4. The Rift
CHAPTER FOUR
THE RIFT
FAIR: an adjective meaning “light of hair or complexion.” Once upon a time, I might have thought of myself as fair. When I met the fae ambassador with Vivian bright and early the next morning, the meaning of that word changed for me.
After having more greens and pretzels for breakfast, I was escorted back to the main building to join Vivian. She told me the envoy had finally arrived to meet me, but although I tried to imagine the possibilities, I couldn’t think of a single actress or pop star that held a candle to the woman before me.
She was stunning. Modelesque. Statuesque. All the esques. Some half a foot taller than me, for starters, so nearing six feet tall. From head to toe, there didn’t seem to be the slightest imperfection. Her form was lithe like a dancer, and just as toned. Her skin was honeyed milk, and her flowing waves were the color of a spiderweb touched by the morning light. She had me practically composing poetry. But God damn .
“So, you are the blessed human,” she stated, arms stretched wide in greeting. Her voice even tinkled like birdsong.
“Hi. I’m Avery,” I managed, somehow, to say aloud. I raised an arm to shake her hand, but she pushed past it and gathered me up in a hug instead. I felt weightless in her arms. My eyes were drawn to her ears, which peeked out from between the long, silken locks of her pale golden hair. The tips were long and curved into elegant points.
“ Ishamenarin ,” she said—or something like it—as she released me. “The Goddess be with you,” she translated upon noticing my blank expression. I realized then that I was absolutely, woefully, horrifically underprepared for this entire thing. In disbelief, I cast a sidelong glance at Vivian, who had the decency to look borderline apologetic.
“I am called Luenki,” the fae woman continued. “I have been granted the honor of communicating with the humans on behalf of our leading family. We have been told of your circumstances and would like to invite you to our home as an honored guest.”
“I’m grateful,” I replied honestly. “You have no idea. And I look forward to seeing your…” What was the right word? Country? City? “Your world,” I finished, cursing myself internally for not preparing so as to make a good first impression.
“We are ready for you,” Luenki asserted, untroubled by my lack of eloquence. “The journey will be quick and easy. As soon as your leaders are sufficiently prepared.”
“We’re getting everything in order now, thank you.” Vivian stepped forward. “If I may have a moment with Avery alone?”
Luenki graciously bowed her head and moved on.
“It’s really impossible to be prepared for them,” Vivian said by way of apology once the fae woman was out of earshot.
“I can see why,” I remarked, unable to disguise the annoyance in my tone. “Anything else you think I might need to know? Now’s your chance.”
“The Rift entrance is over Lake Erie. We’ll take a car to the shore, where there will be a boat waiting for us.” She hesitated a moment before continuing. “They don’t have electricity or cell towers, so you won’t be able to communicate once you’re over there.”
My hand automatically went for the comforting weight of my phone in my pocket. “There’s no way to communicate at all?” I asked, shocked. Vivian shrugged.
“Messenger birds,” she offered. “But if you’d like to call anyone before you go, I suggest you do that now. And also… I’ll come with you just until we get to shore on the other side, but that’s as far as I can go. You’ll be on your own from there.”
I nodded, trying to hype myself up instead of focusing on the fact that I was soon going to be left alone in a foreign place. And not just any foreign place—a place completely disconnected from modern society, where I would stand out like a sore thumb and probably make an ass of myself the entire time. “Okay. Can I have a minute?”
Vivian gave me a sharp nod before striding off to join Luenki.
I retrieved my phone from my pocket and unlocked the screen. Pulling up my contacts, I paused over the listing that read “Mom.” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d spoken to her… my birthday, maybe? During the last few months I’d spent at home, she’d felt more like a talent agent than a mom. Would she even care to know about my condition? My finger hesitated over the call button before I decided to hit “message” instead.
Hey mom
I paused. How much could I safely say? I should probably leave out anything about the fae. What needed to be said? After giving it some thought, my fingers moved.
Just checking in. Going on a trip, not sure how long I’ll be gone. I’ll have limited service in case you don’t hear from me for a while. Hope you and dad are good. Talk soon
It would have to do. I pulled up my group chat with Chris and Devon next. Briefly, I wished I had said more than “thanks, see you guys later” before getting on the plane. If I had known I wouldn’t be able to text from across The Rift, I might have come up with a more meaningful farewell speech.
kk I’m off, wish me luck. thanks for everything 3
I stared down at my phone for another moment. When there were no immediate replies, I returned it to my pocket and went to catch up to Vivian and Luenki.
“I’m all set,” I told them. Vivian raised an arm, and within seconds, an SUV with tinted windows pulled up alongside us. After helping me into the backseat, she offered a hand to Luenki, who took it with the same grace as a lady accepting the arm of a nobleman. Luenki settled into the seat beside me as Vivian rounded the car.
Extremely aware of the personification of perfection sitting beside me, I racked my brain for something to say. “Have you ever ridden in a car before?” My weak attempt to make conversation was rewarded with a brilliant smile from the fae woman.
“A few times since coming into my role,” Luenki answered. “It is thrilling to be sure, but I still prefer avida . Our riding beasts.”
“Oh, I’ve heard of those!” I was relieved to recall that Vivian had mentioned something about that on the plane the day before. “What are they like?”
Luenki pondered my question as the car rolled into motion. “They are big and strong, with backs so broad they can carry two with ease. The males have whiskers and antlers, while the females have tufted tails. This time of year, they are shedding their winter coats. You will be on top of one before long.” Taking in my wide eyes, she tittered. “Have no fear. They will know to be careful with a new rider.”
“I’ve been on one before,” Vivian chipped in from the front seat, her addition to the conversation easing my discomfort somewhat. “It is certainly an experience. But she’s right, they’re very sensitive creatures. Though, no matter how gentle they are with you, you’ll be walking funny the rest of the day.”
“It does involve some muscle,” Luenki agreed. “You must sit tall and hold on with your legs. The proper form takes time to develop.”
“I look forward to it,” I said, and I meant it.
As we headed down the street, the buildings grew few and far between. Curiously, they also became smaller and more modern, concrete walls giving way to metal and glass. Perhaps these had been built later, after The Rift opened. The driver made a left turn, and then there was a security gate guarded by at least two dozen armed soldiers in camouflage uniforms. Beyond that was the lake, the shore lined with scientists in HAZMAT suits, big pieces of machinery that I could only assume to be testing paraphernalia, and all manner of boats and planes. As we pulled up to the gate and the driver rolled down the window to provide his identification, I scooted forward so that I could see through the windshield. My breath caught.
I had never seen The Rift before. Apparently, pictures did not do it justice. The dimensional tear was a jagged line that cleaved the sky in two from the surface of the water to some twenty or thirty feet in the air. Inside the break was a geometric pattern that reminded me of the crystals inside of a geode, sharp angles fading into a misty mass that twisted and warped as though it were alive. The surrounding water ran from it in tight ripples. Before the opening was a floating platform that extended all the way to shore for easy access.
“It is beautiful, no?” Luenki’s voice pulled me out of my momentary fixation.
“Yes,” I breathed. “Beautiful.” It was, it really was. It also could have been something from a nightmare. I was going inside of that? And what the hell were the HAZMAT suits about? A bout of dizziness and nausea hit me together in a rush. I had to sit back and grasp my seatbelt to steady myself .
We passed the gate and pulled up beside several armored vehicles parked in a row. The driver shifted into park. Vivian got out first, and Luenki and I followed her lead. We were only perhaps twenty feet from the shoreline, and the only boat on the water was an unremarkable motorboat that sat no more than six.
“We’re going in that?” I asked doubtfully. There were plenty of other options parked along the shoreline that looked quite a bit more comfortable.
“That's all that’s necessary.” Vivian waved the driver forward to set my bags in the boat.
“Ms. Pierce.”
Vivian pivoted at the sound of her name. The soldier who’d spoken saluted in greeting.
“We’re all set. Ready when you are.”
“Thank you, sergeant. Luenki?”
Luenki looked around. As if on cue, a parrot-like bird with a long, thin beak and marbled green and white plumage glided toward us on the breeze. Luenki held up an arm, and it hovered a moment before landing. “They are ready to receive us,” she reported, giving the bird a loving stroke with her free hand before it took off again. I watched in awe as it zipped fearlessly toward the open Rift and disappeared into the churning mass within.
“Well then, let’s get on with it,” Vivian declared, all business. She made for the boat, the sergeant following closely behind. Luenki lingered, perhaps noticing my trepidation.
“All will be well,” she assured me with a soft, knowing smile. “We will look after you.”
“I know,” I said quickly, not wanting her to think that my nerves had anything to do with the fae. “It’s not that. It’s just that I’ve never been very far from home. I don’t really travel.” Not after the last time I left the confines of safety and the unthinkable happened. Now, I threw myself into an even bigger unknown, with no safety net of any kind. Why had I agreed to this again? My health, my duty… solid reasons, to be sure, but they seemed small now that it came down to it.
Luenki’s hand slipped into mine, startling me.
“The Goddess is with us,” she proclaimed, marching us forward with her head held high. I would have to ask about this goddess at some point. Sizing up the distance from the ground to the motorboat as we approached, I tried to figure out how to climb in without embarrassing myself, but Luenki didn’t miss a beat. She shifted behind me, inserted her hands under my armpits, and lifted me onboard as though I weighed as much as a Chihuahua. I collapsed in the seat next to Vivian, stunned into silence, and Luenki hopped in after me, skirts fluttering in the breeze.
“Thanks,” I blurted. She just smiled.
Several soldiers lined up on shore to see us off as the sergeant started the motor. I directed my attention forward, pulling out my phone to check if I’d gotten a response before it was too late. There was only one notification, from my mom:
Mom: ok dear have fun
That was it. A small part of me had hoped that she might show an interest in my life and ask for more details, but I guess that was too much to ask. I sighed and put the phone away.
The Rift loomed ahead in all its glory, appearing even bigger the closer we got, like it was about to swallow us whole. In the disconcerting silence, the steady purr of the motor and the gentle splash of the wake it created were magnified. I chose to focus on the comfort of Vivian’s stoic presence beside me as we neared the swirling cloud of mist.
The air felt denser with every foot we traveled, like an intense level of humidity. Goosebumps prickled my flesh, and the hair on the back of my neck stood on end. We crossed the threshold and the haze swallowed everything before us, including the water and the tip of the boat. All at once, the heaviness in the air went from stifling to invigorating. I became deeply aware of my crippling fatigue, which lessened with each cleansing exhale.
“Do you feel it?” Luenki murmured from behind me, sounding excited.
“What is it?” I breathed, heart pounding at the foreign sensation.
“The magic is welcoming us home,” she explained, reaching a hand into the mist. It might have been my imagination, but it almost appeared to caress her fingers in greeting before dissipating. It evaporated all around us—a sign that we were approaching the other side? The air still felt charged, but the hazy overcast lightened, and a subtle herbal scent tickled my nose. I could see the water below us again; it was greener than before. The boat slowed as we pulled through and the other side of The Rift came into view.
Stunning was too mild a word for the scenery. The water that stretched before us was a striking green, giving way to a shoreline studded with tall, green grass and transparent bell-shaped flowers that swayed in the breeze. Mountains and rolling hills comprised most of the horizon. Nearer to us, the lake—river?—twisted out of view, and hills gave way to forests with immense, knotted trees wider in diameter than I was tall. Where the trees in D.C. were largely bare this time of year, theirs were draped in leaves of brilliant colors, viridian and peach, like they had been painted with great care before our arrival.
Just before the imposing line of trees, there waited four massive, majestic creatures, three of which had riders. I couldn’t make out the mounted individuals from this distance, but the creatures were clear enough. They had little in common with horses besides the general shape: supple bodies with a long, curving neck and four powerful legs. Three of the beasts were lavender and one was butter yellow. Two of the lavender ones appeared to be male, judging by the large maroon antlers. Even the smallest of the four was easily the size of a draft horse, with thick limbs and layers of rippling muscle.
Luenki got to her feet as we neared land, ignoring the sergeant’s barked warning to be careful. He needn’t have bothered—she cleared the last few feet in a graceful leap. One of the fae had dismounted and advanced toward us. He resembled Luenki in some ways: skin the color of sweet cream, pale golden hair, and a body built for sin. I tried to find some flaw in his appearance, studying his limbs and face intently. The beginnings of crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes was the only flaw I could make out. Greeting Luenki with a quick fluttering hand motion, he knelt to grasp the bow of the boat and drew it alongside the shore with one hand. The subtle display of strength stunned me even as I gripped the sides of the boat for balance. Steadier on her feet than I was, Vivian thanked him without missing a beat and moved forward to disembark. The boat swayed, my stomach rolling along with it, and I held my breath, half expecting to lose my meager breakfast to the river.
Then a hand appeared in my line of sight. I looked up in surprise at the fae man, who said nothing but whose expression was open and encouraging. His eyes were such a rich shade of blue that a person could get lost in them… and so I did, I realized, as it registered that I still hadn’t moved from my seat on the boat. Gratefully taking hold of the proffered appendage, I stumbled after Vivian onto the grass.
Luenki had greeted the two men that remained mounted. Now, the three of them approached on foot, and I turned my attention to the new arrivals. Despite myself, despite the situation, despite everything that mattered, I gaped—I couldn’t help it.
Luenki fitted her forearms on top of each other before her chest and bowed. “We welcome Vivian Pierce, Lieutenant Governor of the Ohio State, and Avery Nelson, the Goddess-blessed human, to our shores. It is my honor to introduce you to the first prince, Solois of the King’s House Wysalar, and second prince, Astonriel.”