Chapter 25

 

The next day, I tracked Daxx down. She was in the kitchen with Mitz, who smiled in her way, and looked at me arm. Softly saying something about it was about time her boys settled down. I don’t know if she knew the boys the same way I did, but I don’t think finding their mates was going to settle them down at all. In fact, all of them were out chasing down locations that may have more of Marcus’ followers.

“Tea?” Mitz asked me as I sat down.

I shook my head. “No. I’m fine, thank you.”

“What’s wrong?” Daxx asked, “You have that focus face thing going on.”

“My what?”

She grinned. “You get this look when something is bugging you.”

“Oh.” I nodded. “Something is. I woke up feeling like I need to go over to the other side today, but I don’t know why.”

“A bad feeling?”

I thought for a moment. “No, just… you know that feeling like you know you were supposed to do something, but don’t know what?”

She nodded. “Story of my life.” She laughed.

“I was going to ask Victor to take me to my roof over there, but he’s busy… they’re all busy today.”

“I don’t know about a roof, but I can take you.” She glanced at Mitz. “I know they won’t be happy we’re alone, but we survived years without their interference, so a quick trip won’t hurt.” She glanced at my wrist to see I wore my transporter.

I nodded. “Okay. Maybe to the fish factory, I can check the wall for Alona’s mark.”

 

We sat at the factory by the river for an hour. There was an x on the wall, but no Alona. It still felt like this was where I needed to be.

Daxx’s phone rang and she winced as she answered it. “Hey. Any luck?” She held her finger over her lips to me. “Oh. Good.”

I glanced down at the water and looked in my head, trying to see if there was something I needed to know. There had to be a reason I had to be here today.

“Uh, yeah. I’ll meet you there is two minutes.” She tucked the phone in her pocket. “I have to go, he’s heading to the dining room right now to meet me.”

I looked behind to the building again. “Can I stay a few more minutes? I really think this is where I’m supposed to be.”

Biting her lip, she stood up and looked around. “Five minutes, then get back before anyone notices.”

I nodded, “Okay.” Then she was gone. I looked around again and then got up. I thought maybe I’d check the other side of the factory and the reason I was here would come to me.

I wandered over, being careful to not be seen, then stood in the shadows watching all around. There were a few people walking along by the empty parking lot, but none of it seemed like anything I needed to know. I had just decided I should go back as I promised Daxx, when someone stood up near the river at the other end of the building. I hadn’t seen them until they got up because there were hidden by an old ramp. They had long dark hair. Moving quickly, I went toward them.

It was Alona. I rushed toward her. I pulled out my phone and dialed Victor.

“Cristy, heart, I’ll be back in about ten minutes.” He told me.

“Oh good.” I kept walking toward her, she turned and saw me and stood there with her hands on her hips. “I had a question.”

“What is it?” He sounded like he was walking fast by the way he was breathing, or maybe he was riding on a horse, I wasn’t sure.

“If I push the button to pop back and I’m touching someone, will they come with me?”

“Yes… hold on, you’re on the other side?”

I nodded. “Okay, thank you.” I hung up. Before I got two steps it rang again. It was Victor. Silly man, if he’d just wait ten minutes, we could talk face to face. I tucked the phone in my pocket.

Alona really didn’t look happy with me. She looked over her shoulder, like she was going to leave. I moved faster and then the expression on her face changed.

“Crissy?”

I remembered my hair wasn’t red and nodded.

“I have waited here many times and no one showed up.” Alona told me looking very upset.

I huffed out a breath. “Things got a little crazy. Mages and witches and runes… it’s been quite a time.”

She shook her head and blinked a few times. “That man from the club, the bald jerk, he keeps turning up everywhere I go. It took me several cabs and detours to get here alone.”

I frowned. “That’s not good. You need to talk to my friends about it.”

She flung her arms open. “Which is why I keep coming here. You said mark the wall. I did and no one has shown up.”

I looked around. “You were so well hidden, I don’t know that they would see you, even if they did come to check.”

She huffed out a breath. “Then call them. I’m here now.”

“I think I should take you to them where I know it’s safe and no one is watching or following you.”

She looked around for a second and then sighed. “Where are they, will it take long to get there?”

I shook my head and opened the case on my transporter. “Not long at all.” I stepped over and put my arm through hers and then pushed the button.

~

We arrived in the landing room and I frowned, would my stomach ever get used to this? I let go of Alona, who looked at me with her eyes huge. I was just happy I found her. Now, if I could find Emil, I would be very happy.

I closed the case on my transporter and wondered if Victor could get one for me that popped me to my roof top and back. If they managed one way, how hard could a two-way be?

Arius came running into the room, then slid to a stop. He held a transporter like mine in his hand. He walked slowly toward her, a cautious expression on his face. “How do you feel?” He asked Alona. “Any pains?” He looked worried.

I remembered Quinton doing that and had forgotten. I bit my lip, maybe I should ask what happens if you have those pains they ask about. They didn’t sound like a good thing.

Alona looked from me to him, looking very upset. She reached up slowly behind her back and stood there breathing heavy. “I feel… confused…” She put her hand over her stomach, “and I want to throw up.” Stepping back a few feet, she glared at Arius. “Where am I? Who are you?” She turned to look at me. “Crissy, what the hell is going on?”

 

 

The Alterealm Series continues with book 3, The Empath