Edmond insisted that Nyla return to school the next day, despite Veronica and Eason’s protests.“Really, Edmond? After what happened yesterday? Let the poor girl have a day of rest!” Veronica chastised.Eason added, “Seriously, Dad. I can go, but let Nyla stay home today.”“I can go,” Nyla piped up. She had been standing in the doorway unnoticed.“See, Nyla says she can go,” Edmond declared, finishing the argument.Walking towards the hovercar, Eason leaned over and whispered, “You don’t have to do this, no matter what Dad says. Mom will back you on this one.”“No, I want to go to school.” She added at his dubious glance, “I want everything to go back to normal. I don’t want to have to think about it anymore.”“If you say so.”To their surprise, Edmond got behind the wheel again. Exchanging glances, Eason and Nyla s

Their conversation was interrupted by Sarah’s parents entering the room and sitting down next to their daughter. Earnestly, Sarah’s mother looked at Nyla. “Dear, would it be too much for you to tell us about the day you saved Dylan?”            “Mom!” Dylan hissed. His cheeks tinged red.            “Seriously, Mom, she's a guest,” Sarah added.            “I don’t mind,” Nyla said, drawing everyone’s gaze. She looked back blandly.            “Well, thank you,” Dylan’s father chimed in, solemn and serious.            Nyla thought back to that night. She remembered it perfectly, just like

Traipsing downstairs  and still yawning, Nyla found Edmond and Eason waiting for her. “Ready?” Edmond asked, glancing at his phone. Nyla nodded, and stepped down next to them. Edmond turned and strode up the hall, Eason and Nyla trailing in his shadow. Instead of walking next to her, Eason walked ahead. She could have easily caught up to him, but he was firmly planted in the middle of the hallway with no room on either side of him for Nyla. She found herself frowning.            Whatever happened last night between us didn’t solve whatever problem he has. The thought unsettled her. How could she fix it if she didn’t understand? She just wanted her friend back.            The five-hour car ride was silent. Edmond sat on his phone, typing away to invisible people. The moment Eason had settled into his seat, he had closed hi

As Nyla approached the door, it opened not by a sensor but by a maid dressed in a classic black and white outfit. The sight of the woman took Nyla aback – the maids at the Braun’s household didn’t wear anything nearly as atrocious. The style had fallen out of fashion several centuries ago, even she knew that.Passing through the rooms in the shadow of the maid, Nyla took in the grandeur of the house. It was almost as stately as the Governor’s mansion except here everything reeked of old money passed down through the generations. Every room had its own style of décor, but the whites were all faded to a dull cream, and the air was a bit stuffy.The maid deposited her into a small dining room meant for intimate meals among the family. Two people sat waiting for her at the small table: a stunning, older woman with a single inky black braid cast over her shoulder and someone who looked exactly like the Major. It was like looking at a picture.

“Yes?” Nyla called out, swiveling in her desk chair to see the newcomer enter her room. Eason stepped in. He had his large hoverboard under one arm. Lifting it up slightly, he asked, “Want to learn how to ride this thing?” Nyla beamed – she’d been craving a lesson since Eason had told her he knew how to fly. “Yes!” She bounded out of her chair and grabbed her shoes, putting them on as they walked out the door and down the stairs. “Where are we going to practice?” Nyla asked as they stepped onto the back patio. “Over by the tennis courts,” Eason pointed with his free hand. “I know you don’t want to be too close to the pool, even if there’s no chance you’ll fall off and through the pool room’s roof.” “How do you know I won’t fall?” Nyla asked with a serious tone to her voice. She wasn’t afraid of heights, but she knew falling off a moving board going twenty miles per hour would hurt immensely. Even Menhits, who were hardier than normal humans, would be damaged