“Who brought the drinks?” Paige asked, cutting into the silence.
Selma gave her a small smile. “I think you’re going to make it, Paige.
“Thanks, now all I have to know is what am I supposed to be doing?”
“You have agreed to bond with Calix?” Victor’s voice was hard as he directed the question to Paige.
“Yes.”
“Do you understand what this will mean?”
“According to Cal this is like marriage. Our essence, or souls will join in a process that is irreversible. It also means if I fail Cal dies.” She shot him a glance; her gray eyes were cloudy as they looked at him.
“There’s more to it than that. You will always sense him, know where he is and what he is doing. If you want him you will be able to find him, you can never hide from each other. You will be able to communicate with each other no matter where you are. Also you will not be able to live apart. The moment you bond, you seal two halves of one whole. Your life will change. Both your lives will change, if you survive the next couple of weeks.”
“Victor, do you doubt my desire to live?”
“Paige, I know even the strongest female with the most amazing talents can be defeated. I would not claim your victory early.” Victor turned to look at his brother before continuing. “The Sudir chose to fight inside your mind, soul, or other side. You humans have many names to call your inner space. You will have to travel where the battle is being waged.”
“I won’t lose, there is more than my life on the line.”
“Paige, in order to do this you will have to travel within yourself. I will stand guard over your body.” Selma spoke completing the instructions. “Victor will stand over Cal’s body to keep it safe.”
“Why wouldn’t I be safe in my room, and what about Vick?” She couldn’t take his parents away.
“He’s with a friend having the time of his life,” Selma said with a rueful smile. “Trying to calm him down later will take real skill.”
“The reason Victor and Selma will look over our bodies is because we know the earth is filled with many entities that did not originate here. Anything can happen to an unprotected body.”
Of course there were other aliens on her planet. One race of aliens came and now the rest of them think its open season on earth.
“Paige?”
“Nothing, it all seems so surreal. I’m ready if you are.”
“Let’s go into the bedroom where the two of you can lie down.” Victor ushered them into the other room and waited for them to settle. Cal and Paige were side by side on their backs.
“Cal, if there’s a problem there will be a guide. I asked a friend to keep an eye on you.”
“We’ll be fine, Victor, thank you.” Cal reached over and took Paige’s hand. “Paige, it’s easier than you think. Since this is your first time I will reach out for you. Your physical body will remain on the bed but your essence, the part of you which makes you uniquely you, will come with me. Your talents will allow this to happen.”
Having no other choice, Paige closed her eyes and sank down into her memories. She could see herself crying on her bed wishing her parents would come for her. Then she was at her high school graduation watching all the parents take pictures with the graduates. She watched the happy families even as she knew she would soon have to leave the only home she knew.
She survived, adaptability became her middle name. No matter what life threw at her she conquered it and she would conquer this too. She was ready. Reaching out mentally she felt a hand grab hers.
“Cal?”
“I got you, Sunshine.”
“You look different.” He stood taller than she remembered, his tanned skin held a more golden appearance with bronze lines dissecting it making her want to trace each one.
“You look different too.”
She looked down to see she was radiant, almost as bright as the sun.
“I was right, the sun is your power.”
“What does that mean?”
“You have the potential to be powerful, if you can tap into that you may be unstoppable in the light of day.”
“So all I have to do is fight him during the daytime. Seems simple enough.”
“Nothing’s ever that easy, Paige.”
“How are we talking?” Although she felt like she was in her body she knew it was just an illusion. So how was she communicating with him? Was he reading her mind?
“In this space we can’t speak words but we don’t need to. Your desire to communicate with me allows me to hear what you’re saying or more correctly want to say. It’s not mind reading because only what you want to say comes to me.”