Dearest Mother of Mine (Overworld Chronicles) by John Corwin Read Free Book Online Page A

smoke, and you were over here."
    "I believe I am flabbergasted," Cinder said attempting to modulate his usually deadpan tone to match the word.
    I accepted a wet wipe from Elyssa— where in the world do women keep this stuff? —and cleaned my lips. She helped me to my feet as I considered Shelton's question. I'd done something I'd only seen Ivy do. She called it blinking —instantly moving from one point to another. She said it didn't work for long distance, only for a place I could see.
    I explained the concept to the others.
    "How did you do it?" Nightliss asked, a look of wonder on her face.
    I shrugged. "I dunno. It just kind of happened. I focused on where I wanted the arch to open, and the next thing I knew, I was there."
    "Doesn't look like something you want to do on a full stomach," Shelton commented, pinching his nose and backing away from the puddle of upchuck on the floor.
    Equilibrium returned to my disoriented brain, and I was able to stop leaning on Elyssa for support. "That is so cool," I said under my breath, looking at the distance I'd covered. True, it wasn't a huge distance, but it was pretty freaking awesome. I just hoped the barfing part went away eventually.
    "Dork," Elyssa said in an affectionate tone. "Maybe we should wait before trying the arch."
    I shook my head. "No, I'm fine, really. At least my stomach is empty in case I do it again."
    She sighed. "A stubborn dork."
    "Ha, ha." After walking back to the arch, I found the loose coil of rope I'd blinked out of, and fastened it back around my waist. Elyssa did the same. Apparently, my blink had opened the circle and released the aether within, so I had to close it again. I turned back to the arch, keeping the destination in mind, and imagined a tunnel from the arch to the next room. Connect , I commanded, visualizing a scene of the room beyond appearing within the columns of the arch.
    The center of the arch flickered ultraviolet and white for a split second before an image of the room clarified into focus. I looked through the arch, and then around it to the next room. An open portal hovered in the air, shimmering like a window made of liquid glass.
    "Whoa," Adam said, jogging to the portal. He reached for it.
    "You're gonna lose a hand," Shelton said, as though castigating a kid about to stick his limb in the garbage disposal.
    "I want to see if it's solid," Adam replied. He made a motion with his hand, and the ASE floated through the arch, appearing from the other one. "Looks safe."
    I gave Elyssa a look. She raised an eyebrow.
    "On three?" she said, unfastening the rope from her waist.
    I nodded, removing my rope.
    She took my hand. "One, Two, Three."
    We stepped inside. The world warped like a fishbowl for the barest instant, hardly enough to even register, and then we stood next to Adam.
    "Well, you're still alive," he said, and touched the edge of the portal. The image didn't shift or ripple. "I feel a slight resistance on the outer edge, but it's not solid."
    "Fascinating," Shelton said, walking over to touch the portal. "Now, how do we turn the thing off?"
    "I'm guessing it stays open until you close the connection," I said. "Otherwise you might strand yourself."
    He grunted. "Good point."
    "Maybe we should leave it open for now," Adam suggested as he walked around the arch. "Just to be sure your theory is correct."
    "Considering the Cyrinthian Rune bounced between the two ends of this arch for so long, I believe it would stay open indefinitely," Cinder said.
    I examined both sides of the portal to see the same image of the arch room. Apparently, it was possible to walk in from either side and end up in the same place. Excitement rushed through me. "You know what this means?" I said. "We have a blank ticket to go anywhere."
    "I can go to Colombia and visit my friends whenever I want," Bella said, a smile brightening her face. "I've really missed my pink house."
    "Everyone can come straight here," I said, thinking about my other friends.