Whoever had taken Lucy must have entered through the gates. Surely it kept a record of visitors?
A loud gasp drew my attention – I opened my eyes. A woman was paused in the entranceway, a slender hand pressed to her throat, disbelief on her face. It was Lallielle. My mother, the person I had dreamed of and yearned to meet. And … I felt nothing.
Her wide green eyes, lighter than mine, were blinking rapidly. She ran her other hand nervously through her thick shiny hair. As black as a raven, it hung almost to her waist.
She looked far too young to be my mother. As I examined her closely, I began to understand how wealthy these people were. It wasn’t just the amazing house. Lallielle also had that sheen of old-money confidence. She was dressed in a deep-purple calf-length dress, which was draped loosely on her frame. The cut was exquisite. Lucy would be in ecstatic reveling.
I sucked in a ragged and pain-filled breath as her pixie face flashed across my mind.
They had to find her.
“Aribella?” Lallielle’s voice shook. Tears filled her eyes but she stayed frozen across the room.
Brace re-entered. I stood and moved toward him. “Lucy?” I questioned.
He shook his head, his velvety brown eyes softening. “I’m sorry. We’re still searching, but so far it’s just like Sam. She’s disappeared into nothing. Not one energy trace or clue left behind.”
“Did your men question the gate?” I knew how ridiculous that sounded.
Brace nodded. “That’s the first thing we did. No one has entered or left. We were the last ones.”
“Could the front gate be tricked?” I was fighting my panic again.
He shook his head. “Technically, no. But we’re dealing with magic way beyond our comprehension, so I don’t know.”
The pain was a dull throb now, a consistent flow. I welcomed it. This I could use. The pain and anger would keep me going.
Brace finally noticed Lallielle.
“Lalli – I didn’t see you there. Have you met Abby? It’s her best friend who went missing. The men are searching.”
“Sister,” I said quietly.
Brace turned back to face me.
“Lucy’s my sister, my only family.” My voice was emotionless, robotic.
Brace nodded once, an acknowledgment that he understood.
A soft sob had him spinning around. He was at her side so fast it was almost instant.
“Lalli, what’s wrong?” He draped one of his strong arms around her shoulders. The anger bubbling inside of me increased.
“Where did you find them?” Her tearful features stayed locked on me, but her words were strong and steady.
Brace’s eyes shifted to me, a slight wariness in their depths, but he answered without hesitation.
“They were captured by Deralick in the royal forest. He was about to hand them over to the guards. You know how I feel about the Guardians.” He looked closely between us. “Do you know each other?” He looked again, for longer this time. “I see a definite resemblance.”
I shook my head. I didn’t actually see much similarity. Although, if I dissected us a little, the heart shape of our faces was the same. And also our lips – slightly tilted up at the corners and unusually plump. Although Lallielle’s were minus my red tone.
And I didn’t care. Well, not about anything other than finding Lucy.
“I lost the trail of your essence on Earth,” Lallielle said. “I thought the worst had happened.” She smiled. “But here you are ... perfect ... beautiful. More amazing than your father and I could have dreamed.”
The surge of burning hot anger took me by surprise. Part of it was for Lucy, but another part – this woman had dumped me on a war-torn planet, abandoning me, forcing me to drag myself to adulthood. She was rich, beautiful and privileged. The only thing her actions had ever given me was Lucy – and now this planet had stolen her too.
I stood across from them, staring daggers.
“You’re Aribella?” said Brace, his expression falling.
I found this odd. It didn’t fit with the general confidence he exuded.
I shook my head. “No. I told you before: I’m Abby. I don’t know who Aribella is.” I really didn’t.
His moved from Lallielle’s side to sit on the couch. He patted the spot next to him. Ignoring this, I perched on the edge of the single-seater.
A slight smile tilted the corner of his lips. “Sammy told me the story of his sister Aribella. She’s First World’s chosen empress.” His eyes scanned my face. “Her death announcement sounded when she was one, the night the royal stones disappeared.” He muttered to himself. “Also looks just like Josian.”
He turned to Lallielle, his eyebrows drawn together. A lesser woman would have recoiled, but she met his glare. “You knew she was alive, Lalli?”