Dead Lines

17: Through the Portal

Unedited.

Chapter Seventeen

“What should I pack?”

We’d walked to my room in complete silence, and the tension radiating off him was stifling. By the time we’d reached my door, I was dying to say something to fill the void but couldn’t quite find the right thing to say. Now that he was leaning against the doorway, watching me flounder around, the bit about packing just popped out on habit. I was instantly wishing maybe I hadn’t or that maybe I’d asked him something else. However, not saying something at this point might’ve been as bad as saying something.

I was starting to think Andrzej was as complex as a girl, and I needed to walk on egg shells when he was acting this way. He hated it when I rambled or spouted off random facts to fill the silence like I normally did, so I tried to keep it to a minimal.

“Nothing,” he finally answered.

“Nothing?” I stopped, turning to look at him in disbelief. “Are you serious?”

He nodded. “You’re a girl.”

“Yes…” Was he really questioning that? It didn’t sound like a question.

“Girls, females, women, are considered unclean in my old family’s culture. No matter what you pack you won’t be able to wear it.”

“That’s—I can wash my hands…”

“Won’t matter. It goes farther than just washing your hands.”

“I’m—really?”

He wasn’t amused by any of this. In fact, he was looking at me the same way he had when we first met at the party. If he were trying to set me off balance, it wasn’t working. Or maybe he was just off set by all this. From what I’d gathered, he’d never planned on going back to his old family. The Schola was his home and…well, I didn’t know whom he considered family. If anyone.

“Here’s the thing, rakli, you are considered gadzo, an outsider. Most of the time outsiders aren’t tolerated but since you’ll be with me, which isn’t saying much, you’ll be fine for the duration we’re there. But don’t bring anything to wear. They’ll supply it.”

“So what should I bring?”

“Like I said, nothing. They’re not going to be offended if you do bring clothes but don’t expect them to tolerate it for long. Eventually, they’ll convince you to change. They always do.”

“What are you taking?”

“Weapons and a small bag. Don’t do anything more than that, rakli.” He turned to go out the door. “I’ll be back.”

“Yeah.”

That left me completely clueless. What was I supposed to do with that very unhelpful advice? I plopped down on my bed and thought this all over. My evening had started off pretty damn tame, and now it was blown into the realm of Gods and their messes.

I missed when life was so much simpler.

We stood in front of the portal, the surface all shimmery and bright. Anxiety was making my stomach growl and the fact Andrzej wasn’t saying anything was a point of concern. I wanted to wait him out, not talk until he wanted to. But all his usual cues were gone, and he was like a block of stone. There was nothing on the surface to read. He’d tucked it all back inside where no one could reach. Not even me.

My grip tightened on my small bag.

“So…”

“You’re not supposed to be here.”