Page 31 of The Garnet Daughter
The same sensation I experienced in the temple rolls through me, a spontaneous fold I’m not in control of and powerless to fight.
I step back, wanting to feel some sort of relief in my chest, but it’s unbearable. I’m going to fold back across the space between without August and there is nothing I can do to stop it.
Every step he takes, I uncontrollably match it with a betrayed one backward. I scream his name and reach out for him, hoping he knows what is about to come.
He lunges, crashing into my arms, and in the next minute, thick darkness surrounds us, darker than anything I have experienced, even in the farthest part of the forest when no moon shines and clouds shroud the stars above.
Then the floor beneath my feet is cold and rough, the shadows once around us now filled with small blinking lights. But they aren’t stars or the fire from the hearth. Buttons on a ship’s console flicker softly, ebbing on and off.
August holds me tightly, his chin rested on the top of my head. I hug him back, relieved he wasn’t left behind.
We stand in the cockpit of his ship as if we never left it, preserved and waiting for us to occupy the chilly dark space once more.
“You folded us home, Calliape,” he whispers.
Chapter
Twelve
Iforgot how dry it is here, how the grit lingers. Even on the ship, where the air is filtered and circulated, I can tell a difference. It’s thick and controlled, so unlike the fresh, wild air of Frith that feels like it’s nourishing every part of you with each inhale.
I search the metal cupboard in the pilot’s suite. It has been my room off and on since leaving Frith. Some of my clothes are still neatly inside and the rest are in the safe house, but I’m not ready to leave the cocoon of this ship, so these ones will have to do. My body runs through the motions, taking care of itself all on its own, my mind too preoccupied with more worries than there are stars in the sky.
“Need anything?” August knocks on the door.
I wait until it’s open to answer. “No.” I smile flatly at him.
He is wearing fresh Viathan clothing, dark and armored. On his wrist, his new comm blinks softly in yellow, until he touches a few buttons and it blends right into the rest. “They will be here soon.”
Moments after we folded back, August reached out to 99, informing him we are here even as I was still acclimating to this world. We agreed I would not be strong enough to fold again sosoon, so August suggested we arrange a meeting here. August pledged to take care of telling them some details, but I know how many questions they will have, and some answers will be harder than others and they deserve explanation from me.
I exhale deeply. “All of them are coming?”
“Well—”
“If 99 knows, Ferren does.” I finish the sentiment, reminded their minds are tethered. “I meant Selene.”
He nods. “Give me the word and I will lock her out.”
That makes me smile a little. “No, it will be good to get it over with, I guess. I won’t be much longer, just want to move slow.”
He pauses for a moment before answering. “Take your time.” He waits in the doorway like he has more to say. But I know him. He won’t bring up what we spoke about before I folded us back, his confession. Not when the others will be here soon. It’s a conversation we will have to address at some point, and I’m not certain if that is a relief or torment.
“I’m ok, August. I will meet you down there,” I say over my shoulder, and when I finally turn to face him, he lifts his hands in submission and heads toward the mess hall.
August is resilient, he is used to crossing the space between worlds, or perhaps he is just happy to be out of the forest of Frith. I could have held onto him for much longer when we landed in the cockpit, but he felt me sway on my feet and demanded I sit down, and as I did, he got right to work on checking his ship’s system. I don’t think I will assimilate back as quickly as he has.
I settle on the edge of my firm bed, resting my face in my hands, my head heavy and spinning.
August knocks again, even though he left the door open.
“I promise I am fine,” I mumble through my palms.
“That is good to hear.” Ferren’s voice sends a gasp through my lungs. She stands in the doorway expectantly, her expression so broken, my heart lurches from my chest.
“Ferren.” I shoot up from my resting spot.
To my surprise, she rushes into the room, her black dress billowing out as she walks with open arms toward me. And when she crashes into me with an embrace like she is happy to see me, I realize I must be dreaming.
