expire

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

The Acquisition Room was cool, but not cold, and it was just as spacious, just as futuristic, as the room we had been in previously (which I learned later to be the 'lobby').The source of the temperature I discovered only a second later; two hovering fans blew sweetly scented air into the large room, along with a little blue thermometer inserted inside the wall, displaying the actual temperature in small sky blue lettering. Two identical water features dribbled icy-looking liquid into circular, azure blue bowls, each flow dispensed from a ceramic fish spout, placed at opposite ends of the room. The same exotic, vibrant green plants that I had spotted earlier grew crookedly in shiny white plant pots on either side of a long desk.

A girl, maybe a little older than me, perched with her legs crossed on a blue swivel chair, Aztec style clothing draping off her small frame. Despite her slim structure, she was actually rather tall, which I found out as she glanced up, her pupil-less eyes meeting ours, and stood up to greet us.

“Hi. You must be Ivy, the newcomer. My name's Clementine – but you can call me Tine – everyone does. Do sit down. Would you like anything to eat?”

Her voice, although just as gentle, sounded harsher, sharper, compared to Solstice's soft wind-chime vocals. It carried an air of authority that Solstice didn't possess, and you got the feeling that Tine was someone of great importance within this place.

Whatever this place was.

Tine gestured graciously at the plush ice-blue seats placed at perfect 90 degree angles beside her neat and ordered white desk. It seemed to be made of the same stuff the floor was made out of, and as I gingerly sat down, my glass-like body sinking into the generously padded seats, I gazed about the room, seeing things I hadn't noticed before. Such as, maybe, the little white lamps, almost imperceptible against the same colour wall, humming as they hovered in mid-air. Or maybe the small stack of screens, also white, camouflaged against the same background, held aloft only by four blue spheres each as small as the nail on my little finger.

Then I started sinking downwards; the chair started to swallow me as I got lower and lower, and I grasped onto the edge of the seat for support as I struggled to stay balanced. Solstice, laughing at me yet again, heaved me up and out, exchanging glances with Tine as if to say 'newbie' in that sarcastic way we all know and love. I switched my expression from pleasant and admiring to confused and a little annoyed, before meeting eyes with Tine's sympathetic ones. “Don't worry – they'll take a little getting used to. They're Comfort seats – they mould into your shape to make it more comfortable when you sit down,” She offered a supportive smile, but I ignored it and eyed the seat suspiciously. I'd probably still be wary of it once I'd been here for years and years. And that thought got me back on track. It was question time.

“So...are you gonna explain to me what on earth is going on, or are you just gonna watch me sink into this thing again?”

“Ah, of course. You're bound to be curious,”

“Just a tad,”

“Yes. Iced tea?” Tine gazed at each of us questioningly.

Solstice gave a small nod, while I asked, “Do you have any lemonade?”

Tine shot a confused look at my Paladin, who prompted me to nod by a raise of her arched eyebrows, before turning round and pressing a little white button in the wall behind her. While her back was turned, Solstice jabbed me in the ribs, and gave me one of those 'seriously?!' looks.

“What?” I mouthed back, but she just whispered, “I'll explain later,”

Too right she would. She had a lot explaining to do.

Then the sweet sound of trickling liquid filled my ears, and I returned my attention to Tine, who was spooning some white powdery substance into two tiny cups. Then she swirled the mixture round with a small silver spoon before handing over two fragile-looking mugs of white tea. At least, it smelt like tea. I took a careful sip.

The tea was freezing...but, weirdly, I liked the taste, although the sub-zero temperature temporarily froze my delicate teeth.

“Do you like it?” She asked, and I nodded slowly, narrowly avoiding spilling my 'tea' over my crisp white gown. I took another gulp.

“So...what's the story?” I placed my cup in the little holder melded into the arm of the seat, before making eye contact with Tine. For a moment, i wondered whether the chair would swallow my tea, too. But then i got back on track. I needed these answers; I wanted to know. Now.

“Well...First of all, welcome to Vierra! I'm sure you'll like it here - everyone's very welcoming, and Solstice will be there to look after you...”

She sounded like someone trying to advertise a hotel.

“...and your Bi-Sector will take you under their wing, of that I'm certain. If I do recall...”

She waved her hand in the air and, out of nowhere, a small notepad materialized. Tine studied it for a few seconds. I stared on, dumbstruck. She didn't notice.

“...you are the youngest member of our civilization! Consider it a privilege,” She added as she saw my expression. I lowered my brows and narrowed my eyes.

“So, where and what is Vierra, exactly?” I quizzed, my face slowly returning to it's original state. Solstice, I noticed, was keeping a steady gaze on my expression. She was probably monitoring my reaction.

“Well...Vierra is...a continent. It is just one of the seven continents that forms the Planet's crust. Right now, we are in the country Kerran. This building is your home; it is our safe sanctuary. There are a couple of other structures like this in Vierra. And there are many other people like us. Many others,” Tine's voice was timeless now, her empty eyes fixed on mine. I kept contact, the desire for answers slowly burning a hole in my throat.

“Our world...it is the same as the one you just came from. But totally different, also. It is a layer, if you like, merging with your continents on Earth. It is like an invisible film, an invisible extra world, disguised as Earth. So, you are on Earth, but not on it, if you get my meaning,”

I nodded, although I couldn't quite get my head around it. I was on a separate world from Earth, but still on Earth. Technically.

“The advantages of our world not completely mixing with the Earth is that, should a natural disaster occur, our world will not be harmed. If the world ended, our world would continue to live on. We are separate worlds...just positioned in the same place,”

I took a moment to breathe, closing my eyes.

“So who are we? The people? Who am I?” My eyes were open now, searching Tine's blank pupils. She, also, took a deep breath, as if what she was about to say took a whole lot of effort.

“You.....are Ivy, sister to Maggie and Alice, daughter to Rochelle Connelly. You always will be. But you won't be a part of their family. From now on, you, Ivy Connelly, are their Paladin. You will safeguard them until they, like you, have reached their ends.”