First World(51)

“So the men are done for the day. They offered to come back tomorrow, but I told them we would handle it ourselves.”

Brace stood in the entrance. I jumped up. Finally the lock-down was over.

Josian’s expressive features lifted in a half-smile. “Let’s head to Earth now, find Quarn and see if we can figure out what happened.”

Lallielle stood. “Yes, let’s get my son and other daughter,” she smiled at me, “Lucy back.”

Finally we were moving, but first I wanted to warn them.

“Earth is very chaotic. I have no idea what we’re going to walk into. But since I know New York, let’s start there.”

Josian straightened. “Whenever you’re ready, I’ll open the doorway. Should we take anything with us, Aribella?”

I wasn’t sure at what stage I’d just accepted the name Aribella. In reality, it had never seemed odd to me.

“It’s violent and dangerous. Do you have any weapons? And food? You never know where your next meal is.”

Lallielle clapped her hands together, part of her gentle mannerism. “I’ll have some packs done immediately.”

Josian turned to me. “We don’t use active weapons on First World, except for our powers. We’re just going to have to wing it.”

I sighed. “We may have some weapons at the compound. If the security access hasn’t changed, I might be able to find something.”

Brace crossed his arms. “Worst case scenario, Josian, you open a doorway and get us back to First World.”

Josian agreed. “Let’s not forget they can follow us through the doorway.”

Brace laughed, and not in a nice way. “They will regret that decision.”

Lallielle straightened, breaking the mood. “I’ll gather the food and I have a little something for Aribella.”

She left the room.

“They can follow us through the doorway?” I stared up at my mesmerizing father.

His memories were the ones I wanted to examine. I couldn’t even imagine the things he had seen.

Josian nodded. “Every time I access the energy stream I leave a rift behind. It’s temporary. The universe corrects it. But for a few days it’s basically a black hole – anyone can fall through.”

Interesting.

I turned to Brace. He’d made no move to enter the large room. Sometimes his face was such a distraction; I tried not to stare at it any more than courtesy demanded.

“You don’t have to come, Brace. You’ve done more than enough.”

His broad shoulders shifted as he straightened. “Don’t you worry about me, Red. It’s my duty to help, and I’m curious about this planet you grew up on.”

Lallielle distracted me as she walked back into the room. In her hand she carried a small white box tied with a purple ribbon. As she approached me, she held it out.

“Just a little gift I had made. To keep you safe. You’ll always have a small piece of your people.”

My eyes widened – my first real present.

Hesitantly, I reached out. My hand trembled as I took the light package.

I unravelled the ribbon and it fell free. Lifting the lid off, I gasped at the gorgeous necklace nestled inside. A globe locket, two-tone in color and medium-sized. It was the perfect replica of a miniature world. Looking closer, I didn’t recognize any of the land masses, but they looked larger with less water than Earth.

“It’s First World.” Lallielle spoke, smiling brightly. “Open it; there’s something special inside.”

I lifted it free. The long silver chain trailed behind. I spun the locket to find a small clasp. When I pressed the raised area, it popped open – a perfect half-sphere on either side, connected by a small hinge.

Yellow light washed over my face. Nestled in both spheres were moonstale crystals.

I felt a strange inner relief.

I’d always have the identification crystal on me now. I could see my mark anytime I wanted.

Closing the locket, I slipped the large chain over my head. It fell to rest between my breasts, forming a perfect representation of my heritage.

Having had no experience with accepting gifts, I had no idea what to say. I faced Lallielle and Josian. Letting my joyful expression speak for itself, I kept it short.

“Thank you. I love it.”

For the first time since returning, Brace stepped into the room.

His expression was full of an unexplained emotion. “Your Walker mark is amazing. So detailed and ... beautiful.”

He looked away for a minute and then his normal smile was back.

“Thanks. I think it’s amazing too.” I smiled wistfully. “I kind of wish it was always there.”

His cocky grin was back. “Then your name would be Red Lace.”