JoAnna carefully followed Darden down the mountain trail. It was steeper than the one in Sedona. Since her shoes had very little traction, she spent more time sliding, rather than walking. Fortunately, Darden did not appear to be in any hurry, so they took the trip down nice and easy. She balanced, concentrating on memories to reduce the pressure in her head, while she watched her step as they traversed the path.
The closer they got to the city, the easier it was to make out the different types of purple foliage. From high on the mountain, Aster Province seemed more like a painting by Monet. She placed more focus on her mind, as the buzzing got worse and the trail started to even out.
JoAnna and Darden finally reached flat land and came to the outskirts of the city. Two women were waiting for them as they came to a paved road. The taller woman looked eerily familiar. They both were dressed in the tunic and leggings combo Darden sported. Surprisingly, the outfit was quite flattering to the female form.
The tall brunette stepped forward and stood before JoAnna. She had an expectant look on her face, as if she waited for her to respond to something she had said. It finally dawned on JoAnna she tried to communicate telepathically.
“Whatever channel you’re using, or whatever Darden called it, you have not connected with me.” JoAnna held her ground, she figured the woman would eventually connect with her or finally speak.
“I’m Candy,” the tall woman stepped forward and embraced her. “I tried to use a telepathic channel which opened when we were kids in the orphanage. It was the first pathway Shirl and I were able to communicate through. It’s so nice to finally have you home, Jo Jo.”
A warm sensation she had not felt since she left the orphanage came over her when Candy called her by the old nickname. JoAnna placed her arms around Candy and returned her embrace. It was the oddest feeling, almost as if she had returned to the only home she had ever known. Afraid she could lose the warmth she had missed, JoAnna tightened her hold on Candy.
“I hate to break up this reunion,” a female voice said, “but Jeryl Jarlyn and Prime Adholm are waiting for us.”
“Who?” JoAnna asked as she released her hold on Candy. The other woman was probably ten years older than JoAnna and was stunning. There was something unnerving in the way the woman stared at her. The harpy’s piercing blue eyes seemed to see right through her. JoAnna was instantly suspicious of who she was and what she wanted.
“Jeryl Jarlyn is the Prime Ruler of the Troyk people,” Candy responded. “Prime Adholm is your uncle. Both men are very anxious to meet you. I went through a similar interview with the Prime Ruler when I first arrived.”
JoAnna stared at Candy. For whatever reason, she had never considered she would have family in this universe. It mystified her how they were able to find her relatives so quickly. Her birth parents had played such a small part in her life, she barely gave them a second thought until she received the note and bracelet from her mother. Would her Troyk relatives have the same gift she possessed? Now that she knew she had family, JoAnna wondered if she would be staying with them.
“I will accompany you ladies,” Darden shared. “JoAnna, this is Solfa Theffar. She is in charge of Troyk government’s central intelligence.” JoAnna’s initial feelings to be weary of this woman had been right on point. Although she had nothing to hide, the chestnut haired beauty made her nervous.
“It’s going to be fine, Jo Jo,” Candy reassured her. “We are both children of dissidents from this world. Naturally, we were ignorant of their crimes. You and Shirl were born in this world and were carried through the portal when our parents left. The Prime Ruler and Prime Adholm want to welcome you home.
“When Darden communicated you had accompanied him back to the Troyk universe, I was asked by the Prime Ruler himself to come and greet you. He felt connecting with an old friend would make your initial impressions of your new home favorable.”
“What happens to me after the meeting? Can I return to Earth?” JoAnna had no desire at this point to return to her old life, but wanted to keep her options open. Other than her father, she had no reason to return. The opportunity to catch up with Candy and Shirl, as well as get to know her Troyk family was too seductive not to take advantage of. She also had unfinished business with Koel.
“I imagine Prime Adholm will want you to stay with him,” Candy responded. “When I first came to this world, I stayed with the family who had sheltered Shirl. The Childers took wonderful care of me. Their son, Tolfer, helped me manage the communal pathways. He is now my boyfriend, so hands off.”
JoAnna could not help but laugh at Candy’s playfulness and the expression on her face. She walked through the streets of Aster Province as she chatted with her long-lost friend. JoAnna was so absorbed in her conversation with Candy, she had not truly taken in her surroundings. It finally dawned on her, there were no cars.
“Is there public transportation?” JoAnna inquired. She drove everywhere when she was at home. All her shoes were purchased based on how fashionable they were, not on comfort. Not that it mattered, all her possessions had been left behind.
“Everyone walks, although there are high-speed trams that travel between cities. You have to admit,” Candy continued, “it’s tranquil without all the noise produced by automobiles, not to mention the lack of air pollution.”
It would be wonderful, JoAnna admitted to herself, if the damn static in her head would go away. During the conversation with Candy, she stopped concentrating on the memories, which had lessened the pressure. The last thing JoAnna wanted was to get another nosebleed when she met the ruler of this world and her uncle.
“Good Lord,” JoAnna said, as she stopped dead in her tracks. In front of her was the most impressive palace she had ever seen. The building literally sparkled as the sun reflected off flecks embedded in the marble. It was how she envisioned Mount Olympus would look when she studied Greek mythology.
“That is the Aster Province Palace,” Darden said. “Our government operates here, and Jeryl Jarlyn lives on the top floor.”
“I will accompany JoAnna,” Solfa informed the small group. JoAnna would have preferred Candy or Darden to join her, but it did not appear she had a choice in the matter. “Candy, do not wander off, just in case it is determined JoAnna will stay with the Childers.”
JoAnna and Solfa walked through the main entrance into The Palace without having to go through security. They walked up four flights of stairs and bypassed the small guard station at the top of the staircase. JoAnna felt she was in some kind of museum surrounded by beautiful pieces of art as they made their way down the hall in the Prime Ruler’s living quarters.
Solfa stopped in front of a door and grabbed JoAnna’s wrist. “Both men have mind control telepathic abilities. You will feel pressure in your head as they use their powers. Do not be concerned; there is no lasting negative effect on your brain.”
For the first time, JoAnna wondered if she had caused any one discomfort as she used her gift over the years. There had been no telltale evidence any of her friends or family had been in pain as she made her requests. JoAnna would not have continued using her powers if she was aware she caused anyone harm.
Her companion opened the door and both women entered. Two older men were seated in an area on the other side of an impressive collection of geodes. The crystals were absolutely breathtaking. A flash of a little blond girl with a purple amethyst around her neck came back to her. Shirl never took off her prize possession, the only thing her dead mother had left behind.
“Jolyn!” the gray-haired man rose in greeting. He was tall, good looking, and amazingly fit for a man his age. “Welcome home. You look so much like your mother, it is quite startling.” He came forward to embrace her. JoAnna figured he was her uncle, but stepped back from the physical contact. The old man stopped in his tracks, respecting her non-verbal request. “I am Jeryl Jarlyn. You
r mother was like a daughter to me.”
JoAnna’s gaze left the Prime Ruler and fell on the other man still seated. Her uncle made no attempt to make eye-contact with her. He was heavier than the Prime Ruler, but still maintained a head of dark brown hair. His behavior was odd, considering she was the niece he had not seen since she was a baby. From his profile, JoAnna could see a look of guilt and regret written on his face. Had her uncle’s past actions driven his sister through the portal to another world?
Solfa grabbed her upper arm and led her to stand in front of her uncle. “Prime Adholm, I present your niece. Her Ginkgo Terra name is JoAnna.” She was grateful Solfa used the name she was accustomed to, regardless of the name these men were familiar with.
Her uncle slowly raised his eyes, until their gazes finally met. A smile graced his face, as he rose to greet his flesh and blood. This time JoAnna did not back away from an embrace.
She felt no warm emotions while being held by her uncle. However, Prime Adholm seemed deeply affected. His hold on her tightened, as his body began to quake. Sobs of grief escaped from him.
“It is all right, my friend.” Jeryl Jarlyn pulled her uncle from her and embraced him. “The Supreme Being has been generous by replacing a lost daughter with a beautiful niece now returned to the fold. It is truly a great gift he has bestowed onto you.”
“Chartail,” her uncle cried, tearing himself from the Prime Ruler. He staggered from the room, as the echoes of his cries were left in his wake. JoAnna stood frozen, not sure what to do. Her uncle was a stranger; she could offer him no comfort.
“What happened to Chartail?” It was the obvious question for JoAnna to ask. Her uncle still grieved for her cousin’s loss.
“She was a foolish, misguided girl,” Jeryl Jarlyn replied. “Chartail plotted an unsuccessful assassination attempt on my life. For her crimes, she was banished to our off-world penal colony.”
JoAnna gasped, unable to control her body’s reaction to the startling news. She wanted to know what had driven her cousin to such a drastic act, but knew these people were not the ones to ask. Perhaps Candy would enlighten her on what had transpired.
“I would like to get JoAnna settled.” Solfa’s voice cut through the silence which followed JoAnna’s involuntary reaction to what Chartail had done. “It is clear Prime Adholm is not ready to share his home with JoAnna. The Childers have generously offered their home once again. Candy plans to move in with my mother, so there is room for her in their household.”
“Yes,” Jeryl Jarlyn answered, “that will work nicely. Little Alexia is still in residence there, so JoAnna will have another companion around her age to help her assimilate to her new home. However, I have a few questions to ask JoAnna before you leave.”
Solfa nodded her understanding of The Prime Ruler’s wishes. “Let us sit and get comfortable.” The woman in charge of Troyk intelligence sat on the couch and indicated for JoAnna to sit next to her. “Have you heard the name Benko Jarlyn before?”
The name Ben Clark instantly came to JoAnna’s mind. The first names were similar, but not enough to share Cassie’s father’s identity with these people. Besides, she was not sure who she could trust in this world.
“I have never met a Benko Jarlyn or heard anyone mention him before. Who is he?”
“Benko is my son,” the Prime Ruler answered. “Your mother and father followed him through a portal to Ginkgo Terra after a failed attempt to unseat me from government control. You were just a baby at the time.”
“Another plot against you?” The words escaped JoAnna’s mouth before her brain could censor what she said. She played with her hair, hoping it made the comment less judgmental. She stared at her knees, unable to make eye contact with the most powerful man in this universe.
Jeryl Jarlyn leaned forward in his chair and reached for JoAnna’s hand. This time she did not resist the contact, she did not have a death wish. The Prime Ruler was not someone she wanted to alienate.
“We are a telepathic people, JoAnna,” Jarlyn said. “We have a variety of gifts given to us by the Supreme Being. You have already witnessed the power a crystal telepath possesses. They can navigate a portal by adjusting the energy’s frequencies while they travel from world to world.”
They were interrupted as a servant entered with refreshments. Several beverages were on the tray, as well as pastries that looked scrumptious. Cassie had driven them directly to Sedona once she landed in Phoenix. She had not eaten since the meal she was served in first class on the flight. JoAnna was hungry, but held off grabbing one of the desserts.
As soon as the servant left, Solfa reached for the sole mug on the tray. “This tea will help reduce the static in your head. It contains many herbs which will help as the telepathic channels attempt to connect with your brain. Have you been able to pick-up any conversations?”
“No, it is all incoherent at his point.” JoAnna took a tentative sip from the mug. The tea had a pleasant taste and was not too hot. She could feel the static reduce as she continued to drink. No longer able to hold back, JoAnna grabbed the pastry closest to her and took a large bite. It had a sweet, nutty flavor. She finished off the treat, barely breathing between bites.
The Prime Ruler placed his coffee cup on the center table, obviously ready to continue the discussion. “Another gift bestowed upon us is the ability to sway the indecisive. Our world is no longer dragged down by endless debate or the chaos as factions fight to get their dissenting voices heard. All the inefficiencies were eliminated when the mind control government was put in place.”
“Harmony rules our communities,” Solfa continued. “We work for a common goal, rather than being stymied by a chamber of different ideas which brought everything to a halt. Our governing body was a group of individuals shouting to be heard over the screams of other members.”
JoAnna knew firsthand what happened when government was gridlocked. However, with only one voice making decisions, there was no chance for the opposing sides to work together to display statesmanship and reach a compromise. An opposition party was needed to bring moderation to whatever legislation was considered.
“Do you possess this ability, JoAnna?” The Prime Ruler startled her with the question. “The gift runs in your family, although Chartail never developed the power.”
Jeryl Jarlyn said those last words in such a condescending tone, JoAnna wondered if Chartail had been driven to her act by being made to feel defective. She could certainly sympathize with her cousin if she had been treated in such a fashion, although there were other avenues she could have taken to deal with her issues. Regardless, JoAnna was not going to reveal her gift, at least, not yet.
“I wouldn’t know where to start,” JoAnna said. She lied through her teeth. JoAnna said it with as much innocence as she could muster. It was best to appear harmless, until she figured out who were the good guys in this universe.
“How could you, growing up in a non-telepathic world?” Jarlyn spoke to her as if she were a child. She had managed to manipulate him without relying on her gift. “But you have the power; I can feel it. Earlier, I tried to determine if you were lying to me, but your mind was locked to mine. The ability to close your mind to another telepath indicates you have tremendous power. I can only imagine how incredible you will be once you have mated.”
“Excuse me,” JoAnna squeaked out. How did the conversation drift to sex and what an odd way to refer to it? The Prime Ruler’s face reddened, as he realized what he said and her reaction to it.
“Soul mates were considered legendary beings until we had a pairing recently.” Solfa’s calming voice cut through the awkwardness of the previous moment. It was the only non-threatening part of the woman, her gaze still scared the heck out of JoAnna. “When soul mates make love for the first time, a hormone is excreted and each partner enters the next evolutionary stage of their telepathic a
bilities.”
JoAnna already knew who her soul mate was, although she had not planned on sharing that bit of information. The idea she could gain additional telepathic abilities was exciting. Although she did not know where to find Koel, Darden would. She had already planned to bed him, now she had another reason to do it sooner than later.
“How did you find Darden, or even know about the Troyk universe?” Jeryl Jarlyn inquired.
“When I was sixteen, I was given a note and a gift from my deceased birth mother. Her letter spoke of the Troyk universe and she left me her bracelet.” JoAnna raised her arm, as she showed the piece of jewelry that graced her wrist. As she vowed when she first put it on, JoAnna wore it every day. “Koel and Darden tracked me down and gave me a number to call when I was ready to return to the universe of my birth.”
“Who did the number belong to?” Jarlyn asked. His excitement in what she had communicated was evident.
“Darden’s girlfriend, Cassie,” JoAnna responded.
“After Candy came through the portal,” Solfa explained, “Darden started to research the girls who had been at the orphanage with Candy and Shirl, searching for the offspring of your son’s companions. He tracked down JoAnna and noticed her pronounced resemblance to the Adholm family.”
“And the girl?” the Prime Ruler asked.
“Some child Darden must have charmed,” Solfa answered. “The girl is so besotted with him, she gathers the ginkgo biloba herb and awaits his return. It is one of the reasons he comes back with so much of the product.”
The Prime Ruler seemed satisfied with Solfa’s response. “Solfa, take her to the Childers,” Jeryl Jarlyn ordered. “I want to see her every afternoon so we can develop her talents. I want only the best for her, make sure my wishes are seen to.”
The Mind Control Telepath Page 3