Irealized pretty quickly that, although I appreciated all my friends’ help, it was easier to get my orbs on my own.
The one buried in the cave wall took me less than an hour to retrieve.
The next one was with the sea creatures. The Mermaids.
“They give me the creeps, especially the princess. The way she looks at you,” Tabitha said.
“Me too,” George added.
“Then be glad that you guys don’t have to go down there,” I replied and dove into the water.
My gills immediate came, and I started breathing underwater. Webbing formed into my hands, and I moved faster through the water.
Guards stopped me as I was about to enter.
“I need permission to retrieve my orb. The king knows.”
“You are?”
“The Rubicon. Just ask the king.”
I hated waiting. He gave me full access as the one buried here sounded at the back of my head. It was growing louder and louder.
The guard paddled through the water, off to the king, while the other one stared at me, putting me on edge.
“I know you?”
“Yeah, I’m the Rubicon.”
“No, I’ve seen you before, here.”
“Probably on the first time when I came to speak to the king, to ask permission.”
“No, it’s not that.” He huffed.
Weird.
The other one came back with the king.
“It’s all right, Kruger. Blake is who he says, and he has full access to search our waters for his orb.”
“Thank you, my king.”
I darted forward and toward where the beacon was calling from.
It was a fast retrieval, and when I went back to George and Tabitha, they were in a full-on fight with Sabine, the princess.
“Stop this!” I jumped in front of Sabine and Tabitha, who already had seaweed wrapped around her wrists and ankles.
“Blake.” She jumped out of it.
George was wrestling in one of her buddy’s arms. “Let him go.”
The guy had already ditched his tail for legs.
“I’m sorry, if I knew…” Sabine started.
“We’ve told you so many times.”
“You could’ve been lying. It’s easy to say that you are with the Rubicon, but to actually mean it…”
“I said enough. Go. Both of you, before your father comes to investigate. We do not want that fuck-up again.” I glared at Sabine.
“Aw, Blake. You don’t mean that.”
“Sabine, I don’t have time. Just go.”
She pouted.
“Let’s just leave,” her friend said and dove back into the water, taking the princess with him.
I helped Tabitha, pulling off the seaweed from around her wrists.
There were already blisters forming.
“Fucking bitch,” she hissed.
George and I couldn’t help the laughter that slipped from our lips. Tabitha’s lips eventually curved at the corners.
“I’m sorry. I should’ve told you that waiting here might cause problems.”
“It’s okay. You know how to heal this, right?”
“I know the right plants, and you are going to wake up with a terrible headache, but other than that, found early, it is not that harmful.”
“Yay me.”
I unwrapped the last seaweed from her ankle.
“You got the orb?” George asked, and I took it out of my pocket and handed it to him.
He whistled. “Their colors become more and more beautiful.”
“Tell me about it,” I agreed as Tabitha stared, mesmerized, at the glowing neon pulsing from the orb.
George put it with the others, and its beacon finally died down.
One down, a few more to go.
The last orbs were on the other side.
George and Tabitha had no experience with these sorts of humans. In a way, they were much more dangerous than the ones inside Paegeia.
Paegeia’s humans grew up with dragons and magic. Some of them even feared magic. Like Elena did now.
The two of them did everything I told them.
We went to buy supplies with the bank card the king had given me.
I couldn’t help but see how humans stared at Tabitha. She was beautiful and at a stage, my ice queen.
Back then, I would’ve ripped their heads off, but now, I saw the humor in it.
We all got our fair share of stares.
We stayed over in motels. I missed Dad. It didn’t feel right without him here.
I also missed Elena.
George still hadn’t received the vision of how we had to get her back, and I hoped the monks would know. They had the mother orb and must know more about the other orbs and what they could do.
Snoring came from George’s bed, and then I realized it wasn’t George but Tabitha.
She was so tired. She made this trip so much easier with always wanting to know more.
I never thought that she would put herself at risk like this, especially now that she had a rider.
She must miss Lu like I missed Elena. Not to speak about George and Becky.
Before we exited the wall, they phoned them for the last time. Each one of them spoke to the other one for at least thirty-odd minutes. The phone call would’ve been longer if it wasn’t for my horrible lack of patience.
I should’ve given them more time. Anything could go wrong.
I could be an idiot at times.
I turned on my side and tried to get some sleep. The next few weeks were going to be a push.
Everything around me was wrong. For some reason, I was still with Tabitha. But none of it felt right.
Lucian and I weren’t as close as we once were. There was this gigantic invisible wall between us, and no matter how hard I tried to speak to him, not a single word left my lips.
I didn’t like this feeling inside of me. It was dark and cold. Unforgiving.
None of it was making sense.
I wandered around the school hallways, dazed out of my mind. My body wasn’t my own, and then I realized what this was.
Another vision.
I tried to find what it was I needed to see, but there was nothing.
I tried to find Elena, and as I thought about her, she came walking around the corner with Lu. They were really close, and I didn’t like this, nor understand it.
They passed me, and my heart beat like a drum at the sound of her voice.
Something was horribly wrong here. The way she spoke to Lu almost made me think she had something with him. Tabitha would not love this.
“Blake,” George’s voice said. I looked away, and he was right in front of me. His eyes were white, glowing orbs.
I startled awake.
George was already in his coughing fit. Tabitha crouched in front of his bed, water in her hand.
He took it and gulped it down.
“You saw that?” I asked George. He just kept coughing. “George, were you there with me?”
“Where?” Tabitha asked.
He nodded, trying to regain himself.
I gave him time to find himself as I sat on the edge of my bed.
“You both were in each other’s visions?” Tabitha questioned.
“I don’t know. It’s not possible.”
George cleared his throat and horrible phlegm came loose. I hated that sound, but when something needed to come out, the best thing was to get it out.
He swallowed the rest of the water and laid back down.
I kept staring at him.
Silence lingered as Tabitha got up and leaned against the table where the kettle and cups for coffee stood.
We both stared at George on his bed.
“I was there, Blake. Everything was wrong.”
“Tell me about it. I tried to speak to Lu, but I couldn’t. I didn’t like the way I felt, either. So dark and alone, even angry.”
“I’ve seen it. Something is not right.”
I didn’t mention how in each other’s space Lu and Elena were with one another.
“It felt as if I was still with Tabitha.”
“What?” Tabitha asked.
“It felt wrong,” George said. “Like we didn’t belong.”
“You saw the past?”
“Not the past,” George said. “It was definitely now. Just different.”
“I don’t understand; I’m not with Blake,” Tabitha argued.
“I know,” George replied. “It’s like another time, another world.”
“An alternative universe?” Tabitha inquired, and George nodded.
“Please, don’t start with that crap,” I begged.
“C’mon, Blake. Tell me that is not what it felt like.”
“So it’s a universe where Elena hasn’t claimed me yet?”
“You said it yourself. You felt angry.”
I didn’t know what I felt, but I knew I didn’t like it. I cupped my neck. An alternative universe. Could that even be possible?
My mind was reeling, and I struggled to grasp the concept of an alternative universe. One where what, Lu and Elena were together?
I looked at Tabitha. She was thinking. She did that thing with her eyes, squinting, and it was as if she was reading an invisible scroll the way her mind flickered through every piece of information stored in her brain. It was quite something to witness.
“You think it’s possible?” I asked Tabitha.
“It’s your orbs. It has to be.”
“So you think I’m doing this on purpose? Creating an alternative universe, where what? Elena waits for me?”
She shrugged. “A different version of her, perhaps.”
“So it’s not real?”
“I don’t know, Blake. Alternative universes always sounded so far-fetched, but if your orbs were pushing through a barrier into a different universe where she is still her, then perhaps it exists.”
“How am I going to get there?” I questioned Tabitha.
“Something tells me, we are going to need the mother orb for that, mate,” George remarked; he looked at his watch. “It’s just after five. I’m going back to sleep.”
“You seriously going to sleep?” I asked.
“Unless one of your orbs is calling you—yes,” he mumbled.
There wasn’t a beacon since we’d flown through the barrier. I did not know where to go to find them.
Tabitha shrugged. “I’m with George. If an alternative universe is going to be part of our journey, we are going to need all the rest we can get.”
She climbed back into bed, and I sat down on mine.
There was no way that I was going to sleep now, so I stood up and got dressed.
I took a walk in the morning air and just tried to wrap my mind around this alternative universe thing.
What were the chances that my orbs could do that?
An entire week passed. I was ready to give up, but then early on Friday morning, a beacon sounded at the back of my head.
It was louder than the others, and the urge to find this one grated on my nerves.
We packed quickly and then left. We rented a car and took the route south.
It became so loud that George had to drive.
Tabitha sat up front as I took the back seat.
None of us had another vision again, and Tabitha was checking everything on this side since the idea of an alternative universe was possible.
We tried to humor her as she spoke about matter and wormholes, but to be honest, whatever she was rambling about was Greek.
Hours passed, and the beacon stayed the same.
My body tingled all over. My healing ability was trying to heal the headache the beacon had caused, but because it didn’t stop, my ability refused to give up too, leaving me even more frustrated and irate.
Near the Rocky Mountains, the beacon was the strongest. I knew it was here somewhere, and we’d have to go on foot.
So we took our bags, tried our best to hide the car, and hiked toward the damn orb.
I had to climb again and told George and Tabitha to make camp. I’d find it faster on my own. The ones we’d had to dig for were so much easier.
This one seemed as if it was inside the freaking mountain, a place where there was no way I could get to it. But knew that I would find a way.
I didn’t have so many to go, and hopefully after this one, the others wouldn’t stay silent for too long.
I needed to find Elena, and I needed to find her fast. Even if it meant that she was stuck in some alternative universe.
It has been four weeks this side. And we’d finally found the last orb. I had no idea what to do with all these orbs. Now where to find the monks and the mother orb?
“Monks are everywhere around the world, Blake.” Tabitha closed her computer again. “Which ones?”
“I don’t know.” I felt so tired.
“We have to wait for another vision,” George said very matter of fact.
“Then in that case, I want a nice long bath and some Lu time. I haven’t spoken to him in like forever.”
“Yeah, that is not going to be possible,” I stated.
“Seriously?” Tears glistened in her eyes.
“You wanted to come, Tabitha.” George sounded as frustrated as me.
“I know,” she breathed. “I just didn’t think it would be so hard.”
“Let’s go check-in to the closest motel.”
“Hotel. I’m done with motels.” Tabitha sounded annoyed.
George grunted, and I couldn’t help the chuckle that slipped through my lips. Which made Tabitha feel the need to attack. Dents without their riders were too much for me to handle at the moment.
“Enough, you two.”
They fell quiet, and I stared at Tabitha. We had a lot of money left. I was sure that we could afford a hotel. “Hotel it is.”
“Yes.” Tabitha pumped her first in the air and started typing away like a madwoman. “There is one about three miles south of here. Called the Ramadan.”
“Do they have their price on there?” I asked.
“89 and up.”
“Dollars?” George barked.
“Per person?” I added.
“Yes,” Tabitha answered us both, I think.
“It’s fine.”
“You serious?” George looked at me.
“It’s fine, George. We just have one more trip and that is to the monks. We can live in the hotel.”
“Okay,” he breathed.
He would be seriously pissed off if he knew that King Albert was adding funds every week we were gone. There were a lot of dollars on that card, but we were not here to have a great, jolly time. We were here to find my orbs and get to Elena. But, I wanted to give them something for their assistance with this journey.
I dozed off in the back as George drove while Tabitha gave directions.
“I can see where to go, Tabitha. I have the GPS right here.”
“Just trying to help,” she mumbled.
Their bickering trickled away as darkness consumed me.
A hand shook me awake, and I was so drowsy. I climbed out and followed them into the hotel.
“Give me the card; I’ll check us in.”
“Kay.” I took my wallet from my bag and handed it to her. She trotted toward the reception as George and I took a seat.
“You okay?” George asked.
“Just tired.”
“Yeah, I can see that. We will get her back, Blake. Even if it’s the last thing we do.”
“Nobody is going to die on this fucking mission. Goran is dead. It’s time for peace and to become a world again.”
George’s lips curved upward. “Agreed.”
Silence lingered as we waited, and after what felt like eons, Tabitha finally came back.
She handed me a card, and we took the elevator.
“I got myself a room, no offense, but I need some time away from the two of you.”
I lifted my hands to show her I would not complain.
George shook his head, scared that we were blowing through the funds.
It stopped at the seventh floor, and we got out. We found our room and then opened the door. Tabitha’s room was just opposite ours. It was big, with two double beds and a television against the wall.
It smelled clean, and the bathroom had a shower and a bath. Not that I really took baths. Although, today I felt like I needed one.
“I’m going to order us some food. What do you want?” George offered.
“Steak, egg, and fries. Make sure that the steak is big and medium rare.”
“Got ya.” George left and probably knocked on Tabitha’s door.
I poured in a bath and wiped my face from the tiredness. How the hell were my orbs going to bring her back? None of it made sense, but that was what they’d shown me. I guessed I’d just have to wait and see.
We stayed a total of three days at the hotel. George kneed my tits with the budget, and I had to tell him we had enough to spare. He wasn’t happy that I hadn’t been open with them about the budget, but once I told him I’d wanted to pay them for their help, he’d stopped.
Finally, George got a vision.
The destination was revealed to him. The monks in the Henan Mountains. They were a division of the Shaolin Monastery at the secret Olinishan Temple.
“It’s not anywhere on the internet, Blake,” Tabitha said.
“Reason we get visions to the location,” George quipped as if it was a well-known fact.
She rolled her eyes. At times, I wished I could tell them to go back so that I could carry on this mission in peace, but I knew I needed Tabitha’s brain and George’s visions. Mine weren’t as frequent.
Her laptop snapped closed. “Okay, then I guess it’s following you, George.”
“I’ll get us there. Trust me.”
“Famous last words.”
“You two, please,” I begged.
They fell quiet as we drove to the airport. We booked the flights to China, and thank heavens we had all the right passports and visas. Gratitude to Mark and King Albert for arranging it all.
I would give anything to send some news back home. Just to let them know I’d found my orbs and that we were heading to the Henan Mountains.
The rest of the trip was quiet. Tabitha sat by herself, staring out the window. Probably missing Lu. I sat next to George, wishing I could just get a glimpse of this universal world again. To see Elena healthy and happy.
I still didn’t know how it was going to work, and I wished for Irene’s input.
She would be able to shed some light on it.
I drifted away after the flight settled in with dinner. The cabins quieted, and darkness consumed me.
The wind woke me, and I wasn’t on the plane anymore. I was flying. I was so angry. It disappeared fast as I stopped mid-air. What was this? Where was I flying to? I couldn’t remember, but I knew I was back home. The stars were all Paegeia, and the air and colors were Paegeia’s.
I turned around and flew back to the academy. Lu was still awake as I entered.
“You came back.”
I grumbled. Sounded angry, but I wasn’t. Nothing I tried to say happened. My actions were completely the opposite of what I wanted to do and how I felt.
Yanking doors open and shutting them in Lu’s face. Why was I so mean?
“Blake. I’m not giving up.”
Giving up?
I didn’t question it. I knew he was wasting his time, but I wasn’t questioning it.
At once, everything changed again.
I woke up on the plane. The sun streamed in through the window, and George was listening to his pods.
Tabitha was even awake.
The slight headache in my temple grew, but the buzz of my healing ability was there.
“Morning,” George greeted and pulled out one of his earbuds.
“I had another dream or vision. Only it didn’t feel like a vision.”
“You were there?”
I nodded. “Lu…” I shook my head.
Tabitha leaned over, eyes round. “What about Lu?”
“Relax. I think it’s in this alternative world. Something is wrong between us. He still speaks about not giving up.”
“Not giving up?” George asked as his eyebrows furrowed.
I nodded.
“What does that mean?” Tabitha wanted to know.
“The only thing he’s never given up on was seeing me claimed.”
“What?” both of them asked.
“I think I’m not claimed.”
“How?” George asked. “Elena is there.”
“I don’t know.”
Tabitha stared at me. I didn’t like that either. Why wasn’t I claimed if Elena was there? None of it made sense.
Disembarking the plane took a long time. The authorities checked our passports and finally, we were on our way.
I knew they knew something was up with us three. Not many people knew about Paegeia anymore, but China was the only country that still believed in our culture. Even if it was spiritual.
I guessed not seeing a dragon for hundreds of years would lead to myths.
We took a cab to the Henan Mountains.
The guy spoke, but I didn’t understand one bit.
Then out of the blue, Tabitha replied to him in perfect whatever-he-spoke.
George and I stared at her with arched eyebrows.
“What? I’m fluent in thirteen languages, Blake.”
George chuckled as I gaped like an idiot. That was impressive. She carried on speaking.
“We have a problem.”
“What?”
“We can’t go to the Henan Mountains. It’s deemed sacred.”
“Of course, it is,” George said.
“Then as close as possible.”
“Yeah, I don’t think he is going to drop us off there this time of night, Blake.”
“Try anything, Tabitha.”
“Fine.”
She spoke once more, but it didn’t look as if the guy was going to budge.
“Fuck,” I hissed.
“He’s not budging. He wants us to get out.”
“I can’t. Not when I’m this close. I persuade, you speak.”
She stared at me, and I leaned over the seat and pulled the guy on his collar back to face me.
My persuasion poured out of me in streams. Tabitha spoke what we needed him to do, and he replied the last word.
I let him go, and he didn’t waste time to start the engine.
“That is so hot,” Tabitha whispered.
“Shush,” I said, but heat crept up on my cheeks. I hadn’t had a compliment in ages.
The driver stopped next to the road. We climbed out as Tabitha said, “We have to fly from here.”
I nodded.
We entered deep into the forest, and then we started taking off our clothes. I was glad as my scales were begging to be released.
I just hoped that they knew we were coming.
