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

I wonder if he fears whether we will be able tosustain our love. I’m afraid of my bond, the evil Lario Exgesis,and how my heart constricts when I think about bringing him toMtknv justice and his eventual death. I cannot let him die. Isimply cannot.

Follow the light, Na’ta urges me.

I reluctantly take my eyes off of Chex’smasculine face and when I turn, green light is shimmering in thehallway. We dress ourselves. At the door we kiss, softly,passionately, one more time before walking through the portal.

Chapter9

The Rescue

Na’ta is glaring at me. “Adore, for real?”she huffs. “Why didn’t you come as soon as Mag Star opened theportal for you?” she now whines.

Chex has just followed me into a wide-openchamber. I’m too mesmerized by the sight of thousands uponthousands of fleshless beings lurking in the darkness to respond toher. My feet move of their own volition and bring me forward.Before I can reach the edge of the floor, Chex is behind me and hasme by the waist, intending to keep me from getting any closer.

I can hear Na’ta blow an exaggeratedsigh.

“Is this Tetra?” I ask anyone who may knowthe answer. “The abyss of those who were once Selells?”

“Can you take your hands off of heralready?” Na’ta blurts out unable to contain her agitation.

“What’s your problem?” Chex roars back andplants his hands tighter on my waist, refusing to abide by herwishes.

“Yes,” Magnificent Star says loudly in orderto claim all of our attention.

I whip my face around to see her standingbehind a pillar with wires streaming out of her head. It takes me amoment to realize that she’s not hurt and is somehow manipulatingthe environment beyond the floor.

The wires withdraw from her head and shewalks toward me carrying something in her hand. Na’ta sees theobject and tenses up.

“You’re going to need this.” She takes myhand and presses a round, flat piece of gold against my palm. I runa finger across it. I’m stung by the power of evil that’s inside ofit. “Navi, do you want to tell her what it does?” she asksNa’ta.

Na’ta swallows hard. She pulls her mouthtightly to gnaw on her bottom and then top lips. She does that onlywhen she’s extremely nervous—which is hardly ever. Immediately Iknow she never intended for me to find out about the object in myhand.

I focus on her face as I take a step out ofChex’s arms. We know each other very well, my sister and I. Sheknows that I’m not going to look away or let the matter drop untilshe tells me the truth.

“We can revive one soul in Tetra with that,”she says, pointing toward my hand.

“You mean take a vampire out of hell?”Chex’s voice booms so loudly that it echoes throughout thiscave.

Na’ta vacillates. Her first instinct is toignore him because she dislikes him for loving me, but she owes methe truth. She sighs hard and says, “One vampire. GiaScoralini.”

“Gia Scoralini, my ass!” Chex shouts evenlouder than before. “You’ll keep that witch in hell if you knowwhat’s good for -” He smashes his lips together, refusing to sayit. “You’ll take her out of there over my dead body.”

“Fine,” Na’ta hisses with a snarl,challenging him.

“I’m afraid he’s right Adore,” MagnificentStar states calmly. “She’s a siren. She bewitches and devours men,and vampires, for sport, especially the sons of Gogulon.” She setsher gaze on Na’ta in a forceful way. “Telman didn’t go into Siffeowith you, did he?”

Na’ta shuts her eyes tightly and shakes herhead. “Sorry, Adore. I didn’t mean to lie to you,” she whispers inshame.

“But why did you feel as if you had to lieto me?” She looks so pathetic that I reach down to take her handsinto mine, filling her with comfort. “You never have to lie to meNa’ta.”

She’s nodding frenetically. “Yes, I didbecause this Gia craves the love of our Selells and she won’t restuntil she has one for herself.”

“Exactly,” Chex blurts out. “She’s thereason Ze Feldis and Finn Elo still hate each other. She wants themall, but out of all them Ze Feldis is the one she’ll kill toclaim.”

“But Chex,” Magnificent Star says, “Youstill haven’t figured out that the blood of Gogulon ispumping through your heart? You should be able to pick up the scentnow that you are no longer cursed.”

His eyebrows furrow. He appears genuinelybothered by the revelation.

Na’ta and I look at each other. I think weboth have been wondering how he was able to enter the portal andsurvive. Now we know.

“Magic,” he finally mutters and then hisexpression expands as he’s struck by illumination. “Those fuckingShams?” he growls.

Although I’m rattled by the new revelationabout Chex, I still have questions regarding Na’ta’s motives.Surely she’s not seeking to release the Selell Gia for the thrillof it. “But,” I start, “Na’ta where is Telman?”

She sighs as if the answer is causing hermuch stress. “Exgesis has taken him and has hidden him so deep thatI can’t find him. I’m out of options.”

“You were not out of options,” I snap. “AsFather says—you’re not an island. You could’ve come to me and Iwould have directed you to the other sisters.”

She just raises her hands with a sigh, agesture of hers that I’ve seen time and time again. And, as usual,she’s right; quoting her, would’ve, should’ve, could’ve, butthere’s no way of going back and changing it now. But still myheart swells with empathy. I finally understand why she would setout on such a dangerous mission to rescue Telman.

“Well, Exgesis can’t hide him from the hub,”Magnificent Star boasts. “I know the general location of where he’sbeing kept and I’ll tell you where that is once you have theScepter of Gant in your possession. However, the medallion I gaveyou is a blessing and a curse. It will allow you to go throughTetra and into Ol, which is the fastest and safest way. The curseis: you’ll be unable to keep Gia from following you into Ol, whichwill free her to return to the Earth if she chooses.”

“No worries,” Chex frankly says, althoughthere’s a violent intention behind that look in his eyes. “I’llsend her back to