They’d walked for about twenty minutes when Lydia stopped and leaned her hand against a tree. Kira had followed behind her the entire time and hadn’t noticed how labored her breathing had become. Now she could see the difficulty Lydia was having. “Lydia, are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She wiped little beads of sweat from her brow. “Man . . . I thought I had all my strength back. Mind if we take a break?”
“No, not at all.” Kira motioned to a fallen log that lay a few feet away. “You sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine.” Lydia lowered her backpack to the ground and sat on the log. “But Altaria’s got some work cut out for her.” The words had no sooner left her mouth than she looked at Kira with an apologetic expression. “Sorry, I forgot how you feel about that.”
“Honestly? I think it’s kinda cool.”
“Really? But Octavion said it scared you. I was afraid if I changed again, you would get upset.”
“I was afraid because I didn’t know what was going on. If you’d explained it to me, I might’ve been all right with it.” Actually, Kira thought the whole idea was bizarre.
She sat down on the log next to Lydia. “How exactly does it work? I mean . . . if you were to change right now, would you be a different person or just look different?”
“That’s a good question.” Lydia looked down at her hands. “I’m not sure how to explain it. We are the same person. The difference, really, is in our personalities and the way we look at life. I’m more laid back. I worry about the little things and less about my appearance. It’s not that I don’t care, it’s just that Altaria is—a bit vain.” She smiled and shook her head.
“What?”
“Altaria didn’t like that,” Lydia said.
“You mean you talk to each other?”
“Of course. Don’t you talk to yourself?”
“All the time,” Kira admitted.
“Well, it’s kinda like that.”
“But what about the rest?”
Lydia thought for a moment. “I guess the biggest thing, except personality, is the physical change. Let’s say a good-looking guy walks by and you’re slouching. What would you do?”
Kira straightened, held in her stomach, and tucked a few wisps of fly-away hair back into the elastic band holding her ponytail.
“See, it might not have been a huge change, but you physically look different. You look taller, skinnier, and well groomed. Even your posture is better.”
“I think I get it, but when you were Altaria, you looked totally different. Even the shape of your face and the color of your eyes changed. Not to mention the fact that she hates me.”
Lydia’s head shot up. “She doesn’t hate you. And as for the changes, we’re just better at manipulating our features, that’s all. It takes practice, and sometimes it can be difficult, especially since our gifts aren’t as strong in your world, but when I need the extra strength, it’s kinda nice.”
“Like now, you mean?”
Lydia sighed. “You’re not suggesting I change now, are you?”
“If it will help you make it up this mountain without collapsing—yeah.”
Lydia turned her attention back to her hands. For the longest time she said nothing. Then she shrugged again.
“What is it?”
“You have to realize that this is strange for me, too. Even in our world it’s kept a secret. Besides you, there are only two people outside our family who’ve seen me change. One has no memory of it, and the other one is . . . dead.”
“Serena?” Kira guessed.
Lydia’s brow furrowed. “How did you know that?”
“Octavion told me. Don’t you remember?”
“No, I don’t.” She jumped off the log and grabbed her pack. “I’m rested now. I think I can make it just fine like I am.”