others manage to exist with all the clutter in their heads! I find it hard to comprehend how people manage to do anything at all. You’re almost like an alien species…or rather, I am, I suppose.’

  ‘Well, we manage somehow,’ Victoria sighed dramatically.

  He shook his head, amused, leaning heavily against the window.

  ‘But you know what?’ Victoria said.

  ‘What?’

  ‘I think they’re wrong. Everyone. Even Tollin.’

  Andrew crossed his arms across his chest again, slightly amused. ‘Really?’

  ‘Yeah, because I’ve seen you. I’ve seen the way you interact with Thedric and Molly and I know that you’re not a heartless stone like you think you are. You care about people, Andrew. Maybe just a little, but I don’t think you’re as cold as you want people to believe. You may still be from a distance, but you still know how to care.’

  Andrew grinned wryly. ‘Interesting observation. I’m not saying you’re right…but interesting observation nonetheless.’

  Victoria smiled back, feeling strangely.

  Andrew’s face then twisted into a painful spasm. He coughed heavily, doubled over the edge of the window. Victoria watched his chest heave and shakily rested her hand across his back, leaning in close. She tried to ignore the flecks of red that appeared on his hand when he pulled it away.

  ‘C’mon, you should get back to bed, away from this cold air.’

  He pulled himself upright and locked eyes with her, freezing Victoria in her tracks. Tremulously, she reached her fingers out to touch his sallow cheek.

  ‘My symptoms always worsen in the winter. It is nothing to worry about,’ he said, voice a hoarse whisper.

  Victoria stepped closer to him, heart thudding. Andrew, still struggling through laborious breaths, hesitantly tilted his head down till his cool forehead rested against hers.

  ‘Don’t fuss,’ he whispered.

  Victoria curled her fingers through the front of his tunic and closed her eyes, breathing him and the snowy air in.

  A noise broke the stillness. It was a howl, unnatural and growing. It came from everywhere at once, like a great sucking in of wind. Victoria stared up, gripping him tighter.

  ‘What was that?’ she hissed, voice tight.

  ‘Sounds like they have us surrounded.’ Andrew released her, eyes wide.

  She was suddenly aware of Tollin standing next to her. ‘Oh, they’re bolder than I anticipated, coming at us from more than one side!’ His voice was an excited growl.

  Andrew shook his head. ‘They can’t get in here. It’s completely fortified. Three sides of the keep are cliffs. They can’t get up!’

  Thedric pushed himself up, drunk on sleep. ‘What?’ he moaned.

  Tollin ran his fingers through his ha
ir over and over. ‘Oh, we’re not in a good position here. Stupid, stupid! They shouldn’t be here! They should be at the village!’

  Andrew whirled round. ‘Well, you got it wrong, didn’t you, Traveller? They’re attacking here, not there!’

  ‘But why?’ Victoria cried.

  Andrew scowled. ‘Because we’re here. Some of us are rather important.’ He glanced to Tollin and Victoria with a meaningful look.

  Tollin stared wide-eyed out into the darkness. ‘This shouldn’t be happening…something’s gone wrong. They shouldn’t even know we’re here!’

  Victoria groaned. Everyone turned to look at her. ‘My fault!’ she cried. ‘I…Flynn helped me find this place.’

  ‘Flynn?’ Thedric cried, fully awake now. ‘The leader of the Druids and you just told him we were all here?’

  ‘I didn’t think he’d turn on us! He’s never been that way!’

  ‘He’s working with them!’ Thedric roared. ‘You don’t even know him!’

  Andrew didn’t seem to be taking the argument and the howling well. He let out a moan and clamped his hands over his ears.

  ‘Everybody just remain calm!’ Tollin shouted above the din, eyes wild. ‘This isn’t helping.’

  Andrew nodded, shaking himself free of his discomfort. ‘He’s right. We need a plan. Blaming each other is going to get us nowhere. That’s all in the past and we’re here and now.’

  ‘We’ve got no guards, no protection of any kind besides what we can find in the cupboards, and we’ve got a whole bleeding Wolf pack on us!’ Thedric shouted.

  ‘Ah, they’re climbing the cliffs. Now that is rather impressive. Must have something to do with having no fear.’ Tollin observed.

  Andrew started pacing. ‘We won’t last long here, not in this state. Our only option appears to be making a break for it and riding to the village.’

  ‘What?’ Thedric demanded. ‘In this weather? With all those savages out there?’

  ‘Yes! I know how it sounds but it’s our only hope. With the weather and the thought of pursuing horses they won’t be too keen to chase after us, and with any luck we can sneak out of here unnoticed.’

  ‘It’s an hour away to Miol Mor!’ Thedric shouted. ‘If they come after us we’re stuck in the wilderness with no safety from the weather or them!’

  There was a banging noise.

  ‘They’re beating against the door,’ Tollin remarked darkly.

  ‘If we’re clever about it we should be able to get away. They probably wouldn’t follow; not if we’re riding horses, not in this weather.’ Andrew was talking fast, hands on either side of his head, eyes wide.

  There was a huge crash of shattering wood.

  ‘Well,’ Tollin said. ‘What are we waiting for?’

  Andrew nodded curtly and motioned for everyone to follow. They dashed down a dark hallway away from the howling and pounding feet that had invaded the keep. Victoria kept close to Andrew, who was darting and slipping round the narrowest and most obscure passages he could find.

  ‘Well, if you look on the bright side,’ Tollin said casually. ‘At least Andrew knows he’s famous outside of Miol Mor now.’

  Thedric stumbled down a narrow flight of stairs, bumping into Victoria. ‘We’ve only got the two horses! Andrew, you’re with me. I think it would probably be best if Victoria and Tollin rode together. I’m not having him wrap his arms round my waist!’

  Tollin rolled his eyes dramatically. ‘Oh, Thedric, you wound me! I thought we were friends!’

  Thedric scoffed. ‘Friends or not, I’m not ready to get that cosy with you!’

  Andrew clenched his teeth. ‘Will you two be quiet? You’re going to alert the whole pack to where we are!’

  They all pulled up at a dark corner. An open hallway yawned in front of them, and somewhere beyond that: their way out. They were ready to make a run for it when suddenly, Andrew stopped dead. ‘Wait. I’ve forgotten something.’

  Thedric stared. ‘You’ve forgotten something?’ he hissed. ‘What could you possibly need here?’

  A loud howl came from up the hall. The Blaiden had obviously discovered the lit fire in the library and knew they were on the right scent. All of a sudden, one Blaiden man came dashing down the hall, bare feet hammering against the padded rug, a torch gripped in one hand and a rectangular object in the other.

  ‘Oh, no you don’t,’ Andrew snarled.

  He broke away from the group and raced towards the Blaiden man, face set in determination. Thedric jumped off after him, hollering at his brother.

  The man seemed taken aback by Andrew’s approach. Though Andrew was at least three heads shorter than the Blaiden, the savage still skid to a stop, his way cut off from the rest of his pack in the deserted hall. Victoria realised what he was holding in his hand then. It was the book. The one she and Andrew had been working on so hard. That was what Andrew had forgotten, she realised in horror.

  The Wolf growled and waved his torch in front of Andrew, as if the flame would ward him off. Another howl came, much closer. There was a crash. The windows in the back sounded like they were being broken. The man howled back and then, with a nasty look to the four of them, dropped the torch to the rug, where it burst into flames. Then he dashed for the nearest branching hallway.

  Andrew lurched forward but Thedric tackled him. ‘Don’t you dare! You’ve done enough stupid today. If you go in there, he’s going to kill you. That’s what he wants! We’re going to the stables—now!’

  Andrew shoved his brother away and stood, dusting himself off. He looked murderous.

  ‘He’s going to destroy it!’ Victoria gasped. All of their hard work was about to go up in flames. She stared at Andrew. His face was set in a hard line, impossible to read. Wild impulse filled her. ‘I can’t let that happen!’

  Victoria broke into a mad run, dodging past Tollin and Thedric.

  ‘Victoria! No!’ Andrew shouted after her.

  Victoria didn’t listen; she just knew she had to get that book back. Her whole future with Andrew depended on it.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  ‘Stupid!’ Andrew hissed. He shoved out of Thedric’s grasp and pulled out his firearm. ‘What is she thinking? No, I know what’s she’s thinking. She’s trying to prove herself to me. Stupid!’ He started loading the weapon.

  Thedric turned away from him and marched towards the other end of the hall, where their escape route led. ‘Well that’s a shocker! After hanging around you all this time of course she wants to impress you! How can people not? If they don’t impress you then they’re idiots, and NO-ONE EVER IMPRESSES YOU!’

  Andrew glowered at him. ‘Wait here. I’ll be back. If I’m not here in five minutes then head down the hall till you come to the small door. Ride to the village.’

  Thedric swore loudly, but Andrew, already crunching over broken glass and into the darkness, paid him no mind.

  Andrew’s eyes darted round the darkened hall. Most of the furniture was demolished. Tapestries were ripped, glass was shattered, scorch marks covered the walls. His heart thudded in his chest with its unstable, excited beat. In the darkness and noise, his brain revolted against him, desperately trying to push him into another one of his catatonic states. Andrew wanted nothing more than to clamp his hands over his ears, shut his eyes and shout it all away. But he couldn’t. There was something stronger than his own need to escape the discomfort of the situation. Victoria. As he ran down the hall, trying to ignore the acidic stinging at the back of his throat, she was all he could think of. Losing her now would be the biggest failure of his existence. He couldn’t be responsible for that.

  There was a loud crash and a cry of a girl in the library. There were at least two Blaiden inside, he could tell by the sound of their feet. And they didn’t sound happy with each other. Andrew threw himself up against the wall and listened.

  ‘Will you stop fooling round? We need the skinny man, not her!’

  Andrew steadied his breathing. They wanted Tollin. Not him.
That’s why they were here. The insult stung a little. He frowned darkly.

  ‘Wait a moment!’ the other said. ‘This girl here is important to the Tartans! And this book…have you looked inside of it?’

  ‘No! Why were you wasting your time?’

  ‘It shows things of the Other World. If the Tartans read it and believe it, or hear this girl talk, then they might believe it is not evil! The war could end up dying before it begins!’

  ‘So? Drugai said to forget that plan anyway. Haven’t you been listening? Why do you think we’re here? Did you think this was the priest’s idea? Just kill the girl and burn the book!’

  Victoria sounded like she was struggling. There was a loud smack! and she yelped.

  ‘I will, but the other also knows. The genius. That brat has been a plague to us and the Druids far too long. He’ll come for the girl and the book. He needs them. He knows the truth of the Red World. Drugai said he must die as well.’

  Ah, so they did know him. His pride could recover now.

  The other Blaiden spat. ‘Fine. Do what you must, but hurry up. I can’t wait for you. We’ve got a schedule to keep!’

  There was a slight padding of bare feet and Andrew knew the other Wolf was gone. Off to the village, no doubt. Sounded like more than Tollin had a death warrant on his head. Perfect.

  Andrew took a deep breath. ‘Why run away if you need to confront me? Only a coward flees battle. Are you really that intimidated by me?’

  ‘Show yourself, boy! Or I’ll destroy what you care for!’

  Andrew rounded into the room and skid to a stop, fighting down an unexpected flurry of emotions. Things had gone to hell fast. Why didn’t people ever listen to him?

  Victoria was there, lifted high in the air, grasped round the neck by the man. He held the Scrabian book in his other hand, over the fireplace, which was burning bright. Victoria gasped and choked, clawing at her throat. Her eyes were locked on Andrew’s, desperate, pleading. He had to remind himself to be detached from the situation. Having an emotional outburst over Victoria’s predicament wasn’t going to help anyone.