“Your world?” His world? I righted the book and flipped the page. Grandma again. In this painting, she was a warrior on a horse, her sword raised, the horse bucking. An army of men charged behind her. The portrait was titled Fight Against the North. “What is going on?”
“What I am about to say to you will sound incredible, so I will do it quickly like ripping off a bandage. Waverly, you have traversed your world to a parallel universe. We have the same landmarks, language, and in some instances the same histories, but we’re worlds apart on technology and leadership. Bollard first traveled to your world when your grandmother was your age. When you graduated, he invited you to join him. I’ll let that sink in for a moment.”
Sink in? Information like that didn’t sink in, it exploded. I didn’t say a word. What could I say? This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be. Maybe in the movies and books, but not in my life. I tried to rationalize everything he had told me. I was dreaming.
Or I wasn’t dreaming. Multiple dimensions are real. Okay. I traveled to a different dimensional plane. Great. Grandma’s stories were real? Sure. I couldn’t even process it. “Am I dreaming or sick?”
Doc placed his hand on mine. “You are healthy, and this isn’t a dream.”
Mouth falling open, I blinked.
Doc nodded to himself. “And as far as dreams go, you can control them. If you desire an experiment, try to conjure someone or something into the room.”
“Like a turkey?”
“Like a turkey,” he said, “right here on the table.”
I stared at the table trying to conjure up a turkey. Didn’t work. I closed my eyes and tried once more. Nothing. I couldn’t be dreaming, or I’d have my turkey. It became clear I needed one thing at that moment. “I have to call my mother. Please, Doctor Tivoli.”
“Just Doc is fine. I’m afraid you can’t call her. You can, however, write a letter. We can send it tonight. It takes a few days, but I’m sure it would make them feel better to hear from you.”
“A few days!” My hand shot to my head. “My parents are going to kill me. I need to stay in touch. I’m not even on the same Earth as them. Oh God. I’ve made a mistake.” Tears pricked my eyes. I wiped them away, but it didn’t work, and my chest tightened like it did when I fought off tears. “I didn’t even want to come.”
Doc patted my shoulder. “Let it out. I find it better if my patients cry. Tears are beneficial to the mind, and you’ve been through a lot.”
“What?”
“Tears are nothing but the natural release of emotions. I have a good cry often. May have one with you now if you aren’t careful.” From under his glasses, numerous wrinkles framed his bright blue eyes. He had to be at least seventy-five, maybe older, but his eyes were young. He took a handkerchief from his pants pocket and handed it to me.
Sniffling, I wiped the tears away. What had I been thinking? I hadn’t wanted to go until my brain mysteriously switched. Dad was right. Uncle Bollard wanted something more from me. “What do I do?”
“I do my best thinking in a long, hot shower, sometimes after napping,” Doc suggested. “You have a lot to think about it.”
“I want to go home.” Certainly, I ‘d made a massive mistake.
“You’ll have to take that up with Bollard when he returns in a few weeks.”
“A few weeks!” I hiccupped.
“Yes, unfortunately. Bollard is the only person who can send you home.”
I stared glassy-eyed straight ahead. This couldn’t be right. “But I want to go home.”
“I know, Princess, I am sorry.”
“What?” I blurted.
“You are a princess and heir to the kingdom, same as your grandmother.”
“No. No. Doc. No.” I jumped up and walked across the room. “I fainted on the plane. I’m sleeping right now. I’m afraid this isn’t real. You’re a doctor at the hospital.”
“I understand that you are having a hard time with this now, and that is a normal reaction when given upsetting news, but I’m sure you’ll feel better. The Merric family is small. They need new minds, new strengths. Your uncle, Bollard Merric, believes you are special.”
Me, special? Hardly. “Trust me, I’m not.”
“We shall see all the same,” Doc said. To his credit, he stayed a good hour or so and let me cry before he left to see other patients. As he made his way to my door, Doc added, “Give yourself time. I’m sure you will feel better, and if you don’t, we’ll figure something out.”
I sat in the chair with my eyes closed, demanding that what had happened be a dream. But every time I opened my eyes, I faced this strange reality.
How could my uncle not tell me where we were going? He sent me to this place like a parent dumping an unwanted twerp at camp. No, this was worse. Summer camps weren’t held in a different dimension. And the nerve of him. Uncle Bollard, the weasel, didn’t even have the nerve to tell me the truth. Instead, he had given that job to a stranger.
I picked up a random box and tossed it aside on the giant pile. What did he expect from me? Like if I opened a massive heap of presents everything would be cool.
At least I figured out how Bollard (who I decided did not deserve the label Uncle) got me to say yes. Anyone with technology to traverse from one world to the next would have the technology to control minds. Yuck, he probably had an app for that.
But why take me in the first place? He obviously didn’t want to get to know me, so why take me? Did he hate my father this much? What could Bollard want with me? Why bother to come and get me just to dump me off in some strange mansion in Boston?
The questions
