scientist, Dr. Townsend, this morning, and I have both good and bad news. The good news is that he's finished doing his calculations and has concluded that you most certainly entered this parallel by complete accident, through a freak one-in-a-trillion billion random chance occurrence caused by a 'tear' in the parallel that was unknowingly created by Owen's own slip through the parallel. So, it's official. You did not travel through the parallel intentionally, as a spy might have done. Which, of course, I already knew, though now I can formally clear you in good conscience, knowing that I did my due diligence as leader to ensure the safety of my people."
"So, I'm officially not a prisoner anymore?"
"No. And I apologize for having to hold you as a prisoner before. Though I hope you understand why I felt the need to do so."
I nodded. I did, and I had. Being held prisoner had just made me feel trapped, and as a result, angry.
Truman continued. "Good. And now, as much as I hate to deliver it, the bad news, and it concerns you returning back through the parallel to your own New York City." He lowered his voice just a fraction, a flicker of pain seeming to cross his handsome features. "Or not."
Somewhat surprised at myself, I suddenly realized that returning home, and if and how I'd be able to do it, hadn't even crossed my mind even once since he'd told me about the parallels. It honestly just hadn't.
He continued, the tiniest flickers of pain seeming to cross his face every so often. "At the same time he was doing his calculations to determine how you were able to slip through the parallel in the first place, Dr. Townsend also did some calculations to see if you could return, through the same 'tear' in the parallel that you used to cross over, though unintentionally.”
"And what did he say?"
"Well, he says it's possible. And maybe even probable that you could. However, you must return through the 'tear' that Owen created, and it's closing quickly. Dr. Townsend figures it might remain open for two, three weeks at the very most. And after that...your chance will be gone. Forever."
"And if I do return to my New York, there would be no chance of me ever coming back to this parallel? Like, if I wanted to spend time in both worlds for a while or something?"
Truman shook his head, frowning, his gray eyes clearly filled with pain. "No. There would be no chance. Not even the slimmest. The chances of you passing through this parallel in the first place were about one in an infinite number, according to Dr. Townsend."
Sure that I was frowning myself, I looked across the spacious living room at the clear blue sky above the balcony. The sunny weather was decidedly not mirroring my current mood.
After a long moment, I turned back to Truman. "And there's no way you could ever come over to my parallel? Maybe with Dr. Townsend's help? Like, maybe for some very extended visits?"
Truman made a noise between a chuckle and a sigh. "A long-distance relationship between parallel worlds. That would take the cake for all long-distance relationships since the history of time, I'm sure. But to answer your question, unfortunately, no. Thus far, Owen is the only one of us shifters able to cross parallels, and even he can only do it with extreme difficulty and great unpredictability. And the fact that he's been the only one yet able to do it isn't for lack of the rest of us shifters trying. We've all tried, numerous, numerous times. I've probably tried more than anyone, as I'd love a chance to do a bit of surveillance on the shifters in your parallel. But...I've never been successful. It seems that Owen's supernatural gifts on top of him being a shifter might have a lot to do with the fact that he's the only one of us who has been successful."
We both fell silent briefly, and Truman took my hands, looking more than a little miserable. And when he spoke again, his rich, deep voice was