Brent parked the car, shutting off the engine. Still in silence, we climbed out, Kull unfolding awkwardly from the backseat. Brent led us down the footpath and up the stairs. Kull gripped the sword as his eyes darted, looking for threats that weren’t there. Once Brent unlocked the door, he ushered us into the house.
Sleek and modern were the two words that came to mind when I entered Brent’s place, although it had changed some since I was here last. He’d put up a few pics of himself in his officer’s uniform and added a new trophy to the fireplace mantle.
The house smelled of antiseptic, reminding me of a hospital. Brent had always been too much of a neat freak. Gray walls contrasted the dark, teakwood floors. The open kitchen was all stainless steel and quartz counters, with utility-style pendant lights hanging over the island counter.
Kull entered the house behind me.
“You can stay upstairs if you want,” Brent said, tossing his keys on the counter. “I’ll order take-out or whatever. Your cat is hiding upstairs in the en-suite bathroom.”
Turning to Kull, I motioned for him to follow me. I made my way upstairs with Kull trailing behind me until we reached the second floor.
Brent had two guest rooms and two bathrooms upstairs. I debated on heading to the bathroom to check on Han, but decided against it. First, I needed to ditch Kull, so I decided to show him to his room. We walked down the hall until we located the second guest room. Opening the door, I walked inside and Kull followed.
“Will this work for you?” I asked.
He studied the room, all grays and blues, a bed with a double mattress, a desk, and a window looking out over the lake. It was sparse and lifeless. There weren’t any pictures on the walls, no plants, no color. In truth, the room, just like the whole house, felt lonely. Kind of like Brent.
That was a place I didn’t want to go.
“It’s sufficient,” Kull answered.
“Good. We’ll stay here for tonight. After that, we’re leaving for Faythander.”
“Why can’t we go now?”
I flexed my fingers, searching for my powers. Alarmingly, they still hadn’t returned since we’d crossed to Earth. I didn’t want to worry Kull, but there was a chance that the portal crossing had taken my magic away from me. I prayed I was wrong, but there was a possibility my powers wouldn’t come back at all.
That thought scared me. Without magic, we were stuck here, and Kull was left without his memories of me.
But if the portal had taken away my powers, then theoretically, crossing through another would return it. That was huge speculation on my part, but portals, especially those going to Faythander, wanted things ordered in their own way. Since I naturally had magic, a Faythander portal would try to return it to me.
However, without my powers, how would I create a portal in the first place?
One thing at a time. First, we needed food and rest. I never did my best thinking when I was exhausted.
“Olive, why can’t we return to Faythander now?”
“Well…” I wasn’t sure how to explain it to him. Did I tell him the truth? I didn’t want to alarm him, but I didn’t want to mislead him either. “I’m afraid my magic still hasn’t recovered yet. It may be nothing, but there is a chance that the portal took my magic away.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means I may not be getting it back at all.”
Kull crossed his arms. “We’re stuck here?”
“Maybe. Like I said, it may be nothing. After I get some food and rest, it may come back and we’ll have been worried about nothing.” Though I doubted it.
“Very well. Rest and eat, but I’ll have you know, I have every intention of returning to my world. If I must find a way without you, then I will.”
“Sure. Good luck with that.”
“You think I cannot find a way back to my world without you?”
“Actually, yes. You’re pretty much stuck here without my help. I suggest you start trusting me.”
He smirked. “You’ve abducted me and taken me to a strange world. I do not trust you now and I will not trust you ever.”
Sighing, I turned away from him. He was impossible. “Check the closet. Brent keeps some of his old clothes in there. He probably has something you can fit into. I suggest sweatpants. Meet me downstairs for dinner if you want.”
I shut the door behind me. Fuming, I went to my own room and locked myself inside. This room was a little more cheerful than Kull’s. Leis were tacked to the walls and a mandolin from Brent’s trip to Hawaii was displayed in a shadow box hanging over the bed. Brent had dared to find a comforter with tropical flowers printed on the fabric. Shocking. But the rest of the room was boring. Beige walls, white curtains, and a hardwood floor covered with a white rug, but I couldn’t complain. If Brent hadn’t come to my rescue, I’d be stuck in my ruined apartment.
I headed to the adjoining bathroom, stepped inside, and spotted Han huddled beside the toilet. He mewled, but stayed put. I reached out to pet him, and he shied away.
Typical. Han hated me now just like everyone else.
“Hey, Buddy,” I said quietly. “I came all this way to rescue you. Don’t you want to say hello?”
He only stared at me with those wide cat eyes. After several minutes of coaxing, he finally came out. As I petted him, I felt the same magic from my apartment attached to him. My stomach sickened as I contemplated what Han must’ve have seen. But who in the world had been in my apartment? Brent still hadn’t told me what he knew. Maybe it was time we had a chat.
I gave Han one final good-bye and then made my way downstairs. Brent stood in the kitchen. The smell of grilled onions and seared steak filled the house,
