Happy Monday! I’m 75% done with the final edits to TRANSFERENCE!! This is so exciting, y’all. The Two Worlds series is definitely a labor of love because high fantasy stories require so much research and world building. But I always love the end results: the high I get from reading a great story (yes, I write these books for myself lol) and the pleasant surprise I feel when others like the book too.
For all of you loyal fans out there who have been waiting patiently for this next installment, here’s a sneak peek for you:
A cool wind whipped around us as we stood facing Rowena. She had taken Rena and me to an abandoned part of Brozek. Currently, we were waiting for her to finish surveying the surrounding dilapidated buildings to make sure we were indeed alone.
She came back with a bit of sweat on her forehead and a large grin. “We’re all in the clear!” She clapped her hands victoriously. “Let’s get started.”
Rena and I exchanged glances. We’d both pinky promised to do our best to be vague about our abilities with Rowena. It pained me because I really liked Rowena. Unlike Temely, I believed she did have her students’ best interest at heart.
Rowena held onto her grin. “OK, today’s assignment is a toughie. I want both of you to awaken all of these buildings. Rena, you take the buildings on the East. Kay, take the west. There are thirty structures on each side. You have ten minutes.”
Rena and I stared at her, slack-jawed. We were going to do what in how much time?
Rowena laughed giddily and pulled out a stopwatch from her jeans. She held up a hand. “Get ready…”
Panic swept through me. How was I going to fake Awakening something? A thought hit me. I glanced at Rena, who gave me a small nod, indicating she was thinking the same thing.
“Get set…Go!”
Rena and I raced past Rena and scurried to our designated areas. My first building was a three-story brick home that had been hit by a bomb. It was missing its outer left side wall, and the roof had begun to cave in. The windows were blown out, the door kicked in, and the insides were trashed. Pity swept through me. No structure deserved to be left like this.
I placed a hand on its doorway and whispered, “You are strong, sturdy, built to uphold. You have no cracks.” The frame immediately obeyed. Sounds of wood coming together filled the air with crackles and pops until the frame was solid and upright again.
I placed my hand back on it. “You are a nice sandalwood color.” Color seeped from my fingertips and through the frame. I stood back and surveyed my work, impressed with myself.
“Five minutes!” Rowena called out. She had already awakened her first building and had moved on to her second.
I looked back at my house. “You have intact windows that are gleaming.” Shards of glass flew from the dust and dirt on the ground to the windowpane. They began rearranging themselves until all of the windows were fixed. I patiently waited. When they were done, I pressed my foot against the base of the house.
“Two minutes!” called Rowena.
I kept my focus on my foot. “House, you are strong. Built to uphold. Impenetrable.” The house groaned as the foundation began repairing itself.
“Time!” Rowena shouted. “Please come back to me, girls.”
I patted the house. “Sorry I couldn’t finish the job, but I hope this helps a little bit.” I ran back to meet Rena and Rowena. Rena looked pleased with herself. I glanced past her to see that she had awakened three houses. I bit back a grin. Not bad, but certainly not spectacular. It seemed we both had the same thought: do the bare minimum to avoid arousing suspicion.
Rowena studied me with a frown. “Kay, you only awakened part of a house.”
I nodded.
“What happened?”
I shrugged. “I was Awakening as fast as I could. It’s hard for me to do it under pressure.”
Rowena’s eyes narrowed. “But you awakened a Death Walker.”
I nodded again but didn’t say anything else. Rena looked wide-eyed between Rowena and me as we stood staring at each other. Yolanda sent gentle energy pulses out, warming my skin. I took a cautionary step back.
Finally, Rowena sighed. “OK, let’s try again in a few days. Go home and get some rest.”
Rena and I nodded and scurried back towards the main road to find a taxi. We waited until we were out of the neighborhood to talk.
“That was close. Rowena did not look happy with us.” Rena muttered. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure no one was following us. Her Evrode, Gabriella, agreed.
I let out a sigh of relief. “Yeah, but we were successful.”
“For now.”
We came onto the main road and hailed a taxi back to get back to Dia. Once there, I patted Dia affectionately. “How are you, old girl?”
“Hardly old, thank you,” she replied, huffy. I bit back a laugh. “And everything is fine.”
I noticed she sounded down. “What’s wrong, Dia?”
“I miss the chatter. It’s a bit lonely out here all by myself, you know.”
My heart ached. Dia’s new location was on the north end of the Balbaci lake hidden by a thick patch of trees who were so old they barely moved, let alone spoke. The area was beautiful but isolated. I had been so caught up in protecting my own hide, I’d forgotten to factor in how Dia felt.
I rubbed her door, earning a pleased hum. “I’m sorry, Dia. What can I do to make it better?”
“Absolutely nothing. I will be fine. Protecting you will always be priority.”
A pang of guilt stabbed at me. “Let me see what I can do.” I opened my DiGi, projected it in front of me, and quickly popped over a note to Nia. Before I could close my book, she popped out of a portal in front of me, eating a bag of microwave popped popcorn. I squashed down the pang of envy that my sister was the only one of us who could literally create her own methods of travel on Turgor so easily.
“What’s up?” she asked before shoveling another handful of kernels in her mouth.
“Geez, what were you doing…waiting around for my call?”
Nia rolled her eyes. “Grandpa told you we’re all on high alert. How did your class with Rowena go?”
I told her and she laughed.
“You better be careful. She knows you’re powerful. Don’t be too obvious that you’re faking it.”
I waved a dismissive hand at her. “Yeah, yeah. Look, I need a favor.”
“Shocker.”
I ignored Nia and went outside, motioning for her to follow and whispering in her ear.
“Aw.” She grinned. “You’re so sweet.” I shrugged. She handed me her popcorn bag, brushed off her hands and began weaving magic. She muttered a few words as the air crackled with her power. I glanced around, nervous. A small form began to appear in front of her, a box on top of a post. She moved it through the air until it landed right in front of Dia’s front left window. The energy in the air slowly began to dissipate.
Nia reached for her popcorn. “That ought to do it.”
“Thanks, sis.”
“No problem. So what’s on the schedule for tomorrow?”
“Meeting with my group. It’s supposed to be field work.”
Nia nodded. “Well, keep safe. I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Yep,” I replied.
She Created a portal for herself and stepped into it.
I walked up to Nia’s new creation and caressed it lovingly. “You, my friend, are a mailbox. Friendly, always welcoming the news. I would like for you to be a beautiful crimson with gold lettering. You are now Dia’s companion.” The mailbox stirred and opened its flap to yawn. A beady eye popped open on each side of its box. “Hi!”
“Hi, yourself.” I chuckled. “Welcome.”
“Oh, it’s so good to be here!” the box chirped, wiggling its lever. He twisted to see Dia. “Is this my friend?” I nodded. “Hi, friend! My name is…er…” The mailbox looked back at me for confirmation.
“Let’s call you ‘Steve.’” I chuckled.
“Steve. Steve.” The mailbox stood still for a moment before laughing. “I love it!”
Dia sniffled. “Oh, Kay, thank you.”
“Of course, Dia. You’re an amazing friend and no friend should be left alone.” I went back into the house and stretched out on the couch, my mind playing over the events of the day. Eventually, the chatter between Dia and Steve lulled me into a peaceful sleep.
Hope you enjoyed it! Can’t wait to hear what everyone thinks when it’s released. Be sure to grab your preorder today!
