Chapter 9

The sun was starting to set as I sat watching the others arrive. A few just appeared, but most came through a door or gate. Was it weird that someone appearing out of nowhere wasn’t startling me now?

“You get Romulus on the phone now. I want to speak to him as soon as possible.” Quinton was telling a man I didn’t know.

“I thought those of royal blood were able to bypass the wards?” Paisley asked to Victor. “We can port inside the palace and use our abilities, why couldn’t we port outside the gates?”

Victor rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head. “I’m not certain, but we’re going to find out.” He looked in my direction. “If Kara hadn’t been up there, they may have had the opportunity to use what was in that duffle bag.”

“What was in it?” She asked.

“The science team is examining it now, but at first glance it seems to be some sort of explosive.”

Explosives? They were going to blow up the palace? Or blow-up things to get to the palace? My heart regained a steady pace of too fast again. What was going on here? I looked at the swords across Victor’s back, then glanced over at Quinton to see he wore the same. Again, what was happening? I looked back to Victor and Paisley.

Her eyes went wide. “They were going to blow up the gate?”

“At the least.” He said abruptly, then turned to meet Troy and Chase as they came outside.

They were all dressed alike, dark avenging angels. I saw that the Kings actually fought in person. Weren’t they supposed to just tell someone else to do that sort of thing?

Chase listened to Victor, then turned and looked at me. He was smiling as he walked toward me. “I hear you had some fun and excitement.”

I felt the need to stand up in his presence. “I don’t know if I’d go so far to call it that.”

He inclined his head. “Thank you for lending aid.” He motioned to the glass doors. “We’re just going to grab a coffee or three. Come have some chocolate milk.”

In the corner, I kept quiet drinking my chocolate milk. Why did it taste better than any I’d ever tasted before? I took another sip. And how did Mitz know and bring it to me again? I licked my lips and watched everyone else in the room. They were talking in small groups, too many conversations to follow anyone.

Autumn and Michael came in the door, walking close together and looking happy. In her hands were my arrows. She came over and set them on the table.

“That was an epic shot.” She grinned. “Quinton said he heard it go by his ear.”

I almost spit out the milk I’d been savouring. “I held my breath, hoping neither moved.”

Michael smirked. “There wasn’t much chance of that happening. We were being held in place by the mage.”

Autumn snarled, “until you freed us. I should have kicked him again just for using that hoodoo crap on me.”

“Oh-that’s,” I frowned, “what that weird hand waving does?”

“Or worse. Usually worse.” Michael said in a serious tone.

“Did Chase tell you?” Autumn smiled. “Four women were rescued from the apartment. Thanks to you.”

That made me feel good. “Were they okay?” I stood up. “I know I said most of those taken were mindless twits—but I didn’t mean I wanted anything to happen to them.” I felt I should clarify that.

Michael nodded. “As far as we can tell, they are fine.”

Autumn looked as relieved as I felt. “They’ll be okay now at one of our safe houses.”

I took a deep breath and exhaled. They’d gotten the man stalking women and taking them. Rescued some of the women. And, I’d helped them. In my mind, my debt for shooting a prince should be paid.

“If you can show us which tunnel entrance you saw them use, we’ll follow that lead up as well.” Michael motioned to Arius across the room.

I nodded. “So, I have an odd question, well maybe odd to you, but for me it’s normal to want to know.” I paused when Arius and Leone came over. “How do I know if I run into any more of those people taking women?” I held up my arm with the red cuff on it. “I mean if I can’t hear what they’re thinking?”

“Their wrist,” Michael stated, “they’ll have a device a bit bigger than yours.” He pointed to the little Fitbit on my other arm. “Stay away from those.”

I looked at Leone, then Arius’ wrist, then turned back to his wrist. They were all wearing devices a bit bigger than the one I had on.

He grinned. “We’ve run into a few issues lately, so now we all wear them in case we can’t port or wind up in trouble and need a fast out.”

My mouth dropped open, I held up the hand with the Fitbit on it. “So, mine works like that? I thought this was to monitor me.”

“No. That one is so you can safely stay here.”

“Here?” I looked around the plant-bare solarium.

Michael nodded. “Yes, here in Alterealm. Your scan said you were human and we wanted to be sure you would survive when you left the cells.”

Everything went loud, then muted silence immediately after. My heart felt like it stopped. “This is Alterealm?” I felt breathless. I had lost it completely. “Of course I did. How could any of this be real?”

“Are you all right?” Leone stepped closer.

I put my hand up to stop him. “No. No I’m not all right. Stupid, stupid brain. I thought I was done having strange delusions. How many years does it take for their fracking drugs to wear off?” I looked down at the small band they’d given me in the clear cube. “Should have known the second I came to in that room that this was all inside my head.” With a vibrating hand, I pulled off what I’d thought was some sort of monitor, or lie detector, I had thought that briefly too. “Of course it’s not.” I dropped it on the floor. Then put my hand over my forehead. “You’re just having a complete psychotic episode, you silly ignoramus, Kara.” I laughed. “Porting and mages waving their hands and chanting spells.” I snorted. “Most entertaining delusion yet.” I walked past the giant men my mind had created. Well, at least I made them interesting, if not a little larger than life.

My illusionary Chase stepped in front of me, a concerned look on his face. I laughed. “Twin kings—woo, my mind worked overtime this round.” I shook my head and patted him on the chest. “It all seemed so unreal but still very real.” I gave him a sad look. “Only the craziest ever think of a place called Alterealm. I guess I’ve finally caved in.” I shook my head. “So many wanting to get back to Alterealm.” I wanted to cry suddenly. “Guess I made it before they did.”

“What’s happened?”

I spun around and looked at Rafael standing in the door looking very stern again. “Son of a bucket!” I rushed toward him. “That’s why your walking around like nothing happened. When you should be lying in bed cursing the wound on your backside.” I stopped at the step and looked up at him. From two steps below he looked twelve feet tall. Apparently, my mind felt the need to create giants. I grinned up at him. “Because you’re not real and I didn’t shoot your tush!” I put my hand over my mouth for a second. “I’ve been doubting my own accuracy since I saw you walking around like I hadn’t shot you.” I blew out a breath “I do feel better knowing that, really.” I looked around. “A palace.” My next thought had me slumping my shoulders forward. “Please don’t let me come to in some dumpster. I really, really don’t want reality to come crashing down like that.” I said quietly.

Turning, I ignored all the figments of my very creative, broken imagination and walked out the glass doors that weren’t really there into the pretty courtyard. Soft lights spread a gentle glow all around. At least my mind thought of practical things like being able to see in the dark. I could still smell the lavender. I hoped that scent was real, because as soon as I woke up to my bleak reality, I wanted to get something that was lavender scented. I went over to the nonexistent stone bench and sat down. If I just sat here for a short while, and didn’t feed this fantastic delusion, reality should come back quickly.

I heard movement behind me but wasn’t going to turn around and encourage the fantasy to continue. Out of sight, out of mind. I didn’t know if that saying was true, but now seemed a good time to test it out.

Rafael stepped in front of me, he was holding the Fitbit I’d taken off. I wasn’t putting it back on. He squatted down so our faces were level. “Kara.”

I looked into his blue eyes, they weren’t shooting fire at me or glaring at me, they were just soft, almost pretty, blue eyes. I exhaled loudly.

“Your mind hasn’t fractured. This is not an illusion at all.” He held my gaze, not looking away.

“It has to be.” I told him softly. “How could I hear people—crazy people by the way, think of nothing but getting back to Alterealm.” I sat straighter. “I looked it up when I got out. It doesn’t exist.”

Alona walked over and sat on the bench with me. “There’s a reason you couldn’t find it.”

I nodded slowly and looked back to Rafael. “Because it’s not real.”

He gave me an understanding look. “It’s very real and has existed through the ages.”

“You couldn’t find it because it’s an alternate realm.” Alona said slowly. “Another world that exists in addition to ours.”

I dragged my gaze from Rafael back to her. “That’s not possible.”

She gave a slight shrug. “Neither is hearing what people think or feeling their emotions.”

I opened my mouth and then closed it. “How could another realm exist, and no one knows?”

“No one from your realm knows,” Rafael said quietly. “Those from mine know all about yours. My family protects yours from things like mages waving their hands creating magic and many other things that shouldn’t happen on your side.”

I bit my lip and studied him for a moment. “If that’s true, why were people locked up where I was, thinking of Alterealm?” I leaned closer. “They were crazy.” I tapped the side of my head. “The things I’d hear them think,” I shook my head, “there’s no way it was real.”

He smirked. “I’m sure some of them were crazy. Or they ended up that way when they got stuck on that side and were locked up.” He tilted his head. “You can hear what’s in people’s heads and you were thought to be crazy.”

I opened my mouth and then closed it and frowned at him. What he was saying made sense. “Do you lose a lot of people that get stuck and can’t get back?”

“More than we care to admit.”

I turned to see Chase standing behind Alona with his hands resting on her shoulders.

Crissy came over and stood beside Rafael for a moment, then she dropped to her knees and sat there. “I was locked up and drugged and tested,” she nodded, “so many tests.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “They thought I was crazy because of all I see.” She shook her head, “no one understood.” She smiled up at Victor as he came over. “Here. It’s okay, who I am.” She smiled. “I’m allowed to be me.”

I’d heard what went on in her head firsthand. “I don’t know how you do it, but I’m glad you got away too.”

She nodded.

Bethany came over with Leone. She held up her hands and bright lights the color of flames came off her palms. She smiled. “I’m allowed to be who I really am here too.” She looked up at Leone, “and I’ve never been happier.”

I took a deep breath and looked around at them as I exhaled slowly. “This is crazy.” I said quietly then looked at Rafael.

He tilted his head to the side. “And for the record. You did shoot me.”

I groaned. “Out of all the things I thought my mind had concocted, I was hoping that was one of them and it didn’t really happen.”

He shook his head.

“Sorry?” I offered.

“I think we should find Kara a room, so she can rest.” Everyone turned to see Mitz standing in the doorway.

Troy looked down at me. “That’s a good idea.”

“Take the night, have a long soak in the tub, get some rest.” Chase said. “Then in the morning we’ll explain more.”

I gave him a look. “There’s more?” I stood up slowly. “What else could there be? Mages that can freeze people, men wanting to blow things up?” I looked around at them. “You guys vanishing or porting…”

Paisley came over, she was carrying my bag. “There is so much more.” She held my bag out to me, “But after your meltdown, I think you should get some rest before we explain.”

I took my bag and put it over my shoulder. “I wouldn’t mind that bath.”

“What room are we using?” Autumn asked. “I don’t think she’d be comfortable in the one with the closet,” she glanced to Michael, “it has no windows.”

He nodded. “I’m sure here would be better than the lower chambers.”

“I’ve already brought some clothes and put them in one of the rooms on the second floor.” Mitz informed them.

“I’ll go get her a phone with our numbers in case she needs to reach anyone.” Quinton offered.

Chase glanced to him and gave him a brief nod.

I looked at the thing I’d dropped on the ground. “Do I need to put that back on?” I pointed to it.

Rafael lifted his hand and looked at it.

“I don’t believe that will be necessary.” Victor said giving Chase an odd look.

“She doesn’t need it.” Crissy said, then turned. “I need to go to my tower. I can’t find all the pieces.”

“Of?” Daxx asked.

“I’m not sure.” Crissy picked up her pack from beside the glass doors. “Dark eyes, blue hair…but almost white,” She sighed, “and something lost that wasn’t really lost and doesn’t want to be found.” She nodded. “Oh and a big cat.” She pulled out her phone. “I think I need a book about big cats.” Typing on it she walked into the solarium.

I turned and looked at Chase, then to Daxx.

She shook her head. “Not even I can translate that.”

“Big cat?” Quinton rubbed the back of his neck. “I swear if Hubert starts using animals, I’m going to gut him like a chicken.” He spun on his heel and walked toward the gate. “I’m going up to talk to the guards in the tower. Someone find Romulus so today doesn’t happen again.”

Everyone was silent as they watched him walk across the yard.

“Well.” Alona motioned to the door. “Let’s go get you settled.” She yawned. “Before I fall asleep.”

“See you at breakfast.” Chase inclined his head to Troy, then followed his beloved.