First World(33)

When we could move along the path again, he continued. “Now, with the Emperor’s illness, it won’t be long before responsibility falls to Lucas and, at this stage, he’s not ready.”

Quarn hadn’t been kidding when he said these worlds were parallel. “It’s been chaos back home since ... well, our lifetime,” I added to the conversation.

Brace grimaced. “Darkness continues to spread throughout the land. It started at the black mountains.” His face was grim. “The pure energies are being leeched away.”

Lucy looked at me in confusion. She wasn’t the only one baffled. I understood about a third of his words. But I knew the black mountains from my dream.

“Pure energies?” I had to ask.

“The energy of our land. The energy of our people. Those with active gifts have found a huge depletion in their abilities.” He glanced toward me, holding my gaze. “Have you noticed the change? Or has it always been this way for you?”

“We’re seventeen – ” I started.

Lucy interrupted. “Almost eighteen.”

I eyed her. “Yes, Lucy ... almost eighteen.” I let the sentence trail off; we were getting a little close to revealing our secret.

A thoughtful frown crossed his features. “Well, I’m ... around twenty-two ... and I vaguely remember when things were better. But I’ll say you’ve never known the best of First World. Do either of you have a specialty?”

Around twenty-two. Who spoke like that?

I focused on his questions and, thinking quickly, replied, “Well, we aren’t really into ‘categorizing’ ourselves. What’re your specialties?”

I’d go with the same half-truths and diversion tactics he was using.

He laughed. “Quite the individuals, aren’t you? There are many branches, but I do have a few favorites. Animal Affinity: they’re usually out in nature with their animal guides. A little scary when riled – you don’t want to take on the animal kingdom.”

I exchanged wide-eyed glances with Lucy as he continued.

“Nature Spirit: plants bloom in their presence. Moonlighters: walk only at night to use the energy of the moon.” He shook his head. “They’re quite the strange ones.” He looked around. “What else? The Flecho: love anything manmade. They’re generally the inventors of our gadgets. Felens: read the emotional resonance of any place ... its history ... memories ... past emotions. And speaking of that, Emoters: manipulate all forms of emotion, best to be avoided.”

I shook my head for a moment. Information overload. I wasn’t going to remember any of this. But I’d love some paper. The nerd inside me wanted to jot all of this information down.

Brace continued. “Another group to avoid are the Mesmerizers. Hypnosis is their skill, depending on the strength of an individual’s mind and shield.” His voice lowered. “You should always be wary of the gifted. Power corrupts.”

I speculated whether everyone on First World was ‘gifted’ in some way, or only a select few.

“Word.” Lucy nodded at Brace, her head bobbing vigorously. In typical Lucy fashion, she was just going with the flow, no qualms about people with powers. “Our entire city was corrupted, and there isn’t anything special about them.”

“Well, I’m glad you escaped.” There was intensity behind his words.

I liked that.

“So what’s your gift, Brace?” I was curious, there was no way he wasn’t packing something serious. I could feel ripples of electricity every time I was close.

And again I copped the full force of his eyes. Silky strands of his thick hair fell across his forehead.

“I have an affinity with energy. It’s not an interesting or common gift.” He shrugged as if to say, ‘no big deal’.

Yeah, right.

Brace smiled, but not with his eyes, just his lips. “I’m curious, though. I haven’t been able to get a read on either of you. Do you choose not to communicate telepathically?”

Lucy’s mouth fell open; in that moment she probably swallowed ten bugs.

“Shut. The. Door. Seriously? Telepathy?” She laughed.

Shaking his head, he opened his mouth to retaliate – I opted for the distraction.

“So what’s with the dark mountains?” Their oiliness was weighing on my thoughts. I couldn’t ignore them any longer.

His confusion was replaced by disgust – enhancing his dark beauty.

“They were an amazing natural wonder. First Worlders traveled from all over to ski, mountain-climb and camp throughout their wilderness. But something happened many years ago; their energy changed.” He shrugged. “I have no idea what’s going on; there are thousands of miles of tunnels underneath. If it was me, and I have suggested this to the Guardians before, it’s the perfect place to build and house an army.”