Eight of Hearts: The Rift Blade - Book 1

Chapter 29

Tobias walked with Kaya through the tunnels in the direction of the gateway. She had given him a lot to think about. And he realized something: if the HDSF was capturing people who were crossing between worlds, then perhaps they would find the people Aisa had sent them to find. He had avoided thinking about Aisa's words, but he now considered the warning of the fate of his world. 'Consumed', he had said. His gut twisted, and he felt a shiver go down his spine at the thought of the word.

"You getting cold feet?" Kaya asked, snapping him out of his thoughts.

"Oh, no, I was..." he trailed off. "Sorry, I'm fine." He would follow James no matter how bad things got. James would always make the right decision in the end.

"Good, 'cause I need you to rescue my brother. I'll use you as cannon fodder if you try backing out now."

She kept up her tough exterior, but Tobias recognized something behind her words. "You really love your brother, don't you?" Tobias asked.

"Of course I do," Kaya said without hesitation. "He's my hook."

"Hook?" Tobias asked, "How do you mean?"

"I mean he's the reason I keep going. No matter how tough or crazy things get, I can keep going because he needs me to." Kaya gave Tobias a knowing look, "You're the same," she said. "Who's your hook? That friend of yours?"

Tobias almost said 'yes', but he stopped himself. Yes, he was able to follow James through whatever crap came their way, but it was definitely not like James needed him. What Kaya was referring to was something different, something closer. There was only one person he dared believe actually needed him.

"Sarah..." he said, and he felt his gut twist again. He had to believe she was fine. He would see her again. "She's my fiancée, and James's sister. If she made it out when my world...she would have been taken by the HDSF, right?" Maybe it was a stretch, but he believed it was true. She was alive, waiting to be rescued. She had to be.

"Of co--Urgh!" Kaya suddenly stopped and grabbed her head. She lost her balance and fell into Tobias, who caught her reflexively.

"Kaya?!" Tobias shouted, caught off guard.

Kaya went limp in his arms, but her face remained tense as her closed eyes danced about wildly, as though trying to track an unseen enemy. Tobias worried she was having a seizure, but her expression suddenly softened.

"Pahana?" she whispered.

"Pa-who now?"

"Kaya!" Pahana called, stepping through the doorway that bridged the gap between their minds.

The scenery around him suddenly changed, and he found himself not in a small house, but a grand mansion. Where his mind had simple decor, this place was magnificent. He stood in a large foyer with a set of staircases that curved upward to a second landing. Delicate statues and carvings were placed at various intervals, and a large grandfather clock sat nestled against the wall between two ornate marble benches. A large crystal chandelier hung overhead, and the floor was clean, polished hardwood.

Pahana heard the sound of a door slamming open, followed by a rush of footsteps.

"Pahana?!"

He looked up to see Kaya leaning over the rail of the second landing. As she rushed down the stairs towards him, Pahana began to cry openly.

Kaya threw her arms around him as she let her own tears fall. "Pahana! How-how did you-"

"Isaac showed me," Pahana said, smiling up at his sister through his tears. He sniffed, and his heart ached at the knowledge that this was only a temporary reunion. "I'm in some kind of jail, Kaya. But I didn't do anything, I swear!"