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

I know what I must do. I fit the head backin place on the creature’s neck. That’s when its eyes close andit’s finally at rest. I rub both of my hands over its skin. Thetexture is rough but warm. The Aarap is consumed with goodness.There’s no evil within this species, which makes it easier for thelight to work.

After a moment the body and head are bothaglow; the Aarap reclaims life and then flips over to stand on allfour legs. The creature shows its gratitude by opening its mouthand sliding out his thin tongue to lick me on the forehead. Ittickles. I smile tentatively at the Aarap because nothing haschanged; we are still in the same sticky predicament.

“I apologize for the Selell,” I say to theAarap. “He is a creature of war.”

“He is of ek,” the Aarap buzzes,The Evil in my native language. “He cannot rest here in ouruniverse.”

I look over at Chex, standing there, stilldominated by the light. My gaze caresses him sympathetically. He isloyal and he cares. He has helped me get this far, striving towardmy objectives, not his own. Those are no traits of dekek, the evil. The evil is self-centered and aids none beyondits own ambitions. It cannot conjure affection for any beingoutside of itself.

“I understand,” I’m forced to say becausethose are the laws of this universe. “But he is traveling with usand he must go where we go. If he’s banished, then we all must bebanished with him.” I widen my eyes at Na’ta, which is my way ofasking for her support.

She sighs hard, shows me a tiny roll of theeyes and then nods once. “Any ideas on how to cross over into Olwithout being seen by the Eye of Zkr?” she ask apathetically.

Without moving its head, the one Aarapshifts his eyes nervously at Chex.

“He’s subdued,” I promise.

The creature slithers toward Chex andcircles him. The Selell does not move. He remains under the controlof the light, although he eyes the creature cautiously.

“The darampeer cannot escape the eyewithin our borders. It is why you were discovered,” the Aarapsqueals.

“Darampeer is the Selell,” Iclarify.

“Yes,” the Aarap hisses, still circlingChex. “With the I’lek’u of Benel he may enter Ol of the Olligark,but only through the portal of the Ugu Mag of Dag, the plane of theseparated humans.”

Finally, Chex wiggles his shoulders andstretches his neck from one side to the other, slowly coming tohimself. I’m relieved to see this occurring. He’s regainingmobility because he’s choosing to partner with the light and notfight its control.

The Aarap who’s slithering around him movesaway and unleashes a loud shrill. It is an alarm of safety, lettingthe others know that Chex has accepted the light and they aresafer.

“Ugu Mag?” Na’ta begins frowningthoughtfully, “The first people? Never heard of them.” She waitsfor elucidation.

“They have been separated,” a second Aarapsays. “They are of soil of the Earth, warm blood, and the wind ofElrrzz.”

“Wait…” Chex manages to speak up whileshaking his head. “Humans?” He pauses. “You’re asking us to trusthumans? Listen, if there’s a scepter up for grabs, you betterbelieve those bastards have their eyes on it already.”

I have no option but to nod in agreement andso does Na’ta. Our chances of capturing the Scepter of Gant aregreatly diminished when it comes to putting our faith in the handsof mankind. “Are they men and women of vanity and war?” I ask,although I do presume to already know the answer.

“How can they be?” The Aarap sizzles inshock. “The lips of evil do not whisper in Dag or walk itswind.”

We look among ourselves, gauging eachother’s reactions.

What would that be like, encountering aspecies of humans uninfluenced by dek’ek? “Will you show usthe way?” I ask, completely enthralled by the idea of facing theUgu Mag of Dag.

The large crystal panel that displayed thebattle between the Olligark and Treesh is now completely black.Suddenly I realize that the Olligark have prevailed and the surfaceof Zrr is pitch-black. It’s a daunting sight. but right before oureyes the view disintegrates into swirling light blue clouds.

“Enter,” the Aarap hisses.

We all gaze up at what will be our nextdestination.

Chapter8

Dag Lust

The night has fallen here in Dag. A brightfull moon hangs in the southeastern sky and its rays tricklesmoothly across our faces.

“How is this even possible?” Chex mutters,more to himself.

His reaction stems from the fact that we arestanding on one of many black tar roads that crisscross and hang inmid-air.

“But there’s gravity here,” Na’ta sayslooking down at her feet. “I don’t understand how they were able todo this? This universe is a carbon copy of Earth, right?”

She’s asking me but I have no answer forher. I’ve never heard of the Ugu Mag of Dag, not until the Aarapcreature told us about it.

“It was simple,” a voice says from behind usand we all whip around to face a fully human female creature.“Gravity is energy and the Makers are able to transform theconsistency of its force to build up high. Do you approve?” sheasks, smiling warmly at us.

“Is it for us to approve?” I ask, as bothNa’ta and Chex scowl at her with the same distrusting look on theirfaces. It’s interesting how alike my sister and the Selell are.

“Yes, it is.” the woman gently says.

“Then we approve,” I answer for us all.

The woman studies my face and then Na’ta’s.I can’t help but observe her as well. She’s wearing a garmentthat’s like the pal’k but instead of white, it’s brown like thebark of a tree. It suits her sand-colored skin and crimped blacktresses and discerning gray eyes.

“Navi and Adore,” she says at the end of herexamination of us.

Na’ta and I turn our stunned looks on eachother.

“How do you know us by sight? I’ve neverseen you before,” Na’ta’ says as she dips her chin and prudentlyconstricts one eye.

“Because you are the daughters ofBenel.”

“That I know. But who the hell are you?” shesays so impolitely I cringe. I often wish she could be lessabrasive.

“I’m the Transporter of the Gateways in andout of Ugu Mag,” the woman answers, unaffected by her tone. “Myname is