Genesis by Christie Rich

sensation of being
watched whenever I was outside, but Taylor refused to tell me what
was going on. At first I’d thought it was probably some cloaked
guard, but after a while I realized it would make no sense for
Taylor to keep that information from me. Either way, I was on edge.
My only hope was that whatever was watching me wouldn’t follow me
out of Uldran.
    I was about ready to learn where I was
going next. Waiting was getting on my nerves so I practiced
manipulating air. My skills were growing every day despite Taylor’s
refusal to help me. In my left hand sat a pintsized whirlwind. The
tail end tickled my skin. I let it go, commanding it to the ground
then back to my hand like a bouncy ball. Dirt whirled in the tiny
cyclone. I’d never seen a real tornado, but I was sure it would be
amazing. The raw power of this miniature version astounded me. It
left a path of destruction wherever I pointed it.
    Once I was bored with that, my mind
drifted back to which realm I would visit next. I couldn’t decide
which place would be best, but I was sure I wasn’t going to ever
have an opportunity like I had blown here again.
    Jett’s approach hit me far sooner than
when he entered the room. My body vibrated at his nearness. I
closed my eyes and willed this to be a bad dream.
    “ Good morning, Rayla. I
trust your stay in Uldran was enjoyable.”
    Why did it have to be him? He frowned
immediately. Great. He could read my mind, too.
    I glanced around, but it appeared as
though Taylor wasn’t going to say goodbye. Looks like I had done
more damage than I thought. Without another word, Jett took my
hand. The pull of the matter stream made me dizzy. Was I ever going
to get used to drifting?
     
    Eldrea, or, as I thought of it, the
earth realm, was no more like what I had expected than Uldran had
been. In fact, from what I could see it was as much of a wasteland
as Ignis, only now I was in a vast desert instead of a winter
land.
    Hills of sand rolled as far as I could
see. Jett stood beside me, gazing sidelong at me as if measuring my
reaction. The queasiness from the ride here was starting to subside
finally, and I was now capable of noticing so much more than when
we landed.
    As much as I attempted to not let him
intimidate me, it wasn’t working at all. His nearness brought out
all sorts of reactions from me, but I doubted they were the ones he
hoped for. He was the kind of man that dominated a space, his very
presence demanded attention. Worst of all, he still scared the wits
out of me. His frown deepened.
    No. I needed to be objective. I had to
give him the same chance I gave Taylor.
    He offered me one of his rare smiles,
and I have to say the effect was astonishing. “You should smile
more often,” I said conversationally.
    He reached for my hand, his deep voice
finding the inner part of me that melted at the sound, “I’ll have
to remember that.” The touch of his warm skin sent tingles up my
arm. He stopped just before we crested the hill. His brows puckered
together as he studied my face. “Why are you so afraid of me,
Rayla?”
    Memories flooded my mind. My first
recollection blotted out the rest. Me hidden in a closet while he
yelled at my mom. Even back then I had reacted to his power, his
demanding nature.
    “ I see,” he said. “I had
hoped to have enough time with you to set a few things straight.
Unfortunately, I have received word from Tabitha. You are to be
delivered to Altasia in three days. There will be no fanfare here I
am afraid.”
    I nodded. Fanfare never really turned
out great for me anyway. I guess Tabitha already heard what I had
done in Uldran. She probably didn’t want me here long enough to
cause more trouble. It was better this way, but a tinge of regret
snaked through me. I had hoped to have more time because of one
reason. The only reason that really mattered.
    My mother was somewhere within this
kingdom. Anticipation shot through my veins. Would I be able to see
her at all now? I