Parallel (2 page)

“Then eat, Ava, and I will tell you what I know.”

Ava took a bite of the steaming meat pie, which was too hot, so rather than spit it out she tried to subtly move it around in her mouth until she could stand to swallow it. She blew on the pie before taking her next bite. Avalon took a sip of mead before launching into her tale.

“I assume before now you’ve never realized that multiple universes exist, all at once. The only reason we know this is because the portal sprites love sending people here, toying with their lives. This is the first time it’s happened to me, but I’ve seen many confused and scared people sent through. Some of them found lives here. Some of them went mad searching for their proper universal plane. Some left and never returned.” Avalon’s gaze was distant, as though she were remembering terribly sad things. This was not encouraging. Ava scarfed down her meat pie and drank another sip of lukewarm water.

“So there’s a way out. That’s good. The only problem is I wasn’t sent here alone. My boyfriend, Mason, he went through the portal, too. We need to find him, Avalon,” Ava stared hard into her own eyes, which was probably the weirdest sensation she had ever felt. Like looking into a mirror, and having the reflection come to life.

“Who is Mason? And what’s a boyfriend? Do you differentiate between your gendered friends where you come from?” Avalon asked.

Ava explained what the term boyfriend meant, and Avalon’s cheeks bloomed with color.

“I’ve never known love before,” Avalon murmured, absently picking at nothing on the table. She sighed and looked up.

“I will help you, Ava, of course. How could I not? I would hope any version of us would look out for the other. Since we don’t know where Mason landed, we’ll have to seek the counsel of a witch. They are the only ones with the vision to see through the various realms.”

“A witch? That doesn’t sound good…” Ava repressed a shudder. Whether this was a dream, the afterlife, or some kind of bizarre reality, she had to accept whatever came and move on. There was no other way to get back home, if she even could. Avalon smiled.

“Why not? Witches are lovely people! They help people all the time, when they can be found, that is. The problem is the only way to get to a witch’s lair is with the help of a unicorn. Now they are the ones you don’t want to have to deal with.”

“But…aren’t unicorns like the best thing ever?” Ava tried to hide her excitement. Her bedroom dresser still hosted her favorite stuffed unicorn, Rainbow, from when she was a child.
Mason
, she reminded herself.
Let’s focus here.
Avalon was frowning.

“You’ll see, if we can find one. Now, let’s pack up some provisions and be on our way. No time to waste in the name of true love!” she squeaked. Ava wondered if there would be an alternate Mason here, and if he could make Avalon happy. She reminded Ava of herself long before her confidence had come in, when she was shy and insecure around pretty much everyone. She wanted more for Avalon, because she had wanted more for herself, and it had paid off.

“Where are our parents?” Ava asked as Avalon wrapped various food items and blankets into two brown packs. Avalon’s back stiffened. Apparently a sore subject.

“At sea,” she replied, without looking back. “Father wished to take Mother with him on his voyages, but in an effort to protect me I have been raised here by his cousin. Do you know Cousin John?”

Ava racked her brain. Her father had never mentioned a cousin named John, but if they were in an alternate universe any number of factors could influence the outcome of any situation. She tried to imagine what she would be like had she not travelled the world with her parents, seen the things she had, and met the people that taught her how to be strong. Looking at Ava, she apparently had the answer.

“I’ve never met him, no,” she replied. Avalon nodded, as though she expected as much, and continued with her packing. Ava stepped over to help, dropping the topic.

They finished filling the two packs and Ava took another swig of water before they set off on a dirt road through the woods. The area around them was quiet, and Ava wondered where Uncle John had gone off to. Avalon pointed in the direction they were to take, though she didn’t sound very confident about it, so Ava took the lead. The forest was peaceful, giving way to errant thoughts as they hiked along the path, which was smooth and flat—perfect for walking. As the hours passed and the sun travelled across the sky, she thought about the wisps of blue light that had pulled on her paddle and tried to remember whether they had faces. Sadly, it was all a blur. She did remember Mason’s expression though. Where was he now? Was he safe? Ava picked up her pace, taking quick steps until she was tossed, unceremoniously, upside down.

“Ahh!” she yelled, her mouth full of leaves and prickly rope. She had been caught in a net, apparently a trap that had been triggered by the weight of her foot. The net spun and spun as she tried to pry the rope apart, her head starting to spin with it. Finally she gave up and sat, breathing hard.

“Ava!” Avalon cried from far below. Carefully, Ava repositioned herself so she could look down and immediately regretted it. How had she shot up so high?

“What a disappointment.” Ava’s head whipped around toward a male voice that was right by her ear. There, crouching on a tree branch, was a young man in forest green clothing, staring at her, his eyes matching his clothes. His light brown hair was tied back in a queue, pulled away from otherwise very symmetrically appealing features. Not that Ava cared about that. The guy was annoyingly handsome, but he had nothing on Mason. She preferred blonde men anyway. She glared.

“Are you talking about yourself or your poorly designed trap?” she spat. His eyebrow lifted in surprise.

“You’re pretty mouthy for a woman. Aren’t you supposed to be meek and delicate? I wouldn’t know really.”

“You’re pretty stupid for a man. I don’t need to answer your questions. Let me go so my friend and I can be on our way.”

“On your way to where?” he asked, not moving. Ava pulled at the rope again in frustration, causing another round of ring around the rosie. She growled and waited for the spinning to stop. As she circled around and around, she glared at the tree man in silence, while his expression clearly told her he had all day and didn’t mind waiting. Finally, she gave in.

“We need to find a witch. I’ve been tricked by some portal sprites, or some nonsense, and now I have to find a way back to my world so I can get home to my boy…to my fiancé. Apparently only a witch can help us, and we really don’t have time to waste so if you could…” she gestured around her at the net. The man continued to squat on his branch, and Ava wondered absently if his quads were at all sore sitting in that position.

“An engaged woman traveling alone in the woods searching for a witch? How very odd. Odd indeed. Even more so because our quests are exactly the same.”

Ava frowned.

“You’re looking for a witch, too? And I never said I was alone.”

“One travel companion rarely counts as company, lass. And aye, I do seek a witch,” he said, finally sitting on the branch, allowing his legs to dangle. His expression softened as he stared out into the treetops. “My mother has been sick for many years; I cannot sit by and watch anymore. I figured if I could find a witch, she could give me a potion to bring my mother back to her former health again. I will not stop until I find a cure for her, you see.” The man looked back at Ava, and the light in his eyes changed.

“What I need is a unicorn. Problem with unicorns is they’re sexist. They don’t like men. And now instead of a unicorn I’ve caught a mouthy woman, which might be even worse!”

Ava bristled. “Hey, it’s not my problem that you’re a terrible tracker, buddy. Let me down and we can both be on our way. In fact, I hope you do find the witch and your mom gets better. Just leave me and my friend alone!”

“But our paths lie together now, friend. I need a woman to better lure a unicorn, and you need to not be trapped in my net. So, we have an agreement upon us now. I will agree to let you go, if you agree to join my quest so that we may find a unicorn together and seek the council we both desperately need. Everyone wins!”

Ava stared at him as she rocked back and forth in her earth filled net, high above the ground. In the distance Ava could hear Avalon calling out, though the wind muffled her words. Ava pulled gently on the ropes surrounding her one more time. There was no way she’d be able to get out without his help. She exhaled.

“Fine. You may join us. But if you’re as useless on the trail as you are at trapping, I reserve the right to get rid of you as soon as possible.”

“Fine words coming from the inside of my net!”

“I’m not a unicorn!”

“Unfortunately, no.” The hunter frowned, then grinned. He hawked up a chunk of phlegm and spit it into his hand, then, horrifyingly, held it out for Ava to take.

“Um, what?” she said, stalling. The hunter frowned.

“You have to seal the deal. Spit in your hand and shake mine. That’s how we give our word around here.”

“No.”

The hunter’s hand lowered.

“What do you mean, no?”

“I mean that’s super gross and I’m not touching your gross ass hand.” Ava crossed her arms. “Why don’t you wipe your mouth boogers on your pant leg, wash that hand off with some water, soap if you’ve got it, and then I’ll consider touching it.”

“You’re really weird, you know that?”

“You’re disgusting. Did you know that?” Ava shot back. Still, even though he grumbled through the whole process, Ava watched as the hunter pulled out a cream colored flask and washed the spittle from his hand. After patting it down against his pant leg, he held his hand out to her again, his expression sarcastic. Balancing her body to keep the net from spinning again, Ava reached out and gave his fingers a brisk squeeze before letting go.

“There, Your Highness, now that wasn’t so bad, was it?”

“I’ve had better,” Ava replied, crossing her arms again and lifting an eyebrow expectantly. “Whenever you’re ready then.”

The hunter jumped from his branch, leaping to another as he unleashed a vine that slowly lowered Ava back toward the ground. As she broke through the leaves, she could see Avalon staring up, wide-eyed and scared. In that moment she wasn’t so sure she liked this version of herself. Before hitting the ground, the net shot up, then plopped Ava unceremoniously in a heap of detritus on the ground. Ava rubbed her lower back, grumbling. “Thanks for the soft landing.”

The hunter landed like a cat next to her, and Avalon screamed.

“Avalon, it’s okay. This guy wants to join our quest.” It was hard to sound reassuring when Ava was skeptical about their new companion. He walked over to Avalon, bowed, took her hand in a delicate gesture, and kissed it. If it were at all possible for Avalon to turn a brighter shade of red, she might have turned into an apple. Ava crossed her arms.

“Oh, so now you’re a gentleman?” she asked.

The hunter smirked. “To those who deserve it, yes.” He turned back to Avalon. “Dear lady, please allow me to escort you on your journey, that I may provide protection to your delicate self and your…friend.” His sideways glance at Ava told her all she needed to know about what he thought of her status on this journey. She wondered how quickly they could be rid of him. Avalon curtseyed, which somehow looked delicate, even in pants.

“Good sir, you are most kind. We are in great need of assistance as we seek a unicorn to guide us to a witch. My friend here needs to get home, and it falls on us to help her as representatives of this world. Pray tell, what is your name?”

The hunter bowed again. “Deepest apologies for my rudeness, milady. My name is Hunter, of the Greenbow Shire, at your service.”

Ava snorted. Hunter turned and stared daggers at her.

“Something funny, milady?”

“Oh, it’s milady now? Good, I’ve been upgraded! But you’re honestly telling me that you’re a hunter…named Hunter?”

Hunter turned slightly red. “Yes, I am. Do you take issue with someone being aptly named?”

“I take issue with someone being misnamed, but we’re wasting time. So, you’re a hunter. How do we track down a unicorn?”

Hunter changed subjects. Gazing out into the forest, he stood in silence for a moment before looking back at the two of them. He began to speak, paused and stared back and forth between them several times. He turned to Avalon last.

“Your alternate self really has dropped into your lap! How very strange! The two of you could not be more different.”

Ava ignored the obvious insult. It seemed to fly straight over Avalon’s head.

“It is strange, but not uncommon. Please sir, tell us what we need to know.” Hunter cast one more mistrustful look at Ava, who continued to glare at him. She was missing Mason more with every passing minute. The last thing they needed was some oaf who would probably trick them into finding the unicorn just to take it to the witch himself. Hunter focused on Avalon.

“Unicorns are drawn to two things: beautiful young maidens, such as yourself, and fairy pools. There is such a pool not far from here which is why I set up my trap on this very spot. Perhaps if milady perches by the pool and waits for our prey, we can lure one in a more gentle fashion? I’ve heard tell that many a unicorn has been enticed this way.”

Avalon’s eyelashes fluttered as Hunter extended his arm to escort her to the fairy pool. He cast a sideways glare at Ava as they breezed past her, Avalon all eyes for the dashing hunter. Indulging herself, Ava made a gagging gesture behind their backs before falling in step behind them. The forest air was cool and refreshing, making their walk a pleasant one as they headed along a narrow side path. The trail opened up into a clearing, and Ava stopped in shock.

Under a canopy of trees, a ground cover of amethyst flowers spread in every direction. The footpath before them was inlaid with solid gold bricks. Surrounding the glade was every type of fruit tree Ava could imagine, but when she went to pick an apple she realized the fruit was made of solid ruby. Unable to resist, she slipped it into her bag. The blueberries on the bushes below were pure sapphires. All around them glittering jeweled fruit winked in the sunlight that peeked in from behind leaves high above. Judging by the way they glinted, they could easily have been made of emerald, and yet everything was as light as the fruit and foliage it was meant to take after. At the other end of the clearing, a tunnel made entirely of greenery extended into a closed off wood. Hunter gestured with his unoccupied hand.