Free Edge of Time by Susan M. MacDonald

own a boat?” Darius asked casually.
    â€œMotor,” said Bjorn. “Gave up sailing years ago.” He raised his shoulders in a fatalistic shrug. “Arthritis. Runs in the family. Still, gets me out on the water, ya?”
    Darius put the book down. He reached into his jacket pocket with one hand and laid the other on Bjorn’s long arm. “I would love to go out on your boat,” he said.
    Bjorn smiled. “I’d be happy to take you. Now if you wish.”
    Goosebumps sprang to life up and down Riley’s neck. Bjorn
never
invited
anyone
onto his boat.
    â€œRight now would be good. Maybe,” Darius glanced over at Alec, “we could pick up some food. Have a picnic on board.”
    Bjorn headed back to the small office at the back of his store. His voice was muffled as he partially closed the door to reach his windbreaker. “There’s a convenience store on the way.”
    Without another word he left the store. Alec fell in behind without a look at either at them.
    Darius waited at the door. “Coming, Riley?”
    â€œNo, I’m not. I don’t know how you managed to make him agree to take you on his boat, but I’m not going.”
    â€œAfraid, are you? I can easily use the same, er, influence on you as I did on him.” His eyes narrowed. “Want to try it?”
    â€œGo ahead.” Riley crossed her arms. She was
so
not going.
    Darius pulled out the orb from his jacket pocket and cradled it in the palm of his hand. Sunlight caught the inner refractions and danced within. Grinning, he held it out towards her. Riley’s heart thudded but she didn’t move an inch from the counter. Those glass balls had no power over her, no matter what he might think.
    â€œRiley,” Darius crooned, “come with us.”
    The words wrapped themselves around her. Stroked, caressed, tugged.
    â€œYou will come with us, Riley,” Darius said, a bit louder, his smile more feral than pleasant.
    Invisible coils tightened themselves around her, pulling her towards him. She tried to shake off the feeling, actually shaking physically to do it. It wouldn’t budge. In fact, it was getting stronger.
    â€œYou want to.” Darius took a step closer. The orb seemed to pulse with a faint radiance.
    â€œI don’t,” Riley muttered. The glow got stronger. She couldn’t tear her eyes away. This couldn’t be happening.
    â€œOh, you do.” Another step closer. “You will. The more you resist me, the stronger I’ll make the command. Do you know what that means, Riley?” Another step. “Do you? You’ll do everything I say. The control will be absolute.”
    Riley tried to pull her eyes from the unearthly light that enveloped her, mesmerizing her into inactivity. “Stop it, Darius,” she whispered.
    â€œWant to be under my complete and absolute power, sweet?” Darius was now close enough for her to count the freckles flung across his nose. He leaned forward and whispered in her ear. “Tell me to stop, Riley. Go on. I dare you.”
    It took all she had, but she managed to croak, “Stop.”
    Darius gave a cold little laugh. He stepped back and dropped the orb into his pocket. Riley’s legs began to shake.
    â€œThe orb permits me to expand the scope of my desires,” he said conversationally, as if the last few moments hadn’t happened. “My will, subjugating yours. It’s a neat trick. I can teach it to you if you want.”
    Riley shoved past him, darting out the door into the sun, where the world still spun on its normal axis and non-alien people were now wandering up and down a totally normal, non-alien street. She walked as fast as her legs would go. The heavy glass door shut firmly behind her and she knew that it was Darius’ footsteps that were quickly catching up behind her, but she didn’t turn to check. When Darius arrived at her side, she ignored him.
    That had