Everything had changed.
That’s what she knew.
From the moment she’d seen Duncan bound by ropes and hanging from a hook, her life had shifted on its axis. She had no idea where this journey would take her, but for whatever bizarre reason, she had a specific power that had located one of their missing warriors. She’d never sought this ability. She didn’t even want it.
But her connection to the darkening had catapulted her into a new world, demanding things of her she’d never imagined doing before. Beyond her emerging power, however, she also let go of her need to keep the war at arm’s length. Yes, she’d lost her husband to that bastard, Greaves, but the war wasn’t over and now it looked like an entity on Third had gotten involved as well.
“Why Duncan?” she asked, glancing between the men.
Jean-Pierre turned toward her.
“Duncan has power, more than anyone knows. I have been working with him, exploring that power, for many months. He has visions, but we could not isolate the source of the power and bring them forward. Each time we did, though, he grew physically stronger.” Samuel frowned. “Did you have a sense that he was somehow connected to Third Earth?”
“No. How could I have? But Duncan knew things, sensed things. There is a connection between the two of you.” Vela drew in a deep breath and met Samuel’s gaze. “I think we should head back into the darkening. I want to try to take you back to him and I’m pretty sure I can. Maybe if you saw him, saw the situation, you could figure out what we need to do.” Samuel dipped his chin. “Are you sure?” She understood the depth of the question, not just that she would be taking him back into the darkening and on a difficult journey, but because he already knew how she felt about all of this, that she didn’t want to be involved.
She nodded slowly. “I’m sure. My mind’s made up. I’m not especially happy about what’s going on, but I want to help.”
“Then let’s do it.” But Jean-Pierre intruded. “It might be wise to engage Endelle at this point. Not only does she have darkening ability but it seems to me, mes amis, that we are talking about Third Earth. If an Upper Dimension has begun meddling in our affairs, then Endelle must know.” Vela nodded briskly. “You’re right.
Absolutely.” Getting a fold to the palace took Jean-Pierre a couple of phone calls to orchestrate, but finally the three of them glided through nether-space.
Endelle met them at her landing platform, hands planted on her leopard covered hips. “What the f**k is all this nonsense about Third Earth, the darkening, and Duncan? What the hell is going on here?” To Vela’s surprise, Samuel took her hand as she walked beside him down the ramp. She glanced at him and he turned and sent, Is this okay?
She nodded. Absolutely. It’s a comfort because I’m way out of my depth.
He gave her hand a squeeze.
She could get used to this. She’d forgotten the simple pleasures of a man’s company, of holding his much bigger, stronger hand.
Thorne had strengthened the security at the palace over the past couple of years, in part because not so long ago, Greaves had actually attacked the palace during Alison’s rite of ascension. Thorne had also established his Command Center here, prior to the battle over White Lake, which had happened just a month ago.
Based on all the P.O.’s she’d processed for Thorne recently, Endelle’s home would be the Command Center for the Allied Ascender Forces indefinitely.
As she followed behind Endelle, she passed through the smaller rotunda to a much larger one. The palace was essentially a series of rotundas that hung off the side of the McDowell Mountains overlooking a vast desert to the west.
Entering one of the massive dome- like rooms, she had expected to see groupings of couches and tables. Instead, the room displayed a dozen large screens and more computers than she’d ever seen in one room except at Militia HQ. The lights were kept low and specific to each desk. The open air balconies at either end were now partially closed off with enormous rolling screens.
Thorne stood next to Colonel Seriffe, who must have just folded in from North Africa. Together they scrolled through an iPad.
“Thorne,” Endelle called out. “I want you and Seriffe in on this. Now.” Thorne met her gaze and Endelle paused in her steps. They seemed to be communicating telepathically.
Endelle finally shot a hand in the direction of an archway at the north end of the rotunda and called out, “Now.” Thorne glanced at Seriffe and nodded, then the two of them followed Her Supremeness. Seriffe moved quickly as did Thorne. Vela picked up her pace, matching Samuel’s shift in stride. She glanced around at all the techs and support staff who seemed stunned by what had just happened. Apparently, even Endelle didn’t order Thorne around much these days.
After crossing through two smaller rotundas, and passing through an arched entrance, she arrived at Endelle’s sitting room, a large space with a white shag rug, glass tables, and purple couches and chairs.
Once inside, Endelle waved Vela and Samuel to the couch. She sat down and Samuel didn’t hesitate to plant himself right next to her and to take hold of her hand again.
“Give us the details.” Vela relayed in detail her journey through the intricate maze of darkening tunnels, of crossing the dimensional boundary, of the images that whisked by her as she moved, the explosions and of course everything that related to Duncan.
When she was done, Thorne, Seriffe, and Endelle stared at her, unspeaking.
“You’re shitting me,” Endelle finally said. She then dropped into the large purple chair that faced into the room. Her shoulders slumped.
Endelle’s sudden despair stunned Vela and without thinking, she slipped into the woman’s mind. Endelle’s thoughts streamed quickly. Where the hell is Braulio? He’s been gone this month, with not one goddamn word, and now we have a Third Earth intrusion. And the hell if I know what to do. We’re losing Militia Warriors by the hundreds every night because of those three f**king generals and now this? An untried blondie, with darkening powers that exceeds even— She broke off and whipped her gaze to Vela. “You were in my head?” she shouted.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think. I was just suddenly there. And I didn’t know.” Vela eased back against the cushions. She felt as though she’d been slapped, not by Endelle’s outrage but by the truths she’d just expressed, one after the other.
Hundreds of Militia Warriors.