Transference (The Two Worlds, #2)

by Alisha Howard

  “Enough!” a Council member thundered. “This ends tonight.”

  “Perhaps we should get out of here,” Yolanda whispered. “I’m not liking these odds.”

  “I agree,” Kris muttered. “We need to regroup.”

  “And leave so soon?” came a growl from behind us. We all whipped around to see the very large group of KaKonians flanked around us. While the Council had been talking, they had snuck away from their camps. We were surrounded and outnumbered. I felt like I was going to puke. “This is just starting to be fun,” the KaKonian added.

  “You don’t scare us,” I said, my voice stronger than I appeared. “Leave now while you still can.” Yolanda glowed a faint green in solidarity.

  Some of the KaKonians laughed. The biggest, a huge beast with a large, deep scar than ran down the side of his face and neck, stepped forward. His massive club was made with large metal spikes sticking out on the end. It somehow looked tiny in his hands.

  Kris stepped next to me. I could feel the anger radiating off of him and took comfort that as long as he was near, we still had a chance of escaping this situation alive.

  The large KaKonian spat at us. I stepped back before it could hit my feet. “Enough talk,” he said.

  Before I could react, a blast hit me from behind. I went flying forward, but Kris caught me before the KaKonian leader could hit me with his club. Kris spun and dragged me into the trees, where Mimi was waiting.

  “Quick, put her on her stomach,” she said, worry thick in her voice. I could feel searing pain pulsating from my back. I moaned, instead focusing on the sounds of fighting coming from where all three groups were. As Mimi quickly dusted my back with some type of powder, I could see Nia still standing stock still, watching as Jala and Nahime tore into KaKonians left and right. Their swords were slick with purple blood, but they didn’t stop moving, fluidly slicing one poor soul after another.

  I couldn’t see Rena and hoped that she was hiding. Grandpa was surprisingly fighting as well, having grabbed a large branch. He swung at a Senior Council member and then dropped to roll before the member could blast him. If I hadn’t been in so much pain, I would have been impressed.

  Mimi muttered a few words over and over again until the powder began to glow. Kris stood, his sword in hand as he kept a lookout for KaKonians. The pain began to lessen until finally my back didn’t hurt at all.

  I stood up with Mimi’s help and shook the dirt off of myself. The sky lit up with blasts of magic flying from all angles. I ran to my sister and pulled her into the shadows.

  “Nia! Snap out of it,” I said. She looked at me with blank eyes. I grabbed her shoulders and gave her a little shake. “You need to snap out of it, right now. We’re going to die if you don’t help.” I pushed back the desire to cry as my sister blankly stared at me, offering no response. “Nia, please. I need you. Grandpa needs you.”

  Nia blinked. Her eyes refocused on my face. “It can’t be.”

  “It is. And we’ll figure it out. But right now we have to survive. We can’t let our friends die.”

  A single tear slipped down her face. She quickly brushed it away, grabbing my hand to pull me with her as she marched straight to the middle of the battle.

  Kris noticed and he ran behind us, attacking anyone who dared to attempt touching us. Jala and Nahime were still moving fluidly through the crowd. The KaKonians were losing numbers quickly. The Council members had fanned out and were sending powerful blasts of magic at my friends, who so far had been lucky to have either dodged them or to be stitched up by Mimi.

  Nia and I walked straight up to the KaKonian leader. I could feel the anger coursing through my sister somehow. My heart was beating so loudly, all other sounds seemed far away. Her anger was feeding my anger. My vision began to cloud red, my body tingling so strongly, I felt as though I were vibrating. This horrible monster was trying to hurt my friends. They were trying to destroy us.

  Nia clenched my hand in her grip and raised her free one up to face their leader. He snarled and raised his club, ready to crash it down upon us.

  But before he could move, a bright light began to emanate from my sister’s palm. She wasn’t saying anything, but I could hear her as though she were speaking inside of my head. I’m going to make you pay for all of the pain you’ve caused, she thought at the KaKonian. I silently agreed, my vision now blood red. I felt like I was on fire. She felt ice cold.

  The leader attempted to bring his club down, but he couldn’t move. Panic flitted across his scowl for a split second as he struggled to break free of the invisible binding that was holding him in place. Large blasts of magic were dodging Kris and hitting us, but I could feel no pain. The sound of blood rushing in my head was deafening. I felt like I was there, but not there. I felt light. And pissed off.

  My eyes flicked over to the white light coming from my sister’s hand. It was too small. You are hungry, I thought, eager for KaKonian blood. You are powerful, searing hot. You are death and you will not be stopped.

  The light began burning so brightly, it was blinding. I squinted, but Nia stood strong, her eyes focused on the being in front of her. The light shot out to all sides at once, piercing each KaKonian through the chest. I watched, emotionless, as the KaKonian leader’s eyes widened before his hands fell to his side, its club hitting the ground with a loud thud. A hush descended over all of us. The leader took a tiny step forward and then dropped. Smoke rose from where the light had pierced both of his hearts.

  I could hear Kris’ heavy breathing right behind me. My vision began to clear a bit, but Nia spun around to face the Council and Mrs. Temely, whirling me with her. I gasped. They had all disappeared. Every one of them...except the small man with the auburn hair. He was lying on the ground by Nahime’s feet, gasping for air. A dark red puddle pooled underneath him.

  Nia and I walked in lockstep to him.

  “You...will...never...win.” He gasped, his lips tinted with blood. “Abomi...nation...”

  Nia raised her glowing hand, ready to direct the light at him.

  “Wait!” Jala cried, running over. She looked down at the member. “He can answer some questions. We might be able to get pertinent information out of him.”

  “Abomi...nation...” he croaked.

  “Shut up!” Nia screamed. “Just shut up!”

  The fallen member focused his eyes on her and gave her a weak grin. “You can try to kill us, traitor. It...will not do any...good. They will still win this war, with the KaKonians’...help...”

  “They?” I asked, my voice a tad bit higher than it should have been. “Who are they?”

  The member sighed and closed his eyes, his final words spoken. I could feel the rage draining out of me. Nia was still staring down at the Council member, but she was no longer icy to the touch. I released her hand and looked around us. Dead KaKonians littered the field.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Yolanda whispered. “More might be coming.”

  I nodded, weary. Mimi and Grandpa began to move back into the woods, followed by Rena, Nahime, and Jala. Kris gently pushed Nia and me along, his hand resting on my back a second longer than Nia’s before letting go. I looked over my shoulder at him as we marched over thick vines and leaves.

  “Thank you for protecting us,” I said.

  He grunted, but it didn’t bother me. He’d been there when we’d needed him. That had to count for something.

  Nia eventually shook herself out of her reverie long enough to Create another portal for us to travel home. Upon entering Dia, who was nice and warm and smelled like vanilla, we all went our separate ways. None of us spoke. The sentiment in the air was clear: the Senior Council had betrayed us, the KaKonians would definitely be attacking soon, and there was something out there scarier than both of them combined. Our fight tonight certainly did not feel like a win.

  I collapsed on my bed, staring at the ceiling. What had happened on the field? How did my Akearman Star powers actually work? Why had my vision changed color
s?

  I need to have another talk with Grandpa, I thought. Just let me close my eyes for a second...

  It was my last thought of the night.

  Chapter 29

  I sat on the cabin’s steps, watching Jala and Nahime spar. He was back from doing another round of intel gathering, confirming that the planet’s lockdown had been extended indefinitely. He brought with him a copy of today’s The Brozek Ledger with him. On it, the body of the slain Council member was shown with the headline “Rogue Awakener and Creator kill Senior Council member Rasekin.” I didn’t even bother to comment on it.

  It was early in the morning, the sun not fully up. Usually, I wouldn’t be up this early, either, but I had gone to bed on Earth as soon as I’d come home. Nia and Grandma were watching some sappy Lifetime movie, but I hadn’t been in the mood to talk. I’d needed answers.

  Jala swung and hit Nahime in the side, knocking him to the ground. He landed with a comical “Oof!” Jala laughed and extended her hand to him.

  “You fight very well,” he said, grabbing her hand and pulling himself to his feet. “I’m impressed.”

  “You should be,” she replied, putting her sword back in its sheath. “Undines are formidable opponents. It is why we are the chosen protectors of this world.”

  “Well, I’m glad you’re on my side.” Nahime smiled. Jala smiled back.

  I raised my eyebrows. It seemed like Jala and Nahime were becoming good friends. I was happy for her. Jala’s imprisonment for over a decade had stripped her of her life. It was about time that something good happened to her.

  “What are you doing up so early?” Grandpa asked, emerging from the cabin. He sat down next to me on the steps.

  “Thinking.”

  “Ah. Want to share your thoughts?”

  I looked at him. “Actually...yes. I want to learn more about my powers. I want to know how they work exactly. Why it feels the way it feels. Why it happens when it happens.”

  He nodded. “All fair questions. I’ve been wondering the same thing. I’m afraid I don’t have those answers and I can’t find much in the ancient texts that explain it, either.”

  “Great, so we’re just stuck at my power’s mercy whenever it decides to show up?”

  “What does it feel like, dear?”

  I paused. “It...feels like I’m on fire. Like I want to kill everything that stands in my way. I’m so angry. I just want to destroy everything.”

  “Interesting.” Grandpa tugged his mustache, lost in thought. “So it seems as though your emotional state plays a part in activating your powers.”

  “So what? I’m supposed to get stupidly angry in order to fight? How do I hone my skills and not go mental?”

  “You work on your emotions,” came another voice from behind us. We both turned to find Kris leaning against Dia’s doorway, his arms folded. He was wearing a pair of black, loose linen pants with no shirt or shoes. “You can train yourself to tap into that rage on command.”

  I sighed. “Yeah, I suppose. This sucks. Grandpa, what do you think about the Council? What that guy said?”

  Grandpa tugged harder. “I think he was telling the truth. I see no reason for him to lie.” Jala and Nahime had stopped fighting and had joined us.

  “So now we have to worry about a bigger threat than the Council,” Nahime said. “How are we supposed to find out who they are?”

  “The same way we found out everything else. We use our allies to pass along information. We keep our eyes open.” Grandpa stood and moved out of the way so that Kris could sit next to me. “Last night was a victory, even if it doesn’t feel like one. We wiped out a KaKonian base. The Council finally admitted to being against us. And we learned of a bigger enemy.”

  “How is that a win?” I asked.

  “Because forewarned is forearmed.” He paced back and forth. “We need to move our base somewhere else. Somewhere the Council doesn’t know about.”

  “I can help with that,” Mimi called out from the kitchen. Its window was open, allowing her to hear our conversation. She poked her head out. “I have a place that we can put Dia. It’s been in my family for generations. No one but me knows its location.”

  “Then let’s go there,” Kris said. “We’ll need your sister to move it.”

  “Is she up to it?” Jala asked, her voice gentle. “This has to be hard on her.”

  “I’ll be fine.” Nia walked around the cabin to join us, with Sterrey in tow. Her eyes were bloodshot and puffy. She was still wearing the previous day’s clothes and her hair was a mess. My heart broke for her. She had once had so much faith in the Senior Council, and they had abused that time and time again. “Let’s move Dia before it gets too late.”

  We all stood up and moved aside so that she could stand in front of my cabin. Dia rumbled slightly.

  “Sorry, Dia, but this is for your own good,” I called out to her. “I wouldn’t be able to stand it if something happened to you.”

  My house sighed and patiently waited for Nia to work her magic. Nia quickly moved her hands and then held them apart, opening a very large portal. She then moved one hand until Dia and her mailbox (who was sound asleep) began to float into the portal.

  “You too, guys,” said Nia. “This portal can’t be open too much longer without alerting the Council.”

  We all scrambled in after Dia, coming out on the other side to face a beautiful sight of clouds and mountain peaks. I turned to see that we were on the top of a very large mountain, high in altitude. I yawned in an attempt to pop my ears from the change in pressure.

  “No one will find us here,” Mimi said confidently. “We should not have to move again.”

  “I hope not,” I replied. “I’m getting tired of changing scenery.”

  “Agreed.” Nia sighed, stepping through the portal and closing it. “This takes a lot of energy.”

  I walked over to her and slung an arm around her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

  She shook her head. “No, but I’m dealing with it. I was wrong. You were right.”

  I started to protest, but she held up her hand. “Really, you were. I’m going to study with Grandpa so that I can learn as much as I can about Turgor. Some stuff just isn’t sitting right with me.”

  “Same,” I said. “I want to learn more about our powers and how to control them. I feel like we don’t have the full story.”

  Yolanda warmed against my skin. “You would have to access the ancient texts in Caldbeck and you can’t go now that the Council is out to kill you.”

  “We’ll figure something out,” Rena said, giving me a comforting nudge. “We all need to be prepared as much as possible.”

  “Which is why I’m going to continue to train,” Jala said, interrupting. She gave Rena a kiss on the cheek and walked off, disappearing around Dia. Nahime jumped up and gave a shrug, looking sheepish.

  “Eh, I guess I’ll go train as well.” He hurriedly followed Jala.

  Grandpa moved to Nia’s side. “Come on, kiddo. I have some books that might help you understand the history of the Senior Council.”

  “I’ve been studying them for years,” Nia protested.

  “Yes, but only what they wanted you to learn. These books have been banned from all Creator trainings.”

  “Then how did you get them?” I asked.

  Grandpa gave a small smile. “We have friends in high places, girls. We are not alone in this fight.” He took Nia’s hand and walked into the cabin.

  I sighed and sat back down on her steps. Kris eyed me. “You should train as well.”

  I waved him off. “Tomorrow. I’m too tired right now.”

  Yolanda cut in. “She needs rest, Kris.”

  “You could train me,” Rena offered shyly. “I’m not tired.”

  Kris grunted but motioned for her to follow him. They headed in the opposite direction of Jala and Nahime, disappearing from sight. Roshi and Meke fluttered off with Mimi to scout the area.

  I put my head in my hands. My t
houghts were a jumbled mess. Mrs. Temely was a spy after all. The KaKonians had teamed up with someone even powerful than the Council. We were even deeper in hiding. An overwhelming longing for my grandmother and my friends on Earth overcame me.

  I imagined myself sitting at the skating rink with them, laughing and eating pizza. Like a normal kid with normal problems. I wanted to be normal. Just...normal. I didn’t want to think about monsters and magic anymore.

  Fed up, I closed my eyes, leaned against the stair railing, and eventually began to doze.

  Chapter 30

  I stared at my ceiling. I could hear Grandma downstairs, listening to gospel music as she moved around the kitchen cooking breakfast. Delicious smells wafted upstairs. Nia emerged from the bathroom and clomped in her slippers back to her room.

  I sighed. This was peaceful. I hoped someone back on Turgor had moved me to my bedroom.

  My phone buzzed. It was a message from Abby. Don’t forget to bring your part of the report! she texted. And the spoon ;)

  I chuckled and pushed myself to a sitting position. The spoon was still on my desk. I leaned over to grab it.

  “So are you going to wake up again?” I asked it, not in the mood for any games. The spoon remained still, no little face popping up. Relief flooded me. I didn’t think I would have been able to handle the spoon talking right now. I needed a break from magic.

  “Girls! Get down here and eat some breakfast before y’all are late to school,” Grandma hollered from downstairs. “I didn’t cook all of this food just to waste it!”

  I scurried out of the bed and into the bathroom to shower.

  Fifteen minutes later, I rushed downstairs. Grandma was waiting for me in the kitchen.

  “Hurry up, girl, and eat,” she said, sipping her coffee. “Toast is in the oven.”

  I inhaled my food as fast as I could, and then darted out of the door just as the bus was approaching the stop. My sister was already there. I could see her motion to the driver to wait as I sprinted down the street towards them.