Dying to Return (The Station #3) Read online

  "My body," I say.

  "Yes, I see it." A slow smile spreads across his face and I ignore the fact that his gaze is roaming up my bare legs.

  "I'm in it. How?"

  "It never left you, not truly."

  "That makes no sense! I should be buried on a slope in some graveyard next to hundreds of other dead people. How can my body be here?"

  With a sigh, Rush gestures ahead of him at the sharp cut in the mountains where dozens of round, neat balconies protrude from the bluffs. A towering building that resembles a castle from a dark fairytale is nestled in the center of the massive canyon, half of it precariously atop a jagged point of rock. How it stands without falling over seems physically impossible.

  "You'll find the answers you seek here. First we need to dress you appropriately." He turns away and begins walking through a much shorter swath of grass that I imagine must be a trail.

  "Dress? Didn't you say that clothing was optional?"

  Rush jerks to a stop and faces me, at first his eyes are wide but then his half-smile returns. "Are you suggesting we remove our clothing? Because I’m okay with that."

  There's no need for Rush to read my mind. My heated face says it all. How embarrassing.

  "Uh, no. Let's not."

  "Clothing is not a requirement here, as some of my people don't spend a lot of time in their physical form. For us, however, I do recommend the proper dress. You'll turn up a lot of eyebrows regardless, but wearing this will simply scream for attention." He gestures at me, and instinctively I cover my chest with my arms. "Shall we?"

  As I fall in step beside him once again, I stare at the city before us, in awe of the massive structures built organically into the surrounding canyon walls. It seems as if construction was done with care to ensure the natural environment was disturbed as little as possible. The city is an ancient one, though in impeccable condition. Once the grass meets packed earth, we follow the curve of a large boulder and the land to my left drops down a steep slope. Beneath us is a glowing pink lake the size of several football fields surrounded by glittery sand that sparkles so brightly it makes me squint.

  "What is that?" I ask, intrigued.

  "Lurra Lake. It was named after the first Lurrians. The minerals in the water here are slightly different from that which you are used to."

  "Obviously," I laugh. "Can you swim in it?" I'm still looking down at the body of water below us, trying to memorize the darker, steel-pink color of its center and the lighter cherry blossom-pink around the shore line when Rush grips me tightly around the waist and yanks me into his side.

  "Ouch!"

  "You nearly walked straight off the mountain," Rush says, his breath hitting the top of my head in warm puffs.

  While I wasn’t looking, the trail had turned to the right, hugging the rock walls tightly and while staring over my left shoulder at the water, I nearly stepped over the edge. My heart flips wildly as my stomach drops to my knees. We must be several hundred feet above the ground.

  "Thanks," I breathe.

  "This way, stay close. I'm not sure what would happen if you lost your body here," he sighs.

  "Rush," trailing closely behind him, I resist the urge to hold onto the back of his white shirt when the ledge narrows, "I really want answers. Let's start with how we got here, shall we?" I trip over a pebble and make a gargled sound as it bites into the sole of my foot.

  Quietly, he stops, and leans against the rock wall with his arms stretched out for me to join him. I limp to his side and press into the cliff face, flinching when the backs of my thighs touch the cold rock. "This is one of my favorite views," he says with a nod.

  The wind whips at us, tangling my hair into a ratty mess that insists on blowing about my face as if charged by an electrical current. When I manage to get hold of a section large enough to tuck behind my head, the view nearly stops my heart.

  We stand atop a city, almost at eye level with the tallest citadel of the massive acropolis. Sunshine sprays down inside the canyon, lighting up everything it touches with a white-hot glow. Rush's hand finds mine, and I allow him to hold it while he points out various landmarks of his city.

  Most of the curved balconies that protrude from the rock are private residences for the city's most affluent. Trees that grow as tall as the castle teem with life at their bases where doors and windows had been carved into the trunks. People bustle about, tiny from our perch, but visible by the vivid colors of their clothing. Little colored dots of fresh greens, watery blues and rusty oranges move fluidly along the ground, in and out of the trees, the balconies, and the fortress before us. People are everywhere.

  "I'm cold." It hits me unexpectedly; the chill in the air is painful and I wonder how long my teeth were chattering before I noticed.

  "Of course, I'm sorry. Follow me," he says, not releasing my hand.

  We continue to curve around the bends in the rock wall until we come across a small balcony area with a recessed doorway. As we pass through it, we enter a short hallway and Rush pushes the heavy wooden door open with a creak. Gesturing for me to pass through it, I step over the threshold with trepidation, unsure of what lies inside the dark room. Once Rush steps inside, he places a palm on the wall and a blue glow radiates around us. I cry out as the floor drops, lowering us into the mountain.

  "It's okay, it's just an elevator," he laughs.

  "Warn me next time the floor's going to move, okay?"

  There's nothing to hold onto as we speed downward so I widen my stance and extend my arms out for balance while ignoring the amused look on Rush's face. When the floor slows to a stop, he returns his palm to the wall and the blue glow around us fades as the door opens. I practically catapult myself out into the hallway, grateful we survived the ride.

  Shaking his head, Rush steers me out into the sunlight and points above us as we enter the center of town. Dozens of stories above my head, a small lip sticks out along the wall almost like a horizontal fissure in the rock.

  "That is not where we were just walking, is it?"

  Rush nods with a smile and I glower at him. "It's the best view of Lurriah - I wanted you to see it."

  "We could have died up there!" I hiss.

  "You already have, remember?" His blue-metal eyes glint playfully at me.

  "Why is it that every minute I spend with you, I have more questions than answers?"

  "Because it is your nature," he responds coyly.

  When Rush turns away, I follow him through the crowd of people, knowing I have no other choice but to go where he takes me. We get some curious glances our way, but the people move with a purpose from one place to another, mostly oblivious to our passing. I use my smaller frame at an advantage by hiding behind Rush to avoid the few stares that do settle upon me. But soon I'm distracted by the foliage we pass. The colors are so flamboyant they don’t seem real and I'm busy gazing at a flowering plant that slightly resembles a rosebush when I bump into Rush's back. I tear my eyes away from the teal-colored flowers to find the dark-haired man smiling down at me.

  "Beautiful, aren't they?"

  I nod and rub my hands on my shorts. They are suddenly sweaty with nerves. "Yes, they remind me a little of home."

  With a gentle smile, he reaches out and takes my hand again. "We're here," he says quietly.

  Before I can ask where here might be, the heavy gate we’re standing in front of slides open with a whoosh and a sweet smell drifts past me, triggering something primal in my senses that causes my mouth to water. Rush pulls me inside the castle courtyard and instantly I feel under-dressed. There are people everywhere, and not one of them is as scantily clad as I am. There's nothing I can do about it but avoid meeting anyone's gaze. Though that doesn't last for long.

  "Brother!" A young, female voice squeals loudly to our right and Rush releases me in time to gather up a striking woman who looks to be about my age into his arms. She's just an inch or two shorter than Rush, which means she towers over me. The streaks of ice-blue that shimmer thr
ough her long raven-hued hair match her eye color perfectly. As she moves, the fabric of her long dress hangs from her curves in such a way that her figure is attractive but not provocative. When she turns her head to peer over Rush's shoulder, her smile is wide and genuine. I like her.

  "Who is this, my love?" she asks.

  I want to shrink into one of the cracks of the cobblestone beneath my bare feet, but Rush puts a thick arm around me and I have no choice but to extend my hand in greeting. He smiles at his sister, "This is Piper Willow."

  "Piper Willow. What an intriguing name. It is a pleasure to meet you. My name is Andella." Instead of shaking my outstretched hand, she places her open palm on the top of my knuckles and a shiver of electricity passes between us. Instantly, her eyes widen and the clear blue color of her irises darkens. She leans in slightly, and with her honey voice barely above a whisper she says, "You are not from this place, are you?"

  "Uh…" I begin to speak, but Rush places a hand onto his sister's shoulder.

  "Please, Della. Let us go inside and speak. Piper needs to be properly outfitted, plus, she has questions of her own that need answered first."

  She nods, but stares intently at me, and there it is, the pressure Rush spoke of. I try to slam my door to her shut, but the entire way across the courtyard and into the foyer of the building I can feel her pressing to get inside my mind. How annoyingly rude.

  Inside the stone walls, we see few people. Rush quickly takes me up two flights of wide stairs and down a main hall before going up yet another flight of stairs. I feel we have walked a mile before he stops in front of a heavy wooden door. "You can rest in here. I'll have clothing brought to you. There's someone I must see, but I'll return shortly." With a smile, he opens the door and ushers me inside, closing it quietly between us, leaving me in the round room alone.

  What just happened?

  ***

  I feel like a doll. The bed is large enough to fit five of me quite comfortably, and even the chairs are designed for people a good foot taller to sit upon. In the corner next to an open balcony is a chaise lounge, and when I sit on the side of it, my feet barely touch the dark stone floor. Thick curtain panels the color of spun gold hang elegantly on both sides of the balcony doorway, and when I touch the material, it shimmers slightly beneath my fingertips. The view faces the town at least four stories below us, and just in the distance is the glowing pink lake. It's extraordinary. I'm so caught up in the sight of this foreign land that I don't hear the suite door open behind me.

  "I've brought you a few things, Piper Willow," says a soft voice.

  Startled, I spin around so quickly that I trip over the lounge and nearly sprawl out onto the floor. "Oh, I didn't hear you come in," I laugh.

  Andella stands patiently at the foot of the bed, her eyes watching me with curiosity, as something coral-colored hangs from her left arm. "I knocked, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you," she smiled.

  "No, it's okay. I was…the view…it's just breathtaking," I say.

  She nods and extends an armful of fabric at me, "This should fit you quite nicely."

  "Thank you."

  With a wave, she smiles as I lay the dress out on the bed, "No need. Rush should return for you shortly. He's speaking to our Father." She winks at me before turning for the door.

  "Your…father?"

  "Yes, the High Sire has been expecting his return. He will be surprised to meet you, I'm sure."

  "Sire? As in…royalty?" I balk.

  Andella's laugh fills the room with so much brightness I'm sure the walls begin to glow. She smiles warmly with a subtle nod. "Did my brother not warn you?"

  "That he wanted me to meet his royal family? He did not," I almost grumble.

  "Well," she laughs, "I'm sure he will explain shortly. My Father will be very intrigued with you. Do not worry; he's much kinder than he looks." With a final wave, she leaves me standing in the room alone again.

  I quickly strip and neatly fold my pajamas into a pathetic pile before wiggling into the dress. It feels soft like silk but looks like cotton. As I run my hands up and down the gown, fingering the expertly tailored seams, I'm surprised that it fits me almost perfectly. If only I was a bust-size bigger the front wouldn't dip down quite as low and the thin straps wouldn't threaten to slip off my shoulders when I shift forward. Not being able to help myself, I twirl in circle, smiling as the skirt billows out around my bare ankles.

  Oh no. I cannot meet the ruler of Lurriah with naked, dirty feet.

  Inhaling the clean air until my head spins, I smooth my hair back out of my face as best as I can and plop down on the plush lounge with one knee crossed over the other, wondering what exactly I've gotten myself into.

  CHAPTER 3

  The sky has become a plum purple by the time Rush finally returns to my room. He doesn't even knock on the door, just opens it slowly and peeks inside.

  "Are you asleep?" he asks quietly.

  "Asleep?" I slide off the lounge chair and cross the room. "How on earth could I sleep right now?"

  "Well, for one, we aren't on Earth anymore. And secondly, you're sitting in the dark," he laughs, opening the door to beckon me out into the hall.

  "I couldn't figure out how to turn the lights on. There are no…uh, switches."

  Rush actually blushes. "I apologize. That is my fault - I should have showed you around your room before leaving you."

  "It's been hours, is everything okay?" I rub at my forearms, somehow feeling more exposed in the dress than I was in my tank top and shorts.

  "Yes, yes, of course. I just had to speak with my Father. He will see us now - together. I apologize, but my Mother is away with my younger sister for her training." He puts an arm behind me, but doesn't touch my back as we walk down the hall.

  "You make it sound so formal. Are you a prince or something?" I joke under my breath.

  "Something like that," he sighs.

  "I can't believe you didn't tell me this before you brought me here - in my sleep clothes!" I hiss, elbowing him hard in his ribs.

  "Ow! It's not something I enjoy flaunting. Besides, I'm hardly ever home. I enjoy travelling. Which is why I was gone so long. Again, I apologize," he says quietly.

  I finally look closely at him. For the moment I'm struck numb by his appearance. He's wearing similar fabric as his sister; pale blue colors that make his eyes radiant. Soft waves of dark hair sit around his head in a casual style, but definitely tamer than they were when we arrived. He’s cleaned himself up. I run a shaky hand through my own tangled hair, only having brushed it with my fingers.

  "Don't fidget, you look lovely," he says over his shoulder, ushering us through a wide doorway.

  "I don't even have shoes on, Rush. If I survive this and don't, you know, get beheaded or something - I'm going to choke the life out of you."

  He begins to laugh then pulls his face into a more somber expression. "Father," he says.

  My stomach plummets to the floor and I stare at my big toes, waiting for a male voice to bellow through the cavernous room. Close the door, dam the stream, close the door, dam the stream.

  "Son." The voice is nothing like I prepared for. It is younger, for one, and not at all scolding as I was expecting.

  "Sire, may I introduce my charge, Piper Willow," Rush announces. I flinch at the word 'charge', not understanding what it means other than that I’m his responsibility, and tear my eyes off my feet to look upwards.

  A slightly older version of Rush sits casually in a large arm chair too simple to be considered a throne, not ten feet away, leaning on his left side into several pillows with a thick book draped across one of his legs. His short hair is unruly; the only difference between him and his son are the curls that coil from his scalp. One springy wisp is entirely silver, the rest the same darker color I've become to appreciate on Rush. He is wearing a simple outfit of loose fitting drawstring pants and a tunic the color of the darkening sky outside. The only thing that would make me consider his stature is the
golden chaplet that hangs from his exposed neck. It sparkles brightly with jewels the soft rose-color of the lake just outside town. The beaded and twisted necklace reminds me of a Celtic knot, though different enough to be foreign.

  I realize I've been staring and swallow the lump in my throat. "Sire," I say, doing my best to curtsy, though I've never been in the presence of royalty before and don't think I've curtsied since I was five.

  He smiles at my gesture and tilts his head to the side, disturbing a slew of curls. "It is lovely to meet you, Piper Willow. I welcome you to our home," he says, with his arms out wide.

  "Thank you, Sire. It's wonderful to be here." I have no idea what else to say. I want to apologize for being without proper shoes, but I almost gasp out loud when I see that Rush's father is also barefoot.

  "Please, call me Andulen. Shall you sit? My son has much to tell me still, and I'm eager to hear it," he points at a padded bench that faces his seat. After turning to face us, he tucks one foot underneath his body and eagerly watches me settle onto the bench beside Rush.

  "Father, Piper has her own questions, I'm sure," he smiles at me and I return the gesture with a nervous twitch of my lips.

  "Of course, but first I must ask you Son, why did you choose to bring your charge here to Dhara?" He watches Rush, and I note with relief that he doesn't seem upset, just curious.

  "It was fated to be, Father. She is a Seer, as I said earlier." His voice sounds pinched, and I squirm on the cushiony seat.

  "A Seer. You seem rather nervous for a Seer, child," he says to me.

  "It's a…new development, Sire, I mean Andulen." I feel heat creep up my neck and know that within seconds my face will look like an over-ripe tomato.

  He nods, as if he knows what I mean. Dam the stream, shut the door.

  When he laughs, the skin around his eyes crinkles. "I see that my Son has given you the teachings of how the minds of our people work?"

  I can't help it. My mouth drops open in an ungraceful ‘o’ shape and Rush stirs beside me. I say nothing, not because I don’t know what to say, but because my voice won't work if I try to use it. Though it's a struggle, I work hard to clear my mind and focus only on the conversation at hand.