When they reached the long drive lined with poplar trees, Mara gasped. Dru turned to her, concerned. She whispered that she had been there before. He smiled and said something about travelling back and forth in dreams. Mara did not feel like clarifying.
Dru pulled into the drive, turned off the engine, and got out of the vehicle to open Mara's door for her. She wondered fleetingly where he had learned to be such a gentleman. He took her lightly by the hand, and they entered the great house.
Mara's knees weakened for a moment when she saw the main hall and the twisting stairway that led to the turret. She felt a dull ache in her jaw, her neck, and her stomach. Her skin was tight and painful. Dru, thinking she was merely nervous, put his arm around her shoulder and gave her a delicate kiss on the head.
They turned into the magnificent room that was Grigoras Vihesi's study. Sitting behind an antique mahogany desk was the man himself. He rose as his nephew and Mara entered. Mara did not immediately notice Kip Tomiko and Lukas Johns standing in the shadows of the bookshelves. Dru, however, instantly took note and shot his uncle a quizzical glance that was just as rapidly dismissed by a wave of his uncle's hand.
“Ms. Roy, delighted to finally meet. Please have a seat,” said the minister of learning, as he gestured to a leather wingback chair across from his desk.
“Thank you, Mr. Vihesi.” Mara ventured towards the chair. She sensed something from Dru. He was nervous. She caught a momentary whiff of perspiration. He did not look at her as she passed.
“Ignition, please leave us.”
“Yes, Uncle.” He turned and walked toward the door. He did not give Mara a touch, a squeeze, or a kiss. He only looked to her when he was in the doorway.
“See ya later.” He was gone.
It was a full minute after Dru's departure when Vihesi finally spoke, “Mara, you are a very lucky girl. You and I are the only people of whom I know capable of travelling between your world and mine. For certain business reasons, I have had to close Dr. Akub's research programme. Instead, I have decided to continue my investigations privately.”
Trying to sound bold, Mara said, “I know all about your so-called inventions and why you want my world to remain secret. It's no big deal. Only one person on my side even knows, and she doesn't believe me.” Mara instantly regretted her hastily thought-out argument. She had just placed Christi in danger.
“Well, that's nice to know.” Vihesi's voice lost its diplomatic tone and became more patronising. “But I'm not worried about your side. It's this dimension where there is potential for Akub's followers to cause a fuss. I have shut him down, but you must stop coming here. All his students know who you are. They may have told other family and friends. The more frequently you are here, the more complicated it is for me.”
Mara tried to ignore his tone and spoke calmly. “Mr. Vihesi, I don't want to cause you any problems. I only come to visit Dr. Akub, and Battery, and Dru—my friends.”
Vihesi snorted dismissively. “My nephew must be flattered by your admiration, but he does as he is told. I asked him to get close to you and he did so.” Mara felt a blow to her stomach as surely as if she had been kicked.
Vihesi continued, “You will not return anymore. If you do so, then not only will it become difficult for you but more so for your friends. Your pal, Battery, has already lost a brother and her father. Do you want her to suffer further? What about the professor?” He made it seem as if everything was Mara's fault and she was a child to be punished.
At that, Vihesi gestured to Tomiko and Johns. They approached Mara, and Tomiko held her arms. Mara screamed for Dru and tried to kick. How could this be happening? she wondered fleetingly. Why didn't I tell him that I am losing my ability to cross? she thought suddenly. Johns punched her in the abdomen. Mara felt pain, then hot, and then nothing.