My Little Dove

Chapter 16

It wasn't cold, but it wasn't entirely warm either. Teresa and Alexie sat on a park bench; Teresa didn't know which park they were at, and she didn't much care. James was laying across the bench his head on Teresa's lap and his legs across Alexie's. Peter was leaning against a tree opposite them; his hand was rubbing his chin, and his expiration was worried.

"Where is she?" Teresa asked Alexie.

Alexie dropped down his hand from his head and onto the armrest. "I don't know, she should be heading back to us now."

Teresa looked down at James. She stoked his hair lightly. "James," she whispered. Tears stung her eyes. "James." She took at sharp breath in. "James, can you hear me?"

Nothing changed. His breaths were still deep and smooth. His eyes were closed and his mouth partly opened.

She tangled her fingers in his hair. "James," she said, in a pleading tone, "wake up."

Peter looked up to where Alexie and Teresa sat. Alexie stood up and walked to him. Teresa couldn't see what they were doing. She didn't look up.

"Ok," Teresa said, wiping her eyes. "Let's try something then." She took her hand and hovered it over James' leg. "Come on," she said through clenched teeth, "come on stupid magic work." Nothing except a small purple streak came from her hand. She clenched her fist, it hovered in the air. "Ugh!" A tear made its way through her eye and dropped onto James. Before she could drop her fist down back onto the bench, she felt a hand wrap around it. She opened her eyes and looked up, another tear running down her cheek and dropping onto James.

"Tep's here," Alexie said softly. "Come on, I'll help you with James."

After a bit of struggle, they got James hoisted up, and his arms over each of Alexie's and Teresa's shoulder. They walked over to Tep and Peter.

"So how are we going to do this?" Teresa asked looking from Tep to Peter.

Tep's face changed. "It's going to be hard with your friend," Tep said, looking at James. "Someone is going to have to hold on to him as we- travel."

"I will," Teresa said quickly.

Tep raised an eyebrow. "Alright." She took a step back. "Sit," she said.

They all sat around Tep on the wet grass. James leaned unconscious against Teresa; his head on her shoulder.

Tep crouched down beside her and James. "Close your eyes," she said. "I'm going to touch your forehead, and you'll go through to the Second level."

Teresa looked uncertain. "Go through what?" she asked nervously.

Tep glared at her. "Just hang onto Jamie with your life."

Teresa nodded and closed her eyes, her arm was loped around his, and with her other held onto his shoulder.

Teplova dipped her finger in something black and touch it to Teresa's forehead, she pushed down hard. Then she was gone. Just like a snap of your fingers.

Tep turned to Alexie and gestured for him to get ready.

Alexie rubbed his hands together. "Right," he said, "is this safe?"

"Safe?" Tep laughed. "No," she said, more seriously.

Alexie gulped. "Of course not. Wh- why would it be safe you know." He laughed nervously then looked to Peter.

As soon as Tep pushed back on Teresa's head, it felt like she was getting pushed into a wave. She opened her eyes and looked around her. It looked like black sand. There was no gravity in where ever they were.