them up. Dr. Lawless oohed and put the tip of the quill in the flame. The end of the feather shriveled, and a burnt hair smell wafted up to Valera’s nose. She merged the two flames in her hands together. Julia said to create a show, so she did. The fire curled into a ring and swooshed around in a circle above his head. His eyes widened, and he shrunk away.
She extinguished the flame. “Sorry. I got carried away.”
“No, no. It’s just a little overwhelming. I should have known since you melted those shackles without much effort. Are there any other… powers that you’ve discovered?”
Valera wasn’t sure what exactly the other two had told him. They had agreed to trust him, so she figured he may as well know all of it.
“The three of us can talk to each other… telepathically. We can also use aether as a kind of shield. Theo and I once combined our powers and it created a barrier. That’s all I know… so far.”
Dr. Lawless’ hand flew across his page. “This is amazing… absolutely amazing. And you can hear Danu herself!”
“I don’t know if it’s Danu. We just have vivid dreams about her.”
He looked up from his writing. His eyes ripped into her. His lips again split into that twisted grin. He lifted a finger and pointed between her eyes. He licked his lips. She surrounded herself in aether, wishing she could leave.
“Danu is inside of you. You are a very lucky girl, Valera.” He inhaled sharply. “What I would give to bathe in her essence.”
Valera flinched. The way he looked at her made her think he wanted to crack her open like a melon. He smoothed down his hair and tugged on his collar. She rubbed her eyes, wondering if his change was all in her head. She was exhausted, so maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her. When she opened her eyes, he was back to normal.
“I think it’s time for you three to meet Professor Scrod. I know she’s been looking forward to speaking with you. Shall we?”
He held his arm out. She reluctantly took it. They went back to the chambers tower and found Theo and Julia in the lobby. Eli lingered nearby, and Julia watched him from the corner of her eye. When he moved, she moved away. Theo was in the middle of this dance and seemed amused by it.
“Good morning, girls. I’ve got something rather exciting to show you.” Dr. Lawless frowned when he saw Eli paying close attention. “Excuse me young man, but who are you?”
Valera frowned. Dr. Lawless didn’t know about Eli, which meant Dr. Lawless hadn’t spoken to Parmelia. Eli looked the doctor up and down. He smirked and put an arm on a startled Julia.
“Hey, Doc. I’m a friend of the girls.” He winked.
Julia shrugged him off and brushed her arm as if an insect had been on her. Eli chuckled. Dr. Lawless’ eye twitched. He cleared his throat.
“Well, I suggest you find something else to do. The girls have an important and busy day ahead of them.” He stepped between Eli and the girls. “Follow me, ladies.”
They left Eli in the lobby. As they neared a stairwell, Eli called back to them.
“See you later.”
Theo giggled. I don’t know why you don’t like him Julia. I think he’s charming.
Julia rolled her eyes .
Dr. Lawless is taking us to the relics. Guys, I am not sure about him. He kind of scares me. He was acting… weird earlier, Valera blurted .
He is a little weird. But he got us out of the cells, and he’s helping us. Don’t be such a yellow belly, Valera, Julia hissed.
Valera huffed at her. She crossed her arms and sulked all the way to the basement. On the lowest level of the building, they walked down a long dark corridor to a swinging double door that opened into a massive room. Dark splotches covered the peeling paint where water seeped through deep cracks. Puddles of water dotted the floors. A musty, briny smell filled the space. Rows of tables held equipment and the artifacts from the Vault . Several lab-coated researchers looked up from their work as the group
She extinguished the flame. “Sorry. I got carried away.”
“No, no. It’s just a little overwhelming. I should have known since you melted those shackles without much effort. Are there any other… powers that you’ve discovered?”
Valera wasn’t sure what exactly the other two had told him. They had agreed to trust him, so she figured he may as well know all of it.
“The three of us can talk to each other… telepathically. We can also use aether as a kind of shield. Theo and I once combined our powers and it created a barrier. That’s all I know… so far.”
Dr. Lawless’ hand flew across his page. “This is amazing… absolutely amazing. And you can hear Danu herself!”
“I don’t know if it’s Danu. We just have vivid dreams about her.”
He looked up from his writing. His eyes ripped into her. His lips again split into that twisted grin. He lifted a finger and pointed between her eyes. He licked his lips. She surrounded herself in aether, wishing she could leave.
“Danu is inside of you. You are a very lucky girl, Valera.” He inhaled sharply. “What I would give to bathe in her essence.”
Valera flinched. The way he looked at her made her think he wanted to crack her open like a melon. He smoothed down his hair and tugged on his collar. She rubbed her eyes, wondering if his change was all in her head. She was exhausted, so maybe her eyes were playing tricks on her. When she opened her eyes, he was back to normal.
“I think it’s time for you three to meet Professor Scrod. I know she’s been looking forward to speaking with you. Shall we?”
He held his arm out. She reluctantly took it. They went back to the chambers tower and found Theo and Julia in the lobby. Eli lingered nearby, and Julia watched him from the corner of her eye. When he moved, she moved away. Theo was in the middle of this dance and seemed amused by it.
“Good morning, girls. I’ve got something rather exciting to show you.” Dr. Lawless frowned when he saw Eli paying close attention. “Excuse me young man, but who are you?”
Valera frowned. Dr. Lawless didn’t know about Eli, which meant Dr. Lawless hadn’t spoken to Parmelia. Eli looked the doctor up and down. He smirked and put an arm on a startled Julia.
“Hey, Doc. I’m a friend of the girls.” He winked.
Julia shrugged him off and brushed her arm as if an insect had been on her. Eli chuckled. Dr. Lawless’ eye twitched. He cleared his throat.
“Well, I suggest you find something else to do. The girls have an important and busy day ahead of them.” He stepped between Eli and the girls. “Follow me, ladies.”
They left Eli in the lobby. As they neared a stairwell, Eli called back to them.
“See you later.”
Theo giggled. I don’t know why you don’t like him Julia. I think he’s charming.
Julia rolled her eyes .
Dr. Lawless is taking us to the relics. Guys, I am not sure about him. He kind of scares me. He was acting… weird earlier, Valera blurted .
He is a little weird. But he got us out of the cells, and he’s helping us. Don’t be such a yellow belly, Valera, Julia hissed.
Valera huffed at her. She crossed her arms and sulked all the way to the basement. On the lowest level of the building, they walked down a long dark corridor to a swinging double door that opened into a massive room. Dark splotches covered the peeling paint where water seeped through deep cracks. Puddles of water dotted the floors. A musty, briny smell filled the space. Rows of tables held equipment and the artifacts from the Vault . Several lab-coated researchers looked up from their work as the group
Similar Books
