"Are you okay?" Krista asked anxiously, helping me sit up.
"I think so," I said, taking stock of my still-working limbs. "I fell off the freaking Empire State Building though," I added, glaring at Haniel. "I Place Traveled. You never told me I could Place Travel," I said in a shrill voice that sounded eerily like the one Krista had used just moments before.
"The Empire State Building?" Krista broke in, shocked. "Why the Empire State Building?"
"I don't know. One moment I'm standing on my patio thinking about the catwalk on the building, and the next moment I'm teetering on the edge," I answered, still glaring at Haniel.
"Why would you be thinking about some catwalk on the Empire State Building?" Krista asked, trying to sort through my story.
"It's a place Emrys likes to take me to," I admitted. "Did I get there because I was thinking about it?" I asked, starting to revel in the excitement of my newly discovered ability.
"You must picture a place clearly in your mind. Once the picture is clear, your body will leave your current location to join your mind at its new location," Haniel explained.
"That is so freaking awesome," I exclaimed, bouncing with excitement. "But why didn't you tell me? We could have incorporated it into my training."
"I was not at—"
"Liberty to disclose that information," I finished for him. "It's all peachy-keen that your boss likes to hold his cards close to the chest, but what would he have done if I wouldn't have thought about Krista and this living room as I was falling? I'd be some gory smear on the sidewalk in New York City. Is that what you want? Have you spent all this time training me only to let me plunge to my death?" I demanded, jumping to my feet as my earlier elation was replaced by anger.
"No," Haniel replied, looking more distressed than I had ever seen him.
"No, what?" I yelled.
"No, tonight was not supposed to happen. My mission is to protect you. To train you. To show you who you are," he answered calmly as his protective shield once more slid into place.
"But tonight did happen," I said quietly, looking at Krista and Mark for their input.
"She's right. Tonight could have ended tragically," Mark said to Haniel. "If you refuse to consult with The Light concerning Jordyn, then Krista and I will request our own audience with him. The time for secrets ended tonight. I've spent months keeping Krista at bay, knowing she was right. Secrets only hurt those we love. If you feel anything for Jordyn or Krista, you will ask The Light to share his secrets with all of us. I will not put the safety of Jordyn at risk again," he said. "Do you understand me?" he added, standing toe to toe with the imposing Arch Angel. If the circumstance had been different, I would have laughed at the differences in their sizes, but at the moment, I was flooded with love for my uncle who was willing to fight for me.
"I understand," Haniel finally answered, sweeping his eyes over mine before disappearing from the room.
His departure evaporated the last of the tension that had cloaked the room. "Are you okay?" Krista asked again as I sat down heavily on the sofa.
"Yeah, now, but I'm not gonna lie. I've never been that scared, or not that I remember," I said ruefully, grinning at her.
"I can only imagine," Krista answered, rubbing my back. "You sure freaked the hell out of me, screaming your head off when you landed in front of me."
"I bet I did," I said, finally chuckling a little at the mental picture she presented. "Everything happened so quickly. One minute I'm chilling on my patio, the next I'm standing hundreds of feet over New York City. And then I was doing my impression of a skydiver with no chute."
"How do you feel after back-to-back travels? I'm actually surprised that you were able to travel back so quickly. When we first started Place Traveling, it would take us hours to travel again. We used to have to rely purely on adrenaline to travel anywhere. We've since honed our skills and no longer need adrenaline, but traveling twice in the span of a couple minutes is truly amazing."
"I'm sure falling to your death is the biggest adrenaline rush ever," Mark told her. "Does your body feel like it's been tossed around in a cement mixer, Jordyn?" he asked me.
"Um, not really," I said, moving my limbs to test their mobility.
"Can you stand up on your own?" he asked with interest.
"I think so," I said, leaping to my feet with my normal grace. My body felt completely normal. Even the lightheadedness I normally felt when Haniel and I would travel more than once in a short amount of time was absent. "I feel great," I continued, bouncing on the balls of my feet to emphasize my point. "Truthfully, I feel like I could do it again."
"Really?" Mark asked intrigued, looking at Krista. "Can you show us?"
"Sure, I guess. Where do you want me to go?"
"How about somewhere close, just in case it finally catches up to you," Krista suggested.
"That's a good idea," Mark agreed, standing up. "How about the steps leading down to the beach? You shouldn't have any trouble picturing it clearly in your head."
"Truth," I answered, already focusing my mind on the steps just beyond the French doors behind me. Krista and Mark faded out in front me only to be replaced by the crashing waves below. Hearing the doors open behind me, I grinned at both of them. Now that I'd gotten over my whole freak-out, I was already rapidly calculating the magnitude of my newest gift in my head. Freedom was no longer a pipe dream. I would never have to crave solitude again. Still smiling at Krista and Mark, I focused on our living room, and within moments, I was once again standing in the center of the room.
"How do you feel?" Krista asked, coming in through the patio door.
"Normal. Or as normal as I get," I added. "What does this mean?" I asked, wondering what my status was now.
"We're not entirely sure," Krista answered honestly, looking as mystified as I felt. "As soon as Haniel returns we'll finally have all the answers."
"How long should that take?" I asked, still murky on how the heavenly realm worked.
"It all depends on how long he has to wait to be granted an audience with The Light," Mark answered, stifling a yawn. "Let's hit the sack and we can discuss this more in the morning," he added, looking at the digital clock on the DVR box. "Are you at a stopping point in your novel?" he asked Krista.
"Yeah, I've totally lost all my writing mojo for the night," she said, picking up her laptop where it had been thrown haphazardly at the foot of her chaise lounge. Let me save my work and I'll shut it down."
"I guess I'll hit the sack for the second time," I joked. "Sorry about the heart attack," I added.
"You should be. I think you took ten years off my life," she said, stowing her laptop in its case and sliding it underneath her chaise lounge.
"Ha, you should try having your life flash before your eyes as you swan-dive toward a slab of concrete."
"You put the 'extreme' in extreme sports," Mark teased, holding his fist out as Krista switched off the lights in the living room.
"Truth," I said, fist bumping him before heading off to my room. Clicking the door closed, I debated climbing in my bed, but I felt way too keyed up to actually sleep now. Instead, I grabbed my laptop off the desk and sat on the edge of my bed with it open on my lap. Finally, when my server connected to the Wi-Fi, I Googled famous buildings in Rome. I'd been thinking about Italy since Emrys had mentioned it earlier that evening. I was curious to see the place he talked so fondly about.
Multiple sites pulled up from my search and I clicked on the first one I recognized. A large picture of the Pantheon popped up. Leaning in close, I took in the marble flooring and centuries-old architecture. Placing the computer on the bed beside me, I studied the image one last time, picturing myself standing beneath the elaborate dome of the building.
In an instant, I found myself lying atop a very irate overweight elderly gentleman. I jumped to my feet, reaching a hand down to help up the poor guy I had landed on.
"I'm sorry, I must have stumbled," I tried apologizing, but it came out as a la
ugh. He refused my hand, attracting even more attention by obviously cussing me out in a language I didn't understand. He looked at me like I'd appeared out of thin air, which essentially I had. I tried helping him up again, but my laughter only insulted him more. I left him behind, looking bewildered as I tried to maneuver around the crowds in the building. I hadn't even considered the time difference or the fact that the Pantheon would be teeming with tourists. Afraid the angry man I had just given a lap dance to would hand me over to security, I headed for the far side of the room, intent on putting more distance between us. After several minutes had elapsed without sirens and a lynch mob to drag me away, I loosened up and enjoyed the breathtaking sights around me. Sunlight worked much like a spotlight, streaming down from the small opening at the top of the dome. The rays danced across the marble flooring, showcasing just a small section of the room. Looking up, I was fascinated by the complexity of the massive dome above me. I could have spent all day there, but knew that it wouldn't bode well if Krista and Mark discovered I wasn't in my room. Moving away from the crowds, I found a relatively empty area behind one of the pillars. I focused on the bed in my room, intent on landing in the same spot I had departed from.
My bed bounced slightly beneath me as it adjusted to the sudden weight of my body. I smiled at Mouse who was nestled on the pillows on my bed.
"I did it, Mouse," I said, grinning broadly.
Mouse acknowledged my words with a plaintive meow that could have loosely translated to "good for you" before standing up and stretching and settling back in the same spot.
"You're just a big baby," I said, leaning over to scratch him under the chin where he liked. Fatigue finally caught up to me as I settled in beside him. I kicked off my shoes and dragged my quilt over me before sleep could claim me completely.
***
"Holy shit, you can Place Travel," Lynn shrieked in my ear hours later as she threw herself on my bed where Mouse had been when I fell asleep.
"What?" I said groggily, too tired to pry my eyes open.
"Krista called a powwow this morning to tell us about your newest freak-ass gift," she said, pushing on my shoulder to wake me. "Is it true you really fell from the top of the Empire State Building?"
"Uh-huh," I mumbled with my eyes still shut.
"Holy monkey balls. I bet that was insane."
"You could say that," I said, yawning. "What time is it?" I asked, finally opening my eyes. The light through the French doors made me squint as I peered at her.
"Just after ten," she said, sitting cross-legged beside me.
"I thought you had a rule about waking before noon?" I asked, blocking the sunlight with my forearm. "And why are you so chipper? If I didn't know any better, I'd say your body has been taken over by body snatchers."
"I can be pleasant," she said, smacking my arm. "What? I can," she said when I snickered. "Now, are you going to get your lazy buttface up out of bed and tell me about last night, or do I need to push you out of bed?"
"Fine," I said, dragging my body up so I could lean back against my headboard. "Hey, before I forget, do you and Robert want to double tonight?" I asked.
"Sure. Where do you guys want to go?"
"Um, I'm not sure. We kind of forgot to talk about that part. I guess maybe dinner and a movie," I answered, yawning again.
"Sweet. Now stop stalling and tell me about your new talent."
"Fine, bossy mossy," I grumbled, launching into a detailed explanation of everything that had transpired the evening before. I omitted my trip to Rome from the discussion, pretty sure if Krista found out I would be in deep shit.
"And you don't need, like, recharging time?" she asked when I finished.
"Nope. The traveling doesn't sap me at all. If anything, it seems to energize me."
"That's pretty sweet," she said.
"Yeah, it just adds to my cool factor," I quipped, ducking out of reach as she took a swing at me. "Did Haniel say anything about sending you guys back out?" I asked, changing the subject.
"Nah, I think they wound up sending someone else since you required babysitting," she teased, rising from my bed. "I better hit the road. I have several jobs I need to finish up today before we go out tonight," she added.
"What, no more babysitting?" I said rolling my eyes. "Do you need any help?" I added. She worked as a freelance graphic designer and had a wide spectrum of clients that ranged from web designs to cover art for books. She was responsible for all the covers in Krista's Dark Night novels. Before she and Robert had left the last time, she showed me a few things and let me help her on a couple of her projects.
"Not today, but I have a big job booked next week that I would really appreciate your help with."
"Sounds like a plan, Stan," I said, giving her a wave as I headed to my bathroom to get ready.
After the excitement of the night before, the morning and afternoon dragged along in a lackluster kind of way. Krista spent the majority of the day trying to catch up on her writing, while Mark worked all afternoon poring over papers students from his summer class had turned in. I spent the day holed up in my room on my MacBook, pulling up places I would like to visit. I memorized details from the pictures that would help me in my travels. After the fiasco in Rome, I decided it was imperative that I never land inside a building again. I now understood why Emrys had taken me to the alley in Shanghai. I'm sure it was considered rude to land on your friend's lap.
At five o'clock, I finally closed up my laptop and dressed for my first-ever double date. I was a little apprehensive that my friends and Emrys wouldn't hit it off, but I figured it couldn't be any worse than Haniel's reaction to him.
"Don't you look nice," Krista proclaimed when I entered the living room.
"You mean you like this better than my normal tanks?" I asked, pointing at the delicate white blouse with black stitching I had found at the back of my closet. I'd paired it with a pair of black jeans and a less-scuffed-up pair of black boots. My hair hung down my back like a curtain of black that shined in the light from the multiple brushings I had given it. Eyeliner lined my eyes, making them appear more exotic and bigger. A touch of clear lip gloss from a tube I found buried at the bottom of a drawer in my bathroom coated my lips, making them glisten in the light.
"Just a bit," she teased.
"Don't get used to it. I miss my tanks already," I threatened.
The doorbell rang before she could reply.
"Saved by the bell," she called after me.
"Hey," I said, opening the door to reveal Lynn, Robert, and Emrys who looked as handsome as he had the night before. "Did you all drive together?" I teased, swinging the door open so they could enter.
"No, your stud here appeared when we were pulling in," Lynn joked, walking by me.
"Stud," Emrys said, smirking at me. "I think that loosely translates to 'hot,'" he added, linking his fingers through mine.
"Either that or she thinks you're a horse's ass and she just got confused," I teased as everyone else laughed.
"What movie are you guys planning on seeing?" Mark asked, sliding an arm around Krista's shoulders and pulling her snug against him.
"Well, I'd still like to see the zombie one I was supposed to see last month," I hedged, knowing Lynn's aversion to zombies.
"No way," she said, shaking her head to emphasize her point.
"Fine, what do you want to see?" I pouted.
"I don't think your zombie movie is even out anymore," Robert said, pulling up the movie app on his phone. "We can see the new Spiderman movie, it just came out today," he said hopefully, looking at us like a puppy begging for a treat.
"I'm game," I answered, looking at Emrys for approval. He looked bemused at our conversation.
"I'm good for anything," he answered, linking his fingers through mine.
"Spiderman is good with me. That new guy they got is smoking," Lynn teased, smiling mischievously at Robert just before he swept her up in his arms and planted a sound kiss on her upturned lips.
"Are they always like that?" Emrys whispered in my ear.
"I know, sickening, right?" I answered, though I really didn't feel that way. The bond between Guides and Protectors was the strongest ever created, and the love they shared could literally light up a room.
"Do you really think so?" he asked quietly, looking like he was in on my secret.
I shook my head.
"I didn't think so."
"Well, goody for you," I said so my tough girl image wouldn't be completely lost in all my mush.
"Ready?" Lynn asked, finally untangling herself from Robert's embrace.
"Unless you two need a room real quick," I scolded.
"Aw, you want to play sucky face too," she said, making a fish face in front of me that I'm sure was supposed to be a kissy face.
"You wish, perv," I said, giving her a shove as we headed out to their car.
The irony of Emrys and me riding in a car wasn't lost on me. We could have easily met them at the theater, but the charade of our double date required us to behave like humans.
"So, Jordyn, I heard through the Krista grapevine that you can PT," Robert said, looking at me in the rearview mirror.
"PT?" Emrys asked, looking intrigued.
"Place Travel," Lynn answered for me, twisting around in her seat so she could talk to us.
"Yeah, I kind of discovered it by accident last night," I said, filling them in on my near-death experience the night before.
"Insane," Robert said, shaking his head incredulously.
"I know, right?" I said, looking at Emrys to see what he thought. "You knew," I said, seeing the look on his face.
"Yeah, the first time I traveled with you I could feel it. It was almost like a resistance. I'm guessing it's because your own mind wants to be in control of your travels."
"Why didn't you tell me?" I accused.
"I wasn't a hundred percent. More importantly, though, is why your Archie Haniel didn't tell you," he stated.
"Believe me, we covered that topic last night too," I answered. "Haniel was as helpful as ever," I added sarcastically.