After they'd institutionalized her, she'd never again spoken to them about Vasili or his world, but that hadn't mattered. The damage had already been done. They'd known her before, seen the changes in her, and hadn't liked who she'd become. No longer their sweet little princess, but someone a little dark, a lot stubborn. Beyond harsh.
Finding a way to escort them into Nightmare had been a last-ditch effort to salvage their relationship. To make them believe. But she was almost relieved that she couldn't take them.
Vasili was her safe haven, her fantasy in the flesh. She didn't want to share him. With anyone.
"So why'd you call, Rose?"
Nick's question once again dragged her back into the present. God, she was easily distracted today.
"I have questions. About"—she looked around, made sure no one was paying them any attention, and whispered—"Nightmare."
He, too, looked around. A habit every Dimension Walker probably possessed. "Okay. Ask."
"Why us? Why can we do this and no one else? I mean, none of us are related that I'm aware of, so it isn't genetic."
A shrug. "You've read the theories online, I'm sure."
She nodded. "One is that we're supposed to study them, learn from them. Another is that we're ambassadors, meant to pave the way for when the two worlds collide." But no one could prove the two would ever collide. "Another is that we're supposed to killthem. What do you think?"
He shrugged again. "I believe that last one. That we're like vampire hunters, special, meant to destroy evil."
Destroy evil. The words echoed through her skull. She sipped at her mocha, though it had chilled and settled in her stomach like lead. After that first visit, she would have agreed with him.
Now? Not even a little. Vasili was important to her, and the thought of him being hunted, hurt, caused rage to burn through her. A lot more Walkers probably thought like Nick.
She released her latte before she crumpled the cup. "Have they ever hurt you?"
His chest puffed up with pride, and for a moment, she saw the man she'd dated: strong, healthy, determined. "I haven't given them the chance."
"And yet you still think you're supposed to killthem? What if they're chasing you to talk with you?
To learn from you?" She remembered the people at the party last night. How they'd laughed and danced. How harmless they'd seemed. Even the monsters.
Nick gaped at her. "You've seen those red eyes, right?"
"Yes. So?"
"So, you know those creatures don't want to talk to us."
But they hadn't hurt her. That first night, they'd taken her to Vasili. "Can they travel here?" She would love for Vasili to show up unannounced and uninvited—at least she would pretend he was uninvited—and sweep her off her feet—only to throw her on her own bed.
Wait. He'd said only Walkers could travel between the worlds. But maybe there were Walkers in his world, too.
"No." Nick shook his head. "Many have tried to bring one over, you know, to prove there's another side, but the bodies disintegrate every time. Dead or alive, no one from here or there can be taken from one world and placed in another unless they're a Walker."
Wow. She felt no pain when she traveled. Just blinked, and boom, she was in another time and place. Yet others burned to death? Just . . . wow. "Can any of us go there on our own? You know, without it being our birthday?" She could, but what about the others?
"No, and thank God for that." Again, he frowned. "Why ask? Tell me you don't want to spend more time there."
"Of course I don't," she rushed out. A lie, and one she didn't feel guilty for telling. She didn't need him trying to talk her out of returning. Or rallying others of their kind to do so—forcefully. But why could she travel at will and no one else? Because she was "bonded" to Vasili?
"So why all the questions, Rose?" Nick asked.
"My birthday's approaching, and I'm just trying to figure things out, that's all." Good, that's good.
Keep it casual. "So . . . when do you go back?"
"Next month." Bitterness laced his tone. "August eighth."
She made a mental note.
"I've always dreaded going back, but now . . ." He shuddered, the action making several strands of hair dance over his forehead. "In the last year, several Walkers have failed to return. Did you know that?"
"No. How do you? Hardly anyone shares their name." Too afraid of being labeled a crazy, as she well knew.
"The day before their birthdays was the last time they posted online."
Yes. Telling. Or maybe not. "What if they just decided to stay?" Could they stay, though? Maybe she was the only one who could stay for extended periods of time, just like she was the only one who could travel at will.
Nick snorted. "Who would want to live in constant darkness?"
If you were in bed with a sexy man who had his hands and mouth all over you, there was a definite appeal to all that darkness. "Have you ever met a man named . . ." She hesitated, as if saying his name were a betrayal to him. But she had to know. "Vasili?"
"Met? No." A hard glint darkened Nick's eyes. "But heard of, yes."
"Tell me!" Did she sound too eager? Look too eager? She was leaning forward, hands wringing together.
Clearly. Nick regarded her strangely as he pushed aside his cup and drummed his fingers against the tabletop. "He's the king of the Northern Realm. Have you met him?"
"Well, uh, I . . ."
He took her stuttering as a yes. "Can you get close to him? Kill him?"
"No! " And anyone else who tried would feel the sting of her wrath. Sadly, that "anyone" might be Nick. At the moment, he glowed with determination.
But if she had to choose between them, she would choose Vasili. Always.
"Too bad. See, from what I've been able to piece together, I know there are four realms. North, South, East, and West. A different king rules each. The North and East are at war, and the South and West are allies who refuse to take part."
Vasili, at war. With Greer. But that war had been averted, since Jasha was marrying one of Greer's daughters. She mentioned none of that, though. She wouldn't aid Nick's cause with information.
"If we could killVasili," he continued, "one of those realms would fall and that's one less to worry about."
Now her eyes narrowed, and she knew the hard glint he'd had earlier was suddenly mirrored in hers. "That would make you a murderer, Nick." And me, as well, since my first reaction will be revenge. "You don't want to go there. Believe me."