by Erin Danzer
Chapter Thirty Three
Ronnie and Gavin found her parent’s minivan in the driveway when they arrived at her house. Ronnie opened the door and paused when she saw her mom and dad sitting with Rick. Seeing them reminded her of the word ‘adoption’ across the top of the papers she found yesterday morning and anger ignited within her. What right did they have to go on like nothing happened when her world had been turned upside down? She glanced at Gavin as they entered the room and he squeezed her hand, giving a small shake of his head. She clamped down on her anger. He was right; this wasn’t the time or place for that conversation. They were here to discuss her leaving Earth. Talking about the adoption would have to wait until she came home again—whenever that would be.
“There’s our star,” Rick boomed when he saw her. Ronnie’s cheeks pinked as she crossed the room to sit by her mom on the couch.
“I wouldn’t say that,” she argued weakly as her mom clasped her hand.
“From the way Mr. Goodyear talks, you could be. He says you’ll fit right in at his school,” her mom gushed, beaming at Ronnie. Ronnie wondered what Rick told her parents when her mom continued. “Of course, the worst part is the distance. You forgot to mention the school is in England—and you can’t come home for at least the first year. He said you have to become fully immersed in your new surroundings before you return to your old life.”
Ronnie couldn’t believe the tears gleaming in her mom’s eyes. Was her mom crying because she would miss her? Ronnie’s chest tightened in the telltale sign of tears to come. She cleared her throat as she looked up at Rick.
“You never mentioned that part,” she told him.
“It makes sense, Pumpkin. This way you won’t be pining for your old life while you’re trying to forge a new life there,” her dad spoke up. Ronnie leaned back against the couch and closed her eyes. Of course Rick would use this reasoning. This way she had no reason to return to Earth before her training was complete. She glanced up at Gavin, who stood with his hands stuffed in his pockets just inside the room, leaning against the wall. She watched him stiffen just before Rick spoke again.
“Please, Mr. Clearwater, don’t be shy. Come join us,” Rick said and turned back to Ronnie’s parents. “Mr. Clearwater has been invaluable in convincing your daughter this is the right idea. Though I don’t know if you’ve already met…”
“Yes, we know what kind of convincing he’s done,” her mom replied tightly and Ronnie’s face heated. Were they really going to talk about that again? Ronnie looked up as her dad cleared his throat and he reached for her mom’s hand.
“An incident happened last weekend that Veronica’s mother and I are still dealing with,” he told Rick and Ronnie’s eyes widened. He made it sound like her mom had caught her doing something with Gavin! Mortification rolled over her as Rick chuckled good-naturedly.
“Yes, well, teenagers these days,” he commented. “I assure you I’ll make sure nothing inappropriate happens while your daughter is in my care.”
Rick’s eyes met Ronnie’s and she saw the coldness there that her parents chose to ignore. Her stomach knotted as he stood up and Gavin stepped away from the wall. She knew Rick’s words were meant as a threat, a promise to keep her away from Gavin once they were in Kalearnia. She hated it. Her anger momentarily gave way to smugness as she wondered if Rick knew who her mother was. The queen could overrule his stupid fraternization law—that is, after she answered all of Ronnie’s questions.
“Since it’s settled, I’ll have Mr. Clearwater pick up Veronica early this evening,” Rick told her parents as he headed for the door and they stood up. “The plane leaves at eight. And don’t worry about packing. No more than an overnight bag is necessary. The school provides everything the students need.”
Ronnie stood up and crossed the room to Gavin as he started to follow Rick to the door. Their eyes met and she reached out to touch him but he shook his head. Her hand fell lamely to her side.
“I’ll pick you up at six,” he told her and walked out the door. She watched him go with mixed feelings, wanting to call him back but knowing it wasn’t the right thing to do. Her mom’s arm came around her and Ronnie turned into the hug as the door shut quietly behind Rick and Gavin.
“I’m going to miss you so much,” her mom cried. With bright eyes, Ronnie wrapped her arms around the woman. Even though her parents had a hard time showing it, she knew they loved her. She realized there was no way they could know about who they adopted her from, that their daughter was essentially a royal alien. She was grateful they’d accepted Rick’s story about the made-up school without question.
Her mom’s tears subsided a few minutes later and she self consciously laughed as she stepped back from Ronnie. “What do you want to do with the rest of the day?” she asked as she wiped her eyes with a tissue.
“Why don’t you call Andi and Shawn and have them over for the afternoon,” her dad suggested and Ronnie numbly shook her head.
“They can’t. I already spoke to Andi and she’s busy until later tonight. I’m only going to have time to say goodbye.”
“Well, then, we should pack your bag,” her mom added.
“I’m already packed. Remember, he called me yesterday. Meeting with you was a formality and the final permission needed for me to go. I didn’t think you would stop me from bettering my life.” She turned towards the stairs. “I think I need to be alone.” She looked down at the dress she was wearing. “And I have to change.”
“All right, honey. Your dad and I made reservations at The Lake House for dinner. We’re leaving at four,” her mom told her. Ronnie nodded as she headed upstairs. She wondered what the special occasion was since they just found out what time her “plane” was leaving.
She spent the afternoon lying on her bed staring at the ceiling. When that became unappealing, she took her hair out of the intricate braids Gavin had created and then wandered around her room, touching things she knew she wouldn’t see for almost a year: the handprints she made in kindergarten, a multi-colored scarf Andi knit for her a few years ago in Home Economics class, the little brown teddy bear with a pink heart Shawn gave her last year for Valentine’s Day. Her life was in this room and she was leaving it all behind.
Finally, it was time to go to dinner. She slipped on her cardigan again, grabbed her bag, and headed downstairs. She got to the bottom of the stairs and stopped short when she found Gavin waiting for her. She fingered her hair as she stopped next to him.
“I like it better down,” he told her eyeing her hair. She smiled.
“Thanks,” she replied. “What are you doing here?”
“Your mom called; she figured this would be easier when you leave.” His explanation didn’t help clear her boggled mind.
“My mom called?” she repeated. A smile pulled at his lips as he nodded.
“Yeah. Come on, we don’t want to be late,” he replied and reached for her bag. He slung it over his shoulder and then took her hand. Curious now because Gavin seemed to be in on whatever her parents had planned, she followed him through her house and out to her parents’ waiting car.
Gavin’s eyes didn’t leave her once they arrived at The Lake House and she started to feel nervous as they walked up to the hostess and her dad gave the woman his name. The hostess greeted them and led them through the restaurant towards the outside dining area. As they approached the doors, Ronnie looked through the large plate glass windows. Her eyes widened when she saw all of her friends already in the dining area. Melissa and Amy stood with a few others from the teen book club. There were a few people from her classes that she used to be close with. And of course, Andi and Shawn stood in the middle of it all. Ronnie watched them for a moment before they noticed she had arrived. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched the way Shawn looked at Andi and Andi’s glowing response to his attention. But then someone must have said her name because the moment passed and Andi turned and spotted her still in the main restaurant with Gavin next to her.
<
br /> “Come on, Princess, this is supposed to be a party,” he told her and took her hand to lead her outside. She followed after him in a daze and had no more time to think about what she had seen as all of her friends mobbed her in a giant group hug. She laughed to mask sudden tears and told herself that Gavin was right; this was a party. She needed to be happy that so many people were going to miss her.
Ronnie spent the next three hours eating, laughing, and talking with her friends. She cherished every moment of it, but none more than when Shawn asked if he could talk to her. She disengaged herself from the three girls she was talking to and walked with Shawn to the end of the dining area. They leaned against the wooden railing and looked out at the sun setting over Wind Lake, casting everything in hues of red and orange.
“Andi told me about Gavin,” Shawn began. Ronnie’s stomach clenched as she wondered where this was going. He turned towards her and she automatically did the same, her heart pounding as she looked up into his eyes.
“She told me some fantastic story about him being from another planet and how you’re going to go to that planet to save the world and stop the bad guys,” he continued and a smiled tugged at her lips. “And I wouldn’t have believed it if you hadn’t already tried to tell me the same thing three days ago.” He ran a hand through his hair, his face full of embarrassment. “I’m sorry for the way I treated you, Ronnie. I never should have acted like that.”
Ronnie reached out and touched his arm. “You had no way of knowing anything and it did look bad,” she conceded. The look she had seen between him and Andi flashed in her mind and she forced herself to continue. “Look, maybe what happened is for the best anyway. I mean, I’m leaving and I don’t know when I’ll be back. It wouldn’t be fair for me to ask you to wait for me.”
“But what if I want to wait for you?”
She saw the sincerity in his eyes at that moment and knew he truly felt that way as he leaned down and his lips met hers. Ronnie sighed but didn’t kiss him back. This wasn’t the beginning of something this time. This was the end. She stepped back and saw Gavin approaching them. It was time to go. She turned back to Shawn and wrapped her arms around his neck, holding him close just for a moment. She kissed his cheek and stepped away as Gavin stopped next to her.
“It’s time to go,” he told her.
“I know, I just have to find Andi,” she replied and turned to survey the crowd. Her heart picked up speed when she didn’t see her best friend anywhere and she worried she wouldn’t get to say goodbye. Movement near the bathrooms caught her eye and she let out a breath as Andi noticed her attention. One look at Andi’s face told Ronnie her best friend knew it was time to leave. Tears were already streaming down Andi’s face as she rushed through the crowd and grabbed Ronnie in a tight, choking hug. Tears flooded her own eyes as Ronnie held Andi just as tightly.
“I can’t even say I’ll write or call you,” Ronnie whispered. “I don’t know what to do.”
Andi straightened and took Ronnie by the shoulders, meeting her teary gaze. “Go do what you’re meant to do. This isn’t goodbye. Friends like us never have to say goodbye. This is ‘see you later’. It’s not like you’ll never come back, even if it’s a year from now. I love you, Ronnie, and I know you’re going to do great things.”
Ronnie couldn’t say anything as emotion overwhelmed her and she pulled Andi in for another hug. She never wanted to let go. This would be the first time they had done anything apart since meeting in kindergarten. She squeezed her eyes shut and cherished the feel of her best friend’s love and comfort wrapping around her.
“I love you, too,” she whispered and stepped away. She wiped her hands across her eyes and found Gavin standing nearby. Andi forced a watery smile as she reached out and gave Ronnie a little push in his direction.
“Go. You’re going to be fine,” Andi declared. “I already know you’re going to be well taken care of.”
Ronnie offered one last tear-filled smile and then turned away from Andi. Gavin stepped forward and she took his hand as they walked towards the main restaurant. At the doors, she turned back and looked one last time at the people she was leaving, wondering how many of them she would see again. Gavin tugged on her arm and she turned away from all her friends. It was time to go.
They left the restaurant and Ronnie wondered where they were going when Gavin took her down a darkened alley nearby. She realized the dark didn’t really scare her anymore as Gavin stopped walking halfway down the alley.
“What are we doing?” she asked.
“Do you have your sword?” he replied instead of answering her question. She nodded as she patted her purse. She had upgraded to a bigger purse because of everything she needed to carry now.
“Get it out,” he instructed and she did as she was told. He took her hand and said some unfamiliar words that created the swirling black portal to the In Between. She looked at him again and frowned when she didn’t see her messenger bag on his shoulder. She was sure she left it in the car.
“What about my bag?” she asked as they started towards the portal.
“It’s already there.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Come on, Princess, it’s time to go home,” he told her with his signature grin. Ronnie smiled as she walked towards the In Between, towards an unknown future that would make her the person she had wished she could be.
Keep reading for look at Gavin before he met Ronnie in Defending the Spiral, a short story chronicling when Gavin was given his assignment on Earth.
Defending the Spiral
Gavin Clearwater looked at the fifteen individuals in his Advanced Weapons training class. He glanced up at the sun shining brightly in the sky, pushing black hair out of his eyes. It was hard to believe it rained for three days straight, but now there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Sighing, he returned his attention to the trainees, thinking that’s the way it always was on Cira, the central planet of the Spiral. He preferred planets in the third or fourth circles, where weather was more predictable—even though life was more dangerous.
The steel blades of swords and knives flashed in the late afternoon light, the wooden sounds of staves clashing echoed across the training field. Training the class was still relatively new to Gavin, as was his position as Lieutenant of the Spiral Defenders, a band of warriors who traveled through time and space protecting the planets of the Spiral. His godmother, Queen Alina of his homeland Kalearnia, promoted him a month ago on his nineteenth birthday, saying he deserved it after several daring rescues around the Spiral. Gavin didn’t mind the risk involved in protecting the inhabitants of the collected planets or his elevated status—though his new position garnered much teasing from his trainees, most of whom had been his peers before the promotion.
The sound of his communicator going off brought Gavin out of his reverie. He called the trainees to order as he reached for the device, pulling it from the cargo pocket on his black pants, and answering the call. Mild dread warred with curiosity as his godmother’s face appeared on the screen.
“Gavin, have you ended class?” she asked. A few snickers sounded from the crowd in front of him. Gavin grimaced but otherwise ignored them. While most of his peers wholeheartedly agreed that he deserved the promotion, there were some who thought more intimate reasons had been employed. Unfortunately, some of those small-minded people where in his class.
“We’re just finishing up,” he told the queen.
“Good. Meet me in the throne room immediately. A dire situation has come up,” Alina told him. He nodded, noticing the worry in her brown eyes before the screen went black.
“Hear that guys, a dire situation has come up,” Mikhail Silversting jeered to a few of his buddies. Gavin glared at the Scorpios hybrid as he dismissed the rest of the class and collected their weapons, putting them in two large black trunks he would have to retrieve later.
“Knock it off, Silversting,” Gavin told the man, his steely tone unmistakable. Those closest to him heard the w
arning and looked back at Mikhail with disapproval. Mikhail just laughed, the sunlight reflecting off his hairless body as he shook his head, polearm still in his hands.
“What are you going to do about it, Clearwater? Run and tell your girlfriend? Just remember she said throne room not bedroom,” he sneered, his hands loosely holding his weapon in the ready position. Gavin whirled around, plucking a knife from the hands of a nearby trainee as he closed the distance between him and Silversting. The other’s silver scorpion-like tail rose behind him, poised to attack, as Gavin held the knife to his thick neck.
“Put that thing down,” Gavin spat at the man, disgusted as he glanced at the deadly tail. “I could have you transferred out to Izotz for raising a weapon at me in an offensive manner.” He pressed the tip of the blade into Silversting’s meaty flesh. Thick, black blood oozed from the wound. “Continue to harass me about a nonexistent relationship and I’ll make sure the queen knows it’s more than just idle gossip going around about her. Do I make myself clear?”
“Yes, sir,” Silversting grumbled grudgingly. Still on his guard, Gavin lowered the knife. He ducked instinctively as Silversting suddenly swung the polearm at his head, reaching out to catch the wooden handle just below the curved metal blade at the end. He said a few short words, opening a portal behind the other man, and pushed him through into the inky grey In Between. Silversting’s curses came through the portal as it closed a moment later. Gavin dusted himself off and retrieved the knife from where it landed near his feet before turning to the fourteen remaining trainees.
“Anyone else?” he asked them. They all shook their heads, their expressions ranging from shock and disbelief to disdain. Nobody dared ask where their classmate would end up—the In Between would spit him out when it was ready.
“All right then. Class dismissed,” Gavin told them, dropped the knife in a trunk and strode away.
Gavin stood outside the throne room doors five minutes later, having run the five miles between it and the training facility. Osgard, the queen’s page, opened the large oak doors and announced his arrival.
“The queen will see you now,” Osgard told him formally, his blue wings fluttering at his back as he stepped to the side. Gavin nodded at the young faery and entered the room. His godmother sat on a gilded throne on top of a wooden dais in the middle of the room. Sunlight streamed through large windows behind her, filling the room with a warm yellow glow.
“I apologize for my tardiness,” Gavin said to the queen. “I had another problem with Sergeant Silversting.”
Alina sighed, bunching her small hands in the skirt of her deep red dress. Her long dark hair had been curled and pinned up, framing her heart-shaped face. “What did you do with him this time?” Alina asked, sounding weary. Gavin’s cheeks pinked.
“I put him through a portal. He should show up in a couple days,” he admitted, now ashamed for letting his anger get the best of him. Rumors had circled around the queen before, but this was one that needed to be squashed. Besides the fact that Alina was his godmother, she was also 87-years-old, though the anti-aging potion she’d been given upon ascending to the throne had kept her looking much closer to his own age.
“As long as he’s not on Izotz again, we should be fine. Silversting needs to learn to control his mouth,” Dirac, Gavin’s father, declared as he entered the room. Gavin turned at the sound of his dad’s voice and gave a small smile. Dirac’s brown wings fluttered at his back with amusement.
“I thought about sending him there,” he told the man. Dirac’s dark brown eyes lit up for a moment before he ran a hand over his near black hair and down the front of his brown tunic, shaking his head at his son, no doubt thinking the Sergeant deserved to end up on the ice planet again. Gavin’s smile grew.
“As fun as this is, I have something more important to discuss,” Alina told the men. Gavin returned his attention to her. “Gavin, I need you to assemble a team and aid Commander Goodyear on Mystica.”
Gavin grimaced. The last thing he really wanted to do was help Commander Goodyear in anything. He and the Commander had a tenuous relationship at best. Gavin assumed it was because the older man thought he was after his job. As if he’d want to be Commander—he’d much rather be captain of the Royal Guard like his father.
“He can’t handle it himself?” Gavin sneered. Alina frowned at his tone.
“You are my second best officer, Gavin. I need you to put aside your differences and do this for me. Your first obligation is to protect the Spiral. Once you’ve finished that, you can go back to hating the Commander.”
Gavin grimaced but nodded. He couldn’t disobey a direct order, even if it was asked nicely. “Very well,” he sighed. Alina relaxed in her gilded throne, her brow still furrowed with worry. Dirac put a hand on Gavin’s shoulder.
“Be careful, son,” he told Gavin. Gavin nodded, knowing his father meant more than just his personal safety. He and Dirac had been suspicious of the Commander’s true motivations concerning the Spiral for months now, but hadn’t been able to bring up any solid evidence against him.
“I know. I will,” Gavin agreed. He nodded to the queen and then turned and left the room.
Gavin returned to the training facility to gather his troops. By the time he arrived, he’d decided he needed his entire class, his best friend Kennet, his ex-girlfriend Azula, and about twenty others, more if he could find them. Mystica was a dangerous planet, full of griffins, chimeras, flying reptiles, and even a few exiled dragons. Add in the threat of the gremlins and goblins from Irradia and his crew could stand to lose a few people today. He recruited almost every Spiral Defender he passed, saying he was leaving in fifteen minutes for Mystica.
The walk to Kennet’s room was a short one. Gavin tried the door and frowned when he found it locked. A moment later, he found out why. A familiar laugh floated out to him through the wooden door. Azula. Gavin clenched his fists, trying to tell himself it didn’t matter—he and Azula broke up six months ago. She was free to see whomever she chose. But did she have to choose his best friend? He pushed aside his anguish and banged his fist on the door, rattling it in its frame. Kennet swore, Azula told him not to worry and moments later, the door opened.
“Guess I should have called first,” Gavin commented dryly. Kennet’s green cheeks flushed. His emerald hair stuck out in every direction and his green doublet was crookedly buttoned.
“Oh shit,” Kennet swore again and ran his hands over the front of his doublet. Gavin glanced past his best friend to the blue Amazonian pixie still sprawled invitingly across Kennet’s bed. Azula smiled at him, her black eyes sparkling with interest. Gavin sighed and looked back at his friend.
“We don’t have time for this,” Gavin stated. “We leave for Mystica in fifteen minutes.” He looked at Azula again, who pouted as she flipped her ruby red hair over one shoulder. “You and me; it’s never happening again.”
Gavin slammed the door in Kennet’s face and strode away, down the hall to the room he kept in the barracks for instances like this. His anger was gone by the time he reached his room, replaced by a familiar longing. He’d known Azula wasn’t the one for him the moment he’d entered into a relationship with her, but he’d been hoping his heart was wrong. Out of his mother’s four children, Gavin was most like her, always yearning for change, searching for something more. His mother grew up on the Earth island of Greece until she met his father on a reconnaissance mission to recruit more humans. His mother, who’d always wanted to travel, followed Dirac back to the castle in Kalearnia without a second thought, happy to be wherever Dirac was. Gavin hoped to find a girl like that someday, to have the kind of relationship his parents had. So far, no one he’d met had filled that special place in his heart.
Gavin pushed aside his feelings and concentrated on the task at hand. He went to the square mahogany armoire and pulled out a black, magically-reinforced jacket with the Spiral Defenders’ triple spiral insignia on the right breast. Once zipped into it, he filled the pockets w
ith knives and flash grenades. He paused a moment when he grabbed the metal cylinder that was Vitae Lumina, the sword of life his father trained him to use on his sixteenth birthday. He only had to say its name and it came to life, a bright blade shooting up out of the handle. It was his most prized possession, an extension of his arm whenever he used it. He strapped on a leather weapons belt and slipped the sword into its place. Checking the time, Gavin left his room to go meet his troops in the dispatch room of the training facility.
More than fifty Spiral Defenders milled around waiting for his arrival. His eyes immediately found Kennet and Azula, both standing near the front of the crowd. He nodded at both and called the group to order.
“Commander Goodyear has called for reinforcements to the planet Mystica immediately,” Gavin announced, his eyes landing on those of humans, centaurs, elves, pixies, gnomes, and a host of hybrids as he continued to speak. “This will be one of our more dangerous missions, and I will not hold it against you if some of the newer recruits would rather sit this one out. Irradians attacked the planet nearly twenty-four hours ago and now it’s up to us to bring what remains of Commander Goodyear’s forces home.”
Cheers and raised fists concluded his speech and Gavin grinned proudly at all of them. On an adrenaline high, Gavin turned and said the words to open the shimmering portal to the In Between. The group of soldiers stormed into the inky darkness, on alert for shadow hounds or spiders. They arrived on Mystica moments later without any complications along the way.
A rocky warzone greeted them upon arrival. Dead griffins, centaurs, chimeras, and Irradians lay scattered about, dark blood coating the dry brown ground. Gavin swallowed back bile at the sight of the more gruesome deaths and turned his attention to finding the Commander. A loud roar sounded overhead just before a jet of orange flame shot into the ranks. His troops scattered, looking for protection against the dragon’s flame. Gavin dived behind a boulder and continued to scan the area he could see. His eyes landed on a group of goblins and gremlins surrounding someone in an outcropping of rocks about two hundred feet to his left. Golden hair glinted in the faint sunlight, and the black uniform of a Spiral Defender could just barely be seen. Dread settled in Gavin’s stomach and his heart raced as he recognized Commander Goodyear. Even as skilled as his commanding officer was, Gavin was unsure of whether he could take on twenty Irradians alone. Quickly searching the chaos around him for his troops, Gavin’s eyes locked with Kennet’s. He nodded his head towards the rocks, and Kennet nodded in return before Gavin ran to help the Commander.
Gavin’s eyes raked the battling creatures before him. Gremlins and goblins were everywhere—and was that a Gargoyle? They were screwed if Gargoyles were involved. Those things were some of the hardest to kill because of their rock hard exterior. He grimaced as one swept its stone axe at a group of Defenders Gavin recognized as belonging to Commander Goodyear’s regiment.
Another gremlin charged at Gavin, and he dispatched this one with ease. He took out two more and a few goblins as well, all the while keeping his eyes on his Commander. He arrived just as the Commander swept his sword out toward the group, beheading several gremlins while the rest scrambled to get away, screeching horribly as they ran. Something menacing flashed in the Commander’s eyes as they fell on Gavin, who skidded to a halt next to him. Before anything could be said, another gang of Irradians attacked, and the two were flung into fight mode. Gavin pulled his sword from his belt, yelling its name as he swung it at the approaching gremlins and goblins. The blade flashed to life, its bright light blinding the creatures. Gavin took advantage of their blindness to take out five before the rest fought back.
By the time Gavin and Commander Goodyear finished off the attackers, the battle had died down around them. Sweaty and covered in blood, Gavin searched the remaining crowd to see how many of his group had survived. He counted twenty-seven; he’d lost almost half.
“Get everyone out of here,” Commander Goodyear told him. Gavin nodded and rounded everyone up. Kennet and Azula approached him as he said the words to open the portal home.
“Make sure everyone gets home,” Gavin told them.
“What about you?” Kennet asked.
“I need another word with the Commander.”
Azula looked as if she wanted to say something but kept it to herself. Gavin sighed and turned away to watch the remaining troops walk through the portal.
Once everyone was gone, Gavin turned to Commander Goodyear. The Commander stood a few feet away, looking older than his years. His black armor and golden hair were splattered with blood and brain matter. His teal eyes flashed dangerously as Gavin walked towards him, but Gavin ignored the warning.
“You didn’t need to worry about me, Lieutenant,” Commander Goodyear snapped at him. “I had the situation under control.”
“It looked to me like the Irradians had you under control. Any number of them could have attacked and killed you,” Gavin snapped back. “Unless of course, that’s what you wanted to happen.”
Lightning flashed in the Commander’s eyes. Gavin narrowed his. Few creatures could do that trick, humans not being one of them. Curiosity got the better of him, and Gavin barely stopped himself from asking the Commander what kind of creature he was. That kind of mouth would get him demoted in a heartbeat. He was already stepping over bounds with his comments.
“I suggest you watch your mouth and keep your eyes on your own troops next time, Lieutenant. What I do is none of your concern.” The Commander’s eyes raked Gavin’s torn, blood splattered armor. “Make sure you clean up before seeing the queen,” he sneered and stepped through a portal of his own making.
Gavin ground his teeth, fuming with unanswered questions. What really happened by those rocks before Gavin arrived? And if the Commander wasn’t human, what kind of creature was he? He needed to tell his father what happened. Resolved to find answers one way or another, Gavin walked back to his portal and stepped through it.
He stepped out of the In Between and raced down the hall towards the throne room, certain Dirac would still be there. Even though the Commander said not to worry about it, Gavin couldn’t help but be suspicious of the goblins that had gotten away. He’d never known Ulrich Goodyear to allow a foe to escape.
“Lieutenant, Queen Alina said not to be…” Osgard’s voice trailed off as Gavin stormed past him, shoving the heavy doors wide as he entered the room. He skidded to a halt when three pairs of eyes fell on him: Alina, Dirac and Commander Goodyear. Anger and dread welled within Gavin’s stomach. He was too late.
“Lieutenant, I thought I told you to clean up before giving your report,” the Commander told him, his upper lip curled in a sneer. Gavin looked at his dad in time to see the disappointment in his dark brown eyes before he looked away. Shame colored Gavin’s cheeks and he studied the muddied toes of his boots.
“I apologize, my queen, for the intrusion,” Gavin apologized and took a step back towards the doors.
“Stay, Gavin,” Alina told him. He froze in place, his foot poised to take another step back.
“But I’m filthy,” he feebly argued.
“That’s why we have servants who clean up after us,” Alina pointed out. “Obviously, you have news that couldn’t wait another minute.”
Gavin’s ears burned as he raised his head to look at the queen. “I apologize, but I seek an audience with my father—in private.” His gaze flicked to the Commander before he looked at his dad. “But it can wait if it must.”
Alina sighed. “Very well then. Commander, what did you have to say about our current star course?”
The Commander stepped forward, a Cheshire cat-like grin on his face. “Before I was so rudely interrupted by the young lieutenant, I was merely saying that if we continue on the course we have set now, we shall return to Earth in about three months time.”
Alina gasped, and Gavin’s head snapped up towards her. Her hand covered her mouth, her brown eyes too wide for her face. Gavin glanced at his dad and saw a
similar expression on the man’s face. Before he could ask what was going on, the Commander continued.
“The humans we acquired twenty years ago are growing old and are unable to procreate. We need younger blood,” he pointed out.
“But it’s too soon,” Alina argued.
“The timing is perfect,” Ulrich replied, his expression hardened.
Alina paled. Her eyes darted to Dirac, who nodded with understanding.
“Commander, with all due respect, there has to be another way. Why not send a small fleet for recruitment purposes instead of keeping this course?” Dirac suggested.
“No. Our course is set; it’s too late to turn back,” Ulrich declared.
“You knew!” Alina suddenly screamed. Gavin jumped at the sound of her voice and felt stricken by the twist of anger and despair on her face. He hated to see his godmother in such a state.
“Alina,” Gavin said, taking a step towards her. Her gaze flicked to him, and her eyes suddenly lit up, a slow smile crawling across her face as an idea formed.
“Yes, that’s it,” she murmured. “That’s the only way.”
Alina blinked and shook her head, once again the regal queen upon her throne.
“Commander Goodyear and Captain Clearwater, leave us,” she instructed, her words vibrating with magic. Gavin glanced at his dad as he passed. The older man gave a slight nod indicating they would talk later. Gavin nodded in return and approached the queen as the two men left the room.
Alina said some words to magically lock the doors and soundproof the windows, preventing anyone from seeing or hearing what was happening inside the room. Then she fished a black communicator out of the folds of her dress and pointed the device at the blank wall across from her.
“I need you to find something and bring it back to me,” Alina told Gavin. She pressed a button on the communicator and a picture appeared on the wall. Gavin’s breath caught in his throat as he stared at the young woman, her long mane of black hair flowing down her back and over slender shoulders. His heart skipped a beat as he gazed at her large, brown eyes. Feelings like he had never known before swept through him, rendering him breathless. He’d known lust and thought he’d known love before, but neither emotion had been like this. This was intense. He knew without a doubt he would do whatever was needed to know this girl, to protect her and bring her back.
He tore his gaze away and blinked with recognition as he looked at the queen once again. She and the girl shared the same eyes, the same cheekbones, the same hair. The similarities screamed the truth at him. Tears shone in the queen’s eyes.
“Bring her home,” Alina whispered, her small hands fisted in the folds of her skirt. Gavin nodded, his face etched with solemn determination.
“I will do everything I can,” he promised.
“That is all I can ask,” Alina said and pressed the button to wipe the image from the wall. Without another word, Gavin strode from the room, knowing his life had been changed forever.
I hope you enjoyed this look at Gavin’s life before coming to Earth. To continue Gavin and Ronnie’s story, read The Spiral Revealed (The Spiral Defenders Series: Book Two), coming March 2014.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review wherever you purchased it as well as telling your friends about it. Reviews and word of mouth are two great ways to support your favorite authors.
THANK YOU!
Acknowledgments
I’ve heard it said that it takes a village to write a book. It turns out that’s a true statement. I have so many people to thank for helping me make this dream come true.
First, to Katherine Husson and Shari Sue (Lindgren) Rudolph, my first readers. Thank you for your unending support, your patience while answering all of my questions and the multiple brainstorming sessions when we should have been doing something else. Without you, this book would still just be a dream of a girl about to spontaneously combust. I miss you guys!
To my family – Lee, Kody, Riley, Joy, Sarah, Adam, my dad and all of my extended family. Your love and support means the world to me. Without all of you, this dream wouldn’t be possible. And Dad, thank you for surrounding me with sci-fi and fantasy from a young age and encouraging me to go after my dreams; your influence is evident now that I’m writing about aliens.
To the girls of True Magic Writes: Dawna Raver, Jessica Leschierre, and Sarah Peduzzi. Thank you for your combined wisdom, your friendship, and for helping me whip this book into shape. The beginning would still suck without you.
A huge thank you to Lynn Calvert at Otherworld Publications. Thank you for taking a chance on me.
In that same vein, thank you to Frank Hall and everyone at Hydra Publications. You have all been the best in guiding me through this process. Even though we are no longer working together, I’m grateful for everything you have taught me.
A special thank you to Matt Silvestri, my first editor, for thinking of the things I don’t think of and knowing about medieval weaponry. I will always be excited to get your emails.
To Beth Ann Masarik and Stacie Schott. You have become two of my closest friends. Thank you for your never ending support and encouragement. You always get me to write even when I feel like I have nothing left to say.
M.r. Polish, thank you for being a sweetheart and taking my novel through the wringer. Your knowledge and sweetness know no bounds. I still owe you cookies (or brownies, or just some form of chocolate)!
The ladies of Story 4 Story. Thank you for your unending support and guidance. You are my favorite group of gals and I feel so fortunate to be part of that!
To Lindsay, Candee, Regina, Besa, Judy, Nichole, Kitty, Nancy and others I know I’m forgetting – thank you for not thinking I was crazy when I would talk about my characters like they are real people. Gavin and Ronnie give you their gratitude, too.
To all of the other writers and book bloggers I have met along the way. I could fill an entire book with all of you! Thank you for your support and responding when I reached out for help and friendship. I look forward to meeting all of you in person some day.
And finally, thank you, reader. Thank you for taking a chance and opening this book. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it and will join Ronnie and Gavin as their journey continues.
About the Author
Ever since she was small, Erin’s imagination has led her to tell stories and create worlds, including the world of Kalearnia (found in the Spiral Defenders series). Her school notebooks were doodled with pictures and writing notes in the margins beside class notes. No scrap of paper was safe from all of Erin’s notes and creations. But writing wouldn’t pay the bills for a very long time.
Erin spent three summers giving away smiles as she handed out clothes to the working populace of an amusement park. It was the best three summers of her life (also where she met her husband). Since then, Erin has become a mediocre cookie decorator, learned to make a mean pizza in less than two minutes, and has sold dresses as well as window dressings. When she isn’t exploring worlds of her own creation, you can find Erin with her nose stuck in the worlds of others, supporting Indie Authors everywhere, hanging out on Facebook, or spending time with her kids, husband, and their cat.
Erin loves to hear from her fans! Find her on these social media sites:
Erin’s website:
https://www.authorerindanzer.com
Facebook Fan Page:
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorErinDanzer
Twitter:
https://www.twitter.com/erindanzer
Email Erin at
[email protected]