Sample Chapter

CHAPTER 1— BORN OF TWO WORLDS

No one stared at me as I walked down the street, but no one spoke to me either. I ducked down an alley and hid in the shade between two buildings. While safe from prying eyes, I eavesdropped on the people at the market.

“Didn’t have anything like this back on Earth.” A woman seller said holding up a large pink melon.

“Also didn’t have barbarians trying to kill us.” An old man replied.

I tuned out the couple debating how much better life was before the shift, trying to hear something from the group of kids across the street.

“What- Who was that?” The new trader’s daughter asked.

“That’s Altera,” My own personal bully replied, poisoning her against me already. “Don’t worry, she’s harmless.” I could hear the smirk in her voice.

A tingly nagging sensation crept up my neck and I stuck my head out of the ally. The clay shop fronts all looked normal, as did the familiar sellers at their carts. An unfamiliar man sat across the street wearing a brown dress. Stranger yet, he emitted a faint glow. Was he the danger I sensed? My vision blurred and doubled. One of him appeared normal, but the other had colored threads swirling around inside him. It ended as quickly as it began.

His eyes locked on mine and I turned away.

“Hey you, girl!”

I tried to walk away naturally, but somehow I knew he was behind me. As I quickened my pace, it must’ve been obvious to the crowd that I was in trouble, but no one stopped to help the weird girl. I’m used to their judging eyes, but it surprised me when they gave the man behind me dirty looks as well.

“Filthy wizard,” an old woman muttered.

He’s a wizard? What’s a wizard doing all of the way out here? I broke into a run, his puffing breaths close behind me.

A net of glowing blue threads appeared in the road. I batted them out of the way and they parted like cobwebs.

I ducked down an ally. Other kids ran along the flat roofs all the time, but I’d always been too afraid. A ball of insects scrambled in my stomach trying to escape, but I didn’t have a choice. Using an old barrel to give me a boost, I grabbed the side of the building. A piece of the yellow clay broke off in my hand, but I got my leg over the side and levered myself up.

My sandals skidded over the sandy roof, but I didn’t slow down. The shops stood right next to each other, so with a little leap over the lip of the roof I reached the next building without having to jump over open air.

Somehow, I knew the man was still close by, so I didn’t slow down until I reached the bakery and the end of my easy run. I bent over breathing hard and my nose filled with the yeasty smell of baking bread.

I felt the wizard again. He’s right behind me. No choice. My stomach lurched, but I held my breath and leaped across the gap to the next building. In midair, I realized I wouldn’t make it.

I closed my eyes and prepared for the fall that didn’t come. A yellow light held me to the side of the building. As I stared, it dimmed and then disappeared. I slid to the ground, landing heavily on my butt. That would leave a bruise, but at least I got away.

Mary sat outside her back door a few houses from mine. “Altera.” She waved at me, then frowned as I got closer. “What’s wrong?” We hadn’t been friends long, but she can tell when I’m upset, not like it’s hard. As if having greenish hair wasn’t bad enough, when I’m upset it changes.

I sighed. “What color is it now?” It’s too short for me to see, why draw attention to it?

“Purple.” She tried but failed to contain a giggle, knowing how I hate purple. At least she doesn’t know that when my hair is purple it means I’m afraid.

“I’m okay,” I waved her off. “I’d better get home.”

“Play with me this weekend?”

“Sure.”

I opened the front door and groaned seeing the fancy, unfamiliar shoes in the entryway. I crouched down, sneaked into the living room and tried to eavesdrop through the wall, but they were too quiet for me to hear anything. I stood and walked through the doorway into the kitchen.

The wizard sat at the table with Mom. Our vine-woven chair bowed under his weight.

“For such a young girl, she shows–” He stopped when he saw me. “How did you do that?”

“Do what?” Is he mad at me for running away? I stood staring at the woven rug, hoping he wouldn’t curse me. Wizards do terrible things to you if you upset them.

“My magic disappeared.” The net?

“I don’t know.” I told the truth.

“I’ve never seen someone with your coloring before. I’ve spoken with the traders and they haven’t either.”

I shrugged. “I don’t know that either.”

“Was her father …?” he began.

“No, her father was human,” mom snapped, and then took a deep breath. “Sorry, I’ve heard that a lot over the years, her father was just an ordinary man.”