'We are still not sure, how and why these rainbow streaks have appeared in the sky, Mr Britton, but to me, it seems like…uh, similar, to the photovoltaic effect of the northern lights.'
The clip of the young man in spectacles cut short to an anchor-woman sitting behind a slap of white painted wood, against the backdrop of the city of Roanoke. She looked unimpressed and with a slight condescending smile she looked towards the camera and spoke. 'There you have it folks, these streaks of rainbow-coloured lights seem to be just another natural phenomena.'
The tv clicked off.
Kiara's finger was tightly pressed onto the off button and her hands gripped it hard. Her eyes glanced towards the clock, its second ticked slowly past the hour and minute hand that stood against ten and two. She pressed her fingers onto the nape of her nose, feeling frustrated.
It had been two days ago when these rainbow streaks appeared on the sky near mountainside. The after effect of a rupture on reality made by the Realm-tears. They would last for another few weeks as the reality slowly stitched itself back. And a rupture of that level, meant there were several people from the reality of Rahas on Earth.
Kiara watched at the black screen as her mind tried to build one by one the blocks of who, what and in how much danger she and her daughter were in. She glanced back at the clock and in bout of irritation jumped up from the couch and walked towards her bedroom. It was past Tara's curfew time, and she had not heard back anything from her.
Ever since she escaped with her daughter to Earth, Kiara was on the lookout for these streaks, these claw marks against reality, waiting cautiously. Of the several realms under the of Rahas, Earth resonated least with the Realm of Spirits or as it is known more commonly in her world as the Jiva Sphaera. And for the inhabitants of Rahas this meant difficulty in connecting with their inner spirit, Uyir and their ability of elemental power. It was equal to losing the ability in their limbs.
Thus, Earth became one of the least breached realm. Kiara had taken advantage of this, hoping it would take several years for anyone to trace her and her daughter. And the plan did work.
Until two days ago, until the streaks clawed into the sky.
So, they finally decided to look here.
Kiara walked into her bedroom and opened the door of her wardrobe.
She pulled out her coat and traced her fingers around the coat trying to look for the clasp. At the end of her right collar, she felt its presence. Kiara pressed on the clasp, the tips of her thumb and index finger igniting in bright red light. Pristine black ringlets overlapping each other around a circle, a representation of the Interdimensional Committee and its duty of protecting the realms.
It had been years since she had activated it. Engraved in intricate red and gold designs, it reminded her of the day she had received it. She had walked up to the stage with a feeling of anxiousness in her stomach, but her heart, heavy with pride. As she turned to the crowd, she saw the beaming faces of her parents in the crowd and that of her love amongst the graduating trainees.
It has been so many years. Kiara couldn't remember how long it has been since the last time she smiled like that. She couldn't even remember the last time she cried.
She closed the wardrobe and watched her reflection as she put on the overcoat. All of that didn't matter anymore and she focused on the one thing that was the most important right now. Finding her daughter, before someone else did.
***
The onset of autumn, started with the heavy pattering of rain. The night was dead dark and the downfall did not help with the visibility. But Tara felt the slightest solace, as she dragged her soggy shoes towards the bus stop.
It was kind of late, she realised. Her plan had been to stay over at Michelle's house but regrettably too many things happened there for her to do that. She let the heavy drumming of the rain drown out her voice as she sobbed heavily into her hands, slumping on the bench.
Her dress was completely in ruins. She had worked so hard to fit into that dress, all for what?
After putting her friend Michelle to bed, she had been on her way to the exit, when she had spotted her ex-boyfriend standing near the corner of the library, chatting with another girl. Her heart had jumped up in excitement, hoping to rekindle the fire they had so forcefully extinguished, when he suddenly nosedived into making out with the girl.
It felt like someone punched the wind out of her and she felt blinded.
She had somehow managed to stumbled onto the front door, when some drunk idiot poured all their beer onto her dress. As she felt all the eyes turn toward her, she realised, she didn't want to stand one more moment in the embarrassment and rushed out.
'Are you alright, dear?'
Tara looked up.
A woman stood in front of her. Was she drowning so much in her sorrows that she didn't realise someone walking upto her?
'I am alright.' She gurgled through raspy voice.
'That crying didn't seem much like alright.' The woman replied. 'If you want, you can talk about it to me, dear.'
Tara looked at her closely. The woman was dressed quite weird, her long black coat, almost leather, with a gleam of celtic bolts like patterns of ice blue. It was buttoned all the way to the nape of her neck. Her hands were covered in black gloves and there were engravings on her coat in a delicate gold that glimmered softly now and again, which Tara felt like she recognised but couldn't understand.
But more than anything, it was her eyes that made Tara creeped out a little. She had pale skin tone, but her eyes were blue, as blue as cold ice, piercing and cruel. 'I would rather not talk about it.' Tara replied, as politely as she could make herself. 'If you don't mind, I would like to wait for the bus and not think about it.'
The woman shrugged with a smile and sat down next to her.
Tara turned towards the other side, wiping on her cheeks the residue of her outburst and waited for the bus.
A few moments may have passed when the lady spoke again. 'Are you sure it's going to come dear?'
Tara frowned and turned to the woman, her eyes in confusion. 'I am sorry, what do you mean?'
'The bus…..Are you sure, the bus is going to arrive?' She asked again, stressing on each of her words, like she was making sure Tara understood what she was saying.
Tara felt a shiver down her spine but not out of cold. 'Why are you asking that?'
'Oh nothing, dear. I was just making sure.' Her voice was full of mockery. Or condescended. Tara was not sure, but she certainly felt a jolt of irritation.
'Making sure of what?' She asked, her voice not able to hide her nuisance.
'Oh, its nothing much, of course.' The woman started, with the same smile on her frosty face. 'We are looking for someone.'
Tara's mind began to race as her mother's words came rushing back to her head.
'If you see anything strange or out of place, I want you to get out of there.'
'Question,' Tara had asked, quite nonchalantly.' What exactly would be strange?'
Kiara paused as she looked up, her mind in thoughts. 'Anything that does not sit well with you.'
'That is very vague, Ma.' She replied as chomped on the bacon. 'Seeing my ex-boyfriend with someone else does not sit well with me.'
She had a short laugh with a sniffle at that point. 'Believe me, dear. For people like us, it is not very vague.'
From the corner of her eye, she felt several shadows emerging from the darkness, as it slowly started to move towards her. Had they always been there or did they just arrive? Strange, out of place, these words kept running over her head again and again as heart started thumping against her chest hard.
She was scanning around her, trying to spot the escape route. Her eyes drifted from the woman in front of her to the dark silhouttes behind her and then towards the streets beside her.
Tara could feel the corner of her eyes sting as she felt fear flow in as tears. She didn't know these streets, if she ran, she would be running into wild maze of concrete buildings and gravel roads.
'Dear..' The woman crooned maliciously.
Tara snapped her head towards the woman. She was holding up something. There was something brown and scrunched up. She narrowed her eyes at it and realised it was her brown eye contacts.
The woman slowly smiled. 'It's dim, but it helps with seeing you for who you are.' She said slowly enunciating every word. 'Your glowing coal eyes, really does stand out when we are in the dark.'
Tara paused as a chill ran through her spine.
Her face paled as she looked at the smirking woman in shock. Suddenly she could feel her chest enlarging and contracting as she took in each breathe.
'Tell me.' The woman spoke again, as what looked like frost collected over her brown contacts. 'When did you realise, I was not speaking English?'