His brother grinned at him. “Right there, that’s why you’re the most predictable person I know. Ally might’ve been coming here for the last five years, but you – you’ve been following her around your whole life.”
Jamie chose to ignore his brother’s implication that his life revolved around Allyra. After all, an unacknowledged truth is never a pretty one. “Are you going to keep up with the inane comments or are you going to give me a lift?”
Neither Jamie or Allyra’s city cars could make it down the tiny dirt track, but Rob’s Land Rover would be in its element.
“Since you asked so nicely…”
Rob’s Land Rover rumbled into life by expelling a blast of thick black smoke from its exhaust. It was reliable, but environmentally friendly or fuel-efficient was not in its vocabulary. Inside, the car was littered with chocolate wrappers and empty coffee cups – Rob apparently survived on a diet of caffeine and junk food.
“One word and you will walk the rest of the way.” Rob said quietly, looking straight ahead at the dirt track.
“What? I didn’t say anything.” Jamie replied innocently.
“You didn’t have to, you were making your old lady face, all scrunched up in disgust. My car, my rules.”
Jamie held up his hands in mock defeat and turned to look at a herd of zebra they were driving past, their heads raised and wearing typically quizzical expressions.
Rob’s disregard for bumps and rocks on the dirt track meant that it only took them forty-five minutes to get to the base of the rocky outcrop. It also meant that Jamie’s spine had threatened to emerge from the top of his skull on multiple occasions. Nonetheless, night had fallen and the rock was bathed in shadow.
Jamie winced as he stepped out the car, every bone in his body ached. He looked up at the steep climb in distaste – he did not feel up to it. From this angle, the Baobab tree wasn’t visible, but even without its strange contribution; the rocky outcrop was eerie, looming oddly over the flat veldt. He’d never liked this place – the high vantage point and multitude of rocky cracks always suggested that this would make an excellent hiding place for a leopard.
The most dangerous of Africa’s wildlife – the ‘Big Five’ – weren’t represented here on this game farm, but leopards always had that typically feline disrespect for fences.
He stretched his back, grimacing as it cracked before turning to his brother. “You coming?”
Rob glanced at the outcrop and shook his head. “No, this place always gives me the creeps and I have a firm rule to never do exercise if it can be avoided.”
Jamie grinned at his bother, “I guess I’ll see you later then.”
He had barely taken two steps from the car before it hit him – a blinding pain that threatened to cleave his skull open. He heard a shrill scream race through his brain and felt every nerve in his body vibrate wildly with its call. His vision blanketed white and he retched as his legs wobbled underneath him. He would’ve collapsed but for the strong hands that grabbed his arm and supported his weight.
The pain faded as quickly as it arrived, leaving him shaky and weak, with the bitter aftertaste of bile lingering on his tongue. He gulped at the cool night air, trying to re-establish his shattered equilibrium.
“Are you ok?” Rob asked quietly. Jamie looked up in confusion as he realized his brother was still holding him up. “Just warn me if you’re going to throw up.”
“Allyra.” Jamie gasped, the word catching in his throat. “Allyra. A Gate has opened.”
The words sounded improbable, impossible – even to his own ears, for two very specific reasons.
First, Allyra wasn’t Gifted.
And second, no Gate had been opened for a hundred and fifty years – not since the Betrayal.
It was law, written into the Gifted Charter.
Jamie didn’t wait to hear Rob’s incredulous reply, instead launching himself at the rocky climb. Sprinting his way up to Allyra. He raced upwards, each breath loud and painful, searing through his lungs. Despite his brother’s earlier protests regarding exercise, Rob matched Jamie stride for stride.
Reaching the top, Jamie paused and looked around blindly in the pale moonlight. His heart collapsed into itself when he saw her, lying motionless next to the towering Baobab tree. Somehow he found enough air in his lungs to scream out her name as he ran for her.
Dropping down next to her, he picked up her arm, searching desperately for a pulse. His fingers curled around her delicate wrist and relief washed over him as he found her heartbeat. It was strong and sure, but racing at such pace that he could barely distinguish the individual beats. He dipped his head and heard her quick and shallow breathing. He shook her roughly, trying to wake her, knowing as he did so that it was a futile attempt.
“We’re too late, she’s gone through the Gate.” He whispered, sinking backwards onto the cool rock.
Rob looked up from his own pulse-finding mission. “Is it still open? Can you see it?” He asked urgently.
Jamie looked up at the tree and shook his head. There was no sign of the open Gate and he knew that he wasn’t just missing it in the darkness. This close to the tree he should be able to feel the Gate’s energy and hear its buzzing, like leaps of electrical current. But now, the silence was deafening.
Rob grabbed him by the shoulders. “Open it!” He shouted, desperation darkening his voice.
Jamie met his brother’s eyes reluctantly. “You know I can’t. Even if I knew how – you know it takes a least four Gifted to open a Gate. Do you know any Gifted people who would be willing to break the Charter? I sure as hell don’t.”
Rob picked up Allyra, lifting her easily in his arms and breaking into a slow jog in the direction of his car. “Help
