APRIL L. PAYNE
refrigerated air buffeting them as the top of the candy apple red hover-car lifted to allow their admittance. To Brianna’s intense relief, it was Aaron at the wheel, her eldest brother smiling, giving her a short nod while T’Pran proceeded to hand Brianna into the rear seat of the car. The elderly Vulcan woman leaned in, and out of habit, locked the safety belt around the girl. Instead of getting in she cupped the girl’s chin in her hand. “I can teach thee no more, Brianna-Kam. Thy destiny awaits thee now,” she said affectionately. Brianna Cantrell was suddenly fighting a chill that ran directly up her spine. She stared meaningfully at her old governess receiving a nod. "Him?” “Him, Bree?” Aaron spoke, suddenly. “Him, who?” “You know who he is?” Brianna said, leaning forward. “I know only that he is a moderator. It is Kiftiri,” T'Pran said. “Thy destiny.” “But that’s a thing of legends. Of children’s stories. It isn’t real. It’s ... fantasy. T’Pran — ” “At the center of every legend there is an element of truth. One cannot fight it when two souls are meant to be together. United. These things happen, although it is so rare it becomes a thing of myth. Not to be believed.”
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