Crossed Worlds

Chapter 13: Meet the Queen

The day had arrived that Jade had somehow been equally dreading and craving ever since James had shared it with her. She was going to cross over to his side. And not only that, but she was going there to meet the leader of the Wild One sector. The Queen.

As she made her way to the Cut Off Point, she felt the overwhelming urge every five seconds to turn around and text him that she was feeling unwell and he'd have to go alone. But she couldn't do that; she knew she owed it to herself to go and find something. She didn't want to just be someone who sat and raved about her beliefs all day without actually backing her words up with actions. If she wanted change, she'd have to leap out of her comfort zone and into the unknown to create it.

James was already there when she arrived, and he gave her the brightest smile and the warmest reassuring look when he saw her. It made some of the butterflies in her stomach relax their fluttering wings for a moment.

"Hi," Jade's voice was quiet. She wanted to come across more confidently, but was already failing.

"Hey," he was still wearing a smile that made it seem that everything would be okay. "So, I'm going to come over to your side, and then we can walk back through to mine together. Does that sound all right?"

Jade swallowed the anxiety rising in her throat. Be confident. "That sounds good to me."

Then, just as he had a week ago, James walked through the barrier, and came to stand beside her. He took her small hand in his and interlocked their fingers. It made sparks fly through Jade's veins.

"It's all going to be just fine," he said softly. "You ready?"

Jade could only nod. They began walking forward, slowly, and when they were a few inches from walking through the blueish wave before them, James stopped.

"You can close your eyes if you want to."

She squeezed them shut, and they began to walk again. Jade felt a strange sensation as she stepped through, as if she were a hand going through the arm of a sleeve and emerging on the other side. It felt as though the barrier was some kind of fabric, fitting around her as she passed through it. When she opened her eyes, she was looking at her feet, stood on a terrain she'd never stood on before.

"Oh, wow," she looked up at James, and then spun around on her heel to see where she'd just been stood; to see the Being sector from a Wild One's perspective. The thought was so maddening and she felt all kinds of giddy.

"You did it! You're here!" James pulled her into a hug and lifted her off the ground as though she was as light as a feather, spinning her around with ease under the trees.

"I'm here!" She cheered and nuzzled into his neck. His now known to be signature scent of lemongrass was heavenly.

He gently placed her back on the ground and took her hand again. She was happy that he wasn't just holding it because they were walking up or down a steep hill or through a potentially life-threatening barrier. This was the first time, to her knowledge, that he was holding it just because he wanted to.

"We have to go and see Salim to get your tattoo done," James smiled. "His place is really cool; I think you'll like it."

Jade was nervous to meet Salim and get this fake tattoo done and then go and see the Queen, but after having made it through the first part, she didn't feel like her nerves were in control any more. She could handle them, and she was going to.

They got to Salim's building and after having been buzzed in, made their way down the winding stairs.

"I love the artwork," Jade admired the walls, and James smiled, having thought she would.