Chapter 13 Another World
"Come on" Anna pulled at Darin's arm knowing he was getting reluctant to go through the strange doorway. "Don't you want to see my house" she asked.
Jeraela made a noise that reminded Anna of a laugh, Darin flushed following her through the doorway, Fortunately she had opened the closet door when she had gone to get the blanket, there was enough room for them to move.
"Are you having any trouble feeling her" Anna asked him once they were in the hall and she had closed the closet door.
He closed his eyes and felt for his bond "Yes, and she thanks you for the blanket, it's rather damp in the shed".
Anna smiled "Tell her your welcome"."Come on" she grabbed his hand again.
He looked around him as she took him down the hallway and into a room with a fireplace.
"This is my living room, it's also where the only other doorway is located, this one goes to the garden" she said.
"Where's the doorway" he asked looking around.
"It's over here, in the corner by the bookcase, I moved it when I made the other doorway".
She walked to the corner with him following and pointed to a spot of darkness, hovering in midair.
"Won't people see the light from your living room" he asked frowning at the spot.
"No, on your side I moved it quite high up, It looks like a star at night, if they would even see it". She laughed at the look on his face "Don't worry I checked".
Suddenly there was a high pitched noise, he looked around wildly, but quickly grabbed her arm when she stumbled in her haste to reach one of the tables. "With you I almost don't need a cane" she said over her shoulder as she grabbed an object from the table, or at least part of it.
She put it to the side of her head and said "Hello".
He started, and asked "I'm still here".
She frowned and waved a hand at him, then he remembered one of the concepts from her language, a phone he realized, everything was so strange, half the time he didn't even get things, unless he ran into them.
"Mom, he's a friend, I'm fine, but I planning to go on a little trip for awhile" she paused a little longer this time. It was frustrating only hearing half the conversation.
"I was out earlier, his names Darin" she frowned, then flashed an apologetic grin at him. Don't worry, he's not after the money, he has his own". Then she looked a little alarmed "No, you don't have to come over" a long pause this time. "Mom", then she took the phone from her ear and looked at it for a second before looking at him in growing panic.
"It's my mother, she's coming here" she said.
"Don't you want her to meet me" he asked.
"It's not that, it's what you're wearing, people don't wear uniforms like that here" she said pointing at his Herald's uniform.
She had a flash of inspiration "Come on" she grabbed his hand and urged him to follow.
They came to a room with a bed and a couple of chests with drawers, there was another large door to one side of the room. "Take it off" she said startling him.
"What, I thought your mother was coming" he said.
She flushed "No, I mean your shirt, the pants can pass, but you need another shirt, I think one of my oversize ones may fit" she said looking in one of the drawer's. She looked up in time to see him pulling off his under shirt, she stopped in mid motion for a moment, her mouth suddenly dry. She was suddenly conscious of what room she was in.
He caught her look and grinned back at her a certain look in his own eye. "Here" she said tossing him a shirt.
He nodded and pulled it on, she couldn't help watching. Then she realized she still had her dress on "You'll have to go to the living room so I can change" she said.
He gave her a look "We're lifebonded" he said.
"We don't have time" she shot back.
"We will later" he promised.
She panicked, thinking about later.
"I have scars too" he said as he felt what she was feeling. "I'll show you mine..." he left the rest of the sentence hanging.
She laughed and waved him out, not quite daring to touch him. She was still blushing as he walked out and closed the door behind him whistling as he went.