Pages of Glass: Parallel Society, #5

By Stuart Jaffe

The Pages of Glass. Myth to some. Legend to others.

For the creature, Yal-hara, it is a truth which could reveal how to return to her own universe. And how she can choose other universes to conquer. Only one thing stands her way. The Parallel Society.

For Roni, the Pages are yet another mystery hidden by her grandmother, another piece of understanding the Society she is meant to lead, and another danger threatening her life and the lives of those she loves. Above all else, the Pages are to be guarded, kept safe, and never allowed in the hands of creatures like Yal-hara.

When these two powerful forces clash, the world may not survive.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stuart Jaffe
• Release date: Aug 31, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201170127

Book preview

Chapter 1

The wild thumping bass reverberated throughout the club as colorful lights swirled with hypnotic intensity. Roni swirled, too. Spinning on the dancefloor, her dress pinwheeling with the motion, she let her head fall back and her mouth hang open. Off to the right, Teanna jiggled a move of her own creation.

I like clubbing, Teanna shouted above the music. For a woman from another universe, she had adapted to Earth quite fast. She loved the hodgepodge of cultures clashing together and the vibrant mixtures that grew out of it. And the food — Teanna could not get enough of the variety of tastes available. You live like royalty, she had said the first time they drove into Philly to go dancing.

Roni had laughed that time. Even when her thoughts turned to the uglier sides of existence, she found that her new friend — and roommate — had a fresh perspective that brightened things. Teanna had not been raised in a life that punished her for having dark skin or a vibrant personality. To Roni, it meant the world did not have to be stagnant.

I’m going to the restroom, Teanna said and disappeared into the throngs of dancing bodies.

She was tough. Roni would never go to the restrooms alone in a place like this, but Teanna had been taught from an early age to stand her ground. After all, she had been raised with the expectation that, should she be called upon, she would be ready to fight off the creatures that might invade her universe from the others.

Roni spun again as the music dropped before thumping even louder. It had been nearly a year since venturing into the Caverns to find the Keeper, nearly a year since meeting Teanna there and having her join the Parallel Society, nearly a year since Roni’s missing memories — her Lost Time — had been restored. Before that, Roni would have been jealous at the thought of someone like Teanna benefiting from such an upbringing. Roni’s early life had been obscured from the truth — from the Parallel Society and all her family’s connections to it.

Not anymore, though. She finally felt free. And real. As if the girl she had been before could never become a full person. But now she had a chance to understand her true nature, to see if her past might shape her thoughts, and maybe to let it influence her future. Coupled with Teanna’s exuberance for this new world, the two acted like college co-eds finally unleashed from a strict family yoke. Any free night, they drove into Philly. They drank and danced, filling their time with overly-enthusiastic giggling and feeling a growing bond.

Teanna returned with two shot glasses of sloshing liquid. She picked up dancing next to Roni right with the beat. Roni whipped her body around and let the music gratify. She hadn’t worried that Teanna would be unable to find her in this wall of people. After all, Teanna was a gifted tracker — one of the reasons she brought value to the Society.

But even with Teanna’s ability to track relics from other universes trapped on Earth, work had been sluggish of late. They had come across nothing which Roni would call exciting. Gram said that when they did their jobs right, things often grew quiet and uneventful. Be glad for it, she had said. Roni tried. Every night that she and Teanna went clubbing, she tried.

Two men in expensive sports coats and cheap T-shirts kept looking in Roni’s direction. Dancing as they approached, drinks in hand, they split to encircle the ladies. The one in front of Roni — tall, blond, cute — moved in rhythm with her, managing to hold his attention on her face despite her low neckline. A glance behind, Roni saw a shorter man — though still taller than Teanna. He had a richer complexion and a more urgent gleam in his eye.

Roni had tried to explain flirting on several occasions, but Teanna merely laughed. Why do your people play such games? Is it fun?

Not usually. Even when you both like each other, it’s often confusing.

In my world, if I want a man, I tell him so. Simple as that.

"And if he says No?"

Teanna mocked surprise. "What man would say No to me?"

Less than a year on Earth, and Teanna’s attitude had blossomed into grand arrogance. You might be more American than you ever knew, Roni had said before returning to the problems of flirting.

But no matter how many times they went over it, she could not get Teanna to be more cautious with the signals she sent. Teanna listened. She wanted to understand. She even tried. Yet in the moment, she just couldn’t see what a gentle look over the shoulder might signify.

Her dance partner clearly thought otherwise. When he moved in close, placing one hand on Teanna’s hip, he raised his lips into a wolfish grin. She slipped a hand around his neck and pushed in for a kiss. Roni took over. She smiled at the men, thanked them for the dance, grabbed Teanna, and headed for the door.

What are you doing? Teanna asked, as she tottered in her heels. I liked that one.

I could tell. She burst out onto the sidewalk, letting the night air cool them down, clear their heads. It’s only been a few months of dancing, and you’ve never shown the guys much interest.

Most of your men don’t glow with such inner-strength.

We’re going to have a little talk about birth control. Then you can enjoy all the glowing strength you want. But not before that. No way do you want to explain to Gram that you’re pregnant. And as leader, I’ll take even more of the blame.

Under the rapid fire of their heels against the pavement, they crossed the parking lot toward Roni’s dirty, dented car. As she pulled out her keys, she heard the sturdy footsteps approaching.

Hey girls, Blondie said as he and Mr. Hands moved in. Why’d you leave us? I thought we were having a good time.

Sorry, Roni said. We’ve got work in the morning.

That’s a shame, Mr. Hands said, leaning one arm on the car as he pressed closer to Teanna. I thought you and I had a real connection going.

Blondie stepped in front of Roni, blocking her exits. And we barely got started. But I could tell by your dancing that you were raring to go. That’s why we came out here. Right, Nick?

Nick’s hand went to Teanna’s waist. Yeah, we knew you were the kind of girls who wanted to have a real party.

Ain’t that right? Blondie asked Roni. Let’s have a party.

No, she said. We are not interested. And if you don’t back off —

What? You really think you can get away with that? Move like that on the dance floor, getting guys like me all worked up, and you think you can then just walk away? That’s not very nice.

Roni clutched her hands tight to keep them from shaking. Don’t do this. I’m warning you.

Blondie laughed and Nick followed. Guess we won’t be playing the nice way.

He slapped Roni, pulled his hand back for a second strike but never got the chance. Roni barely had time to touch her stinging cheek when Teanna had kneed Nick in the groin, spun aside to elbow Blondie in the back at the kidneys, wrenched open the car door, and pulled out her favorite weapons — two hatchets. With one of the mini-axes pointed at each man, she sneered.

If Roni’s heart had not been pounding, she would have laughed as the men scurried off, muttering about insane bitches until they were far enough away that they felt safe. Then Blondie gave them the finger, and the men hastened back into the club.

Are you okay? Teanna asked.

Roni nodded. Let’s go home. I think I’ve had enough dancing for a bit. I could use some peace.

She reached for the car door when she saw a strange flash from down an alley. Like green-tinted lightning. Like something from the Caverns.

What’s wrong? Teanna asked, following her gaze. Oh.

Without a further word, they walked toward the alley. In each step, Roni felt the world pressing closer, promising that her life would never be simple or normal or even practical. There might be moments when she could spend the night dancing, when she could forget her job and its grave responsibilities, but always, her reality would return. Always, she would have to lead the Parallel Society in its fight against other universes.

Yet I can’t even go dancing without having Teanna save me.

They moved with great caution, Roni at the front and Teanna behind, brandishing her hatchets. Probably should be the other way around, but Roni expected to see what most rifts looked like — a gash in the air, a wound in the world that strobed light and gusted wind from a different world. However, about halfway down the alley, the green lightning flashed around an upcoming corner, and they heard a man cry out for help.

Teanna pushed ahead of Roni, moving faster down the rest of the alley. Roni glanced back. If those bastards from the club returned and tried to corner them, she would have to convince them to run away — she’d rather convince them to jump into the rift, but being a jerk did not deserve a death sentence. Roni and Teanna pressed on.

When they turned the corner, they stood in a wide service street lined with loading docks, beaten dumpsters, and a few parked trucks. In the center of this street, Roni saw a Hispanic man, early-forties, on his back and shimmying toward them. Further down, a glowing green centipede reared back like a cobra — a six-foot tall cobra — and let out a chittering that jangled along Roni’s spine.

So much for getting home in peace.

Chapter 2

Teanna launched ahead with a war cry that pulled the creature’s attention. She kicked off her heels as she moved up onto the nearest loading dock. In a non-stop, graceful motion, she sprinted to the end, leapt into the air, and landed on the giant centipede’s side, digging in with her hatchets.

Over here, Roni said to the man on the ground while the creature shrieked.

Like a terrified rabbit knowing it was surrounded by predators, the man’s head darted from one direction to another. When he finally settled on Roni, he squinted as if he couldn’t understand why a woman dressed for dancing was waving for him to follow.

Hurry, she snapped.

Something in her voice must have clicked with him. He scrambled across the street toward her. Behind him, the centipede whipped its body about but could not dislodge Teanna. Not yet. Roni had no doubt that given enough time, it would win that bronco ride.

Taking the man’s hand, she hustled him back down the alley. She heard his strained breathing and prayed that he didn’t have a heart attack. Calling an ambulance would slow her down and risk Teanna’s life.

You okay? she asked, trying to see if he could think or talk.

The man nodded. Eddie Garcia. Just call me Garcia. Thank you for helping me. I don’t know how that happened. He bent over, putting his hands on his knees. After one long breath, he popped straight back. Your friend. We can’t leave her.

Maybe he could think too much. I’m not leaving her, Roni said, guiding Garcia to her car. Finally able to take a look at him, she saw a sturdy man shaken by what he had witnessed. Tall, a little paunch, graying at the temples, and wearing a sweat-soaked white button-down and a tan sport coat — he may have been a college professor fallen on hard times or an aimless soul gearing up for another job interview.

She opened the trunk, kicked off her heels, and slipped on a pair of sneakers. You’ve had a fright. But it’s over now. You need to leave. Go home.

That thing —

She dug around the trunk, pushing aside greasy fast-food bags, a chipped tire iron, and an aluminum baseball bat. Pulling out a small book with a thin chain around it, she said, We’ll handle that thing. Besides, by the time you get to wherever you live, you’ll realize that none of what you saw makes any sense. It couldn’t possibly have happened. Maybe you drank too much tonight.

But —

Heck, I probably don’t exist. Do you really think you were attacked by a glowing centipede and saved by two women in high heels? Goodnight, Garcia. She slammed the trunk shut and dashed back down the alley.

When Roni reached the service road, she spotted Teanna forward-rolling across the pavement toward her — a trail of green centipede blood following along. The creature shot after Teanna, but the well-trained warrior shifted to the side, letting the beast pass right by. Cool move, but it meant the centipede headed closer to Roni. A stream of its blood rushed down its side.

Anytime would be good, Teanna said, the clipped pronunciation of her mother tongue slipping through.

Roni ripped off Gram’s chain and turned the book towards the centipede. Get behind me, she shouted.

Teanna took another chunk of flesh from the beast’s side, distracting and confusing its tiny brain. As it looped back on itself, spraying blood across one loading dock like green graffiti, Teanna raced straight for Roni. The chittering noise intensified as the creature reoriented. With a sharp jab, it lunged for them both.

Roni widened her stance and held the book firm as if she aimed a handgun. Her pulse quickened. Her concentration narrowed. For a breath, the world ceased to exist — all but Teanna and the monster barreling upon them. As Teanna glided by, Roni opened the book.

Though small — the size of a trade paperback — the book connected to a stormy world at a high altitude. The difference in pressure sucked in the air like a high-powered vacuum. She saw the change in the centipede’s beady eyes. Those tiny black dots grew enough to tell her — the thing knew it was screwed.

It tried to scramble off to the side. It tried to latch onto the metal posts that stopped trucks from backing across the docks. It tried. But wherever it moved, Roni merely had to shift her arms to keep the creature within range of the book. And though this beast was far larger than the book itself, the book was far stronger.

As it slipped closer, its body stretched out — longer, thinner. By the time the book’s vortex claimed it, the centipede had become a sinewy line that sucked into the book like a child slurping up spaghetti. A bit jagged for spaghetti, perhaps, but as Roni slammed the book shut and wrapped the chain around it once more, she figured her mind could use whatever metaphors it needed to make sense of what she had experienced.

That went well enough, she said, turning back toward Teanna.

But her stomach dropped. Garcia stood, his mouth agape. With a torn dress and cuts on her arms, Teanna glanced from him to Roni and back. She shrugged, waiting for Roni to say something.

Indeed, Roni wanted to say something, some lie that would help Garcia dismiss any bit of what he had glimpsed. But the man’s trembling chin suggested he would have a hard time accepting the usual excuses. If he could accept any at all.

Forcing a relaxed grin, Roni approached. I’m sure you’re a bit confused right now.

But Garcia rushed ahead, gingerly stepping over the leftover gore on the street, and picked up a small, rectangular object no bigger than a pillbox. Pocketing the box, he turned back to Roni and his mouth raised at the corners. His eyes lifted, too. He let out a whoop. I knew it. Finally! You’re really them. I can’t believe it. You’re the Parallel Society.

Roni stuttered back