Time's Divide (The Chronos Files Book 3) by Rysa Walker Read Free Book Online Page B

Since Katherine was pregnant at the time, you and Prudence were stranded, too. Pru inherited the gene that enables her to use the key. That’s why she disappeared all those years ago. The gene isn’t . . .” I pause for a moment, trying to remember the correct word. “It’s not expressed in your DNA, but you passed the trait along to me. That’s why I can see the light—remember how I called it ‘Blue Light’ when I was little? Anyway, when the gene is active, like it is for me and Prudence, the person can use the key to travel between stable points to different times and places. It’s how I got to London.”
    She looks over at Trey, and he shakes his head. “No. I can’t see the light or use the key. I took the normal route—eight hours, British Airways.”
    “The key is also how I went back and changed your memory. I set a stable point for this room, which means I could adjust the time on the coordinates and go back to when you were here before, just after we spoke on the phone.”
    I stop for a moment, expecting her to chime in with questions. The glazed look in her eyes worries me, and I decide to give her the rest of it in small, bite-sized pieces. The part about her biological father being a megalomaniac hell-bent on destroying a sizable chunk of humanity has to be discussed, preferably before Prudence gets back. Learning that Katherine arranged her failed marriage to Dad on the off chance that they’d produce me? I’m thinking that can probably wait, along with many of the other elements that make my head spin each time I try to sort them out.
    “Mom,” I begin as I pull the spare medallion from my bag. “I really do need you to wear this. Because what happened just now, me going back and talking to you? That was a tiny little ripple, a small time change. You remember it—and kind of don’t remember it—only because you saw it happen. You were here when I changed it. But if a major time shift happened, if someone changes the entire timeline again and you aren’t under a key, you won’t know there’ve been changes. It’s happened before. This all started back when we were in Iowa—remember my so-called panic attacks?”
    That catches her attention, for some reason. She gets up suddenly from the bed, startling slightly when she notices Trey in the chair near the window, like she’d forgotten he was there. Then she gives me another odd look and goes into the bathroom, closing the door behind her.
    After a few seconds, I hear water running in the sink. I wait about a minute, then get up and tap on the door. No answer.
    “Mom?” The water goes off, so I knock again, louder.
    Trey comes up and wraps his arms around me. “Maybe you should give her a minute. This is a pretty major sensory overload the first time.”
    I lean my head back against his chest. “I know, I know. But Prudence could show up any second and—”
    “Want me to go into the hallway and keep watch?”
    “I doubt it would give us much of a heads-up. Pru probably set a stable point in the hallway or in her room. Maybe even in here.”
    “True,” he says, moving around so that he’s facing me. “Still, it might be better than nothing. Your mom seems on edge with me here. Maybe she’ll listen better if I’m not in the room. I don’t think Katherine really thought that part through. Although to be fair, I guess I didn’t, either.”
    I don’t entirely like the idea of Trey hanging out in the hallway on his own. Unfortunately, there’s no good way of saying that without it sounding like I think he can’t take care of himself, and he’s probably right about Mom. So I nod. He gives me a quick kiss and steps outside.
    I go back and sit on the bed, trying to wait patiently.
    I’m not good at that. Maybe twenty seconds later, I say, “Mom? Trey stepped out so we can talk alone. And we really do need to talk before Prudence comes back. That could be any minute now, so could you please ? I need your help.”
    Mom comes