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

out of itsdepths. I’m still determined not to stop.

Way in the distance, the kark trees are awelcoming sight. It’s almost as if I can hear them calling us tothem.

“We’re almost there, Na’ta,” I whisperconfidently as I streak straight ahead.

Suddenly, I’m caught in a swarm ofblackness. Panic sets in. I use all of my strength to hold Na’tacloser to me. I’ll die before I drop her. I’m waiting to besmothered by them like before, but instead I’m drenched with waterand then the darkness fades.

The sound of water crashing against the aridsurface below is deafening. It’s raining hard and I’m holding up inthe downpour.

When it finally stops, the ash creatures aremud. The water lifts up off the surface and forms into Ktkl, whostands right in front of me and about twenty other Mtknv creaturessurround us, fencing us in.

Before I’m able to thank Ktkl for rescuingus, more water gushes over me and I’m trapped in my own bulbousprison while still cradling Na’ta.

Chapter6

The First Touch

I am confused about why Ktkl would imprisonme. Have I committed a crime against the Mtknv? I try to shift butthe liquid is unyielding.

“To the kark,” Na’ta says to me in aweak voice.

I feel her trapped body shiver against meand panic starts to rule my reasoning.

Then Chex appears outside our bubble and I’mable to see Ktkl glaring down at him. Water pours down over whereChex stands but he’s gone in a flash, evading the prison.

It is time for me to summon the light. Andwhen I do, it willingly obeys. The substance that entraps me is setalight. It gets brighter and brighter. The solid compound turns toliquid and then splashes to the ground. We’re free. The kark treesare not far away and I take off like Na’ta’s life depends onit.

The sound of crashing water chases me but Iwill not be stopped. As soon as I enter the forest, the floppybranches pull Na’ta out of my arms, and I come to an abrupt stop.My heart is pounding. I gaze up to watch the strappy branches rollher deep into them until she’s curled up and fastened against thetrunk of a tree. But they’re not done. A long twig snakes towardNa’ta’s mouth and slides in between her lips. It appears the treesare nourishing her.

“That a good thing?” Chex asks as he appearsat my side, squinting curiously up at my sister.

“Yes, I think it is,” I sigh with relief.The normal blush in her cheeks is already returning. “But I don’tunderstand why Ktkl would attack us.”

“Trust no one and then you won’t besurprised.”

I ponder his words in silence. Surely hecan’t distrust every creature, not after all we’ve been throughtogether in this short period of time.

“What about me?” I’m forced to ask him. “Doyou trust me?”

“No,” he says bluntly.

“But why not?” I can’t mask thedisappointment in my voice.

As I wait to hear his reply, there’s a loudsplash behind us. We both turn to find Ktkl watching us with hisface contorted in anger. He happens to be alone.

“Where is the vampire?” he roars so loudlythat the tree leaves shake.

I widen my eyes at Chex because I’mconfused. Which Selell could he be referring to? Na’ta oftentravels with the Selell Telman, but he’s not present. Could he havecommitted offenses against the Mtknv too? Has Na’ta gotten herselfinto more trouble with another species of creatures as she oftendoes?

“He means Exgesis,” Chex mutters cynicallyout of the side of his mouth. “He must’ve given them the shake.He’s a slippery bastard.”

“Is that true?” I ask Ktkl.

“Yes. True.” His anger subsides a little.“You did not help him?” he asks me.

“Absolutely not!” I attest and glance atNa’ta in the safety of the tree. “I told you that my priority wasfinding my sister.

“He freed himself, just as you releasedyourself.”

“He used the light?” I ask, sort ofshocked.

“Yes, he did.”

“Se’im El’ko te,” I whisper gravelyand touch my heart. I’m stunned by what I’ve come to realize. “Hehas the same powers that I have because we’re bonded.”

“Fucking no way!” Chex shoutsexplosively.

“But where did he go? Why didn’t he comeback to help us?”

I can’t believe it. I thought he wassupposed to help me find my sister. He gave me his word.

Chex snorts sarcastically. “You really arequite new, aren’t you?”

I shake my head. “I don’t understand whatyou mean by that.”

“Listen, Ad’ru? Right?”

“If you’re asking if my name is Ad’ru then,yes.” I thought he knew my given name. Again, and I don’tunderstand why this is so, but I’m disappointed he has to ask.

“Exgesis was never on your side,” he saysfrankly. “The only side he’s ever been on is his own. He wantssomething from you, and I don’t think you gave it to him—not yet.”Chex takes a thoughtful pause. “The only question to ask is why didhe want you to come here with him? And, where the hell is he?”

I sigh, frustrated, because I have noanswers to such valid questions. My heart sinks because it becomesapparent to me that I cannot return to Enu as long as Lario Exgesisremains my bond. Now that I’ve stepped foot on the Earth, if I gohome he will have my full capabilities. I cannot unleash such abeing on any world.

So, I set my jaw. “I’ll find him,” I affirm.“And he will face your justice.”

I watch Ktkl’s powerful face move through aseries of expressions as he ponders my words. He tilts his massivehead back to zoom in on Na’ta.

“I accept your vow,” he says.

“Thank you,” I say sincerely.

Ktkl immediately bursts into billions oftiny drops of water. I watch in awe as each droplet is sucked intoone of the bulbous cumulus clouds racing across the murky sky.There’s still residue of wonderment in my eyes when I turn to lookup at Chex because I can feel him staring at me.

“You know what?” he asks.

“What,” I barely say as I touch where myheart resides in my chest. This Selell should not have the abilityto make my heart jump in such a manner.

“I take it back. I trust you,” he says andwinks at me with a smile, an actual, genuine, warm-heartedsmile.

“That makes me happy,”