Page 50 of The Beyond
Everyone turned to her.
“Why did time pass differently this time? Whenever we went before, it was as if we hadn’t left,” Scott asked.
Mia bit her bottom lip. “There was a theory that a shift of power can cause a flux. I suppose that could be the reason. I’ve never taken so many with me before, so I’m just spitballing here,” she added with a shrug.
“Does that mean when we go next time this will happen again?” Selene asked.
“There is that possibility. Things have… changed. Power is being woken by our trip. The next time we will be in the flesh. This time was only our projections. I can’t be sure what will happen,” Mia answered.
“You mean, our bodies stayed here?” Scott asked looking down at his legs as he rubbed them.
“Yes, which is why every part of me feels asleep,” Mia joked.
“What did we learn?” Scott asked. “I didn’t really understand any of that.
“First, food,” Mia said, rubbing her legs. “Scratch that. First, bathroom. Then food.” She stood up. “Stretch your legs before you try standing.”
Mia walked out of the room. Lucas followed her, leaving Selene and Scott alone, still sitting on the floor.
“Why did that thing want me?” she asked softly.
Scott took her hand and squeezed it lightly.
“Selene, goddess of the moon and the Beyond,” Scott said in a low tone, causing a shiver to race up her spine.
“If I’m the goddess of all that, why did it seem as if that thing wanted me for another reason?” she asked.
“It mentioned three that were bonded with blood,” Scott pointed out.
“Tara, Lucas, and I.” Selene sighed.
“How about we head upstairs and let Mia explain the rest of it?” Scott suggested.
He helped her stand up, and after they used the bathroom, they headed upstairs.
Mia was in the kitchen, cutting cheese slices into small squares. There was tray of meat already cut into pieces on a large platter.
“Charcuterie night,” Mia said with a slight cheer. “Selene, why don’t you pour the wine?” She motioned to the bottles sitting on the table. “Scott, you can get the crackers.” She nodded to the pantry.
By the time Lucas appeared, they had the table full of finger foods.
“There he is,” Mia cheered. “You aren’t still mad at me, are you? I had no clue we’d be gone two days.” She rolled her eyes.
“I had a lot of explaining to do,” Lucas said. “If anyone asks, we were on a hike in a remote area,” he said to Scott. “A team building type of thing.” He rolled his eyes. “Oh, and you’re the new regional manager for Atlanta.”
Scott choked on the sip of wine he’d just taken. “What?”
Lucas shrugged and sat down next to Mia and started filling his plate with food. “It was that or tell them what was going on. Besides, Robert Kline is an ass and I’ve been wanting to sack him for a while.”
Scott glanced over at Selene. She smiled at him. “Congrats,” she said, holding up her wine.
Scott shook his head and tapped his glass to hers.
“Now, how about you explain what the hell just happened,” Lucas said to Mia.
“In a nutshell, the three of us”—Mia motioned to her, Lucas, and Scott—“are basically lapdogs.” She shrugged. “Either the daemon was lying or…” She let the rest of the sentence hang.
“So, your plan failed.” Scott turned to Lucas.
