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

One second passes before I cross the linethat separates Dag from the Earth. I immediately discharge thelight, aiming one palm at the Selell that has Na’ta and the otherat the two who are trying to push past the rabid Selells in anattempt to carry Telman away.

The effect of the light is immediate. Mymarks go stiff and drop my sister and her Selell.

“Ad’ru, get the hell out!” I hear Chexshout. He’s near me as I fill the room with light.

Every thirsty Selell falls to its knees,shrieking with its hands smashed against its eyes. I’m quiteshocked by the way the i’lek’u affects them. But we’re not out ofjeopardy because an uncountable number of them bang on the wallsoutside of the room and clamor over each other, trying to cross thethreshold, only to be halted by the light.

I can tell that Chex is steaming mad as hetakes hold of Telman up and I sweep Na’ta into my arms; we race toreach the slash of light that’s diminishing by the seconds.

We tumble to the floor and Magnificent Starlets out a deep sigh of relief as she slumps over and grabs herknees. “You scared me,” she wheezes.

All four of us have made it back. However,there is no way Na’ta and Telman are fit to go into Ol at thismoment. Essentially our plans have been thwarted.

Chapter 10

Bumps on the Road

“What the hell is wrong with your sister?”Chex barks so loudly that his voice echoes through the highhalls.

He has been pacing up and down the pristinefloor for a while now. We end up at the Cure Pod anyway. It’s veryclinical, like a hospital. The only reason I can make the referenceis because Pan’a’tua once ended up in one and Father had to explainto me why she was there and why it was best that she remainedwithin its confines.

We’re both standing outside of the door ofthe room where Na’ta and Telman are being kept. I insisted thatthey not be separated. It’s best they are together as they’ll drawstrength from each other.

“I told her what would happen, didn’t I?”Chex eyes are ablaze. I think he’s waiting for me to respond.

“Chex,” I touch him on the arm and herecoils. I frown, confused as to why he would pull away from mytouch.

“And you let her get away with bloodymurder!” he shouts. “I need some air,” he spits before he stompsoff down the long hallway. Without looking back at me, he touchesthe yellow strip, steps into an elevator and, when the door slidesdown, he’s out of my sight.

I don’t understand why he’s so angry withme. I close my eyes and focus on my sister and her Selell. Chex iswell; they are not. The reason why Pan’a’tua recovered in thehospital is because Father attended to her there on Earth. I knowfor certain that their Cure Pods will have no affect on Na’ta.

When I walk into the room, she’s lying ontop of a table, completely nude under a white sheet. Telman islying beside her and he’s also naked under the sheet. I walk overto touch Na’ta’s forehead. She’s warm.

“My Ad’ru,” I hear; I know the voice and Iinstantly catch a breath. And when his hand touches my shoulder, Itake it and hold on for dear life.

“Father,” I breathlessly whisper. It’shim!

“I am sorry for letting the Selell deceiveyou,” he says and then kisses the back of my hand. He gazes down atNa’ta and then brushes the side of her cheek with his free hand,spreading flakes of light across her face.

All of a sudden, the blush returns to hercheeks and she opens her eyes. It’s Father’s face she sees first,then mine.

“Shit…” she curses unfiltered and leaps toher feet.

“Navi,” he says in a way that signals thathe’s going to reprimand her. “You have put universes in jeopardy bybeing selfish. Look at me.” He demands.

She shamefully lifts her face to look himsquare in the eyes.

“You have no more chances. Do youunderstand?” He mutters in anger.

She gazes down at the floor again and nodsstiffly.

“Now go. Let the Selell draw strength fromyou. He’ll wake up when he catches the scent of your blood. Let himdrink and then all of you return to eat from the fruit ofNaught.”

Then he turns his pointed glare on me. “Findyour Selell and speak to him Ad’ru,” he demands.

“Speak to him about what?” I’m confusedabout what sort of conversation Chex and I should have that Fatherwould deem so important.

He doesn’t look so angry. “About how hefeels Ad’ru.” His gaze moves between Na’ta and me. “You both are onthe verge of failing. Even the flowers grow daughters and so mustyou.” He slices the air with his hand and there at his beck andcall is a portal. “The Scepter of Gant - I want it in yourpossession. Do you understand?”

“Even if it doesn’t belong to us?” Iask.

“It does belong to you.”

“Not if we steal it from the Mtknv.”

“Then don’t.”

Na’ta and I are motionless as we watch himdisappear through the portal. We remain in silence for a while.

“Is Chex angry with me?” she finally asks. Inod.

She sighs gravely and shakes her head. “Heshould be. I screwed up.” She looks over at Telman. Her voicecracks as she says, “We almost lost him.”

We both study him. He doesn’t look the same,lying there with his eyes closed and skin deathly pale. When he’sawake and vibrant, his eyes are pale blue, lighter than the Enuiansky, and his mouth is very red. Unlike Chex, Telman has a softerappearance. But now he just looks—empty.

I watch as Na’ta slides off the table andwalks to his bedside. She slowly bends over to kiss his lower lipas she smoothes his light brown hair with her hand.

“Telman, wake up,” she gently whispers,“It’s me.” She slides her neck on his lips. “Drink. It’s me…”

I’m caught in curiosity as Telman begins tostir. His fangs slowly grow. Na’ta pushes her neck against theirsharpness. I jump with a gasp when they pierce her skin. This isthe first time I’ve seen the bond drink from a lifeblood. Not untilrecently have I even learned that