Transitions Page 15

  “I hear Lake temporarily disabled the waterwheel yesterday morn.” Jeff chuckled, disrupting their quiet. “He is a fiery one.”

  “Lake did not mean to disrupt mill production,” she was quick to defend.

  Jeff lifted his hands in amnesty. “Forgive me. I meant no offense. I simply find your brother’s temperament amusing.” With a side glance, Jeff said, “He reminds me of Noah.”

  “You knew my uncle?” Rain blinked back her surprise. She had only heard tales of Uncle Noah, her mother’s younger brother, and only from her mother. It never occurred to her that others within New Eden might have known him, too, or any of her extended family for that matter.

  “We were next-door neighbors,” Jeff continued. “Norah’s bedroom window faced mine. We spent many nights talking to each other through the tree that separated our yards.”

  He smiled to himself with the memory and Rain’s heart panged. Within the dome, her mother had been a happily married woman. What on Earth would lead her toward the arms of another? Even one she had known for so long? They fell into silence, much to her relief. There was nothing she wished to say. But she would need to get used to conversing with him, she knew. As an Element, she would certainly face many more meetings with the village’s lawyer. Perhaps so long as they focused solely on business, she could keep the haunting personal matters at bay. To encourage this, she changed the subject. “My Lord, are we in danger of violating any other state laws?”

  Jeff spared her a quick glance. “No, I believe this may be the only one. I should say ‘major one,’ to be more specific.”

  “You keep abreast with current laws, then?”

  “Yes. It is required to remain licensed to practice law, actually.” Her eyebrows pulled together in question. Noting her look, he volunteered, “I possess a Cranium in addition to a Scroll.”

  He stopped and turned toward her. His hands trembled upon the walking stick and his eyes twitched. It appeared as though it took great effort to contain his body, which jerked with tremors on occasion. For a long while she had thought perhaps he was just anxious. Was he afflicted in some other capacity?

  “My cousin, John, is Hanley’s lawyer,” he began again. “I’ve been in contact with him recently to ensure the wellbeing of our colony.”

  “I see.” Rain smiled politely. “It must be nice to see family.” Then she cringed, realizing her words.

  “Oh, I have not visited him at the lab.” Jeff shook his head. “I do not desire to enter that world ever again.” Goosebumps prickled her skin with his words, words spoken as he gazed at The Rows.

  She began walking once more, needing to reach the Great Hall and extricate herself from his presence. Though, she would remain polite until then. She was an Element and he the town lawyer; they would spend much time together for business purposes. She could manage a surface relationship for the sake of her community.

  Her thoughts skipped around while thinking of Lake’s foolhardy antics yesterday morn with the waterwheel. The metal box rested under her cot in her chamber, where it remained closed. It was most curious. The items inside disturbed her, however. The contents rightfully belonged to Skylar or his mother. Still, curiosity plagued her thoughts until, against her better judgment, she opened up conversation with Jeff once more.

  “My Lord, have you ever seen a life-like image on paper of real people? One that appears as though glimpsing into a memory?”

  Jeff thought for a moment. “I think you are describing a photograph.”

  “Is it made from magic?”

  His eyes softened. “No. It’s a way Outsiders hold on to memories, just as you suggested. The photograph is crafted through technology.”

  “Does the technology steal time in order to reflect this memory?” The very idea made her shudder.

  “It gifts time by making a mere pebble of sand in one’s hourglass immortal.” She pondered his explanation with wonder. “Did you discover a photograph, My Lady?”

  “Yesterday morn.” Rain did not like to think of Timothy as sentimental. It was a rather upsetting thought. “Thank you, My Lord. I appreciate your time.”

  “Always,” he said softly.

  The warmth in his eyes stilled the air in her chest. He knew. Rain looked away, lest he see her distress. From the corner of her eye, she studied his thick, dark hair, a shade of molasses like hers. The hands on the walking stick reflected creamy beige skin tones, also similar to hers. Unlike her family, who were rosy-hued, or most others in New Eden, who seemed pale in comparison. His brown eyes possessed the same golden outer ring as hers as well, an attribute she appreciated once when given opportunity to gaze into a hand-held looking glass. How had she not noticed before her mother’s deathbed confession? Had others noticed?

  She was his daughter.

  No, she was the daughter of Alex Daniels, the man who had raised her and treated her as though his own. The very thought was humbling. She focused on her footsteps, too afraid to meet Jeff’s eyes. A few heartbeats later, they reached the Great Hall entrance and Jeff opened the door for her with a bow.

  “Thank you for your company, My Lady.”

  Rain angled her head his direction, but averted her eyes. “You are welcome, My Lord. Good evening time.” He journeyed toward the large hearth and joined a group of men. She released a tight breath and moved toward the small gathering of scientists while fortifying what remained of her nerves.

  “There she is,” Michael said. “Nice to see you, Ms. Daniels.”

  She lowered into a shallow curtsy. “You wished to speak with me, sir?” Rain looked around. “Is Coal not here?”

  “He has left with a team already.” Michael slung a bag over his shoulder. “We are splitting you up to cover more ground tonight. He’s with the group who’ll visit the Watsons.”

  “I am sure he shall appreciate the opportunity to visit with his sister,” Rain said, hiding her disappointment. She longed to see Oaklee and Ember as well. It had been a frightful past few days without feminine company. Then a spark of hope flickered in her heart. “Am I to visit the Kanes?”

  “Yes.” Michael pointed to the exit and gestured for the seven scientists to follow. “Ready, Ms. Daniels?”

  Rather than reply, she simply walked beside Michael. Eventually they reached the lower apartments along the village path not too far from the East Cave. The scientists split into groups of two, each team knocking upon a door. Rain remained outside and greeted each family, reassuring the young and old that the scientists would care for their needs.

  The hour of rest was nearly over when they stood before the Kane apartment. She convinced Michael to leave this home for last so she could visit with Lady Emily a spell before evening meal. He accommodated her further by allowing her to fetch the metal box for Skylar first.

  Rain knocked upon the wooden door with bated breath. Why was she so nervous? As each heartbeat of time passed by, her anxiety leapt higher until she thought surely her pulse would fly away. To die of anticipation was not nearly as romantic as it sounded. The door creaked open and Skylar peeked through, his mouth parting slightly when recognizing her.

  “My Lady?” he whispered. Worry wrinkled his forehead in that adorable way of his. “You fare well, I hope?”

  “Yes, My Lord. Thank you for your kind inquiry.” She offered a shaky smile. “Scientists from the lab have come to inoculate your family, if they may?”

  Skylar opened the door wider and stood straighter. “Yes, of course.”

  She stepped into his home and moved aside to allow Michael and Sam, a fellow scientist, to enter. Skylar shut the door and spared her a passing glance as she lowered her hood, considering the box under her arm. Then his attention whipped back to her face, his gaze trailing over her hair and the curve of her cheek, before looking away. Pleased with his response, Rain bit back a smile.

  In this moment, it was clear just how juvenile her flutters of excitement were around the Son of Fire. They were silly romantic fancies, nothing more. Nothing l
ike what danced through her veins now so near the Son of Wind.

  “May I take your cloak?” he offered.

  She infused elegance into her movements and cast her eyes down with modesty as a woman would, rather than a blushing girl. Skylar took her cloak with a bow and hung it on the wall. She deposited the metal box below her cloak, then clasped her hands at her waist. His mouth lifted in a ghost of a smile as he met her eyes and she stared, riveted. Skylar smiled. Smiled. And for her! She was quite sure she was drowning this very moment, wholly submerged in every dizzying sensation.

  “Rain, how delightful,” Skylar’s mother said from the hallway. Her voice held weakness and she seemed wobbly on her feet, yet strength emanated from her in a way that filled Rain with instant happiness. Windlyn and Gale-Anne crowded around their mother and eyed the Outsiders warily. “Lovely to see you,” Lady Emily said.

  Rain dropped into a curtsy and placed a hand over her heart. “My Lady, it gives me great pleasure to see you looking so well.” Windy shuffled behind her mother’s back. “And you as well, Windlyn.”

  “Thank you,” Skylar’s sister said in a small voice. She shrank back into the shadows of the hallway under the attention.

  “Well, OK to get started?” Michael asked. Rain nearly forgot they accompanied her. “This is our last house. Skylar, willing to go first?”

  “I am already inoculated, sir. The members of the Techsmith Guild were as children.”

  “I knew that, sorry.” Michael pulled the printing machine from his bag. “Long couple of days. So, who’s up next, then?”

  Gale-Anne stepped forward. “I shall go first, sir.” She tossed long, brown tresses over her shoulder and bounced on the balls of her toes, her nose turned upward in a glowering expression. Rain could not blame her.

  Michael showed her all the tools and she relayed her understanding of the process. “Open your mouth,” he said, holding up the stick with the tufted cotton end. “And hold still. It’ll go faster that way.” Gale narrowed her eyes, but complied. Michael stuck the swab in the machine and allowed her to push the button. That seemed to please her. The medicine printed off and he peeled it from the backing. “Open your mouth again. This time lift your tongue.” He placed the medicine in her mouth and Gale bit down on his finger. Michael howled and yanked his finger back. “What the—”

  “Gale-Anne Kane!” Skylar said. “That was entirely unnecessary.” His face burned, but he remained cool despite the obvious embarrassment. His sister retreated to their mother with a smug smile. Lady Emily paled as she darted attention between Skylar and Michael.

  “No, it’s all right,” Michael offered. “I get it.”

  Skylar frowned. “We do not resort to violence in this house to make our opinions clear.” He knelt before his sister and took her hands in his. “I understand the offense. But you were never in danger. I would never allow him to harm you.”

  “He stuck his finger in my mouth!” Gale removed her hands and turned her back to Skylar. “It was rude! He ought to be ashamed of himself.”

  Lady Emily draped an arm around Gale. “There is no context for this experience, My Lord.”

  “I know,” Skylar mumbled.

  “I’m not upset.” Michael gave Gale a friendly smile. “Way to defend yourself.”

  “Thank you, sir,” she said, sticking her tongue out at Skylar. “See?”

  He drew in a deep breath and peered down the hallway. “My other sister has retreated to her bedchamber. I am not so certain after this...”

  “I shall administer the medicine to her, My Lord. Never you worry,” Rain said, coaxing the printing machine from Michael’s hands. “I have seen well over a hundred procedures.”

  “Wait.” Michael’s fingers flew across the screen. “There. It’s ready.”

  Skylar touched her forearm. “Do you wish for my company?”

  Yes, her pulse shouted. “No, My Lord,” she managed in reply and daintily cleared her throat. “I think her modesty is best preserved among women.”

  “Of course.”

  “Lady Emily?” Rain asked, turning toward the hallway. In a few steps, both she and Windlyn’s mother stood before her door and knocked. “Windlyn, ’tis Rain Daniels. May I come in?”

  A quiet voice acknowledged her request and Rain opened the door. Tears stained Windy’s cheeks as she sat upon her cot, knees drawn up to her chest and arms wrapped tight around her nightgown-draped legs.

  “Will he touch me?” Windy looked past Rain and Lady Emily to the shadows. She coughed and her body spasmed.

  “No, he shall not.” Rain gestured to the cot. “May I?”

  Windy nodded and Rain sank beside her. Out of the two sisters, Windy resembled Skylar the most. Light brown hair flowed in gentle waves to her waist. Hazel eyes fixed onto the printing machine as the color drained from her face. This made the faint smattering of freckles across her nose—what Rain’s mother would call faerie kisses—more prominent. Skylar also had freckles, which made him appear boyish, though his stature was anything but.

  “It does not hurt in the least, I promise. You might even enjoy the flavor of the medicine. It is like sweetened wine.” Rain handed Windy the stick. “Here, hold this.”

  “What is this, My Lady?”

  “It is a swab. Place it into your mouth and paint your inner-check until I say stop.” Windlyn followed her directions, including the one to insert the swab into the designated place in the machine. A few heartbeats later they were done. “See?” Rain took Windy’s hand in hers. “Painless, no?”

  Windy gifted a small smile and leaned into her mother. Rain brushed a loose strand from her face and tucked it behind her ear. She was twelve, well on her way to womanhood. But her meek, timid demeanor made her appear younger than Gale-Anne at times. She was far more frail, that was for sure, and had been all her life.

  “You have such beautiful eyes,” Rain said with a kind smile. “They are so bright and bonny when touched by tears.” She looked to Lady Emily. “Are they not?”

  “Yes, indeed.” Lady Emily caressed the long strands of Windy’s hair and Rain’s heart constricted. Oh how she missed a mother’s touch. “Such lovely hair as well.”

  “Much like yours,” Rain said. “In the sunlight it glistens as though covered in misty dew. So very romantic.” Rain sighed as she looked to Windy. “May I comb your hair?”

  Skylar’s sister nodded bashfully. Rain practically squealed as she danced to the vanity for the wooden comb. For a measure of time, she lost herself to the task of combing and plaiting Windlyn’s long strands. Lady Emily quietly sang a song in French, and Rain thought her heart would burst.

  “I am so happy the earlier medicine has encouraged your recovery,” Rain said, resting her head against Windy’s as she embraced her from behind. “You were so very ill and I was much worried for you.” A knock on the bedroom door startled her. “Oh! I forgot about Michael and Sam!”

  Skylar opened the door and drew his eyebrows together. “Is all well?”

  “Yes, My Lord.” Rain stood and fussed with the tucks and folds of her skirt. “I was simply braiding your sister’s hair. My apologies. I did not mean to take so long.”

  “No apology necessary.” Skylar regarded his mother and sister, and his face softened. “May I return the printer to Michael? He seems eager to find Coal and return to the lab.” She walked the machine to where he stood in the doorway.

  Gale-Anne pushed past him and gawked at her sister. Rain had pinned part of Windlyn’s hair up in an elaborate fashion. What she would give for a looking glass! Taking a step toward the youngest sister, Rain asked, “Would you care to join us, Gale?”

  “Can you do that to my hair?”

  “With delight!” Rain picked up a strand of Gale’s hair and pretended to inspect the earthen, brown tresses. “Though, I do believe you need ribbons.”

  “I love ribbons,” Gale-Anne said with a large grin.

  Rain smiled in kind. “Yes, I thought so. Shall you fetch me your f
avorites?” The youngest Kane bumped past Skylar as she dashed to her room. Skylar stared at Rain, unmoving, as though a statue carved into an eternal state of bewilderment. His eyes, however, revealed everything—gratitude, admiration, and confusion. She slid him a smile as she lowered her gaze. “May I trouble you for a favor, My Lord?”

  “Anything. I am entirely at your service, My Lady.”

  “Excuse me but a moment,” Rain said to Lady Emily and Windlyn as she strode past Skylar toward the living room. “Michael, here is the printer. All is well, sir.” She pointed to the machine in Skylar’s hand.

  “Thanks.” The scientist appeared relieved, stuffing the device back into his bag. “See you on Winter Solstice.”

  “Remember, you shall sit beside my family.”

  “I look forward to it, Ms. Daniels.”

  She walked him to the door as if this were her own apartment. When he and Sam disappeared down the village path, she tugged on Skylar’s tunic sleeve as she stepped outside.

  “Rain,” he whispered. “Your kindness—”

  “It is nothing.” She dismissed him with a wave of her hand. “It has been days since I have enjoyed the company of other women. I am quite selfish, really.”

  He took her hand, which had still fluttered about in the air as she spoke. “You are generous and compassionate.” Slowly, he bowed over her hand in honor. “Whatever you ask of me, My Lady, I am yours to command.”

  Rain could not help the blush that warmed her cheeks, especially when he did not release her hand. Nor did she know how to reply. “Skylar,” she began and stopped.

  “You may call me Sky. I prefer it, actually.”

  “Sky...”

  “Yes?”

  Her entire body was in upheaval, from the muscles in her stomach which tightened with pleasure, to the fear stealing her breath. These were not the flutters of girlhood fancies. It was as if drops of moonlight had mixed with a warm, summer breeze and touched her pulse.