Alianna told Natasha of her whirlwind summer romance with ‘Max’. She told her about the feelings she had developed, the nights they’d shared, and that Max needed to return home. She told Natasha about their night together yesterday, where they confessed their true feelings, and how neither of them could bear the thought of being away from one another. She told Natasha that she would like to go with Max, to see his home, and would return as soon as she could.
Natasha looked at Alianna all the while as she spoke, listening without judgment, waiting for her to finish.
“How long, exactly, are you going to be gone for?” Natasha asked, eyeing Alianna as she took a bag filled with Shadow’s things fromher. “I don’t mind caring for Shadow, of course. He’s my best buddy, aside from you, of course.”
Alianna felt a pang of guilt run through her at that.
“I don’t know,” Alianna said truthfully. “Max and I have a few things to iron out. I’d like to see where he’s from. See how we fit together there. Then we can make some decisions.”
Natasha looked down at Shadow, who was chewing a bone on the floor, and then back up to Alianna. “What happened to a summer fling with the hot guy on a business trip, Ali?”
“I don’t know. I never meant to fall for him,” Alianna shrugged.
“And fallhard, by the sounds of it,” Natasha stood, walking towards the kitchen. She turned in the doorway, smiling at Alianna. “I’m happy for you, Ali. I really am. He sounds likea nice guy. I know you’ve said that it’s urgent that he leaves today, and I understand you wanting to go with him. When you get back, can we go for dinner, the three of us? Or maybe four, if an attractive, rich guy washes up on the beach for me, too, while you’re gone?”
Alianna laughed, fighting the lump in her throat and the guilt that washed over her.
“I’d like that a lot,” Alianna smiled, standing up. She walked towards Natasha and pulled her into a tight hug. Her friend hugged her back.
“It’s good to see you so happy, Ali,” Natasha said over Alianna’s shoulder. “It really is. I’ll see you soon.”
***************
Back at her apartment, Alianna looked at her packed bag. She had a few outfits in there, some toiletries, and a hairbrush. She was wearing her most comfortable shoes and had tried to pick the ones that were most suitable for various terrains, like Rionan had suggested before he left that morning. She wasn’t sure if it was silly, packing bags like she was going on a weekend’s holiday, but it seemed sensible to take at least a few things with her.
She paced back and forth, stomach whirling. Her apartment seemed empty without Shadow’s bed in it.
Why did this feel like a goodbye to her old life?
As she began chewing her nails, her front door swung open, and Rionan walked in. Dangling off of his shoulder was a large canvas tote bag that Alianna had given him, containing a round, bulky object.
“You got it?” she breathed.
“I’ve got it.” Rionan replied. They stared at one another, and Ali gulped. She picked up her rucksack, swinging it over her shoulder, and stepped towards Rionan.
“So, what now?” Alianna asked tentatively.
“Now, we go,” he replied. “This won’t hurt. It might feel…disorienting. You may find yourself feeling slightly unwell when we get there. It’s normal when jumping such long distances, especially if you rarely travel between realms. I will look after you if that is the case.”
Rionan spoke in such a matter-of-fact way, like this wasn’t out of the ordinary at all. Alianna nodded, taking a long breath in and a long breath out. She could do this.
Rionan lifted his chin, raising his eyebrow, almost as if to say, ‘this is your last chance to back out’. He raised his hand to her in question and left it hanging in the air.
Without further thought, Alianna took Rionan’s hand.
There was a bright yellow flash, and Alianna felt her vision go black as wind raced around her.
Her apartment stood empty. They had gone.
32
Xanthia
Alianna felt her vision begin to clear, slowly. She could see a blurry figure above her – a face. Rionan’s. He was staring straight ahead of them.
His arms were wrapped beneath her, supporting her legs and her back. She felt as though she was moving through the air.
Above them, she could see the sky, which was illuminated with the most vibrant sunset she had ever seen. It stole the breath from her lungs.
