The Light, the Dark and the Ugly (19 page)

Travis wiped at his mouth. "I wasn't ready." He looked down at the tainted shrub. "Shoulda gotten some Dramamine or something."

Erica laughed. "You've just been transported across dimensions. Be happy your limbs are still attached."

Before Travis could appreciate the completeness of his body, something in the bushes began to shake. Some kind of animal made a squeak that resembled a sneeze and stepped forward. The creature was short, squat and hairy. Erica recognized it right away.

Travis tentatively stepped back. "Is it friendly?"

The creature's feet began moving rapidly as it literally ran circles around Travis. The speedster sprinted so fast that dirt kicked up around the both of them. The little dog-like creature made a barking sound as it continued to spin.

Travis covered his eyes and cowered in response. "Get this thing away from me!"

Erica chuckled. With an expert swipe, she yanked the creature into the air and held it by one of its paws. Its little feet continued pedaling in the air.

Travis looked like he was going to puke again. "Holy crap!" He held his stomach. "I don't like this place. Can we go back?"

Erica caught the speedster's eyes. "I know he puked on your house, but he didn't mean it."

Travis' eyes grew to the size of pancakes when he saw the creature stop its feet and actually nod to Erica. "It understands what you're saying?"

The speedster let out a huff.

Erica sighed with a smile. "Not it. She. And I think she wants you to apologize."

Travis hesitated at first, but a few deep breaths helped him collect himself. "I'm sorry. Um… Miss? I'll come back to clean this up soon."

Erica planted the speedster back on the ground. With lightning-quick speed, the creature zipped to Travis' leg and gave him a hug. When he tried to return the gesture, she sped away, out of sight.

Travis shook his head. "If the worst thing here is hugging Tasmanian Devils, then hopefully Natalie's fine."

Erica watched the dust settle from the speedster's path. "It's not."

She looked to the path leading into the light soul capital. Two guards in silvery armor standing at the city's entrance were looking straight at them.

"But hopefully that's all she had to deal with." She gestured for Travis to follow as she walked toward the guards.

Now that Travis' stomach was recovering, he finally noticed the scope of the city.

He held his breath for a moment. "This place is huge. How many people live here?"

Erica smirked. "Depends on your definition of people."

He groaned. "Fine, how many creatures live here?"

"Let's just say that New York has nothing on this place. I lived here for centuries and I still haven't seen it all."

Before Travis could ask any more questions, they reached the guards. The two armor-clad men hadn't taken their eyes off Erica and Travis since the puking incident. They looked angry, and Erica wished she'd known at least one of the two to dispel the situation. There were a few moments of silence until Travis broke it.

"Hey, we're here to see the Wizard?"

Erica punched him hard in the shoulder

He grimaced. "Ow! I'm sorry, we just don't have time for a staring contest, okay?"

The left guard, who wore a long, red beard and an insignia designating his higher rank, grunted his acknowledgement. "Unaccompanied humans will need to be cleared by the council. Do you have your papers?"

Erica smiled and shot blue lightning between her hands.

Confusion blanketed the guard's face. "A protector. But why are you still in your human–"

Erica cut him off. "We need to see Reena and Gan. It's extremely urgent."

The bearded guard's grumpy tone had washed away to leave complete subservience in its wake. He fiddled around with a panel, and before long, the tall gate leading into the city was completely open. A hot burst of air and the sound of a thousand conversations going on at once greeted them as they walked inside.

The guard bellowed his way through a crowd of different species. "Clear a path! Official army business!"

Most of the creatures before them parted to the left or the right, though a group of blue-skinned humanoids from a dimension Erica couldn't identify needed to be told three times before they dispersed. Erica watched Travis' awe-struck face. She wasn't sure he'd even left his home state. Judging by his ever-widening eyes and slumping posture, he was completely out of his depth, and Erica couldn't help but laugh inside.

The bearded guard fumbled with his words. "I'm sorry to delay you. With the attacks and the rescue mission, protocol must be followed."

Erica nodded, but she didn't inquire further. She trusted the guard's word that something pretty major had gone down. It was unlikely he'd know anything remotely close to the truth. She'd save her questions for Reena and Gan.

Travis stayed firmly latched on Erica's arm as they pressed ahead. "Don't you lose me, LaPlante. I don't want to be some alien's lunch."

Despite the fact that the city had massive streets that were wider than a six-lane highway, Erica could understand his concerns. Some of the street's residents looked much friendlier than others. While Erica was used to seeing seven–, eight– and nine-foot tall city residents within the capital's walls, Travis was a first-timer.

Erica looked up to the sky. "According to the sun, it's past lunch. You don't have to worry about getting eaten for another few hours."

Travis' face showed he hoped her words were a joke.

As the three of them walked, Erica gave Travis the same tour Reena had given her hundreds of years ago. When Reena first led her inside, she was told the city had to be expanded to accommodate refugees from all the worlds the dark souls had attacked.

"You mean like Redican's home world?" Travis asked.

Erica nodded. She felt bad for the mind-reader's death, even though he'd once tried to kill her.

The trio reached the bottom of a large staircase by the side of a nondescript building. As per usual, the crowd had thinned out considerably by the stairs. 

The guard once again had trouble finding the right words. "I assume you–I know that–you can take it from here."

Erica nodded. "Thank you. You can return to your post…" She looked at the guard's insignia. "Lieutenant."

He grinned. "Welcome home."

With that, he turned on his heels and headed back toward the front gate.

Travis looked up the staircase and the downright boring facade of the building. "The military headquarters is in here? Guess you guys don't spend much on design."

Erica pulled Travis onto the first step and gripped the railing tightly. "Hold on."

Travis gave her a strange look as the staircase dropped straight through the ground. He grabbed her arm as the plummeting elevator of a staircase continued to drop.

The wind whipped through her hair and filled her eardrums with a whooshing sound.

Travis whined and cinched his arm tighter around hers. "You could've warned me it was like a freakin' roller coaster here."

Erica smirked. "And spoil all the fun of watching you squirm?"

Travis looked like he wanted to sass her, but his face was turning a bit too green to follow through. When the staircase finally came to a stop, it was now next to a much more industrial-looking building. She tapped Travis on the shoulder. "You can let go of my arm now."

He did so hesitantly. He also wasn't quick to follow her up the stairs, but she assumed his fear of being left alone got the better of him. She tapped on a very solid-looking silver door at the top of the stairs. At first, nothing happened.

Travis let out a deep breath. "If they're not home, I'm not taking that ride again."

Erica laughed. "Don't puke on anybody. You'll ruin our reputation."

The door shot open, and Erica was surprised to see her olive-skinned commanding office Reena standing before her. Erica's friend had either been training or she'd just come from an attack, because she could still see a smudge of something under her eye. Was it debris?

Reena folded her arms. "Can I help you?"

Erica cracked a smile. "What? No love for an old friend?"

Reena focused her eyes on Erica's face and her impatience faded away. "Cora?" Reena wrapped her arms around Erica's shoulders. "Cora! I almost didn't see you in there." She pulled back to get a better look. "What a beautiful body."

"Stop, you'll make me blush. Travis Conner, Commander Reena."

Travis took her hand and held it a few seconds too long. "Speaking of a beautiful body...."

Erica glared at him until he released Reena's hand. When he did so, she placed her hand on Reena's shoulder. "I know I'm supposed to stay on Earth, but we need to find–"

"He's here, Cora. He's safe."

Erica felt it all wash away. The stress of the previous weeks. The pictures in her mind of Sheriff Norris, Kelly and Redican beyond saving. For a solitary moment, she felt peace.

Erica covered her eyes. "Oh my God. Thank you."

Travis cleared his throat. "What about Natalie?"

Reena raised her chin. "The answer to that question is a little more complicated."

Travis took a step toward her. "What do you mean, more complicated?"

Erica pushed him back. "Give her a chance to explain."

Reena nodded. "I'll do you one better. I'll let Ted fill you in."

Of course Erica wanted to learn more about the Natalie situation, but her body tingled at the thought of seeing Ted again. She ached for him, and she couldn't wait a second longer.

As Reena led them toward him, Erica could feel Travis' demeanor darken. She placed her hand on his back. "Don't worry. If she was dead, Reena would've said so."

Travis turned his head toward her. "If she's alive, then why is it 'complicated'?"

Erica didn't have an answer, but she hoped Ted would. The door led down a long, white corridor. Erica's heart seemed to beat faster with each corner they turned. They stopped in front of a small meeting room and Reena waved her hand by the lock. It opened with ease, and Erica stepped forward to see Ted standing with his back toward her in the mostly-white room. He turned around, and she tried to take him all in. Erica could tell he was a little worse for the wear, but there was nothing in the way of permanent damage. She marveled at the fact that they were in the same room again, and part of her felt like she was going to burst.

As she stepped into the room, she caught Ted's eyes. She pictured him running over to her and sweeping her up in his arms. She didn't even care if they full-on made out in the middle of a military base. But that's not what happened.

Ted's eyes widened and a smile began to form before his face contorted into more of a pained expression. He seemed to hesitate before taking his first step. Erica was confused.

What happened to him? Why isn't he over here already?

Erica did her best to stay composed as Ted finally came toward her. She could tell he was nursing a few injuries from the way he walked. Erica's compassion for his pain was overcome by the feeling that something was very wrong. Before he could get close enough for her to touch him, he stopped in his tracks. The moment of silence that followed seemed to last an eternity.

There was something in his face that she couldn't read. "Hi."

Erica furrowed her brow. "Hey."

Ted looked like he wanted to step forward, but something held him back. He looked down, sighed and then caught her eye again. "Why didn't you ever tell me about William?"

PART FOUR

Chapter 31

Natalie's ears were ringing. She'd escaped the explosion without any burns or eye injuries, but her ears needed a few minutes of recovery. She shook her head as she watched the planes fly away. A few smaller crafts gave pursuit, and she watched them pass by as well. When the haze left her, Natalie realized that if her ears were ringing and she could watch the sky, then she was in fact alive.

She felt for the ground beneath her and found soft linen instead of dirt or rock. A look to the left and right confirmed it. She'd landed in the equivalent of a giant laundry basket.

Efforts to roll to one side or the other proved painful. The dull ache in her back told her she'd have one heck of a bruise the following day. She pulled at one of the sheets beneath her, and her arm went right through a hole. A closer inspection showed her she was lying on a pile of extremely oversized shirts and pants. The clothing that had saved her life was attached to shop kind of shop.

She tugged at a brick-red shirt beneath her to get some leverage. "Now that's what I call extra large."

When she pulled herself out, she saw that the pile of clothes she'd landed on was the size of a backyard swimming pool. After she got her bearings, she realized that there were stores all around her as part of a city market. The shops had seen better days, with some owners putting out fires or gathering inventory in the wake of the aerial firefight.

Who's the bad guy, again?

Natalie looked skyward once again. She had a feeling that Ted was still alive. Something deep within her mind told her that much. But that didn't mean he was anywhere nearby. In fact, there was a very good chance the light souls had him on one of those planes and they were headed to the other side of the planet.

"Bus fare to the other side of the world has to be pretty killer."

When all her senses had returned, she heard children crying and parents cursing in anger. She saw a family like Razellia's coping with a series of burns and contusions. Part of her wanted to help, but she had a feeling that if they caught her, the dark soul city council would skip the whole trial thing and go straight to the execution. Until she could get back in touch with Ted or find a way back to Earth, she'd need to lie low.

Behind the extremely big and tall shop, she found some clothing that fit her. She was grateful to shed the clothes of the last few days for something fresh. While Natalie figured she didn't exactly fit in, nobody seemed to pay her much attention. They had bigger fish to fry, like property and personal damage. Pointing out the gangly human was unlikely to make their priority list.