He’d hate for me to accidentally learn something personal about him.
He closed his eyes briefly. “I’m going to tell you, Red. I don’t think it’s possible to keep my secrets for much longer. You and I ...” He sounded semi-serious for once. “We need to start working together.”
I felt a flash of annoyance when Lucas’ groaning interrupted us. Brace finally seemed to be opening up.
Lucas pulled back from gripping my arm. His icy blue eyes locked with mine.
“Abby, that was interesting. I don’t know how, but I’m pretty sure I just saw part of your battle on Earth.”
His eyes rested on my chest, and for once I think he was looking for the knife wound, not my breast size.
I flicked the briefest glance at Brace. He shook his head. Either Brace had missed the last part, or everyone had seen a different section of my life.
“Anyone want to tell me why I just relived our intro to puberty, Abbs?” Lucy yelled at me from across the room. “I wasn’t that keen on it the first time around; I certainly didn’t need the replay.”
She didn’t sound angry, just confused like the rest of us, me especially.
“What did you do to me?” Gladriel was on her feet now, her voice low.
She barely even lisped as she stalked across the room. Her long hair moved on its own, twisting around her head until it stood out in thick tendrils.
“What’s with the freaky hair?” Lucy whispered.
“Their hair is like a limb; it has an ability to move all on its own,” Samuel replied.
Gladriel halted before me.
“How dare you use your witch magic on me. I am the head of Earon. I am the ruler in these waters, and I will see you put to death for this.”
I only had to look once into her yellow eyes; she was serious and absolutely furious. Anger bristled off her in waves, and the room started to fill with Earons.
“Mother, calm the hell down.” Talina moved over and inserted herself into the space between me and her angry mother. “Abby did not do that on purpose. It’s just like those times I have lost control of my powers and it lashed out.” She stood tall and proud for once, and I was finally seeing the Walker in her. “It’s the reason I always stay as isolated and unassuming as possible. I am afraid I will hurt someone again.” She looked back at me. “Is there any possibility we are going to find someone who can teach us to harness and control this power?”
I shrugged. “I hope so. My energy is temperamental to say the least, and I have no idea what I just did. Some weird spin on my mother’s power.” I glared at Gladriel. “I was trying to show you that your actions have hurt Talina, relegated her to a life of being nothing more than a joke here. And you had the ability to prevent much of this, especially within Earon.”
Talina lips lifted in a soft smile as I continued.
“But I know now you’re never going to care. You’re cold-hearted, and you’re a bitch, and there’s no changing this.”
Gladriel’s expression didn’t shift. Either she hadn’t registered the insult, or she didn’t care.
“Word, Abbs,” Lucy chimed in as she moved closer. “But why did we see your life?”
“Because part of Talina’s pain is also Abby’s. Their halfling status has molded their lives,” Samuel answered.
I raised my eyebrows to acknowledge his insight.
Lucy blew me a kiss.
I didn’t need it. I already knew she loved me, but it was always nice to be reminded. I returned her gesture.
“Leave us.” Raror waved to the Earons standing in the room.
Their eyes flicked to Gladriel, but when she didn’t contradict him, they left. With a huff, Gladriel followed.
“Awkward ...” Lucy said.
I burst out laughing.
Talina joined me with a few chuckles. The men looked at each other, small smiles on their faces, but refrained from joining in.
“So, Abby, tell me what this plan is for Talina and the rest of the half-Walkers once you rescue them. If she is granted permission to leave, when will I see her again?” Raror’s questions dispelled any lingering laughter.
Someone clearly didn’t want to waste time on humor.
“I’m sorry, Raror. I knew when I was sent to find these girls I’d be disturbing lives, but it’s so much ... worse. I honestly hate to be the bringer of this news.” The naked pain on his face made me uneasy and a little sad. But I continued to explain: “Despite the fact the Seventine have been imprisoned for endless millennia, someone has decided it’s an awesome idea to start releasing them.”
Brace shifted next to me. He didn’t usually fidget. Something was making him uneasy. I focused on Raror again.
“My aunt is a soothsayer; she foretold that the halflings would be the ones to banish them. That’s about all the information we have as well.”
“You haven’t mentioned where you will be taking her until you gather all of these halflings.”