When Worlds Collide

Chapter 2

                                                 Chapter 2

       “What are we supposed to do now?” Roxi hissed. She crouched low on the dry grass, fearful.

       “Be quiet.” Rue said over her shoulder. She watched the blue car take off in front of her. Should she try to run it down? She could, it wouldn’t be hard. But then what? They had no contract, no mark. And she was a Reclaimer, not a Hunter. There was no protocol for this. None that she knew of anyway. With a frustrated sigh, she turned back to Roxi.

       “Why are we here?” Roxi asked, blood tears welled in her eyes, and she, unabashed, let them cascade down her onyx-colored cheeks.

       “Would you get a grip? And stand up, you are cowering in the dirt like a human.” Rue said, taking her first good look at this realm. The two human girls right in front of her and screaming had distracted her. She shouldn’t have let it happen, and next time she’d be more careful.

       It was chilly here, and the ground was softer than what she was used to. Her metallic claws dug into the soft concrete under her feet, keeping her straight. She didn’t like being this unsure, this unbalanced. But there was so much color here, so many shapes and things in existence, she was stunned. She looked down and saw the sunlight dance across her armored skin, and in a moment of embarrassment, realized she was completely naked. Somehow her clothes hadn’t made the cross. Oops.

       “It’s times like this I wish I knew the Shifting Ritual.” She grumped, glaring at Roxi. She should know already. They were four weeks into Learning, and her Teacher-Sponsor Raijia was responsible for their knowledge. She should be teaching them the useful and exciting stuff important to their job. But it seemed more important to her to keep the three Sealed students at the same level, and not teach anybody anything until everyone was on the same page. And one student was slower than the other two. Much slower.

         “We need to get home.” Roxi said.  

        “It’s not my fault you messed up a simple Summoning.” Rue said, looking up at the setting sun and blinking in the brightness. This realm was beautiful. Even if it was cold. At least now she knew how to break the barrier. Which was the win for today.

       “You said you would help me!” Roxi said, still crouched and now shivering.

        “How can you be so slow?” Rue said, feeling the desperate desire to run boil in her veins. She was a demon unleashed. There was no summoner to capture her, no Claim to detain her, no Angel to vanquish her. She had stepped into the middle realm completely unencumbered. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Not even the other demons knew she was here. She wanted to run, and explore. To see and experience.

       “Rue. We have to go back. I can’t do it. Take me back.” Roxi said, crawling on her hands and knees. She tugged on Rue’s hand. “Raijia will know.”

       “Dark Fire in the Thirds save me.” Rue muttered. She really really didn’t want to, but someone, most likely Raijia, would notice them gone, very very soon. And if she didn’t take them back, her excuse wouldn’t work as well. “From the Realm of Stone and Fire I live, To the Realm of Water and Air I go. Bring me back to the Realm I’m from, The Realm deep down below.”

       The blue and red fire sparked, and Rue felt the concrete melt below her feet. She wrapped her brain around Roxi, and let the Returning Ritual take them both, slipping into a well-worn summoning path. Huh. That was lucky. They hadn’t felt it before, but it was there. Strong and well established. Rue smiled, someone in the neighborhood was a practiced summoner. Maybe she’d get the chance to Reclaim here.