Light Speed by Arkadie, L. (accelerated reader books .TXT) 📕

It makes me nervous and Chexhas been gone longer than I’m comfortable with.

Suddenly I hear plop, plop, plop…. Istifle a gasp. Whatever or whoever is making that sound is near. Ipress my back closer to the wall, hoping the dark shadows willconceal me. Anticipation squeezes me so tightly that I feel I mightpass out. I hear it lurking and its breaths are husky as if it’sstraining to cycle the opaque air.

Then beyond the shadows the first appendageof a leg becomes visible. It’s a bony limb with a hoofed foot, theleg of a stallion. I’m both eager and frightened to see the rest ofthe creature. And I don’t have to wait long. There it is, not faraway from my hiding place.

The creature’s two legs, feet, groin,buttocks, torso, and chest are those of a brown mare. Itsshoulders, arms, face, and neck closely resemble that of a human,only these parts of its body lack flesh and bone. Instead theseparts are composed of vapor, maybe smoke, and when it breathes, aball of fire shoots out of its mouth and dissipates into thinair.

The creature is searching along the blockwalls and in every corner. I stay still. Since I don’t need tobreathe to survive, I stop breathing. Worry sets in. What willhappen to me when it sees me? I don’t have to wait another secondto find out.

The creature shifts its smoky head to theright and is now facing me. I’m stunned as I watch it open itsmouth and let out a loud chirp. I’m waiting to hear the answeringchirp but the call isn’t returned. At first, the creature twitchesits neck a little. The features on its face carved out in smokelook confused and then angry as it leans into me with rage in theeyes.

I don’t hesitate to lift my palms andrelease the i’lek’u. The light stabs it in the heart. Instantly, itsoftens its infuriated face. I’m relieved to breathe again as westand, observing each other.

“What are you?” I ask while watching itsslightest movements.

“A guard of Siffeo,” it says morosely andcontinues watching me. I wonder if it’s waiting to take instructionfrom me.

“Will you let me go if I request it,” I ask,testing my assumption.

But before the creature can answer, in ablink of my eyes it’s laid out on the grimy ground, right in frontof the tips of my tight shoes, smoke pouring out of the hole in itschest.

Chex is back and standing in front of me. Hestuffs a dagger into the lining of his black duster coat.

“Simple,” he mumbles, looking down at hisvictim.

“Did you just kill it?” I ask,flabbergasted. He didn’t have to do that. The creature was underthe influence of the light. He wasn’t going to hurt me, or him.

He shrugs, nonchalant about the slaying.“You’ll want him dead when you see what he’s done to yoursister.”

Suddenly, my heart is full of hope. “You’veseen her?”

“I did,” he says with a smug lift of his toplip. “I took out the croakers with the foggy heads but…” He snorts,“…it’s not going to be a cakewalk getting to her.”

“Cakewalk?” I ask confused.

“Just a figure of speech,” he quicklyreplies. “Come on.”

He takes off down the galley and I follow.When I turn back for one final glance at the dead creature, it’sconsumed by fire right before my eyes. My heart breaks for it as Icontinue across the dusty path. I cannot properly mourn it. Na’ta’sdistress presses upon me. Saving her is all I can focus on at themoment.

Chex’s pace is swift but he’s smooth, amaster of riding the wind. He’s like a soft breeze, but he’s also aviolent storm. This is evident in the blistering balls of fire wepass over.

“Did you have to kill them all?” I ask,bewildered by the sight of more death.

“Yes,” he replies, sharply and withoutremorse.

The further we voyage into Siffeo, the morepockets of writhing flames of fire we pass over. The scenerydoesn’t change until we reach a wide doorway that’s pitch blackbeyond it. But we don’t enter—we continue on, up and down thegalleys, passing more entries. It feels like we’re moving incircles, yet Na’ta is closer. I’m reaching out for her. Finally!I’m consumed by relief because I can feel her weak pulse and fadingheartbeat.

Adore is it you? she whimpers, onlyto me.

I’m here. I answer her fromwithin.

I don’t want to see the endless rows of graymortar; I want to see her already. As my impatience grows wecome to an abrupt stop. Chex takes me once again and shoves me intoanother dark corner.

“If you are afraid, then kill it right hereand now,” he mutters. His bottomless eyes are staring into mine. Igulp; transfixed by them, even at a time like this. “We’re notgoing to win this if you’re scared.”

“Is that how you’re able to do it soeasily?” I manage to ask.

His eyes expand and he puts his face a haircloser to mine. “You want to live?” he gruffly asks.

“Yes,” I croak.

“You see how close we are to your sister? Doyou think we could’ve gotten here diplomatically?”

My mind flashes pictures of the blackcreatures that attacked us from the depths of the mountainsbordering the Mashlands, being chased by the live fire in thefields outside this desolate maze, and then coming face to facewith a guard of Siffeo. If it weren’t for the light, he would’vecaptured me and maybe I too would meet Na’ta’s fate.

“No,” I conclude.

He blinks, shocked by my response. “Right.”He smirks, not showing teeth. “Then let’s go get them.” Now heshows teeth.

Chex steps out of the crook and into plainsight. He stands still, waiting for me to take my place at hisside. I don’t have to heed his warning and make my fear die becauseI have none. I only have drive. I will do whatever it takes torelieve Na’ta’s angst. As a daughter of The House of Benel, it ismy duty.

I join him.

He examines me to assess my resolve. I showhim what he’s seeking. No longer doubtful, we streak forward.

I know exactly where to go. Na’ta is strongwithin me. Feeling her distress makes the inside of my nostrilsswell and my eyes well up with tears. My emotions are heightened.This is