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Elise couldn’t suppress a spurt of laughter, but Endelle truly didn’t seem to care. She read straight from the book in a voice that bordered on a drone. A woman, in a place of authority, who was nine thousand years old, had probably done this one too many times.
Despite the woman’s disinterest, the words meant something to Elise, of the ascended world, of the community she would soon enter, of service, great service, to Second Earth. She would be given special duties that would align with her preternatural powers and in due course she would receive the gift of relative immortality. She would receive her fangs this very night and, yes, she would one day mount wings and fly.
At the end of the reading, Endelle posed Elise several questions about dedicated service, limiting her involvement with Mortal Earth, and asking her to pledge her loyalty to Endelle. Elise responded in the affirmative each time. Endelle waved her forward as she folded the big book away.
When Elise drew near, the ruler of Second Earth put both hands on Elise’s jaw. Her hands were very warm and that warmth increased until her fingers felt hot. A kind of vibrating energy began to flow into Elise’s face.
“I hereby imbue you with Second immortality, all the qualities which will allow for long-life and the sharing of blood and potions. May you bring peace to our world.”
The earlier dizziness increased. Elise closed her eyes and power poured through her, an exciting wave of sensation that jolted her shoulders, arms, torso, and legs. She felt wonderful, at ease, almost peaceful.
She drew in a deep breath, as though new life flowed into her lungs and healed every secret, lonely place that had haunted her throughout her childhood. This was the true gift of ascension, a sense of being fulfilled, empowered, and brought into a community of like beings.
Endelle released her and commanded her to open her mouth.
Elise put her fingers to her face. She felt different, especially at her incisors and with just a thought she made her newly created fangs emerge.
“Good. Very good. Not everyone can do that shit right away.” She then snorted and looked at Gideon. “Looks like you’re in for a ride tonight. Oh, and look, I’ve made your woman blush.”
Elise knew her face was hot, but the sudden flush wasn’t about sex or embarrassment. She met Gideon’s gaze. “I’m ascended now.”
He nodded. “Yes, you are.”
She felt very strange, very different, like something in her mind had opened, broadened. She reached out for Rachel with her thoughts and found her camping beside a river, the same river with two bridges. “I can see Rachel,” she whispered.
“Who the f**k is Rachel?” So much tact from the ruler of the world.
Elise met Endelle’s gaze. “Gideon’s sister.”
“Oh, that Rachel.” She rolled her eyes. “Well, kids, I’m outta here.” She lifted an arm, then lowered it. She turned to Elise and after offering a strange little grunt, she said, “Welcome to Second Earth. I hope you like it here. Ah, f**k, whatever.”
Elise smiled in return as the air rippled in the vacated space. She wasn’t sure if she despised the ruler of Second Earth or really liked her.
Duncan approached them. He extended his hand to Elise and she took it. He covered that hand with his own. He had beautiful green eyes, but something in them looked rather lost, very alone. Maybe it was a warrior thing. “Welcome to Second, Elise. I know you’ll be happy here. It’s not an easy world, but you’re obviously built for it in many ways. Congratulations.” His smile was warm.
A growl sounded beside her and probably by instinct, Duncan withdrew his hand and took a step back. He lifted both hands, the universal surrender signal. “Just showin’ the love, Gid.” But he laughed. “And to quote our fearless leader, ‘Well, kids, I’m outta here.’” He offered a bow, rose up, lifted his arm and vanished.
She was sort of getting used to that. Sort of.
She was left with Gideon and an unsettled feeling that everything had just changed.
He put his hands on her shoulders. “You’ve been through a lot and it’s late. You must be exhausted.”
She met his gaze. “You’re right. I am.” But there was something more, something she couldn’t quite put her finger on.
“Let’s get you home.”
She looked up at him. And there it was, but it made her smile. “And where would that be?”
He laughed. “You’re right. How about for tonight we go to my home in north Scottsdale Two?”
“I’d like that.” But she couldn’t quite escape a sense of unease.
Using his slim warrior phone, he contacted Jeannie and the strange folding vibration began, followed by that quick slide through nether-space. Her feet touched down on hard rough gray stone.
Gideon’s house.
She glanced around and her eyes popped. She didn’t know what she had expected to see, but not this, not a house that was so interesting and well-designed. The man made war, yet he lived here. “This is yours?”
“Every last bit.”
From the large living room on the left, she could see scattered lights from a long bank of windows. She turned in the other direction, and saw landscaping lights that shone up into a rising slope of desert cactus, creosote, and spindly trees. “You’re on a hillside.”
“Yes.”
“So this is your home on Second Earth.” She glanced around. “This stone is beautiful.” Some of the walls were curved and she could hear a fountain in the distance.
He waved a hand and lights came on, shining down from a tall, beamed ceiling.
A castle in the desert.
She looked around. She liked the strength of it but she saw something else as well, a place well-fortified, a reflection of the master, perhaps even a reflection of his heart.
Gideon stood three feet away from Elise. He felt the distance; he could taste it. Something had changed for her.
She looked around and marveled. She appreciated the architecture; she even smiled. But as she turned toward him and faced him, a deep sinking sensation pulled once more at the base of his heart.
“I know we left in the middle of things to go to the palace,” she said, her gaze flickering to and away from his, then back. “But I think I would prefer to sleep alone. I didn’t expect to feel this way.”
“What way?” He needed to know, wanted to know what thoughts crowded her mind right now. His heart took to thudding a heavy cadence and not in a good way. Jesus, sweat broke out at his temples. He took a deep breath.
